6 thoughts on “A Million Signatures for Muthaura, Uhuru to Resign!”
Uhuru, Muthaura bow to pressure, step aside
By NATION REPORTER
Posted Thursday, January 26 2012 at 15:54
Kenya’s Finance Minister Uhuru Kenyatta and Head of Public Service and Secretary to the Cabinet Francis Muthaura have stepped aside from office following a decision by ICC pre-trial Judges to confirm charges of crimes against humanity levelled against them.
Mr Kenyatta will however retain his post as Deputy Prime Minister in the coalition government.
President Kibaki accepted the decision of the two to step aside on Thursday and appointed Nairobi Metropolitan Minister Njeru Githae to act as Finance Minister.
Internal Security Permanent Secretary Francis Kimemia also takes over Mr Muthaura’s duties on an acting capacity.
Mutea Iringo will be Acting Permanent Secretary for Provincial Administration and Internal Security.
A statement from the President Press Service stated: “The President has accepted the decision by Uhuru Kenyatta to step aside as the Minister for Finance. However, Hon. Kenyatta will retain the position of Deputy Prime Minister in accordance with the Constitution.”
“The President has also accepted the decision by Francis Muthaura to step aside as Permanent Secretary, Secretary to the Cabinet and Head of the Public Service.
“In this regard, Mr. Francis T. Kimemia, CBS Permanent Secretary, Provincial Administration and Internal Security will be Acting Permanent Secretary, Secretary to the Cabinet and Head of Public Service.”
The decision by Mr Kenyatta and Mr Muthaura to step aside follows mounting pressure from President Kibaki’s coalition partners ODM for the duo to relinquish their offices.
The Paradox Of Ruto And Uhuru Alliance .
Thursday, 26 January 2012 19:47 BY DAVID MAKALI
Why are William Ruto and Uhuru Kenyatta charged with a plethora of egregious crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court? This is a rhetorical, even simple, question but it belies a greater lie that is holding the country at ransom.
Ruto and Uhuru would like Kenyans to believe that they are charged at The Hague because some malevolent opponent sent them there. But we can now tell on the authority of the ruling of the pre trial chamber that Ruto is accused of masterminding attacks by his Kelenjin kinsmen against the Kikuyu in parts of the Rift Valley. Uhuru, on the other hand, is charged with organizing the retaliatory attacks by the Kikuyu, in particular using the unlawful Mungiki militia, to punish the other communities perceived to be affiliated to the Orange Democratic Movement at the 2007 General Election. According to statistics culled from the Waki Commission on post-election violence (CIPEV), the majority of the victims of these revenge attacks were not Kalenjin but Luo and Luhya.
But by a convoluted logic, the two suspected perpetrators bound by their fate now stand on one side in an unholy alliance. It is beyond the remit of this columnist to pass judgment on the guilt or innocence of the accused. But the ICC judges have concluded that the two suspects together with Joshua sang and Francis Muthaura have something to do with what transpired in 2008 that needs to be ventilated in a full trial.
That ruling seems to have blown to pieces the sustained propaganda about who was responsible for their prosecution at The Hague. The allegation that US President Barack Obama, PM Raila Odinga and ICC Prosecutor Moreno Ocampo colluded to prosecute Ruto and Uhuru have been torn apart by the conclusions of the judges based on the evidence presented to the court. It may be correct to posit that Raila did not do much to shield Ruto from the course of justice. That the Hague Four are being prosecuted for events or actions taken by supporters in defence of the two Principals. But is it not Raila, Kibaki, and then Justice Minister Martha Karua who fought tooth and nail to establish a local tribunal instead of the Hague to the strident opposition of Ruto and cohorts who retorted: “Don’t be Vague, lets go to Hague?”
Hague it became and here we are, finally. Any regrets? Perhaps not but the accused must ponder their streak of strategic failures since this whole episode began. They must also rethink their political strategy, which is the last facet of this struggle. It is no longer potent to accuse some imaginary foes of being responsible for their fate. It is not, as this column has previously stated, helpful to press on with their adversarial approach behind the scenes and appear conciliatory in public. Ruto and Uhuru must re-evaluate their quest for power and read the mood in the country. Will they flog the mule of victims all the way to power? Will their strange partnership attract enough sympathy votes to take them to State House? What if they lose? Why are Ruto and Uhuru so desperate to capture state power “come-what-may”.
Kenyans should be alarmed that there is nothing else the two can do besides running for president. Their quest for power evokes an eerie feeling of what they could do with it not just because they have shown little appetite for the due process of law. It is also based on cruel deception. The alliance between Uhuru and Ruto is premised on the assumption that the public is so gullible as to believe that their common straw man, Raila Odinga, is the enemy of their two communities and cause of their bitter 2008 conflict.
That lie can be swallowed by less perceptive voters but more discerning Kenyans are unlikely to be so blindfolded. The reason Ruto and Uhuru are charged at the Hague is not because they were “fixed” by Raila. It is because they allegedly committed criminal activities in the contest for political power by their respective political parties (and leaders) for which they would have been direct beneficiaries. Whether their principals are equally culpable depends on whether they sanctioned those criminal activities. Stretching the argument beyond that is propaganda.
Raila’s biggest sin and which triggered the fall-out with Ruto was his reluctance to defend his Kalenjin supporters and perpetrators of the violence when they were arrested. Kibaki on the other hand has not spared any effort in pulling the levers of state to shield the suspects from trial locally or by the ICC. While he has made it a personal and government-wide crusade to save the suspects from prosecution, there is no similar vigour in addressing the injustice meted on fellow Kenyans.
That determination can only be viewed as a betrayal of the extent of his involvement, which the court has already noted by finding that a meeting of the Munigki “youth” actually took place in State House despite his strenuous denial. It is these double standards that have fired the international community and ICC to press for justice. That pressure is unlikely to relent despite his promises to act on IDPs, scuttle the ICC trial and manipulate his succession.
After lengthy discussions with H.E. The President and after wide consultations, H.E. The President has graciously accepted my request that I step aside from the portfolio of Ministry of Finance in his Government.
The Ministry of Finance deals with very sensitive issues that affect the lives of millions of Kenyans and therefore requires maximum attention. I am not one to juggle the affairs of such an important portfolio with the baseless mob lynch mentality that is being orchestrated in some quarters.
I now look forward to meeting you all at the grassroots as I traverse the countryside to reassure you all that our mission to give hope to the youth of this country, our vision of seeing a peaceful Kenya and our firm resolve to transform Kenya into a modern first class economy is still on course.
As I have already indicated previously, my conscience is clear, my will is strong and my resolve remains undeterred.
I have no doubt that together we shall succeed. Together we will.
Keep the faith and God bless you all.
Uhuru Kenyatta.
Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Kenya
KENYANS WANT UHURU OUT AS DPM .
Monday, 06 February 2012 12:06 Diana Madegwa
A majority of Kenyans want Uhuru Kenyatta to quit as deputy prime minister. The latest survey by IPSOS-Synovate shows that 62 percent of those polled feel Uhuru should step down, 35 percent feel he should retain his post while three percent are neutral.
Uhuru, Muthaura bow to pressure, step aside
By NATION REPORTER
Posted Thursday, January 26 2012 at 15:54
Kenya’s Finance Minister Uhuru Kenyatta and Head of Public Service and Secretary to the Cabinet Francis Muthaura have stepped aside from office following a decision by ICC pre-trial Judges to confirm charges of crimes against humanity levelled against them.
Mr Kenyatta will however retain his post as Deputy Prime Minister in the coalition government.
President Kibaki accepted the decision of the two to step aside on Thursday and appointed Nairobi Metropolitan Minister Njeru Githae to act as Finance Minister.
Internal Security Permanent Secretary Francis Kimemia also takes over Mr Muthaura’s duties on an acting capacity.
Mutea Iringo will be Acting Permanent Secretary for Provincial Administration and Internal Security.
A statement from the President Press Service stated: “The President has accepted the decision by Uhuru Kenyatta to step aside as the Minister for Finance. However, Hon. Kenyatta will retain the position of Deputy Prime Minister in accordance with the Constitution.”
“The President has also accepted the decision by Francis Muthaura to step aside as Permanent Secretary, Secretary to the Cabinet and Head of the Public Service.
“In this regard, Mr. Francis T. Kimemia, CBS Permanent Secretary, Provincial Administration and Internal Security will be Acting Permanent Secretary, Secretary to the Cabinet and Head of Public Service.”
The decision by Mr Kenyatta and Mr Muthaura to step aside follows mounting pressure from President Kibaki’s coalition partners ODM for the duo to relinquish their offices.
I guess they already did :D .. Wamejipanga mapema.. Ni kugwan !!
The Paradox Of Ruto And Uhuru Alliance .
Thursday, 26 January 2012 19:47 BY DAVID MAKALI
Why are William Ruto and Uhuru Kenyatta charged with a plethora of egregious crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court? This is a rhetorical, even simple, question but it belies a greater lie that is holding the country at ransom.
Ruto and Uhuru would like Kenyans to believe that they are charged at The Hague because some malevolent opponent sent them there. But we can now tell on the authority of the ruling of the pre trial chamber that Ruto is accused of masterminding attacks by his Kelenjin kinsmen against the Kikuyu in parts of the Rift Valley. Uhuru, on the other hand, is charged with organizing the retaliatory attacks by the Kikuyu, in particular using the unlawful Mungiki militia, to punish the other communities perceived to be affiliated to the Orange Democratic Movement at the 2007 General Election. According to statistics culled from the Waki Commission on post-election violence (CIPEV), the majority of the victims of these revenge attacks were not Kalenjin but Luo and Luhya.
But by a convoluted logic, the two suspected perpetrators bound by their fate now stand on one side in an unholy alliance. It is beyond the remit of this columnist to pass judgment on the guilt or innocence of the accused. But the ICC judges have concluded that the two suspects together with Joshua sang and Francis Muthaura have something to do with what transpired in 2008 that needs to be ventilated in a full trial.
That ruling seems to have blown to pieces the sustained propaganda about who was responsible for their prosecution at The Hague. The allegation that US President Barack Obama, PM Raila Odinga and ICC Prosecutor Moreno Ocampo colluded to prosecute Ruto and Uhuru have been torn apart by the conclusions of the judges based on the evidence presented to the court. It may be correct to posit that Raila did not do much to shield Ruto from the course of justice. That the Hague Four are being prosecuted for events or actions taken by supporters in defence of the two Principals. But is it not Raila, Kibaki, and then Justice Minister Martha Karua who fought tooth and nail to establish a local tribunal instead of the Hague to the strident opposition of Ruto and cohorts who retorted: “Don’t be Vague, lets go to Hague?”
Hague it became and here we are, finally. Any regrets? Perhaps not but the accused must ponder their streak of strategic failures since this whole episode began. They must also rethink their political strategy, which is the last facet of this struggle. It is no longer potent to accuse some imaginary foes of being responsible for their fate. It is not, as this column has previously stated, helpful to press on with their adversarial approach behind the scenes and appear conciliatory in public. Ruto and Uhuru must re-evaluate their quest for power and read the mood in the country. Will they flog the mule of victims all the way to power? Will their strange partnership attract enough sympathy votes to take them to State House? What if they lose? Why are Ruto and Uhuru so desperate to capture state power “come-what-may”.
Kenyans should be alarmed that there is nothing else the two can do besides running for president. Their quest for power evokes an eerie feeling of what they could do with it not just because they have shown little appetite for the due process of law. It is also based on cruel deception. The alliance between Uhuru and Ruto is premised on the assumption that the public is so gullible as to believe that their common straw man, Raila Odinga, is the enemy of their two communities and cause of their bitter 2008 conflict.
That lie can be swallowed by less perceptive voters but more discerning Kenyans are unlikely to be so blindfolded. The reason Ruto and Uhuru are charged at the Hague is not because they were “fixed” by Raila. It is because they allegedly committed criminal activities in the contest for political power by their respective political parties (and leaders) for which they would have been direct beneficiaries. Whether their principals are equally culpable depends on whether they sanctioned those criminal activities. Stretching the argument beyond that is propaganda.
Raila’s biggest sin and which triggered the fall-out with Ruto was his reluctance to defend his Kalenjin supporters and perpetrators of the violence when they were arrested. Kibaki on the other hand has not spared any effort in pulling the levers of state to shield the suspects from trial locally or by the ICC. While he has made it a personal and government-wide crusade to save the suspects from prosecution, there is no similar vigour in addressing the injustice meted on fellow Kenyans.
That determination can only be viewed as a betrayal of the extent of his involvement, which the court has already noted by finding that a meeting of the Munigki “youth” actually took place in State House despite his strenuous denial. It is these double standards that have fired the international community and ICC to press for justice. That pressure is unlikely to relent despite his promises to act on IDPs, scuttle the ICC trial and manipulate his succession.
After lengthy discussions with H.E. The President and after wide consultations, H.E. The President has graciously accepted my request that I step aside from the portfolio of Ministry of Finance in his Government.
The Ministry of Finance deals with very sensitive issues that affect the lives of millions of Kenyans and therefore requires maximum attention. I am not one to juggle the affairs of such an important portfolio with the baseless mob lynch mentality that is being orchestrated in some quarters.
I now look forward to meeting you all at the grassroots as I traverse the countryside to reassure you all that our mission to give hope to the youth of this country, our vision of seeing a peaceful Kenya and our firm resolve to transform Kenya into a modern first class economy is still on course.
As I have already indicated previously, my conscience is clear, my will is strong and my resolve remains undeterred.
I have no doubt that together we shall succeed. Together we will.
Keep the faith and God bless you all.
Uhuru Kenyatta.
Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Kenya
the person who can sngh there not Q or mkare only u one n we all know..but ROTO AND UHURU have to contest.we need them
KENYANS WANT UHURU OUT AS DPM .
Monday, 06 February 2012 12:06 Diana Madegwa
A majority of Kenyans want Uhuru Kenyatta to quit as deputy prime minister. The latest survey by IPSOS-Synovate shows that 62 percent of those polled feel Uhuru should step down, 35 percent feel he should retain his post while three percent are neutral.