_________
The security situation in the country is appalling. It is an embarrassment and humiliating for those of us who are out here independently defending the country’s public image. I have written about this topic before and since then several innocent Kenyans have lost their lives and so are some of the security personnel who are supposed to protect the public. Without beating about the bush, the security situation in Kenya has reached more than the alarming level, and continues to worsen with every passing minute, hour and day.
Kenyans have become a scared lot – for the first time in our history Kenyans do not feel safe in their own homes let alone outside their houses. The insecurity situation used to be restricted to the urban centers, but now it has spread to even rural settings. And mind you I am not talking of the so-called Mungiki killers.
Now that the president himself has commented on this matter, I have this suggestion to the head of state and the policy makers. It is high time that the country establish a full cabinet portfolio with specific assignment of security and public safety. If for instance there is no money to set a brand new ministry then there is a compelling need to take the current two ministries, State for Provincial Administration & National Security and that of Local Government to come up with two brand new ministries. The two new ministries would be, Ministry of Public Safety & Security and the other Ministry of Provincial Administration & Local Government. This way, the provincial administration and the local government which go hand in hand and can be supervised on behalf of the executive by one individual. If that is not possible, then here is another suggestion for the president and his key advisers to ponder.
Take all security affairs from the OP Provincial Administration and National Security and establish the new OP Public Safety and Security, the same way Housing ministry’s functions were taken out of then Lands and Housing ministry to create an independent Ministry of Housing.
Once established this new security portfolio, some sort of Homeland security, should absorb all of the country’s law enforcement agencies, i.e. the regular Constabulary Police, the General Service Unit, the CID, Anti-Stock Theft Squad, and the Administration Police. And this will also absorb the correctional services (prisons department) from the VP Home Affairs docket. Any department or departments that are ‘security allied and or related’ other than the armed forces should fall under this new docket.
I know I am perhaps singing to the choir, but apart from the public cries for their safety, lest we forget, Kenya is privileged to be the headquarters of two UN agencies, Habitat and United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). We are the only country in the third world, let alone Africa to enjoy such a prestige. Nairobi is perhaps the capital city with the most number of accredited diplomats in Africa, hence the home of one of the largest diplomatic community in the world. Then there is the all important Tourism industry which is still the backbone of our economy. All these need protection and security to preserve, let alone securing the peace for our own citizens that should be the government’s number one priority.
Boldly speaking, would the establishment of this proposed ministry change the security situation overnight? The answer is definitely no, but it will be the first step in the right direction in securing the peaceful environment that President Kibaki assured Kenyans in his latest Madaraka Day speech.
___________________
Who is folloing who here?
"The Limitations of Actions Act only applies in civil but not criminal matters. The Goldenberg scandal is a criminal issue." Says attorney James Mwamu. Mr. Mwamu was reacting to Justice Aaron Ringera’s assertion that more than Sh60 billions stolen through the Goldenberg scandal may never be recovered and that Kenyans should forget about the loot.
While addressing the press, the retired Justice Ringera the head of the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission (KACC) notes, "In Kenyan law there is the Limitation of Actions Act, which does not allow for the recovery of such monies and property after six years from the date of the commission of the offence."
I am no lawyer, but according to Mwamu, who is the Chair of Western Kenya Law Society, there is no statute of limitations (Limitation of Actions Act) in criminal matters but only in civil matters. The Goldenberg scandal was a criminal act and as such Ringera and his team not only have the obligation but also the leeway to pursue these criminals wherever they are and wherever they may be.
The Goldenberg financial scandal created billionaires and millionaires in the country overnight at the expense of the Kenya taxpaying public and the country’s economy. The moneybags individuals are now laughing and smoking expensive Cuban cigars knowing that they are now free to enjoy their loot.
Who is fooling whom here? Where is the Sh70 billion that was supposedly recovered by the firm, Kroll and Associates who were paid more than Sh11 million in fees? Hold on, what was all that about when in September last year, the illustrious Ringera boasted that his team had court warrants allowing them to seize accounts and recover the proceeds of the stolen loot stashed in 78 bank accounts.
This is a matter of public concern, Members of Parliament should take up the matter and amend the law {Cap 22 4 (d)} if need be in order for KACC to continue with their pursuit in this matter.
I will not make any inference here as to what has transpired in the high circles and in the corridors of power that yielded Ringera to make such a public statement. But if Ringera drops this pursuit, (as it appears he already has) it indirectly convey to the future looters that, as long as one covers their tracks well, say for six years while looting our state coffers, you will be able to steal and enjoy your loot in broad daylight. What happened in the Goldenberg scandal is stuff you see in movies fictionalizing a backward third world country and not real life happenings as was the case in Kenya.
___________________
Zoellick the right person for WB
Finally the World Bank has a new president. In naming Robert B. Zoellick as the new World Bank chief, one can boldly assert that the appointing authority, United States President George Bush, got it right this time around. I never thought I could say it, kudos to Bush for this appointment. Ambassador Zoellick is the best replacement that they could ever have for the disgraced Paul Dundes Wolfowitz.
First and foremost Ambassador Wolfowizt had no finance background whatsoever to become an effective and respected leader at the institution. Secondly with the Iraq war baggage still following him after he was hounded out of the Defense Department he must have thought, “ to hell with it”, I will reward those who supported me (him) in the Iraq war. True to his colors, Wolfowitz’z senior five appointments he made during his nearly two-year tenure, three were what one would call ‘political appointees’ of right-wing governments that provided strong backing for U.S. policy in Iraq. Some sort of Quid Pro Quo. The appointments included former Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister Marwan Muasher, who was named senior vice president for external affairs in early 2007.
Ambassador Muasher was Jordan's diplomat in Washington in the lead up to the Iraq War and reportedly helped ensure his country's cooperation during the 2003 invasion. Wolfowitz also secured posts for former Salvadoran Finance Minister Juan Jose Daboub, who was chief of staff to former President Francisco Flores Perez at the time when El Salvador, sent Salvadoran combat troops to Iraq more than any other developing country. The former Spanish Foreign Minister Ana Palacio, who was an outspoken proponent of the Iraq War during the administration of former Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar, who sent 1,500 troops to Iraq despite widespread opposition to the war in Spain. Wolfowizt was the wrong choice, period.
The United States was almost loosing its creditability as the appointing authority in the World Bank after Bush named a partisan political appointee to run it. Wolfotwizt did not disappoint his masters when started to behave as if he was running a US federal agency under President Bush and the Republican Party as opposed to an international world body.
Ambassador Zoellick, a career diplomat, has his work cut out for him. This columnist has no doubt that the former diplomat is the right person for the right job at the right moment in history. Until this appointment the US credibility was at stake and it needed someone of Zoellick’s stature and background if it had a chance of being salvaged.
His curriculum vitae is very impressive in any measuring standards. I can boldly say he has the prerequisite experience critically needed for this high profile position. He has extensive, both local (United States) and international work experience. He has served as the 13th US Trade Representative, a cabinet rank position in the US federal government, equivalent of a trade minister in any other country. His last position in the government was a brief stint as the Deputy Secretary of State. Zoellick also served at the US Department of the Treasury in various positions, including Counselor to Secretary of Treasury, Executive Secretary of the Department, and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Financial Institutions Policy.
Zoellick has received several awards including the ‘Alexander Hamilton Award’, the US Department of Treasury's highest honor, the Distinguished Service Award, the Department of State's highest honor. The German government awarded him the ‘Knight Commanders Cross’ for his role in developing the U.S. strategy toward German unification.
Zoellick has to get down to work as soon as it is humanly possibly as the world bank has been waiting for him since the resignation of Wolfowizt who used his position at the bank to repay in kind the debts of those who supported his debacle of taking America to the Iraq war, as the main architect of it.
Closer to home, Zoellick has worked with the US Congress to pass the Trade Act of 2002, which included new Trade Promotion Authority, and to expand the AGOA (African Growth & Opportunity Act). He has been to Kenya to attend the Mombasa meeting hosted by our Trade and Industry minister Dr. Mukhisa Kituyi, for the informal trade talks focusing on the stalled Doha round, with agriculture high on the agenda.
omarahmedali@gmail.com
Kenyans have become a scared lot – for the first time in our history Kenyans do not feel safe in their own homes let alone outside their houses. The insecurity situation used to be restricted to the urban centers, but now it has spread to even rural settings. And mind you I am not talking of the so-called Mungiki killers.
Now that the president himself has commented on this matter, I have this suggestion to the head of state and the policy makers. It is high time that the country establish a full cabinet portfolio with specific assignment of security and public safety. If for instance there is no money to set a brand new ministry then there is a compelling need to take the current two ministries, State for Provincial Administration & National Security and that of Local Government to come up with two brand new ministries. The two new ministries would be, Ministry of Public Safety & Security and the other Ministry of Provincial Administration & Local Government. This way, the provincial administration and the local government which go hand in hand and can be supervised on behalf of the executive by one individual. If that is not possible, then here is another suggestion for the president and his key advisers to ponder.
Take all security affairs from the OP Provincial Administration and National Security and establish the new OP Public Safety and Security, the same way Housing ministry’s functions were taken out of then Lands and Housing ministry to create an independent Ministry of Housing.
Once established this new security portfolio, some sort of Homeland security, should absorb all of the country’s law enforcement agencies, i.e. the regular Constabulary Police, the General Service Unit, the CID, Anti-Stock Theft Squad, and the Administration Police. And this will also absorb the correctional services (prisons department) from the VP Home Affairs docket. Any department or departments that are ‘security allied and or related’ other than the armed forces should fall under this new docket.
I know I am perhaps singing to the choir, but apart from the public cries for their safety, lest we forget, Kenya is privileged to be the headquarters of two UN agencies, Habitat and United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). We are the only country in the third world, let alone Africa to enjoy such a prestige. Nairobi is perhaps the capital city with the most number of accredited diplomats in Africa, hence the home of one of the largest diplomatic community in the world. Then there is the all important Tourism industry which is still the backbone of our economy. All these need protection and security to preserve, let alone securing the peace for our own citizens that should be the government’s number one priority.
Boldly speaking, would the establishment of this proposed ministry change the security situation overnight? The answer is definitely no, but it will be the first step in the right direction in securing the peaceful environment that President Kibaki assured Kenyans in his latest Madaraka Day speech.
___________________
Who is folloing who here?
"The Limitations of Actions Act only applies in civil but not criminal matters. The Goldenberg scandal is a criminal issue." Says attorney James Mwamu. Mr. Mwamu was reacting to Justice Aaron Ringera’s assertion that more than Sh60 billions stolen through the Goldenberg scandal may never be recovered and that Kenyans should forget about the loot.
While addressing the press, the retired Justice Ringera the head of the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission (KACC) notes, "In Kenyan law there is the Limitation of Actions Act, which does not allow for the recovery of such monies and property after six years from the date of the commission of the offence."
I am no lawyer, but according to Mwamu, who is the Chair of Western Kenya Law Society, there is no statute of limitations (Limitation of Actions Act) in criminal matters but only in civil matters. The Goldenberg scandal was a criminal act and as such Ringera and his team not only have the obligation but also the leeway to pursue these criminals wherever they are and wherever they may be.
The Goldenberg financial scandal created billionaires and millionaires in the country overnight at the expense of the Kenya taxpaying public and the country’s economy. The moneybags individuals are now laughing and smoking expensive Cuban cigars knowing that they are now free to enjoy their loot.
Who is fooling whom here? Where is the Sh70 billion that was supposedly recovered by the firm, Kroll and Associates who were paid more than Sh11 million in fees? Hold on, what was all that about when in September last year, the illustrious Ringera boasted that his team had court warrants allowing them to seize accounts and recover the proceeds of the stolen loot stashed in 78 bank accounts.
This is a matter of public concern, Members of Parliament should take up the matter and amend the law {Cap 22 4 (d)} if need be in order for KACC to continue with their pursuit in this matter.
I will not make any inference here as to what has transpired in the high circles and in the corridors of power that yielded Ringera to make such a public statement. But if Ringera drops this pursuit, (as it appears he already has) it indirectly convey to the future looters that, as long as one covers their tracks well, say for six years while looting our state coffers, you will be able to steal and enjoy your loot in broad daylight. What happened in the Goldenberg scandal is stuff you see in movies fictionalizing a backward third world country and not real life happenings as was the case in Kenya.
___________________
Zoellick the right person for WB
Finally the World Bank has a new president. In naming Robert B. Zoellick as the new World Bank chief, one can boldly assert that the appointing authority, United States President George Bush, got it right this time around. I never thought I could say it, kudos to Bush for this appointment. Ambassador Zoellick is the best replacement that they could ever have for the disgraced Paul Dundes Wolfowitz.
First and foremost Ambassador Wolfowizt had no finance background whatsoever to become an effective and respected leader at the institution. Secondly with the Iraq war baggage still following him after he was hounded out of the Defense Department he must have thought, “ to hell with it”, I will reward those who supported me (him) in the Iraq war. True to his colors, Wolfowitz’z senior five appointments he made during his nearly two-year tenure, three were what one would call ‘political appointees’ of right-wing governments that provided strong backing for U.S. policy in Iraq. Some sort of Quid Pro Quo. The appointments included former Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister Marwan Muasher, who was named senior vice president for external affairs in early 2007.
Ambassador Muasher was Jordan's diplomat in Washington in the lead up to the Iraq War and reportedly helped ensure his country's cooperation during the 2003 invasion. Wolfowitz also secured posts for former Salvadoran Finance Minister Juan Jose Daboub, who was chief of staff to former President Francisco Flores Perez at the time when El Salvador, sent Salvadoran combat troops to Iraq more than any other developing country. The former Spanish Foreign Minister Ana Palacio, who was an outspoken proponent of the Iraq War during the administration of former Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar, who sent 1,500 troops to Iraq despite widespread opposition to the war in Spain. Wolfowizt was the wrong choice, period.
The United States was almost loosing its creditability as the appointing authority in the World Bank after Bush named a partisan political appointee to run it. Wolfotwizt did not disappoint his masters when started to behave as if he was running a US federal agency under President Bush and the Republican Party as opposed to an international world body.
Ambassador Zoellick, a career diplomat, has his work cut out for him. This columnist has no doubt that the former diplomat is the right person for the right job at the right moment in history. Until this appointment the US credibility was at stake and it needed someone of Zoellick’s stature and background if it had a chance of being salvaged.
His curriculum vitae is very impressive in any measuring standards. I can boldly say he has the prerequisite experience critically needed for this high profile position. He has extensive, both local (United States) and international work experience. He has served as the 13th US Trade Representative, a cabinet rank position in the US federal government, equivalent of a trade minister in any other country. His last position in the government was a brief stint as the Deputy Secretary of State. Zoellick also served at the US Department of the Treasury in various positions, including Counselor to Secretary of Treasury, Executive Secretary of the Department, and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Financial Institutions Policy.
Zoellick has received several awards including the ‘Alexander Hamilton Award’, the US Department of Treasury's highest honor, the Distinguished Service Award, the Department of State's highest honor. The German government awarded him the ‘Knight Commanders Cross’ for his role in developing the U.S. strategy toward German unification.
Zoellick has to get down to work as soon as it is humanly possibly as the world bank has been waiting for him since the resignation of Wolfowizt who used his position at the bank to repay in kind the debts of those who supported his debacle of taking America to the Iraq war, as the main architect of it.
Closer to home, Zoellick has worked with the US Congress to pass the Trade Act of 2002, which included new Trade Promotion Authority, and to expand the AGOA (African Growth & Opportunity Act). He has been to Kenya to attend the Mombasa meeting hosted by our Trade and Industry minister Dr. Mukhisa Kituyi, for the informal trade talks focusing on the stalled Doha round, with agriculture high on the agenda.
omarahmedali@gmail.com
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