Political fire fast spreading

The fire of political war-mongering is fast engulfing the entire nation. Politicians and their followers are caught up in the deadly game.

No one cares to hide the bad habits and politics is once again exposing our ugly faces. Gatundu South legislator Moses Kuria, Ferdinand Waititu of Kabete, Kimani Ngunjiri from Bahati in Nakuru County are flying high the intolerance from JUBILEE.

From the CORD wing are legislators Johnstone Muthama, legislators Junet Mohammed, Timothy Bosire, Aisha Jumwa and former Nairobi City Council supremo George Aladwa.

Both camps are riding high on the fanatical following from their strongholds in Gatundu, Nakuru, Kibera and Migori.

One of the legislators under hate-speech investigation is alleged to have made the statements at a prayer meeting! Loose cannons that are never scared to defile the church in the name of politics.

We are setting the perfect stage to burn our country in the name of politics. No one is responsible. In the name of two political sides solely guided on tribal bigotry and no ideologies, peace is fast turning out to be slippery treasure.

Maybe we never learn, not even from the fire that burnt our fingers in 2007-08! That is how deep cheap politics continue to ruin this great nation.

The nation is busy walking itself into fire, and this time, it might not be as short-lived as the 2007-08 bloodbath. Led by the careless politicians, we like daring fate and testing the gods!

Politicians show off their lack of political manners and Kenyans jubilate and cheer them on.

Do we stop to think about our economy, increasing the population of internally displaced Kenyans, the possibility of a full-blown ethnic cleansing and undoing the socio-economic gains made over time?

The national police service should act on these loose tongues, our courts must expedite justice in hand with the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions while the National Cohesion and Integration Commission should show us value for our money!

Judging from the past reactions to these men and women, the above institutions have never acted enough. 

They have never set a precedent by way of punitive action. That is why the politicians have a field day on the stage of hate-speech and war-mongering.

The nation too has abdicated its responsibility in sieving the cadre of national leaders. Every five years, men and women of questionable character are elected.

The electorate and politicians have joined hands to defile the noble seat of leadership in Kenya!

We never learnt from the blood bath about nine years ago. The victims too still struggling under tents, displaced on their own land have never touched our conscience too.

We are a nation that is simply eager to taste fire once more due to political competition. But why do choose to destroy our nation?

Few sober politicians, free from ethnic bile that is oozing all over can answer that question and so can millions of Kenyans who are regarded to carry light political influence due to their numbers.

Time is fast running out. The drum of ethnic intolerance and violence are beating so loud.

The whole world is watching as the region’s economic giant fast seeks its destruction on account of political competition.

All Kenyans can act now and avoid finger-pointing when fire visits us next year. We can all save our country.

Kabogo’s friendly advice to DP Ruto

Early this week, Kiambu Governor, William Kabogo sent out a political message that is not too comfortable to the Deputy President, William Ruto and his lieutenants from the Rift.

“In 2022, the Mount Kenya region might not endorse DP Ruto for the presidency” read the message!

A cold and rather uncomfortable truth from the governor who was unapologetic in his words. He said it was his duty to tell Ruto this truth as a true friend.

After all, true friends watch each other’s backs and Kabogo did his duty, sadly he got a backlash for his troubles.

But alas, this must rattle the ruling coalition especially the Kusema Na Kutenda wing!

The strong man from Kiambu came under a barrage for this truth as sycophants who love lies in the face of uncomfortable truths. They reprimanded him.

Waititu chose to hate the messenger instead of the message!

They dismissed this as a personal opinion adding that Kabogo should not purport to speak on behalf of Mt. Kenya. 

But they too, cannot purport to speak on behalf of the mountain region.

Political realists should rush to DP Ruto’s side and advise him to read aloud the warning signs, after all, President Kenyatta does not need his DP after 2017, at least not politically,

He will have successfully enjoyed his part and Ruto will be on his own! Politics are a bitter-sweet affair and 2022 might be bitter for the DP!

Instead of dismissing an honest governor for saying a harsh truth, Waititu, Keterand ilk should take a rest, in the fresh waters at the Coast or the cool breeze at the foot of Mt. Kenya and think how to approach the 2022 affair.

It is a tough call for the DP. He has a decision to make and the time is now. The sad truth might hit him hard in 2022; that he has been used and dumped by a team that he pretended to enjoy a cozy marriage with. 

It is true that the Mountain might split votes if the likes of Kithure Kindiki, Peter Munya and the DP all chose to go for the top seat in 2022!

A cold argument or opinion depending on where you choose to look at it! But is the warning rather too early?

Does it mean that the vote-basket of 2013 and obviously 2017 to President Uhuru, might be the used tissue paper come 2022?

Rift Valley, led by Ruto played to the political requests from The Mountain and endorsed Mzee Jomo’s scion in 2013. 

They will do this next year in the belief that 2022 will be their son’s rise to the country’s most powerful seat.

It is only fair that Kenyatta’s people ‘Rudisha mkno’ as Waswahili say, but it is not guaranteed.

My crystal ball says that Central will not endorse the DP, they are not so sure if their interests will be safe under his watch. 

They might be forced to look elsewhere and the names of Gideon Moi and Alfred Mutua are not far-fetched.

Remember, they owe former President, Daniel arap Moi for the political rise of their son, when he endorsed him for the presidency in 2002. They might settle the debt through the current Senator for Baringo Central.

As the nation knows, Machakos Governor, Mutua is a darling of President Kenyatta, and he is on good terms with the people from the Mountain.

He was the spokesman who defended retired President Mwai Kibaki’s government. His development record in Machakos County is unrivalled across the country too.

William Ruto should heed Kabogo’s words, he owes him a listening ear if at all they are close political buddies as the Kiambu Governor said!

Worrying signs as 2017 polls loom large

Kenyans are fast getting used to violence, intimidating anti-riot police gear and machinery, teargas filling the air and running battles between law-enforcers and demonstrators.

It has become ‘official’ that Mondays are action-days as the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) mobilizes ordinary wananchi to drive the Independent Elections and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) home.

On Monday, Kibera slums burnt. In Kakamega, Senator Boniface Khalwale was arrested as demonstrations turned violent. The Coastal County of Mombasa was no different.

The police have severally been captured on by the media breaking up demonstrations using excessive force and archaic tactics.

This seems to have strengthened the resolve in CORD and supporters to take to the streets.

The opposition, perhaps frustrated by the lie of ‘Tyranny of Numbers’ that has ruined the 11^th Parliament decided to use mass action to force IEBC home.

The government’s response has been appalling; unleashing police to clobber the demonstrators is a major goof.

It has played into the opposition’s trap and strengthened the calls to hound home the electoral body.

Two wrongs never make a right and both JUBILEE and CORD should know better.

The violent demonstrators and equally barbarous police, backed by the latest anti-riot machinery are ruining our image, scaring away investors and serving no good to this great nation.

We are on a self-destruct mission on this sensitive matter of political power as 2017 draws near.

A team of nine commissioners is no big than Kenya, legal means must however be used and the law should not be brutalized.

For any elections to be free, fair and results agreeable to all competitors, the referee must be beyond reproach, just like Ceasar’s wife!

IEBC has failed this test and the questions around its conduct can never get enough answers.

Kenya has never healed from the tribal animosities of the divisive 2007-08 elections and any signs of violence should be addressed in time before 2017.

JUBILEE must tone down on its intolerance and sanction the security forces as the sitting government. CORD must step down from the hard line position.

The ordinary wananchi must desist from ethnic poisoning as the political temperatures rise.

The signings are worrying as 2017 draws near.  

KenyanDairies.: The Siege on our Jumbos must end

KenyanDairies.: The Siege on our Jumbos must end: In 1979, Kenya had about 167,000 elephants. In 2016, the population is estimated at about 38,000. Satao, one of the world’s most iconic an...

KenyanDairies.: Kenyan football’s biggest enemy

KenyanDairies.: Kenyan football’s biggest enemy: The past two weekends saw the return of violence to Kenyan football, and now it is full-blown with players, stewards and the fans. ...

Kenyan football’s biggest enemy

The past two weekends saw the return of violence to Kenyan football, and now it is full-blown with players, stewards and the fans.

As obvious as the script reads, once again it is Gor Mahia and their nemesis, AFC Leopards with their near-fanatical crowds that have never learnt to accept refereeing calls made against them.

The AFC Leopards-Ulinzi Stars match in Mumias was aborted in the 84^th minute after Leopards fans, led by a ‘purported’ steward raced into the pitch to dispute a second penalty awarded to the soldiers.

Yakubu Ramadhan, Leopard’s centre-back man-handled the referee in protests as things got out of hand.

A week before, Boniface Olouch, the Gor Mahia custodian shoved the assistant referee in dispute of a penalty awarded to Tusker, at the Nyayo National stadium. 

Crowd trouble followed and the game was halted for some minutes.

Days after the two incidents, Sportpesa suspended their sponsorship to the two clubs

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As the air cools down over the return of goons into the stadiums, Kenya Premier League (KPL) Limited and Football Kenya Federation (FKF) must take huge blame for cordoning the vice.

The two clubs are notorious for crowd trouble whenever things get tough on the pitch. Sadly, there has never been a disciplinary precedent tough and punitive enough to teach them the hard way.

They have been tolerated for long. Those in-charge at FKF and KPL have not read the riot act as this bunch of fans wreaks havoc on the pitch.

But for how long will we slowly watch as a tragedy keeps cooking in our stadiums? Do we love seeing fans die in our stadiums or risk the wrath of Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA)?

We must act. The league cannot go down the drain because of some goons within the AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia families?

The corporate world has come back to financially uplift our game and ensure that the game raises families and improves lives of the players. This must be protected.

Those involved must be careful not to taste the sharpness of the knife with their own thighs! It is dangerous.

If the corporate world takes away the dollars, fans die in our stadiums or FIFA slams us with a ban, Kenyan football will pay the price.

Stewards, players and fans have been captured on camera unleashing terror. Their faces are known and so they must be punished.

It is too dear to imagine. Let KPL and FKF step up to the plate and help slay the demon of violence and hooliganism, whose main culprits are AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia.

The Siege on our Jumbos must end

In 1979, Kenya had about 167,000 elephants. In 2016, the population is estimated at about 38,000.

Satao, one of the world’s most iconic and oldest elephants was butchered by poachers inside Tsavo East National Park, on May 30, 2014. A poisoned arrow ended his life as poachers chased his majestic tusks.

Many more elephants have been killed as rampant poaching has become the constant shadow of death stalking them.

On April 30, 2016, President Uhuru Kenyatta will lead the nation in burning 105 tons of illegal ivory, about one ton of rhino horns.

This will be the biggest haul to be burnt in Kenya.  Former president Daniel Moi set ablaze 12 tons of ivory on July 12, 1989.

The events are a testament to the nation’s political resolve to say no to the illegal trade that is threatening the existence of elephants across the world.

According to The Atlantic, United States of America burnt six tons in 2013, China destroyed six tons in 2014 and Hong Kong set out to destroy 28 tons from 2014.

In Africa, Gabon, Mozambique and Ethiopia have followed suit. Sadly, about 100 elephants are killed across Africa daily. Kenya is part of this vicious cycle.

This is more than the number of elephants born each day. Their ivory has turned to be their biggest enemies as poachers viciously hunt them.

The battle is tough as poachers, armed with guns and poisoned arrows stalk our elephants in the bushes of Tsavo national Park and other homes.

According to Kenya Wildlife Service, the nation lost 302 elephants in 2013. This is a grim reality that faces the remaining 38,000 elephants across the country. In 2014, 137 elephants and 24 rhinoceros were lost to poachers.

As Uhuru leads the nation in setting ablaze illegal ivory, rhino horns, skin and hides, efforts to slay poaching must be stepped up.As a nation, we must ask questions beyond the burning of these tons.

The poachers must be nailed, the big boys who traffic these trophies must be nipped and global markets like China, Vietnam and other countries in the Far East must be place on alert.

The loss of elephants spells doom to our tourism which is still chocking since 2014. It is a threat to environmental conservation too.

The priceless efforts and campaigns of conservationists like Dr. Paula Kahumbu must be supported fully by the government.

Corruption and unduepolitical influence should be discouraged. The poachers are our brothers. They live within us and we know their faces.

We choose to hide them and pretend to shed tears when our lovely jumbos are killed. Numerous seizures across different entry and exit points have been made in Kenya.

Is it possible that the faces behind the trafficking are not known? Have punitive measures been instituted against them? We laud Uhuru for tomorrow’s event.

 It is aloud declaration by the government on the political resolve to fight poaching. Beyond the fire, a lot needs to be done to secure our 38,000 elephants that stare at extinction in the face.

 Each day must be devoted to combatting poachers and their moneyed financiers. The government should come clean on the war and unmask the known faces in the trade.

Corruption must be fought too. Undue political interference must be stopped. Punitive measures, deterrent enough must be adopted in legislation and government policies.

The Wildlife Conservation and Management Act of 2013 must be enforced with full force. If well used, it is punitive enough to deter the culprits involved in the decimation of our jumbos.

 In the future, if Kenya burns similar hauls of illegal ivory, rhino horns and other products, then it will be a harsh indictment on our failure to fight poaching.

We must act and save our elephants. We owe it to these great and intelligent creatures!