Biwott Now Replaces Uhuru as Opposition Chief

KENYA’S former ruling party and official opposition Kenya African National union (Kanu) could be headed for the crisis of a lifetime after a faction allied to one-time powerful Cabinet minister Nicholas Kipiyator arap Biwott was registered.

The registration of Biwott-led team was a culmination of a fierce tug between the diminutive Keiyo North Mp and his Gatundu South Counterpart Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta who has been the party’s leader in parliament.

Technically, the chairman of Kanu (read Biwott) becomes the Leader of Official Opposition in Parliament.

It was a day of dance and jubilation as the team emerged from Sheria House victoriously brandishing a certificate with a list of newly-registered officials at mid-day though many political observers were quick to blame the government for the continued crisis.

According to a letter dated November 28 bearing the new list of officials. The letter with reference number SOC/2368 states: "I refer to your letter dated November 27, 2006 and append below the names of your Society’s officials."

In the list Mr Katana Ngala, Prof Sam Ongeri and Mr Joash Wamang’oli replace Mr Henry Kosgey, Mr Chris Okemo and Mr Dalmas Otieno as vice-chairmen.

Former Kilgoris MP Mr Julius Sunkuli, who was Executive Director in Uhuru’s team, retains the same position in the new line-up.

The new officials led by Ojiambo, Mr Nick Salat (Bomet MP) and Mr Paul Sang (Buret MP) praised the registration of the new line-up.

"This registration is in accordance with the laws of Kenya, Kanu constitution and over 3,500 genuine Kanu delegates, who convened in Mombasa on November 24," stated Ojiambo who was flanked by close to 100 party supporters.

Kanu is a major partner an Orange Democratic Movement-Kenya (ODM-Kenya), a loose alliance of opposition parties that want to topple President Mwai Kibaki’s government from power come the 2007 general election.

The local newspapers were awash with pictures and sensational stories of the “coup” and most interesting how the self-proclaimed “Total Man” strode into Parliament and swiftly occupied the seat reserved for the Uhuru, the Leader of the Official Opposition and who has vowed to move to court in what promises to be a bruising political battle.

Beaming with confidence, Biwott, a former trade Minister made his entry into the chamber at 5.15pm, waving the one-finger Kanu salute amid loud foot thumping from the Government front bench as members of the Opposition watched in despair.

A physically worried Uhuru and immediate former Kanu Secretary General William Samoei Ruto quickly left the Chambers and converged at Parliament Buildings with fellow Mps and issued an angry statement accusing the President Mwai Kibaki, retired President Daniel Toroitich arap Moi and Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister Ms Martha Karua of hutching a plot to kick them out of the party.

Moi, a Kanu life-member who led the party for 24 years has publicly expressed his opposition to Kanu’s alliance with ODM-Kenya and was on Monday quoted as having supported the election of Biwott and company as the Bonafide officials of the party.

The Leader of Official Opposition enjoys lucrative allowances similar to a sitting Cabinet minister that include an executive office at Parliament Buildings and an official Mercedes Benz car with Government registration and official security detail.

Ruto accused the Government of using its machinery to undermine the leadership of Kanu. "This country has turned into a theatre of the absurd," said Ruto adding, "The Government is now attempting to appoint the Leader of Official Opposition.

Lawyers representing the Uhuru team led by nominated Mp Mutula Kilonzo said they would be going to court to challenge the decision by the Registrar General.

Ends…

Pattni Plunges into Politics

Kenyan businessman and star-witness in the multi-billion Goldenberg scam Paul Kamlesh

Mansukhlal Damji Pattni has confirmed that he will be running for an elective post during next

year’s general election.

Pattni has taken over the defunct Kenya National Democratic Alliance (Kenda) party that founded by the late Prof. Mukaru Ng’ang’a prior to the 1992 multi-party polls.

According to Pattni, Kenda party will hold a National Delegates Conference (NDC) on December 16 when the shrewd businessman-cum-philanthropist is expected to publicly take over as party’s boss.

Kamlesh Pattni was born in Mombasa, Kenya in 1962. He later moved to the capital, Nairobi where he allegedly used his company to cut deals worth billions of shillings by teaming up with prominent politicians and government officials that culminated in what is now the “Goldenberg scandal”.

So devastating were the effects of the scam to Kenyan economy to the extent that the donor community withdrew crucial donor funding to the country thus pushing inflation rate to an all-time high.

Though his link to the monumental rip-off has taken him to the most notorious jails in the country, Paul Kamlesh, just like the Paul of the Bible, he has always managed to get his way out.

He took up the name “Paul” after he apparently renounced the Hindu religion and went ahead to be baptized by Bishop Arthur Kitonga of the Pentecostal outfit, Redeemed Gospel Church.

He now holds a regular Christian gathering every Saturday at International Casino whereby he, most of times, takes the podium to feed the hungry souls with the divine bread from heaven – the Bible.

For more than a decade, Kamlesh has straddled Kenya's courts as the chief suspect in more than one case. At one time he was engaged in a long-drawn legal battle with Dubai-based businessman Ibrahim Ali over ownership of the Kenya Duty Free (KDF) shops.

A year ago Pattni had another long-drawn court case in which he was accused of killing his former chief security officer, Friedrich Wilhem Kohlwes, in Tigoni, Limuru. The case was later dropped due to lack of enough evidence.

One Bernard Kalove, who is Pattni’s lawyer, is the party’s secretary while a Joram Kariuki is the vice-chairman as post he occupied in the original Kenda. He, together with Paddy Onyango and Winston Kang’ethe, steered the party during the period.

Kenda has been moribund since the death of Ng’ang’a. During the 1997 General Election, it sponsored the current Subukia Mp, Koigi Wamwere as its presidential candidate who not only failed to win the parliament seat but had a dismal performance at his first stab on presidency. Koigi, now the Information assistant minister, switched to Narc in 2002 and won the seat.

The Registrar of Societies, L N Waithaka, lists down the names of the new officials in an August 1 letter.The letter addressed to Kenda secretary lines up all the officials that includes, a Pius Njogu (assistant secretary), Irene Ndegwa (treasurer), and Ephraim Njugu Njeru (organising secretary).

Ends...

Maathai awarded another peace prize!

Environmentalist Prof. Wangari Maathai is the winner of his year’s Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development just a year after she won the prestigious Nobel Prize for Peace.

The announcement was made on Sunday by Delhi Chief Minister and Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust Secretary, Ms Sheila Dikshit.

Maathai will be the 19th recipient of the prize whose winners include Afghanistan’s President Mohammmed Karzai, who was conferred last year.

The announcement comes at a time when Maathai, the Tetu Member of Parliament in Kenya, is fighting a battle of a lifetime with a view to redeem her popularity which is currently at an all-time low.

Though celebrated abroad Maathai is highly vilified at home by his kinsmen for what they term as deliberate betrayal of their own (President Mwai Kibaki) by failing to take up an assistant ministerial post few weeks after 2005 referendum in which the draft constitution was rejected by a resounding majority.

Tetu constituency borders President Kibaki’s and many would have expected Maathai to be at the forefront in giving an unquestionable backing to his administration. Failing to do so has greatly incensed members of Kibaki’s inner circle most of who come from the region.

Due to her liberal stand, she has become an object of political ridicule and political analysts have put her among the top Mps on their way out of parliament.

In her speech, Dikshiy said Maathai, the President of Economic, Social and Cultural Centre of African Union, was instrumental in the environment protection movement in the continent, and was at the fore front of planting millions of trees, and risking arrest.

Maathai won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004 for “her contribution to sustainable development, democracy and peace” and was the first African woman to get the prize. She has, however, attracted much criticism back home for failing to use her position as a laureate to broker peace among warring ethnic groups in the country.

Of late, Kenya has been characterized by ethnic-based skirmishes in which tens of people have lost their lives while thousands have been rendered homeless. The worst hit areas are Kuresoi in North Rift as well as Mathare and Kibera slums in Nairobi.

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Donde's Daughter Could be Hanged Over Drug Trafficking

The daughter to former Gem Mp, Joe Donde is one of the two Kenyan students arrested in connection with drug trafficking in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and could be hanged if found guilty in accordance with the laws of the East Asian nation.

Malaysian laws set a mandatory death sentence for anyone caught with 200g or more of marijuana. Unconfirmed reports by Malay media indicate that the lass has tested positive for marijuana. Deborah Donde, 18, and two others are now being held in a police cell at the capital city.

In her second year studying architecture at Linkoqueen University in Kuala Lumpur, Deborah and company were arrested on 2.30pm on Saturday by a team of police officers from the anti-narcotics department who now claim they found the youngsters in possession of 4.5 Kg of Marijuana.

Donde’s wife who by Friday was in Kuala Lumpur said they got information about the arrest on Tuesday, soon after the two students were arrested alongside two others— one from Eritrea and the other from Saudi Arabia. But Deborah, the media alleges, has stood her ground that she is innocent and that everything was stage-managed by Malay authorities.

The fate of the teenager could known this evening (Friday) when the Malaysian police are expected to complete their investigations. A charge will be opened against Deborah if found guilty thus pitting her against a death sentence.

According to an interview published by Kenya’s The Standard Newspaper, Donde said he had disclosed the identity of his daughter to assure the country that she was innocent. He said Deborah told her mother how she and other students were shocked to see police carrying out four kilos of the drug, with an estimated street value Kshs140,722.

The former lawmaker defended his daughter against the claims, saying he had known her well and she does not handle drugs as her record at the elite St Austin’s Academy, Nairobi, where she studied together with her sister Eva was free of criminal activities.

Government Spokesman Dr. Alfred Mutua during his weekly press briefing was economical with information touching on Deborah and friends, only saying that the government through the ministry of foreign affairs in liaison with the Kenyan High Commission in Kuala Lumpur would issue a statement later.

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Uhuru Ousted as Kanu Boss

A Kanu National Delegates Congress in Mombasa called and organized by former powerful cabinet minister and now Keiyo South Mp Nicholas Kipyator arap Biwott and his allies this morning ousted from office Gatundu South Mp Uhuru Kenyatta as the party’s national Chairman.

During the NDC which was held at the coastal resort of Mombasa also kicked out of office any other national official(s) who had earlier on joined Orange Democratic Movement-Kenya (ODM-Kenya).
If the results of the conference as upheld by the registrar-general, Uhuru would dramatically lose his position in parliament as the leader of the official opposition and replaced by his bitter rival Biwott whom he controversially beat at last year’s NDC held at Nairobi’s Kasarani Sports Complex.

According to the outcome of the meeting apparently attended by an estimated 3,000 delegates the self-proclaimed “Total Man” was elected unopposed as the Chairman while the post of the Secretary-General went to Dr. Josphine Ojiambo who now replaces former Home Affairs minister and Eldoret North Mp William Ruto.

But as the Biwott camp which is heavily backed by retired President Daniel Moi was celebrating, the Uhuru-Ruto camp was busy organizing a similar NDC slated for Monday at Kasarani Stadium. Ruto on his part was quick to dismiss the Mombasa meeting.

“What is going on in Mombasa to the best of our opinion is inter-parties meeting between people of New Kanu and others of Narc (Government). It has no bearing whatsoever on what (original) Kanu is all about”.

The beleaguered Uhuru NDC expects to ratify the decision by the National Governing Council (NGC) to endorse their joining of ODM-Kenya, as a corporate member.
The meeting has also created the post of national Deputy Chairman which has gone to former cabinet minister Katana Ngala. One of the vice chairmen's post held by Dalmas Otieno – co-chair for the minimum reforms committee - has been taken over by former cabinet minister Prof. Sam Ongeri.
Ends...

Serbian Lesbians Allowed to Donate Blood

The Serbian Institute for Blood Transfusion has altered its questionnaire for potential blood donors after a lesbian rights organization launched protests against what it said was discrimination against homosexual women, local media reported Sunday.

Labris, a lesbian rights organization, protested the Institute's practice of rejecting donors affirmatively answered the question: "Have you ever had sexual relations with a person of the same gender?"

As a result of the protest, a new questionnaire was drafted, without the contested question.

A Labris activist was told at the institute that she was in a "high-risk group" because of her sexual orientation.

"You feel like a second-class citizen when you are not allowed to do something which everybody else is permitted to do," the unnamed activist told radio B92.

But Gordana Antuljeskov, of the Institute, said the questionnaire was focused not on high-risk groups, but on high-risk behaviour.

"Homophobes do not work at the Institute for Blood Transfusion, of course, all blood donors are equal to us ... Simply, safe transfusions are our top priority." Antuljeskov said.

A new questionnaire will be read for use starting January 2007. Until then, doctors have been notified of the changes and lesbians will be able to donate blood.

Though widely seen as sexually liberal, Belgrade remains hostile at least to openly displayed homosexuality. In mid-2001, the first- ever gay-pride parade in Belgrade was violently quashed by a mob.

Led by football hooligans, the mob - which included skinheads, "regular" citizens and even clerics - indiscriminately attacked gay men and women, while police mostly just watched

Ends…

Kissinger adds to criticism:

Published: 11/20/2006

Former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, one of the Republican Party's most respected senior statesmen, says that the Bush administration may have to give up on democracy in Iraq to salvage the goal of stabilizing the country.

Kissinger, who has frequently advised US President George W Bush in the three years since the US invaded Iraq, told the Los Angeles Times that he believes democracy for now is out of reach for Iraq.

"I think that's reality. I think that was true from the beginning," he was quoted as saying in the Sunday edition.

His comments, coming after the US electorate earlier this month dealt ruling Republicans a resounding defeat in Congress, largely over the lack of progress in the war in Iraq, sharpened the criticism aimed at the White House even from within Bush's own ranks.

Kissinger's analysis also broadens the options being proposed for the war.

Meanwhile, Republican presidential hopeful John McCain, a US senator who as a Navy pilot spent several years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam, told ABC News on Sunday that US soldiers are "fighting and dying for a failed policy."

He repeated his longstanding call for more US troops in Iraq, saying Sunday that the 145,000 soldiers already there need reinforcements to ensure military victory.

McCain, 70, is exploring making a bid for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008.

Kissinger, who supported the 2003 invasion to topple Saddam Hussein, said it would have been better for the US to postpone democratic development and instead quickly install a strong Iraqi leader.

"If we had done that right away, that might have been the best way to proceed," Kissinger was quoted by the Los Angeles Times as saying. He called it "a mistake to think that you can gain legitimacy primarily through the electoral process."

The centre-left Democrats need to move quickly to consolidate their election victory and lead the way out of the Iraq crisis.

The Democrats elected to Congress range from leftwing legislators in secure districts to moderates who represent conservative states and hold a wide range of opinions on Iraq, include some who support the war but are critical of the Bush administration's strategies. The intra-party diversity leaves Democrats struggling to speak with a clear voice on the issue.

Senator Carl Levin, expected to chair the Armed Services Committee in January when the centre-left Democrats take control of Congress, has called for a phased US troop withdrawal within four to six months.

"We cannot save the Iraqis from themselves," Levin said recently. "We've been told repeatedly by our top uniformed military leaders that there is no purely military solution in Iraq; there is only a political solution in Iraq."

McCain conceded that sending more US troops to Iraq would be difficult.

"There's only one thing worse, and that is defeat," he said. "If we leave this place in chaos, ... they'll follow us home."

McCain did not specify on Sunday how many reinforcements are needed, but in the past he has called for an additional 20,000 ground troops.

Before the invasion, at least one key military leader advocated an overwhelming force of 400,000 or more for the invasion but was overruled by defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld, who advocated a smaller force, in line with his strategies to reform the military into a leaner, more nimble force.

Responsibility for much of the failure in Iraq has been laid on Rumsfeld, whose resignation was announced on November 8, the day after the Congressional elections.

Although Bush justified the war as a mission to stop Saddam from obtaining weapons of mass destruction, serious quantities of illicit weapons were never found. Bush later broadened the goal of the war to installing democracy in Iraq as a beachhead for reform across the troubled Middle East.

Kissinger emphasized that he, too, had supported the invasion, and said that his remarks were those of a "friend of the administration who thinks well of the president."

Within the US political establishment, two major efforts are underway to find a solution in Iraq.

Since April, a bipartisan group appointed by Congress, the so- called Iraq Study Group, has been discussing the issue and is expected to release its findings next month. Republican co-chair James Baker, another former secretary of state, has advocated opening talks with Iran and Syria as part of a wider Middle East solution - an approach that Kissinger seemed to support.

The second effort was started by the White House after the elections, to pull together efforts within the administration to develop its own map for change.

Up until Election Day, Bush insisted that the US was winning the war, but afterward conceded that mistakes may have been made.

Ends…

Professor Saitoti and Kiraitu back to the Cabinet

A statement from the President's Press Service (PPS) says Professor George Kinuthia Saitoti will resume his duties as Education Minister while Kiraitu Murungi returns to the Energy Ministry.
Saitoti and Kiraitu stepped aside in February this year following adverse allegations over the multi-billion Goldenberg affair and the Anglo-Leasing scandals respectively.
Kajiado South Mp Katoo ole Metito – one of the youngest legislators in the current parliament and a Saitoti ally - has been named assistant minister for youth affairs, while Jane Kihara of Naivasha and an active member of the budding Nark-Kenya (Narc-K) party whose association with President Kibaki is still a matter of heated public debate becomes an assistant minister for Environment.
Kanu Mp Ali Wario has been named an assistant minister for Special Programmes while newly elected Saku Mp Hussein Sasura, brother to the late Abdi Sasura who perished in the Marsabit air crash together with six others takes the position of an assistant minister for Public Works.
Outspoken Tigania East Mp Peter Munya is now the assistant minister for Internal Security, while Hussein Maalim – a one time powerful cabinet minister during the Kanu regime but now a key ally of Kibaki administration becomes an assistant minister for Home Affairs.
Recently elected Narc-K North Horr Mp Ukur Yattani becomes an assistant minister for Science and Technology while Muchiri Gachara has been named an assistant minister for County Councils.
Gatundu North Mp Patrick Kariuki Muiruri is an assistant agriculture minister in charge of crop production. The government side expects to use him during the 2007 general election with a view to neutralize the influence of beleaguered Gatundu South Mp and Leader of the official opposition Kanu Uhuru Kenyatta.

Ends…

A Muslim Finds Way to U.S Congress

waWednesday, November 08, 2006
by: Abdirahman Aynte,

Fellow, The Center for Independent Media

U.S. House of representatives will have its first Muslim member in January, when Democrat, Keith Ellison, takes the oath of office in the Qur’an, Islam’s holy book. Representing the liberal-leaning Fifth District, he’s also the first black Congressman from Minnesota.

Minnesota Somalis are believed to have played a significant role in catapulting Ellison to Congress. Hundreds of his volunteers, who devised a successful grassroots campaign, were Somalis who recently gained their U.S. citizenship. The Fifth District is home to the largest concentration of Somali immigrants in the U.S.

The 43-year old trial lawyer will succeed 28-year veteran, Rep. Martin Sabo, who will retire. He served two terms in the Minnesota House of Representatives.

“When I say peace should be the guiding principle of our nation, I’m not only talking about the war in Iraq, foreign policy, but I’m also talking about domestic peace,” Ellison told a crowd that became emblematic of diversity. “We won for the principle that there can be no throwaway people in our society.”

He garnered 56 percent of the vote, defeating Republican Alan Fine, Independence Party’s Tammy Lee and Green Party’s Jay Pond.

He trounced fellow Democrats in the Sept. 12 primary, after surviving a bruising campaign that unearthed his tardiness in paying parking tickets that led to the suspension of his driver’s license, and a nagging accusation of being associated with the Nation of Islam, a controversial group thought to be anti-Semitic. He credits much of that victory to unusual turnout by the African Americans and immigrant groups, mostly Somalis who’re Muslims.

But attacks on his “character” hardly stopped there.

The next day, Republican Alan Fine said that, as a Jew, he was “offended” by Ellison’s candidacy to Congress. Fine continued to mount scathing attacks against Ellison, particularly on Ellison’s connections to what he called “risky individuals.”

Ellison mostly fended those accusations off, but didn’t retaliate back. In his victory speech, Ellison touted his “positive” campaign. “We're creating a new way of politics," he told the crowd. "You don't have to smear to win.”

The Detroit native, who moved to Minnesota in 1989 to study law, is married with four children. He converted to Islam when he was 19.

Asked his priority in Congress, Ellison said he wants to fix healthcare. “The people of the Fifth District gave me their confidence to do something about healthcare, the war in Iraq and education,” he said.

Some Democrats say he’s reminiscent of late Sen. Paul Wellstone in his energy and style. Short and stocky, he sputters like Wellstone. His Muslim faith saturated national and international media since winning the primary.

But for Muslims around the country, he embodies a critical point of access to corridors of powers in a country where Islam is embattled more than ever. Climbing the stage with him as he delivered his victory speech were Mahdi Bray, the executive director of Muslim American Society’s (MAS) Freedom Foundation, and James Yee, former Muslim chaplain at Guantannamo Bay who ascended to national prominent after the Bush administration abruptly dropped espionage charges against him.

“I came here to witness history,” Bray, who’s from Washington D.C. said in an interview. “Ellison will break a barrier in America.”

His comments were echoed by 19-year old Isse Jama of Fridley, who said he feels “vindicated” now that Ellison is elected. “Republicans have tried to portray [Ellison], and Muslims by extension, as fanatics who should be off limits to Congress," Jama said. He even skipped classes to help Ellison, because "if elected, he'll be open fresh doors in America.”

Ellison, who’s backed by prominent Jewish, Christian and Muslim leaders, said he understands the challenge of gluing together such a diversified base.

“I’ll provide them with job opportunities to keep them busy,” he said.

Abdirahman Aynte can be reached at Ceynte@hiiraan.co

Minnesota Democrat Becomes First Muslim in US Congress

Wednesday, November 08, 2006
by: Abdirahman Aynte,
Fellow, The Center for Independent Media

Minneapolis, MN (HOL) - U.S. House of representatives will have its first Muslim member in January, when Democrat, Keith Ellison, takes the oath of office in the Qur’an, Islam’s holy book. Representing the liberal-leaning Fifth District, he’s also the first black Congressman from Minnesota.

Minnesota Somalis are believed to have played a significant role in catapulting Ellison to Congress. Hundreds of his volunteers, who devised a successful grassroots campaign, were Somalis who recently gained their U.S. citizenship. The Fifth District is home to the largest concentration of Somali immigrants in the U.S.

The 43-year old trial lawyer will succeed 28-year veteran, Rep. Martin Sabo, who will retire. He served two terms in the Minnesota house of representatives.

“When I say peace should be the guiding principle of our nation, I’m not only talking about the war in Iraq, foreign policy, but I’m also talking about domestic peace,” Ellison told a crowd that became emblematic of diversity. “We won for the principle that there can be no throwaway people in our society.”

He garnered 56 percent of the vote, defeating Republican Alan Fine, Independence Party’s Tammy Lee and Green Party’s Jay Pond.

He trounced fellow Democrats in the Sept. 12 primary, after surviving a bruising campaign that unearthed his tardiness in paying parking tickets that led to the suspension of his driver’s license, and a nagging accusation of being associated with the Nation of Islam, a controversial group thought to be anti-Semitic. He credits much of that victory to unusual turnout by the African Americans and immigrant groups, mostly Somalis who’re Muslims.

But attacks on his “character” hardly stopped there.

The next day, Republican Alan Fine said that, as a Jew, he was “offended” by Ellison’s candidacy to Congress. Fine continued to mount scathing attacks against Ellison, particularly on Ellison’s connections to what he called “risky individuals.”

Ellison mostly fended those accusations off, but didn’t retaliate back. In his victory speech, Ellison touted his “positive” campaign. “We're creating a new way of politics," he told the crowd. "You don't have to smear to win.”

The Detroit native, who moved to Minnesota in 1989 to study law, is married with four children. He converted to Islam when he was 19.

Asked his priority in Congress, Ellison said he wants to fix healthcare. “The people of the Fifth District gave me their confidence to do something about healthcare, the war in Iraq and education,” he said.

Some Democrats say he’s reminiscent of late Sen. Paul Wellstone in his energy and style. Short and stocky, he sputters like Wellstone. His Muslim faith saturated national and international media since winning the primary.

But for Muslims around the country, he embodies a critical point of access to corridors of powers in a country where Islam is embattled more than ever. Climbing the stage with him as he delivered his victory speech were Mahdi Bray, the executive director of Muslim American Society’s (MAS) Freedom Foundation, and James Yee, former Muslim chaplain at Guantannamo Bay who ascended to national prominent after the Bush administration abruptly dropped espionage charges against him.

“I came here to witness history,” Bray, who’s from Washington D.C. said in an interview. “Ellison will break a barrier in America.”

His comments were echoed by 19-year old Isse Jama of Fridley, who said he feels “vindicated” now that Ellison is elected. “Republicans have tried to portray [Ellison], and Muslims by extension, as fanatics who should be off limits to Congress," Jama said. He even skipped classes to help Ellison, because "if elected, he'll be open fresh doors in America.”

Ellison, who’s backed by prominent Jewish, Christian and Muslim leaders, said he understands the challenge of gluing together such a diversified base.

“I’ll provide them with job opportunities to keep them busy,” he said.

Abdirahman Aynte can be reached at Ceynte@hiiraan.co

Probe into Roads Ministry Underway

The Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission (Kacc) is currently carrying out an examination into the systems, policies, procedures and practices at the Ministry of Roads and Public Works alongside the Kenya Roads Board (KRB). The examination exercise was launched on 26^th October 2006 and was attended by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Roads and Public Works, Ambassador (Eng) Mohamed M. Mahamud; Engineer Hudson Kihumba, KRB Manager in-charge of Planning and Programming and Fatuma

Sichale, Kacc Deputy Director

The road construction sector is vulnerable to corruption because of the size, complexity and potentially huge cost of most of the projects. Most of the projects are one-off, large and unique in nature which makes it difficult to compare. This therefore opens opportunities for inflating costs.

Corruption in road projects thrives due to the weaknesses and loopholes that exist in the entire project cycle from planning and design, tendering and implementation process.

There have been several reports of poor project planning and implementation, poor service delivery, inefficiencies, breach of procedures, soliciting for bribes, questionable dealings, outright theft, fraud and other corruption related activities in all roads projects.

This has led to poor infrastructure, delay in project implementation, payment for incomplete/shoddy work, increased costs of projects, and insecurity among others.

Some of these reports have been made to the KACC while others are made through the media. These reports include: -

Procurement irregularities

There are allegations of corrupt practices in the roads projects involving public officers during the procurement process. These include Under/over specification so as to facilitate contract variations or to discourage potential contractors respectively, Leakage of information to ‘preferred’ bidders so as to facilitate bid rigging.

Conflict of interest as a result of the officers not declaring their interest and participating in the award of contracts to related companies

There are also cases of collusion between contractors and the public officers to disregard adherence to procurement procedures among others and irregular variation of Contract in terms of Cost, specification and scope of work. There are allegations in the media regarding variations to the initial cost of project over and above the required thresholds without prerequisite approval by the responsible authorities. The reports highlighted this as a major problem and proposed that the government blacklists some of the contracts involved.

Use of sub-standard materials

Some contractors are reported to have used sub – standard construction materials. This results in poor quality of works thereby reducing the life span of the roads. This is an indication that specifications spelt out during the preparation of tender documents are not exhaustive. Lack of adequate specifications at the tendering stage opens room for negotiations during the implementation time. It is also an indication of collusion with officers who approve such works for payments Diversion of project materials and other resources. There are allegations of diversion of road projects materials and other resources to private use or for resale. This is outright theft which results in abandonment of projects.

False/exaggerated claims against the Contractors

Some public officers raise false/exaggerated claims against contractors to unfairly withhold the contractor’s progress payments. This enables the public officers to create opportunity with contractors to give bribes. It is also used as bait for extortion.

Conflicts of interest/payments for works not done

There are allegations that the Ministry is loosing millions of shillings annually to ‘phony’ companies created and managed by officers in the Ministry. There are also allegations of Contractors being paid for works not completed particularly bridges and cases of double payments.

Road reserves

Some private developers have colluded with public officers to illegally build on road reserves. This is done through alterations of the original road design to circumvent irregular developments with the approval of the Ministry Engineers.

Favoritism /Nepotism

There are allegations of favoritism/nepotism in deployment of Resident Engineers and other Ministry personnel to various projects and ‘strategic’ installations such as weighbridges.

Bribery

There are allegations of bribery at the weighbridges involving the Ministry officers and the police in order to allow overloaded Lorries to pass without being weighed. This is made possible by the discretionary powers that officers have in warning drivers of overloaded vehicles. Some reports indicate that some of the transport companies pay bribes in advance. There are also allegations of collusion between the officers at the weighbridge and lorry owners to under – declare the weights. The scheme is facilitated by partially ‘stepping’ on the weighbridge to reduce the weight load. All these allegations suggest that there are systemic weaknesses that provide opportunities for corrupt practices hence the need for the proposed Examination

The National Corruption Perception Survey (NACS) launched by KACC in June 2006, featured the Ministry of Roads and Public Works amongst the Ministries with high incidence of corruption. The ministry was ranked at No. 7 out of 33 Ministries. The Survey indicated that 23.7 per cent of the respondents singled out poor infrastructure as one of the major problems facing the Country.

The roads sub sector has since the mid nineties started a reform process in line with Sub Saharan Road Maintenance Initiative (RMI) in order to improve the delivery and sustenance of road infrastructure. Major reform achievements include the establishment of the Road Maintenance Levy Fund (RMLF) in 1993 to ensure a sustainable source of maintenance funds.

The road infrastructure forms the bedrock for any economic development in a country. Good road networks enable the inhabitants to access essential services. In a country like Kenya, whose economy is 80 per cent agricultural oriented, the road network contributes significantly to the cost of transportation of farm inputs and products. Roads also facilitate access to markets which in turn generate financial resources that are critical for development and poverty eradication.

The road infrastructure has implications for maintenance of security. Areas with poor road infrastructure have been characterized by several incidences of insecurity where rescue operations are delayed due to poor road network. This is notable in the North Eastern Province and parts of Rift Valley. There are also instances where poor road network has denied many citizens access to essential services such as health facilities, schools and emergency responses such as famine relief, security and flooding. This undermines the confidence of the public in the government and stifles development.

Provision of good roads is definitely a critical component in the process of realizing social and economic goals of development. Investment in road infrastructure requires massive resources, both financial and human. Thus the country can ill afford to ignore inefficiencies in the management of these resources. Any losses in the sector bring about substantial losses of public revenue, interference with the government’s development goals and disillusionment on the members of the public. The various institutions charged with the responsibility of overseeing effective utilization of resources in the roads sector must therefore do so optimally devoid of any corrupt practices.

Ends…

Probe into Roads Ministry Underway

The Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission (Kacc) is currently carrying out an examination into the systems, policies, procedures and practices at the Ministry of Roads and Public Works alongside the Kenya Roads Board (KRB). The examination exercise was launched on 26^th October 2006 and was attended by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Roads and Public Works, Ambassador (Eng) Mohamed M. Mahamud; Engineer Hudson Kihumba, KRB Manager in-charge of Planning and Programming and Fatuma

Sichale, Kacc Deputy Director

The road construction sector is vulnerable to corruption because of the size, complexity and potentially huge cost of most of the projects. Most of the projects are one-off, large and unique in nature which makes it difficult to compare. This therefore opens opportunities for inflating costs.

Corruption in road projects thrives due to the weaknesses and loopholes that exist in the entire project cycle from planning and design, tendering and implementation process.

There have been several reports of poor project planning and implementation, poor service delivery, inefficiencies, breach of procedures, soliciting for bribes, questionable dealings, outright theft, fraud and other corruption related activities in all roads projects.

This has led to poor infrastructure, delay in project implementation, payment for incomplete/shoddy work, increased costs of projects, and insecurity among others.

Some of these reports have been made to the KACC while others are made through the media. These reports include: -

Procurement irregularities

There are allegations of corrupt practices in the roads projects involving public officers during the procurement process. These include Under/over specification so as to facilitate contract variations or to discourage potential contractors respectively, Leakage of information to ‘preferred’ bidders so as to facilitate bid rigging.

Conflict of interest as a result of the officers not declaring their interest and participating in the award of contracts to related companies

There are also cases of collusion between contractors and the public officers to disregard adherence to procurement procedures among others and irregular variation of Contract in terms of Cost, specification and scope of work. There are allegations in the media regarding variations to the initial cost of project over and above the required thresholds without prerequisite approval by the responsible authorities. The reports highlighted this as a major problem and proposed that the government blacklists some of the contracts involved.

Use of sub-standard materials

Some contractors are reported to have used sub – standard construction materials. This results in poor quality of works thereby reducing the life span of the roads. This is an indication that specifications spelt out during the preparation of tender documents are not exhaustive. Lack of adequate specifications at the tendering stage opens room for negotiations during the implementation time. It is also an indication of collusion with officers who approve such works for payments Diversion of project materials and other resources. There are allegations of diversion of road projects materials and other resources to private use or for resale. This is outright theft which results in abandonment of projects.

False/exaggerated claims against the Contractors

Some public officers raise false/exaggerated claims against contractors to unfairly withhold the contractor’s progress payments. This enables the public officers to create opportunity with contractors to give bribes. It is also used as bait for extortion.

Conflicts of interest/payments for works not done

There are allegations that the Ministry is loosing millions of shillings annually to ‘phony’ companies created and managed by officers in the Ministry. There are also allegations of Contractors being paid for works not completed particularly bridges and cases of double payments.

Road reserves

Some private developers have colluded with public officers to illegally build on road reserves. This is done through alterations of the original road design to circumvent irregular developments with the approval of the Ministry Engineers.

Favoritism /Nepotism

There are allegations of favoritism/nepotism in deployment of Resident Engineers and other Ministry personnel to various projects and ‘strategic’ installations such as weighbridges.

Bribery

There are allegations of bribery at the weighbridges involving the Ministry officers and the police in order to allow overloaded Lorries to pass without being weighed. This is made possible by the discretionary powers that officers have in warning drivers of overloaded vehicles. Some reports indicate that some of the transport companies pay bribes in advance. There are also allegations of collusion between the officers at the weighbridge and lorry owners to under – declare the weights. The scheme is facilitated by partially ‘stepping’ on the weighbridge to reduce the weight load. All these allegations suggest that there are systemic weaknesses that provide opportunities for corrupt practices hence the need for the proposed Examination

The National Corruption Perception Survey (NACS) launched by KACC in June 2006, featured the Ministry of Roads and Public Works amongst the Ministries with high incidence of corruption. The ministry was ranked at No. 7 out of 33 Ministries. The Survey indicated that 23.7 per cent of the respondents singled out poor infrastructure as one of the major problems facing the Country.

The roads sub sector has since the mid nineties started a reform process in line with Sub Saharan Road Maintenance Initiative (RMI) in order to improve the delivery and sustenance of road infrastructure. Major reform achievements include the establishment of the Road Maintenance Levy Fund (RMLF) in 1993 to ensure a sustainable source of maintenance funds.

The road infrastructure forms the bedrock for any economic development in a country. Good road networks enable the inhabitants to access essential services. In a country like Kenya, whose economy is 80 per cent agricultural oriented, the road network contributes significantly to the cost of transportation of farm inputs and products. Roads also facilitate access to markets which in turn generate financial resources that are critical for development and poverty eradication.

The road infrastructure has implications for maintenance of security. Areas with poor road infrastructure have been characterized by several incidences of insecurity where rescue operations are delayed due to poor road network. This is notable in the North Eastern Province and parts of Rift Valley. There are also instances where poor road network has denied many citizens access to essential services such as health facilities, schools and emergency responses such as famine relief, security and flooding. This undermines the confidence of the public in the government and stifles development.

Provision of good roads is definitely a critical component in the process of realizing social and economic goals of development. Investment in road infrastructure requires massive resources, both financial and human. Thus the country can ill afford to ignore inefficiencies in the management of these resources. Any losses in the sector bring about substantial losses of public revenue, interference with the government’s development goals and disillusionment on the members of the public. The various institutions charged with the responsibility of overseeing effective utilization of resources in the roads sector must therefore do so optimally devoid of any corrupt practices.

Ends…

Kyoto: a false consensus?

“At the UN climate talks in Nairobi, Kenya, from 6-17 November, many participants are likely to concentrate on defending and extending the Kyoto Protocol against the Bush administration's opposition. However, a new book critiques the embattled Kyoto agreement and other carbon trading schemes from a different social justice”.

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Why have you and your colleagues written a book criticising the Kyoto Protocol at a time when Bush is threatening it and countries like Canada are likely to fail to meet its targets?

The debate on climate change is usually presented as one between Kyoto supporters and climate change deniers. But that’s not really what it’s about. The more important conflict is over who is to own the earth’s ability to regulate its climate. From that perspective Bush and carbon trading schemes like Kyoto are on the same side. Both are working to entrench the rights and privileges of big polluters.

What’s wrong with carbon trading, in a nutshell?

By allowing the worst polluters to secure huge blocks of pollution rights – and buy still more rights from abroad – carbon trading encourages inaction and blocks innovation. In addition, the measurements of emissions and carbon ‘offsets’ that are needed can’t be made, and global enforcement is impossible.Carbon trading impedes public discussion, and harms communities – mostly in the South – where industry is setting up carbon ‘offset’ projects to license its own continued pollution.

Is that why so much of the book’s research comes from people from the global South?

Yes. In fact, the book’s impetus came largely from concerned colleagues in the South who are concerned about the neocolonialist, undemocratic aspects of carbon trading. In India, for example, carbon trading is giving big corporations extra money for continuing to carry out heavily polluting, heavily exploitative activities such as the production of sponge iron, which notoriously takes over and contaminates ordinary farmers’ land and forests.

If carbon trading is so damaging, why is it being so heavily promoted?

It benefits business, at least in the short term. It’s a story not all that different from many others in the long history of privatisation. For example, how did Thatcherism triumph? Or, going further back, how was common land enclosed in various places? Such movements were long processes of political, legal and technical organisation, which may have started small but got very big. We’ve seen a similar thing in climate change. Carbon trading proponents from the US were well organised politically quite early and were able to get their schemes accepted in the culture and language of the UN. The former secretary general of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, Michael Zammit Cutajar, pointed out a couple of years ago that the Kyoto Protocol was ‘made in the USA’, which is not something a lot of people are aware of. Often people think everybody in the US is opposed to Kyoto, when in reality carbon trading and the Kyoto Protocol were created by US thinkers and US policymakers and backed by a faction of US business.

It all looks quite bleak. What do you see as the future for action on climate change?

I think several things are happening at the same time. The first is that carbon trading is collapsing by itself. The market can’t do the measurements, it can’t create a convincing commodity. Earlier this year the EU carbon market crashed. Governments were handing out so many rights to pollute that the rights didn’t have much economic value and the price plummeted. Then, as local people are hurt more and more by the activities of corporations in their neighbourhoods, who are picking up extra subsidies for business as usual from the carbon market, whether it’s biofuel operations or waste gas burning, there’s going to be more political resistance. I expect that in the long term, there will also be opposition from the general public once it starts to sink in that carbon trading is not doing the job it’s pretending to be doing. What’s needed is a political movement in support of more effective approaches that aim at phasing out fossil fuels and opening up a more democratic discussion about how societies need to be reorganised to cope with the threat of climate change.

Ends…

Somalia at a Critical Juncture, a Status Report from

Where were we yesterday?

1. Transitional Federal Institutions were established (TFI) in Kenya in 2004.

A) Despite well known deficiencies in the system in which the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) was created, most Somalis embraced it as a first step in the right direction toward a beginning of a long reconciliation process for our nation and for our people. One needs not to dwell on how the TFG was created in Nairobi. History has already recorded who, what, when, why and how the TFG was established.

B) Political wrangles began inside the TFG soon after its inception. TGF failed to take advantage of the “short lived momentum” it had enjoyed at its inception. The introduction of controversial policies divided the Parliament. Soon afterwards, the Parliament relocated in two different cities.

2. Baidoa was chosen as the temporary seat for the TFG to begin the reconciliation process

A) In February, 2006, the Parliament Speaker and the President -in Aden declaration- agreed to reconvene the entire parliament in one location for the first time. Many Somalis again became hopeful that some sort of progress could be achieved as result of this agreement.

B) International recognition poured in to support the existence of TFG. Arab league, AU and EU have all expressed and provided political, economic and diplomatic support to the TFG and hailed the reconvening of the parliament for the first time in Somali soil as a success.

C) The TFG failed to deliver on its promises. One of the possible reasons for this failure is lack of vision. A nation is as good as the vision of its leadership. Lack of a clear vision could lead to chaos and confusion. One other possible reason for this failure is the lack of government priorities; one cannot start building a home from the roof. One must first lay down the foundation. The missing foundation was the reconciliation process which was the only mandate the TFG carried as its name “transitional” had indicated. You cannot transition from the first phase without building a broad consensus and harmony in order to move to the second phase. The greatest TFG setback occurred when the TFG failed to gain the confidence of Somali people whom it claimed to represent.

Where are we now?

3. The end of an era for Somali Warlordism.

A) To the surprise of everybody, all warlords disappeared from the streets of Mogadishu. Jowhar, Kismaio and Beletwein and their surroundings areas after confrontations with a new entity which became known as Union of Islamic courts (UIC). The UIC overpowered all the warlords and immediately restored long awaited law and order to all of the territories under its control in matter of days. This brought sigh of relief with simultaneous celebrations and greetings across Somalia, from Hargesa, to Bossos, from Beletwein to Kismaio. The Somali people have exchanged congratulatory notes in support for the UIC which they have rightfully termed as “unexpected miracle from God”.

B) TFG was caught off guard by the overwhelming support of the Somali people for UIC. TFG first jubilantly supported the UIC as “a Public Uprising” organized to uproot what it called “the long standing obstacles of peace” in the capital Mogadishu. The TFG reiterated that it was these warlords who prevented it to permanently relocate to Mogadishu in the first place. The “Public Uprising” view is still widely shared by many Somalis across the globe.

C) It is in this period, while war was still raging in Mogadishu; the Parliament passed a controversial resolution with a narrow margin allowing foreign peace keeping force to enter the country.

D) Then the TFG, to the surprise of many Parliamentarians, made 180 degree turn and called the UIC international terrorists designed to destabilize not only Somalia but the entire region. The UIC vehemently denies this accusation stating that the government had it right the first time when it referred the UIC as “Public uprising”.

4- UIC succeeded in restoring law and order in Mogadishu and other areas under its control.

A) Mogadishu International Airport became operational for the first time in 11 years.

B) Mogadishu Port became operational for the first time in 11 years.

C) Safety, sense of normalcy and security has returned to the entire population of Mogadishu. Women and children can go around the city while conducting their daily businesses without fear of rape, killing, kidnapping and roadblocks. These roadblocks were manned by roaming gangs and ruthless militia who exhorted money from the poor, the powerless and ordinary citizens.

D) UIC had called for dialogue with the Transitional Federal Government and recognized its existence and held peace negotiations with TFG twice so far and had promised more dialogue with TFG in the future.

Where should we be tomorrow?

5. Federal Parliament should consider the venue of dialogue and reconciliation as its guiding force and the means to re-establish trust and respect among Somali people.

A) It is paramount that the negotiation process started in Khartoum between the TFG and UIC be continued. The Federal Parliament should serve as neutral catalyst to pull the parties together. The Parliament’s insistence to move forward with the August 31 2006 meeting, led to the last successful face-to-face peace negotiation between TFG and UIC. The Parliament needs to continue to facilitate the negotiation between the TFG and UIC.

B) As the civil conflict between Warlords and UIC has now ceased, the presence of international peace keeping force is no longer needed. Federal Parliament ought to reconsider the presence of International peacekeeping in Somalia.

C) The Federal Parliament should establish an independent Commission to investigate assassination attempt against the President. The Somali people need to know who truly is behind the assignation attempt without resorting to any unsubstantiated rumors, agenda driven innuendos and politically motivated finger pointing.

D) The Federal Parliament must conduct all of its constitutionally mandated activities in transparent manner. Every important issue impacting our nation must genuinely be debated and voted in a crystal clear manner. The interest of Somali people should be our primary concern, everything else must be considered as secondary. In order to safe guard already shaky public trust in this institution; there must be concrete system of accountibity. The Federal Parliament should investigate and expel from the chamber any member who is caught violating the anti corruption laws.

E) The Federal Parliament should appeal to the international community (AL, AU, EU, UN and Somali Contact Group) to facilitate genuine dialogue and peace settlement negotiations between UIC and TFG. The International Community should engage directly with Somali intellectuals both inside and outside the government who know and understand the needs of their country and people better than their neighbors. The International Community must be careful not to repeat the Congo Democratic Republic (CDR) syndrome on Somali soil whereby multiple neighbors fought proxy wars for years in which thousands of Congolese citizens perished.

F) Members of Federal Parliament must take their mandates very seriously.

- The mandate to bring the Somali people together through peaceful dialogue and reconciliation and not through the threat of gun.

- The mandate to check and balance the actions of the TFG vs. Federal Charter.

- The mandate to uphold and defend the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of Somali Republic as stipulated in Federal Charter.

-The mandate to look after our nation’s long term interest instead of short term personal/tribal gains.

- And the mandate of our oath to assist our beloved Somalia come out of this long and tragic civil war with its heads high, with its dignity and pride still intact, with peace within itself and with its neighbors.

Better days are yet to come and keep hope alive.

Asha Ahmed Abdalla is a Member of Parliament,

Transitional Federal Republic of Somalia,

Badioa, Somalia
E-mail: Asha_Somali_Parliament@yahoo.com