Difficult to judge the polls

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Africans like any other third world people have a long way to go when it comes to giving validity to opinion polls. In western democratic societies opinion polls are taken seriously because they tend to give the true picture of the situation. But in Kenya for instance, we tend to answer what we think the questioner is trying to get at. Hence the outcome of the recent Steadman Group polls mean different things to different groups depending on which political camp one sympathizes with.

The Kalonzo Musyoka team thinks the polls were tailored and or doctored by the state to favor his Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Raila Odinga in order to confuse the electorate. It is so sad for Kalonzo to come to this conclusion because it is impossible for the state (read the Kibaki team) to tailor the polls and make it appears as if Raila is more popular than the head of state himself.
At least Musyoka’s presidential running mate Dr. Julia Ojiambo is more intelligent when she noted that the poll was not credible when she notes, “I don’t believe in opinion polls because they always reflect the wishes of those who pay for them.” I can this; I agree with Ms. Ojiambo that there are many doctored scientific findings and opinions polls that are funded by specific groups to further their causes etc.

The Mwingi North MP promised that his party, Orange Democratic Movement Kenya (ODM-K), would prove the pollster wrong. He claimed the mood in the country indicated ODM-K was taking a lead as people were allegedly questioning the credibility of his opponents.
In the ODM camp, they are elated in cloud nine. Raila presidmatila running mate Musalia Mudavadi did not mince his word when he was quoted to have said, the polls “was a clear indication that ODM was headed for victory in the General Election”. This camp thinks they have already won the general election and presidency as they do not doubt the polls at all. In fact they agree it to be the true representation of the mood in the country.

The Kibaki’s camp opinion is varied from one side that refer the polls as “a wake-up call” being reminder to them to go out and campaign for the head of state re-election with more vigor. This side of NARC Kenya politicians is on the view that they did not doubt the result mainly because their team (PNU) had delayed to roll out its campaign, while presidential candidate Raila Odinga and his ODM team had already hit the road.

To the other side like the NARC Kenya Chairman Raphael Tuju dismissing the polls by noting, “Although I have not studied it, an opinion poll is just an opinion. It is not an election. The most important poll comes on the voting day.” Others in this side includes that talkative but lately very silent JJ Kamotho, dismissing the poll as propaganda campaign.

The Mathioya legislator who was once upon a time a die hard Raila supporter now turned Kibaki sympathizer notes, “People should not be worried or look at them as gospel truth.” Kamotho claimed statistics could be used to cheat and peddle lies and further portray, please or offend any given party.

On my part I can boldly assert that the opinion polls are not a true reflection of what is going on the ground at grassroots and or constituencies level. For instance what has Raila done for the Lang’ata MP to rise in the polls? The Steadman Group wants to be in the limelight so that it can make money. There is no way that the pollsters were able to conduct the survey in 53 districts as they claim.

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When the Kibaki re-election team was unveiled, one of the local dailies had a banner headline “Key ministers left out of Kibaki’s re-election team.” The fact that those key ministers were left out in the 29-member Kibaki re-election campaign team is not a negative move by President Mwai Kibaki and those who compiled the list. All but two of those key ministers mentioned in that banner headline hail from Mt. Kenya. Mukhisa Kituyi and Mutua Katuku are the two who hail from other regions. The Trade and Industry minister has since decamped to Soita Shitanda-led New Ford Kenya party, while the Water Resource minister has stayed put in NARC Kenya.

Had all those individuals been included in the committee, the balance on the team would have tipped in favour of Central province (read Mt. Kenya) as opposed it being a balanced team for a national presidency. The way I see it is that, the whole idea is to have a balance campaign team, a face of Kenya (and not that of Mt. Kenya) where all regions are equally represented. There was a need to not make it a Mount Kenya affair. For instance, it is only the cosmetic presence of Raphael Tuju, Kipruto arap Kirwa and Suleman Shakombo and perhaps a few other little known politicians, that was giving NARC Kenya a national outlook when everyone knew or knows the party is a Mt. Kenya political outfit.

Had the Kibaki campaign re-election team been crowded with Mt. Kenya politicians, Kibaki rivals in ODM and ODM-K would have had a field day in reminding Kenyans that Kibaki presidency is a Mt. Kenya fairs particularly with Uhuru Kenyatta joining the campaign. But now, the PNU team is national one with a cross tribal outlook as it should be. Although chaired by the head of state himself, it is being shepherded by the Agriculture minister Kipruto arap Kirwa, assisted by five key party leaders, Kenyatta, Musikari Kombo, Chirau Mwakwere, Joseph Munyao and Simon Nyachae. The team has members from all the eight provinces in the country, with membership that has co-opted Mrs. Linah Jebii Kilimo, and Dr. Naomi Shaban amongst others.

Any PNU critic will find it difficult to criticize the team and to perhaps claim that it doesn’t have a national outlook. Those banner headlines from media houses are trying to create a wedge between the head of state and his Mt. Kenya base politicians by inciting negativity in the omission of those key individuals. It is funny, one is dammed when he does and dammed when he doesn’t, because had the Mt. Kenya politicians been co-opted, the same media houses would have labeled the whole team is a Mt. Kenya affair.

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They say, the only thing that doesn’t change is changes itself. The country’s political realignment keeps on changing by the day. The latest notable political move is that of the Trade and Industry Minister Dr. Mukhisa Kituyi who has decamped from NARC Kenya to the little known, Housing Minister Soita Shitanda-led New Ford Kenya party. The Kimilili MP was the secretary general of NARC Kenya and his move raise eyebrows as to NARC Kenya are seen to losing its key players who not hailing form Mt. Kenya region.

It was once thought that NARC Kenya was the party of President Mwai Kibaki in which its ticket Kibaki will use to seek re-election. Many politicians supporting the head of state joined thinking it was the right party to in until it emerged that was more leaning to be a Mt. Kenya political outfit. Some visionary politicians such as Mwakwere and others left the party and went to strengthen their regional parties still supporting Kibaki. The president has since declared his party of choice and NARC Kenya was reduced to being one of the five major parties that form the Party of National Unity that will see President Mwai Kibaki presidential re-election.

I would think Kituyi’s action will be a wake-up call to likes of Heritage Minister Suleman Shakombo and junior Justice and Constitutional Minister Dunson Mungatana and other Coast politicians who are in PNU to shift their ‘party affiliation caucus’ and join Shirikisho Party of Kenya. This way the Coast politicians who are supporting the re-election of President Kibaki would then be in the same bigger camp (PNU) and in the same sub-camp (Shirikisho).

The move of shifting party affiliation should be an easy one as the Likoni MP has no known major political differences with Mwakwere/Dzorro group that would make the shift difficult. If Raila Odinga-led NDP merged with former President Daniel arap Moi KANU, then any other merge would be a piece of cake. I say this because there are no irreconcilable political differences, and as such Mungatana and the Mwakwere group should reconcile and unite and make Shirikisho a stronger Coast political party. Both Garsen and Matuga lawmakers are in the same camp backing President Kibaki re-election bid.

Once Shakombo and Mungatana join Shirikisho, other Coast politicians who are not in PNU alliance such as the Malindi and Bahari legislators Lucas Maitha and Joe Khamis respectively would be compelled to follow suit or they loose their parliamentary seats. Right now these two individuals are supporting ODM Kenya and Kalonzo Musyoka whose political supported is restricted to his Ukambani home region. The Mwingi North MP has no shot of winning the presidency, a fact that he himself is very much aware of. One would hope that Joe Hamisi and his friends would have the intelligence to realize this fact.

If Nicholas Biwott can sit down with Gideon Moi and Kipruto arap Kirwa to map out strategy for their region and people, why can’t the Coast politicians do the same thing fro their region and people? Luhya politicians are all in Ford Kenya and New Ford Kenya; the Kisii politicians are in Ford People, Mt. Kenya region politicians have all converged in NARC Kenya et al.

Boldly speaking I am not apologetic in asking Coast politicians to unite for the sake of their region and people. Mwakwere/Dzorro group have paved the way forward in the region but they need the support of everyone to make the great leap forward.

omarahmedali@gmail.com

A case for a Coastal VP

Since independence the country has had three presidents and nine vice presidents, none of whom has hailed from Coast or North Eastern provinces. As for the North Eastern province one could argue that the province is sparsely and least populated in the country as the reason. But as for the Coast province, it is pure marginalization of the region and its people.

Central province has had the lion’s share where it has produced two presidents and one vice president, the founding President Mzee Jomo Kenyatta and the incumbent President Mwai Kibaki. The longtime Othaya MP served his predecessor former President Moi as his first vice president. The expansive Rift Valley province has produced Moi, who first served as Kenyatta’s third and final vice president, before ascending to the presidency himself where he reigned for almost quarter of a century. Kenyatta’s second VP Joseph Murumbi also hailed from this region and so is Moi’s third VP George Saitoti.

Nyanza province produced the country’s founding VP in the named of Mzee Jaramogi Odinga Oginga. Even ‘Nairobi Area’ as a province has had its share of producing a VP in the name of Dr. Josephat Karanja then the MP for Mathare after having shifted his political base from Githunguri. Western province has had the highest number of vice presidents, Musalia Mudavadi, the late Kijana Wamwalwa and the current Moody Awori in that order.

Without beating about the bush it is high time that a Coastal be named vice president. The only person who could make that happen is none other than President Mwai Kibaki. I say so because the two leading presidential candidates opposing the incumbent, Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka have both already named their running mates who both happen not to be Coastal politicians and incidentally both hail from, you guess it, Western province.

President Kibaki on the other hand is not compelled to name a running mate and has the vintage advantage to name his vice president after the general election. Considering the fact that Kibaki will retire after serving the second and final term (using his own words), it gives him more power and leverage to right some of the wrongs.

When it comes to Muslims, more than forty years after independence, no Muslim has ever come close to be appointed to the vice presidency position. Mzee Jomo Kenyatta did not even see the need or importance of appointing a Muslim to his cabinet. Muslims did not matter in the Kenyatta presidency. Kenyatta successor former head of state Moi on his part only saw the need as a returning a favor to Gen Mahmud Mohamed who had saved his government from the ’82 August coup plotters, when he appointed the Dujis MP Hussein Maalim Mohamed (a brother to Gen. Mohamed) as the first Muslim cabinet minister in the country. It was only toward the end of his long presidency when Moi went head and added two other Muslims to his cabinet. The late Sharrif Nassir served for close to two years and Ijara MP Yussuf Haji joined the cabinet for a very short stint.

Among the three head of states, Kibaki is the only one who is seen to have or be going against the grain by treating Coastals and Muslims as equal citizens of Kenya. In his government, Muslims and the Coast people are holding positions of high profile and powerful cabinet posts, from diplomatic to senior bureaucratic positions.

To speak boldly, if a black man in a racial sensitive United States, Senator Barrack Obama, ironically with Kenya ancestry, can become a serious presidential contender in a major political party, the appointment of a Muslim and or a Coastal vice president should not be seen as an impossible dream.

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Kibaki the best brand in 2007

If there is any politician among the three presidential candidates who is marketable to the electorate is none other than President Mwai Kibaki. Like him or hate him, Kibaki is a tried hand in both management and politics. Kenyans and the electorate have seen the good Kibaki has done to the country in general as their head of state.

One political commentator opposed to the Kibaki candidacy wrote claiming that it would be difficult to market the Kibaki brand. He notes, “It is the season in which the President’s campaign corps hate to be reminded of the outlandish police raid on the Standard Group, Anglo Leasing, and the transformation of the Office of the President, Kenya Revenue Authority, Treasury and Central Bank into modern day exhibition halls of cronyism and tribalism.”

There is cronyism in Kenya as there cronyism in the USA, UK and everywhere in the democratic world. Corruption too is everywhere not restricted to Kenya. I am not saying that because it exists everywhere then it is acceptable, but fighting corruption is not the work of the government alone but the country as a whole. The reason why I raise it here is because the way Kibaki opponents raise these twin issues of corruption and cronyism is as if the world is free of corruption and cronyism but Kenya. Look everywhere in the country, and you will see cronyism and corruption.

It is marketing Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka that is going to prove to be challenging. All the euphoria that is seen in urban areas and supported by the media houses will not turn in votes. Majority of Kenya’s electorate is rural based and do not read or have access to the newspapers. The two Orange candidates, Raila and Musyoka have not been tested in any executive leadership position. There is nothing to write home about when it comes to Raila Odinga as the country’s minister of Energy (under Daniel arap Moi) and Roads and Public Works under Kibaki. What we know is that Raila returned the roads money back to the treasury when the country roads were still in depilated conditions.

Kalonzo Musyoka who has served in more than four ministries and mainly in Foreign Affairs did nothing memorable that one can recall in an instant. Although the Mwingi North MP likes to take credit for the twin Sudan and Somalia peace agreements as his brainchild but the fact remains that Kenya’s lack of articulated foreign policy is Musyoka’s fault and no one else’s.
Kenyans should not be hoodwinked to vote Raila or Kalonzo because they hate Kibaki for corruption and cronyism. Who knows what magnitude of corruption and cronyism will Raila and Kalonzo introduce to the country in their governments? The Raila/Musalia-led Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has already started introducing cronyism in its infant administration by declaring the members of the so-called Pentagon will receive automatic nomination in their respective parliamentary constituencies. If that act is not cronyism, isn’t it corruption? ODM has already started to “distribute power” among themselves even before they have secured it. God only knows what will happen if they win the general election.
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Stop Johnies come lately

NARC Kenya politicians, particularly those who were initially opposed to any form of coalition with the rest of President Kibaki friendly parties should not be allowed to take any leadership positions in the new alliance, Party of National Unity (PNU). I say so because what people are seeing is that people like Foreign Affairs minister Raphael Tuju, Narc Kenya chairman and others, all of sudden are starting to become the face of PNU when they were initially opposed to this alliance.

It is a known fact that, there is a group of non-Mount Kenya stalwarts within Narc Kenya led by the party’s secretary general Mukhisa Kituyi who were opposed to any form of a coalition with like minded political parties. They thought President Kibaki will seek re-election using Narc Kenya ticket and they wanted to shut down all those Kibaki supporters who were opposed to their party. They used the United States President George Bush’s failed mantra on the war on terror; ‘you are either with us or against us’.

Interestingly, Mt. Kenya politicians led by the Keini MP Dr. Christopher Murungaru and others like the youthful Mwangi Kiunjuri knew all along that no single political party in the country could win the election on its own. They also saw that, the successful Kibaki re-election bid needs a coalition of all friendly parties they can assemble that support the head of state. There is no doubt that despite claiming officials coming outside the Mt. Kenya region, Narc Kenya is largely a Mt. Kenya political outfit or put it this way, the party stronghold is in Mt. Kenya region, and not that there in anything wrong with that. It is the way that Ford Kenya and Shirikisho are respectively political outfits of Western and Coast provinces.

The birth of PNU, not Panu as the media has branded it, is credit to Science and Technology minister Dr. Noah Wekesa, who tirelessly chaired all the talks that produced PNU. This is despite the fact that majority of Narc Kenya leadership not only snubbed the talks but went even further to undermine the efforts.

Now that PNU is alive and kicking, it should take a leaf from the American national political parties where Republican and Democratic parties have very few national officials. For instance the Democratic Party has only nine national officials and six congressional leadership officials. The reason for this being that the bulk of the party work is done by their respective state levels offices (equivalent to say branches) where the national office only coordinates. Now let us compare the fifteen officials on the Democratic Party to Narc Kenya’s seventy national officials and you will appreciate what I ma trying to say here. One wonders why Narc Kenya needs eight vice chairmen, three deputy secretaries general, three deputy treasurer and on the list goes. The bloated leadership pitiful is what PNU should avoid to fall into.

Of course we cannot ‘copy and paste’ the American party management system but they can modify it to meet their needs. The best way to make PNU stronger and people friendly is to have very few national leadership positions and bare minimum committees. For instance, the flag bearer, in this case President Kibaki becomes the party leader.

All the respective parties’ leaders and or chairmen of PNU should form the party top organ, the Supreme Committee to be chaired by the president and or the vice president. Another important committee, probably be named coordinating committee or conference committee, could be composed of the parties’ secretary generals and the final one would be the PNU Parliamentary Group. Other than the three committees, the bulk of the PNU work should be relegated or delegated to individual parties the same way United States’ state levels are responsible for the respective political parties’ activities in their respective states.

In truth, I stand

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In all my commentaries, I have been very clear in my support for my native Coast province, the region and people that have been marginalized by two successful governments of Mzee Jomo Kenyatta and Daniel arap Moi. I also have not hidden my support of the courageous political leadership of Chirau Mwakwere who together with other forward looking visionary Coastal leaders are working closely with President Mwai Kibaki and his government for the benefit of the province and the people. And last but not least my support of the national leadership of President Mwai Kibaki has been as clear as blue sky.

I am no politician and eighty percent of the time I do not even reside in Kenya for those who might suspect that my support is more of a flatterer politician and or that of a political sycophant expecting some financial handouts or a presidential appointment. I have supported this president since he came to power. I have never expected anything in return but good governance, free media, national developments, and above all fair distribution of national resources.

Many people are in the view that, since one happens to be a longtime resident of the United States and my name is not what one would have assumed to be from the slopes of Mount Kenya, then I should support the opposition and not the establishment. One of the fundamental cores of the United States foreign policy is that of looking after and protecting their national interests. The same applies to me, Kibaki is best for my region, my people and my country and as such I have no option but support him.

For instance, those who know me and those who have been following my commentaries and analyses know very well that I have been an advocate for the public university to be established at my native province. So when President Kibaki signed in the Kenya Gazette the establishment of two university colleges I was elated. Two successful governments of Presidents Kenyatta and Moi did not see it fit to establish a public university in the region, one of the richest provinces in the country. I have been accused to be a crusader for urging my fellow Coast compatriots not to allow anyone to trivialize this education advancement.

The emergence of the Transport minister has changed the political equation in the region. The Matuga MP is from a populous Mijikenda community and is also a Muslim adherent. The Mijikenda being the populous tribes and the province has a Muslim majority. The regional political leadership of Mwakwere is that of a silent burner, where it cooks without making any noises. Mwakwere is hated by some opposition leaders because the man is unlike previous Coast politicians, he is educated. This is a man with two graduate degrees, and has as much senior governmental working experience as any other Kenyan out there.

Previous Coast political leadership was uneducated, so unfocused such that, some of them were happy with assistant ministerial positions. Coast voters like their previous leadership was taken for granted the same way African-American votes have always been taken for granted by the Democratic Party.

I bring this matter to surface because; the media’s cunning is very biased when it comes to certain politicians. Coast politicians are the first causalities of the media bias, simple because they do not have any editors from the region. For instance when Raila and his group defected from ODM Kenya to ODM, the press did not refer the move as defection. One would have expected the newspapers’ banner headlines the next day to read something like: "Raila Odinga defects” or “Mother of all defections" instead it was "Fallout" or "ODM finally splits" as was the case with two dailies headlines.

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I abhor this discrimation

Two days ago, while presiding over the award ceremony of a university charter to St. Paul's University in Limuru, President Mwai Kibaki noted that ‘the Government is progressively moving towards ensuring that all Kenyan children have access to at least 14 years of education.’
The head of state went on to observe that ‘demand for higher education continues to rise as more secondary students qualify each year for university education, and said government policy calls for strong partnerships between the Government, private sector, and other interested parties in expanding higher education in this country.’
St. Paul University is a catholic university and it is one of the more than a dozen Christian based universities and colleges in the country. Despite such a high number of Christian religion oriented institutes there is not a single Islamic University in the country. All the Christian colleges and universities are recognized by the government through the ministry of education. Interestingly the three Islamic colleges that exist in the country are not recognized by the same Ministry of Education. A clear double standard on the part of the George Saitoti’s run Ministry of Education.

While speaking during a launch of National Muslim Education Trust (NMET) in Mombasa recently, a senior official of the trust, Sheikh Ahmad Msallam stated, "There has been several attempts and efforts made to get authority to start an Islamic University but it has proved difficult to get an interim certificate from the commission of higher authority." The trust has already set aside the required piece of land where they want to have the institution outside Mombasa.
President Mwai Kibaki was very clear when he pointed out that government policy calls for strong partnerships between the Government, private sector, and other interested parties in expanding higher education in this country. NMET is one of those other interested parties (a religious one) that want to expand higher education in Kenya.
Msallam and his group are forwarding their memorandum, with regards to being given permission to establish the university, directly to the head of state as their previous efforts have met deaf ear from the chairman of the Commission for Higher Education Prof. Kihumbu Thairu. The proposed Islamic University aims to offer degrees in business administration, sciences and computer, far beyond theological studies.
While visiting Garissa earlier this month President Kibaki emphasized that his Government does not condone any form of discrimination and assured the Muslim community that they will not be discriminated on the basis of their religion. Boldly speaking Mr. President what is going on at the Commission for Higher Education is pure discrimination and it must stop. Thairu and his team are practicing a form of discrimination against these private Muslims and Islam establishment.
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If you cannot beat them, join them

The decision not to contest the presidency by Uhuru Kenyatta in this year’s general election was settled way back after the Gatundu South MP lost the presidential election to President Mwai Kibaki in 2002 general election. His announcement on Thursday that KANU will not seek the presidency was a mere formality. It’s like pregnancy, where one knows the mother will have baby, but it takes nine months for the bay to be born.

Uhuru’s best shot for the presidency was in 2002, where former president Daniel arap Moi thought he was literally handing over the presidency to his predecessor’s son. Moi himself has since opted to support Kibaki’s re-election bid and says he will campaign for the re-election of his successor, the person whom Moi did everything in his power to block from winning the presidency in 2002. I guess if you can’t beat them join them. With Moi opting out and with Uhuru Kenyatta lacking a national constituency it was a foregone conclusion for Uhuru to throw the towel.
One can say that Kenyatta has made the best decision in his political career, for opting not to compete for the presidency in the coming general election. Not only would he have lost at the presidency level, but he would definitely have emerged in third or fourth place and certainly would have lost his Gatundu South parliamentary seat. What was interesting to me was what Uhuru said. The Gatundu legislator was quoted to have said that he was not the type to run for the presidency just for the sake of it, but one to do so only when he was sure of a win. He went on to add that ‘We are not people who just run. We run when we are sure we can win. I am leading the party to the next government.’
The way I see it is that, Uhuru is supporting Kibaki because the president is the better candidate and deserve a second and final term to complete what his Government has started. Uhuru is supporting him because he has no choice and no chance of beating him. The support of Uhuru to President Kibaki re-election campaign is only symbolic. It is in fact more beneficial to Mr. Kenyatta and his team than it is to Kibaki. Uhuru and his team bring virtually nothing to the table. For instance, in his native Central province where in the last election he was able to secure a good chunk of votes, this time around the region is firmly rallying behind the incumbent. Kibaki does not need to waste time campaigning in his native province.

In Rift Valley where under Moi, the expansive and the most populous province became the core of KANU is today having their own agenda independent of KANU and Uhuru Kenyatta. The region’s politicians are campaigning for one of their own to be appointed Kibaki vice president in return for supporting Kibaki re-election. Without Central and Rift Valley provinces, Uhuru and or KANU have nothing to talk about or to bring to the table. The Coast KANU politicians in mainly from Taita Taveta and Wundanyi have already declared their support for Kibaki. In fact the seaside province based Shirikisho is at the forefront in the Kibaki friendly parties’ coalition talks at the bona fide representative of the province.

It will be interesting to see how KANU’s position will be in the Kibaki allied coalition of friendly parties.

The writer can be reached at: omarahmedali@gmail.com

COASTAL UNIVERSITY STATUS IS A REASON TO CELEBRATE

Coast given three public universitycolleges by the Government

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Coastweek - - Presidential political goodies or not, Coast people have every reason to be elated for being given three public university colleges by the Government of President Mwai Kibaki.

After more than forty years of independence and two successful governments of Mzee Jomo Kenyatta and Daniel arap Moi that span for all those years but five, the region had been marginalized in all aspects of developments particularly in education.

Other than the sparsely and least populated North Eastern province, all the country's other six provinces have public and private institutes of higher learning, or universities.
That is until when the head of state was visiting Coast province the last week of August.
In that Tuesday's Kenya Gazette President Kibaki upgraded six institutions in the country to university status, two of them located at the Coast.
This is a good reason to celebrate.

Although plans for Pwani University were already in the high gear after the government received the much needed financial boost from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, but the Kibaki government still went ahead and upgraded Mombasa Polytechnic (or MIOME) to a university college status.
In addition Jomo Kenyatta University - Taita Taveta Campus, a constituent college of JKUCAT, will soon open its doors for students.
Coast people should not allow this educational development and or advancement be played down or trivialized by anyone.

When other provinces were being given 'political goodies" by the founding president Mzee Jomo Kenyatta and his successor Daniel arap Moi, no one played down or trivialized the "goodies".
Why should the Coastal people allow that to happen now ?

With three university colleges in the province, the region now wants a constituent college or a satellite campus of Utalii College to be set up in Mombasa or Malindi.
As the backbone of the country tourism industry the Coast region deserves at least a satellite campus of Utalii College if not a fully fledged Utalii like college.

Education is the key to any and all developments.

Omar Ahmed Ali,

Philadelphia, U.S.A.

Why Shirikisho’s Kibaki endorsement rational

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Shirikisho Party of Kenya under the stewardship of the Transport Minister Chirau Mwakwere and deputized by his Tourism & Wildlife counterpart Morris Dzorro has rightly resolved to back the re-election of President Mwai Kibaki through the yet to be identified grand national coalition. While making the official party announcement on this key endorsement, the Matuga MP cited Kibaki’s more than excellent development record particularly as it pertains to Coast province and the country in general as the reason for the party’s support.

It is against this backdrop that this week I have chosen to answer Hon. Najib Balala who castigated the Pwani grown and Coast based Shirikisho’s courageous stand of backing President Kibaki candidacy. It was not surprising for the one time Mombasa mayor to criticize Shirikisho for endorsing President Mwai Kibaki’s re-election bid. Balala, who is always known to be playing second fiddle to the Up-country politicians, wanted the Coast based party to support his party of choice, one of the oranges.

In his criticism Balala notes, “It was obvious that they would back President Kibaki ... they are desperate to raise their profile and also get money for campaigning. Their move is not based on ideology because the SPK is for devolved government while Kibaki is for central government.”

It is a known fact that political parties in Kenya are based on ideologies. Every political party and politicians alike strive to raise their profiles. This is the name of the game. Even Balala himself was just raising his personal political profile by agreeing to act as Odinga’s proxy when he (Balala) pretended to be seeking one of the orange parties’ presidential nominations. Who was he fooling with his phony presidential nomination pretense? The former State Minister for National Heritage had more chances of resurrecting the dead or seeing God than winning the party presidential nomination let alone the presidency.
According to Balala, SPK “no longer represents the wishes and aspirations of the Coast people” and went on to add that the vacuum Shirikisho had left would be filled by Orange Democratic Movement-Raila, which stands for a devolved system of Government. The question comes, if he Balala thought that (until this Kibaki endorsement by Shirikisho), the Shirikisho represented the ‘wishes and aspirations of the Coast people’ why wasn’t he in Shirikisho in the first place. He has never associated himself with Shirikisho, instead he was and he has always allied himself with Raila to the extent of being termed as one of his poodles. I poise this question to the illustrious Balala: ‘Does Raila represent ‘the wishes and aspirations’ of the Coast people’?
The Mvita MP goes on and points out that on their (meaning Shirikisho) demand for the VP’s position if Kibaki wins the elections, would not happen. He notes, “They should forget the VP’s position... it is impossible ... money they will get but not that seat.” Perhaps I should remind Balala that at least Shirikisho leader Chirau Mwakwere is making the case for the vice presidency. Whether they will be given or not is completely another matter. Even Rift Valley and Western provinces’ politicians who like their Shirikisho counterparts are making the case for the same number two slot.
But Balala did not make the case for the number two slot even for himself. If I may take if further, even the non existent prime minister’s post under the ODM-Raila government, the prime minister designate is William Ruto and not Balala. Many suspect that Balala will be happy with the glorified deputy prime minister’s post that is also nonexistent in our constitution.
It is safe to infer that it is the inferiority complex of Balala when it comes to his personal academic achievement. For instance, among all the ODM presidential candidates, only Balala is the one without a university degree—even an undergraduate one. Although education is not the barometer of being a good leader, but one needs some level of university education to be able to comprehend and appreciate certain matters.
I can boldly say that Balala and other Coast leaders who are opposed to Shirikisho, in their effort to strive to appear to be nationalists enjoy playing second, third, fourth and even fifth fiddle to Up-country politicians and their political outfit. They are being used as farasi was vita (fighting horse). A case in point, Balala’s successor at the National Heritage portfolio Suleman Shakombo, the Bahari MP Joe Khamis, Lucas Maitha of Malindi all these Coast leaders are used by their masters in the fight for the Coast voters. Sad to say but they are so naïve that they don’t see that they are at the forefront popularizing Up-country parties in their region at the expense of their own people. If Nicholas Biwott, Kipruto arap Kirwa and Gideon Moi can sit down and strategize to form a strong Rift Valley alliance why can’t Shakombo, Khamis and Maitha do the same.
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Kudos, Mr President!

Presidential political goodies or not, Coast people have every reason to be elated for being given three public university colleges by the Government of President Mwai Kibaki. After more than forty years of independence from the colonial bondage and two successful governments of Mzee Jomo Kenyatta and Daniel arap Moi that span for all those years but five, the region had been marginalized in all aspects of developments including education.

Other than the sparsely and least populated North Eastern province, all the country’s other six provinces have state institutes of higher learning, or universities.

That is until when the head of state was visiting Coast province the last week of August. In that Tuesday's Kenya Gazette President Kibaki upgraded six institutions in the country to university status, two of them located at the Coast. This is a good reason to celebrate. Although plans for Pwani University were already in the high gear after the government received the much needed financial boost from the King Abdulla government of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, but the Kibaki government still went ahead and upgraded Mombasa Polytechnic (or MIOME) to a university college status and Jomo Kenyatta University –Taita Taveta Campus, a constituent college of JKUCAT, will soon open its doors for students.

Coast people should not allow this educational development and or advancement be played down or trivialized by anyone. When other provinces were being given 'political goodies" by the founding president Mzee Jomo Kenyatta and his successor Daniel arap Moi, no one played down or trivialized the "goodies". Why should the Coastal people allow that to happen now?

With three university colleges in the province, the region now wants a constituent college or a satellite campus of Utalii College to be set up in Mombasa or Malindi. As the backbone of the country tourism industry the Coast region deserves at least a satellite campus of Utalii College if not a fully fledged Utalii like college.

Least it escapes Coast people minds, all these development achievements are been achieved under the watchful eye of current political leaders led by Chirau Ali Mwakwere, the undisputed Coast leader. The Transport minister assisted by his Tourism and Wildlife counterpart Dzorro and others such as the Kisauni and Ganze legislators have been working with the Kibaki government and played a key role in these developments.

It is against this background that I would openly urge my fellow Coastal people particularly the voters not to be wooed by the likes of Balala, Joe Khamisi, Lucas Maitha and others, in voting for the opposition presidential candidates. These opposition politicians are only looking after their individuals’ interests and not that of the region and the Caostals.

Boldly speaking the region should rally behind Mwakwere and Morris Dzorro and other leaders supporting Kibaki through Shirikisho where they should enter into a coalition as a bloc and not as individuals. The political reality is that, Kibaki is going to win re-lection, whether the opposition is united or otherwise. For the opposition being divided it just makes it easier or a smooth ride for Kibaki, but the Othaya MP is poised to win the presidential election anyway.

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Let Kivuitu preside over this poll

If there is any individual among the presidential candidates in the forthcoming general election who would like to see a free and fair election is none other than the incumbent himself. As a true democrat and for his own interest, President Mwai Kibaki has every reason to use all the power in disposal to ensure that the general election will be conducted in an atmosphere which is free and fair.

It is from this background that it would be a wise move if President Kibaki were to extend the term of office for the two senior Election Commission of Kenya, or ECK, commissioners, whose terms will expire before the general election. The ECK Chairman Samuel Kivuitu and his Deputy Gabriel Mukele are the commissioners in question.

The extension should not be for more than one year. Ideally it should be for another six months at the very least. This way the two together with the rest of ECK will preside over the general election, be involved in the election petitions that would crop up et al. In addition it would give them time, a couple of months, to clear their desks and hand over to the new commissioners. If need be, the extension should be voted in parliament for the parliamentarians approval in order to give it some legitimacy. I am certain majority if not all legislators would be in agreement when it comes to this matter.

As I have pointed before, there is no need to give the two commissioners another five year terms, as someone like Kivuitu has served the ECK for more than fifteen years. Other Kenyans need to be given a chance to make their contribution in the election process by managing and or serve in the ECK.

Kivuitu has done a great job in steering the ECK and as such he should be given a chance to complete his career by presiding over the frothing general which some have already dubbed it to be ‘a mother of all general elections’. Truth be told, Kivuitu is one Kenyan positioned to be very impartial as he has done so time and time again.

If any other ECK chairman is appointed prior to the general election it would be seen by the opposition politicians to be favoring the incumbent. One cannot fault the opposition who are usually seeking an opportunity to criticizing the incumbent even if for the sake of criticizing. To avoid any cloud of shadow Kibaki would be better to have Kivuitu preside in the coming general election least the opposition get the opportune chance to claim fraud et al.

I boldly urge President Kibaki to make this extension sooner rather than later.

Comments are welcomed: omarahmedali@gmail.com