The Kenyan Crisis

With the political climate clearly warming towards a power sharing arrangement allowing Raila a chance to govern Kenya in a way he should have been able to long ago, I wonder now what the next reaction from a now threatened Kibaki-PNU mafia will be.

We all know that the Kibaki junta occupies power to work for and by virtue of a small cabal of wealthy elites with strong reasons to further their covert political connections. These nefarious powers must now be feeling threatened by the prospect of their stolen election plans being rewritten. With someone as vile, fascistic and loathsome as Marth Karua to do the bidding you'd assume this mafia's hidden interests would be well protected and I can only assume they're delighted at the way Kenya's turmoil came very close to perpetuating their desire to entrench the political status quo that has for so long handicapped Kenya.

Could the winds of change be sweeping through Kenya once again? After death, destruction and mayhem on a scale that should never have occurred and should never be allowed to happen again, are we seeing progress in moving towards the creation of a position of Prime Minister and some broad agreements on the need for constitutional, land and electoral reforms? We can only hope so if for no other reason than to provide the dead, displaced and now destitute citizens of Kenya with some comfort that, despite many very horrific crimes, their losses were not all in vain. Furthermore, struggle for democracy is always and everywhere a important one.

I fear, however, that we might just be entering a new phase in this struggle. It's for that reason that I pose what I consider to be two hefty and interlinked questions: How big are the interests? How far will the interested parties go? By 'interests', I'm referring to the wealth and business interests of a number of well-connected and unaccountable cohorts with a direct line to Mwai Kibaki (I will never acknowledge this man as a President of anything unless he legitimately wins a free and fair election). My second question relates to the extent to which these people will act to protect what they own and the level of corruption they're willing to inflict on Kenya to ensure their interests are forever served.

To exhaust the meteorological analogy one last time, it appears that after the flood, and on the back of the winds of change, there could well be storm clouds on the horizon for Kenya if Raila is given a meaningful position in government. The chance that this position will never truly be realised is high and in this instance the importance of my two questions becomes diminished. If, however, the mafia legitimised only by the name PNU is prepared to compromise and reach a meaningful political agreement with ODM, how then will our business elites with vested interests react? Is Raila's life at risk? Are we going to see the direct funding of Mungiki or some other militia to do battle with an already mobilised and well organised mob from both Kalenjin and Luo communities? Will the current Parliament simply amble along achieving nothing and failing Kenya in an even more dramatic way than it has managed to do so since independence?

What will be the response from the gang of tyrants with everything to lose and a lot to be exposed? We need, I fear, to ponder these questions further.

NOTE: I will ignore any tribalistic responses which are clearly unhelpful and serve only to reveal the prejudices borne out of unmitigated ignorance and stupidity on the part of the individual expressing them.

Mtindo wa kisasa

Big Avest

Wajeer is beautiful
it just rained....
im yearning for caano geel

goody..

GOOD News For Wajeer

Wajir to become fourth international airport
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By Brian Adero


The Cabinet has approved the upgrading of Wajir Airport to a full civilian national airport as a first step to making it Kenya’s fourth international airport.

The airport, currently being run by the military, will be handed over to both Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) and the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) early next month.

Transport Permanent Secretary Mr Gerrishon Ikiara says that a ministerial committee, which had earlier been appointed to handle the issue, forwarded the findings to the Cabinet last year.

"The Cabinet has now approved the committee’s recommendations that Wajir airport be made into a fully operational civilian airport," Ikiara told the Standard on Thursday.

The move is temporary since the main plan is to make Wajir Airport an International Airport.

"The airport is big, with a long runway which will accommodate bigger airliners like jets. Currently it will only accommodate propeller aircrafts with a capacity of between 30 to 40 or 80 passengers," he said.


Planes to be cleared before proceeding to Nairobi


However, the military will still be using the airport, Ikiara.

"We want to take advantage of the business going on in Somalia and use the airport to make trade between the two countries easier," he said.

Upgrading Wajir is also a security move.

"All aircrafts coming from Somali will be forced to land in Wajir before coming to Nairobi. Those coming from Wilson Airport will also have to land in Wajir for a security check up," said Ikiara.

Last year, the Government slapped a ban on cargo planes from Wilson Airport flying to Mogadishu after the Islamic Courts Union took control of sections of the country and after insecurity fears were raised.

Internal Security Assistant Minister Peter Munya had said earlier that the Government is rehabilitating Wajir Airstrip so that planes from Mogadishu will be required to land there for clearance before proceeding to Nairobi.

The contract to upgrade the airport’s infrastructure was awarded to a Wajir businessman, and the Government has already spent Sh140 million in the project. The rehabilitation works have been finalised.

"We were only upgrading the runway, terminal and control tower to allow passenger planes to land and take off," he said.


Airport to be used as a feeder


Ikiara said that the move will provide a safe landing for flights from Somalia in the Kenyan airspace.

"We want to use the airport as a feeder airport to both Jomo Kenyatta International and Wilson airports as well as other local airports" he said.

Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) Director General, Mr Chris Kuto said that already his officers are at the airport waiting for the take over.

"I have already posted Air control personnel, engineers and then it will be fully operational as other national airports," he said.

The Kenya Airports Authority has already appointed a manager at the airport, Kuto said.

Fly 540 Operations Director Mr Nixon Ooko said they plan to be the first airline to launch scheduled passenger flights to Wajir next month.

"We are looking into Wajir… the charter flights which have been flying there from Wilson Airport are too expensive," he said.



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Wajeer kulel waaye

5-Day Forecast for Wajir
Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday

91° F | 77° F
33° C | 25° C
89° F | 75° F
32° C | 24° C
93° F | 77° F
34° C | 25° C
96° F | 77° F
36° C | 25° C
96° F | 77° F
36° C | 25° C
Chance of T-storms
50% chance of precipitation Chance of T-storms
30% chance of precipitation Scattered Clouds Overcast

Six Types Somali Women

1) MARYAN MUDUG!
>-she's very religious
>-listens to bbc somali
>-she only knows how to read and write somali
>-very tribal
>-shes know everybody and their tribe
>-wears Big jilbaab
>-for her, there is northing called Date' if you want
>her, come to her dad's home officially
> CAUTION GUYS
>shes one of those girl that most N American somalis men marry when they
go back home....apparently untill they realizes that the poor girl can't
differentiate between a Piriton and an Aspirin


>(2) SAHARA WAWEENKA
>-she's over 30 and still single
>-economically, she's all good
>-she drives a RAV4 or a Pathfinder
>-she's suspicious of all men
> CAUTION GUYS!
>She has seen every men and their tricks...so be
>careful with her....dont be the idiot who tried to
>talk to her with some tired lines. be creative


>(3) YASMIN RAGEDHI
>-you will probably spot her wearing jeans
>-she hangs out around starbucks or you will spot her checkin for shoes
she never buys at Filenes or JC peney -she subscriber's to the COSMO,
PEOPLE or VOGUE
>-she knows tom cruise middle name
>-first time you meet her she gives you some concocted name like Rasina,
Intisar, Tahani, or even Ishawaq untill you realize shes called Faduma
-She just finishe reading dennis LEhane's 'Mystic
>River' she's currently reading steven levitts
>'Freakonomics'
> CAUTION GUYS!
> The problem with this kind of girls is not that can i
>date her, the problem should be can i maintain her?.
>you can take her out to restaurant and you order the gud ol coke and
fries and their she goes ordering Veggie Lasagna with Jamocha Shake and
topings. next day your wallet will be hospitalized for severe
bankruptcy...iam not joking guys


>(4) AYAN ABAYOO>-she probably finished high school
>-she acts hard-to-get even if she's dieing for you
>-she lives with her mum
>-she listenes to Jubba and samatar
>-she hangs around with her friends which makes hard for boys to approach
her -She says no to first dates (as if first dates should be turned down
from the men)
> CAUTION GUYS!
> it's not easy to have s*x with this girl...the only way is if you tell
>her you love her very much. she will trust you until she got you
>cheating...she will never forgive you in her life!


>(5) ZAMZAM BASHAL.COM
>-every teenage boy knows her
>-you will spot her in every weeding videos and parties
>-if there's rumor that tonight party is cancelled, the whole town calls
her to confirm the lie -easy to hock-up...probably you bed her or
someone you know
> CAUTION GUYS!
> shes falling in love with more men than she care to drop...that's why
>she's getting played...easy on her thought she's got a clean heart.


>(6) XAWOO TOMBOY
>-she is always in the middle of the Boys
>-she watches soccer
>-she know Ronaldos first name
>-like a true boy, she changes the lighting bulb at Home
>-she's the one who answers the door bell every time it rings,
>-probably this girl is a virgin
>CAUTION GUYS!
> She's more of a boy than a girl


LOOOOL Do you know any of these women ?

13 children die of hunger in wajir

Three children have died of hunger in Wajir District as drought continues to ravage parts of the country.
Emotions were high on Tuesday as residents buried one of the children, Issa Jimale, 2, who died on his way to the district hospital. His uncle, Adow QalbIsafi, said Jimale’s mother also died of hunger last October.
The hospital superintendent, Dr Aluvaala Seme, said the child, who hailed from Laghborehole Location, died while officials from Medical Emergency Relief International (Merlin), a local non-governmental organisation, were taking him to the hospital.
"He did not make it to the facility alive and we handed the body to his relatives for burial in accordance with Muslim religion," said Seme.
He said Nassir Shariff, 2, and Zeinab Mohammed Salat, 1, died at the hospital on Sunday night while undergoing treatment.
Gloom hung over the hospital as reports of the deaths went round. The Superintendent said tents had been erected to ease pressure from the over-stretched paedriatic ward. He said they had admitted more than 60 malnourished children to the district hospital.
The children’s deaths bring the number of people who have so far succumbed to the famine to seven in the last one week. Two elderly men and two infants were reported to have died in Diif Division. Councillor Dagane Siyat gave the names of the men as Mohammed Abdi Deis, Habiba Ahmed Bilil.
During Jimale’s burial in Wajir, residents accused the Government of doing little to save their lives.
"The Government has been denying hunger related deaths but you can see we are still burying our loved ones," said Dagane.
The residents, who held a quiet procession to the graveside, said Government intervention on water and food was inadequate.
The District Commissioner Samuel Otieno said 26 per cent of the 400,000 residents would get relief food.
He said some of them had received 10.3kg of maize and o.6 kg of cooking oil each to last them a month.

A young Wajir Boy could soon be on the books of Liverpool FC

Mohamed Suleiman

The crowd at the Anfield home of Liverpool FC is revered in world football for its passion and spirit.

Very soon, this lot could be rising to a star made in Kenya.

Mohamed Suleiman, a spindly 11-year-old kid with dribbling skills straight out of Brazilian star Ronaldinho’s book — and a football brain to match — has been invited to the famed Liverpool FC academy for a trial.

Suleiman, a pupil at the City Primary School, is expected to travel to England on April 11 in the company of his dad, Suleiman Alas.

"This is a dream come true," Alas, a member of the medical corps of the Kenya Army told Fever Pitch last week.

"Ever since the boy was five years old, people who spotted him play in the barracks would approach me and say that he was a special talent. It is very good that Liverpool FC have noticed him and I believe it is also a good piece of history for Kenya." Liverpool FC are one of the biggest names in world football and current champions of Europe.

If they take young Suleiman into their books, he will become the first Kenyan to be signed up by a top Premier League side. He will also be following in the footsteps of several illustrious stars who went through the Liverpool Academy.

They include current club captain, Steven Gerrard, talismanic defender, Jamie Carragher and Anfield legend Robbie Fowler, known to all Liverpool fans by his nickname — ‘God.’ Suleiman’s love affair with football began at an early age, but it came to wide attention when he entered the Coca Cola Pepeta Championship and performed with a maturity and distinction well beyond his 10 years.

Dribbling effortlessly with seemingly every part of his body and crowning his performance with his party piece — a routine that sees him ping the ball up with his forehead, balance it in the next movement on the nape of his neck -— then proceed to remove his t-shirt without dropping the ball, he wowed crowds throughout the tournament and clinched a Sh10,000 scholarship. Video clips of his amazing performance ultimately found their way to Liverpool FC.

And the club lost little time in inviting Suleiman over to the UK for a "soccer school course" through a January 23 letter signed by Academy Administration Officer, Heather Davies. Suleiman says he’s excited by the prospect of joining Liverpool. "I like Liverpool and I especially enjoy watching (Peter) Crouch and (Steven) Gerrard. I’m really looking forward to joining them."

Most of his tricks, however, are gleaned off a player on the books of Liverpool’s bitter rivals, Manchester United. "I learn a lot of my tricks from watching the moves and tricks of Cristiano Ronaldo (United’s young midfielder)."

The player currently trains with the Waterworks Junior team, a group of young players that train within the Kabete Barracks. And his coaches, Ali Mwinyi, Kennedy Onyuka and Joe Birgen are in no doubt about his potential. "For a kid of his age, there is no argument about his talent," says Onyuka. "I noticed him when he was very young because he would insist on following the senior players everywhere and getting into the game when he could. He was easily the best kid in his age group. He only needs to work on his bulk and pace and I’m sure he’ll make it.

The facilities at Liverpool Football Club mean he will find the best training, diet and advice anywhere in the world and he could pave the way for many more talented youngsters." Suleiman is a fairly shy and retiring kid. And distracted by our conversation with the coach during the interview at the Nairobi Jafferies Academy, he drifted away, picked up the ball with the outside of the foot and began a prolonged dribble with our cameraman clicking away fast. In the distance, a gaggle of men enjoying a mid afternoon snack broke off their conversation to watch the tiny genius work his magic. "Cheki huyo Ronaldinho," one of them shouted.

The youngster continued dribbling hypnotically, sharpening the skills that could soon grace the hallowed turf of Anfield — home of the Champions of Europe.— A fundraiser to cover the travel costs of Suleiman to the UK will be held on March 4 at the 680 Hotel from 2pm.

Regional Development Minister Mahamou Abdi is expected to preside over the function and Suleiman will also be in attendance and has been given a cameo role in the programme to showcase his dribbling skills.

Source: East African Standard. 27, 2006