All Eyes On ODM-KS Polls At Wananchi Pavilion On Saturday
Kenyans in Stockholm are approaching a quiet week-end, save for the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of ODM-KS scheduled for Saturday May 19th. There is no Kenyan Party over the week-end although ODM-KS will stage a Reception after their AGM to welcome the new office. It will be the first AGM to be staged by the Party since it was set up last October.
ODM-KS election candidates are winding up campaigns ahead of elections on Saturday. Campaigns have mainly been going on “at the grass roots” and away from the Internet. The Annual General Meeting that has been called by the Committee is more of a blessing to the Party because the controversy that erupted following the nomination by Raila Odinga as ODM-Kenya Presidential candidate has heightened tremendous interest in the Party.
At the time of the crisis, the Party had 22 paid up members out of an approximate membership of 43 but as the crisis unfolded and the Interim Committee moved to call elections, the number of passive members who have already settled their dues has shot up dramatically. Several new members who are interested in ODM-KS politics have also joined the Party.
There are members who simply want to defend the Raila nomination while others would like to see an elected Office run the Party. Others are openly against certain Committee members whom they want out of the leadership while others submitted their names as candidates because they believe that they can play a role in giving the Party direction.
There are no major fire-works expected at the AGM because “the opposition” seem to be having no support. During an illegal “Emergency member’s meeting” that was called by two Committee members recently, not a single member turned up to support them.
Majority of members who showed up were on the side of the leadership. The dissenting Committee members ended up addressing a hostile crowd that forced the Committee to conduct an emergency evacuation of Wananchi Pavilion when the hostility turned into a “shouting match”.
The AGM is good for the Party because members will get an opportunity to have the final say over Party affairs. Even Committee members like Mr. Martin Ngatia agree that members need to elect a new office because “there are traitors within the Party”. As the week-end approaches, all eyes are on ODM-KS polls.
Mrs Hellen Opwapo, ODM-KS Chairlady, told KSB that “everything has been done” to ensure that the AGM goes on smoothly. She encouraged members to keep time.
Okoth Osewe
Plans For ODM-KS Annual General Meeting Finalized
Plans for the ODM-KS Annual General Meeting (AGM) have been finalized. The Annual General Report which will be presented at the Meeting has been completed by the Committee.
The report covers events between the time when ODM-KS was launched in Stockholm in October last year up to the time when two Committee members plunged the Party into crisis thereby prompting the leadership to call the AGM.
Committee members have been holding positions in the Party on an Interim basis and the calling of the AGM is good for the Party because it will give any new Office full and legitimate mandate to run the Party without the shadow of being in office as unelected Officials.
Ballot papers which will be used to elect a new Office have also been printed. Members who wish to stand for elections presented their names on time thereby beating the May 13th deadline. Members had been given two weeks to present their names.
This is in accordance with ODM-KS Constitution which stipulates that every member has a right to stand for elections. Ballot papers will be available at the Saturday meeting whose agenda is contained in the Party’s Constitution.
The voters Register has been compiled by the new Treasurer Mrs Grace Nyambura and will be available for inspection at the AGM. Inspection of the Voter’s register is a Constitutional requirement and has to be done before election of any new Office.
After the AGM, the Party will host a Reception for the new Committee and for members to socialize. Several new members have joined the Party in preparation for the AGM.
Copies of both the Constitution and the Party Program will be available at the meeting. The Committee urges members to keep time for the AGM which starts at 14.00 hrs.
The out-going Committee thanks all members who have been very supportive of the Party since it was launched last year. The Party has made considerable strides which could not have been possible without tireless support of dedicated members.
Mrs Hellen Opwapo
Chairperson
ODM-KS
Lifted from odmks.org
“Major Bloodbath” at Kenya Party Fracas At Albyskolan
Just like every village has its mad man, every Kenyan Party in Stockholm has its “fracas dudes”. A prominent Kenyan businessman was last Saturday beaten senseless at a Kenyan Party that had been organized by M.A.D (Making A Difference). The fracas has left Wakenya who witnessed the action “breathless”, not because some Wakenya were getting even but because of the profile of one of the personalities who was in the blue corner.
KSB top brass were attending another Party in Stockholm that was hosted by the “Strategic Bloggers Initiative (SBI)” but a junior staff member was posted at the Party “to hold brief” just in case something dramatic came up. It didn’t take time.
Punde si punde, it appeared as though an argument broke out between the protagonists which included the Kenyan businessman. When we sifted through the details, it appeared like the argument was about a romantic quagmire that has been running for a very long time and that involved several personalities who will not be named here.
At the center of the problem was a Kenyan lady related to the businessman. Music was booming and at first, it did not look like a war would soon break out. But, according to eye witnesses who have filled in vital gaps, the argument reached a stage where the Kenyan businessman could no longer take it.
The next thing that happened was that the guy who was arguing with the businessman got slapped on the cheek (very hard) by the businessman. What Wakenya did not know is that the guy under attack might have been a fun of KSB and therefore, might have leant the importance of “not turning the other cheek” to be wasted. Instead of hitting the businessman on the other cheek as is the rule of the game, he went even further.
He delivered an upper cut then swung a much more heavier lower cut as the crowd began to gather to enjoy the show. Interestingly, nobody tried to get in between during the opening stages because, according to an eye witness, “everybody really wanted the action to continue”.
The businessman then struck back with a rabbit punch (punch around the neck) but the Mkenya neutralized the attack with a bolo punch (you shtua but you don’t hit) which got the opponent off the mark. He then rained several powerful blows on the face, much to the amusement of the audience.
“I saw several jabs and hooks mainly on the face as people moved even closer to cheer”, a contact told KSB. When Wakenya declared the guy the “winner”, the businessman was “drenched in blood” and according to one female observer, “it was like a major bloodbath”. “I have never seen anything like that before”, she told KSB and sounded very devastated.
The businessman is not known to be a violent person and Wakenya could not figure out how he swung a slap at the guy without any physical provocation. By the time the guy was being declared the “Interim champion” of the match, the businessman was bleeding profusely mainly from the nostrils.
INDIVIDUAL VIOLENCE TO SORT OUT DISPUTES IS UNACCEPTABLE
The exact extent of the damage could not immediately be established because after the fight, the businessman dashed to his car and drove off. Someone was heard saying that “It is good that KSB Crew have not been here”. But the damage had been done because apart from a regular staffer, several KSB spies were present.
What now remains is the aftermath as Wakenya enter into a period of analysis. A series of questions immediately begin to flow. How could this have happened at a party that was organized in the name of Kenyan teen-agers? Wasn’t there security at the Party and if no, then why? How comes that siku hizi, when Wakenya are getting even, people just watch? In any case, how could the businessman, who is well known in Stockholm, have started a fight which ended in such a mess? How could things have been left to go this far?
KSB sympathizes with the situation because the incident was an indication that for some Wakenya, sorting things out physically is still the preferred option as opposed to discussions. There was romance in the air, an aspect of the conflict which made it even more personal. A mature person would expect that such conflicts be sorted out privately, away from the public eye. Even if the matter exploded in public, fist fighting is the crudest way of trying to reach a settlement.
There is a view that the guy who was under attack has had to put up with a lot of crap in the past and that on this particular day he had been “pushed up to the wall” and that this is why he became wild. Be that as it may, what example are elderly Wakenya giving the young ones when they begin to spill blood at a place which is supposed to be for merry-making and relaxation after a week of labour?
KSB believes that Wakenya in Stockholm should discourage physical violence as a way of settling disputes because it is too animalistic. This incident was not the first one and only God knows if it is the last one. There is something called “the sense of reason” and if it doesn’t work, why not call in a mediator or just call it quits?
All civilized Wakenya should come up and condemn this kind of violence regardless of the circumstances. We are not going to assume the role of Judge here. Regardless of who was right and who was wrong, the violence that was witnessed at Alby especially by people who should be respected in our society is shameful by any stretch of the imagination.
Without going into the nitty-gritty of the major issues which precipitated the fight, we say “enough is enough”. Individual violence within our community as a way of sorting out disputes is unacceptable and should not be condoned by any Mkenya who claims any level of civility.
Okoth Osewe
Kenya Government Abetting Slaughter Of Civilians
Last week, bandits who are allegedly members of the ”Sabaot Land Defence Forces” slaughtered 10 Kenyans in Western Kenya. They were wearing police uniforms. The killings came barely ten days after six Kenyans were massacred in the same region. The attacks have been going on since September last year without government intervention.
Last month, the intensification of the attacks forced over 5,000 Kenyans to flee to Uganda after the Ndorobo and Soy clans of the Sabaot community began slaughtering one another over land in Chebutuk settlement scheme. As thousands of Kenyans were displaced, the government simply stood by and watched.
The Kibaki government seized power on a platform of resettling the landless following perennial landlessness across the country but when Kibaki arrived at State house, he has mainly been sleeping for 16 hours a day instead of addressing the crisis of landlessness. For example, 1,000 acres of land that was earmarked for resettling victims of Likia clashes during the Moi dictatorship has not been surveyed because the government doesn’t believe that a solution to the problem deserves serious attention.
According to recent statistics, more than 140 Kenyans have been killed at Mt Elgon, Trans Nzoia, Central Province and Tana River due to land related clashes. Politicians seeking to divide Kenyans in order to continue ruling them have been fuelling the massacres through inflammatory statements without government action.
In Central Province, politicians connected to the government have openly encouraged youth aged between 18-24 to “arm themselves” against unspecified enemies, a cover in preparation for fresh rounds of attacks and more murders. ODM-KS appeals to the youth to ignore irresponsible calls that they take up arms to attack their own people in the interest of selfish politicians.
That said, ODM-KS welcomes the announcement of a “National Day of Mourning” today Monday 14th May for victims of Kenya Airways plane crash. However, the Party believes that the loss of human lives should receive equal attention. Kenyans who have lost their lives under the State supervised ethnic cleansing do not just deserve to be remembered but the whole problem of landlessness which fuels the massacres also deserve to be solved. Individuals who have been abetting these clashes should be investigated and brought before the law regardless of their stations in life.
Kibaki continues to sing about the economy. However, the growing insecurity in the country, the continued loss of innocent lives, blood letting, mayhem and government connivance in the atrocities being committed against the Kenyan people overrides any talk about “economic growth” Kibaki has been talking about.
Events connected to murders of innocent Kenyans as a result of landlessness should serve as a reminder that the Kibaki government needs to be defeated in the next elections. Kibaki has been in power for only five years but he has wrecked the country. The image of Kibaki being painted by paid propagandists working for the government should not hood-wink Kenyans.
Kenya has an Army which is supposed to ensure the security of the country especially when armed bandits who apparently cannot be contained by the police force emerge to begin a campaign of terror, death and destruction of property.
The fact that the Army continues to sleep in the barracks in the face of insecurity should be a signal that the state is involved in the violence because of political reasons. When the State fails to protect its own citizens against the kind of attacks being witnessed in Kenya, the only option left for the victims will be for them to arm themselves to protect their families and property.
The Kibaki government has failed Kenyans and since the President has refused to resign, ODM-KS appeals to Kenyans to ensure that the Kibaki government is voted out of Office in December.
Martin Ngatia
Vice Chairperson,
ODM-K Scandinavia
Kenya Voices From Diaspora
POLITICAL SCIENTISTS ARE SUPPOSED TO ANALYSE, NOT PREDICT
Making predictions, any predictions, is a tall order. One needs a crystal ball that doesn’ t just outshine other balls but also possesses innate qualities superior to its competitors. Until I read my friend, Chweya Ludeki’ s piece in the East African Standard issue of Friday May 11th, it had never occurred to me that making political predictions was the specialty of political scientists. But then again, Kenya has undergone rapid changes recently. It is possible that our political scientists nowadays moonlight as tarot readers.
It pains me to have to respond to Ludeki because he happens to be my friend. However, given the serious sweeping assertions he has made in his article on important matters affecting virtually everyone in Kenya, I feel duty bound to refute some of the most egregious arguments he has posited. If I were to provide a detailed point-by-point rejoinder, we would be here until next year. I don’ t want to inflict that pain on my readers.
Ludeki began his article with an audacious prediction. Despite the recent (but acknowledged dubious) opinion polls, last week’ s stupendous launch by Raila Odinga and what the majority of political analysts now generally recognize as a foregone conclusion –that Raila will face Kibaki at the polls in December – Ludeki has come up with a nebulous theory in political calculations.
He says that Kenyans prefer leaders that are subtle, unconfrontational, respectful, statesmanlike and polite. Let’ s give it to Ludeki. These are attributes that are considered virtues all over the world. And since many of us would desperately not want Kenya to be viewed as an island on matters of morality, we would grant Ludeki his wish and embrace these characteristics as the defining character traits we are looking for in our next president.
The first major problem Ludeki runs into is his over-simplification of complex issues. Leadership does not just depend on misconstrued perceptions or what the leader wants people to believe or see. Leadership, at its core, depends on a person’ s verifiable background, character, commitments and contributions for the public good.
I am amazed that Ludeki used more than 1200 words but not once did he mention the most important attribute any leader must have: that is integrity. Do Kenyans believe Kibaki has integrity? Do Kenyans truly consider Kibaki a leader they can trust? Does Kibaki have a background, character and record that make Kenyans trust or believe him?
These are the key questions that Ludeki avoided but on which Kenyans will most certainly anchor their decision in December.
Now to Ludeki’ s nebulous details in support of the sweeping predictions. This is where he runs into very serious trouble. As the wise people of yore stated: the devil is always in the details. Still very true today as it was before Jesus confronted the Pharisees and Sadducees of the second century.
Ludeki claims that Kibaki’ s strength is in his non-confrontational manner. He asserts, as truth, that Kibaki is a respectful old man who does not hurl insults against his opponents. That Kibaki is a polite and polished gentleman who “concedes defeat,” and “concentrates on development.” And what examples does Ludeki present in support of these conclusions?
Well, he dangles before us Kibaki’ s “concession” of defeat at the November 2005 constitutional referendum.
It is possible that Ludeki was absent from Kenya during the referendum. If that is the case, then perhaps we may forgive him for misrepresenting so recent a history. But for one who occupies the position of “senior political science lecturer,” one would at least have expected Ludeki to have checked his facts carefully before presenting a false picture to the public.
In any event, did Kibaki have any options other than to concede defeat? Is Ludeki implying that Kibaki could have refused to accept the results of the referendum after he forced it on Kenyans? The refusal to concede defeat would not just have been illegal; it would also have depicted Kibaki as a dictator.
First, with the notable exception of Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, Kibaki has exceeded the boundaries we have come to accept with presidential lexicon. While Kenyatta was fond of challenging those who were saying that he had grown senile to ask Mama Ngina about his virility and challenged those bent on bringing “nyoko nyoko” to a duel, even the grand old man never deteriorated to a point where he used presidential podium to hurl insults at Kenyans.
However, Kenyans have become used to watching Kibaki call his opponents and ordinary Kenyans he disagreed with pumbavu and mavi ya kuku. Is this what Ludeki calls polite, gentlemanly and statesmanlike? Is it possible that a political scientist of Ludeki’ s qualifications would consider these utterances polite and non-confrontational? And is it possible that Ludeki has conducted some research, even among his students at the University of Nairobi, and established that calling people these names ingrates rather than repel Kenyans? For if indeed those are valid findings, then we must devise new vocabularies and means of communication – even new syllabi – to recognize this new linguistic development.
After Kibaki’ s referendum Waterloo, didn’ t he fire all his ministers that had differed with him, but who actually emerged popular with the people? Instead of admitting that he was wrong to try and force an unpopular constitutional draft on the people, Kibaki fired members of his cabinet that had told him that he was wrong! Is that the behaviour of a statesman and who avoids confrontation?
We may have different standards of judging Kibaki’ s performance. We may genuinely disagree on whether a 5.8 economic movement Kenya has realized should be called “recovery” or “development,” especially in view of an inflation which stands at 9%. In fact, we may also legitimately disagree on whether or not Kibaki played any role on this economic “movement” at all. It is quite possible to have different opinions on Kibaki’ s popularity index because the Steadman Group has refused to disclose who funds their polls and have never shown us the questionnaires they have relied on in tabulating their numbers.
However, one thing most Kenyans recognize, regardless of the deep political divide, is Kibaki’ s inability to take criticism. He refused to listen to the LDP over the Memorandum of Understanding. He brushed aside the views of Kenyans during the Bomas process. Ludeki may not remember, but many Kenyans still vividly recall the tantrums that Moody Awori, Kiraitu Murungi, Makau Mutua, Kivutha Kibwana and other staunch Kibaki supporters during Bomas. Later, the entire Kibaki cabinet boycotted the proceedings.
Kibaki’ s obstinate, arrogant and dismissive attitude became worse during the referendum. We continued to observe it when the ghosts we call the Artur brothers invaded Kenya. It never diminished when the Anglo Leasing scandal erupted. Rather than treat John Githongo with respect, Kibaki cast him asunder.
Kibaki’ s much touted “delegation” of responsibility only seems apparent in the midst of scandals and missteps either by members of his immediate family or of his cabinet. Of course, Kibaki would not respond when the First Lady invades a major media house and assaults journalists. He would be as quiet as a lamb when his ministers are alleged to have been caught with their fingers inside the cookie jar. Kibaki is an expert on deflection and deception. He tries to turn scandals into assets.
But how does Ludeki justify overlooking Kibaki’ s disobedience of court orders? Kibaki issued title deeds in Nakuru in 2005 even after the High Court has specifically ordered his Government not to do so. Recently, he defied an order issued by the East African Court sitting in Arusha regarding his nominees for members of that regional assembly. He has conveniently and repeatedly disregarded, disobeyed and breached electoral laws during by-elections throughout the country. As Ludeki’ s article hit the stands, Kibaki was trying to bribe Magarini voters by dishing out title deeds.
Are these the conduct of a statesman? Is it possible that Ludeki does not fully comprehend the terms he is misusing?
And now to Kalonzo. Ludeki claims that Kalonzo is more popular than his opponents purportedly because he “does not respond to insults.” But he does not tell us why responding to insults is not statesmanlike. Some of the most celebrated statesmen like Mandela and Churchill are better known for their quips and responses than for major policy statements.
Ludeki seems to think that calling someone “non confrontational” is a badge of honour. Similarly, he believes that calling someone a “troublemaker” is equivalent to “unpopular.” Ludeki forgets that positive changes have historically been brought by those deemed to be troublemakers. Wasn’ t Kenyatta supposed to be a troublemaker just before becoming president?
How about courage, forthrightness and the ability to deliver? Does Ludeki think these are positive attributes for national leadership? Or is Ludeki suggesting that all Kenyans want is a Pope for president?
My friend Ludeki has deliberately avoided mentioning Kibaki’ s refusal to deal with corruption and tribalism as significant factors that would fatally undermine his candidature. That’ s quite unfortunate for a political scientist. After all, scholars are paid and installed atop our Ivory Towers to deliver to us logical, objective and reasonable analysis; not voodoo concoctions in the name of analysis.
There is absolutely nothing in Ludeki’ s article that qualifies for analysis. Words and phrases are used so loosely and carelessly to the extent that it is impossible to assess whether to call this writing political tarot reading or political mumbo jumbo. Either way, Ludeki has dishonoured political science. If this is what nowadays passes as political analysis, then Kenya truly needs some thorough shake-up. That’ s why we should reclaim troublemaking as a virtue in political discourse.
Miguna Miguna
*Miguna Miguna is a Barrister & Solicitor; Mediator & ADR Consultant; political analyst; prolific commentator on social, cultural and political issues; and a published author.
Humour: Do You Mind Where You Eat Your Ugali?
One thing our readers need to know is that at KSB, we like going to war and we are always ready for war. Like any other regime, we always prepare for war during peace time because from experience, we know that in politics (which we deal in), war is always around the corner. We don’t apologize for anything you read at KSB (because 98% is the truth) while we attack when we are under attack. When you attack us with a “Mfupi rocket”, we hit back with a “Kipara Missile” or any other weapon available.
Very few of our enemies understand how we operate. We have a unit called “KSB Military Intelligence” which updates KSB leadership from time to time about the war situation in the field or about possible threats from different quarters.
Readers who have been following events at the site probably know that we have been fighting our “Third Cyber War” (3rd TCW). We fought the first Cyber war in 1999 and the second war happened in 2002. From these past wars, we gained lots of experience.
We are like the Hezbollah which is cool during peace time and fires during war time. Those who think that one day, there will be no fire from KSB are probably insane. If there is a biblical saying we trust, it is “a tooth for a tooth” and “an eye for an eye”.
We don’t turn the other cheek when we are hit. We smash your other cheek very hard and those who have not yet noticed this principle should take cue. We don’t love our enemies. We seek to destroy them using any weapon in the armory because this is the principle of war.
We spend a lot of time studying the enemy. The enemy tactics are constantly put into focus, the enemy weapons are continuously evaluated, the enemy strategy assessed from time to time and so fourth. At the same time, we constantly develop new weapons through extensive research.
At the moment, we are at war. We have faced attacks from at least two new enemies, forcing us to acquire new and deadly weapons. For example, we recently announced the acquisition of the “Kawangware Church missile” and the enemy went berserk.
Another “Church propelled missile” we acquired was the “2.5 million scud missile” aimed at a new regime seeking to set up an “Axis of Satan” against KSB. As we write, we have just tested the “Stolen Kawangware Matatu missile” which is also “Church propelled” although we don’t know how the enemy will react to this announcement. We need to warn a notorious enemy that we might soon have to fire the “abandoned Kid rocket” if it becomes necessary.
Other weapons in the armory include the “Anti-Kley tactical Missile”, the “Tax evasion Blog to Blog Missile”, the “Afris ballistic missile” and the “Family breaker surface to surface missile”.
When Clay Onyango fired the “Kafupi missile” we were surprised. An attack on KSB using this missile is also an attack on all Wakenya who are “vertically challenged”. We thought that if we don’t respond with equal fire, next time, fat Wakenya (horizontally challenged if you are fashionable) might come under attack followed by Wakenya Warefu.
In fact, all Wakenya Wafupi need to join hands and organize a demonstration outside the Office of Mr. Clay Onyango for suggesting that Wakenya Wafupi are suffering from “inferiority complex” and that they are always trying to compensate for their height by “making noise” in the Internet.
Wakenya Wafupi should even call for a boycott of Clay’s business if Mr. Clay cannot publicly withdraw the remark because an attack on one Mkenya mfupi is an attack on all Wakeya who never made it vertically. You don’t expect Wakenya wafupi to use manure on their shoes so that they can grow tall because being long or short is a matter of biology or DNA. Wakenya should not tolerate people who continue to undermine others on the basis of biology which is beyond human control. Nobody chose to be long or short, fat or thin, deaf or dumb etc.
Another issue. Imagine you have a very trusted friend who invites you to his flat for some really hot gossip. You arrive, demolish ugali, sometimes with sukuma or chickling with hot soup. As you swallow, you piga mastory and laugh together in a moment of pleasure.
Then, without notice, you enter into crisis with your Mkenya friend who has been generous with Ma Ugali. Before you even understand what the problem is all about, you begin to read about yourself in the Internet.
The story goes like this. “Osewe used to swallow ugali at my place and now he is saying this and that about me. Why was he not attacking me when he was at my place demolishing one othonge after Othonge”.
If you are still lagging behind, “Othonge” is the Luo word for the huge lump of Ugali you cut before you make a hole into it with your thumb to scoop “chickling” (read Chicken) soup as you prepare to make a gigantic swallow. Jameni.
What has happened to Wakenya? According to the Kenyan culture, someone who comes and eats at your place is a gem as far as friendship is concerned. Who will eat at your place after going public at a blog attacking a former friend using food he/she ate at your den. Are some Wakenya insane or has the cold snow Ulayani transformed some people’s brains to think in the opposite direction?
When I eat at a friend’s den, I never imagine that the food I swallow might one day be converted into a “scud missile” against me at times of war. I have fought three Cyber Wars but this time, it was the first time that an enemy used the “Ugali Missile” as a potent weapon to try and destroy me.
I was so shocked that I had to go for a shower to cool down wondering whether I need to reconsider where I swallow ugali especially if I have been invited. The good news is that despite having demolished Kilograms of ugalis from friends, I am not worried if I enter into crisis with an old pal and I will continue to crush ugalis at every opportunity. However, you have been warned. Next time when you take a bite, remember what happened to Osewe.
Okoth Osewe
Update On ODM-KS AGM/Elections
So far, a total of eight ODM-KS members have presented their names for elections scheduled for Saturday May 19th 2007. The elections will be held at the Wanachi Pavillion from 14.00. Names of the candidates will be published in the ballot papers which will be used during elections. Members have up to Sunday 13th May to present their names for elections after which the final list will be drawn and circulated to members.
Election of ODM-KS officials are part of the Agenda for the AGM which was called to officialize ODM-KS leadership and to discuss issues which have arisen since the Party was set up. Interim Committee members have been running the Party. It will be the first elections organized by the Party since it was set up in October last year. In the meantime, ODM-KS election candidates have been given the freedom to campaign to be elected in Office. Further information about new development will be posted at ODM-KS web site.
Mrs Hellen Opwapo
Chairperson
Lifted from ODM-KS Web site at: www.odmks.org
A General Outline Of Current ODM-KS Imbroglio
Probably, it would be expedient to comment on events in ODM-KS as a way of answering some basic questions that have been raised by concerned individuals watching events from different pedestals. ODM-KS is not a religious organization or a Church so it is impossible for Party or Committee members to agree on everything or to say “Aimena!” whenever a Party member says “Haleluyah”.
In a Political party, a member doesn’t have to agree with every item in the Party’s Program. An 80% agreement with a Program of a Party should be enough for one to support the Party. A Party member can even remain a “critical supporter” ie agree with the basic principles but disagree with different positions taken by the Party on critical matters. However, there should always be channels for ventilation in cases of disagreements.
If a minority group of members disagree with the majority over Party policy on a certain issue, it should be the responsibility of the minority to try and win the majority in order to change policy. During the period of discussions, members (be they ordinary or Committee members) have to agree with what has been decided by the majority as they go about arguing their case within the Party.
Any serious Party must have a Constitution which gives direction especially on the structure of the Party. The Constitution outlines the decision making process within the Party both by members and its leadership. Committee members have the possibility of discussing issues within the Committee while members have the possibility of doing so through member’s meetings. The Committee should have a machinery of calling a member’s meeting if disagreements within the Committee become irreconcilable in a way that threatens the running of the Party.
In almost every political Party, there are normally differences be they organizational, Programmatic or policy oriented. Back in Kenya, ODM-K has very serious differences especially on the question of nomination of the Party’s Presidential candidate. KANU has differences that are almost tearing the Party apart. According to latest Press reports, Mr. Uhuru Kenyatta, the Chairman of the Party, has formed a Committee to discuss and settle differences within the Party. Even if a Party is in power, internal differences could escalate and force the Party to go for early elections. It is in this light that differences that emerged recently in ODM-KS Committee needs to be seen.
A unique factor in the case of ODM-KS is that several assumptions were made at the time when the Party was set up. Individuals who had never worked together in a political Party suddenly joined forces to set up the Party because doing so was considered by the initiative takers as a matter of urgency.
There were people whose main agenda was to do anything possible to ensure that the corrupt regime of President Mwai Kibaki was removed from power. Another group saw the setting up of the Party as an opportunity to become an official of the branch of a strong Party which had the capacity to take power in Kenya. Some individuals simply wanted to bask in the publicity while others were changing “Professions” and simply wanted to use the Party to begin building political profiles. Better still, others came to gain experience while others came to be noticed.
The bottom line was that everybody had good intentions because everybody believed that the Party was in the right position to make a difference in the politics of Kenya. There were no disagreements on the Party program when it was drawn neither were there any major problems in the Constitution.
ABSENCE OF A “CODE OF CONDUCT” LED TO ERRATIC BEHAVIOUR
The Party program was drawn out of the understanding that ODM-KS would not just support the mother Party in Kenya blindly but would do so hoping that there were certain issues the Party would address once it seized power. These issues included corruption, tribalism, appointment of civil servants on ethnic lines, marginalization of minority ethnic groups, the issue of dual citizenship, voting from abroad just to mention but a few.
Party members did not agree on any ideology ODM-KS would adopt because this was not necessary. ODM-KS was not seeking to seize power in Kenya but to operate as a “back-up” to the mother Party in Kenya so that the government of President Kibaki could be brought down. For this reason, Left leaning groups like KESDEMO led by Mr. Martin Ngatia joined the Party because from the point of view of revolutionary theory, ODM-K stood out as the only Party that could advance the democratic struggle in Kenya despite the rag-tag of politicians who populate it.
However, theoretical discussions were never taken up by individuals who teamed up to form the Party because the main objective of removing Kibaki from power had been agreed upon by everybody regardless of their political persuasions. The absence of a “code of conduct” for the Party due to assumptions of “good will” could have been the Party’s undoing. The consequence of this omission was erratic behavior by some Committee members. ODM-KS Program acted as the main document upon which members agreed to form the Party but the conflict has exposed new loop-holes which have to be sealed in the future.
When the Committee was set up, there were Committee members who were meeting one another for the first time. Nobody bothered to check the political backgrounds of individuals who took over the leadership of the Party although majority of these individuals already knew one another out of years of joint work. Some individuals had vast experience in running a Party while others were getting initiated.
The current differences within the Party erupted after the Party nominated Raila Odinga as the Party’s choice for Presidential candidate. Prior to this, there were minor differences like affiliation to the Party back home and other matters but these differences were not so serious so as to explode out into the open. Two Committee members resigned from the Party but these resignations were treated as normal because they happen from time to time in every political Party. For example, Narc-KS has had four resignations since it was set up and nobody is crying wolf.
Differences on the Raila nomination escalated into a conflict within the Party after some Committee members started violating the Constitution. Majority of Committee members were shocked. The whole disagreement on the Raila nomination was set aside as Committee members who found the violation unacceptable moved in to defend the Constitution and to call for an Annual General Meeting to resolve the issue. The war that erupted in ODM-KS was not a war between individuals but a battle for control of the Party to enable the Committee to call members at an AGM. It is during the conflict that the Committee came to know the real characters that were sitting in ODM-KS Committee.
ODM-KS AGM has been set for 19th May and all members will have an opportunity to have their say. Enemies of ODM-KS have been feasting on the public exchanges of Committee members – thanks to the conflict. Others who have quit the Committee and are now writing under pseudo names have already drawn “twisted Lessons” from the “ODM-KS experience”. At the end of the day, the footprints which will remain in the sands of history will be the political work ODM-KS will be able to do to ensure that there is a regime change in Kenya after the December elections.
The biggest issue about the AGM is not the conflict itself but the character of the leadership that will take over the Party after the AGM. Because of the level of political maturity of current ODM-KS leadership, there is enough guarantee that democracy will prevail at the AGM.
Regardless of who sits in the new Committee, the new leadership should not lose sight of the fact that the Party’s original agenda was to remove Kibaki from power regardless of who is nominated to run for President under the Party’s ticket. The issue of nomination is tiny compared to the gigantic task of facilitating the defeat of Kibaki. ODM-KS should be able to support any candidate nominated by ODM-K because that is how democracy works.
Okoth Osewe
ODM-KS Leadership Welcomes Raila’s Vision For Kenya
ODM-KS leadership has welcomed the vision put forward by Raila Odinga on Sunday 6th May at the Kenyatta International Conference Center. As a Presidential candidate, Raila renewed hope that a solution to the political, economic and social crisis facing Kenya could be addressed.
ODM-KS welcomes Raila’s clear position regarding the thorny issue of tribalism especially the appointment of public servants on ethnic lines. Marginalization of minority ethnic groups has been a big issue in Kenya since independence. In his speech, Raila noted that once ODM-K takes power and he becomes President, marginalization of certain ethnic groups will be ended.
Corruption is a cancer that has been eating into the fabric of the Kenyan society since the days of independence. In taking a clear line based on zero tolerance to corruption, Raila was reminding Kenyans that he is well aware about the challenges facing him as a future President of Kenya.
ODM-KS will not dwell into the whole aspect of the speech here because it was self explanatory. The presentation of Raila’s vision marks yet another stage in the struggle against the corrupt Kibaki government which needs to be retired by Kenyans in December. The full text of Raila’s speech can be found at ODM-Kenya website at www.odmk.org.
Mrs Hellen Opwapo
Chairlady
ODM-KS
lifted from odmks.org
Can Mr. Clay Onyango Play The Role Of A “Peace Maker”?
There is a Kenyan in Stockholm called Mr. Clay Onyango who is becoming very provocative. The latest is that he has resorted to undermining Wakenya who are “vertically challenged” (short) and exposing them to unnecessary ridicule as he pokes his nose into issues concerning political parties he does not belong to.
In a collective attack on myself and Munala, Clay wrote: “Their height is around 5.2 inches and they are both very good poets. Once you are this short it’s believed that one tends to have inferiority complex and in order to be recognized, you need to make noise”. At KSB, this amounted to a “Surprise attack”. In any case, I am not a poet so I don’t know where Clay gets his instructions.
When he attacks other people’s physical configurations, Clay forgets that he is himself having a permanent area of alopecia on his head forcing him to constantly shave his hair. May be, Clay thinks that his Kipara is a certificate for him to try and play “sage” in the situation. If you deliver an attack in the direction of KSB in a given fashion expect similar fire because that is the rule in “blogology”. This brings us to the so called “Family values.
When KSB comes under attack with blatant lies, abuses, horrific fabrications, foul language and what have you, family values are thrown out of the window by attackers who sometimes have to apologise to their readers for the extent of the filth they are spewing. But when KSB responds with consummate diplomacy, giving references connected to scandals, victims begin to scream about “Kids are reading this and that stuff”. When Clay, who should be a decent family man, writes the above filth, how does he expect to be respected? Do the kids go to sleep when Clay writes his crap then wake up when Osewe responds?
Clay does not belong to ODM-KS so he might not be in a position to understand the political issues at play. When ODM-KS had a meeting at Tensta some months back, Clay appeared from nowhere to attend the meeting. But when he was asked to join the Party, he refused. From the ODM-KS meeting, Clay went directly to a Narc-KS meeting in Alby. If Clay is not interested in politics, why can’t he just continue selling tickets instead of assuming the profile of a political prostitute under the guise of “wanting to know what both Parties are doing”.
Although he is not an ODM-KS member, Clay suddenly popped up at an illegal meeting that had been called by two ODM-KS Committee members. Was it because of the “Omundu kwa Omundu” philosophy that, I understand, calls for solidarity when a “Mwana wa Ingo” faces a challenge or what did Clay come to do at the meeting?
Clay should first put his house in order before taking other people’s business on his head. When Gerry Midenyo was facing criminal charges in a Swedish court, Wakenya who saw Gerry smash a Mtizedi’s head refused to appear as witnesses. Many Wakenya supported Gerry because the Mtizedi was becoming Mjinga sana at a Kenyan Party.
Every Mkenya was shocked when Clay turned up in Court as a key witness against brother Gerry and guess what happened? Gerry went to jail and the Mzee has been very bitter with Clay. If the two might have buried the hatchet to show solidarity with “Mwana wa Ingo” at a time of crisis, only time will tell.
When rumours circulated in Stockholm that Clay had been arrested and put in police custody, it was Gerry and George Mengo that Clay decided to attack. Clay wrote: “My advice to …Gerry Midenyo, George Mengo and a few others who might pop up is: Please visit a mental hospital. It’s free in Sweden. You do have a loose nerve in your brains”.
Were the kids reading the blog or had they gone to sleep so as to miss the above verbal brutality? Could someone like Clay act as a “peace maker” in a political dispute with this kinda language?
“Operation Thunderbolt” that Clay started stalled even before it could leave the run way. A Party that was organized by Clay at Alby and which was to be used to launch “OT” was boycotted by Wakenya because no one wanted to get engaged. When Clay later called a meeting, only four people turned up. That was Clay, his wife, Ole Ngais and his wife. That was after I and Jared Odero warned Clay that he could not start a Project of that magnitude without a well laid out structure. What did Clay do? He simply rubbished the critique but when push came to shove, the Project collapsed. No one hears about the operation any longer because it died.
FRACAS AS CUSTOMER DEMANDS TO BE PAID HIS DEBT
Then Clay came up with the idea of setting up a football team of Wakenya in Stockholm. Honestly, I still believe that this was a very noble idea. Once again, Clay was warned that although the idea was super, it was wrong to name the football team after his personal business. The argument was that a Mkenya who had nothing to do with the business could find it difficult fitting into it because of possible economic complications but Clay would not listen. When push came to shove, the idea collapsed and no one hears about “Orkarinte Football Team” any more.
If there is a Kenyan who is known to have tried stuff, its Clay. But majority of initiatives are always failing. Take for example the social gathering point Clay opened at Sundyberg a few years ago. The joint was owned by an African Caribbean and it picked on quite well. But what happened? After a few weeks, the place was closed down.
Then came the Kamukunji fiasco. Clay announced that the place had been opened and that Wakenya had eventually found a meeting place. Before the celebration was over, Kamukunji was closed down.
I don’t want to go further. Clay opened a place at Odenplan for Wakenya to socialize. I still remember the fantastic art work that was done by Morre Petersson. It was a small place but it looked comfy. After just three weeks, the place was closed down.
But the most interesting close down was the one which involved someone I don’t want to name here. Wakenya were informed that a new place had been opened by Clay. As a person who always shows solidarity whenever a Mkenya pulls something progressive, I dashed to the joint. I was with Moses Trubadur. It was an art shop cum meeting joint. One could notice that a Jungu was behind it because of the level of control. It was sophisticated and music was blaring from a lap top connected to tiny but powerful speakers. I personally congratulated Clay for work “well done”. Kumbe!
As the Grand opening continued, a guy who had been very cool, suddenly started demanding that Clay pay him his money. He claimed that he had given clay 6.000 kr for a ticket but that he never got his ticket. This happened in front of Wakenya so if you are scratching your head thinking that this is another KSB rumour, just wait a minute.
The guy became rowdy and invited Clay for a fight. For him, he could not understand why Clay had not paid him his cash while at the same time “opening places”. Haya! The situation soon turned ugly and Wakenya started to panic. Attempts to cool the guy down failed. Before Wananchi could figure out what was happening, Wazungu who were at the place noticed that there was a problem. The guy was by now, shouting for Clay to pay him up and Wakenya feared that manjako would soon be called. When the show was over, the place was closed down the same day it was opened. The Grand opening became the Grand closing.
Hata hivyo, Clay did not give up. He opened another place at Odenplan which also closed down the day a birthday was to be held at the place. But that is for another day.
I think Clay should leave ODM-KS matters alone and try to open a new place. Instead of trying to make peace in ODM-KS and raining abuses at people without proper reasons, he should try to make peace with himself and work with others.
If you are a peace maker, it doesn’t work when you undermine the very people you want to harmonize. When Kiboi died, Clay sent an apology to all Wakenya he had wronged in the past. He said that Wakenya should love one another. What happened to the love Clay talked about because now, he is openly abusing people and making new enemies.
Okoth Osewe
Kenya Teens Party At Albyskolan
A Party for teenagers will take place at Albyskolan on Saturday 12th May from 18.00 to 24.00, time when Wazee will take over. The Party has been organized by “Making A Difference (M.A.D)”, a group of Kenyans seeking to promote the young especially in the area of entertainment.
According to a contact, entrance to the Party after 24 hrs will be limited to those with IDs. The DJ will be the notorious Kajoe.
M.A.D has, in the past, organized a Kenya children’s Party which was very successful and which was later followed by a Party for adults. KSB takes this opportunity to congratulate M.A.D for the good work the group is doing in promoting the interest of young Wakenya.
Okoth Osewe
A Brief History Of Kenyan Organizations In Stockholm
There is a myth being peddled in the Internet that Wakenya in Stockholm cannot do anything, they are useless, they cannot organize themselves and a host of other accusations. Another myth that has become fashionable is that Kenyan organizations in Stockholm are always collapsing due to poor leadership, disagreements, squabbles and power struggles. But what is the truth?
When I first arrived in Sweden long time ago, there was no active Kenyan organization on the social front. From Stockholm’s Carlslund refugee center, I moved to a camp in Sundsvall where I was later joined by Daniel Mwaura, Patrick Mwangi (Manto) Githuku wa Muirani among other Kenyans. At the camp, we noticed that Sweden was violating the Geneva convention and that we would be deported to Kenya to be killed by former President Moi if we did not enter into struggle. We discussed our common problems with other Africans in the camp and soon after, we managed (as Kenyans) to convince Africans about the need to form an organization to drive the African struggle because we were tired of seeing Africans being picked up in the camp by police one by one. We set up the “Organization of African Asylum Seekers in Sweden (OASIS).
We joined mainstream political parties as an organization because we could not struggle on our own. We organized demonstrations which not only articulated the rights of African asylum seekers but also attacked the racism and discrimination that was rampant within the asylum process and which had resulted in Africans not being granted asylum in Sweden. A year after OASIS was set up, Swedish Neo-nazi organizations began to threaten our members. We were constantly in the local Newspapers and TV stations in Sundsvall. When the Neo-Nazis put my name on their death list, OASIS and other political contacts decided that I should move to Stockholm. Later, Mwaura, Manto, Kamau (now in the US) also moved to Stockholm while Muirani moved to Enköping before moving to Stockholm. Sani Yongi moved to Holland to continue with his struggle. OASIS had outlived its usefulness and it was put to rest.
At about the same time that we were moving to Stockholm, Mwandawiro Mghanga and Alex Wagunya were in the process of setting up a Human Rights organization. However, there was a problem. Three Kenyans led by Mr. Njenga Gikanga (former member of Mwakenya) were blocking the process because Mr. Gikanga did not agree politically with Mwandawiro. As refugees who were still in the struggle, we were also seeking to set up a new organization of Kenyans. We decided to join hands with both Mwandawiro and Alex to defeat Gikanga and company so that an organization could be formed. This collaboration led to the setting up of Kenya Human Rights Organization in Sweden (KHEROS). Mwandawiro became the Chairperson, myself the Secretary while Dick Kamau became the Treasurer. KHEROS led several struggles related to human rights violations in Kenya and the violation of asylum rights of Kenyans in Sweden.
Around March 1996 tens of Kenyans arrived in Sweden to seek asylum. By then, both Muirani and myself had been granted asylum status. KHEROS organized a historic meeting in Skarpnäck to look into possibilities of setting up a political Movement in Sweden. The meeting was attended by key Kenyan exiles in Stockholm and over 20 Kenyan asylum seekers who had just arrived in the country including some well known names in today’s Stockholm. When nothing came out of the meeting (which exists on video), myself, Martin Ngatia and Githuku wa Muirani teamed up with other Kenyans to set up the Kenya People’s Democratic Movement (KEPEDEMO-Mapinduzi), a political outfit. Majority of members of KHEROS were asylum seekers who later dispersed in different directions to “look for papers” through other means because they believed that their asylum cases would fail. Not every Kenyan in Sweden could join KHEROS or KEPEDEMO because they were only open to Kenyans who were political.
THE EMERGENCE OF KUWA
At that time, “ordinary Kenyans” feared politics which was mainly associated with “dissidents”. They were afraid that if they joined these organizations, they would be unable to travel to Kenya because they would be arrested at the Airport. The birth of KEPEDEMO created some friction in KHEROS which was still defending asylum seekers. KHEROS did not collapse but continued to be under the control of Alex, Mwandawiro and Dick until Mwandawiro and Dick returned to Kenya. Today, Alex is in charge of KHEROS although the organization is inactive. As I write, KEPEDEMO still exists and is one of the organizations which forms Kenya Scandinavia Democratic Movement (KESDEMO) headed by Mr. Martin Ngatia and which has affiliations in Norway and Finland. This is a very brief summery of events and there are several stuff that cannot be expanded here because of time and space.
The first major Kenyan organization that was non political and which was open to all Kenyans was Kenya United Welfare Association (KUWA) which was set up in 1996. During its seven years of existence a lot of achievements were realized through the organization. More than 70 harambees were organized to help Wakenya with different types of problems. The idea of Grand Nyama Choma was born in 1998 and there was not a single year that the event failed to take place, time when over 700 kg of meat was consumed.
Nyama chomas were free followed by all night parties at Nosborg Musikhuset with free entrance. The organization emerged as the only African organization that was producing a monthly Newsletter (KUWA Bulletin) with 57 issues having been published in total without a miss. A “Club House” was opened at Rågsved where Wakenya used to meet every Fridays and Saturdays. It was an experimental Club and remained operative for more than 2 years. Wakenya used to receive information about the organization via mail “on the door”.
Throughout its existence, KUWA received 282.000 kr and the breakdown is as follows: 1998: 50.000 kr, 1999: 58.000 kr, 2000: 100.000 kr and 2001: 74.000kr. This cash was being managed by the Committee which comprised nine people and Swedish authorities released funds only after previous funds had been well accounted for. Every time KUWA was funded by the State, the news grabbed the headlines in KUWA Bulletin. There was nothing secret.
The Committee used to be elected every year at the AGM. Swedish authorities had their own Auditor who used to go through the organization’s accounts (for State funds) and who used to be paid 5.000 kr for the job. Cash that was generated at parties were pumped back into the Association through the purchase of assets in preparation for further development.
The organization bought assets (see the Annual General Report of 2002) in preparation for movement into a Lokal (bigger meeting place for Kenyans) before an internal conflict erupted in June 2002 (See the 26 page “KUWA In Crisis” Report). The conflict was sorted out at an AGM which was attended by 45 members in October the same year (The Annual General Report delivered at the AGM exists including a video footage of the meeting). All previous Committee members were re-elected and the person who announced names of the new Committee was Mr. Jamlik Muritu. “The opposition” was counting votes.
After their re-election, the new Committee continued to run KUWA in 2003 while at the same time reflecting on what had happened in KUWA after many years of good work and achievements. At the end of 2003, many Committee members decided not to run for Office because they wanted to take a break. Some were getting busy while others had just started building families so they needed time out. When information was sent through KUWA Bulletin for candidates to bring in their names in preparation for the 2004 AGM, no names came up. The outgoing Committee then transformed itself into a “Care taker committee” because it could not just disappear. Publication of KB was stopped. This is the situation today.
Those who sat in KUWA Committee at any point in time during the life of the organization like Mr. Jared Aroka, Joseph Goga, Kenneth Aroka, Mark Gaya, Laban Mberi, Wyckliff Odiwuor, Peter Gitau, Pastor Beatrice Kamau, Moses Trubadur, DJ Steve, Antony Adiwa, Kenneth Wamburi Munge, Enock Otuga, Meshack Otieno, Jacob Opande and many others deserve sincere congratulations.
Like any organization, KUWA had its own difficulties but this did not prevent the organization from making progress in many areas. We had our own wars but these wars will never erase the fact that KUWA was one of the most successful Kenyan organizations to have emerged in Sweden in recent times.
The whole history of KUWA cannot be told here. The distorted history of the organization being presented by personalities who were not at the scene ignores the fact that KUWA’s activities were “over-documented” in KUWA Bulletin and other documents creating no room for opportunists to make political capital through distortion of the organization’s seven-year history.
Okoth Osewe
ODM-KS Statement On Kenya Airways Plane Crash In Cameroon
The Orange Democratic Movement Scandinavia (ODM-KS) would like to send its deep condolences to the families of the 115 passengers believed to have died following the crash of Kenya Airways Flight KQ 570 which originated in Abidjan, Ivory Coast and which was destined to arrive in Nairobi on Saturday 6.15.
From Press reports, ODM-KS believes that the plane might have crashed and that all passengers on board might have perished. We take this opportunity to send our condolences to the bereaved families hoping that the Kenyan government will institute an investigation to establish the real cause of the tragedy.
The plane is the second Kenya Airways plane to have crashed in a period of seven years and this does not auger well for Kenya Airways. ODM-KS hopes that the Kenyan government will keep the public fully informed about developments regarding the crash at this time of tragedy.
ODM-KS hopes that the families of those affected will have the courage to go through this difficult moment.
Mrs Hellen Opwapo
ODM-KS Chairperson
90,000 Kr Raised By Kenyans, Friends For Late Ekele
On behalf of our family here in Sweden, I, Betty Mugo, the girlfriend of the late Nigerian national Ekele Okwunjia and my sister Mary Mugo would like to take this opportunity to thank and acknowledge the immense support and generosity that was extended to us by our Kenyan friends, African friends and well wishers which enabled us to raise 45,000kr to help transport Ekele’s body to his family in Nigeria.
Besides, another 45,000kr was raised by Nigerian Embassy, Nigerian Union, Nigerians in Sweden, African Fellowship and another church organization.
A total of 90,000kr was raised out of which 55,000kr was used to transport the Ekele’s body ,belongings, plus a plane ticket to one Nigerian lady who accompanied the body back home. The balance of 35,000kr was sent to Ekele’s mother in Nigeria.
Ekele was burried on 17th March 2007 in Nigeria .”MAY HIS SOUL REST IN ETERNAL PEACE”
Thank you for your prayers, your presence and consolation, your contributions financially and morally.
Kindly accept our sincere appreciation and may “GOD BLESS YOU ALL.”
BETTY & MARY MUGO.
Family Of Late Nigerian Thanks Kenyans And Friends
The family of the late Ekele Okwujia, a Nigerian national who had a Kenyan girlfriend, has sent a message of “Thanks” to the Kenyan community in Stockholm and friends who helped raise funds to transport the body of Ekele to Nigeria for burial.
In a letter copied to the Kenyan community in Stockholm, African Fellowship, Nigerian Embassy, St Immanuel Church and all Africans in Stockholm, Michael Okwujia, a family member, said that the whole family was grateful for the good work Wakenya and friends did.
“We Okwujia Ochigbo family sincerely appreciate your efforts to have come together to raise funds for the body of Ekele Okwujia to be sent to us in Nigeria”, wrote Michael in a letter availed to KSB.
“Thank you for your cordial assistance in raising this fund and paying for everything to bring the body of Ekele Okwujia home to fulfill his dream and our wish as a family in Nigeria”, said the letter.
“May God Almighty reward you, bless you a hundred fold and keep all Africans together in unity until Christ comes”, concluded the family letter.
Ekele was found dead in his flat in Alby last December. A Memorial service was held in Stockholm by friends and well-wishers before the body was eventually transported to Nigeria for burial.
Okoth Osewe
About KSB
New Book On Kenya December 2007 Election Crisis: In Circulation
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