Ex-Woman Of HIV Positive Kenyan “On The Carpet” By KSB
Following a huge amount of mails from Kenyans about the Swedish woman who accused an HIV positive Kenyan man of rape, assault, attempt at HIV infection and other charges, KSB has traced the woman and put the questions Kenyans have been raising to her. The Kenyan is currently on trial. Below, she takes the questions one by one.
KSB: Following the TV3 “Insider” Program, some Kenyans think that the fate of John is fixed and that appearing in the program was part of your design to fix him. What is your view?
Liz: During this process, reporters from Aftonbladet, Expressen, Metro, Stockholm City, you name it, called me and asked for interviews. I declined all of them because I don’t think that they are serious and would make out anything positive for me or for John. All that they want is to have their scandal headlines and that is something I don’t want to be a part of. “Insider” wanted my story and I wanted something from them; I wanted them to go after smittskyddsenheten (Department for the Prevention of Infectious Diseases) because I blame them for what happened to me. They have done wrong and they could and should have stopped John from doing this to me and many others a long time ago. That was my only agenda.
KSB: You know that John might be deported after he serves his jail term. What do you have to say to those who think that it is wrong that your child will now not have a father since his deportation is on the agenda and that you influenced the situation?
LIZ: First of all I did not influence the situation, he did when he decided to do the things that he did to his children. He never really cared about anyone of them. If he loved his daughter, would he have raped and tried to infect her mother with a deadly disease? What positive message can an abuser of women teach his daughter? I don’t know, but the decision of deportation is not on my hands. It’s up to the Court.
KSB: A Kenyan said that you were very skilful when dealing with the media (TV report). Why did you take the story to the media when it is still in court? Were you trying to improve your side of the story to ensure that John goes to jail or what was your real intention?
LIZ: Actually I had an agreement with “Insider” that they should not send the Program until the trial was over but the investigation got prolonged and they could not wait any longer since it was the last program this season
KSB: Kenyans say that as a Swede, you know how Swedish psychology works. You were very emotional during the Report. Some Kenyans believe that you created the impression of an innocent white woman suffering under an HIV positive African. Was it real or were you playing to the media deliberately to make it look like if he is released, then the Swedish justice system is crazy.
LIZ: Well I don’t know why I should know how Swedish psychology works. Is it because I am a Swede? I don’t think my nationality or skin colour has anything to do with the case. I am not trying to portray myself as an innocent white woman. Yes, I was very emotional during the recording of the Program. During the clip outside Karolinska hospital, I was just minutes away from finding out if I was HIV positive or not, and I can assure you that I don’t need to fake my emotions. I have been going through a nightmare and I am just waking up from it.
KSB: The media loves this kind of story – African-HIV positive – assaulting a white woman – rape etc. Why didn’t you report the rape cases in the past and why now? You knew that he had HIV. How could you even think of sleeping with him on the same bed after you knew his status? You say that he threatened you. Did you report that immediately after he tried to rape you without protection or did it take more time. Many Kenyans cannot understand this.
LIZ: When I found out that he was positive, I was seven months pregnant and he cried. I held him and promised that I would never leave him. For Gods sake, I loved the man. Should I have left him because he was sick?
However, things didn’t end there. He got more and more violent and finally I threw him out of the apartment in January 2007. After that, we decided to stay together and work with the relationship but not to live together for a while.
After that, he started threatening me that if I did not do as he told me, he would go to the police and the Immigration authorities to tell them about what I did. (Helping a guy obtain residence in Sweden).
He said that I would end up in prison and that he would make sure that I will never see my kids again and that my friend would get deported. I felt that I had no choice!
In September, I was completely broken down psychologically. I was desperate for a way out. I called a lawyer and explained the situation. She told me I didn’t have to go to jail for that so the next time John wanted to have sex with me without protection I said NO.
That’s when he raped me. In my mind, I have never thought about other forced sexual encounters I experienced as rape. I took them as blackmail but it was the decision of police to call them rape. In my mind, rape includes violence and there was no violence, just threats.
KSB: Kenyans definitely think that you are not racist because then, you couldn’t have taken a relationship with John in the first place. The belief is that he had many women and that you just wanted to fix him after he left you. This is also his defence. What is your view?
LIZ: Well, he never left me. As I explained, I threw him out. Yes, we were together and I knew he was seeing women on the side lines. That is something he did from day one so why would I go crazy about it now?
KSB: How can you respond to this email sent by a KSB reader: “Hi, yes I saw the show but I am going to watch the re-run tonight. I feel sorry for the girl, horrible, horrible what she has been thru! But, I guess her husband was known for being kinda disrespectful to women. But I would still want to know if that nasty rumor is true cause I happened to see xxx (a Kenyan – name on file) in a club less than two months ago dancing a real tight booty dance with a tall very beautiful white girl with long black hair – might have been her? Well I guess now I am putting my big nose were it doesn’t belong again….”
LIZ: Xxx is John’s best friend. I have only met him a few times so I don’t even know him but from what I have heard, he is happily married and has a family. Even though some of his words in the blogs has hurt me I understand and respect that he is on his friend’s side. There are no romantic connections between him and me and there never never will be.
KSB: Another mail, what is your response?: “I don’t know the lady but I think there are some things she has made to fix (John). The guy was strong and if he beat her, she could have been so injured that she could have reported to police long time. How comes that she hid herself from Kenyans when she was with John and now she wants everybody to know the bad things John did to her by going on TV. Why can’t she just be patient and wait for the case to end then go on TV. Why do it now when the case is very hot? You should ask these questions in the blog because you have not attacked her yet. John might have done bad things to her but she is also a bitch and she needs to be told. I don’t mean real bitch because I also feel sorry for what she went thru – if they are true”.
LIZ: Yes, I was very injured and went to “vårdcentralen” (local clinic) on several occasions. The photos that the Doctors took are being used in the trial as evidence. I never tried to hide from Kenyans when I was with John but he did not allow me to go to the Kenyan parties. I guess it could have gotten harder for him to get “friendly” with the Kenyan ladies if he brought a pregnant girlfriend to a party. But I wanted to go. Just to make it clear. I don’t like that people call me a bitch cause I am really not. I don’t like that word. It’s degrading to all women and we should not call them that.
KSB: Other Kenyans have said that the case should be a warning to Kenyans with white girls – they can fix you anytime and the system will support them “because the system is racist”. What is your reaction.
LIZ: The system is not racist but some people are. In a court, things have to be put beyond reasonable doubt through evidence for a person (no matter his or her skin colour) to be judged and sent to prison. So I don’t think there is a very big risk that an innocent person could get judged and be jailed. I dont think Swedish women have a special interest in putting their boy friends behind bars.
KSB: Thank you for the interview. We will continue to follow the case.
Okoth Osewe
KSB NOTE:
Both John and Liz are assumed names for purposes of protecting privacy.
The Story Of “Matoke Businessman” And Thwacks At Norsborg
I wish to inform all friends, fans and concerned Kenyans that I am fine following the Saturday attack on me by the Matoke businessman. I have received lots of email, SMS and phone enquiries from different contacts regarding my condition. Others have wanted to know whether the Matoke businessman has been harbouring a grudge against me and whether the attack had sinister motives. Kenyans and other contacts are looking for background information to help put the attack into perspective.
I don’t know exactly why he attacked me and at the moment, I can only speculate. I was one of the first people to assist the businessman after he set up his Matoke company. On July 24th last year, he approached me to put up an advert at KSB about the business so that Kenyans in Stockholm could know about it. The KSB advert at “Kenya Business Network” link category was part of his strategy to popularize the business and to set up a customer base in readiness for Matoke imports. Adverts at KSB are free and I had no problem helping a young and ambitious Kenyan pursue his economic dreams based on Matoke business.
The advert connection did not just come out of the blue. I knew the businessman through Mr. Githuku wa Muirani whom, I was made to understand, was related to him. He had come to Sweden as a refugee and was putting up in Göteborg or some location in Southern Sweden. I was at that time helping several Kenyan refugees with strategy on how to go about with their applications.
When he came from Göteborg, I recommended that since it would be difficult to deal with the case if the businessman was in Göteborg, he needed to move to Stockholm because living in Göteborg was the same as a foreigner who was in Kenya and residing in Lokichogio. Luckily, the businessman understood the logic and made his way to Stockholm so that he could continue with the battle for papers.
When the case was presented in summery, it was my view that the businessman had no chance of asylum because the case was very weak. I had brief discussions with one of his main contacts and recommended that he needed to go for “Option B” which I will not get into. The points were well taken and after a long struggle with “B option”, he got his papers and settled in Sweden. Everybody was happy and we maintained good contacts although we never met much because we didn’t have much in common. Besides he also needed to continue with his life and I was also very busy. This was in the late 90s.
THE ALFA AND OMEGA OF “MATOKE BUSINESS”
We did make some real contacts from time to time. During a Nyama Choma at Fittja Beach, the businessman was of tremendous help. He was practicing for his driving licence and since we needed some transport, we agreed together with his Stockholm contact that he would help us with certain Movements as a way of finding his way in Stockholm as he went about with his driving practice. Things were fine. He got his licence and after two years, he began pursuing his ambitions as a Taxi driver and he made it. However, the businessman had big capitalist ambitions and soon, he decided to venture into the Matoke business and this is where we came into contact once again because he needed to popularize the business.
Since he was just beginning, I thought that it would be a good idea to boost his morale by establishing myself as one of his key customers. When he first imported Matoke from Kenya, he called me and requested if I could send an SMS to Kenyans that the Matokes were finally in town, straight from Kenya and I did. I was one of the first Kenyans to order a pack of 12 Matokes in a carton at 200 kr. He delivered the package right on time and all of us were happy. In solidarity, I encouraged him to inform me as soon as another batch arrived so that I could place another order.
The second batch of Matokes did arrive and once again, it was the same process – SMS to Wakenya followed by my personal orders which was also delivered. This time round, he had expanded the business to include passion fruits which I also ordered. Things were moving fast then suddenly, the Matokes stopped coming from Kenya. I did not try to find out what might have happened but I just put one plus one together and concluded that may be, the business had somehow collapsed because of complications in Kenya-Stockholm.
The underground news channel BBC was awash with stories that the Matokes were too expensive and that cheaper ones were available at Tajmahal and that kinda thing. Other Kenyans had put in dirty propaganda that the businessman was undermining Kenyans after he got his Taxi licence.
The story went that the businessman was feeling on top of the world because he was not cleaning Wazee at old people’s homes or washing dishes like other Kenyans who had been here for more than fifteen years. It was like he had been here for a very short period of time and was already driving a Taxi and blah blah blah but other Kenyans were just sleeping.
This image was re-enforced by the fact that whenever he came to any Kenyan function, he would make sure he arrived in “Taxi uniform” in some kinda exhibition and some Wakenya did not like this so when he later tried to sell them Matoke, they kinda gave him a cold shoulder.
If you want to build enmity with Wakenya in Stockholm, start talking negatively about cleaning wazee, washing dishes and other kinda junk jobs. The view is that whatever a person is doing for a living is his or her own business and once you begin to undermine Wakenya here using what they were doing to win bread, you are sure to be in trouble especially if you are looking for some kinda support from the community. I was not responsible for the collapse of the Matoke business and I did not deserve the two thwacks because I was a loyal customer who paid cash on delivery. In fact, I did everything possible to help the business and he could have given me a better Christmas present.
DRAMMATIC CHANGES AFTER THE NONINI SHOW
After the Matoke business somehow went dry, the businessman changed tact. He began to view himself as a “Promoter” of Kenyan Artists. He set up a new company or organization called “Leta Mleto Entertainment”. The name was coined by Mr, Martin Ngatia and it was picked up at KSB. The first assignment of the new group was to bring Nonini in Stockholm.
Once again, the businessman got in touch with me and requested that I send an SMS to Wakenya announcing that Nonini would be in town on 27th October 2007 and that entrance would be 200 kr. From my perspective, this was very positive and at a personal level, I thought that the businessman had now grown up because honestly speaking, you cannot get anywhere selling Matoke to Wakenya in turbulent Stockholm unless you are doing it on a large scale with a huge customer base.
The new move was good because the Entertainment Industry is what is booming. I did send an SMS. To promote the Nioni show even further, I did a short story about the coming show at KSB because I strongly believed that it was a good idea bringing the Artist here so that Wakenya could experience him. From Matoke to Nonini, my actions were not those of a person who was trying to destroy but that of a countryman who was trying to help a brother build a better economic base using facilities that were available. This is why the two thwacks surprised me.
According to info the businessman gave, Nonini was to play at a pub in Sätra but later, the venue changed and it was moved to Vällingby. Another SMS was needed and, as usual, phones of Kenyans were like kripp kripp with another Makozewe message. Things were cosy in them days and it was like I had become part of the whole “Business Empire” although I never attended Board meetings.
After the Nonini show, things began to change. Nonini played for just 30 minutes at 200 kr while the show started past 2.30 when it was supposed to start at 22.00 hrs. Kenyans like Milton Obote and Lillian Mbova approached me saying that they thought it was all “robbery without violence”. Kenyan wanted the scandal exposed and KSB was there so?
Before even Nonini arrived, the businessman came and gave me a very strong warning not to take any pictures or videos while he also said that there should be nothing at KSB about the show. I just looked at him and said “Heavenly smoke!”
He was feeling very big for having brought Nonini in Stockholm but what I could not understand is how he thought that he would be able to muzzle KSB when he did not control the Internet and when I had paid up whooping 200 kr like any other Kenyan. Don’t worry that I did much of the mobilization through my Networks because I believed that he was making progress and he needed support.
After the show, I went to the blog. I not only questioned the 30 minute show at 200 kr but also rendered an analysis to expose the circumstances under which Kenyans had been conned of their money.
I have been involved in questioning (for a long time) the Moi and Kibaki governments on many issues that did not make sense. If Kenyans were now being conned in Stockholm, it could have been hypocritical not to question the conman. I believe that while it is good for Wakenya to do business, they also need to be honest.
I think things went really wrong after the KSB Report on Nonini and, in retrospect, I now believe that the businessman might have been out “to teach me a lesson” on Sato because the attack was unprovoked.
The question now is whether attacking me has solved the problem because my friends and contacts are very upset with the businessman. The matter is now under police investigation and I cannot comment further than this.
I take this opportunity to send my gratitude to all Wakenya, friends and sympathizers who have been sending me nice messages to console me after I was “Lucied” by the Matoke businessman at Norsborg.
I believe that Kenyans should not allow violence as a way of sorting out inter-personal differences because this option is for the less conscious. I hope that the businessman will now enter into a period of reflection and ponder on what he did.
If wishes were horses, I would wish that this doesn’t happen again to another Kenyan because we need to live in peace and harmony regardless of our personal or political differences.
Okoth Osewe
Hot Kenyan Booggie On 28th December at Albyskolan
As many Kenyans might have expected, it is a season of Parties. Shwabs Man, a sophisticated Kenyan group, will be presenting “The biggest Afro Bash” at Alby Skolan on December 28th from 10PM to dawn with plenty of food, drinks, courtship and fun. All Kenyans, friends and fun lovers have been invited to the Party which will cost 150 kr at the door.
This means that it will be a special Party so mark your calendar and don’t be left behind during this hot season of Party, Christmas and New year. If you are looking for the beautiful one, come and try your luck. If you have not yet been hooked and you are curious, make yourself available because this is the last chance this year!!
Besides, Kenyans will have (hopefully) known their next President so how will it be possible to celebrate the “new era” without getting to some kinda bash after elections to analyze the situation in a Kenyan stylee?
In fact, KSB can now confirm that this will be the last Kenyan bash this year so do not say that you were never warned and we will not take responsibility if you get bored in your kaCrib when others are doing the boogie-boogie.
Wakenya are determined to end the year with heavy partying because on the 24th, four days before the Shwabs extravaganza, another bash will be held at Albyskolan with leading Kenyan DJs spinning including DJ Collosium who has been missing in action for quite some time now. Come and experience what he has been upto!
Okoth Osewe
Case Of HIV Positive Kenyan Being Heard In Camera
The case of a Kenyan facing charges of rape and assault (among other charges) of a Swedish woman which started on Thursday last week is being heard in camera. After the Thursday hearing, the case was heard yesterday, Monday 17th while it also came up today. It is understood that the Kenyan’s lawyer had requested for a “closed door hearing” especially when the elements of rape came up.
A source informed KSB that today, Tuesday, an official from the Kenyan Embassy went to court for the hearing but was denied entry into the court room.
On Thursday last week when the case began, “Insider”, an investigative Program on Swedish national TV 3, featured the Kenyan’s case for about 30 minutes. During the Program, the Swedish woman who accused the Kenyan was interviewed on several issues.
She had a harrowing story about her tribulations at the hands of the Kenyan. KSB has traced her and made an interview with her regarding several critical issues which Kenyans in Stockholm have been raising regarding the case. The interview will soon be published at the blog site.
Okoth Osewe
Police Stop Jamhuri Party Following Bloody Fracas
Nosrborg Musikhuset was packed to capacity with Kenyan Party lovers and friends. Both DJ Safi and DJ EZ Frank were working the crowd with favourite tunes which could hardly enable the revellers to have their bottoms on their seats for even three minutes. As soon as one hot number ended, another one began in an endless cycle that at times, saw the dancers form themselves into a circle of humanity as “Wacha waseme” taraab tunes boomed from the speakers. It was a night to remember and the crowd kept on swelling as the night gave way to a Sunday morning.
It was a good night and Wakenya were posing for pictures together with their spouses for the blog. One daring Kenyan couple even had a “deep kiss” for the camera and hoped that it would be published. To be honest, Sound of Blackness knows their thing. Wakenya have never experienced the level of professionalism when it comes to Udijey and you could feel the skill which was reflected on the dance floor as some revellers literally “lost control”. At a psychological level, the heavy Sound of blackness equipment sent a message that the big boys are eventually in town to show Wakenya how it’s done.
It was not until the wee hours of the morning that hell broke loose. The Party was suddenly turned into another Iraq and according to some Kenyan analysts, it was the worst battle ever at a Kenyan Party.
I was at a strategic location near the dance floor gathering scenes for the blog when a KISS agent rushed and alerted me that there was a “developing story” at the entrance which needed urgent and extra attention so I rushed to the place. When I arrived, a man was lying in a pool of blood which meant that I missed the real action. I scanned the locality and it was not long before I located another Kenyan “who saw the action live” because he was just two metres from the centre of action. There was no time to waste and I moved to the next stage – getting an eye witness account as other Wakenya tried to help the man who had been floored.
The exact disagreement that provoked the battle is not yet known. However, the overall development of the battle and key tactics that were at play have now been put together.
The battle started near the door where three Rwandese nationals cornered a Kenyan male after some tiff. According to a witness, the Kenyan was cornered in a way that he just had to defend himself. He threw a punch at one of the Rwandese who landed immediately. The second Rwandese then went on the attack but the Kenyan gave him a sharp uppercut on the jaw bone which sent him spiralling down immediately. Noticing that his colleagues were already down, the third Rwandese pounced on the Kenyan thereby provoking a heavy whack on the fore-head which landed him on the floor.
In about fifteen seconds, the three Rwandese had all been floored. As he sent them down one by one, the Kenyan is reported to having been asking “What do you want from me man….what’s wrong with you man…hey man what do you want from me”. He asked the three questions when the punches were already on their way and at the end of every question, someone was down on the floor.
ROUND TWO AND “POWER KNOCKOUTS” BY THE “KENYAN NINJA”
The Rwandese have fought many battles so one of the guys who was floored managed to stand on his feet to continue with the fight and that is when he got another thwack on the head forcing him down round two. The number two Rwandese to be floored also made it on his feet, probably thinking that the first hit was just a matter of luck. He was hit so hard that he never made it again. He is the guy who was lying on his back in a pool of blood. It is reported that he fell “like a gunia of potatoes from a lorry” and hit the back of his head on something which made him to start bleeding.
There was panic among spectators who got more than what they bargained for – a good Party. The guy who failed to make it back on his feet began to get into a state of unconsciousness and this is when the Ambulance was called. His mouth was full of blood while he had a cut on the head which created a pool of blood at the scene.
People thought he was going to die. Realising that the three guys were prostrate on the floor, the Kenyan (who was later dubbed “Ninja”) was taken care of by other Wakenya who smuggled him outside the battle zone because police was also on the way. The whole scenario played itself in just 30 seconds and the show was over. It was much shorter than the Nonini show which lasted for 30 minutes at 200 kr.
In the meantime, the two Rwandese who were down began to crawl slowly on their feet and it is not clear how they melted from the place. One of them was later seen limping towards Norsborg tube station to board the night bus.
The police was the first to arrive in four cars followed closely by a huge Ambulance. Police found when a Kenyan was trying to keep the Rwandese conscious by talking to him. When asked what he was telling the floored Rwandese, the Kenyan said that he kept telling him that an Ambulance was on the way. A total of four police cars pulled outside Musikhuset and closed down the Party as they began to take statements. Wakenya just maintained that they “never saw anything”. Everybody was like “when I came, the guy was lying on the floor” and that kinda thing.
The general mood among Wakenya was that of happiness because people were like “How can foreigners come to spoil our Parties with violence”. Others were of the view that the Rwandese were lucky because they just got a dose from one Mkenya (eti the Mkenya was enough for the three of them) and that if other Kenyans had joined in, they could have been killed and we could have been dealing with a case of triple murder.
The fracas came two weeks after four Gambians caused trouble at the Kesofo Party on 1st December. They smashed the door window at Norsborg Musikhuset with a stone, forcing Wakenya to give a chase so that they could be made responsible but they escaped. Kesofo had to pay heavily for the window.
PEACEFUL KENYANS AND VIOLENCE “FROM FOREIGNERS”
It was when I was in the process of gathering information that I got my dose of the thwack. I was in the middle of getting an eye witness account of what had happened from a Kenyan buddy when another Kenyan came to interrupt so I told him politely to give us time so that I could get the story.
Before I could continue, the Kenyan bashed me on the cheek bone. Luckily, I never fell down – thanks to the gunias of ugali and plenty of ngege samakis from Tajmahal. When I asked him why he was throwing blows, I made a big mistake because that question earned me another whack. I and the Kenyan who was giving the eye witness account were shocked.
A guy was already fighting for his life, lying down in a pool of blood and my imagination was that if I followed my instincts and provoked the Ninja inside me, a new pool of blood could easily be created with a new ambulance being called at the scene so I told him that I am calling police to handle the case because he had already taken the law on his own hands. I am in the frontlines in fighting against communal violence and just imagine what could have happened if stories going around had it that Osewe thwacked a guy and left him in a pool of blood and police had to be called. He fled from the scene, he is a wanted man and blah blah blah.
When the guy noticed that I was not bluffing with the question of police intervention, he slipped out of the hall and fled from the crime scene as fast as his legs could carry him. Police did come and recorded a statement both from me and the eye witness “who saw it live”.
Together with police, we started looking for the guy. We checked all the spider holes at Norsborg but the guy was nowhere. A Kenyan told me that the last time he saw the wanted Kenyan, the boy appeared drunk and was running away like a scared rat. He is now busy, sending emissaries looking for peace but I believe that he needs to pay up for his stupidity!!
He is a young boy trying to build a career as a Taxi driver while selling green bananas from Kenya – door to door. To promote him, I have been his customer twice and he has brought bananas on my door. How will he now come to my Crib to sell makote, now that he has thwacked a good customer who has been trying to make him rich but who is now waiting for his day in court? Isitoshe, how will he sell bananas to my friends and fans who have been consoling me since the ugly incident which happened in public?
I don’t want to use the kathing to claim that the guy might have been sent by the Kenyan Ambassador to attack me but I could not help laughing when another Kenyan called and told me that the guy could be related to Lucy Kibaki who has been slapping people at State House and that the difference is that he is in trousers.
At the Jamhuri Party at Scandic Hotel, an armature Kenyan blogger was whacked by another Kenyan during a scuffle and police had to be called. During the brief battle, the blogger was cut with a wine glass and as he called police, he was bleeding from the hand.
When he went to his blog, he not only referred to the Kenyan by name but also abused him thoroughly, calling him “A big stomached biggot (bigot)” and that he “likes free “pombe” that he nibbles like a tilapia in Lake Victoria” and other related expletives. Should Kenyans use blogs to throw abuses at one another and to promote hatred? Imagine what will happen if the two Kenyans meet at another Party!
Although you cannot “nibble pombe” we sympathised with the Kenyan under attack. The blogger also claimed that police came to Vasa to look for the guy. This is not true because I was there. As if the blogger is fighting a battle with me and although he was not at the Party, he has tried to exaggerate the story “beyond proportion” to feed his blog and claimed that I was whacked three times, a claim that is not true. The cost we will be dealing with in court is that of two blows.
At Alby, a scuffle broke out some times back between a Kenyan businessman and his buddy. When the businessman tried to fight back, he was whacked thoroughly and he left the place “drenched in blood”. Should Wakenya answer violence with violence at Kenyan parties?
Okoth Osewe
Invitation From Diplomat Kinyua’s Farewell Reception Committee
The Committee that has masterminded the Farewell Party of Mr. George Kinyua, a Kenyan diplomat who has been transferred to Canada, has invited all Kenyans, friends and well-wishers to the Farewell reception that will take place of Saturday December 22nd at Bagarmossen Church. The function begins at 14.00 hrs.
Speaking to KSB, Mr. Githuku wa Muirani, the designated Master of Ceremony at the Reception, told KSB that the Party committee is being led by Mr. Muritu wa Githu, the Chairperson and Brother Samson who will lead the prayer session. Mr. Muirani will be helped by Mr. Muritu.
Mr. Muirani said that a Program for the day will be issued later by the Committee. He said that the property of Mr. Kinyua and family has already left for Canada and encouraged friends and well wishers who intend to bring presents to “carry envelopes” instead.
“It will be difficult for the family to carry a huge luggage and under the circumstances, it is the view of the Committee that friends and well wishers carry envelopes”, Mr. Muinai told KSB.
Asked whether the Kenyan Ambassador to Scandinavia H.E Mrs Purity Muhindi will be present, Mr. Muirani said that the information the Committee has is that Embassy staff have also been invited. He hoped that the Ambassador will be able to make it.
Mr. Kinyua has been very close to members of the Kenyan community and his departure will leave a huge vacuum if his successor Mr. Daniel Kottut does not move in to fill it.
Mr. Kinyua has been grooming Mr. Kottut and introducing him to Wakenya in Stockholm as part of preparations for his acclimatization in Stockholm. Many Kenyans hope that Mr. Kottut will rise to the occasion at a time when relationship between Kenyans and the Embassy is tense. Mr. Kinyua is expected to leave for Canada by the 27th of December.
Okoth Osewe
Kenyans Console Odada’s Family
A group of Kenyans converged at a hall in Österberga to console the family of Mr. Oyuga Odada who had lost his mom in Kenya. Prayers were held at the function by Mr. Tonny Muraya and Naomi Wambui. Naomi told the gathering that they should always know their creator because nobody knew when God would call them.
Reading from the book of Ecclesiastes, Naomi said that she always walks with the Lord and warned that life is very short so Kenyans need to know their creator.
The gathering sung songs of praise in Luo and Kikuyu. The hit song was “one wadhi kayesu” which, translated from Luo means “we are going to Jesus”.
Ochieng Nyambok, a close family friend of the Odadas, told the gathering that Mr. Odada learnt about his mother’s death last Tuesday after landing in Kenya where he had gone to try and transfer her to a better hospital. Jane, Mr. Odada’s wife, was at the function and she is set to travel to Kenya to attend the funeral of her mother in Law. She addressed the gathering and thanked those who came. Mr. Laban Mberi also addressed the gathering. Mr. Mberi is a neighbour of the Odada’s and he welcomed Wakenya to the territory.
Those who were present were: Mr. Laban Mberi, Mr. And Mrs Owili Ongaro, Mr. Jacob Opande, Mrs Janet Chege, Mr. Atnony Adiwa, Mrs Prisca Forsman, Mrs Nelly Musira, Mrs Queen Johansson, Mr. William Twitoek, Mr. Joseph Goga, Mr. Gideon nyakwar Oyundi, Mrs Selin Opee, Mr. Francis Odada (Odada’s son) among others.
Mr. Nyambok told the crowd that the late Odada’s mother will be buried on Friday 21st December.
Okoth Osewe
News Update: Michael Osumba Emerges From Coma
Mr. Michael Osumba has woken up from coma which he entered into last week in a Nirobi hospital. Reports from Nairobi indicate that Mr. Osumba is now speaking and can communicate to people.
Okoth Osewe
East African Standdard Picks Up Diplomat’s Story
By Standard Team
Kenyans stage demo over plot to deport diplomat
Kenyans living in Sweden held a demonstration to protest an alleged deportation attempt of an embassy official.
They waved placards outside the Kenyan embassy on Stockholm Birger Jarlsgatan 37, on Jamhuri Day to stop the repatriation, which they termed inhuman.
The ailing official has been fighting attempts to repatriate him for the last one month, The Standard learnt.
Mr Raphael Cheruiyot, 40, a career diplomat, suffers from myasthenia gravis, a disease that attacks the muscles and paralyses its victim.
Protesters outside the Kenyan embassy in Stockholm, Sweden. Picture by Correspondent
Kenyans residing in Sweden and other Scandinavian countries took to the streets of Stockholm in the protest led by a Ms Ruth Bundotich, Mr Tarus, Mr Nahashon Mbugua, Mr Clay Onyango and Ms Caroline Kosgei.
The embassy is also accredited to the Kingdom of Denmark, the Republic of Finland, Iceland and the Kingdom of Norway.
They said deporting Cheruiyot would be inhuman because he needs specialised treatment, which can only be found abroad. A story posted on jamii.wordpress.com website alleged a plot “to pluck Cheruiyot” from Karolinska Hospital’s Rheumatology Care Unit on November 29 and put him on a Nairobi-bound plane at Arlanda Airport.
The report says Cheruiyot, a third secretary at the embassy, has been fighting a long-drawn-out battle with the embassy and the Government since his hospitalisation in April. Apparently, the report says, the Government got a doctor from Kenya to go and authorise the discharge of the officer from the hospital.
“Swedish authorities had refused to release the patient if he could not be accompanied by a doctor and had we not protested, he would have been put on a plane home on November 29,” Ms Bundotich said in an interview with The Standard.
A physician, Dr Patrick Juma, told The Standard the disease is genetic and can be controlled by immune modulators, which reverse the attack of the muscles by anti-bodies.
Cheruiyot’s family— his wife and a boy, 10, have been thrown out of the embassy house. The boy has since dropped out of school.
His mother, Mrs Esther Cheruiyot, who travelled to Sweden to be with her son spoke of the pain of seeing her first-born sick and bed-ridden.
She said on telephone from Stockholm, “I have left it all to God, my son lives in perpetual pain.”
But Mrs Purity Muhindi, the Kenyan ambassador, has denied that the embassy wanted to deport Cheruiyot.
“Cheruiyot’s tour had ended and as is with all civil servants they are recalled home for redeployment,” said Muhindi in a telephone interview. Cheruiyot has been in Sweden for five years.
“I have no authority and capacity to deport anyone, all of us are the employees of the Government. Nothing secretive, nothing unprocedural was done. He had to vacate his residence to give way for his replacement.”
Muhindi says by that time, Cheruiyot had been taken ill and admitted to hospital and his travelling back home was delayed.
The Foreign Affairs office in Nairobi has denied that there was a plan to evacuate Cheruiyot. Ms Hellen Gichuhi the Head of Press and Publicity said Cheruiyot was recovering at his residence. Gichuhi said the Government was aware of the case but said there were no plans for evacuation. “The issue has been misreported … the information we have is that the man is not in the ICU as has been indicated but is recuperating at home,” Gichuhi said. “He is at home and he is unwell but he is not going to be deported … the issue has been blown out of proportion.”
Muhindi said the Government last month decided to evacuate Cheruiyot, but with authority from the Swedish doctors “who said he could recuperate at home”.
“But the true situation is that Nairobi took over the issue from the time his tour ended,” she said. She confirmed that the Government had sent a doctor from Nairobi. It was not clear why the Government wanted to evacuate the official.
Bundotich said Cheruiyot’s illness had been diagnosed and the doctors had just put him on medication when the planned deportation was to be carried out.
He has sought asylum on medical grounds.
KSB NOTE:
Despite numerous factual errors and irregularities, the story is “in tune” with the situation.
Maximum Security At Jamhuri And Other Embassy Designs
If the truth be told, Jamhuri day was well attended. A head count by KSB yielded about 90 people and if judgement is made based on the number of guests who attended the event, there is no reason why the reception cannot be pronounced “a great success”. One could easily smell the presence of diplomats from other countries including the South African Ambassador, Ethiopian, Nigerian, Uganadan, Candian and a host of other diplomats who had been invited to the function. Every diplomat was accompanied and this increased numbers.
At the entrance, the presence of a police car sent a clear message of “tight security” although one could notice almost immediately the handful of placard-carrying picketers who pitched tent a few meters from the lobby under the watchful eye of police. Initially, three police cars were assigned to take care of security but after an evaluation, the threat level appear to have been lowered, leaving one police car.
Some of the placards read: “Shame On You Kenya Embassy!”, “A Child Needs Education”, Where Is Humanity?”, “Why Punish My Husband, Child?” and “Kenyan Embassy Has Money For Party But Not For Treatment Of Sick Diplomat”.
The parking bay at Hotel Plaza was packed to capacity with dark coloured Mercedez Benzes bearing the reminiscent blue diplomatic number plates while there was almost 100 percent surety that majority of the white guests at the event were diplomats from other countries or their acquaintances. The number of Kenyans ranged between 25 and 30 with majority of faces being Wakenya you never come into contact with easily. There were some well established names but if you had your pulse on the Kenyan community, you could notice that the “Big guns” and other “regulars” were missing in action.
Ambassador Purity Muhindi, her husband Dr. Muhindi and Principle Counsellor Ms Josephine Awuor were at hand at the entrance to receive visitors by shaking their hands. The security was so tight that two agents from Säpo (Swedish secret police) kept headquarters updated about the situation. The Embassy appear to have exaggerated the security threat and, for the Swedish government, the issue was not just about providing security cover to the Kenyan embassy at the function but ensuring that members of the diplomatic community who were scheduled to attend the function were well covered so that nothing ugly happened. Exaggerating the threat level worked to the advantage of the Embassy because this prompted the Swedish government to pay attention in terms of security arrangements.
At the strategic level, the Embassy design was simple. Daniel Kotut was in charge of security together with George Kinyua and since the Embassy had information that “trouble makers” were not going to consume anything, the task of both Kottut and Kinyua was to identify Kenyans who were neither consuming the snacks nor swallowing the spirits. Kotut then confronted them politely to ask them why they were not taking anything “to intimidate” them. They were in touch with the Swedish security who were less conspicuous. You needed an “extra eye” to identify the two Swedes who were in charge of “Internal security”. They were seen walking in and out of the hall from time to time as if taking breaks to report something.
AMBASSADOR’S TACTIC OF “NO SPEECHES” KEPT THE EGG AWAY
When it came to protecting the Ambassador, the strategy was to have her surrounded with Embassy staff and to get her to receive visitors for as long as possible. The function was scheduled to last for 2 hrs but for a whole one and a half hours, Ambassador Purity was receiving visitors at the door. This strategy ensured that anybody who was thinking about any physical attack “of the egg type” could find it very difficult firing such a missile because the ambassador was constantly busy save for a few breaks when nobody seem to have been coming in.
When the entrance was “dry of people”, the Ambassaor could engage her husband by appearing as if charting with him. Sometimes, Kottut or Kinyua could stroll towards her for an “update” about the situation inside before slipping back into the hall to mix with the crowd. The tactic worked and the Ambassador was by the door way until guests began to leave so she found herself saying good bye before she could go in and mingle with guests. When she eventually walked in to “chat with Wananchi”, it was 20 minutes before closing time and once the clock hit the target, she left with her husband to celebrate.
The Cheruiyot activists could easily be identified inside because they were not consuming. They were about seven with William Twitoek and Steve taking a leading role especially in the distribution of anti-Ambassador leaf-lets which they carried and which were also being distributed by the picket team outside. They were never interrupted although their movements were monitored closely.
On the surface, Purity looked extremely busy to make a speech at Jamhuri but, in reality, the “No speech option” was part and parcel of her well thought out survival kit. By making a speech, Purity could have exposed herself to well organized hecklers who were part of the disruption team and who had vowed to make it impossible for her to make a speech. It is during a possible speech that the activists had also intended to attack with the “egg missile”. One advantage with the speech session could have been that the attention of the guests could have been hooked on the Ambassador and an activist standing at the back could have had ample of opportunity to fire a missile without much ado. It is this opportunity that was eliminated by the “No speech” design.
Apart from Kinyua and Kottut who were active, another staff member who had responsibility was “Sir George”, a non diplomat from Uganda. He was chosen because many Wakenya do not know him and so he could mingle easily with the crowd. Besides, George doesn’t look like a “Supportive staff” member. He was in a suite and looked more like a highly placed Officer than anything else.
THE STORY OF THE WHEEL CHAIR AND THE ZONKED KENYAN
His role was to take pictures, probably to try and document any action any activist attempted inside the hall for use as “evidence. He was not communicating to anybody (although I did) and appeared, by all intent, to have been at work. It was good for my friend George (he does not give me any info so I hope this won’t be used against him) because he must have earned good “overtime cash” from the operation. Once again, the subordinate staff were missing and you can guess why. Kinyua had a camera too but it looked more like “back up” of George’s activities. A youth (the Ambassador’s son?), had also been placed at the door way and his assignment was to take “all pictures” of people who shook the Ambassador’s hand. While shaking hands with Josephine, it was funny that she could only afford to give “the tips” of her fingers and Mama Sheena really complained.
It is possible to name all Kenyans who appeared at the function although some names are not readily available because the Kenyans have been scarce on the scene. We leave identification for the “Pictorial overview”. The Kenyans present could be divided into two groups. The ones who were consuming and the ones who were boycotters. The consumers guzzled intoxicants as if nothing was happening outside and as the two hours drew to a close, security personnel at the Hotel had to begin looking for wheel chairs because one Kenyan had swallowed one too many. An elderly Kibaki supporter could be heard talking at the top of his voice throughout the function as the whiskies flowed like river nile.
Suddenly, a Kenyan collapsed then prostrated himself on the floor. After a few minutes, he was helped on his feet but when he saw the wheel chair that had been engaged to ferry him to the lobby, he refused to board. When he rose on his feet, it was like some springs had been attached on his knees because he was kinda wobbling in a funny way while at the same time trying to defend himself against proposals that he needed to go home and have a rest. When the security guard proposed that the Management call a Taxi, the guy’s expression suddenly changed then he gained some strength. Eventually, he was helped out by the guards as KSB took pictures from behind for the archive.
Just during closing time, there was an altercation between two Kenyans and once again, police had to be called. At least one Kenyan was arrested on suspicion of terrorist links but the story is sensitive and we cannot go further. The Kenyan has since been released.
Later, the whole squad of Kenyans retreated to Vasa to analyse the evening’s events. The Temple was filled to capacity and it was not until late when Wakenya began to stagger home as they sung the national anthem which was never given room at the reception.
Okoth Osewe
News Update: Case Of HIV Positive Kenyan Begins
The case of an HIV positive Kenyan who has been facing charges of assaulting a Swedish woman came up in court today Thursday December 13th. Police have confirmed that investigations into the case are complete and that the Kenyan can now face trial which is expected to last for at least ten days.
A source told KSB that the Kenyan risks 5-6 years in Swedish jail after which the Prosecutor may also request that the Kenyan be deported to Kenya after he serves his jail term.
Although he has two children with two Swedish women, a lawyer conversant with cases of this nature told KSB that the Swedish government may revoke the Kenyan’s Permanent Residence Permit (PUT) on grounds that the crimes he is suspected to have committed are “serious” under Swedish law besides being a repeated offender.
Another factor that might influence his deportation is the view by the Court that the Kenyan has not been taking care of his two children and that his deportation might therefore be inconsequential to the general welfare of the children in future.
Because of the HIV angle of the case, the Kenyan also risks deportation because within the context of the Swedish law, he is regarded as a permanent threat to the Swedish society by virtue of the fact that he carries the potential of deliberately infecting Swedish women with HIV once he completes his jail term.
Sources close to the case have told KSB that it is almost a forgone conclusion that the Kenyan is going to jail for a minimum of 5 years and that the trial is just a formality. The charge carries a maximum of 10 years in prison.
A Program on Swedish national TV 3 will feature the Kenyan’s case today Thursday December 13th at 22 hrs. The Programme will also feature the Swedish woman who brought the Kenyan before the Court to seek redress.
Another HIV positive Kenyan (whose case is almost similar as that of the Kenyan currently on trial) is serving a five year jail term in a Swedish prison after which he will be deported to Kenya “For life”. He was first handed a three year jail term but the Prosecution appealed and the Kenyan was added another two years, bringing the total sentence to five years.
Okoth Osewe
News Update: Arrested Kenyan Released
Mr. Keegan Kagwe, a Kenyan who was arrested yesterday after suspicion that he was a terrorist, has been released by Swedish authorities. Speaking to KSB this afternoon soon after he left police custody, Mr. Keegan said that he was released after police went through his files and discovered that he had been arrested on a case of “mistaken identity”.
The police was looking for an African male who entered the hall and who was suspected by Swedish secret security agents to have been part of a terrorist squad that was planning a hand grenade attack on some diplomats.
A security source at the Plaza Hotel could not confirm the “terrorist angle” of the story but said that “something like that” may have happened. It is believed that the terrorists thought that Israeli, American and British diplomats were part of the guests at the Jamhuri reception and that this could have attracted the attention of a terrorist cell based in Stockholm that may have wanted to take advantage of easy targets.
Keegan, the Kenyan who was arrested, fitted into the physical profile of one of the suspected terrorists who was captured on a surveillance camera. Police refused to comment on the case, saying only that Keegan had been released from Rådhuset police station where he was being held. Mr. Keegan is a freelance photographer who is well known by many Kenyans.
Okoth Osewe
Mr. Michael Osumba In A Coma In Kenya
Mr. Michael Osumba, a Kenyan resident in Stockholm is in a coma at a Nairobi hospital. Mr. Osumba travelled to Kenya in September this year. The Mzee, who is 65 year old, has been ailing for some time.
Mr. Osumba came to Sweden in the 70s after moving from the former Soviet Union where he was studying Terrorism. He is among the generation of Kenyans who came from the former Soviet Union to settle in Sweden.
Speaking to KSB from Nairobi, Mrs Nancy Osumba, Osumba’s wife, said that the old man has not been able to talk for some time now. Nancy travelled to Kenya last Friday. KSB takes this opportunity to wish Mr. Osumba quick recovery.
Okoth Osewe
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