His Excellency Robert Godec the U.S. Ambassador

to the Republic of Kenya,

In the dialogue we are going to have with other Kenya's Diaspora in the Diaspora, I wish to share and submit this concern proposal.

At First Ladies Dinner REMARKS in Tanzania. Mrs. Obama met with Laura Bush and talked about many good things how to maintain a perfect health for women. And in their trip to Africa, their mission engagement is based on Economic Partnership between Africa and America. Michelle Obama also quoted some of Obama’s top references on how important Women are to fulfilling good life in their own special ways to participate in economic engagement. Mrs. Obama quoted her husband’s talking points that you can measure how well a country does by how it treats its women. In other words, women’s health with economic engagements are mostly fundamental that must be in harmony when it is put to work together in a balance; and that the most important factors for development lay squarely on putting Education for girls crucial to the economic empowerment of women inclusively. The First Ladies recognizing the importance for giving prominence to educate girls is something that must be commended and supported by all and it is here that we all must engage to provide the empowerment of women in general, joining with the First Ladies of Africa. I therefore salute and congratulate the First Ladies Mrs. Bush and Mrs. Obama for opening doors to all of us to engage in Africa Vs. USA shared Partnership for development.

June 29, 2013

President Obama Announces the Washington Fellowship in front of an audience of more than 600 dynamic young leaders from South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, and Uganda where President Obama announced the Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, the new flagship program of the President’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI). Beginning in 2014, the program will bring more than 500 young African leaders to the United States each year for leadership training and mentoring. It will also create unique opportunities in Africa for Fellows to use their new skills to propel economic growth and prosperity, and strengthen democratic institutions. This is an engagement with larger scope for engaging Young African Leaders positively. It will go alongway with the girl’s educational empowerment for economic stability engagement.

The Washington Fellowship will:

Ø Invest in a new generation of young African leaders who are shaping the continent’s future.

Ø Respond to the strong demand by young African leaders for practical skills that can help them take their work to the next level in the fields of public service and business.

Ø Deepen partnerships and connections between the United States and Africa. Ø Build a prestigious network of young African leaders who are at the forefront of change and innovation in their respective sectors.

Washington Fellows will primarily be between 25 and 35 years old, have a proven track record of leadership in a public, private, or civic organization, and demonstrate a strong commitment to contributing their skills and talents to building and serving their communities.

It promises good Leaders to the United States Beginning in 2014, each year the United States will bring 500 of Africa’s most promising young leaders to U.S. universities for training in public management and administration; business and entrepreneurship; and civic leadership. Training in each of these sectors will focus on the skills young African leaders need to run better ministries, start and grow businesses, and serve their communities. Within the next five years, the initiative aims to grow to 1000 young leaders each year.

Washington Fellows will spend six weeks at top American universities and colleges that will provide tailored training in the sectors above, leveraging top faculty, cutting-edge curricula, and local opportunities to impart practical professional and leadership training. Formal university training will be augmented by workshops, mentoring, and networking opportunities with leaders in each field, as well as internships across the United States.

For example, Microsoft will connect Washington Fellows with internships in their offices across Africa, including in Cairo, Tunis, Casablanca, Abidjan, Dakar, Accra, Lagos, Abuja, Luanda, Johannesburg, and Nairobi. Ethiopian Airlines will offer participants the opportunity to train at their business management and corporate governance platforms at its hubs around the world.

Washington Fellows will have access to dedicated funding opportunities to support their ideas, businesses, and organizations. More than $5 million in small grants will be awarded in the first three years by the U.S. African Development Foundation to Washington Fellows seeking to start their own businesses or social enterprises. The U.S. Department of State will invest an additional $5 million over the course of the program to help alumni establish or grow non-governmental organizations, undertake a project to improve their community, or work collaboratively to build the network of young African leaders, including reaching into underserved areas. USAID will establish regional hubs and coordinators to connect Washington Fellows to these opportunities and leverage over $200 million in ongoing youth programs and initiatives on the continent.

Sustaining a Strong Alumni Network

Washington Fellows will be a part of a vibrant network that will continue to connect them to new opportunities in Africa and to each other. Regular local and regional events and networking opportunities will sustain strong ties over the years as program participants assume leadership positions in their respective sectors. Participants will be required to mentor other promising young leaders, enhancing the impact and sustainability of the initiative, and growing the network to encompass other leaders, especially in disadvantaged communities.

FACT SHEET: The President’s Young African Leaders Initiative President Obama launched the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) in 2010 as a signature initiative that supports young African leaders as they work to spur growth and prosperity, strengthen democratic governance, and enhance peace and security across the continent.

Taking Action on the Continent

Engagement with young African leaders has become a key focus of U.S. engagement in sub-Saharan Africa and a priority for our embassies and USAID missions. Since 2010, U.S. Embassies have accelerated outreach to young Africans and scaled up programs to train and support aspiring business and civic leaders across the continent. The U.S. Government has created opportunities for young Africans to engage with U.S. Government officials, businesses, and citizens by establishing Embassy Youth Councils in 25 countries. High-level U.S. officials regularly meet with young leaders during their travel to the continent. In total, since 2010, the U.S. Government has held over 2,000 events across the continent aimed at developing the next generation of Africa’s civic and business leaders.

Committing Resources to Developing Young Talent

Currently USAID’s Higher Education Solutions Network—a $25 million per year program—partners with African and U.S. higher education institutions, using science, technology and engineering to educate future leaders and research solutions for the greatest challenges in development. To further expand YALI, USAID will establish regional hubs to enhance leadership and training opportunities in Africa and better leverage over $200 million in ongoing youth programs and initiatives, such as university partnerships and vocational training, on the continent.

Other Departments and Agencies have reoriented their programs and strategies to contribute to the goal of empowering and providing opportunities for youth in Africa. The Department of Labor, for example, is investing in efforts to promote safe youth employment and business opportunities as alternatives to child labor, including a new $3 million program in Uganda to educate and train youth for quality jobs. The U.S. African Development Foundation is investing $5 million in training and placing thousands of Somali youth in paid internships and jobs, in addition to supporting small business start-ups.

Taking initiative to introducing the Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders is our concern and we must make this program succeed.

How Africa and USA must organize for Sustainable fair trading partnership

Stop and Eliminate Insecurity from Terrorism by organized Rebel groups and Pirates that is fueling Rebel action groups with mushrooming of Mercenaries posing danger on Border Security, Arms Proliferation, ammunition with illegal Human Trafficking.....
This Proliferation of small arms and light weapons is increasingly growing in Africa and is dangerously used by Kagame and Museveni making it a transnational organized crime in the Great Lakes Regions where Rwanda and Uganda are constantly bullying, committing genocide and terrorizing East Africa with killings of Congolese in DRC Congo stealing of Migingo with fueling excessive corruption with impunity and pirating as well as with the help of Chinese destroying and polluting the Environment. Stop illegal sale of fire-arms with sophisticated, dangerous and deadly destructive weapons to Africa, as this is expounding Civil Conflicts and is destroying lives.This as a result is threatening elimination of Congolese livelihood and survival with the Coastal people of Mombasa including the Luos living in and around Lake Victoria.
There is urgent need to stop child prostitution as it is destroying fundamentals fabric of moral discipline of African cultural values and tradition with destruction of Domestic Family unity.
Stop Drug Trafficking,
Stop Foreign Currency trafficking & laundering,
STOP LAND GRABBING of all manner (a situation where, some African family members engage in corruption with politicians and resorted to stealing and grabbing the ancestral family land where they stole and transferred family land with the help of corrupt Administration/local Chiefs and changed the Certificate of Land ownership to the politically correct individuals names in an illegal manner and not respecting dignity and value of cultural value of the community – a situation that must be addressed urgently and situation restored).
Stop illegal and unfair Trading that are done sneakily with support of corrupt politicians sponsored by the greedy Corporate Special Interest. This situation is bound to create worse-case-scenario of disunity and fuel Civil War. It has been noted that, these greedy Corporate Special Interest do not value or respect the law that provide a harmonious good environment for doing business under peace and unity to thrive for all, but prefer to engage jungle rule that benefit their selfish and greed with a small group of their network……..it is therefore that, they are enemies of Democracy that stand for good Governance with Just Rule of Law. As a result, they have provided open door for Chinese to engage in dangerous corruption in Africa but it is time this must stop and Law and Order begin to shape our lives for better.
Protect the environment and eliminate climatic pollutions that are exasperated by the Chinese in Africa through their bad trading practices
Stop cyberwars.........through interruptions, hacking, phishing, waylaying, obstructions, harrassments and intimidation etc.,

The Corrupt situation in Africa is such a bad news for progressive development agenda to gain grounds better things. If joint effort can be put in Partnership Development Agenda that include recovery of stolen public wealth and resources, stop illegal sale of drugs from criminals and destroy terrorists’ camps or hideouts, we are sure terrorism with insecurity will be put to rest. But, despite efforts of security agencies working hard to restore peace, and the “merchants of Death” sponsored by corrupt politicians who steal public wealth and resources continues to engage in arms trafficking/ trading through covert and deceptive use of illegal trading, African borders of Kenya, Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan, Cameroon, Congo, Chad, and Niger Libya and Sudan will continue to be unsafe from organized terror gangs. Recently, the Comptroller General of Nigerian Immigration Services stated that the Service has discovered hundreds of illegal routes in Nigeria that link or lead to some neighboring African countries and are used by organized terrorist and Rebels……Things must begin to take the rightful course of action for meaningful Trading Partnership to succeed and Peace to be realized.

Without these concerns put as top priorities to be addressed urgently, we are faced with serious insecurity and attacks which is about to destroy peace and harmony in the world and expound ugly war affecting the whole world where the situation is presently catastrophic at boiling point.

Success Business Story Demands Conducive Environment which is free from corruption and pollution but is guided by Democratic Principles:

Fair Trade is a system of directly sourcing products from developing regions and paying the people who create those products a fair price for them is a good fair way to share in Partnership. Fair Trade status is regulated by organizations that have set specific criteria and follow up to make sure that participating producers and buyers meet their standards. The Fair Trade label provides concerned customers with a guarantee that the workers who produce the products they buy are not being exploited, and that they also have the opportunity to benefit from community-based programs supported by Fair Trade industries.

Our mission is to improve the livelihoods and well being of disadvantaged producers by linking and promoting Fairness to sustain Trading Organizations, and speaking out for greater injustices that spoil for mutually good, balanced and fair business trading, without which business will remain to be controlled in the hands of a few and Economic stability cannot be realized.

We all need each other for fair management of Developing sustainable long lasting International market-Place that is secure and is reliable. Without security and with extreme poverty pushed to succumb Africa’s livelihood and survival is a handicap that we all must engage to eradicate for the sake of Love, Peace, Unity and Happiness in the world. As a result, we all must support Democracy to protect people’s constitutional law.

ü Building trust in fair trade

ü Speaking out for fair trade
ü Providing networking opportunities
ü Empowering the regions

Good Trading Practices must offer opportunities for:
1.Creating Economic innovation for progressive development
2.Transparency and Accountability
3.Fair Trading Practices
4.Payment of a Fair Price
5.Ensuring no Child Labor and Forced Labor
6.Commitment to Non Discrimination, Gender Equity and Freedom of Association
7.Ensuring Good Working Conditions
8.Providing Capacity Building for progressive development
9.Promoting Fair Trade Partnership
10.Respect and Protects the Environment

Fair Trading is the way to go between Africa and the USA. It is time to be fully engaged and we have no time to waste.

Sincerely,

Judy Miriga
Diaspora Spokesperson
Executive Director
Confederation Council Foundation for Africa Inc.,
USA
http://socioeconomicforum50.blogspot.com

Balance of power: Ugandan flag still up on Migingo island

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5sPAKfSg58

More than a year after the boundaries commission set out to map out a tiny Island in Lake Victoria, a solution seems unlikely. The standoff between Kenya and Uganda over Migingo continues with Uganda asserting its authority. Kenya has presence on the island but they play second fiddle to the seemingly superior Ugandans and that’s not all, the Kenya police at the island have had to deal with a number of administrative and procedural issues. NTV’s Ken Mijungu was at the island and reports on a territorial dispute that may not be easy to resolve.

Published on May 5, 2013

http://www.ntv.co.ke
More than a year after the boundaries commission set out to map out a tiny Island in Lake Victoria, a solution seems unlikely. The standoff between Kenya and Uganda over Migingo continues with Uganda asserting its authority. Kenya has presence on the island but they play second fiddle to the seemingly superior Ugandans and that's not all, the Kenya police at the island have had to deal with a number of administrative and procedural issues. NTV's Ken Mijungu was at the island and reports on a territorial dispute that may not be easy to resolve.

zentra01 1 month ago

Yes, KAF are years behind. What with a fleet of mere F5s...why not source for some real A to A combat aircraft, like F15 Eagle or Hornet since we know Raptors will not be available for sale any time soon. If there is one thing I pray this president will do is modernize our air force and fleet of warships, and maybe we won't have neighbors encroaching us from all corners. Very soon, military might will be a tool used by African countries to show dominance. It's already happening

Boggie Benda 1 month ago

there should be a migingo tax on all cargo destined for uganda through kenya until they vacate the area.

Neron Voltz 1 month ago

Hahaha, I'd love to see you try. We will further our border all the way to Kampala just to prove a point ...

Mweusi moja 1 month ago

Only president Raila Amollo Odinga will bring down that ugandan rag

thuraku 1 month ago

Based on Museveni's argument, the Ugandan flag should be on it's waters, right?

jfgyes123 1 month ago

M7 said it all = Island belongs to Kenya and the Water belongs to Uganda, Case closed. Now the Ugandan Police needs to vacate the Dry Land and move to waters to keep peace since they own the water, WHILE Kenya Police needs to move in the Dry land and vacate the water for Ugandans. Kenyan Armed Forces are PUNKS, Per M7 this island and the majority of the people living in the Island are Kenyans Yet the Ugandans are Dictating the terms. Stupid Central Govt paying too much attention to Nairobi..

Kenya's spineless baby Government better respect the General when he speaks.. says alot how a landlocked country can bully us like this. That's a true General not this fat oafs in our Government he was fighting wars while they were getting fat on Mama's cooking! Useless!

Sura Mbaya 1 month ago

Back in the 70s, Idi Amin intimated that part of Kenya all the way from the Uganda border to Naivasha was really Uganda territory. Mzee Kenyatta had only two words for him, "Jaribu uone". There is a certain madness in a country where they are outlawing miniskirts, where opposition politicians are beaten up and humiliated publicly and where the govt has been unable to capture a rebel who rapes women and children en masse. We should not let Uganda bully us over Migingo.

INVASION OF CONGO By RWANDA AND UGANDA REVEALED IN DETAILS From 1996-2000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAF9lyhWBDc

Published on May 5, 2013

Museveni, Kagame, (tyrants of Uganda and Rwanda) with the full support of US africom command, and the US states department planned and executed a wrongful invasion of the Congo that had led to multiple invasions of the Congo by those ruthless and bloody dictactors. It has led to more than 5 million death, the worse tragic crisis since World War II.

Ranguma sued over wetlands

Tuesday, July 2, 2013 - 00:00 -- BY JUSTUS OCHIENG

KISUMU Governor Jack Ranguma and Environment Secretary Alice Kaudia have been sued for encroaching on a wetland. An environment lobby group in Kisumu filed a civil suit against the pair alongside other leaders at the Kisumu High Court last Thursady.

Magnam Environmental Network through co-ordinator Michael Nyaguti wants the officers to remove any illegal fencing and to demolish any building that is not allowed to be around the waterfront.

It argues that Ranguma and Kaudia have invaded a wetland in Kisumu West District where they have fenced and are currently putting up buildings.

The plaintiff prays for judgment to be entered against the defendants that by allowing fencing beyond their demarcated boundaries, they illegally encroached on the riparian Lake Victoria wetlands and wildlife grazing reserve.

The group argues that this has exposed ecosystem to degradation and denied the community access to the waterfront. Nyaguti wants an order to the individuals to prevent, stop, or discontinue any act or omission that is harmful to the environment around the Lake.

He also wants NEMA Director and the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Water and Natural Resources who are the fourth and fifth defendants in the suit to be compelled to take appropriate measures to prevent or discontinue any act or omission that is harmful to the environment around Lake Victoria.

- See more at: http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/article-126546/ranguma-sued-over-wetlands#sthash.bRRuGKls.dpuf

Missing Paragraphs In The TJRC Report On The Land Question

Monday, June 3, 2013 - 00:00 -- BY PROF RON SLY, BERHANU DINKA AND JUDGE GERTRUDE CHAWATAMA

203. In addition, there were peculiar cases of land grabbing and related malpractices during Kenyatta’s administration which serve to illustrate how deeply the problem of land grabbing had cut into Kenya and the wanton manner in which key government officials, including the president grabbed what should have been public or communal land and “dished” it to relatives. A case in point involves the president himself. When Kenyatta’s son, Muigai, married Isaiah Mathenge’s daughter in 1976, Kenyatta’s wedding gift was a large tract of government land which was, apparently, acquired without official approval and without compliance with legal procedures.

227. The foregoing statement discloses the potential danger of violent conflicts by Kenyans whose government has not only committed atrocities against, but has also failed over the years to recognize their plight and redress them. In light of secessionist movement inclinations manifested by the MRC at the Coast, any honest view that a community in Kenya would be better off with colonialists should be carefully addressed to avert the possibility of more secessionist movements that may be facilitated by the current establishment of regional governments across the country.

230. In Taita Taveta District, many coastal families and communities settled, at independence, on what they believed to be government land, hoping that the government would officially resettle them on it. However, in 1972, the Greek Criticos family, in partnership with the then President Kenyatta himself, acquired the land to establish sisal plantations, leaving many families living on the land as ‘squatters’. A letter from Basil Criticos, a senior member of the family, dated 25 November 2011 indicates that the Criticos family, alone, owned 30 000 acres of land next to a bigger parcel of land owned by the Kenyatta family. This meant no one could construct a permanent building or enclose land to signify exclusive occupation and/or use, generating another source of long running conflicts over access to, ownership and use of land involving not only the Taita and other coastal communities, but those from upcountry who had settled on large farms as farm workers.

231. Apparently over time, especially between 1996 and 2003, the Criticos family offered a substantial proportion of the 30,000 acres of land to the government for purchase at low rate of only KSh600 per acre to settle landless squatters. However, after acquiring the land, the government, in its usual style of irregularity, began to settle people from upcountry, especially the Kamba and not the coastal communities that the land was meant for. The Criticos familyfurther offered to sell land at concessionary rates to landless communities from the Coast and from upcountry, including those from Nyanza who had settled on the land as farm workers but the family’s efforts were thwarted by the government which, through the provincial administration, forcibly evicted the Criticos family from the whole parcel of land and began to irregularly settle people on it. By 2008, the Criticos family’s efforts to give up a large portion of the land for resettlement of the landless appears to have been completely disrupted, to a halt, as a result if illegal dealings with the land on orders of the then President, supplemented by support of the local MP and the Ministry of Lands and Settlement.

257. However, after Kenya attained independence, in 1972, President Kenyatta unlawfully alienated to himself 250 acres of the land, especially portions on the beach. He also allocated part of the land to his friends, relatives and other associates. He directed residents that whatever was left of the trust lands would be established as settlement schemes for their benefit. However, without following due procedures of law, he again took part of whatever remained for himself and his relatives. He also demanded that local communities that should have benefited from the trust lands accept payment of KSh600 per acre. When the locals declined to accept the money, he told them that whether or not they accepted it, the remainder of the trust lands would go to the government. That is how irregularly President Kenyatta took all of Tiwi and Diani trust lands at the expense of local people who immediately became ‘squatters’ on the land and were subsequently evicted, rendering them landless and poor. By 2012, land in the former trust lands fetched KSh15 million per acre.

261. Since Kenyatta’s administration, settlement schemes at the Coast have been fraught with irregularities, outright discrimination of landless coastal communities, settlement of mainly one upcountry community on coastal communities’ lands, land grabbing by high and low ranking government officials and fraud. It emerges that the real intention of settlement schemes at the Coast, especially in the period immediately after independence, was to settle mainly the Kikuyu tribe on ancestral lands of coastal communities. As a result, many members of coastal communities who lost their land during colonialism remain landless, poor and, in many cases, destitute, their means of livelihood having been forcefully taken away, as described below.

Kenya, Uganda police in talks over Migingo -

Kimaiyo googletag.cmd.push(function()

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Wednesday, June 12, 2013 - 00:00 -- BY BRIAN OTIENO Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo has asked his Ugandan counterpart, Kale Kayihura, to withdraw his troops from Migingo Island. Kimaiyo revealed this as he made his presentation to the Pastoralist Parliamentary Group meeting at the Mombasa Continental Resort at the weekend. He said Migingo Island belongs to Kenya. Kimaiyo, however, said he is still in negotiations with the Uganda police over the matter among other issues affecting the two countries, especially those touching on security. The controversy over ownership of the 2,000-square metre (half-acre) island on Lake Victoria in Nyatike constituency, Migori county, at one time threatened to severe ties between Kenya and Uganda. However, former Kenyan Defence minister Yusuf Haji and then Uganda People’s Defence Force deputy commander, Lt General Evan Koreta both in 2009 denied that the issue is serious and could severe diplomatic ties between the two countries. The police boss said Kenyan and Ugandan police have a good working relationship. The cross-border dialogue, under the Border Commissioners’ meeting, will deal with issues of cattle theft across the border, he said. The PPG members, including MPs, senators, governors and speakers from 14 counties, had raised concern over the theft of cattle from Kenya into Uganda. “We don’t want our animals to be stolen across the border in broad daylight. They must be brought back,” Kimaiyo said. National Assembly departmental Committee on Administration and National Security chair Asman Kamama said the Anti-Stock Theft Unit is ineffective and should be scrapped.“The Kenya Police Reservists should actually supplement the work of police in addressing the issue of cattle rustling,” said Kamama. He said police reservists should be retrained and given some stipend as they are more effective.“As a committee we have more than 10 reports that we’ll bring to you and if action is not taken, I want to tell this committee in two years I will resign,” said Kamama. Kimaiyo said a review of deployment of police officers, especially along the borders, is going on. "Every police post along Kenya’s border with any country must have more than 32 officers–a full platoon," he said. Kimaiyo said the few number of officers in some police posts make them irrelevant.“There are some posts with two or three police officers. Sometimes the community takes these officers into manyattas. These are people’s children, husbands, wives, fathers and mothers,” he said. - See more at: http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/article-123948/kenya-uganda-police-talks-over-migingo-kimaiyo#sthash.Un3dhT07.dpuf

Security operation underway at Kenya - Tanzania border

Thursday, May 16, 2013 - 00:00 -- BY KIPLANGAT KIRUI

A major security operation is underway at the border of Kenya and Tanzania.

The operation to net illegal firearms and criminal gangs follows the killing of five people in Nakarra in an attack by bandits suspected to be members of the Sonjos community in Tanzania.

The operation was announced on Wednesday after a meeting between leaders and security officials from both Kenya and Tanzania at Olderkesi area.

Narok governor Samuel Tunai led the Kenyan delegation which included Women Representative Soipan Tuya, Narok west MP Patrick Ntutu, Narok County Commissioner Kassim Farah, Narok South DC Chimwaga Mwongo and Narok OCPD Peterson Maelo.

Those from Tanzania were led by Ngorongoro DC Elias Wawa Lali and Immigration Officer Edward Nzogu.

The Narok South DC said the operation will curb the trade of illegal firearms and light weapons which will end crime in the common border.

He said the operation will target not target any community but criminals who have been terrorising locals.

The administrator added they would enhance cross border communication among security enforcement agencies at both sides of the border.

Leaders at the also meeting dismissed claims that the Tanzanian government might have been behind the recent attacks on Kenyans living at the border stating that the attacks are purely criminal activities and should not spoil the working relations between the two countries.

- See more at: http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/article-120506/security-operation-underway-kenya-tanzania-border#sthash.hclocZzV.dpuf

Mandera crime wave blamed on foreigners

Monday, June 17, 2013 - 00:00 -- BY STEPHEN ASTARIKO

Employment of foreigners by residents of Mandera has been cited as the reason behind the increase in insecurity incidences in the county.

Khalalio location chief in Mandera East Mohamed Kahiye revealed that many aliens from the Neighboring countries of Ethiopia and Somalia were working in Mandera illegally after they were employed by the local people.

Speaking during a public baraza, Kahiye said “Many foreigners were working in Khalalio location and Mandera town as housekeepers, livestock herders, farm boys and workers at hotels and lodges without following the laid down procedures of employing non-Kenyans to work in the country”.

He added “ People are employing foreigners of unknown characters and origin to work at their homes, business premises and herd their livestock and blame the government when their properties are stolen by criminals guided by the aliens working for them”

Currently, seventeen people majority of them foreigners working in Mandera are facing a charges of planning to commit felony in a Mandera court, this is after they were arrested by police with assembled Improvised Explosive Device in Mandera town three weeks ago.

Mandera town has become unsafe with criminals taking charge. they use mental bar, knives and firearms to attack unsuspecting residents and visitors of the town. The attacks from the marauding gangs has forced people to retreat to their house as early as 5pm.

The administrator lamented that, the employment of the aliens, has also denied many Kenyans idle youth gainful employment, which in turned has forced the unemployed youth in engaging in criminal activities.

Chief Kahiye warned the local resident to desist from hiring foreigners saying that, the government will take stern legal action against those who contravene immigration procedures of employing non-Kenyans.

“As the eyes of the government at grassroots level, we are responsible to the safety of the people in areas of our jurisdictions and we can’t allow aliens to work in our country. Nobody knows the motives and characters of foreigners who come to our towns purporting to look for a manual work” Mr. Kahiye noted.

Early this week, six government officials including officers from the Ministry of Housing were attacked at broad daylight with knives and metal bar by a criminal gangs, who waylaid them onto the entrance of their office.

However, the local people prefer to employee non-Kenyans particularly Ethiopian, for their cheap labor and being obedient in taking orders from their employers and their willingness to work for long hours.

- See more at: http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/article-124560/mandera-crime-wave-blamed-foreigners#sthash.3ksCEAtI.dpuf

Waitiki may sell Likoni land for squatters googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1361903771681-0'); }); Thursday, July 4, 2013 - 00:00 -- BY MARTIN MWAURA THE 16 year old controversy over the 930 acre Waitiki farm in Likoni could soon end as owner Evanson Kamau Waitiki has said he is willing to be compensated for the farm. Over 120,000 squatters live on the land which stretches from close to the Likoni ferry landing for several kilometers to the left of the main Likoni -Kwale road. To the south, the farm covers large swathes of Timbwani and Shika Adabu wards. Yesterday, Waitiki said he was willing to give up the land if he got compensation from the government. The Waitiki farm was originally invaded by 75,000 people during the 1997 Kaya Bombo clashes.Since then Waitiki has been fighting to evict the squatters so that he can develop the land. Last November, the Mombasa High Court finally issued an order directing the police to evict the squatters. Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere and provincial police boss Aggrey Adoli served the orders but were reluctant to enforce the eviction citing lack of personnel. The squatters have built homes, churches, mosques, and businesses there. Several police stations have also been put up there. The eviction could have affected at least half the developed properties in the expansive Likoni area. Politicians, including the current Mombasa governor Hassan Joho, have historically made political mileage out of the dispute. Yesterday Waitiki went to Mombasa Law Courts for a case where he has sued Kenya Power for encroachment by installing power distribution poles and transformers.The case was adjourned until today.“I only get to hear about these plans from the media. No politician or government official has ever come to me to negotiate on the land. I believe in dialogue. Even enemies, before starting a fight, engage in dialogue. They can come and talk to me but I think these people are trying to hoodwink the public that they are genuine,” he said.“These people are not squatters. They are investors. You can tell from the type of structures that they have put up. They should all come together and form a union and buy off my property," he said. The 67 year old businessman said the dispute could continue to plague his children and grandchildren.“I have many sons and daughters just like many African men. If I was to die today, they would come out fighting fiercely to have a piece of their inheritance. This is their right too,” said Waitiki. Waitiki blamed a cartel inside his farm of unscrupulously benefiting from his properties including illegal collection of house rent.“When they chased me away, they took over some of my properties including several hundred dairy cattle and a thousand chicken. Some are even collecting rent from the houses I had built,” he said. Waitiki said he was forced to flee his farm during the 1997 ethnic clashes. "They would have killed me. I was only fortunate that I did not sleep at my farm that night. They had come for my head and would have taken over all of my property,” he said of the attackers. Government officials including Land Secretary Charity Ngilu visited the farm on May 26 and assured the squatters that their homes would not be demolished and that they could continue living there. Ngilu said a task force headed by local MP Masoud Mwahima would report back about the farm's ownership history and the number of squatters to enable the government to find a permanent solution. Ngilu promised that 6,000 title deeds would be issued to Coast residents in line with Jubilee election promises. However Governor Joho said he would instead solicit for funds for the resettlement of the Waitiki squatters as well as those at Kibarani and Dunga Unuse villages. Waitiki said he bought the 930 acre plot from a businessman in 1975 for Sh2 million. The farm is now valued at Sh9.3 billion. Waitiki has steadfastly denied that the farm was a gift of President Jomo Kenyatta who is said to be a relative. - See more at: http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/article-126957/waitiki-may-sell-likoni-land-squatters#sthash.8ZsYbHAu.dpuf

Members want the corrupt out

Thursday, July 4, 2013 - 00:00 --

BY MAURICE ALAL SOME Kisumu county executive members want Governor Jack Ranguma to sack senior officers alleged to have been involved in corruption. The county executive members said 15 officers are mentioned in corruption cases in the council. Speaking yesterday in Nyando district they said those officers should step aside for investigation. “These people have a cartel through which they have been running the city,” they said. Vincent Kodera said the development agenda of the county will only be achieved by leaders of integrity as stated in the constitution. “Cases of corruption have derailed county... - See more at: http://www.the-star.co.ke/sections/western-and-nyanza#sthash.GrxPqRcC.dpuf

Don't Allow Hypocrites To Perpetuate Impunity

Tuesday, June 21, 2011 - 00:00 -- BY MIGUNA MIGUNA

Kenya’s political, religious and business leaders have become shamefully hypocritical. They conveniently retreat into their ethnic cocoons whenever they are confronted with difficult national questions that demand courage, vision and answers.

They preach water but drink wine. They shed crocodile tears whenever tragedy strikes when they know that deep down, they don’t care. Often, they prefer tragedy and misery because these offer opportunities for their enrichment.

Our leaders and their rich business associates know that the absence of functioning public health facilities fosters opportunities for private hospitals, clinics and health centres. So they have ensured that public health services have a reputation for being places where people go to die. Expectant mothers ready to offer us new life routinely die with their unborn children. Public health centres have become notorious for the number and variety of deaths, rather than famous for stories of how modern science and medicine prolongs life span.

Our leaders have frustrated hitherto thriving public schools, the security and emergency services to the extent that their own private schools, ambulance and security services have mushroomed throughout the country. As our leaders become wealthy, the conditions of the ordinary citizen have correspondingly worsened.

The leaders have no commitment to anything except the accumulation of wealth and power. Their worldview consists of cynicism, betrayal, deception, greed and laziness. Their philosophy and ideology is essentially to make more money and acquire power. Nobody asks why. People have been fooled into believing that this is what makes someone smart. And as long as the public is deceived on the leaders’ real intentions, this tragedy will persist. Leaders promise milk and honey when they can’t deliver, and have no commitment to delivering, even water and ugali. It is a national tragedy.

When did hypocrisy become honourable in Kenya? When did deception become a national virtue? When did integrity, competence, hard work, honesty, courage and strong principles become distasteful in this country? Why do we prefer, hail and celebrate mediocrity? Why is it that we prefer placing pliable, morally weak and incompetent people in positions of power, authority and responsibility? Why do we always hurl abuse at, stigmatise and alienate those who bravely stand up for what is right for this country? Is Kenya jinxed?

It’s horrible that most people in Kenya – no matter how highly educated, experienced or knowledgeable – worship money and power. Professional ethics don’t count. Sycophancy seems to be the only route to ‘stardom’. For those who have struggled against dictatorship and poverty throughout their lives and have overcome near hopeless situations, conditions are cleverly created to transform them into self-seekers.

Our leaders are quick to draw stark contrasts. We’ve been reminded of patriotic nationalists, critical thinkers, principled and courageous people like Bildad Kaggia who died in abject poverty, as a scare tactic. Virtual nobodies who ‘prospered’ through sycophancy, incompetence and corruption are eulogised as ‘hard-working,’ ‘mature,’ ‘level-headed’ and ‘dependable’.

A John Githongo in our midst is, in the words of a colleague, ‘too dangerous’. To these people – and they are legion – John Githongo is a man they publicly want to identify with so that the ordinary people may consider them ‘true reformers’ but deep down, they fear and hate everything Githongo is supposed to represent: honesty, integrity and incorruptibility.

If you can’t be molded into a ‘skunk’, you are dutifully branded ‘arrogant,’ and ‘abrasive’, two choice words for the renegade. You are quickly stigmatised and isolated. Those who are ready to sell their mothers for 40 pieces of silver are handsomely rewarded. In Kenya, such people are called ‘professional’, ‘technocratic’, and ‘suave’. They may know absolutely nothing about anything, but they are considered ‘safe’. They are safe because they have no scruples. They either partake in corruption or turn the other way.

When the country was demanding accountability for the post-election violence, most MPs passionately argued that only the International Criminal Court could credibly and fairly try the post-election perpetrators. They argued correctly that our judiciary was too weak, too corrupt and too incompetent to deliver justice for the victims. The leaders argued, again correctly, that any judicial process in Kenya would be manipulated, used and abused by the rich, the corrupt and the powerful; that to exterminate impunity in this country, we need both independent and credible investigations and prosecutions.

The unresolved cases of political assassinations of Pio Gama Pinto, Thomas Joseph Mboya, James Mwangi Kariuki, Titus Adungosi, Robert Ouko, Crispin Odhiambo Mbai and many others are examples of both the inability and unwillingness of the Kenyan authorities to deal with impunity. The tens of thousands of unresolved cases of extra-judicial killings provide a sober illustration of the complicity of our leaders with the culture of impunity.

‘Don’t be vague, vote for Hague!’ That’s how the William Ruto and Uhuru Kenyatta voting machines in Parliament sang last year. And they got their way. They blocked the establishment of a credible local mechanism to investigate and prosecute all post-election violence perpetrators. They believed, wrongly, that they had won. They thought that stopping the establishment of a ‘local special tribunal’ meant that the post-election violence perpetrators won’t be prosecuted. But those were pyrrhic victories.

The celebrations were short-lived. Soon, Luis Moreno-Ocampo named the six suspects and everything changed. Suddenly, their folly became apparent. They realised how mistaken they had been. What to do?

After numerous night meetings, drinking binges and sleepless nights, a strategy was concocted. ‘We’ll turn this around. We’ll deal with this politically. We’ll accuse Ocampo and the ICC – anybody and anything – of being anti-Kenyan; anti-African; anti-our communities. We’ll craft a clever strategy of turning us into victims and our political enemies into villains. The ICC is an imperialist court intended to persecute African nationalists…We’ll attack the evidence, the investigators, witnesses…Godammit; we’ll fight to the end!’

Thus the ‘prayer’ and ‘peace’ rallies were conceived. ‘Bring back the cases! Try our heroes at home. The ICC is a political tool by the enemies of our tribes to finish us!’ That became the clarion call. That was the favourite song - until the ICC judges turned the tables and ‘offered’ to bring the cases ‘home’. In a strategic masterstroke, the pre-trial chamber requested the prosecution, defence and victims to submit arguments why the trials shouldn’t be brought to Kenya. And lo and behold - except for Henry Kosgey - all the suspects strongly argued against bringing the cases home. ‘We want The Hague! We cannot have a fair trial in Kenya!’ they thundered together, in separate but obviously co-ordinated legal briefs.

So, why was tax-payers’ money used during the IGAD, AU and UN Security Council deliberations? Why was hundreds of millions of shillings in public funds used in the shuttle diplomacy? Why are Kenyans being forced to pay high-powered foreign lawyers billions of shillings to challenge the admissibility of the cases, on the pretext that ‘Kenya is ready, able and willing to try all six cases?’

Uhuru Kenyatta, Francis Muthaura, William Ruto, Hussein Ali and Joshua Sang have all argued that they don’t expect a fair trial within Kenya. Why, then, have they been holding rallies condemning The Hague proceedings? Is it because they just don’t want to face justice?

Two other incidents further illustrate the hypocrisy of our leaders. During the ‘debate’ into the suitability of nominees for Chief Justice, Deputy Chief Justice and Director of Public Prosecutions, an MP repeatedly referred to the former PS for Local Government Sammy Kirui as a ‘criminal’ who shouldn’t be believed. Kirui had testified under oath before the Constitutional Oversight Implementation Commission that Keriako Tobiko had ‘solicited’ a Sh5 million bribe from him through proxies. Later, the MP sought to ‘clarify’ that Mr. Kirui is only a suspect who is currently facing charges of corruption in our courts.

The ‘criminal’ tag was greeted with thunderous applause by MPs who happen to be strong supporters of Uhuru, Ruto, Kosgey, Muthaura and Hussein Ali. Nominated MP, Mohammed Affey, who had disparagingly referred to Kirui as a criminal, is a staunch supporter of the Ocampo Six. Apparently, neither he nor the other so-called leaders sees any irony in calling the Ocampo Six – who face the worst and most serious criminal charges in the world – ‘heroes’, despite the serious charges.

If Kirui’s testimony under oath shouldn’t be believed on the basis of criminal charges; why should we believe Uhuru, Ruto, Muthaura and Ali? Why are the alleged criminals still holding public office? (In any event, aren’t most convictions obtained through testimonies of convicted criminals? As they say, ‘send a thief to catch a thief.’)

As the hypocritical MPs were shouting ‘criminal’ to Kirui, among them were ‘honourable’ members facing numerous actual and potential charges of fraud, money-laundering, drug-trafficking, tax evasion and other serious crimes that completely disqualify them from positions of leadership, authority and responsibility. Yet, the MPs who were yapping about Kirui’s assumed ‘criminality’ did not demand that those ‘honourable’ criminals should not be in the House. Why not? It is the answer to that question which provides the answer to the fundamental problem that ails us in Kenya today.

Consider also the ‘government’s’ refusal to do anything about Uganda force's occupation of Migingo and Ugingo. Would the president have reacted the same way if the Ugandan forces had occupied villages in Nyeri or Gatundu South? Is the ‘government’ taking no action because both islands are in Nyanza?

One of the strongest defenders of Tobiko is the perennial Amos Wako. As Attorney General, Wako signed all the dubious and dodgy contracts in the past twenty years. He signed the Goldenberg, Anglo Leasing, Ken-Ren, Grand Regency, and Triton – you name it. It was therefore not surprising that Wako should show a keen interest in who is to become the DPP. If the new DPP is competent, independent and has integrity, those like Wako would be the first to be investigated and hopefully prosecuted for perpetuating impunity. However, should the DPP be spineless and involved in some of those scandals like Tobiko, we expect no action whatsoever.

This is a plea to Kenyans from all walks of life: let us guard the values, virtues, rights, freedoms and principles we entrenched in the Constitution. We must never allow the hypocrites, the greedy and corrupt leaders to turn back the clock and perpetuate impunity. Our strength lies in our visions, thoughts, numbers, courage and commitments. I am sure we are equal to the task.

Miguna is the PM’s adviser on coalition affairs. The views expressed here are his own.

- See more at: http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/article-59798/dont-allow-hypocrites-perpetuate-impunity#sthash.1PIh0UtM.dpuf