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‘ODM staring at eviction from Orange House over rent arrears’

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Just a few months ago, Raila Odinga-led Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) admitted to have been in a deep financial crisis and and that it was unable to run some of its operations including grassroots elections.

Suna East MP Junet Mohamed who doubles as the director of elections admitted at a public event in Migori county in March this year that the Orange party was broke and needed to be bailed out to get back to the right track.

The party stated failure by the government to remit the political parties’ funds on time as the cause for its financial crisis.

However, exiled lawyer Dr Miguna Miguna seem not to have read from the same script as ODM.

Miguna is now claiming that the Orange party has been unable to pay rent at Orange house since last year.

According to the self-declared general, in December 2018, Caroli Omondi evicted Raila’s ODM from Orange House.

Miguna states that ODM begged him for an extension of the lease until March 2019 which came but the party failed to honor its pledge.

Miguna says that ODM cannot pay rent at Orange house up to now, accusing the party of getting used to theft and exploitation.

“In Dec. 2018, Caroli Omondi evicted Raila’s @TheODMparty from Orange House. ODM begged him for an extension of the lease until March 2019. March came and went but ODM which recently received Shs. 3 Billion public funds still can’t pay rent. They are used to theft & exploitation,” tweeted Miguna Miguna.

Orange House is the property of Caroli Omondi, who was once the principal administrative secretary in Mr Odinga’s prime minister’s office between 2008 and 2013.

ODM has been using the building since 2006, months after the party was formed.

Last year, ODM denied reports that it was being kicked out of Orange House, insisting that it was to leave out of mutual understanding.

The one-storey building, located in Nairobi’s Kilimani, is the base of ODM’s national secretariat.

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Politics

Jubilee MPs open up on how Mariga was imposed on the party by Ruto

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

A section of Jubilee Party MPs has broken silence on the ongoing debate on McDonald Mariga’s ticket in the upcoming November 7 Kibra by-elections.

The soccer star was given a direct Jubilee ticket on Monday evening. But according to a section of leaders from the party, Mariga has been imposed on the party by Deputy President Dr William Ruto.

MPs Maina Kamanda (nominated) and Moses Kuria (Gatundu South) on Tuesday said they would back Opposition Chief Raila Odinga’s ODM candidate in the poll set for November 7.

Mr Kamanda said he would not allow Deputy President William Ruto to ruin the peace brought by the handshake between Raila and President Uhuru Kenyatta with his “selfish political interests”.

Mariga on Monday denied claims that his decision to vie for the seat was influenced by Dr Ruto.He said he had sought the advice of people close to him before deciding to throw his hat in the Kibra by-election ring.

Kamanda yesterday dismissed the former footballer’s assertions, saying Ruto was using him as a pawn in his quest to face off with Raila in Kibra.

“The candidate Jubilee Party picked has been imposed on the party by Ruto. He is Ruto’s candidate and not Jubilee’s. I am for a candidate who will be announced by ODM,” said Kamanda.

He questioned Ruto’s keenness on having a candidate in Kibra, even after Jubilee decided not to field any in Ugenya, Migori and Embakasi South for the sake of the handshake.

As a result, the leaders have vowed to support the opposition in the upcoming by-elections.

Mr Kuria said Mariga was not suited to represent Kibra. He vowed to throw his weight behind Benson Musungu should ODM settle on him.

Kuria said Mr Musungu had lived in the sprawling informal settlement and understood it, adding that the handshake had freed them to support any candidate irrespective of the party.Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja was also cagey on who intended to back in the Kibra by-election.

He said he had hoped Jubilee would back an ODM candidate to continue the late Ken Okoth’s legacy in Kibra.“I had asked my party to back a candidate from ODM, but that request was declined. What I can say is that Kibra needs a good leader who can continue what Ken started,” said Mr Sakaja.

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Politics

Details: Mariga is not a recognized voter in Kenya

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Soccer star McDonald Mariga’s Kibra MP candidature on a Jubilee party ticket has continued to raise more questions, with the latest being whether he is a registered voter or not.

The questions started on Monday evening after the President Uhuryu Kenyatta-led Jubilee party gave him the ODM flag to fly in the November 7 Kibra by-elections.

Details have however emerged that Mariga was listed as a voter in Kariakor only two weeks ago and may not be considered as a registered voter in Kenya just yet. 

This is because, the updated register has not been gazetted as required by law.

The last time IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati gazetted the voter register was in 2017.

But Jubilee Party NEB chairman Andrew Musangi quickly dismissed the claims as rumours, insisting one only needed to register to be a voter.

“The law only says that one should be a registered as a voter not gazetted to participate in an election, either as a voter or as a candidate. The gazettement does not make you a voter. It is the act of registration that makes you a voter,” he was quoted by a local daily.

“Gazettement is only evidence, but if I register as a voter, you are given a voter’s card and this is what you walk with as a voter. So, these are rumours. And by the way, if there is an issue, the IEBC will communicate to us and we will respond as a party.”

There are also accusations that Mariga was just rigged in, being Deputy President Dr William Ruto’s preferred candidate.

On Tuesday, one of the Jubilee Party contestants in the just concluded nominations Morris Peter Kinyajui appealed against Mariga’s nomination, arguing that Mariga is not a registered voter.

“To make matters worse, the said selected person is not a resident or a voter of Kibra constituency and there are serious doubts whether or not he has ever voted,” he protested.

“His candidature will be an impossible sell to the people of Kibra given the calibre of MP we had in the immediate past.”

Party secretary-general Raphael Tuju confirmed to a local daily that an appeal had been launched.

Will Mariga’s journey to parliament be easy as thought?

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Politics

MP arrested over protests against second Mau eviction

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Emurrua Dikirr Member of Parliament Johanna Ngeno has been arrested after leading protests against the second Mau Forest eviction.

Some local leaders have also opposed the planned evictions and called for dialogue.

Tension has gripped the settlers since Environment Cabinet Secretary Keriako Tobiko directed that they leave the forest.

The CS ordered the land to be cleared of human settlement immediately, because it forms a crucial part of the water tower.The evictions target about 10,000 families occupying approximately 17,000 acres of forest land.

On Monday, some 4,000 learners could not access primary schools that were put up by the Government at a cost of Sh40 million between 2011 and 2016.

About 100 policemen in five police vehicles were stationed around Sierra Leone according to a report by the Standard.

The armed regular officers were stationed at Koitabai Primary, Chebirbeleek, Sebetet, Noosagam.

They turned away the learners, informing them that there are no schools in the area.The children seemingly had heeded calls by some Rift Valley leaders, who on Sunday told residents to ignore the Government’s order asking pupils to stay away from the shut schools.

More to follow…………..

 

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Politics

Did Ruto rig in Mariga in the Jubilee nominations?

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Circumstances that led to President Uhuru Kenyatta-led Jubilee Party to land on McDonald Mariga Wanyama as its preferred candidate in Kibra by-elections has continued to stir different reactions among Kenyans.

Mariga on Monday evening was announced as Jubilee’s candidate, which the party through its NEB chairman Andrew Musangi said the decision was reached after a detailed interview.

The party initially had 16 candidates who presented them at the headquarters in Pangani, Nairobi for the interviews.

Besides Mariga, Morris Kinyanjui, Walter Trenk, Ibrahim Said, Doreen Wasike, Oscar Kambona, Bukachi Chapia, Jane Githaiga, Jack Owino, Elli Rajab and Daniel Aden were interviewed.

Others were Daniel Orogo, Ramadhan Hussein, Frank Amollo, Timothy Kaimenyi and Geoffrey Mwangu were interviewed.

However, accusations have now come out that Deputy President Dr William Ruto rigged in Mariga. Gabriel Oguda, a renown columnist says Doreen Wasike who was the Jubilee candidate in 2017, coming 2nd behind Ken Okoth was rigged in favour of Mariga.

The columnist has also accused Ruto of rigging in Mariga “simply because Mariga represents Ruto’s betting firm.”

“Doreen Wasike was the Jubilee candidate in 2017, coming 2nd behind Ken Okoth. She presented herself for vetting today, but Ruto rigged in MacDonald Mariga who has no political clout, simply because Mariga represents Ruto’s betting firm. You now know who’s been fighting women,” tweeted Gabriel Oguda.

Mariga will face ANC’s Eliud Owalo, Ford Kenya’s Khamisi Butichi and an ODM candidate. The Orange party will hold its nomination on Saturday.

The seat fell vacant following the demise of Ken Okoth who succumbed to cancer in July.

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Politics

‘Kibra itakunyoa bila Maji na Sabuni,’ KOT tell Mariga as Kibra race hots up

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

The Kibra parliamentary race is really hotting up after President Uhuru Kenyatta-led Jubilee party settled on soccer star McDonald Mariga as their candidate in the November 7 by-elections.

Barely hours after Mariga was given a direct ticket on Monday, Kenyans have taken to social media to weigh into his candidature.

According to Mariga, he wants to become the Kibra MP because he was born and raised in the area, but Kenyans on twitter have not failed to buy his idea.

They are now accusing him of being someone’s project, an idea that Mariga has refuted.

They are claiming that he was not born and raised in Kibra as he claims.

Activist Boniface Mwangi claims that Mariga is a project of Jubilee and Betin, a gaming and gambling company, which he has been severally used to advertise.

Newspaper columnist Gabriel Oguda has argued that Deputy President William Ruto rigged in MacDonald Mariga “who has no political clout, simply because Mariga represents Ruto’s betting firm.”

Others have argued that Kibra is and will always be a Raila Odinga’s zone citing that someone is trying to ruin Mariga’s football career.

They have argued that Mariga has done nothing fruitful to Kibra people throughout his successful football career.

“Kibra is and will always be a Baba Zone. Take your logic to the bank and tell me how much you can get. Now, Mariga… is someone trying to ruin him or just eat his money? Someone tell me, what this guy has ever done with all his millions? Kibra itamnyoa bila Maji na Sabuni,” tweeted one of the twitter users.

Do you think Mariga will win the November 7 by-elections against ODM and ANC candidates?

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Politics

Moses Kuria schools Ruto over Mariga’s Kibra candidature

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Gatundu South Member of Parliament Moses Kuria has taken to his official twitter account to issue a piece of advice to Deputy President William Ruto hours after Jubilee party’s decision on who to fly its flag in upcoming Kibra by-elections.

On Monday, 16 candidates presented themselves at Jubilee Party Headquarters in Pangani, Nairobi for interviews and vetting.

Among the candidates who presented themselves is soccer star McDonald Mariga, who is said to have been pushed by former Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale and DP Ruto to vie for the Kibra vacant seat.

After the interviews, Mariga was declared the preferred Jubilee candidate in the Kibra parliamentary race.

After the declaration, Khalwale was among the first people who took to social media to celebrate Mariga’s Kibra candidature.

“We are lost for words to record our profound & sincere heartfelt gratitudes to the @JubileePartyK for nominating our young Macdonald Mariga as the candidate for the by-election in Kibra Constituency. Twende kazi! ” Khalwale tweeted.

However, Moses Kuria did not read from the same script with Jubilee Party. He took to social media to condemn Mariga’s nominations, issuing Ruto with a piece of advice.

He told Ruto to let Mariga spend time to grow Kenya’s football and talents. He further told Ruto to let Mariga be, since he will live to join “this silly, dirty game of politics another day.”

” Let Macdonald Mariga spend time to grow our football and our talents. Siasa itakuwepo leo, kesho na mtondogoo. @WilliamsRuto let the young man be. He will live to join this silly, dirty game of politics another day,” he wrote.

Mariga will be facing off Raila Odinga’s ODM candidate who will be decided in the Saturday nominations, Musalia Mudavadi’s ANC candidate Eliud Owalo and Moses Wetang’ula’s Ford Kenya candidate who will be unveiled this week.

The Kibra MP seat fell vacant following the demise of Ken Okoth who succumbed to cancer in July.

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Politics

Khalwale defected to Ruto’s camp in a small ceremony in his Malinya house

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Former Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale’s defection to Deputy President William Ruto’s Jubilee side has continued to raise more questions among Western leaders.

Over the weekend, Western leaders opposed to DP Ruto ganged up against his tanga tanga brigade that is led by Dr Khalwale.

The leaders who included nominated MP Godffrey Osotsi and ODM secretary general Edwin Sifuna told off Ruto, telling him that his frequent visits to western are of no use.

This is when Osotsi had to open up on the ceremony that marked Khalwale’s official joining of Ruto’s Jubilee side.

According to Osotsi, Khalwale defected to Ruto’s Jubilee in a small ceremony in his house in Malinya and not Bukhungu stadium or Muliro gardens where major political declarations are made.

He made the remarks while arguing out that Ruto has not been able to make any key allies from Western apart from Khalwale.

“The DP and his cronies should re-evaluate what they are calling inroads in Western after their highly-expensive trips. How many key leaders have they acquired from our side? I think they can only brag of Boni Khalwale …. but then Khalwale defected to Ruto’s Jubilee in a small ceremony in his house in Malinya and not Bukhungu stadium or Muliro gardens where major political declarations are made,” Mr Osotsi was quoted by Daily Nation.

He said ODM supporters are simply on “a political go-slow because President Uhuru Kenyatta has directed them to avoid aggressive politics and support their agenda of all-inclusive Kenya and fight against corruption”.

The leaders argued that Ruto has no chance in Western “regardless of how many time he comes calling”.

“The people of Western know which leaders have their interests at heart, and it is not Ruto,” Sifuna was quoted.

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Politics

60,000 families to be affected by the Mau forest evictions

by Manyasi Peris
written by Manyasi Peris

The second phase of the mau forest eviction is on the go as the Kenya Forest Service rangers move into the forest in preparation for yet another round of evictions.

The settlers have been given 60 days notice to pave way for the restoration of the mau by October 31st. This is the first step to the realization of Cabinet Secretary Keraiko Tobiko’s announcement to refurbish the land.

100 KFS officers have been dispatched to three camps in the forest to carry out the second phase of the evictions. the first phase of eviction took place 14 years ago in Narok south where 15 schools were demolished and thousands of families evicted.

The move is however being opposed by some Rift Valley leaders and thirty five lawyers. Nairobi based advocates Moses Kurgat, Hillary Sigei and South Rift Law Society of Kenya chairman Kipngetich Korir have moved to court to secure orders against the eviction until the case is heard and undaunted.

In the new case the 11 respondents issued with the order include the Cabinet secretaries for Environment, Interior, Education, the TSC, the Narok County government, Kenya Forest Service, Inspector General of Police, Director Department of Civil Registration and the Regional Commisioner, Rift Valley. Environment and Lands court judge Silas Munyao has directed that the case be heard on wednsday in Kitale.

if the evictions are sanctioned more than 10,000 school children will be affected, including 1000 candidates that are set to sit their national at the end of the year.

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Politics

Mariga makes triumphant entry to Jubilee Headquarters ahead of interview( Watch Video)

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Soccer Star McDonald Mariga on Monday morning made a grand entry at Jubilee party’s headquarter in Pangani, Nairobi.

Mariga is among 16 aspirants who will be interviewed today for the Jubilee Party ticket to contest the Kibra parliamentary seat as focus now shifts to the elections board.

Mariga was escorted by a group of his supporters who carried placards bearing his name and Jubilee logo.

The supporters sang songs praising the player in luhyia’s famous Isukuti dance.

Some were heard singing “Mariga tukomboe”, which barely translates to Mariga save us.

If cleared, Mariga will be Jubilee Party candidate for Kibra constituency by-election scheduled for November 7.

He will face off ODM candidate who will be decided after the September 7 nominations, Musalia Mudavadi’s ANC Party’s Eliud Owalo and Moses Wetang’ula’s Ford Kenya candidate who is not yet to be unveiled.

The Kibra seat fell vacant following the demise of Ken Okoth who succumbed to cancer.

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Politics

How Aisha Jumwa fanned fire in Kilifi to scuttle Team Embrace weekend rallies

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Details of Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa’s attempts to scuttle Team Embrace weekend rallies in coastal region have emerged. Jumwa who defected from Raila Odinga’s ODM camp to Deputy President William Ruto’s camp is said to have been running a campaign to reduce the opposition party’s stranglehold of the region’s politics.

Team Embrace, a group of women leaders drumming support for President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga’s handshake has been holding rallies across the country calling for peace and advocating support for Building Bridges Initiative.

But according to Ms Jumwa, Team Embrace is a fallacy and accused coastal women leaders of “betraying those who elected them in order to please outsiders”.

The Malindi MP told politicians from other parts of the country that Kilifi “has its owners”.

Team Embrace was in Kilifi and Mombasa counties during the weekend, drumming up support for the handshake.

It however emerged that Jumwa had paid a group of women from the region to heckle Team Embrace during their rally in Kilifi.

“It is wrong for Jumwa to give women money to come and heckle us during our meetings,” Homa Bay Woman Representative Gladys Wanga, who is the head of the group said.

Her Murang’a counterpart Sabina Chege accused Ms Jumwa of promoting violence at Inua Mama team meetings. Inua Mama team is another group of women leaders drumming support for DP Ruto.

It is said that Ms Jumwa paid the women hecklers then left for Nairobi to act innocent.

“Why would you fan fire against your colleagues and then leave for Nairobi pretending to be innocent?” the Murang’a Woman Representative posed.

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Kikuyu, Kalenjin communities will not be part of Uhuru’s succession plan, hints Waiguru

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Kikuyu and Kalenjin communities will not be part of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s 2022 succession plan, Kirinyaga County governor Anne Mumbi has hinted.

According to the County chief, the communities can be accommodated in an expanded executive.

Speaking in Mombasa during Team Embrace rally, the former devolution minister said she will not be threatened or intimidated to stop the push to expand the national executive.

“We cannot have a situation where two communities can conspire and capture power because of their numerical strength,” she said. 

“Let us have an expanded executive. Kikuyus and Kalenjins cannot stay in power forever. We have many communities which also deserve to lead,” she said.

She also said time has come for Kenyans to support President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga’s Handshake.

Waiguru has previously been criticized by Kenyans over her recent support for Raila, but she has been insisting to support him as far as handshake is concerned.

Raila was Waiguru’s strongest critic while she was serving as devolution minister, with Raila implicating her in the multi-million NYS scandal.

With this renewed relationship between the two, do you think Waiguru is endorsing Raila for 2022 presidency now that she has insisted that Uhuru’s successor will neither be a Kalenjin nor a Kikuyu?

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Politics

Sonko for President 2022?

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

In 2007, he got to parliament as Makadara Member of Parliament. In 2013, he strongly came as a Nairobi County senator and in 2017, he jumped higher to clinch the Nairobi gubernatorial seat.

From the trend, governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko has not vied for the same seat twice. Will he try it for the first time in 2022? Well, what does his team Wanjiku campaign alongside Gatundu South Member of Parliament Moses Kuria mean?

On Saturday, political analyst Herman Manyora said Governor Sonko can become a very strong candidate ahead of the 2022 polls.

He compared Sonko to United Kingdom (UK) Prime Minister Boris Johnson, US President Donald Trump, and Uganda opposition MP Bobi Wine.

“I know some people might think I am crazy. But as I speak, there are similar Presidents in the world, Prime Ministers. There’s Boris Johnson, there’s Donald Trump and there might soon be Bobi Wine. The conditions in this country can allow a Sonko to be president,” he said.

He urged Deputy President Dr William Ruto and ODM leader Raila Odinga to be ready to face Sonko when times comes. 

“And believe you me Raila Amollo Odinga, William Samoei Ruto you could have a serious competitor in the person of Mike Sonko come 2022,” said Manyora.

Watch the video below.

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Politics

VIDEO: Oscar Sudi’s latest jibe at Uhuru, Moi that might come back to haunt him

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi has yet again taken a swipe at President Uhuru Kenyatta, accusing him of alleged hypocrisy, revisiting circumstances surrounding Mau eviction.

The legislature is now reading malice in the eviction, arguing that Uhuru opposed the evictions in 2009 and even attended a fundraiser to help the victims resettle.

The firebrand MP also insisted that Uhuru’s family should consider donating around 7,000 Ha and Daniel Moi’s family 10,000 Ha, adding that the two families own grabbed land.

“My humble request to Uhuru over Mau evictions is that he fundraised for this people when Raila Odinga was chasing them. He came in 2013 and asked them to vote for him. What Happened after 2017 that makes him to plot to kick them away?

“Stop damaging the lives of the poor because you’re not going to contest. Children in Mau are like those in your house. If you want to chase them, you have over 50,000 Ha. Give them around 7,000 because after all the land is not yours,” insisted Sudi.

The government is set to flush out over 10,000 people from the water catchment, a move that has been opposed by a section of leaders from Rift Valley.

Watch Sudi’s video below:

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Politics

Wetang’ula to battle Raila in Kibra MP race

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

The much anticipated Kibra parliamentary race is becoming hotter and hotter as almost all major parties are now joining the race.

The Moses Wetang’ula-led Ford Kenya, the lion party has now joined the race.

Wetang’ula, the party’s leader on Friday disclosed that the party will be unveiling its candidate in Kibra by-election next week.

According to the Bungoma Senator, the party will consider a dynamic, young, professional, Kibra-born, grassroots operator who will carry on with the dynamic legacy left by Hon Ken Okoth.

Wetangula further disclosed that Ford Kenya is no stranger to the great people of Kibra.

He says Rt Hon Raila Odinga went to parliament for the first time in 1993 on Ford Kenya party.

So far, Raila’s ODM party, Musalia Mudavadi’s ANC party and President Uhuru Kenyatta-led Jubilee party are already in the race with ODM planning to hold its nominations on September 7.

Jubilee party has hence invited interested candidates to reapply for party tickets after it disowned its first list of nominees that had been presented to IEBC.

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Ex-Raila aide launches his manifesto ahead of Kibra seat battle

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Former ODM leader Raila Odinga’s aide Eliud Owalo has revealed the reason as to why he is seeking to be the shield and defender of Kibra people ahead of the upcoming November 7 by-elections.

Owalo who defected from ODM to Musalia Mudavadi-led Amani National Congress (ANC) was unveiled on Wednesday at ANC’s headquarters.

Through a long post on his facebook page, Owalo has outlined the reasons that have pushed him to contest for the seat that fell vacant following Ken Okoth’s demise.

Owalo says that when he made the decision to present himself as a candidate for Member of Parliament for Kibra constituency, the first question that came to his mind was “why is it that despite 56 years of independence and various interventions costing billions of shillings from Government and NGOs; Kibra is still wallowing in abject poverty and disease with the people still living in despicable conditions of abject poverty?”

Below is the long post.

“WHY I SEEK TO BE THE SHIELD AND DEFENDER FOR THE PEOPLE OF KIBRA

Ladies and Gentlemen,I wish to clarify and confirm two issues which have been a major subject of speculation in the recent past.

ONE; that following my recent resignation from the ODM Party, I have since formally joined and become a dully-registered Life Member of the Amani National Congress (ANC) Party; and

TWO: That subsequent to the same, I will be seeking the ANC Party Ticket to run for the Kibra Parliamentary seat in the by-elections slated for 7th November 2019.

WHY ANC?

When I made the decision to present myself as a candidate for Member of Parliament for Kibra constituency, the first question that I asked myself was;

Why is it that despite 56 years of independence and various interventions costing billions of shillings from Government and NGOs; Kibra is still wallowing in abject poverty and disease with the people still living in despicable conditions of abject poverty?

It has become abundantly clear to me that there has been a problem with the approaches being deployed to resolve the problems facing Kibra and the entire issue of poverty in Kenya.

I concluded that Kibra is in part, a victim of doing things the same way for 53 years yet expecting different results. My well-considered opinion is that it is now time for a total paradigm shift.

We must stop looking at Kibra just as a slum but instead as the human resource backbone of Nairobi that it is; which then requires investment in skills development; healthcare; social services; security; welfare; housing and recreation, among other conscious and deliberate interventions.

Kibra is the home of the toiling and resilient men and women who carry the industries and factories of Nairobi on their backs for as low as Ksh.150 per day. The profit is obviously invested elsewhere; with none trickling down back to Kibra.

Kibra houses the most hardworking construction workers who build and maintain our roads, houses, bridges and railways in the scorching heat or biting cold every single day. The roads obviously lead elsewhere and serve other people. They do not bring wealth and prosperity to Kibra.

Kibra is the home of our shamba boys, maids, watchmen, ayahs, cleaners, boda-boda riders, makangas, mama mbogas and mkokoteni pushers. They have invested heavily in other people’s lives but unfortunately with little returns in their own households in Kibra.

Indeed Kibra is a significant player in Nairobi’s economy and part of its human resource backbone yet very little is invested back or even trickles down back to its residents. We have become a society that does not care about its human resource.

Kenya pursues a policy of trickle-down economics designed to empower the owners of capital who are then expected to invest and generate wealth that is subsequently expected to trickle down to the rest of the country, including those that toil at the lower end of the production chain like the Kiberans. This however does not happen.

Consequently, the bottom-line or net-effect is that the rich get richer while the poor get even poorer. That is how we end up with huge slums like Kibra waiting in vain for our National Wealth to trickle down to them.

Kenya’s Annual Budget of Ksh. 3.02 trillion is hardly trickling down to the poor resulting in our country becoming one of the most unequal societies in the world. The gap between the rich and poor in Kenya is widening everyday with the number of the super-rich millionaires being among the fastest growing while on the extreme opposite end, those living in abject and extreme poverty is also increasing at an alarming rate.

The people of Kibra have been patient for long enough waiting in vain for our national wealth to trickle down to them yet this hasn’t happened in 53 years. Instead they see one third of our budget (approximately Ksh. 1 Trillion) lost to corruption at their expense. From my perspective, they are now rightfully running out of patience. Something definitely has to change.

As a candidate for MP for Kibra I have an elaborate plan to shift this paradigm and change from the unsuccessful model of trickle-down economics to trickle-up economics whereby among other measures, I shall seek initiatives to empower the Kibra as is required for them to be fully functioning citizens in our society living happily in dignity and sharing in our prosperity.

In my view, an empowered, skilled and healthy citizenry in the middle and lower classes of society is the success that will trickle upwards in corporate balance-sheets in the form of higher performance and outputs by middle and lower level workers leading to higher profits. The trickle-up approach is therefore a potential game-changer for Kibra.

Achieving dignity and prosperity for Kibra requires partnership with a political party that has a shared vision and which is equally ideologically inclined towards shifting this paradigm.
The Amani National Congress Party (ANC) Party is a Social-Liberal Political Party. Worldwide, social liberal governments address economic and social issues such as poverty, health care, education and equity and focus on empowerment of the lower and middle classes through planned government and market interventions and policies towards equalization while also addressing the common good in harmony with the freedom of the individual.

Having carefully analyzed and interrogated the ANC policy documents, legislative agenda and ideology, I am convinced beyond any doubt that the ANC Party led by Hon. Wycliffe Musalia Mudavadi offers the best vehicle for us to work together towards shifting the paradigm in Kibra and bringing about the much-needed empowerment of the people.

I have noted that the ANC Party has the most elaborate and appealing pro-poor policies. More appealing to me is Musalia Mudavadi’s mastery of Kenya’s economic issues and persistent proposals on feasible policy alternatives; his zero-tolerance to corruption; zeal for good-governance; advocacy for effective debt-management; concerns on inflationary tendencies and the high-cost of living index; and advocacy for the rule of law.

This is why I chose ANC. And this is why the people of Kibra should vote Eliud Owalo and ANC on November 7th.

AND, WHY SHOULD I SEEK TO BE THE MP FOR KIBRA ?

Ladies and Gentlemen, I am a proud son of Kenya who envisages the best for our beloved Country. Over the years, I have served worthy causes by partnering with local communities in socio-economic activities and agents of real change in worthy political causes; with the ultimate objective of realizing a better, equitable and all-inclusive Kenya.

In Kibra where I first lived upon coming to Nairobi, and continue to maintain strong-links to date, I have first-hand experience of the plight and challenges facing the people. I therefore have a strong-will, conviction and zeal to make life more bearable for the good people of Kibra.

Even as an ordinary Kenyan citizen, the people of Kibra and the country as a whole have known me as a strong defender and advocate for basic human rights, the rule of law, widening of the democratic space and key agent for real-change.

Augmenting this is my passion and pursuit for sustainable economic empowerment of families in Kibra. It is my considered belief that I am focused and committed enough to providing fearless, participatory and impartial representation to all the communities of Kibra.

My view is that this by-election should and must be about ideas. When I decided to challenge the late Hon. Ken Okoth, I told him as much: that my challenge would be based on a contest of ideas. That position has not changed.

My overall Goal therefore is to provide effective and servant leadership that facilitates the protection of civic rights and uplifting of the standards of living of the people of Kibra. When elected as MP;I will pursue an appropriate Legislative Agenda that promotes full implementation of the 2010 Constitutional dispensation; with particular focus on Strengthening of the Devolved System of Government; Equitable Distribution of Resources; Good Governance; Inclusivity; and Promotion of the Rule of Law.

My Vision for Kibra is “An empowered, educated, healthy and compassionate Kibra community living in a decent, clean and secure environment”.

To realize this Vision; my Kibra Mission therefore is “To provide effective representation and facilitate the basic rights and needs of the Kibra people through servant and participatory leadership; strategic alliances; and relevant partnerships to empower and enhance the standards of living of the people”.

My Values are (i)Fidelity to the Rule of Law; (ii)Servant and fearless leadership; (iii)Active Public Participation; (iv)Integrity; and(v)Inclusivity and Impartiality.

Since I started partnering with the people of Kibra in various programmes and activities in the year 2013,I have not only aptly demonstrated my accessibility to the people of Kibra but also effectively espoused my empowerment Agenda. The Key Milestones in this regard are well-known to the Kibra people; and are available in my Kibra 2017 eliudowalo.comcampaign website; which is currently undergoing update.

My areas of focus upon being elected MP will be Democracy, Good Governance and the Rule of Law; Human Rights; Health; Education; Shelter; Youth and Women empowerment; Environmental management; Water and Sanitation; Security; Disaster response; Social security; and Sports.

Critical success factors for my Kibra Agenda include (i)Effective Strategic Planning: (ii)Effective Stakeholder engagement and Public Participation; (iii)Elaborate Strategic Alliances and Partnerships; (iv)Effective Resource Mobilization; (v)Good Governance; and (vi)Effective Performance Management Framework; while augmented by (vii) Effective Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting.

MY PLEDGES TO THE PEOPLE OF KIBRA

1. DEMOCRACY, GOOD GOVERNANCE AND THE RULE OF LAW

MY PLEDGE TO THE PEOPLE OF KIBRA NO.1: 
“I will promote the widening of democratic space, good governance and conformity to the Rule of Law for the benefit of the people of Kibra”.

2. HUMAN RIGHTS

MY PLEDGE TO THE PEOPLE OF KIBRA NO.2 :“I will advocate for and protect the basic and fundamental political, economic and social rights of the people of Kibra”.

3. HEALTH

MY PLEDGE TO THE PEOPLE OF KIBRA NO. 3:

“ I will facilitate enhancement of the health status of the people of Kibra by partnering with health institutions and non-governmental organizations in the health sector to provide relevant periodic medical camps and mobile clinics”.
4. EDUCATION

MY PLEDGE TO THE PEOPLE OF KIBRA NO.4: 
“I will augment the CDF Bursary efforts by facilitating the education of needy but bright and capable dependents within the Kibra Community. More specifically, I will promote TVET programmes to harness the unexploited potential of the Kibra Youth”.

5. SHELTER

MY PLEDGE TO THE PEOPLE OF KIBRA NO. 5:
“I will partner with key stakeholders to support the people of Kibra in accessing low-cost but optimal and decent shelter”.
6. YOUTH AND WOMEN EMPOWERNMENT

MY PLEDGE TO THE PEOPLE OF KIBRA NO. 6:

“I will facilitate empowerment of the Youth and Women of Kibra to enable them exploit their full potential by engaging in viable and sustainable income-generating activities in order to access basic subsistence”.

7. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

MY PLEDGE TO THE PEOPLE OF KIBRA NO. 7:
“I will facilitate a framework that realizes and maintains a clean and habitable environment to enable the people of Kibra live in an environmentally-friendly settlement free of garbage and diseases”.

8.WATER AND SANITATION

MY PLEDGE TO THE PEOPLE OF KIBRA NO. 8:
“I will facilitate enhanced access to clean water and elaborate sewerage infrastructure to enable the Kibra people meet basic water and sanitation needs”.

I will also jointly work with other stakeholders to clean-up and restore the Nairobi Dam so that it can again be not only an important source of clean and healthy drinking water but also a magnet for water sports enthusiasts, fishermen, picnickers and bountiful bird life.
9.SECURITY

MY PLEDGE TO THE PEOPLE OF KIBRA NO. 9:

“I will identify and partner with all the relevant stakeholders to determine and implement viable initiatives that will augment efforts towards guaranteeing the security of the people of Kibra and their property”.

10. DISASTER RESPONSE

MY PLEDGE TO THE PEOPLE OF KIBRA NO. 10:
“I will establish and operationalize a Constituency Disaster Management Fund to provide timely and adequate response in instances of disasters like fire and floods”.

11. SOCIAL SECURITY

MY PLEDGE TO THE PEOPLE OF KIBRA NO. 11:

“I will recognize that the Aged are integral members of the Kibra society and should obtain the inalienable economic, social and cultural rights indispensable for their dignity and the free development of their personality and are therefore entitled to realization of the same, through joint efforts and co-operation and in accordance with the organization and resources of the Constituency”.

12. SPORTS

MY PLEDGE TO THE PEOPLE OF KIBRA NO. 12:
I will sponsor an Annual Sports Tournament to promote cohesion;physical development; positive attitudes and discipline; manage pressure; improve endurance: build character; boosts self-esteem; strengthen perseverance; develop teamwork; and promote healthy competition amongst youthful members of the Kibra Society.

Eventually, I will facilitate enhanced competitiveness of Kibra United Football Club and the purchase of a Van each for the Kibra Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards Football Club Supporters Branches.

Ladies and Gentlemen, in response to the challenges faced; emerging issues; and with a view to realize the above objectives, I will in the short-term be pursuing the following Flagship Projects to address what in my view are the most immediate and pertinent needs of the People of Kibra;

PROPOSED ELIUD OWALO FLAGSHIP PROJECTS IN KIBRA

1. Establishment and Operationalization of Youth Employment Centres in all the Constituencies;
2. Development of a Technical Industrial Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training Centre to harness the skills and exploit the full potential of the Kibra Youth;
3. Purchase of a Fire Fighting Vehicle for each of the 5 Wards in Kibra;
4. Development of a Maternity Hospital and provision of Periodic Mobile Clinics for selected diseases;
5. Purchase of Five(5) Funeral Buses; one for each Ward; 
6. Purchase of a Welfare Bus each for the Bukhungu Community and Muliro Gardens Pressure Group;
7. Pursuit of Land Title Deeds for all the Markets; 
8. Development of 2 Ultra-Modern Sports Stadiums; one at Woodley and the other at Line Saba Grounds;
9. Purchase of a Transport Van each for the Kibra Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards Branches; and
10. Development of a Cultural Centre for the Nubian Community.

It is on the basis of my Agenda as outlined above and my proven track record that I now humbly submit my Candidature to the Kibra people-seeking their Vote to become their Member of Parliament.

A Vote for Eliud Owalo will be a Vote for a Shield and Defender; an Astute and Visionary Leader with proven development record; Advocate for Human Rights; Key Agent for Change; and opportunity for wide local and international networks for the benefit of the people of Kibra.

As I conclude, I wish to lay bare an issue that has caused me a lot of pain, anguish and sleepless nights over the past 7 years. Persistent attempts have been made in the past and prime segments of Kibra land runs the risk of being lost to faceless, nameless, mysterious people from outside Kibra.

Hard working Kenyans living in Kibra are in danger of being evicted from their business premises to make way for these egocentric land grabbers. I commit that this will NOT happen under my watch. And it will NOT happen under my watch.

In the face of all unfolding circumstances, I will remain the Shield and Defender for the people of Kibra.

Let the people of Kibra decide.

DATED AT NAIROBI THIS WEDNESDAY THE 28TH DAY OF AUGUST 2019.”

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