Kofi Annan Chini Ya Ulinzi Mkali!

[Ab-Titchaz]

Why Annan security has been tightened​

Kofi Annan: Since his arrival at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on Sunday evening, Annan has been in the company of up to 12 police officers at any given time - all drawn from Police headquarters, Diplomatic Police, and UN office in Nairobi. ​

By Cyrus Ombati

Chief Mediator Kofi Annan came back at a critical stage in the reform process but with unprecedented heavy security detail around him.Insiders say this has been prompted by the former UN Secretary General's unrelenting push for punishment of suspected perpetrators of post-election violence, and conclusion of reforms in the next one year to 18 months.

Annan's position, it is believed, could have been made more precarious, especially to ‘dangerous elements', from when he handed over the secret envelope containing names of suspected masterminds of last year's mayhem to the International Criminal Court Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo.

Unlike previous visits when Annan even strolled the streets of Nairobi with skeletal security detail, this time he is a heavily guarded man - with a siren and roar of escort cars announcing his arrival.

Since his arrival at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on Sunday evening, Annan has been in the company of up to 12 police officers at any given time - all drawn from Police headquarters, Diplomatic Police, and UN office in Nairobi.

He has been assigned a team of uniformed and plainclothes officer trailing his movements to keep vigil at all times, in a manner that has raised curiosity.

While standard procedures for UN emissaries, and the threat of terrorism and international politics of rivalry dictate vigilance for top officials, security has clearly been beefed up for the mediator operating under the auspices of the African Union.

Those believed to be in the list Annan handed over to Ocampo, include business and political elite who may want to frustrate his efforts to haul them before the international court for trial.

Similarly, anyone out to put the Grand Coalition Government in trouble could pull the trigger in the hope it would be blamed for it.

Chances are also not been taken on his life given his sensitive position, his links with the international community, especially the US, which has myriad enemies. This is made more worrying by the proximity of lawless Somalia to Kenya and the perception it is the new haven of terrorists.

Intelligence sources indicated that getting Annan out of the way would be an attractive option for those who know they could be targeted when the ICC moves in to investigate, as he has come to represent the face of reforms in Kenya.

And coming only weeks before Ocampo's own visit to meet President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Annan is seen as the most potent threat to some powerful individuals bent on forestalling their possible prosecution.

Sources said intelligence officials felt that Annan was coming at a time the deadline for the working timetable of the International Criminal Court chief prosecutor had lapsed, opening the way for The Hague to take over.

Annan had handed over the list of those who may be indicted by the ICC last July to Ocampo. The list contains names of some prominent local politicians, including Cabinet ministers, top civil servants as post-election violence suspects.

"There is a general feeling that Annan is coming here to pave the way for Ocampo, who is expected at the end of the month to take over his cases," said a top security official, who is familiar with the intelligence brief behind Annan's security.

"It was prudent that such measures are taken to ensure his safety at all times while he is here. None would want to see something bad happen to him," said the official.

It is likely that after Annan and Ocampo's visit, ICC may issue a shocking statement that will touch on political careers of many.

Moreover, the proposed reforms in key sectors as the electoral body would ensure level-playing ground that some politicians may be opposed to, and would prefer the Kibaki succession is waged in the existing skewed framework.

Diplomatic and intelligence sources intimated that implicated individuals in Government may be asked to step aside to pave the way for reforms, and the implementation of Agenda 4, further upping the stakes that necessitate enhanced security.

Pushing for reforms

There was also the notion that anti-reformists, or those who have been in the forefront claiming the reform agenda is on course and in schedule were not happy with Annan's coming.

"You cannot take chances when such a man is coming at a time some people's jobs are at risk," added our impeccable source.

Annan is here to push for various reforms in the Judiciary, police and the Constitution that will, in the end, see a number of top Government officials lose their jobs.The head of the team guarding Annan is a superintendent of Police Dominic Kisavi from the Police headquarters' operations department.His detail is only comparable to that of the Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka's who have hi-tech communication gadgets.

Like the two, Annan enjoys an escort team with blaring sirens to clear his way, and a team of armed officers riding in a Land Cruiser

"They don't use walkie-talkies as it has been in the past. They were supplied these equipment by the UN to ease his movements while here," said a senior security official who sought anonymity, because of the sensitivity of the issue.In addition, since his arrival Annan has been using private Mercedes Benz cars, with local registration numbers. He previously rode in a Government car.

At Serena Hotel, security agents have been using sniffer dogs to check vehicles at a barrier before they are let in. Only security vehicles and those of the hotel dropping guests are allowed near the entrance.

Tight security

Security agents have been vigilant every step of the way. This began with the booking of his suit at Serena Hotel by officials from the Kenya National Dialogue and Reconciliation Monitoring team. Several armed GSU officers were positioned at strategic positions at JKIA during his arrival on Sunday.

According to insiders, this was aimed at ensuring his room was not bugged. Last year, there were claims Government agents had bugged his room to monitor his communication with the international community on the development of the talks.

"This time the security is tight and is being done by his people who booked the rooms and drew out his itinerary. I think they do not want to make any blunder," said another senior officer.

Mr. Robert Watkinson of Portland International Affairs, Annan's public relations agents, said he could not give the comparison between Annan's security now and the last time he was here.
Speaking to The Standard, he said: "I'm afraid that, for the obvious reasons, I simply cannot comment on the security arrangements around Mr Annan's visit to Nairobi and how they relate to previous visits to Kenya."

Police spokesman Eric Kiraithe downplayed the heightened security and said it is the responsibility of the State to ensure guests and the citizens stay safe.

http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/InsidePage.php?id=1144025836&cid=4&ttl=Why%20Annan%20security%20has%20been%20tightened#

 

[Kigogo]

kazi ipo na hayo mambo ya kenya

 

[TIMING]

kazi ipo na hayo mambo ya kenya

Wenzetu huwa hawana mchezo!!

 

[FirstLady1]

laaa kweli wenzenu hawana maskhara

 

[Ndahani]

The push of Koffi tells what leadership is all about....aiming to reach the final goal by giving whatever it takes. Sisi hapo tunashida maana kuna sehemu roho huwa zinataka ila tunaangalia sura za wahusika tunaogopa.

 

[Smatta]

Wenzetu huwa hawana mchezo!!

Hawa watu waweza fanya chochote to maintain the status quo, Koffi Annan is at risk, atleast he's aware of that, hawa wakuu hawana utani. Ulisikia habari ya wale mercenaries walio hukumiwa Congo, walikuwa contracted by an unnamed senior Kenyan official (Saitoti), wa train waKenya 120 (unknown BTW) on specialised millitary drills. Yanayoendelea huku kwetu sio mchezo, we just live by speculating, there is alot of under the table deals and negotiations that we are not aware of.

Lakini impunity itakuja isha tu, nothing can stop an idea whose time has come.

 

[October]

The good thing about our neighbors is that they serious in everything they do...

They are serious in all areas including Ufisadi, Ukabila, Ujambazi, Biashara, Aggressive Women/Men, even in Religion they are very serious, Hata machangu wa huko wako very serious na makini na kazi yao.

On the other hand Bongo kazi yetu ni kupepeta midomo tu, we are good for nothing

 

[Ledwin]

The good thing about our neighbors is that they serious in everything they do...

They are serious in all areas including Ufisadi, Ukabila, Ujambazi, Biashara, Aggressive Women/Men, even in Religion they are very serious, Hata machangu wa huko wako very serious na makini na kazi yao.

On the other hand Bongo kazi yetu ni kupepeta midomo tu, we are good for nothing

nakubaliana na wewe huku niliko Wakenya wako very aggressive

 

[Mchili]

The good thing about our neighbors is that they serious in everything they do...

They are serious in all areas including Ufisadi, Ukabila, Ujambazi, Biashara, Aggressive Women/Men, even in Religion they are very serious, Hata machangu wa huko wako very serious na makini na kazi yao

.

It is true, hapo umenena

 

[Mchili]

On the other hand Bongo kazi yetu ni kupepeta midomo tu, we are good for nothing

Hapa I don't agree, we are good in many areas, the problem is we don't have proper systems.

 

[Lyceum]

You are right october. Tupo tu serious kwenye michango ya harusi

 

[Ab-Titchaz]

Kenya's report card.....

 

[Triplets]

wa tz, we really know how to talk big and sweet and we can create a sense of humour even in the face of death..leaders are talking empty words, ppl are are complaining and do nothing...life goes on...nothing changes...

why talk big when we can walk strong?!

 

[Lyceum]

Nakubaliana october. Sisi tunaweza tu kuchangia harus na kitchen/bag party na maneno mengi. Huenda hata mungu hatujui

 

[Nanu]

The good thing about our neighbors is that they serious in everything they do...

They are serious in all areas including Ufisadi, Ukabila, Ujambazi, Biashara, Aggressive Women/Men, even in Religion they are very serious, Hata machangu wa huko wako very serious na makini na kazi yao.

On the other hand Bongo kazi yetu ni kupepeta midomo tu, we are good for nothing

Kenyan are not any better, there are just few smarter guys. There is nowhere is EA that ufisadi, ukabila, biashara, unafiki is pronounced rather than in Kenya. A lot injustice also exists. There is also a lot of nepotism than what you can really say. They also like to hide on their weakness by liking to be seen but in reality they are not in business (always busy but no in business), some are also traitors of others be it in politics, place of work, or even religous organs. You can't say deal done with a Kenyan..... they aren't really rather there are few smarter than others who sit on heads of the others and use the other as trumpets for either soiling someone or praising the sponsor.
Bongo we are more organised and we do our things in an organised way without making such unnecessary big noise. Live in Kenya and you will be able to learn that we far better in way we handle our issues.

 

[Baba_Enock]

Wenzetu wako serious

Hawa watu waweza fanya chochote to maintain the status quo, ....

Smatta & MTM

BBC wanaripoti kuwa wakazi wa Rift Valley (Kalenjini na Kikuyu) wameanza kununua silaha kujiaandaa kwa uchaguzi wa 2012!

Kweli wako serious!

 

[Smatta]

Kenyan are not any better, there are just few smarter guys. There is nowhere is EA that ufisadi, ukabila, biashara, unafiki is pronounced rather than in Kenya. A lot injustice also exists. There is also a lot of nepotism than what you can really say. They also like to hide on their weakness by liking to be seen but in reality they are not in business (always busy but no in business), some are also traitors of others be it in politics, place of work, or even religous organs. You can't say deal done with a Kenyan..... they aren't really rather there are few smarter than others who sit on heads of the others and use the other as trumpets for either soiling someone or praising the sponsor.
Bongo we are more organised and we do our things in an organised way without making such unnecessary big noise. Live in Kenya and you will be able to learn that we far better in way we handle our issues.

I came across this and thought it might interest you.

Enterprising Kenyans invade South Africa


By Omulo Okoth in johannesburg
A few kilometres north of Johannesburg lies Diepsloot, a low-income residential area which was most affected by the bloody xenophobic attacks that rocked several South African townships.
Further down, east of Rustenburg on the way to Sun City, is a small urban centre known as Haartbeespoort, slightly smaller than Naivasha. A huge electricity-generating dam, from where the small town derives its name, was built here during the Apartheid era.
The dam looks like a very popular venue for yachting competitions, given the numerous vessels on its banks.
Its typical touristic nature is what attracts a visitor. Nicely designed makuti thatch houses, huge modern shopping malls, tourist hotels and conferences centres, good roads, complete with a market for selling curios, assorted artefacts and carvings stand out in Haartbeespoort. Still very much white, the town is doing a roaring artefacts business in its equivalent of the Nairobi Maasai Market.
The Chameleon Village is a huge structure housing the Flea Market, restaurants, a bank, a post office , a souvenir shop and, as expected, another big open air market.

A paved side street in Durban. Photos/File
Flea Market has a large population of Kiswahili-speaking residents alongside the popular Tshwana, Zulu and Pedi speakers.
Most of the Kiswahili speakers at the market are discerning Kenyans, Englishmen and Indians on this half-way mark to Sun City, as guests of South African Tourism.
"We are from Kenya and are selling our stuff here. Are you interested?" a middle-aged woman asks.
A few pleasantries and we strike conversation. These are Kenyans, who have carved an enterprising niche among hundreds of business people competing with native South Africans and others from neighbouring southern African countries.
The Kenyans have made a name selling Akamba and Maasai carvings and soapstone from Kisii.
Kenyan artefacts
Mama Junior, a Kamba woman married in Nyanza Province, says: "Kenyan artefacts are very popular with tourists here. We bring them every Sunday and we still can't cope with the demand."
"Life was becoming unbearable at home so we turned our focus down here and eventually settled down to do this business," she says.
We leave and proceed to Sun City, an exclusive tourist resort built on the edge of a mountain deep inside the Platinum-rich North West Province, formerly a fiefdom of Lucas Mangkope's Bophutatswana homeland.
Sun City has hosted three Miss World pageantries, and a host of global icons like golfer Tiger Woods and the late Michael Jackson.
The Palace of the Lost City, one of its five-star hotels, is a Maghreb design structure, with an intimidating facade surrounded by sparkling tree-cloistered cabro works, a dense monkey-infested forest and fast-flowing streams, which are not natural rivers. The Cascade, another five-star ‘beach' hotel, is designed in the shape of a pyramid.
Huge pools
Behind it are huge pools and white sand very popular with tourists. A visit to North West is incomplete without a ride inside the Bakubung Lodge. Bakubung means ‘people of the rhino'. With a topography that resembles Kenya's Masai Mara, Bakubung Game Reserve has wild animals in their hundreds, mostly rhinos, elephants, giraffes, crocodiles, lions and other big game. This side of the North West is a welcome break to the busy commercial cities like Jo'burg and Pretoria.
On the way to Pretoria, on the eastern banks of the Haartbeespoort Dam, is another very white small market, known as Broederstroom, but which has countless resorts.
What strikes Kenyans in this delegation is a board with the message ‘Coming Soon. Carnivore. Restaurant." Our own Carnivore, of the Dunford Family, is about to open a second outlet deep inside the North West Province.
Apart those doing business, hundreds of the Kenyans do professional jobs. Nearly every major university in South Africa has Kenyans in its lecturers' roll. Many of them, holders of doctorate degrees, head key departments.
Others have been absorbed in senior banking jobs and other financial sectors like the insurance industry and the stock market .
Droves of Kenyan nurses and doctors work in major hospitals here and across the border in Botswana, Namibia and in land-locked Swaziland.
"Kenyans are among the most respected professionals here. They are preferred by banks and university to other African nationals because they have a reputation for honesty and being very hard-working," says Peter Buthelezi, a senior South African banker.
Low cadre jobs
During the xenophobic attacks last year, mine-working South Africans mainly targeted Zimbabweans who compete with them in low cadres jobs.
Kenyans interviewed here said most of them are in business or professional jobs. It is hard to find any among them doing menial tasks.
Ingenious Kenyans have set up nyama choma joints in mainly African-populated towns where they do booming business. Statistics once related by Unesco showed that many adult South Africans who grew up under Apartheid were now accorded quality education.
It left many without even a college diploma or certificate. Africa's largest economy was left with no choice but to out-source for qualified personnel from abroad.

http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/InsidePage.php?incl=allabout&kywrd=Kenyans

 

[Shapu]

Hapa I don't agree, we are good in many areas, the problem is we don't have proper systems.

Yes indeed in many areas but surely opposite from our neigbous. ie too much talking without actions, not serious, not realistic, complaining too much etc etc name them!

 

[TIMING]

Hawa watu waweza fanya chochote to maintain the status quo, Koffi Annan is at risk, atleast he's aware of that, hawa wakuu hawana utani. Ulisikia habari ya wale mercenaries walio hukumiwa Congo, walikuwa contracted by an unnamed senior Kenyan official (Saitoti), wa train waKenya 120 (unknown BTW) on specialised millitary drills. Yanayoendelea huku kwetu sio mchezo, we just live by speculating, there is alot of under the table deals and negotiations that we are not aware of.

Lakini impunity itakuja isha tu, nothing can stop an idea whose time has come.

Smatta, you have nailed it!!!

 

[Nanu]

I came across this and thought it might interest you.

Enterprising Kenyans invade South Africa


By Omulo Okoth in johannesburg
A few kilometres north of Johannesburg lies Diepsloot, a low-income residential area which was most affected by the bloody xenophobic attacks that rocked several South African townships.
Further down, east of Rustenburg on the way to Sun City, is a small urban centre known as Haartbeespoort, slightly smaller than Naivasha. A huge electricity-generating dam, from where the small town derives its name, was built here during the Apartheid era.
The dam looks like a very popular venue for yachting competitions, given the numerous vessels on its banks.
Its typical touristic nature is what attracts a visitor. Nicely designed makuti thatch houses, huge modern shopping malls, tourist hotels and conferences centres, good roads, complete with a market for selling curios, assorted artefacts and carvings stand out in Haartbeespoort. Still very much white, the town is doing a roaring artefacts business in its equivalent of the Nairobi Maasai Market.
The Chameleon Village is a huge structure housing the Flea Market, restaurants, a bank, a post office , a souvenir shop and, as expected, another big open air market.

A paved side street in Durban. Photos/File
Flea Market has a large population of Kiswahili-speaking residents alongside the popular Tshwana, Zulu and Pedi speakers.
Most of the Kiswahili speakers at the market are discerning Kenyans, Englishmen and Indians on this half-way mark to Sun City, as guests of South African Tourism.
"We are from Kenya and are selling our stuff here. Are you interested?" a middle-aged woman asks.
A few pleasantries and we strike conversation. These are Kenyans, who have carved an enterprising niche among hundreds of business people competing with native South Africans and others from neighbouring southern African countries.
The Kenyans have made a name selling Akamba and Maasai carvings and soapstone from Kisii.
Kenyan artefacts
Mama Junior, a Kamba woman married in Nyanza Province, says: "Kenyan artefacts are very popular with tourists here. We bring them every Sunday and we still can’t cope with the demand."
"Life was becoming unbearable at home so we turned our focus down here and eventually settled down to do this business," she says.
We leave and proceed to Sun City, an exclusive tourist resort built on the edge of a mountain deep inside the Platinum-rich North West Province, formerly a fiefdom of Lucas Mangkope’s Bophutatswana homeland.
Sun City has hosted three Miss World pageantries, and a host of global icons like golfer Tiger Woods and the late Michael Jackson.
The Palace of the Lost City, one of its five-star hotels, is a Maghreb design structure, with an intimidating facade surrounded by sparkling tree-cloistered cabro works, a dense monkey-infested forest and fast-flowing streams, which are not natural rivers. The Cascade, another five-star ‘beach’ hotel, is designed in the shape of a pyramid.
Huge pools
Behind it are huge pools and white sand very popular with tourists. A visit to North West is incomplete without a ride inside the Bakubung Lodge. Bakubung means ‘people of the rhino’. With a topography that resembles Kenya’s Masai Mara, Bakubung Game Reserve has wild animals in their hundreds, mostly rhinos, elephants, giraffes, crocodiles, lions and other big game. This side of the North West is a welcome break to the busy commercial cities like Jo’burg and Pretoria.
On the way to Pretoria, on the eastern banks of the Haartbeespoort Dam, is another very white small market, known as Broederstroom, but which has countless resorts.
What strikes Kenyans in this delegation is a board with the message ‘Coming Soon. Carnivore. Restaurant." Our own Carnivore, of the Dunford Family, is about to open a second outlet deep inside the North West Province.
Apart those doing business, hundreds of the Kenyans do professional jobs. Nearly every major university in South Africa has Kenyans in its lecturers’ roll. Many of them, holders of doctorate degrees, head key departments.
Others have been absorbed in senior banking jobs and other financial sectors like the insurance industry and the stock market .
Droves of Kenyan nurses and doctors work in major hospitals here and across the border in Botswana, Namibia and in land-locked Swaziland.
"Kenyans are among the most respected professionals here. They are preferred by banks and university to other African nationals because they have a reputation for honesty and being very hard-working," says Peter Buthelezi, a senior South African banker.
Low cadre jobs
During the xenophobic attacks last year, mine-working South Africans mainly targeted Zimbabweans who compete with them in low cadres jobs.
Kenyans interviewed here said most of them are in business or professional jobs. It is hard to find any among them doing menial tasks.
Ingenious Kenyans have set up nyama choma joints in mainly African-populated towns where they do booming business. Statistics once related by Unesco showed that many adult South Africans who grew up under Apartheid were now accorded quality education.
It left many without even a college diploma or certificate. Africa’s largest economy was left with no choice but to out-source for qualified personnel from abroad.

http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/InsidePage.php?incl=allabout&kywrd=Kenyans

Depends on the target audience of the author. That is what tells him what to write and what not to write. I totally agree there are smatter few Kenyans and they have surely made some paces, that one I acknowledge but not much all of them. There is a lot of ground work to be addressed within the Kenyan soil. Thank you Smatter!