America Plays Big Brother to Kenya.

[Ab-Titchaz]

America ups pressure on Kibaki and Raila to sack police and justice chiefs ​

President Kibaki introduces US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to Prime Minister Raila Odinga during her recent visit to Kenya at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre in Nairobi.​

Embassy official says US may use sanctions to force out Gicheru, Ringera, Ali and Wako

By MURITHI MUTIGA

President Barack Obama's administration has dramatically stepped up pressure on the grand coalition in demanding the removal of four top officials it says are frustrating the implementation of institutional reforms in Kenya.


The United States has asked President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga to dismiss the officials, who hold senior positions in the governance and law and order sector, if the international community is to take seriously the government's vow to reform key institutions.


Those pinpointed for the sack, or ouster from office through constitutional tribunal, are Police Commissioner Maj-Gen Hussein Ali, Attorney-General Amos Wako, Chief Justice Evan Gicheru and Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission head Aaron Ringera.


Failure to remove these men, the US administration has warned, will attract a broad range of sanctions against some Kenyan leaders, including lifetime travel bans and asset freezes.


"The catchphrase in our engagement is less talk, more action," a senior US embassy official said. "We want to see some tough decisions taken such as removal from power of people who are themselves corrupt, have been corrupt in the past or head institutions that have been described as corrupt and in need of reform. In order to signal commitment to reforms, some of these officials need to be removed from office."


The official, who requested anonymity in order to discuss freely state-to-state relations, said the US was closely monitoring the implementation of the reforms proposed in the National Accord and Reconciliation Act (200 and those suggested by several commissions including the Waki and Kriegler reports and separate task forces on reform of the police and Judiciary.


All these have suggested far-reaching changes in the two institutions that have been described in numerous opinion polls and probe reports as endemically corrupt and inefficient.


It was reported last week that the US administration had expressed displeasure about several government officials, but this is the first time the administration identified those it wants removed.


Said the official who spoke to the Sunday Nation:

"Unfortunately, Kenya has a history of putting together commissions whose findings are not implemented. The concern of President Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson and Ambassador Michael Ranneberger is that this should not happen this time round," the official said.


If the US goes ahead and imposes visa bans on senior Kenyan officials, it would mark one of the lowest points in Kenya's relations with the West.


The last time the country came under similarly intense pressure was in the late 1980s and early 1990s when President Moi was forced to allow amendments to the constitution that paved the way for a return to multi-party politics.

http://www.nation.co.ke/News/-/1056/640346/-/um48nw/-/index.html

 

[Smatta]

I think the current crop of politicians in power will only react to such 'threats', they dont have the interest of the mwananchi at heart to do any favorable amendments to prevent future blood shed. All they care about is the 2012 elections, and not the crippling economy, the famine, or the water and electricity rationing that has affected the country.

In as much as we would like to be sovereign, we cant let our lead...... ummmm politicians hold us hostage without other friendly countries interefering, to tell you the truth, if these politicians were left to run the country on their own without scrutiny from outside powers, I would be a refugee somwhere in Arusha waiting for aid from donors.

I dislike the use of the term 'dictate' to describe the Kenyan situation, I would rather use a softer terminology because to some extent we have a choise to either follow what the west is saying or face a ban, of which wount be a first in this country.

 

[Ab-Titchaz]

I think the current crop of politicians in power will only react to such 'threats', they dont have the interest of the mwananchi at heart to do any favorable amendments to prevent future blood shed. All they care about is the 2012 elections, and not the crippling economy, the famine, or the water and electricity rationing that has affected the country.

In as much as we would like to be sovereign, we cant let our lead...... ummmm politicians hold us hostage without other friendly countries interefering, to tell you the truth, if these politicians were left to run the country on their own without scrutiny from outside powers, I would be a refugee somwhere in Arusha waiting for aid from donors.

I dislike the use of the term 'dictate' to describe the Kenyan situation, I would rather use a softer terminology because to some extent we have a choise to either follow what the west is saying or face a ban, of which wount be a first in this country.

Smatta,

Thanks for the candid statement on Kenyan politicians and may an
'external power' please intervene. These current crop of leaders and
their offspring are trying to masquarade as the agents for change
through whatever schemes thsy have. I believe the new generation
in Kenya will sniff them out when the right time comes.

Regards.

P.S.Meanwhile if the US says they are going to use sanctions
to force these people out, then I believe they are dictating because
they know they have a big leverage somewhere.

 

[Nyaralego]

Did any one watch the Fareed Zakaria Show last sunday? He interviewed Raila Odinga.
It was a telling conversation.

 

[Ab-Titchaz]

Did any one watch the Fareed Zakaria Show last sunday? He interviewed Raila Odinga.
It was a telling conversation.

[ame]http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/podcasts/fareedzakaria/site/2009/08/16/gps.08.16.podcast.cnn[/ame]

 

[Nyaralego]

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/podcasts/fareedzakaria/site/2009/08/16/gps.08.16.podcast.cnn

Mkuu ABT, yu have made my day.
I was not in a position to watch all of Fareed Zakaria...but now i have and it was very enlightening.
We need as Kenyans to be backed into a corner so that our leaders should be accountable.

 

[Ab-Titchaz]

Obama warns Kenya again​

By Susan Anyangu

US President Barack Obama has warned Kenya, which he fondly refers to as the land of his grandfathers, that there would be no retreat on the road to a new constitution.His government also declared its eye is on Kenya, especially on how the country tackles corruption and impunity.

US Ambassador to Kenya Michael Ranneberger also warned Washington will get tough on Kenya in the next few weeks. He delivered Obama's caution that there will be no pulling out of the road to a new constitution to avoid recurrence of post-election violence in 2012.

"In the coming weeks the US will speak out more openly and take concrete actions to push for reforms. We are calling for actual results not more task forces and commissions of inquiry," Ranneberger said

He spoke on a day Prime Minister Raila Odinga was in the US for a crucial United Nations meeting. It is here that, before he got a second chance to meet Obama, some powerful voices in President Kibaki's Party of National Unity were said to have orchestrated a letter to the US Government that Raila was not a Head of State and should not represent Kenya at the dinner table.

Ranneberger attributed his sentiments to Obama himself, yet another sign the son of a Kenyan father elected US' first black leader last November, was not about to take his eyes off Kenya.

The speech rekindled that of Secretary of State Hilary Clinton's reaction to a remark Obama could be meddling in Kenya's affairs, "Listen to your son, he means well to you".

Growing impatience

The Obama Administration's latest statement appeared to capture his growing impatience with the slow pace of reforms, and lethargy in tackling corruption and impunity.

Obama is also frustrated by the Government's failure to establish a local tribunal to try post-election violence suspects and implementation of reforms under Agenda Four item of Dr Kofi Annan's peace deal.

Speaking yesterday at the United States International University in Nairobi, during the International Day of Peace, Ranneberger said Washington would put pressure on Kenya to deliver on the reforms agenda.

"The spotlight is on Kenya. President Obama has made it clear he sees the broad implementation of the reforms agenda as an urgent step to ensure there is no repeat of the violence witnessed in 2007 or worse," Ranneberger said.

His sentiments echoed Mrs Clinton's and Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson's warnings about two months ago.

"President Barack Obama takes the relationship with Kenya very seriously and very personally. He wants to see the reform agenda go forward. He does not believe it can go forward unless people are brought to account," Clinton said, last month, while she was in Nairobi.

She echoed Carson's words: "The United States wants to continue to be a strong friend and partner of Kenya. That is why we remain concerned about the trajectory of the politics in Kenya since the flawed elections in December of 2007."

Clinton explained, "Trying to bring to justice some of those who acted violently and preventing them from believing that they can act with impunity is critical to Kenya. It is important to President Obama."

This week, it emerged that Obama was determined to have post-election suspects punished, with the impending meeting by the International Criminal Court prosecutor Louis Moreno-Ocampo and Clinton to work out modalities for the trials this week.

​

US Ambassodor to Kenya Michael Ranneberger​

Although Ranneberger did not elaborate on the specific actions the US would take to push the Kenya Government, in the past US has imposed visa bans on those seen to be blocking reforms, and businessmen implicated in corruption.

Such remarks from the US have been reciprocated by similar sanctions from the European Union. Ahead of Clinton's visit to Kenya, the British High Commissioner Rob Macaire revealed the combined number of ministers, top civil servants, and entrepreneurs banned from stepping on British soil because of their conduct and dealings stood at 20.

Agenda four

The West's agitation lies with the slow pace of reforms in the Agenda Four item of the National Accord - which include police, judicial and electoral reforms, and a new constitution.

Yesterday, Ranneberger revealed America would support a move by the International Criminal Court to begin investigations. The US Government contends that so far, the only action from Kenya has been in form of rhetoric and commissions.Recently there was a change of guard in the Police Department however; serious shifts on reforms remain to be seen.

The raging storm over President Kibaki's unilateral reappointment of Justice Aaron Ringera as the anti-graft director raised a furore, and elicited a terse US reaction. The President has been under attack, mainly by MPs and the civil society that he broke the law by bypassing Parliament and the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission Advisory Board.

In reaction, the US said it was not ‘business as usual'. The statement called for a re-examination of the reappointment, citing that in the five years it has been in place KACC has not achieved any tangible results.

War on impunity

Ranneberger yesterday reiterated the opinion of his government that corruption and impunity were undermining reforms.

While referring to the culture of impunity, Ranneberger amplified Carson's sentiments: "In the last 18 to 20 years, no high ranking government official, minister, assistant minister or permanent secretary has been successfully prosecuted for graft".

While the roots of graft get entrenched in society, Ranneberger lamented, empty rhetoric on the fight prevails and blame-games abound, as those in power who can fight corruption do little about it.

"The whole KACC debate is not about Ringera as an individual but rather about the larger picture of the fight against corruption. It is about the ineffectiveness of the systems in place, thus the need for broad reforms," he said.

Once again, Ranneberger lauded Parliament for its bold move in demanding that President Kibaki nullifies the reappointment of Ringera. He said finally, Parliament is beginning to exercise its independence.

The envoy said impunity in high levels of political office is frustrating reforms and warned this would have serious implications on the 2012 General Election.
"If broader reforms are not implemented before 2012, a greater crisis than was witnessed last year awaits this country," he cautioned.

http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/InsidePage.php?id=1144024610&cid=4&ttl=Obama%20warns%20Kenya%20again

 

[Ab-Titchaz]

Hii warning imekuja wakati Waziri Mkuu wa Kenya Bw. Raila Odinga yupo
New York for the 64th UN General Assembly. Kisha licha ya hayo kulikua na mabishano
maana Obama alikua na mpango wa kukutana na a number of select leaders from
Africa during a luncheon ambapo jina la Raila lilikuwepo. Basi kambi ya
Kibaki ikawa inapiga kelele kua mbona Raila kaalikwa na sii Prezdo?
Basi jamaa (Raila) akawa 'disinvited' only to be reinstated at a later
hour. I dont know how Kibakis folks are taking it. Hii ndio siasa ya Kenya.

Meanwhile Raila anaendelea kukutana na wakulu kama Bill Clinton na
hatimaye tutaona kama atakutana na 'jaluo' mwenzie.

Prime Minister Raila Odinga and former US president Bill Clinton at the Sheraton Hotel in New York on Tuesday. Mr Clinton pledged to mobilise funds through his Clinton Foundation to increase Kenya’s forest cover from 1.7 per cent to 10 per cent. Mr Odinga is in New York for the 64th UN General Assembly.

 

[Ab-Titchaz]

Matokeo ya mkutano wa Raila na Bill Clinton yalikua poa for the
betterment of Kenya's re-afforestation program....Bongo tupo hapo?

Soma hapa.... Clinton supports Kenya's re-afforestation efforts

 

[Brutus]

As if we don't know that Odinga gets his money from George Soros, so does Morgan Tsvangirai.. oops so does Moveon.org the cheerleders for the Democratic Party. Soros will make sure that his punks are embeddled in the african governments by pushing the so called 'reconciliations'. We saw that in Zimbabwe and now in Kenya. CUF are trying so had in Zanzibar. Why do we have multiple parties and do elections while someone from Washington can push for the new constitutional reforms to create positions for the loosers?

So, Odinga is Kibaki's Prime Minister.. he has the ears and the love from Washington; so does Tsvangirai! Where is democracy?
Please, leave the African Continent alone, and let us practice our own democracy. We didnt ask Al Gore to be G W Bush's Prime Minister....You Hypocrites!!!!

 

[Shapu]

Hivi kuna hii kitu huwa siielewi kabisa. Eti utasikia nchi moja inaipiga nchi nyingine mkwara kama huuu "US President Barack Obama has warned Kenya, which he fondly refers to as the land of his grandfathers, that there would be no retreat on the road to a new constitution."
Hao US wana mamlaka gani ya hii dunia? Are they the world leader? Huwa sielewi vizuri naomba kujuzwa.

 

[Smatta]

They are our big brothers, they have to keep our politicians in check for if they (our politicians) are left to their own craftsmanship, this continent would be a total mess within a week. Our institutions are not strong enough to protect us(the citizens) fully, the West must meddle in our affairs so that we get full value for our money..

As much as we would like to be sovereign, it comes with a price, leadership, which many of our countries lack. So there is no need to complain when the West meddles in our affairs because most of the times, it has the interest of the Citizens at heart (like the USA, Kenya situation, Obama has the interest of Kenyans at heart).

 

[Triplets]

They are our big brothers, they have to keep our politicians in check for if they (our politicians) are left to their own craftsmanship, this continent would be a total mess within a week. Our institutions are not strong enough to protect us(the citizens) fully, the West must meddle in our affairs so that we get full value for our money..
As much as we would like to be sovereign, it comes with a price, leadership, which many of our countries lack. So there is no need to complain when the West meddles in our affairs because most of the times, it has the interest of the Citizens at heart (like the USA, Kenya situation, Obama has the interest of Kenyans at heart).

You must kidding, right?
the west is NOT Obama, Obama may have the interest of Kenyans at heart...may be..who knows??
but the West? NOPE..!

 

[Smatta]

You must kidding, right?
the west is NOT Obama, Obama may have the interest of Kenyans at heart...may be..who knows??
but the West? NOPE..!

Am not kidding, am as serious as they come. Hypothetically speaking, what if the west totally ignored Africa, if they left us to run our countries the way our tribal, corrupt, blood thirsty leaders wanted, am sure non of us would be enjoying watever little we had, even our wives and girlfriend s would have been forcefully taken by the governments, human rights would have been pissed on, and most of our founding fathers children would have inherited the presidency. We need the west, its a like it or not thing.

 

[Josh Michael]

Hapana shaka kuwa Kenya walishamuona Obama na Nakumbuka kuwa wakati ule Obama alipotembea Kenya na Kuongea na Chuo Kikuu cha Nairobi alisema ukweli na kipindi kile alikuwa tu Senator tu alisema kuwa Kenya ni Wala Rushwa na wao walikuja juu sana

 

[Ab-Titchaz]

Hapana shaka kuwa Kenya walishamuona Obama na Nakumbuka kuwa wakati ule Obama alipotembea Kenya na Kuongea na Chuo Kikuu cha Nairobi alisema ukweli na kipindi kile alikuwa tu Senator tu alisema kuwa Kenya ni Wala Rushwa na wao walikuja juu sana

Tatizo la Kenya ni kua hujui who is the Govt and who is what.
Huyu bwana alipotoa hizo comment kipindi kile, alikua anasema
ukweli kuhusu serikali ya Kibaki. Kwa sasa tunavyofahamishwa ni
kua serikali ni ya mseto lakini ukweli ni kwamba abdo Kibaki na
wahuni wake are calling the shots...na hawa nd'o mafisadi ile
mbaya...wanashindana na kina RA hapo Bongo.

 

[Ab-Titchaz]

You must kidding, right?
the west is NOT Obama, Obama may have the interest of Kenyans at heart...may be..who knows??
but the West? NOPE..!

Mkuu,

hapa nadhani Smatta anasema ukweli poa maana hao so called the
west ndipo hela zinapofichwa baada ya kuibiwa. Hii tabia ya viongozi
wa kiafrika kukwiba hela za uma na kuziweka katika mabenki ya ughaibuni
imefikia too much na inabidi sasa wenyewe waanza kukemea hivi vitendo
coz its making them look bad.

Naomba sana ifike siku mafisadi wa Tz waanze kupigwa mikwala kama
hii. Pia wanyimwa visa za kusafiri tuone kama watafanya wapi mi-shopping
yao na matripu kama ya Mungwaana yalijaa watu kibao mpaka hata
hakieleweki.

Sometimes we need back up from the west to stifle some of these
ugly tendencies exhibited by our so called leaders.

Shukran.

 

[Koba]

Obama anawatakia mema wakenya inabidi wamsikilize,lakini still bado sija get over na wizi wa waziwazi wa Kibaki na mafisadi wake sana sana yule mwenyekiti wa Tume ya uchaguzi...yule fisadi inabidi awe jela saa hii!

 

[Eqlypz]

Waafrika bana tunashangaza sana, nchi za magharibi zikikaa kimya (mfano Somalia na Darfur) tunapiga kelele kuwa hazijali, zikiingilia tunapiga kelele kuwa wanaingilia mambo ya ndani ebo!! Basi na sisi tuache kwenda kukinga mabakuli kuomba misaada.

 

[Nyaralego]

They are our big brothers, they have to keep our politicians in check for if they (our politicians) are left to their own craftsmanship, this continent would be a total mess within a week. Our institutions are not strong enough to protect us(the citizens) fully, the West must meddle in our affairs so that we get full value for our money..

As much as we would like to be sovereign, it comes with a price, leadership, which many of our countries lack. So there is no need to complain when the West meddles in our affairs because most of the times, it has the interest of the Citizens at heart (like the USA, Kenya situation, Obama has the interest of Kenyans at heart).

Thank you!!! We need the West to interfere, to put shame on this corrupt leaders.