Parliament Kills the Only Hope for Fighting Corruption!

 The fight against corruption is tough. Many vested interests attempt to thwart the process at every stage exist, especially during an election year where political powers and individuals try to create alliances with the looters. But when the Parliament kills the only hope for fighting corruption, as it did on 12 September 2007, then the country has lost direction.By extending blanket amnesty to economic crimes perpetrated prior to 2003 and amending some parts of the legislation establishing the Kenya Anti-corruption Commission (KACC), which gives it powers to investigate those crimes, the parliament dealt a devastating blow to on going and future investigations of Goldenberg, Anglo-leasing and land grabbing cases by the KACC. These corruption scandals involve hundred billions of Kenya shilling stashed in foreign banks abroad. This is public money that could have been used for economic development and alleviating poverty which is prevalent in the country.

Earlier in this blog we had warned that reducing the KACC investigatory powers will be detrimental to the fight against corruption. The KACC has its flaws as regards the fight against corruption as it does not seem to move with the required speed to investigate, apprehend and prosecute those involved in these serious economic crimes. But it is the only body currently equipped and capable to deal with grand corruption investigations. Leaving the matter in the hands of overburdened police to investigate is clear signal that parliament is not interested in pursuing corruption cases.

Let us hope that the President will decline to assent this law and therefore restore the powers of the KACC. The President is the last bastion of hope that the war against corruption will continue as he is on record for having declared zero tolerance to corruption. Parliament, which is composed of some members who are seriously implicated in the grand economic theft, had its own motivation for granting the looters amnesty. The President once again should stand against the Parliament as he did with the Media law.

Lastly but not least, the voters should take cue from parliament and make sure that these selfish lot does not return to the august house. This parliament has tested elector’s patience to the extreme with its egotistic legislations and impunity to public and national interest. They have increased their salaries and other pecks without regard to the poverty and financial hardships faced by majority of the population. To nail it all, they have shown gross contempt to the fight against corruption by granting themselves amnesty. The time to show the corrupt lawmakers the door is now.

By Dr. Stephen Kabera

Lifted from Karanja’s blogspot

Lifted and Published by African Press International (API) /African Press in Norway (APN) africanpress@chello.no tel +47 932 99 739 or +47 6300 2525 source. http://killcoruption.blogspot.com/

Not all Luos are violent and not all Kikuyus are thieves

Commentary by “The Mzalendo:

Hi Dedan
Please note that most of us are not against the Luos or Kikuyus but against Raila and Kibaki. Unless we Kenyans separate this two especially at such a time as this, am afraid we will replicate what we are seeing in our neighboring countries. Not all Luos are violent and not all Kikuyus are thieves just like not all violent guys are Luos nor all thieves are Kikuyu.

I have also seen comments from guys like Steve who feel threatened to the point they promise to circumcise Luos. Please my fellow Kenyans everyone has a right to live the way they want circumcised or not. I know of very childish traditionally circumcised kikuyus and very mature uncircumcised Luos. Such comments are scary especially for us who are still in kenya.

As Nyakundi said Kenya is not for Kikuyus or Luos only, it is for all the tribes. We have come to a point in Kenya where we have two dominant forces who are closely marched this is what brings down most african countries. I would rather have either ODM or PNU winning by a landslide than by a small margin because then we will have war on our hands.

Please guys everyone has a right to his opinion but let’s remember what makes Kenya great. The fact that we are a haven of peace and prosperity in africa. Kenyans let us fight against tribalism and not against tribes. If we do not then we easily forget that we have friends from the tribes we are fighting and forget that that friend once almost saved your life. That is what happened to Rwanda. Let it not happen to us.

Lord, please save our dear Nation from war, injustice, tribalism and corruption, Amen.

You can see all comments on this post here:
http://africanpress.wordpress.com/2007/09/24/a-shocking-interview-with-raila-odinga-while-on-his-us-tour/#comments

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Raila supported Kibaki in 2002 because he thought he would get the Premiership

Commentary by John:
I am married with three kids, immediatly I got married, a friend of mine called Mike visited me and admired my wife, later he did a huge shopping and came home for a second visit and we all appreciated him and thanked him. We called him “Mkalimu”,”Jamba”etc.
The following day he came to woo my wife and I kicked his ass. That is exactly what Raila (ODM - One Dangerous Man) did to Hon. Kibaki.

He simply supported him for a Prime minister with powers more than the president. Hon Kibaki realised this and did the necessary.

You can see all comments on this post here:
http://africanpress.wordpress.com/2007/10/05/during-the-elections-2002-hon-raila-was-being-referred-to-as-mutongoria-njamba/#comments

 _____________

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Plane crash in Kinshasha - Congo, killing many

A tragedy has struck the African country Congo when a plane today crashed into a crowded area of Kinshasha reportedly killing many passengers, according to CNN.

Reports confirm that the plane is a Russian make.

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Kenya: Markets react negatively to Raila’s recent steadman polls lead

The Stock Market has already begun reacting to the news that Raila Odinga was leading in the Steadman polls.

All major counters were down with most prices taking a decidedly southern turn.

Despite the recent appearance by Raila in front of business men to assure them of his economic vision, it is clear that most prefer to take out their money when they can and not await the economic experiments of Social Democracy that Raila and Anyang Nyong’o have been talking about.

KenGen was down, EABL was down, Barclay down and the NSE turnover dropped by KShs. 60 million.

It is a lucky thing the trading takes place from 10 AM to 1 PM only otherwise a number of stocks look headed to lose the maximum allowable 10% daily.

The verdict is clear: Most businessmen don’t trust Raila with the economy and would prefer to put their money elsewhere maybe in real estate or in T-bills.

Now you could all argue that this is inconsequential or that these people taking their money out are this and that type but the fact remains they are money makers.

They put their money where they think it will make money and for what its worth, they know economics.

If they dont have confidence in the economy under a Raila led government, I don’t see why the average mwananchi should considering he is not privy to market intelligence the way investors might be.

Posted by Kioko,

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Norway’s national women’s soccer team lost “badly” - humiliated by US winning 4-0

Norway’s national women’s soccer team lost badly to the USA in the FIFA Women’s World Cup finals on Sunday, losing out on the bronze and later disagreeing with the coach.

Solveig Gulbrandsen up against Aly Wagner of the USA in the World Cup bronze match on Sunday in Shanghai. PHOTO: SARA JOHANNESSEN/SCANPIX

Their euphoria at beating China in the quarter finals last Sunday started to unravel after they lost a few days later in the semi-finals to Germany.

That loss pitted them against the USA. While Germany went on to win the World Cup, the Norwegians lost 4-0 against the Americans.

“We were physically overpowered,” said coach Bjarne Berntsen. “The World Cup has shown us that we haven’t had the stamina to hold out in such a long tournament.”

Norway’s performance in making it to the semi-finals qualified the national women’s team for Olympic action back in China next year. Berntsen said his team learned a lot about what will be needed to prevail against such top teams, stressing that his players will need to undergo “hard, physical training” throughout the winter and spring.

The frustrated players themselves didn’t agree, with several telling newspaper Aftenposten that they mainly need to be better with the ball.

“I don’t agree with Bjarne,” said Ragnhild Gulbrandsen. “It’s the ball that it’s all about.”

 

Lifted and published by Korir, African Press International - API/ African Press in Norway - APN africanpress@chello.no tel +47 932 99 739 or +47 6300 2525 source.aftenposteneng

Burmese major contacts embassy saying he did not shoot at the demonstrators - But is he really innocent?

Major Htaly Win, left, refused to fire on innocent civilian protestors in Burma. His son Kuanghed is by his side.

PHOTO: MICHAEL TÖPFFER

The Burmese major reportedly seeking political asylum in Norway has contacted the Norwegian embassy in Bangkok, Thailand on Wednesday. According to Norway’s Foreign Ministry (UD) Major Htaly Win will present his case there on Thursday.

“The man contacted our embassy in Bangkok and a meeting was arranged for Thursday at the embassy,” UD Communications chief Anne Lene Sandsten told news agency NTB.

Win, who is traveling with his 17-year-old son Kuanghed, told Aftenposten.no that he refused to follow orders to shoot demonstrating students and munks. They escaped leaving Win’s wife and two of their sons behind.

Kuanghed said that a refusal to follow orders carries a death sentence.

Win claimed that he decided to flee before the shootings began, and so had no direct observation of the violence.

“But we have heard that at least 200 people are dead. But the soldiers I had control over shot no civilians while I was there,” Win said.

The major and his son traveled with German-Norwegian journalist Hans-Joachim Schilde towards the border of Thailand where they met with Burmese guerrillas before being guided over the border by Thai security agents.

Despite Win’s previous battles with the guerrillas, he and his son were were welcomed and aided in their flight.

“They were very kind. There were no problems. Now we are friends,” Kuanghed said.

By Michael Töpffer and Jonathan Tisdall

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Norway: Female flasher in Oslo

On Wednesday afternoon an unruly female flasher pestered passersby in the Grünerlřkka district of downtown Oslo. Around 3 p.m. customers at the Kaffebrenneriet café and other passersby witnessed the exhibitionist woman, web site iOslo.no reports.

“She went past here, flashing her breasts at people. She also grabbed baby carriages and hit one woman,” a witness told the web site, who guessed the troublemaker was in her forties.

“Afterwards she staggered up the street,” he said.

Even Jřrstad of the Oslo police said that they did not have the capacity to respond to the complaints.

“We received a call about a woman kicking and grabbing baby carriages in Grünerlřkka. She reportedly also stripped naked,” Jřrstad said.

By Jonathan Tisdall

Lifted and published by API*APN africanpress@chello.no tel +47 932 99 739 or +47 6300 2525 source.aftenposteneng