____________
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According to Balala, SPK “no longer represents the wishes and aspirations of the Coast people” and went on to add that the vacuum Shirikisho had left would be filled by Orange Democratic Movement-Raila,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.
________________
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.
______________
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
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.
________________
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.
______________
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
No comments:
Post a Comment