Bank Acount Opened By Wachira Defence Committee
The Stockholm based “George Wachira Defence Committee” has opened a Bank Account to co-ordinate fund raising that will go towards the Defence of Mr. George Wachira, a Kenyan peasant, who is currently landless following a land grabbing case that also left him homeless together with his family.
The account number is: 3169 2212 079 at Nordea Bank. Those sympathetic to the cause and who are willing to help are requested by the Committee to deposit money in the account. For clarity, contributors are requested to ear mark any deposit with the words “Wachira defence”.
A survey among Kenyans in Stockholm indicate that there is general sympathy with Mr. Wachira’s predicament. At a House party held over the week-end, Kenyans were of the view that what happened to Mr. Wachira could happen to anybody and that it was important Wachira’s case is dramatized both in Kenya and Internationally.
The Wachira Committee is headed by Mr. Martin Ngatia, Mrs Hellen Opwapo, Mr. Daniel Mwaura and Mrs Grace Nyambura. A blog site that will be used by the Defence committee to update readers on the campaign is under construction and will be launched as soon as it is ready.
Okoth Osewe
Living The Barack Obama Dream
When he got serious with his White House bid, Barack Obama’s move remained a distant hope
but today, Obama has shown what is possible with “The audacity of hope”. He has been nominated as the Presidential candidate of the Democratic Party thereby writing history as the first African-Kenyan aka African-American to have made it to that level.
It terms of race relations, Obama’s stunning achievement is a big plus because it is probably one of the biggest achievement in the fight against racism, not just in the United States but across the world especially in countries where racism is rampant.
In our own Sweden, the government was last month taken to task by the United Nations for its failure to address the thorny issue of racism and discrimination of non white people in this country. According to a report that grabbed headlines in Stockholm City (morning Newspaper), Sweden was lagging behind in the fight against racism because it is one of the countries where Neo-nazi bone-heads still have the luxury of demonstrating against immigrants in the streets with full police protection in the name of freedom of Assembly.
The Swedish Democratic Party, a racist Party which has routinely called for the expulsion of immigrants from Sweden, used terror tactics to try and achieve its objectives and which has a clear racist, anti-immigrant Program, has several elected members sitting in the Councils across the country. The Party was reported to be gaining popularity across Sweden because of the economic crisis Sweden has been plunged in with blame being heaped on Immigrants as the cause of the crisis.
The Swedish Democrats have been reported to be on the verge of getting members elected to Parliament for the first time in Sweden, a chilling piece of news that should concern all non white people resident in Sweden. That is beside the everyday institutionalized State racism and discrimination that the government continues to practice in the housing and job markets, immigration and political life in this country.
Are the Swedes going to learn anything from the Obama experience? Of cause, Nyamko Sabuni, a 39 year old African woman from Zaire who came to Sweden when she was 16 years old is a Cabinet Minister. But that is where it ends. Sabuni does not identify with Africans and is seen more by the African community here as a career-oriented “Uncle Tom” kinda personality than a determined agent of change within the Swedish political establishment. If there is a central message the Obama candidacy is sending to Africans, it is that “We can do it” and rise to the top and that what you need is to move hope a little bit further.
A TIME OF CELEBRATION
For white people, Obama’s candidacy is sending the message that not all whites are racists otherwise how could Obama have made it since African-Americans are a minority group that could not have propelled Obama to where he is today without support from white people?
For the Democratic Party nomination, Obama beat Hilary Clinton, a white woman who had all the credentials to win the nomination. The candidacy of Obama is a demonstration that racism can be set aside and that black and white can unite for a common cause and a common goal depending on what it is. For Blacks and whites in the United States, the unity around Obama is about change.
Obama has accepted the nomination but his next challenge after he occupies White House will be a crisis of expectation. The American government is structured around an imperialistic political design which has been honoured by all previous Presidents including Bill Clinton who endorsed him.
It is this design that prompted the CIA to attempt a coup against President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela, moved the US government to bomb Libya in 1986, prompted Clinton to go to war with Iraq, drove Bush to wipe out regimes in Afghanistan and Iraq and forced the US government to engage in countless political interventions across the world in the name defending the superpower status of the United states. Any sitting President of the United States has always danced to the tune of big business and occult Movements. Will Obama be able to break away from this cycle and facilitate change?
The big challenge facing Obama if he is elected President will be a crisis of expectation. African-Americans expect their lives to change because one of their own will be in power. Will Obama stop racist police from killing African-Americans like wild beasts in the streets or address the issue of rampant racism in America?
On the other hand, white Americans will be watching Obama very carefully to see if he is leaning more on Africa/Africans than the United States in his policies. There have been attacks that Obama has not been patriotic enough because initially, he was not wearing the badge of the American flag on his lapel. Michelle, his wife, was accused of not appreciating America before Obama presented himself as a Presidential candidate.
Whatever happens, the issue of the moment is that Obama has made history and other matters will begin to fall into place once he takes office. For now, Black and white across the world should toss for Obama and use this example to unite and come together to overcome what divides the races be they political, economic, social, cultural and other factors. Obama has carried the audacity of hope to new levels that should serve to inspire populations across the world to aim at new and greater heights in whatever they intend to do. KSB says Kudos to Barack Obama.
Okoth Osewe
Bary Owino To Feature On Swedish TV 4
Barack Owino (popularly known as Barry), a Kenyan national, will appear on Swedish National TV 4 tomorrow Thursday at 7.45 AM to talk about his name “Barack” because he shares the name with senator Barack Obama who is believed to be the possible winner of US Presidential election scheduled for 4th November 2008.
When Swedish Journalists sifted through records to try and trace people in Sweden who share with Obama the name “Barack”, they landed on Bary who happens to be the only “Barack” in Sweden in a population of 9 million people. The similarity in names with Obama will be the basis of the morning TV talk.
More delighting breaking news for the Journalists was the discovery that Bary comes from Kenya, the land of Barack Obama’s father who is buried at Kogelo village in Siaya district in Kenya. Obama’s father, an academic, died in a road accident in 1982. KSB takes this opportunity to congratulate Barry for his scheduled appearance on Swedish National TV, a rare chance which rarely comes by here in Sweden. Barack has contributed an interesting article (in Swedish) about the Luo in Kenya which can the accessed here.
Okoth Osewe
Is Lucy Kibaki Under “State House Arrest?”
I have not been commenting on Kenyan politics for quite some time because just like all concerned Kenyans, I have been giving the Grand Coalition time to mature. One thing that has been characteristic in the situation is that the First Lady, Mrs Lucy Kibaki, has not been as omnipresent as she used to be during President Mwai Kibaki’s first term in office and her absence from the scene has defied official explanation from State House, prompting many Kenyans familiar with her slapping streak to ask where she actually is.
When the Grand Coalition was being sworn in, Mrs. Lucy Kibaki was conspicuously absent. That was after she went missing from the gala event of the schools and colleges drama festival that was held at State House some weeks ago where winners entertained the President. It was very strange that Lucy missed this routine event packed with entertainment meant to sooth the nerves of the President.
The First Lady has an office at the NHIF building measuring 5,078 square-foot, well furnished, guarded by GSU round the clock and costing the tax payer Ksh 761,900 quarterly. The Office was leased to her through Crystal Valuers in November 2003 but has never been used because the first lady has been busy with charity work under the auspices of The Organization of African First Ladies Against Aids.
Recently, a group of scholars proposed that First Ladies should be banned from Charity work because of “conflict of interest”, arguing that First Ladies were milking the State millions, claiming that they are fighting Aids while in reality, they are in business.
The contradiction is that although Lucy may have been busy, she has not been seen in public for a long time. Has she been too busy with private business that keeps her away from the public?
When I called State House to find out, there was no concrete reply and staff I talked to was more interested in establishing why I wanted to know the whereabouts of the First Lady than willing to give information.
I introduced myself and said that I am a Kenyan citizen who resides in Stockholm who was getting concerned that the First Lady had withdrawn from public lime light to an extent that she missed the swearing in ceremony at MPs and official opening of Parliament, something she never used to do.
After a few seconds of silence (it appeared to me that the official might have been consulting), he came back on the phone and said that he is not allowed to comment on the issue.
The disappearance of the First lady has been strange because during President Kibaki’s election campaign, she was working almost daily campaigning for her husband and after elections were stolen, she just disappeared. On May 28th, she was spotted shopping in Biashara street, Nairobi where she reportedly informed a curious crowd that she has been “busy working”.
She did make an appearance with the President on Madaraka day after allegedly slapping Gitobu Imanyara at State House but since then, she has not been seen in public again. At one point, Ida Odinga, the wife of Prime Minister Raila Odinga, questioned the whereabouts of the First Lady but no answers were forth coming.
SLAPPING RAILA ODINGA
At the State opening of the ninth Parliament, First Lady was surprisingly absent and her seat remained vacant although Judy, her daughter, was present.
I then asked the Officer whether it was true that First Lady had slapped Gitobu Imanyara at State House as the post election crisis unfolded. I thought he would get irritated but he avoided the question and instead, asked me where I had obtained the direct line to State House. I said that I have a friend who works with the Ministry of Defence who had passed the number to me.
I refused to give away my sources, cut him short and asked whether it was true that the President was very sick and sleeping almost 24 hours a day. He then surprised me because he began to laugh. He warned me that the conversation was being recorded and I said that it was fine that it was going on record that a citizen was asking about the health of the President. By then, he had forgotten my name and asked: “what is your name again?”
“If the conversation is being recorded, then my name is there”, I replied. “Nyinyi watu wa ngambo, kazi yenu ni ngumu”, he said before hanging up.
When the First lady allegedly beat Imanyara, some elders from Meru tried to intervene by convincing Imanyara to cool down the court case so that the elders could resolve the conflict outside court but I still don’t know how the mediation process went. Mr. F.K Musyimi, the Principle Administrative Secretary who was slapped by Lucy at State House last year, was relieved of his duties in February this year without explanations.
The same month, Jimmy, the President’s son, met the Press to deny that he had been shot by her mother at State House. According to the rumour, Jimmy was shot after he tried to plead with the President to step down after election rigging because people were dying because of him. Upset by her son’s intervention, Lucy allegedly opened fire on Jimmy, shooting him on the heap.
When he met the Press to deny that he was shot, he did not expose his thighs to show that he was never injured by any bullet. This miss has prevented the rumour from going away. Something must have happened to Lucy because her withdrawal from the public lime light is not normal. Is she under State House arrest for fear that she might try to slap Raila Odinga in public and create a crisis or something?
Okoth Osewe
“Wachira Kirira Defence Committee” Set Up In Stockholm
A Committee has been set up in Stockholm to fight for the recovery of a piece of land that was grabbed from Mr. George Wachira Kirira by Mr. Joe Maina Ruthithi in Kenya who seized the land using government help due debt Wachira allegedly owed Ruthithi.
The land grabbing which attracted media attention in Kenya was bizarre because Wachira lost his land as a result of his failure to pay Mr. Ruthithi a fine of Ksh 80,000 awarded to Mr. Ruthithi by a court in 1982 following an assault case which Wachira lost. At the time Wachira was rendered homeless, his land was worth Ksh 4 million while the original amount had accrued interest totaling Ksh 240,000.
Setting up the Wachira Defence Committee in Stockholm, Mr. Martin Ngatia, one of the initiative takers, said that it has become necessary to set up the Committee because the struggle to recover the land may take a long time depending on how authorities in Kenya reacted.
The Committee intends to dramatize Wachira’s case at home and abroad and has called on Kenyans and other people of good will to support the struggle against land grabbing in Kenya. Other members of the Committee are Mrs Hellen Opwapo, Mr. Daniel Mwaura and Mrs Grace Nyambura. A Bank account has been opened by the Committee in Sweden to facilitate fund raising to help Wachira recover his land. The account will soon be made public.
Mr. Ngatia told KSB that what has happened to Wachira is gross injustice which should not be happening to any Kenyan at a time when Kenya is being led by a Coalition government that vowed to fight injustice and land grabbing.
An impromptu fund raising that was organized in Stockholm to raise cash to help Wachira cope with life after his house was demolished and his family thrown in the cold realized Ksh 64,000 that was sent to Wachira via Western Union. Mr. Wachira thanked Kenyans and friends who had come together to raise funds on his behalf.
Wachira has since hired a lawyer who has taken up the case. A hearing on the case is expected today, Monday 24th August in Nairobi. In the case, Wachira will argue that the seizure of his land by Ruthithi was illegal.
The Committee intends to get in touch with the Office of Prime Minister, Office of President, Minister of Lands and Settlement, Wachira’s MP, Human Rights organizations and any other groups that could help in the recovery of Mr. Wachira’s land.
The Committee resolved to set up a blog site that will be used to spread information about the Wachira campaign and to sensitize the public about Wachira’s predicament.
Okoth Osewe
Narc-KS Treasurer Defends Chairman Mawura
Ms Christine, the National Treasurer of Narc-Kenya Scandinavia, has said that recent attacks on Mr. Daniel Mwaura, Narc-KS Chairperson by critics who claimed that the Narc-KS boss is operating alone are part of a well planned propaganda campaign against Mr. Mwaura.
Speaking to KSB, Chrisitine said that she was shocked to read at KSB that Mwaura was single handedly dealing with ODM-Scandinavia regarding the on-going campaign to help landless George Wachira because Mwaura has been transparent in the Party’s dealings with ODM-Scandinavia.
“Mr. Mwaura sent a letter to all Committee members about the issue and what I know is that only one official didn’t get the letter”, she said.
She said that when Narc-KS sent its contribution to a recent fund raising on behalf of Mr. Wachira, Narc-KS sent money as a Party and Committee members were well updated.
“Mwaura sent an email to Committee members while he also sent an SMS to members and updated them about the ODM-Scandinavia contacts”, she said.
Chrstine congratulated both Mr. Mwaura and Mr. Martin Ngatia, Vice chairperson of ODM-Scandinavia, for having taken the initiative to try and help Mr. Wachira whom, she said, has been sleeping in the cold after his land was grabbed in Kenya.
“The Wachira issue is not an ODM or Narc-Kenya Issue. It is an issue which should concern everybody who loves democracy”, she said. She added that those who are attacking Mr. Mwaura with lies are well known within the Party. “The Party acted on humanitarian grounds”, she said.
Okoth Osewe
Emanuel: Vote Of Thanks From Pastor Beatrice Kamau
On behalf of St Klara Church, Pastor Beatrice Kamau would like to thank everybody who
Pastor Beatrice Kamau: Praised Tanzanian Ambassador To Sweden
responded to calls for prayers and fund raising following the sudden demise of Mr. Emanuel Seka, the Youth leader at St Klara Church who lost his life after he drowned in a lake at Södertälje in Stockholm.
Speaking to KSB, the Pastor thanked those who helped raise more than Ksh 600,000 to help in the transportation of Emanuel’s body to Tanzania for burial. The funeral is now over after Emanuel’s body was laid to rest in his home village in Tanzania. The body was accompanied by Emanuel’s girlfriend.
“I also take the opportunity to thank the administration of St Klara Church which responded with speed to the tragedy”, the Pastor said.
She also sent a message of “Thank you” to the Tanzanian Ambassador to Sweden who was one of the first people to take contact with the Church as soon as news filtered across that Emanuel had passed away.
“The Ambassador was at the first fund raising that was conducted in Södertälje and I wish to thank her for taking her time to come and mourn with us”, Pastor Beatrice told KSB.
She said that Tanzanians were lucky because they had a responsive Ambassador who is mindful of the welfare of Tanzanians in Sweden.
“I told the people of Tanzania who were at the fundraising at Södertälje that they were blessed to have an Ambassador who minded the welfare of the people of Tanzania in Sweden”, she said.
Touching on the issue of joint work between East Africans, Pastor Beatrice said that co-ordination between Tanzanians, Kenyans, Ugandans and other communities following the death of Emanuel underlined the possibilities that existed for joint work between East Africans. She called for greater contacts between the communities, adding that the community shared a common heritage as East Africans.
She said that all that had happened following the passing of Emanuel was possible because of the grace of God and hoped that more people will turn to God for guidance especially during times of crisis.
Pastor Beatrice is one of the few trained African Pastors in Stockholm, having studied Theology at Uppsala University.
Okoth Osewe
Mr. Mwaura’s Work With ODM-Scandinavia Questioned
Mr. Daniel Mwaura: Under New Attack For Lone Ranger Operations
A Narc-Kenya Scandinavia official has questioned the involvement of the Party in the release of a joint Statement between the Party and ODM-Scandinavia by Narc-Kenya Chairman Mr. Daniel Mwaura, arguing that the Party leadership is not aware that Narc-KS is involved in joint political work with ODM-Scandinavia.
The official, who did not want to be identified because of the sensitivity of the matter, told KSB that the Narc-KS Chairperson is acting alone in the Party because the issue of joint work with ODM-Scandinavia has not been discussed by the Committee according to the Party’s laid down regulations.
Recently, the Scandinavian branches of Narc-Kenya and ODM released a joint statement in support of the landless Mr. George Wachira Kihira while the two parties have also been involved in a joint fund raising that realized over Ksh 60,000 that was sent to Mr. Wachira via Western Union.
The official accused the Narc-Kenya Chairman of being notorious in sidelining members of the Executive committee, abrogation of the Party Constitution and lone-ranger operations which, he said, has undermined the authority of the Party’s leadership.
According to a reliable source, Mr. Peter Gitau, a top official of the Party, is said to have broken ranks with the Narc-Kenya Chairman because of the joint statement which some Party leaders believe should not have been released before consultations.
The sudden attack on Mr. Mwaura is likely to re-kindle internal struggles within Narc-Kenya Scandinavia that saw the exit of Mr. Githuku wa Muirani from the Party to launch the Kibaki Tosha lobby group which has since been dissolved.
The anti-Mwaura forces within Narc-KS have been lying low since the December polls but new and growing opposition to Mr. Mwaura could be an indication that all is not well within the Party’s leadership.
Attempts to reach Mr. Kenneth Wamburi Munge, the Party’s Secretary and second power baron within the leadership for comment were fruitless. KSB is following the story.
Okoth Osewe
Kenya Post Election Violence: Seminar In Stockholm
A Seminar entitled “What Has Happened In Kenya after Elections” will be held in Stockholm on Wednesday 20th August 2008 at the offices of Forum Syd (address Katarinavägen 20 – tube Slussen). The Seminar runs between 15.00-17.00.
Among key speakers will be Luz Baastrap, Deputy Director of Diakinia Church based in Nairobi and Camilla Redner, Program Assistant for Human Rights and Democracy at the Swedish Embassy in Nairobi.
During the Seminar, a picture of the political crisis in Kenya following the December election will be rendered while discussions will also focus on how this crisis influenced the Civil society to react.
According to the coordinator, Susanna Elmberger, there will be possibilities for discussions and exchange of experiences during the Seminar. Those wishing to attend have to register in advance by sending mail to: Susanna-elmberger@forumsyd.org.
Okoth Osewe
Rukia Amina’s Father Is Dead
Rukia Amina, a Kenya resident in Stockholm, has lost her father in Kenya after an illness. Kenyans, friends, well wishers and sympathizers are invited to an “Open House” at the residence of Rukia on Saturday the 23rd of August from 12.00 hrs.
The address is Askersundsgatan 12 and the tube station is Rågsved. Further information can be obtained through Tel: 0731587229.
KSB sends deep condolences to Rukia and family following the tragic loss. We hope that the Kenyan lady will have the strength and courage to go through this difficult moment of great shock and sorrow.
Okoth Osewe
Invitation To Oduya-Andersson Pre-Wedding Party
Mr.Wyckliffe Amadi Oduya (son of the late Mr.George Oduya and Mrs Margaret Oduya) and Charlotte Elisabeth Andersson invites Kenyans, friends and well wishers to their pre-weding party on Saturday 30th August 2008. Venue Täppgränd 18 Enskedealen, Plommongårdens träfflokal. T-bana Sandsborg on line 18 Farsta . Time starting 19.00. Activities. dinner. Dance with DJ Jimmy.
Okoth Osewe
“Arise And Shine” Conference Could Be a Good Break
On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, a rare activity among Kenyans and friends will be taking place in Stockholm. The Bagarmossen Church will organize the “Arise and Shine” Conference which will be the first of its kind within the Kenyan Church going community in Stockholm.
The population of Kenyans in Stockholm is very tiny and if one has to talk about the “Christian community”, it would be opportune to assert that many Kenyans are “Christians by word of mouth” and not by deeds. In fact, the population of Kenyan Christians is very small here and it is in this context that the “Arise and shine” Conference has some significance.
Will this Conference draw the attention of Kenyans in Stockholm about the need to move closer to Jesus Christ? Of course, in the United States and Britain where the Kenyan constituency is substantially large, a Conference of the “Arise and Shine” type might not attract a lot of attention. But, in Stockholm, the situation is slightly different. The Conference puts the Bagarmossen Church into sharp focus while it also helps in promoting the Church because pulling such a Conference is a statement that Kenyans behind the Bagarmossen church are serious in what they are doing.
Pastor Samson, Pastor Samuel, brother Muritu, Pastor Muraya, brother Caxtone, Sister Catherine, Sister Sheila, Sister Lissa and others around the Bagarmossen Church should be proud of having pulled Bishop Karanja of “The Wings of Love Ministry” to Stockholm and to spread love and forgiveness among Kenyans and friends in this city.
This Conference should offer a moment for Kenyans and friends in Stockholm to “Rise and Shine” after being low and gloomy following the post election violence. Let us hope that long after the Conference, it will be possible for those who will get the message to spread the good news among Kenyans, some of whom are deeply engaged in sin and other dirty activities abhorred by the Almighty.
The Conference should not just be limited to issues connected to people’s ability to “Arise and shine”. The Conference should also seize on the opportunity to pray for Kenyans in Stockholm to see the light and join the crusade to heaven. Kenyans in Stockholm need to stop hot gossip, betrayal of one another, spreading lies and rumours about people, moving with wives of other Kenyans, conmanship, prostitution, hatred, alcoholism among other unacceptable vices that are becoming routine within the community.
It is during Conferences of the “Arise and shine” type that the Kenyan community here is in a better position to move closer to the almighty and have a reality check. There is need for Kenyans in Stockholm to ask for forgiveness of sins and what better opportunity could have presented itself than the “Arise and shine” Conference?”.
This is not to launch a campaign for the Conference. The truth is that since the days of Bishop George Njuguna who passed away after returning to Kenya, many Kenyans have never been close to a Kenyan Bishop here in Stockholm and part of the reason why some Kenyans do not go to church is because they are tired of white Swedish Bishops they cannot relate to. Here we are, with a Kenyan Bishop travelling all the way to help us “Arise and Shine” so we cannot turn around and say that we were never told.
I hope that this Conference will be an eye opener and that it will go a long way to awaken Wakenya here about the need to revert to Jesus Christ as our personal savior. Nobody hates rising up happy in the morning and shining in the streets.
The difference with the Conference is that you are supposed to “arise and shine” internally and you will not be able to do so if you cannot attend the Conference, open your ears, focus your mind and listen to Bishop Karanja who will be delivering the message in typical Kenyan style.
The Bagarmossen Church has done its job and now, Kenyans need to reciprocate by taking a break and finding how they can arise and shine. At least, there is one good reason to skip Vasa for an evening after work because you never know. Another advantage is that you are likely to leave Vasa staggering but at the Conference, you might just begin to shine after a long time of darkness in your life.
Okoth Osewe
Is This The End For Ambassador Purity Muhindi?
Jostling for envoys jobs
Updated on: Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Story by: Obadiah Ayoti
THE much anticipated appointment and re-deployment of ambassadors and high commissioners by President Mwai Kibaki has not been effected due to intense lobbying and
Ambassador Purity Muhindi: To Go?
political intrigues.It is understood that Party of National Unity (PNU) and Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) operatives are locked in intense jostling and canvassing for key postings.
The appointments which were scheduled to be announced last week by President Kibaki are expected to be made this week following extensive consultations with Prime Minister Raila Odinga. The President is expected to make the ambassadorial appointments alongside those of chief executives of state corporations.
PNU and ODM leaders are said to be silently exchanging jibes with each party fighting for strategic missions abroad in what is also being seen as attempts to consolidate power bases. At the centre of the intense jostling are influential Western postings that include the United Kingdom, United States, Germany and France. Also attracting keen interest is South Africa.
Sources intimated to Kenya Times that Kenyan envoys to the United Kingdom and United States, Joseph Muchemi and Rateng Ogego respectively, are set to be recalled and their positions taken over by allies of the Prime Minister. The rationale, we are told, is the apparent cordial relationships the PM enjoys with those in power in these capitals. ODM strategists are understood to have been pushing for the removal of Ogego, whom they believe owed his appointment to former Foreign Affairs minister Raphael Tuju.
Also targeted for recall are the ambassadors to New York Zachary Domnic Mbururi-Muita, Rachel Omamo (France), Ann Belinda Nyukuli (Rome, Italy), Mutuma Kathurima (Berlin) and Thomas Amollo (South Africa).Other postings up for grabs include missions in Cairo, Brussels, Geneva, Canada, Australia, Russia and Stokholm. Former cabinet minister and ODM strategist in last year’s general election Dr Amukoa Anangwe is said to be eyeing St James Court (the UK) but PNU bigwigs are lobbying for him to be posted to a lesser strategic mission.
Anangwe’s appointment is premised on the presumption that since Raila enjoys good rapport with the West, it would make more strategic sense (economic ties) to have his man in the UK.On the other hand, the diplomatic quid-pro-quo (something for something) arrangement floated requires Kibaki to appoint envoys to key Eastern countries like China where the president is said to enjoy massive support for increased business deals over the five years he has been in power.
To this end, Kibaki is understood to have already appointed a former powerful Internal Security minister during the Moi regime as Kenyan ambassador to China. The new envoy is yet to take up the Beijing posting. The former senior Kanu official recently withdrew from the race for a key Rift Valley Parliamentary seat which was subsequently won by a PNU candidate.
The move comes at a time when the ministry of Foreign Affairs has made a major reshuffle in various missions abroad, replacing 200 officers. The officers will be replaced with new ones who are currently undergoing training at the Kenya Foreign Service Institute. The changes were made in anticipation of new appointments of heads of mission abroad.
The tussle for the prestigious appointments comes against a backdrop of discontent within ODM and amid claims that the party has been short-changed placed at the periphery in the coalition by President Kibaki who still wields too much power and influence despite having agreed to share power equally with the Premier as stipulated by the National Accord and Reconciliation Act.
The dissenting voices in ODM who are mostly MPs point out that about four months down the road since Raila was sworn in, his office is not fully functional either by design or default, that it is a sham for a portfolio of that stature to have only four members of staff who include the Permanent Secretary Mohammed Isahakia. They question why those who were top strategists and ODM supporters have not been appointed to ambassadorial and parastatal positions and why President Kibaki retained all the positions after the signing of the accord.
When reached for comment last evening, Foreign Affairs minister Moses Wetangula downplayed the issue, insisting that President Kibaki and Raila would make the appointments at an appropriate time.”There is no crisis to warrant emergency appointments. The two principals are still consulting and it is prudent that you give them time,” said Wetangula.But an ODM insider confirmed to Kenya Times about the tussle and expressed hope that there would be equity in the postings.
Ministry To Recall 100 Foreign Missions’ Employees
Published on 14/08/2008
By Ayub Savula
The Government will recall more than 100 employees in a shake up affecting al
l the 50 missions abroad, The Standard has established. The move will affect junior, middle-level and some senior staff in reforms that Foreign Affairs Minister Moses Wetangula and Permanent Secretary Thuita Mwangi say are aimed at cost cutting.
At the senior level, those affected are accountants and Government executive officers posted to all foreign missions. On Wednesday, the PS told The Standard that the Government would save Sh15 million a year from each of the junior staff recalled home and Sh20 million for the middle level officers. “This cost includes housing, utility bills, medical cover and school fees for their children, among other things,” said Mwangi.
Also to be recalled are education attachÈs, who control foreign scholarships in the missions.
Mwangi said many of the staff would be redeployed to other ministries and those who had reached retirement age would retire.
The move comes two months after Nominated MP Mohammed Affey of ODM-Kenya asked the Foreign Affairs minister in Parliament why salaries of ambassadors and High Commissioners were not increased when the Government rewarded PSs.
However, Mr Wetangula said his ministry declined to increase diplomats’ salaries and allowances because pay raise proposals were skewed.
Lean staff
Wetangula said embassies would have lean staff to cut down on foreign missions’ budget.
The PS said all accountants would be recalled and the ministry plans to carry out the function from Nairobi.
The junior staff affected includes drivers, cooks and security warders.
“There is no need of drivers from Kenya serving in embassies because it is an expensive exercise,” added Mwangi.
He said in some cases, some diplomats had moved their relatives to foreign missions and employed them as cooks or drivers.
Mwangi said this was costly to the Government.
He said major reforms had been carried out in the ministry in the past two years to boost efficiency and cut down the cost of expenditure in foreign missions.
The changes are also part of Government plans to restructure the missions.
“We want staff in the missions who can perform multi-functions which include economic, foreign policy and political affairs,” he added.
Mwangi also said a new yardstick had been designed in the ministry to ensure quality performance in foreign missions.
The new Foreign Service Institute will also help shape up the ministry staff to enhance effective co-ordination of foreign policy.
Mwangi said the Government had also stopped paying school fees for children of middle level staff in the missions.
“Some missions used to misuse money on leisure activities, which include horse riding, and even paid money to study piloting,” said Mwangi.
But in the reforms, the ministry has also opened new embassies in Africa and other countries and acquired some assets.
“We now have a beautiful chancery in Dar-es-Salaam. We have also achieved much in Brazil and Islamabad,” said the PS
“How can we have one senior or two senior staff in one mission having an accountant posted from Kenya. This is wastage of resources ” he said.
However, the PS noted that some of the staff to be recalled had decided to remain in foreign countries but hired on local terms. He said this is cheaper because they don’t have to be housed.
Mwangi said recalled employees would be absorbed locally or retired voluntary.
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