Good People !!!
Without normality with sound mind to engage right thinking
governance, Kenya will take long to get out of corruption with
impunity.
Judy Miriga
Diaspora Spokesperson
Executive Director
Confederation Council Foundation for Africa Inc.,
USA
http://socioeconomicforum50.blogspot.com
Diaspora Spokesperson
Executive Director
Confederation Council Foundation for Africa Inc.,
USA
http://socioeconomicforum50.blogspot.com
'Young Turks' push for ODM polls'
PHOTO | FILE Orange Young Democrats League members during a past press conference in Nairobi when they called for the election of a youthful ODM executive director. NATION MEDIA GROUP
By MOSES ODHIAMBO mogada@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted Saturday, August 3 2013 at 23:30
In Summary
- Some MPs want fresh and youthful politicians to take the reigns of the party leadership
Youthful MPs in ODM are agitating for party elections in which they hope to remove officials they regard as the old guard and whom they blame for the party's poor showing in the March 4 General Election.
The group is agitating for elections in order to inject "youthful energy which will improve the party's performance in politics".
The MPs, who want Kisumu Senator Anyang' Nyong'o replaced as secretary-general, are also targeting other bigwigs who they say have served the party for a long time and should pave the way for fresh blood.
Ugenya MP David Ochieng told the Sunday Nation that judging from the 2007 and 2013 election outcomes, ODM should put up new structures to ensure it is successful in future political contests.
"The problem is that when such situations arise, they are attributed to infighting within a party. We only want to initiate reforms in the party and this should not be seen as a fight between the young and the old," said Mr Ochieng.
The legislator said the law has institutionalised political parties to make them responsive to the needs of members.
"The drive to restructure ODM party is meant to introduce vibrancy and youthful energy, but we will consider retaining some elderly officials because they are experienced," said Mr Ochieng.
Mbita MP Millie Odhiambo said the priority of ODM should be to get a reform-minded secretary-general who will introduce new ideas to sustain party growth and development.
She said there was nothing unusual about the timing of the elections because the law requires that elections be held every five years.
"We held the last elections in 2008. Five years have elapsed and these positions must be contested in a free and fair manner," Ms Odhiambo said.
"Raila will remain the party leader. We don't want to stifle this debate of young people coming up to take up the management of the party on grounds that the leadership is old; all we want is a chance for vibrancy which is needed at this point in time in order to deliver results," she said.
But not everyone is buying the idea of a leadership change. Another group of ODM MPs are questioning the timing and the strategy, saying they are not right.
Ugunja MP James Wandayi and his Nyando counterpart Fred Outa said it was too early for the MPs to start the drive.
"The focus of ODM at the moment is to put the Jubilee Government in check in and outside Parliament. Initiating party politics now will weaken our role of keeping the government in check," said Mr Wandayi.
The legislator said the approach adopted by the young MPs is wrong because it is using age as a factor in leadership, a strategy, he added, that would impact negatively on the image of the party.
"We don't want youth to stand out as the only claim to leadership; current party leadership is about ideological orientation, whether presented by young or old people from all regions in Kenya," he said.
Prof Olang Sana, a political science lecturer at Maseno University, believes it is time the old guard in ODM made way for youthful officials.
"Young people are more flexible compared to the old ones who have already lost popularity at the grassroots. The old leaders would want to maintain the status quo that has always delivered poor results for the party and therefore need to be replaced," said Prof Olang.
The don compared ODM to parties in other regions in Kenya where leadership includes young people.
"From the nomination exercise that saw young leaders win elections after decamping from ODM, the timing for the ODM party elections is right," the don said.
Kenya to hand over Kismayu to Somalia Govt
President Museveni meeting with Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta during Amison Troop contributing countries to Somalia at Munyonyo Speke Resort on 4th August 2013.
By RISDEL KASASIRA Rkasasira@ug.nationmedia.com
Posted Sunday, August 4 2013 at 18:54
Posted Sunday, August 4 2013 at 18:54
In Summary
- But sources that attended the meeting told Daily Monitor the Somali delegation was accusing Kenyan forces operating in Kisimayu of meddling in the Somalia's political affairs and handpicking local leaders in the south of Somalia.
Kampala
Regional leaders meeting in Kampala Sunday resolved to hand over the control of the controversial Kismayu sea and airport to the Federal Republic of Somalia.
In a joint communiqué issued Sunday evening, the resolution follows a long running dispute for the facility between the government of Somalia and the Kenya forces. The leaders also banned Somalia from exporting charcoal to Asia with immediate effect.
Before the beginning of the second phase of the war against al shabaab, Somalia was divided into four sectors.
Sector one, which includes Middle Shebelle, Lower Shebelle, and Banadir (with the capital of Mogadishu), is under Uganda.
Sector two is under Kenya and it comprises of Middle and Lower Jubba with Kismayu as its capital. Sector three is under Burundians while sector four is for Djiboutian forces.
The Kampala meeting was attended by presidents: Museveni, (the host) Kenya's Uhuru Kenyatta, Somalia's Sheik Hassan Sheik Mahmood, (Ethiopian PM) Hailemariam Desalegn and Andrew Bagali who represented Sierra Leone.
Meanwhile, African Union mission in Somalia wants the number of peacekeepers increased from 17,730 to over 20,000 to beef up troop presence in different parts of the country.
Uganda's Foreign Affairs minister, Sam Kutesa told Journalists in Munyonyo on Saturday that the current African Union force is over stretched and thin on ground.
The creation of zonal forces, Mr Kutesa said would exert pressure on al shabaab fighters who resorted to asymmetrical war after losing most of their main tactical and strategic bases in Somalia to AU forces.
"The force is smaller and over stretched because the area under AMISOM control has been enlarging. The lack of enablers, force multipliers and resourcing constraints threatens the long-term success. This situation requires a deeper assessment by us all," he said
Uganda, which was the first country to deploy troops in Somalia in 2007, has the highest number of troops. Other countries include Kenya, Djibouti, Sierra Leon and Burundi.
The Presidents of countries contributing troops held a meeting chaired by President Museveni and discussed the mission and need to have force multipliers like helicopters.
But sources that attended the meeting told Daily Monitor the Somali delegation was accusing Kenyan forces operating in Kisimayu of meddling in the Somalia's political affairs and handpicking local leaders in the south of Somalia.
The Somali Deputy Prime minister, Fowzio Aden reportedly told the meeting that the Kenya's meddling into the affairs of running the town of Kisamayu had caused clashes between the rival groups.
But Mr Kutesa denied the issue had been discussed. "AMISOM is doing well and there are no such allegations," he said.
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