An activist's story for African Liberation Day – Not Yet Uhuru!

Today marks African Liberation Day founded in 1958 when Ghana’s Kwame Nkrumah convened the First Conference of Independent States. The day symbolizes the determination of the people of Africa to free themselves from the shackles of domination and exploitation; first from colonial powers and today from dictatorial regimes.

However African social justice activists still face intimidation and outright violations of their basic human rights. The story below written by George Nyongesa of Kenya’s Bunge La Mwananchi is just one of the many examples that respect for human rights is still elusive to Kenyans.

It is also tragic to note that even though African Liberation Day was founded over half a century ago, unfortunately it is as the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga titled his seminal autobiography: (it is) Not Yet Uhuru. Today also marks the first anniversary of the death of Tajudeen Abdul-Raheem, one of Africa’s champions in the struggle for human rights, justice and democracy. To pay tribute to the lives of the late Tajudeen and other social justice crusaders who have transitioned, surely African leaders should today hear the call of the citizens who are demanding social accountability. Not in 1958, not tomorow, but Today. We demand Uhuru Today …

YIPE

Mr. Shitati a Bunge la Mwananchi member arrested distributing copies of Katiba!

Dear Kenyans and friends of Kenya,

I would like to bring to your attention the arrest of Mr.Nathan Shitati, a member of Bunge la Mwananchi, by 4 CID officers. At the time of arrest Mr. Shitati was distributing copies of the proposed constitution and talking to a group of people on the streets of Nairobi around Prudential Building next to City Hall. The copies of Katiba that he was distributing had been picked from Uraia.

Mr. Shitati, aged between 60-65 years, was picked out of a group of close to 100 people and was driven away in a motor vehicle bearing number plate KAJ 945U to what we later learnt was Central Police Station.

I was informed by those present during the arrest, that the arrest took place at around 1.30pm ( Monday 24th). While arresting Mr. Shitati, the arresting officers remarked that he was to be a lesson to the rest and ordered the rest of the group to disperse or they would be arrested too.

When I visited Central Police Station to inquire about the charges against Mr. Shitati, I was taken on a run-around between DCIO (not sure of his name); Mr. Francis Muguai, the Officer Commanding Police Department, (OCPD); and Officer Commanding Police Station (OCS), (not sure of his name too).

In my meeting with the DCIO in his office, he could not say anything more than: “the matter is with the OCPD” and “why cant you people keep quiet?” Realising the futility of dealing with the DCIO, I and others who had accompanied me to follow up the matter, went to the OCPD’s office, where we knocked, entered and greeted him but he did not respond. I went ahead to tell him what had brought us to his office. He kept quiet for almost 10 minutes just watching TV. When I insisted to know what offense Mr. Shitati is alleged to have committed, he jumped from his sit almost hitting me with his baton and shouted: “did he have permit to hold a meeting”. He then ordered me plus the people I was with out of his office.

At around 7pm an unidentified police officer in uniform came to me and told me that Mr. Shitati was going to be taken tomorrow morning to City Court for charges of CREATING PUBLIC NUISANCE. On learning this, I decided to go back to the OCS, who just waved us out of his office saying we should just wait for Mr. Shitati to be presented in court because that matter was above him. I tried to persuade the OCS to release Mr. Shitati on bond on grounds that he was being charged with a petty offense and he is an old man and sickly. But the OCS just remarked that “that there is something called occupational hazard”. The police could not let me confirm from the Occurrence Book (OB) if the charge of public nuisance is what is recorded there.

It is very sad that Mr. Nathan is spending a night in a cold, filthy, police cell for exercising his constitutional rights of assembly, association and expression. It would be interesting to see what is defined by police officers as a public nuisance. If it turns out to be true that Mr. Shitati shall be charged at the City Court then it is worrisome that nowadays CID officers can arrest and charge people under City By Laws which is traditionally the docket of City Council Askaris.

The kind of (mis) treatment that we received at Central Police Station is unacceptable and smirks of something else more than the alleged offense that Mr. Shitati is being charged with.

While I am shy of drawing conjectures it is important that I inform you that Mr. Shitati is a well known grassroots leader and a YES activist. Mr. Shitati is not new to the streets. He is part of the large group of citizens that meet during lunch hour and after work on the streets around Prudential House to discuss public interest topics and it is surprising that he was arrested for distributing copies of the proposed constitution.

We invite you to stay vigilant with us and if you can, join us in court, possibly at the City Court or High Court tomorrow Tuesday 25th May, 2010 at 8.00am. We still have not firmed up on legal representation and will also possibly require to raise cash bail to secure Mr Nathan Shitati’s release from custody tomorrow. Therefore, if there is anyone or oganisation out there who can help us in this matter please get in touch at the below contacts.

Yours in organizing for change,

George Nyongesa

Bunge la Mwananchi

info@bungelamwananchi.org

www.bungelamwananchi.org

When The Brewing Business Turns Deadly

Last Friday, once again Kenyans were shocked as they watched the death toll rise of consumers of the illicit brew – changaa in Shauri Moyo Estate in Nairobi’s sprawling Eastlands area; which as of today has reached 9 according to the Daily Nation.

Changaa is a local brew that resembles vodka, Tanzania’s Konyagi and Uganda’s Waragi. However unlike it’s East African sisters, changaa has not as yet been legalised.

This is not the first such case in Kenya. In June 2005, 49 people died in Machakos (Eastern Province) after they consumed an illicit drink suspected to have been laced with a poisonous chemical, and it seems that such cases are not going to end easily.

A regular changaa drinker was quoted in the media after learning that five of his friends had succumbed to the Shauri Moyo brew as saying it was "bahati mbaya", bad luck.  However he added: "I will go back to drinking busaa, although it is more expensive, (than chang'aa)".  

Indeed as John Mututho the Member of Parliament behind the recently passed Alcoholic Drinks Control Bill asserts, that the deaths and blindness were caused by extra chemicals added to the brew and “sold to unsuspecting poor Kenyans in the name of chang'aa".

Some commonly used additives include methanol and ethanol. Methanol has a high human toxicity. If ingested, as little as 10 milligrams can cause permanent blindness destroying the optic nerve while 30 ml is potentially fatal. Based on its abilities to change human consciousness, ethanol is considered a psychoactive drug. Death from ethyl alcohol consumption is possible when one’s blood alcohol level reaches 0.4% and a blood level of 0.5% or more is commonly fatal.

If the historic Alcoholic Drinks Control Bill which repeals the Chang’aa Prohibition and Liquor Licensing Acts receives presidential assent, this will mean that brewers of such liquor will have to face stringent quality standards and inspections. However with the current enforcement agencies so far being unable to cope in preventing future loss of life and blindness, it seems that more has to be done to ensure that the vendors adding dangerous substances to these brews are stopped.

Unfortunately the business opportunities in this sector remain attractive for those seeking to make a quick buck. Changaa is popular because it is cheap. A mug costs Sh10 (approximately 20 US cents). It also has the added attraction of being readily available, though not on  supermarket shelves nor established bars.

And it is not just slum dwellers who have taken to changaa. Crippling taxes have forced formal sector brewers to hike their prices and the informal sector brewers have benefited from more customers due to their low priced product. However, unlike Kenya Breweries or Keroche industries who have to go through rigorous quality standardisation and expensive marketing to manufacture their products and attract customers, changaa brewing is a home based cottage industry where not even a hygiene inspection happens. Word of mouth is generally the marketing tool, and if the price remains low – customer loyalty is assured.

For the Bill (if enacted) to make any significant inroads in preventing the deaths that occurred in Shauri Moyo from happening again, emphasis must be placed on ensuring proper regulatory structures are put in place. The National Campaign Against Drug Abuse Authority (NACADA) has so far been instrumental in making the public aware of the hazards of excessive alcohol consumption. However, the main thrust of their campaign has been the “don’t drink and drive” approach. This means nothing to the changaa drinkers whose main mode of transport is their legs.

Though the objectives of the Bill are noble, there has to be a holistic approach that also educates the changaa brewers and consumers on the dangers of additives. However, as these vendors generally tend to operate from their homes, the Bill does not give cognisance to their informal business culture. To say that brewers will have to be licensed will only mean that many will continue to operate illegally. For those that do get the licence from the proposed District Committee’s, the prescribed licence fee will be passed onto the consumers meaning loss of market.

Even the application for licence procedures will be an issue for brewers who will have to provide “a comprehensive proposal on the nature, orientation and other justification for the establishment of the alcoholic plant” amongst other requirements.

It remains to be seen whether the Bill will make a difference in the lives of the  changaa consumers and brewers. Ensuring that the barriers to entry remain attractive but also strictly enforcing quality standards by providing the relevant agencies with appropriate resources will most definitely prevent future loss of life.

In Kenya, When You are Poor - You Die Alone

By F. Itam

Today I found out JG, someone I knew died. Personable and intellectual in his way, JG always struck me as someone that was curious about the world. JG had an opinion on everything, be it politics, the economy or even the winner of the 2010 World Cup, sadly which he will not see.

Though the father of three sons (whom he was immensely proud of) had his personal demons - JG was always there to lend a hand. With the practical knowledge he had acquired in his 36 years of life, JG always had a solution. And there was nothing that was impossible to him  - until he tried it.

JG went missing on Monday evening. On Tuesday his family and colleagues assumed he would show up. It was not the first time JG who enjoyed his tipple had gone missing in "action". But he always showed up - cowed by the anger and worry he had brought on. However, within a few days, JG would be back to his form - giving advice on the life situations we found ourselves in.

But this Tuesday and today - JG did not show. After visiting hospitals and police stations, JG was found at the mortuary. It turns out that he died on Monday night under circumstances we shall never truly know. But like the others who die in poverty, it took searching  throughout Nairobi for him to sadly surmise what befell him. You see in a country with high mobile phone usage rates, unfortunately even the police are unable to inform the next of kin when they come upon a body.

I once asked JG how come he knew so much and he told me that during the Kenyatta and Moi regime's his father had been a senior civil servant. This meant that he had the opportunity to attend a good school in Nairobi. Unfortunately, JG's father was part of Daniel Moi's purge on all that was above mediocre and his father was detained for years. Such punishment was not only meted out on JG's father but ultimately his younger dependent children of which JG was one. Thus JG was pulled out of the Nairobi school and wound up in a rural one. The frustration of his unquenched curiousity for knowledge not being met and adaptation to rural life meant that JG's education henceforth was erratic. Later on he had to make do with the university of life, taking on any job there was.

It is ironic that the ICC have today granted the Louis Moreno Ocampo’s request to launch an investigation on crimes against humanity in Kenya covering the period between 1st June 2005 and 26th November 2009. This is because people like JG are not alone in having had to suffer the death of their aspirations long before the expiration of their mortal bodies. However, the people that were behind the regime that ensured that JG would never go far in life remain un-prosecuted.

JG R.I.P

Kiplagat Owes it to Kenyans to Resign

By Cyprian Nyamwamu And Ndung'u Wainaina 

Is it that Kenyans cannot see the dangerous game being played against them by very crafty politicians and state machinery?

The debate on the appointment of TJRC chairman Bethwel Kiplagat is not about personalities. It is about a new Kenya under new: value system, public ethics, political culture and accountability in management of public affairs by public office holders. TJRC is about confronting the past socio-political and moral bankruptcy of the society in order to break away from that past. We cannot do it under pretence or convenience.

This is about taking head on the systemic crisis of impunity that have and continue destroying Kenya. The selection panel and MPs failed to listen to Kenyans' demand to subject TJRC commissioners selection process to public scrutiny. The reports that adversely mention Kiplagat have been public information. These reports were produced by government, commissions and task forces funded through taxpayers' money. How could it have been possible that both selection panel and Parliament overlooked these reports despite requirement of the TJR Act?

The TJR Act 2008 section 10(6) (a) (b) and(c) are very clear on who can work in the TJRC not just as the chairman but in any capacity. Kiplagat is not being accused of having served in Kanu regime. Nothing can be far from the truth. He is specifically adversely mentioned in several public funded and officially sanctioned reports. His appointment therefore contravenes the sections of the TJR Act.

Kiplagat is a public officer by virtue of his appointment. He is therefore not a private citizen. Once you hold public office, you must be open to public scrutiny and accountability. How can Kiplagat sign off a TJRC final report of which he is a subject matter?

Kiplagat is a duty bearer while Kenyans are rights and responsibilities holders. Moreover he is heading the "mother of all commissions", the TJRC. The reports of the 38 former commissions of inquiry and task forces of the past shall form the core resource materials and subject of this big commission. It is not an ordinary commission.

His office as chairman is a more demanding office than that of judge of the high court and even the Chief Justice. Why? Judges rely on legal authority of their bench to issue rulings of cases taken before them. The TJRC chair and commissioners rely on integrity, moral authority and public trust to have victims go before them and for them to use the information and material given to them, to write their report and make recommendations. 

A court of law can say that this judge is competent to preside over a matter even when one demands that a judge steps aside; but a court of law cannot rule that Kenyans should trust Kiplagat and further order that victims should appear before the Kiplagat-led TJRC! This is not a judicial process. This is not a legal process per se but a crucial moral and social reconstruction process of a society.

Already victims are in court saying Kiplagat cannot secure their truth; he will not unearth the truth; and he cannot bring down if necessary his former employers and grandmasters; and people who gave him houses and land like Moi and others. These victims are the ones we should be listening to. Kiplagat should resign. And he shall resign.

If the citizens who are his employers see that Kiplagat shall use his office to serve the powerful who seem to have put him in the seat and not the many who suffered the violations, how can this employee refuse to resign arguing that his rights he being violated? Which rights have been violated? He wants a fair trial and hearing. Who has denied him fair trial? Let him seek all trials he can get. But fortunately' this is victims and Kenyans' TJRC, not his.

When people conveniently ask why we have not named other people who perpetrated violations, we wonder why it is not clear to such people that we shall be forwarding these claims to the TJRC. Right now what we need is a competent and credible TJRC. We do not have one. There are credible assertions of Kiplagat having done things that shall be the subject of the TJRC. SO he can only be a witness of TJRC not a commissioner, let alone being the chairman.

Then there is an argument that even President Kibaki was part of the Moi tyranny. But then Kibaki is not a TJRC commissioner or chair. Kibaki will have to appear before the TJRC to tell us all Kenyans a lot about what he knows about the murder of JM, Ouko, Nyayo torture chambers, Wagalla Massacre and many other serious violations.

Those giving flimsy argument in support of Kiplagat cannot even be said to be in bed with a strange bedfellow. It is a surrender of principle. The principle of democratic and credible processes of seeking the truth and justice. This country is suffering from a crisis of impunity and we should avoid convenient arguments that may embolden impunity.

Nyamwamu heads the National Convention Executive Council while Wainaina is the executive director of the International Centre for Policy and Conflict.

Missing files and Tender Entrepreneur Brokers

“The abuse of entrusted power for private gain is always fine for the one person doing it, but it becomes catastrophic if everybody starts doing it.” - David Pitt-Watson

Last night on the news, Kenyans got to witness Dorothy Angote, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Lands leading what was a day-long graft busting raid on junior officials in her Ministry. The Ministry which handles nearly five million title deeds, has been continuously been named as being one of the top most corrupt public institutions in the country. For her efforts, the PS unearthed thousands of files that had been stashed, some of which had been “missing” since the 1990s.

Kenyans have long become used to the phantom menace called “missing” files. The ghost appears out of nowhere just when one needs to undertake a transaction with the government.

Anyway, Dorothy Angote’s impromptu raid at least saved some Kenyans from the cartel of rogue officers at the Lands ministry as well as what we shall politely call brokers, agents or tender entrepreneurs.

However, Ms. Angote’s prescription to the problem falls short of expectation when she announced that there would be a reshuffle and disciplinary actions for the errant officers. If the Lands Ministry was a private business, for sure at least there would have been mass summary dismissals, if not court prosecutions. To send a clear message, the punishment must be clear.

Kenya has not been alone in handling rogue brokers that encourage public sector corruption. South Africa has also been dealing with such brokers who because of their close connections to the political elite, seem to be amassing great wealth to the detriment of hard working entrepreneurs.

Bobby Godsell the chairman of Business Leadership South Africa was recently mentioned in the media calling for South Africans to stand up to tender entrepreneurs who benefited from state contracts.

He likened this business practice to "a form of economic terrorism" that imposes “a cost on state services and conferring no benefit”.

This came in the wake of allegations that the country’s ruling party ANC’s youth leader Julius Malema's who the BBC recently described “28, a little overweight, impeccably dressed, and rather fond of referring to himself with the royal ‘we’” had irregularly personally benefited from lucrative government contracts. However, Mr. Malema has denied accusations of unearned wealth by saying that he is merely the victim of a political conspiracy and a racist plot. 

Indeed Malema is just another example of South Africa’s “bling culture” which has for some compromised ethical business behaviour. Entrepreneurs have had to be linked to a politically connected personalities in order to effectively compete on the public sector market.

Back in Kenya, business cronyism in the tender sector has led to great resistance each time the government tries to institute measures that will even out the information asymmetry when it comes to public procurement. 

As we mentioned almost two years ago, the broker sector in Kenya has also become a culture where:

“You need a middle man to manoeuvre public processes. For instance, if one goes to the companies, lands or court registries, you have to more or less fight your way to the front of the queue. Brokers have taken precedence and because they have managed to become acquainted with the public officers, they tend to get their work done first … “

And it is this lack of transparent systems and promulgation of red-tape that have been a boon for the broker community. The cost imposed on not just entrepreneurs but every taxpayer in muddling through bureaucratic systems is what ensures that brokers shall always be in demand. After all, the opportunity cost of giving a broker a facilitation fee and lunch money to ensure that your application is submitted or your file is found, is much less than the cost of having to leave your business in order to chase up the matter yourself.

Then there is the issue of business competitiveness which has also had an impact on the need to fast-track (at whatever cost) government procedures. Bending the rules and paying the occasional bribe just to get a process fast tracked or even to be awarded a contract are common dilemmas faced by today’s entrepreneur. Moreover if one is doing it, then you can bet that others just to stay ahead of the competition will also do so.

It has now become recognised that an important catalyst to business growth is enabling entrepreneurs to compete on the public procurement market. And it is encouraging that young entrepreneurs are taking on the bottlenecks in the public sector, and developing new applications that equalize information asymmetries and promote transparency whilst combating public sector corruption. One such business is Tenders Unlimited, a new Kenyan business startup that provides databased access to tenders to business people.

Reducing the opportunity costs of red-tape frees up resources for more productive activities as well as spurring wider economic growth. Thus computerization of government documents should be implemented.

And finally to put rogue brokers out of business, procedures that require in-person attendance should be minimised. As seen by the influx of mobile phone money transfer systems onto the market, banks are now joining the fray and offering mobile payment systems that will eliminate the need for people to stand in long queues just to get their bank statements. Without ZAP and MPesa, chances are that the traditional banks would not have brought banking services closer to the people.

Now we are asking the government to bring it’s services closer to us taxpayers too.

Kenyan activists under attack yet again

Battle lines have been drawn with full frontal attacks on prominent Kenyan activists. Just last weekend the wife of a prominent youth activist Joshua Nyamori of the Nyanza Youth Coalition was attacked by six armed men and her car taken at gun-point at their home-gate.  Nyamori's youth group has been under spotlight as one of the groups who have been receiving support from the US Ambassador Michael Ranneberger.

Another activist under attack is Shem Ochuodo who apart from having a corruption case looming over his head, has had to face the tribulations of being considered in opposition to the grand coalition. His office in Nairobi was closed and people purporting to be 'auctioneers' seizing his equipment when in fact he had overpaid his rent and a lorry used for the 2007 elections being impounded. Ochuodo himself has wide appeal not only because of his byname 'father of the internet' but also for his activities in the newly formed Mageuzi Trust.

Entrepreneurship - Kenya's Economic Saviour

By Jeconia Omondi Olonde

 

The current economic condition for Kenya is on a down hill while the population growth rate is quite high. This implies there is an increase in unemployment as the new jobs created cannot match the increase in population. A situation is created where the youth are finishing university, college and secondary school expecting to be employed yet the economy cannot accommodate them. This will in the end bring social instability especially with the high cost of education.

But what can the government and the private sectors do to help alleviate the situation that may bring the country to its knees? An initiative such as the Kazi Kwa Vijana was started by the government and has ended as a failure, taking the country back to the maze. The Kazi Kwa Vijana could not have been sustained as we can say the jobs given to them “do not add value” to the economy and the government is spending a huge amount of money in paying recurrent expenses. Also some of the jobs given may seem demeaning to some of the unemployed graduates. Telling an engineering graduate to clean trenches shows that the government has no plans for its citizens who are meant to be assets.
 

Further, unemployment situations in Kenya have been increased by the high requirements by employers in order to get jobs. Requirement of years of professional experience for jobs in Kenya has made it difficult for the fresh graduates to get jobs and their Kenyan dream of finding that dream job after years of education.
 

For the country to be able to create employment, the government and the private sector should highly consider embracing entrepreneurship as a source of expanding the economy and reducing poverty. With the shift towards technology, the government can use the youth to enhance and come up with new technologies which will help accelerate growth and achieve Vision 2030.
 

Some of the ways in which the government can do to help youth embrace entrepreneurship are:

• Providing financial assistance and guidance. Many youth have good business ideas but translating these to actual jobs is hindered by lack of knowledge of transforming ideas into feasible and tangible work. Also financial guidance on how to spend the initial finance is necessary as the projected financial statements are is not enough, for example, purchasing of essential assets, marketing and branding, establishing of internal business controls, and book keeping.
• Providing mentors to the youth who come up with good business ideas or proposals. The mentors are used to guide the youth especially through the tough times as they have been in the business before and they know what to do best in such situations.
• Introducing entrepreneurship as a subject in schools so that the students are able to know early enough how to start their own businesses and succeed. Mentality of students has to be changed from them expecting employment for them to create employment. This should be done for both students in professional courses and those in vocational training. In the earlier years, it was preached in radio stations and songs that at the end of education one will get a good job and this mentality has stuck in the mind of the population. We should therefore start changing the minds of people with regards to this.
• Providing tax incentives for young entrepreneurs who provide employment to others. There are difficulties involved with business start ups and therefore the government should recognize this effort by giving the youth tax incentives. This has been done to Export Processing Zones (EPZs) to attract foreign direct investments. Local investments should also be considered important as this brings more stimulus to growth as there are no profit flights.
• Patenting of special business ideas created by the young people. This may reduce the chances of the ideas being stolen by other capable individuals or by corporations. Good ideas are known to have been submitted to “wrong” organizations which take advantage of the weak protection laws of ideas. These weak laws demoralize the young people with brilliant ideas who may opt to stay with the ideas for long until they are able to finance themselves. Developed countries are known to have proper laws protecting ideas created by its citizens and developing countries should follow suit.
  

These are only some of the things the government should take into consideration if it has to help the country become entrepreneurial. The effect of citizens creating job opportunities in the economy cannot be over emphasized and the government has to act fast to improve the livelihood of its citizens.

Youth Disaffection: the elephant in the living room

This week both online and offline conversations have been revolving around Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the 23 year old engineering student who was apprehended as he tried to detonate explosives he carried onto a Christmas day transatlantic flight into Detroit.
 

However, Abdulmutallab somehow does not fit the stereotypical profile of a terrorist for most. The young man is highly educated and in fact was raised in a well to do family - his father is a prominent banker and former Nigerian Minister. As a Financial Times article says:

"Other Africans, from Comoros, Kenya and Somalia, who have been involved in al-Qaeda activities, have come from humbler backgrounds. But Mr Abdulmutallab was born into Nigeria’s elite, and there is little in his African background to suggest he was a terrorist in the making".

So the question many have been bandying about is why on earth would this young man feel that he had nothing to loose and everything to gain by not only killing himself, but also taking down 278 lives with him?

Yes, Osama Bin Laden hails from a wealthy Saudi family but he is the kingpin of Al Qaeda. The actual foot soldiers have tended to be not as well educated or rich. Towards the end of 2009, stories in the media said that the Somali militant group Al-Shabaab was recruiting Kenyan youth. However, unlike Abdulmutallab, these youth come from an environment of abject poverty coupled with high rates of youth unemployment. They are the ones with nothing to loose and everything to gain.

A young person, say during Kenya’s post election violence period would probably think twice about setting fire to someone’s else’s property if they had assets of their own. However, as is the case in Kibera in early 2008, they not only burnt homes where they lived; they burned down shops where they bought their food; and they also burned down the petrol station where they bought kerosene to cook their food from the shops. In short these disaffected youth had nothing to loose, and everything to gain.

Like Abdulmutallab, there is a new face of disaffected youth emerging. These are the ones who though being graduates, have no jobs or alternative opportunities to create meaningful and sustainable livelihoods. These are the white collar car-jackers and hostage takers demanding ransoms for well known kidnapped personalities.

Before it may have been easy to ignore poor youth that take to the streets and engage in crime. However, the number of disaffected youth is coalescing across social and economic divides so much so that the carpet can no longer cover the elephant of youth disaffection in the living room.

Umuro Wario’s reinstatement at Kenya’s Youth Fund is a victory for public officers committed to fighting corruption

The government’s decision to reinstate Mr. Umuro Wario to continue serving as the Chief Executive Officer of the Youth Enterprise Development Fund should be highly lauded. It’s a point of victory for public officers who risk their jobs by committing themselves to fight corruption.

Kenya’s biggest problem with the war against corruption has always been having the corrupt have their day whenever they fight back. This has happened to so many competent people before. A number of committed and hardworking officers have often lost their jobs whenever they showed determination to fight graft. A few years back it was confirmed that in Kenya, corruption fights back. It happened to Goldenberg whistle blower David Munyakei who lost his job and died in agony after he revealed how Kenyans had lost billions of shillings through the Goldenberg scandal. The same nature of machinations worked so hard to remove true anti corruption crusaders from transparency international. It was such kind of behind the scene political games by some board members that two very competent CEO’s Mwalimu Mati and Gladwell Otieno were consecutively removed from TI Kenya. Transparency International is just one example among many where officers committed to sincerity end up losing their jobs because of the greed and immorality of some of the board members of those institutions.

The minister in charge must be lauded for taking a bold action and making the truth carry its day by re appointing Mr. Wario. The minister has shown that if we all work for the truth, the just will always get justice too.

The initial sacking of Mr. Wario was like condemning those who fight corruption within the institutions where they work. This is because the ground of dismissal was based on the fact that he didn’t cooperate in the approval of some questionable deals pushed by the board. He must be lauded for standing strong in the interest of Kenyan youth when he refused to approve a ‘loan’ of ksh.300million to a Canadian NGO. Its noticeable that some politically connected board members wanted to use their political influence to blackmail the CEO into approving projects that mattered to their own selfish interests and not in the interest of the Kenyan youth.

It’s important that the minister was able to rescind her own earlier move of sacking the YEDF CEO after finding out the truth.

As the minister appoints new board members it’s important to ensure that new faces are put on the board to make the YEDF operate without any external coercion from various political interests as it has been before. The minister should now move to ensure that the board is fully reconstituted to include people who will work in the interest of the Kenyan youth and not those who will end up arm-twisting the CEO to give’ loans’ to foreign NGOs. A new board I believe will come up with a new way of implementing the youth projects and also oversee the funding of the youth groups by merit and not through political manipulations.

Wario is one of the competent young people who are emerging in providing leadership in different sectors of our economy and it’s wrong for individuals to use tribalism or any other form of bigotry to sabotage such talents. He is also is famed for having rolled out the audit of the Kenya’s free primary education when he worked for the ministry of education.

I really wish that other ministers and government officials emulate the youth and sports minister Prof. Hellen Sambili and stand and support the truth always whenever circumstances of this nature arise. Through this, we shall achieve a lot in our war against nepotism and all other forms of corruption. It must be fought from all corners and sacking public officers who help fight it is not one of the methods of ridding our society of graft.

FWAMBA NC FWAMBA

ICC Prosecutor Supports Three-Pronged Approach to Justice in Kenya

Press Release: 30.09.2009

ICC-OTP-20090930-PR456

The Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Luis Moreno-Ocampo, reiterated today his resolve to address the post-election violence of early 2008 with the Kenyan leaders and to prevent recurring violence through a three-pronged approach: with the ICC prosecuting those most responsible; national accountability proceedings as defined by the Kenyan Parliament, such as a Special Tribunal, for other perpetrators; and other reforms and mechanisms such as the Justice, Truth and Reconciliation commission to shed light on the full history of past events and to suggest mechanisms to prevent such crimes in the future. “Kenya will be a world example on managing violence,” he stressed.

A high level delegation from the Government of Kenya met with Mr. Moreno-Ocampo in The Hague on 3 July 2009, when it expressed its government’s commitment to ending impunity for the crimes committed. The delegation also stressed that prosecuting the perpetrators of the crimes then committed was necessary to prevent new violence ahead of the 2012 elections. The Government of Kenya committed to referring the situation to the Prosecutor in accordance with Article 14 of the Rome Statute, unless the Kenyan Parliament could agree on a genuine national mechanism to prosecute those responsible for the crimes.

In the recent past, the Prosecutor has met on different occasions with members of the Kenyan Government, emphasizing that, with Kenyan leadership, these three tracks should complement each other.

Decisive consultations between the Prosecutor and the Kenyan principals will take place in the coming weeks. Justice will not be delayed.

The International Criminal Court is an independent, permanent court that investigates and prosecutes persons accused of the most serious crimes of international concern, namely genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. In February 2008, the Office of the Prosecutor announced that it was carrying out a preliminary examination of the situation in Kenya.

For Related Information and Links

For more information please contact:

Ms Florence Olara, Public Information Officer

+31 70 515 8723

email: florence.olara@icc-cpi.int

OTP News Desk

+31 70 515 8759

email: OTPNewsDesk@icc-cpi.int

Source: Office of the Prosecutor

Kibaki should catalyse reforms instead of protesting USA Travel Ban

The two conflicting views on travel ban coming from the President and the Prime Minister who are partners in the grand coalition government shows that one faction is for reforms and another ardent protectors of the status quo.

The two leaders must take full responsibility for failing to provide direction in the reform process instead of duelling on empty rhetoric.

If the Prime Minister is for reforms, he should avoid portraying himself as Mr. Clean, when he is part and parcel of the grand coalition government.

He should instead tell Kenyans and world what he has done individually to catapult reforms in the Country.

His recent speech in Harvard University, where he supported the USA’s travel ban on government officials convinced the world that it’s the government that is behind the delay to bring about reforms in Kenya.

It also showed a fatigued reform process and a disoriented government that lacks operational uniformity.

President Kibaki should also tell us why the government has failed to implement the reforms Kenyans desperately need to pave the way for smooth running of the country’s social, economic and political affairs.

The protest letter to Washington portrays Kibaki as a leader hell-bent on protecting few individuals and not the interests of the masses; the bulk of those who have been voting for him to public office for many decades.

We want him to focus on the wellbeing of the Kenyan people and their future but not the interests of power barons. It would have made sense if the President stated in the protest letter, the reasons for procrastinating reforms instead of just criticizing Washington’s travel ban on government officials.

Kenyans will support any external pressure if it will compel the government to implement the reforms the nation desperately needs. In fact, the USA has made a positive step and it will be fair if other Western powers especially the EU took similar steps.

The president his Vice, the Prime Minister and his deputies all should suffer the travel ban because its them who are in the seats of power but are impediments to the reform process.

Our leaders like being pushed from outside in order to implement reforms. It’s the pressure from outside that compelled former President Moi to accept the reintroduction of multiparty democracy in the early 1991.

Kenyans remember the activities of former ambassadors of Germany, Berndth Muzelberg and the late Smith Hemsptone of the United States in the reform process in Kenya.

Indeed, Kibaki and Raila were pushed externally to agree on power sharing as a result of former US Secretary of State; Condy Rice’s terse statement in Nairobi last year.

It’s sad that after one and a half years of the grand coalition government, the nation is still in limbo on meaningful reforms especially Agenda Four of the National Accord.

We are shocked on the president’s swift response on Washington’s ban on government officials when he is known to be silent on issues that require urgent response especially those that affect the lives of millions of Kenyans.

Why has kept silent on the Ringera circus as well as the trial of the Masterminds of post election violence and now wants to defend a few individuals in the grand coalition government who are likely to be personal non grata in the USA?

Finally, it’s imperative that Raila Odinga and Mwai Kibaki played pivotal roles to catalyse reforms in Kenya failure to which, we shall conclude that they are the biggest impediments to realize this end.

Joseph Lister Nyaringo,

USA, Georgia

The missing 8 billion shillings: Uncovering Kenya's pyramid schemes

On 14th January, 2009 the Hon. Minister for Co-operative Development & Marketing appointed a Taskforce to look into the operations of pyramid schemes. The appointment of the Taskforce was a reaction to the hue and cry from victims of pyramid schemes and other related schemes.

The Taskforce held public hearings countrywide where views from the victims were received. A lot of data regarding the particulars of the investors, directors and promoters of pyramid schemes was collected during the exercise. Interviews were also held to provide opportunities to directors of pyramid schemes, individuals and groups to give information on the role they may have played in the pyramid schemes saga.

270 pyramid and other related schemes were identified with148,784 investors registered as having invested a total sum of Kshs. 8,178,737,402.

The top ten institutions in terms of amounts invested were:

• DECI , founded by one George Donde and his sister, Mary Odinga with 93,485 investors amounting to a total of Kshs. 2,405,518,832.00
• Clip Investments Sacco Ltd 5,846 1,993,866,422.00: The taskforce discovered that a director of Clip Investments Sacco, Peter Ndakwe bought plots in Runda estate worth Kshs. 200 million. He later transferred the property to a company in Panama "at the height of complaints by investors". The transfers of the four plots in Runda L.R 1470/15,14970/14, 14970/7 and 14970/6 were made on July 11,2006 and April 20, 2007, when the crisis broke out.
• Kenya Business Community Sacco Ltd with 921 investors amounting to Kshs. 780,698,218.00. In early 2007, The Standard newspaper reported the founders of Deci (listed above) and Kenya Business Community had previously been involved in another financial scam, Kenya Akiba, banned in 2005. 
• Sasanet Investment Sacco Ltd with 629 investors amounting to Kshs. 739,948,412.00; and whose director is identified as Michael Chege. Sasanet allegedly bought 30 units of flats worth Sh60 million in Sunrise Estate, 11.5 acres of land in Nyari Estate, Nairobi, four flats along Chaka road in Nairobi and later sold 32 flats at Sh2.5million each in Nairobi’s Imara Daima Estate through his advocate Ajaa Olubayi.  
• Jitegemee Investment Sacco Ltd with 3,828 investors amounting to Kshs. 494,401,600.00. Jitegemee was faulted for dual registration both as a limited liability company and as a co-operative society. 
• Circuit Investment with 1,392 investors amounting to a total of Kshs. 348,943,103.00. The director of that company which closed in September 2007 was Emilio Kifue Mwangi. 
• Family In Need Organisation (FINO) with 4,580 investors amounting to Kshs. 157,280,553.00. Investors in the scheme were told they would double their initial investment after three weeks. 
• Global Entreprenership with 9,206 investors and a portfolio amounting to Kshs. 139,006,632.00. 
• Spell Investment with 544 investors amounting to Kshs. 120,326,860.00 whose deceased director was Boniface Anderson. At his death Sh200 million held in his account at Stanbic Bank was transferred to his mother. 
• Mont Blanq Afrique with 774 investors amounting to Kshs. 82,834,000.00. The directors are listed in the Task Force report as being the same as those for Jitegemee.
  

Read the Report of the Taskforce on Pyramid Schemes here

Transcript of online Webchat with US Ambassador to Kenya Michael Ranneberger - September 23rd 2009

CO.NX Moderator (Tim): This program will begin on September 23 at 15:00 Nairobi Time - (8:00am EDT – 1200GMT).
 
CO.NX Moderator (Tim): Please post your questions before or during the chat. Once we receive your questions they will turn RED on the screen. Thank you.
 
CO.NX Moderator (Mark): Hello and welcome to today's webchat!  We're taking your questions now.  The live chat will begin at the top of the hour 12:00GMT.
 
CO.NX Moderator (Tim): Good morning everyone. The Ambassador will be online in less than 30 minutes. Please send in your questions now.
 
CO.NX Moderator (Tim): From Jeff Martin in Facebook: Just out of curiosity,what,in your opinion,is kenya's place in the African continent?
 
CO.NX Moderator (Tim): When we receive your questions they will turn RED. Thank you again.
Jane, Kisumu: does the Amb come on in 7 minutes?
 
CO.NX Moderator (Tim): The Ambassador will arrive in a few minutes. Thank you for your patience.
Ambassador Ranneberger: Good morning everyone. I am pleased to be here with you today. Please send me your questions now. Thank you.
 
unity2050: hello

unity2050: i am so happy to be here
 
tracy: good after Mr Ranneberger
 
Lucy Muthoni: Hello Your Excellencey
 
Joseph: Hallo, this is Joseph in Nairobi can I join in?
 
Djibouti: Excellency, Djibouti represents four reporters from La Nation (French Language News Paper) and Radio Television Djibouti.  We'll be submitting questions shortly!  Thank you very much!
Ambassador Ranneberger: Welcome and thank you for coming.
tracy: Thank you Sir
 
BARNET-GILGIL: Thank you
 
Johnie: Good Afternoon Nairobi, your excellency its afternoon in Nrb
 
Mina: hi

Nashipai Koima: Good afternoon Sir

Mina: good afternoon

Suzanne: is it possible to extend this time to about 4.30 so that His excellence can respond to all our questions?
 
CO.NX Moderator (Mark): Hi Suzanne, we're hoping the Ambassaor can get to as many questions as possible during today's session but please understand his schedule is tight.

Djibouti: can you describe U.S. efforts to support the TFG in Somalia?

Ambassador Ranneberger: The U.S. is working closely with Kenya to support the TFG in Somalia.  Kenya has been very helpful in supporting a political process to expand support for the TFG, Kenya is trying captured pirates, and Kenya is providing assistance to the TFG.  Kenya has exerted strong pressure within East Africa to stop Eritrean support for the al-Shabaab.  The U.S. is also providing strong support for the TFG politically, and through financial support for the TFG especially for security assistance.  The U.S. is also the largest supporter of AMISOM, and the largest provider of humanitarian assistance to the Somali people.  We greatly appreciate the strong role that AMISOM is playing in Somalia.
unity2050: can i ask you question

CO.NX Moderator (Mark): We are taking questions now. The Ambasador is working on his responses.

Mina: I have a question , it is not directly related to kenya
 
Ambassador Ranneberger: Feel free to post it.

Mina: but to us as general
 
brigid koskei 2: brigid koskei from Kenya.us elections have shown us that we can as a country we can go beyond tribal and racial politics.Is this possible with the Kenyan current constitution and institutional structures that are in existence?

Ambassador Ranneberger: In order to be able to achieve what the U.S. did in electing Obama, several things must happen:  1. the Kenyan people need to work much harder to overcome entrenched ethnic attitudes; this involves working at the grassroots level, more leadership at the top, more civic education, etc. 2. there needs to be constitutional change and reform to ensure the rule of law.  These reforms are necessary so that the rights and interests of each ethnic group will be protected; that way, ethnic groups will not regard every election as a ''winner take all'' situation. 

Ambassador Ranneberger: 3. there must be more equitable economic development to push back poverty and to open more opportunities for all ethnic groups in order to reduce tensions and to eliminate the perception that one ethnic group controls the economy and development.

CO.NX Moderator (Mark): Thanks everyone for joining us.  As you can see there are many of you online and many questions coming in.  The Ambassador is working as quickly as possible to take your questions.  Please be patient.

Lucy Muthoni: Thank you moderator for your assurance.

Guest : Does Obama plan to come to kenya

Ambassador Ranneberger: Obama has been to Kenya before, and I have no doubt that at some point he will visit again.  However, he has made clear that he is deeply disappointed by the lack of progress in implementing reforms.  When he went to Ghana, a cartoon in the Nation captured the situation well.  It had a picture of Air Force One flying over Kenya, with a little Kibaki and Odinga looking up at it, and a note was floating down that said ''get your act together.signed Barack Obama.''

Jack KOdera: I thought the Chat was on Terrorism and  Piracy!  Has it now turned to Democratization?

CO.NX Moderator (Mark): Hello Jack, you are thinking about today's second webchat beginning in about 45 minutes.  Join us immediatelly following this session for a discussion on piracy and terrorism at this CO.NX chat room: https://statedept.conenctsolutions.com/piracy

kadadi: Goodafternoon all, Nice to be here

CO.NX Moderator (Mark): Hello kadadi, welcome!

CO.NX Moderator (Mark): Also, please join us at 14:00GMT today for a webstream of President Obama's U.N. speech:  https://statedept.connectsolutions.com/unga2009

kadadi: thanks Mark

tracy: Mark dear,does his excellency looked at my question??

CO.NX Moderator (Mark): Hi Tracy, there are more than 100 questions in the queue, the Ambassador is trying to answer as many as possible.

mary Eldoret: Obama presidency has been lauded the world over. What will his policy be on the Kenyan or African political set up?

Ambassador Ranneberger: promote expanded trade between the U.S. and Africa.  In short, you will see the Obama Administration intensively engaged with Africa.Obama has clearly indicated that he wants to expand our relationship with the African continent in order to promote democracy, good governance, development, and conflict resolution.   Thus our policy on Kenya focuses on pushing for implementation of the reform agenda.  More broadly, President Obama has already announced an important new initiative:  the global food security initiative, which will benefit Kenya and other countries in Africa. Secretary Clinton has already visited 7 countries in Africa to highlight our priority to engage with Africa.  A major AGOA forum was held in Kenya to promote expanded trade between the U.S. and Africa.  In short, you will see the Obama Administration intensively engaged with Africa.

Abraham Rugo: Thanks Mark...we will wait

tracy: thanks so much,Mark

Migolo Benjamin: we r totally behind you

Guest Nairobi: What do you think is the most important issue facing Kenyans today?

Ambassador Ranneberger: The most important issue facing Kenyans is ensuring full implementation of the reform agenda.

Dalmas: Good afternoon your excellency

kachwanya: Good afternoon everyone

CO.NX Moderator (Mark): Alphonse: America is made up of different states with people of different background, social economics and yet the country is very united.Learning from the American case,in your view,How can Kenya overcome tribalism based on that context?

Ambassador Ranneberger: Unity in America has been achieved through an appreciation that we gain strength through our diversity, and by ensuring that there are transparent institutions and rule of law which protects everyone.  That is why we are pushing for constitutional and rule of law reform in Kenya.  I talked above about Kenyans' need to overcome ethnic attitudes.  I am optimistic that Kenya can also achieve such unity, and that the emerging younger generation will make a major contribution to this.  Do not be discouraged.  Keep in mind all the difficulties the U.S. has experienced, particularly in accommodating African-Americans.  But the election of Obama demonstrates how fast change can happen.  I believe that there is a quiet transformation sweeping Kenya and that fundamental change will come more quickly than anyone realizes.

Lucy Muthoni: Dear Mark, in line to your response to Tracy, does it mean that some questions might remain unanswered by the end of this session? If so, when will we have another session like this, so that we can post our questions early enough? Will he first look at the questions which had been posted before this chat session?

CO.NX Moderator (Mark): Hi Lucy, unfortunately there are many more questions than the Ambassador can answer in one session.  We hope he will join us again in the coming weeks.  All of the questions will be collected and we will forward them on to him for review.

amuteru: Good Afternoon Sir, Thanks you for creating this forum, I am Muteru journalist by profession. I wish you would consider sharing this idea with our parlimentarians to facilitate one on one with their constituents. Hope it aint complicated maybe they can start with the social networks like facebook. Straight to my question. I watched your interview with KTN and would you expound what steps your country will take if the coalition government fails on the reform agenda? and two, What is your role in constitutional process?

Ambassador Ranneberger: Great point and I will encourage the parliamentarians.  You should know that I have also started face book and twitter accounts to reach out to ordinary Kenyans.  My twitter is:  www.twitter.com/usamb4reform and my face book page can be found by entering face book and going to ''u.s. embassy nairobi.''  I have also been doing town hall meetings with young people throughout the country, and I am urging parliamentarians to do the same thing and to join me when I do these.  Kenyan leaders are used to speaking at the people, but not have a two-way dialogue with them.

Djibouti: During Secretary Clinton's visit to Kenya, she visited with TFG president Sheik Sharif and promised US support for the TFG.  What support was promised, and what, if any, of that support was delivered?
Ambassador Ranneberger: The Secretary had a very positive meeting with President Sharif.  I described above the assistance we are providing.

Daniel, Nairobi: Hello there, Daniel Wallis from Reuters here. How do you respond, Mr Ambassador, to yday's criticism from Fgn Minister Wetangula re. the raid that killed Saleh Ali Saleh Nabhanin Somalia? v/r  

Ambassador Ranneberger: I believe that the Kenyan government fully appreciates that Nabhan was a terrorist who posed a grave threat to Kenya as well as the U.S.

Lucy Muthoni: Should I sign off, will I be able to see His Excellency's response to my question(s) later, say tomorrow, if I come to this site?

CO.NX Moderator (Mark): Yes if the Ambassador selects your que, and we will also post a transcript to our co.nx Facebook page at http://co-nx.state.gov

kk: what is US stand on the appointment of Aron Ringera?

Ambassador Ranneberger: The fact is that no minister, assistant minister, or permanent secretary, with few or no exceptions, has been successfully prosecuted for the past 19 years.  Clearly, therefore the key institutions responsible for fighting corruption must be reformed and the leadership of those institutions held accountable.  The scrutiny which Parliament has been undertaking is positive.  It is also important that there be greater consultation with civil society and key stakeholders on such issues.  Please look at the statement we issued regarding Ringera, which remains an accurate reflection of our views.

Djibouti: How does Djibouti figure in U.S. interets in the region?  What role does it serve for US regional interests?

Ambassador Ranneberger: Djibouti plays an important role in the region, particularly in its efforts to support the TFG in Somalia.  We have close cooperation with Djibouti.  We participated in the political talks which were held in Djibouti that led to the election of President Sheikh Sharif.

Migolo Benjamin: Mine is just to offer my support to the US ambasador for keeping on the pressure on our silly politician whose business id to look after each others ass

James: how is the embassys engagement with young people in kenya structured?

Ambassador Ranneberger: I am making it a major priority to expand our engagement with young people.  I am holding town hall meetings throughout Kenya with young people and I am encouraging parliamentarians to do so as well.  We are supporting grassroots independent youth movements to be more effective in pushing peacefully for implementation of the reform agenda.  We are also working to help economically empower youth through micro-enterprise programs.

kachwanya: Can I post  the transcript of this forum on my blog kachwanya.com after the session?

Ambassador Ranneberger: Thanks Kachwanya. Feel free to post this on your blog.

Enoch Opuka 2: Migolo -moderate your language

Jack KOdera: Alot of people have a problem with the US definition of 'Terrorist'.  How does the US define 'Pirate' or does the Medieval definition suffice?

Ambassador Ranneberger: A pirate is essentially just a criminal, but the term pirate refers to criminals active at sea.

Nashipai Koima: How does the U.S plan on implementing the 20 billion donated by your country to aid in food growing?

Ambassador Ranneberger: We are now in the stage of talking with Kenya and other governments to get their views on how we can best implement the food security initiative you refer to.  It is too early to say exactly how it will be implemented.  The purpose, however, is to help increase food production in order to alleviate food shortages and to improve nutrition, all of this also to be done in an environmentally friendly way.

amir khan: can anyone ask a question?

Ambassador Ranneberger: Yes. We have over 300 questions submitted right now.

James: young people are disjointed by the coalition govt lack of goodwill in prosecuting the perpertrators of post election violence and we understand the ICC prosecutor has been talking to the secretary of state (US) on the need to push for tribunal. Are we likely to see the US do more than just saying business will not be as usual. We want assurance as young people that we can go back in 2012 and vote knowing very well we wont be attacked for exercising a democratic right.

Ambassador Ranneberger: You are right to be disappointed.  We continue to push the Kenyan government to set up an independent, credible Special Tribunal to try perpetrators of post-election violence.  However, because the Kenyan government has thus far failed to do so, then we support ICC prosecutions.  We mean it when we say no business as usual.  Within the next couple of days we will be announcing specific  steps.

Nashipai Koima: Thank you Ambassador for your time  and for this forum.

Maisha: Are you only posting questions the ambassador has good answers to?

Maisha: Or are you only posting compliments?

CO.NX Moderator (Mark): We're posting answers to the questions the Ambassador has time to answer...there are now more than 150 questions. It is simply not possible for him to answer all of them.

Partnership For Change: And finally Sir, how do you respond to those who say re: Daily Nation editorial today that your threats are being ignored by the GOK and that the US needs to stops the threats and act on impunity in Kenya?

Ambassador Ranneberger: The facts speak for themselves.  The U.S. played a decisive role in helping the Kenyan people resolve the  crisis last year, and we are playing a similar role in pushing for implementation of reforms.  We have a very close, frank, and constructive dialogue with President Kibaki, PM Odinga, and other Kenyan officials.  However, at a certain point actions need to be taken, in view of the fact that there we are deeply concerned about lack of implementation of key reforms.  Within the next couple of days I will be announcing some actions, with more to follow.

Julius Mbaluto: OK

Enoch Opuka 2: I beg to strongly differ about the tribunal. First and foremost we need TJRC - then from there the tribunal. Oherwise in this respect we shall be punishing those who were caught in the violence forgetting those who fanned it in the first place. I am peace worker and have been on the ground

Lucy Muthoni: Good afternoon Kachwanya.

Maisha: Partnership for Change is right.  We look forward to hearing your action announcements in the next few days.

kachwanya: Mr Ambassador when President Obama was campaning to be President he clearly said that he will extend his hands to engage all the Nations even those who do not agree with US, but of late there is a parttern that he doesn't want to engage Kenya although Kenya can't be classified as a rogue Nation, why is this while he is the champion of talking to people to solve problems? 

Ambassador Ranneberger: Actually, President Obama is very much engaging Kenya.  He is paying a lot of attention to Kenya and sent Secretary Clinton to Kenya as part of that engagement.  We are engaging with the government to press for implementation of reforms, but we are also engaging directly with the Kenyan people to urge them to press peacefully for reforms.  The reason we are engaging so extensively with Kenya is because of the importance we attach to this country and its future democratic stability.  We continue to be Kenya's largest partner (over 3 billion dollars in resources flow from the U.S. to Kenya every year from all sources, public and private).

CO.NX Moderator (Mark): Everyone, we are staring up a chat on the topic of Piracy.  To join that discussion please go to https://statedept.connectsolutions.com/piracy

Dalmas: The situation in Somalia is very worrying. Do you believe the US has done enough to assist Kenya fight terrorism? The border is still porous. Technological assistance would grartly help.

Ambassador Ranneberger: We are doing all we can to help strengthen the TFG and to fight terrorism.  This includes cooperation with Kenya to improve security along the border.

James 2: Thanks ambassador for engaging us in this chat. We look forward to engaging you more especially us who are working with the young consitiuncy on youth voices in engaged governance

Partnership For Change: Asante sana Ambassador, we appreciate your regular chats with Kenyans and appreciate very much your continued support for the Citizens of Kenya. Have a good afternoon.

Fatma Hyder: Fatma Hyder: Ambassador can we get information on the following:1)Business Volunteers to partner with counterparts in Muslim majority countries 2)The summit which President Obama promised to host in his Cairo address 3)The new fund to support technological dev in Muslim counties 4)Centers of scientific excellence in Africa M.E etc.5)Global effort with OIC to eradicate polio 6)The president also said that America is ready to join with citizen religious leadres in Muslim communities anything yet in Kenya.Please refe to Obama in Cairo pg 13 thnaks Fatma Hyder

Ambassador Ranneberger: We are following up on Obama's Cairo speech.  I went to the coast a couple of times following the speech to expand our already extensive dialogue with the Muslim community.  We are working on a number of programs to promote educational, cultural, and business exchanges -- and the centers of excellence the President talked about. We are also promoting an inter-faith day of service and will soon provide more information about that.  You can contact the U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Section for more detailed information.

Jane, Kisumu: thanks for an opp to chat nonetheless.

Abraham Rugo: Hello Sir. Do you think that the health plan that President Obama is vouching for is the right way to go for a country that has for long applied capitalism and free markets? If so, do you think that the US Government will soon be encouraging other countries to follow suit?

Ambassador Ranneberger: I cannot comment on the health plan.  However, I think that the way in which Americans have been debating this issue through public town hall meetings is a great example to countries like Kenya.  I would like to see Kenyans debate the reform issues in a similar open way.

kachwanya: As we know it today there is rampant corruption and with the President stinking with Ringera, what steps will you take to ensure that the money donated by US for food growing is not embezzled by the government officials
 
Ambassador Ranneberger: I can assure you that we can account for every penny of the assistance we provide.  By the way, almost all of our assistance goes through non-governmental groups and other sources, and not through the Kenyan government.
 
Johnie: why is it so difficult to get a student visa to the US even with an invitation from the university
Ambassador Ranneberger: Actually, it is not hard to get a student visa, but you do have to meet certain criteria, and a letter of invitation is only one of the requirements.  There are more Kenyans studying at American universities than from any other African country.
 
CATHY MUTHONI: Hi, is it possible to maintain a green card oiutside the US by paying a yearly fee?
Ambassador Ranneberger: you need to consult our consular section on this issue.

Ambassador Ranneberger: I greatly enjoyed having a chance to chat with all of you.  Please look at twitter (www.twitter.com/usamb4reform) and my face book page listed as U.S. Embassy!!