dunpresident Here to Aspire Inspire before he Expires

Call on chemical company to address the legacy of Bhopal

2009-12-02T19:21:00.003+03:00

Shortly before midnight on 2 December 1984 thousands of tonnes of deadly chemicals leaked from Union Carbide’s pesticide plant in Bhopal, central India. Around half a million people were exposed. Between 7,000 and 10,000 people died in the immediate aftermath and a further 15,000 over the next 20 years. On 2 December 2009 the people of Bhopal will mark the 25th anniversary of the devastating leak. Amnesty International will join them to highlight the ongoing human rights impacts of the 1984 leak. Union Carbide – today a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company – walked away from Bhopal, without even decontaminating the site properly. Despite a quarter of a century having passed the factory site has not been cleaned up. More than 100,000 people continue to suffer from health problems. Efforts to provide rehabilitation – both medical care and measures to address the socio-economic effects of the leak – have fallen far short of what is needed. Many of those affected are still waiting for adequate compensation and the full facts of the leak and its impact have never been properly investigated. No-one has ever been held to account for what happened at Bhopal and efforts by survivors’ organizations to use the Indian and US court systems to see justice done and gain adequate redress have so far been unsuccessful.

Bhopal is not just a human rights tragedy from the last century – it is a human rights travesty today.

This is His Excellency The President of the republic of Kenya 2040

Mr. Politician,this is my take.

2009-11-18T15:05:00.006+03:00

Read the Draft constitution that has just been released in Kenya.

The draft , which many Kenyans have been waiting for has finally been released to the public, from this it will now take the peoples’ acceptance and parliament passing to make it the supreme law of the land.

Now the public is supposed to debate the draft and present its views withing 30 days.

Among the noticeable recommendations are the clipping of presidential powers and the introduction of a more powerful premier,this has caused a lot of friction between PNU (who want an imperial presidency) and ODM (Who are for a powerful prime minister),the argument from the PNU side is that if someone has to exercise executive authority he has to get a mandate from the Kenyan people,they claim one cannot exercise Executive authority when he/she was chosen by parliament,this is what leads me to the big question;Are these worries genuine or they are just a ploy to deny us a fair constitution?

The reason why I think the premier or presidential power is not contentious is because the same MP who chooses a Prime Minister was chosen by Kenyans, they chose him/her to represent them and if he/she in parliament chooses another national leader he has executed the mandate of the people, in simple language it is the people from the ground who have made that choice so it will be very imprudent for a learned friend to stand up say that a Prime Minister chosen by parliament cannot exercise executive Authority because he wasn’t chosen by the people of Kenya.Instead they should be using extra energy in discussing the empowerment of institutions in Kenya to curb misuse of powers by whoever will be in office.

It is very wrong for anyone to discuss this draft while referring to our current government set up,and it is very sad when the people engaging in this uninformed debate are educated people who are supposed to have the interest of the nation at heart,they are busy using the differences between Prime Minister Raila Odinga and President Kibaki to approach the draft debate,what they don’t know is that the next constitution will not have them in their respective offices, it is highest time our leaders talked about issues the way they are, it is highest time we had concern with our institutions rather than the persons holding the offices in our institutions,this i say because there are some other people who will debate the draft while thinking that Raila Odinga will be the next Prime Minister or Kibaki the next president thereby struggling to safeguard the office of their assumed leader.

What i must say i like about this draft is that it has measures good enough to keep both the President and the PM who share Executive power in check.It has given Parliament and the Cabinet enough avenues and power to fire any of them which is as good as a secure system because the PM can be sacked by Parliament, through a vote of no confidence, which the President ratifies within a week and the same applies to the president.

So once again I ask those politicians who think they are more learned to interpret the draft constitution for the rest of the Kenyan people to shelve their ego because we can read the draft on our own and understand it as it is because it is more simplified that previous drafts,i also state again that the system of government doesn’t matter and i have no problem with anyone being given executive powers what am worried about is that;will our legislators put politics aside and give Kenyans the constitution they have been waiting for,for more than 20years?

This is His Excellency The President of the republic of Kenya 2040

Upholding human rights while confronting climate change

2009-11-16T14:56:00.003+03:00

29 September 2009
Unless states take prompt, adequate action to address its effects, climate change could become a major threat to the realization of human rights, with those already living in poverty feeling the effects sooner and more acutely.

As global attention turns to the upcoming round of climate change negotiations in Copenhagen in December, it is more essential than ever to bring human rights to the table.

Observed and projected changes attributable to climate change include the contraction of snow-covered areas; shrinking of sea ice and melting of polar ice caps; rise of sea levels; increased frequency of hot extremes and heat waves; increase in areas affected by drought; and increased intensity of tropical cyclones.

There is an intrinsic link between such environmental impacts and the ability to realize a range of human rights. State failure to act effectively to curb climate change could result in widespread violations of the right to life, right to health, right to water, right to food, and the right to housing. Acute water shortages and decreased crop yields in the poorer region of the world, to take just two examples, would undermine the rights of millions of people.

State responses to the threat of climate change must ensure that human rights are protected. Strategies for adaptation (preparing for the foreseeable adverse effects of climate change) and mitigation (slowing climate change and reducing its harmful effects) must be firmly rooted in a human rights analysis of the legal obligations of states. Amnesty International believes that the following rights and principles must be an integral part of efforts to address climate change:

* Non-discrimination: The effects of climate change will be felt disproportionately by those who are also vulnerable to human rights abuses because of their poverty, age, gender, race, ethnicity, disability or other status. Climate change policies must not discriminate and must ensure protection against discrimination, particularly of the most vulnerable groups.

* Freedom of information: Access to information is critical to addressing climate change. States must promote and facilitate the flow of information on climate change and measures taken to address it. States have a duty to disseminate information about environmental risks.

* Right to active participation: States must conduct adequate and meaningful consultation with affected people, involving them in decision-making on the policies that would shape their lives. States must ensure participation of civil society, including representative of vulnerable groups, in the design of national adaptation and mitigation strategies

* Rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly: The right to peacefully protest against government action or inaction in relation to climate change is a crucial safeguard that must be respected and protected. Individuals must enjoy the right to seek, receive and impart information and ideas, and must not be persecuted or otherwise harassed for exercising these human rights.

* Accountability and the right to effective remedy: Where states’ actions and omissions in relation to the impacts of climate change result in human rights violations, victims should have access to an effective remedy.

Take action now to save life

This is His Excellency The President of the republic of Kenya 2040

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2009-10-31T20:44:00.003+03:00

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This is His Excellency The President of the republic of Kenya 2040

IMANYARA'S SPECIAL TRIBUNAL BILL

2009-10-28T19:11:00.003+03:00

WE HAVE TO STAND AGAINST ALL NON-REFORMERS,SAY NO TO IMPUNITY , SUPPORT THE US SANCTIONS.

GO READ THE IMANYARA SPECIAL TRIBUNAL BILL

Read The Special Tribunal Bill By Hon.Gitobu Imanyara.

This is His Excellency The President of the republic of Kenya 2040

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2009-10-26T17:39:00.007+03:00

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This is His Excellency The President of the republic of Kenya 2040

Why John Githongo Remains the Best Option after Ringera

2009-10-07T09:33:00.002+03:00

When John Githongo served the president, he did his work with utmost commitment, in my life, I have never seen a public servant like Githongo, am not just praising John for the love I have for him or because he is one of my role models but for what he stood and still stands for.

If you don’t know John Githongo, He studied Economics and Philosophy at the University of Wales before returning to his native Kenya. He briefly worked as a management consultant and researcher before moving into journalism. In this role he wrote extensively for the East African attacking corruption throughout Kenyan society under the Moi regime, this was way before he had been employed by Kibaki.

He is the pioneer of the Kenyan chapter of Transparency international, a non-governmental agency devoted to fighting corruption, before going to exile John Githongo was President Kibaki’s chief adviser on the war on corruption in his capacity as the Permanent Secretary in charge of Ethics and Governance Department.

That is just a bit of his background, now let us dwell a little on facts, if you read through the “Githongo Dossier” the Githongo report on the Anglo Leasing Scandal, you will find a lot in this man, you will comment on his ability to back his findings with substantive evidence, you will also commend on his bravery to name implicated ministers and influential persons by name without censoring any in fear of victimization.

I for one appreciate his work unlike many other reports which are full of allegations advised by tribal under hands. He stood his ground when all the powerful people were closing in on him, he even could not be intimidated by Kibaki’s Kitchen cabinet who were out to buy him off, at one time he was even frustrated by the then Anti Corruption Head,Aaron Ringera.

In his activities, Githongo has created enemies in his back yard, although some of them are very proud of their straight forward son. Many of them claimed he was fighting his own people forgetting that there was always a first time for everything.

When the post of the Director of The Kenya Anti Corruption Commission was in dispute I was privileged to have a conversation with John Githongo, I remember asking him if he would apply for the Job if Parliament annulled Ringera’s reappointment, he told me he was not going to comment on that, from this I figured out that my friend was saying “lets wait and see” as much as there is pressure piling on him to take the Job, it remains his decision to do or not to do so.

But if you were to ask of my opinion, I think naturally all Kenyans are in need of his stewardship therefore John will be doing us a great service by applying for the job because Kenyans can trust him in that job more than they can trust any living civil servant.

When he was interviewed by the Standard on the 06/02/2009 he never regretted his move to fight the strong and mighty I remember him saying answering ”No. I don’t feel dejected. This is a long haul struggle fraught with victories and setbacks too. By 2007, corruption had started to change into an offshoot of a new energetic kind of matatu corporatism; corruption wore a suit and traded on the stock exchange via holding companies; invested in middle class urban villas and the like.

Shenanigans with regard to the privatisation of public assets and brazen conflict of interest with regard to participation in share flotation”.

This was after being questioned whether he was dejected because his tape recordings never had a big impact in his fight on corruption.

From his answer I see a man who calls corruption what it is without hiding behind money bags, I see a man who saw through shoddy deals that defraud the Kenyan Public their resources without worrying whether he was implicating his tribesmen, in John Githongo I see a man who can head The Kenya Anti Corruption Commission with the devotion that is needed period!

I quote John Githongo’s words “The war is not lost but important battles have been lost. What is happening today is not so much a failure in the fight against corruption but a reverberating failure in leadership”

I rest my case.

This is His Excellency The President of the republic of Kenya 2040

STAND UP FOR AFRICA

2009-09-24T13:36:00.004+03:00

The phenomenon of forced evictions in Africa is a massive human rights scandal that should be stopped immediately. Instead of taking measures to improve the housing and living conditions of people, particularly those living in poverty, many governments are driving people further into poverty by forcibly evicting them from their homes and communities without any alternatives. As long as governments are not held accountable, people will continue to be vulnerable to this gross violation of their human rights, with catastrophic consequences for their lives. We call on African leaders to help bring an end to these human rights violations.

WHAT YOU CAN DO
ADD YOUR NAME TO THE HOUSE OF SIGNATURES
From the 5th of October 2009, World Habitat Day, people from across Africa will be adding their name to a “house of signatures”, a home for human rights in Africa. Some of these “houses” will be presented to African leaders whose influence could bring an end to forced evictions on the continent. Others will be given to African human rights activists in solidarity with them and their vital work of campaigning against forced evictions, often in the face of repression. These “houses”, including suggested texts for petitions which target the authorities responsible for forced evictions in their countries, can be downloaded from www.amnesty.org.

LET AFRICAN LEADERS KNOW WHAT YOU THINK!

SMS your own personal message to +447786 200 220 [local operator charges apply] saying why forced evictions in Africa need to be brought to an immediate end. Your message will be passed on to governments all over the continent and will be displayed on www.demanddignity.org.

ADD YOUR VOICE, ADD YOUR NAME,
STAND UP AGAINST FORCED EVICTIONS IN AFRICA.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/Amnesty-International-African-Online-Community/41515121987

This is His Excellency The President of the republic of Kenya 2040

Murder 'followed Facebook status change'

2009-09-22T10:14:00.002+03:00

A mother-of-four was murdered by her partner days after she changed her Facebook status from "married" to "single", a court has heard.

Hayley Jones, 26, was found by her children at the family home. She had been fatally stabbed.

Cardiff Crown Court heard that Brian Lewis, 31, killed her after telling friends he could not stand to lose her to another man.

Mr Lewis, of New Tredegar, Caerphilly, denies murder.

The prosecution claims Mr Lewis strangled and stabbed his partner at their home in the Phillipstown area of the town on 12 March.

On 2 March, she changed her Facebook relationship status from married to single and she made it clear their relationship was over

Mark Evans, prosecuting

Mark Evans, prosecuting, told the court the couple, who were not married, had been "teenage sweethearts" since Ms Jones was 13, and had described themselves as married.

He said: "Hayley started to expand her social life and was spending a lot of time on internet sites, in particular Facebook.

"She was quite secretive about this, preventing Lewis from using the site and turning the computer off. It is quite clear this rankled with him.

"On 2 March, she changed her Facebook relationship status from married to single and she made it clear their relationship was over."

The court heard that after Mr Lewis lost his job, creating a downward spiral on the family finances, Ms Jones took up work as a care assistant.

Ms Jones was described as a "devoted mother" to the couple's four children, aged between three and 10.

Kitchen knife

The jury was told that Mr Lewis feared their relationship was on the rocks because of the time she spent online.

The court heard Mr Lewis had threatened to kill his partner rather than lose her to another man.

Mr Evans added: "But Lewis told police the only tension between him and Hayley was the use of the home computer."

The court heard Mr Lewis attacked Ms Jones with a kitchen knife at 0400 GMT as she was sleeping on the settee at their home, stabbing her through three layers of clothing and two sleeping bags.

He then dialled 999 and told police to come to the house but fled the scene, leaving the couple's four children to find their mother's body.

Mr Lewis later gave himself up at Blackwood Police Station, the court heard.

The trial continues.

This is His Excellency The President of the republic of Kenya 2040

Sima Omukhasi

2009-09-20T17:35:00.001+03:00

Sima omukhasi woo

Lake Turkana is home to large populations of Nile crocodiles, hippos, and over 40 different species of fish and venomous snakes and must be protected.

2009-09-05T12:44:00.004+03:00

Globally there has been an increase in concern over the environmental degradation and the need for greater environmental protection and management.

All ecosystems of the world are potentially affected by man’s activities, but wetlands are especially fragile and often neglected. Wetlands are neither well understood nor appreciated and have been increasingly under natural and human pressures in all parts of the globe and especially in Africa.

The GIBE III project is one of a series of damming projects that have been undertaken by the Ethiopian government. The Gibe III hydroelectric project on the Omo River is a public-private partnership planned as a 25year national energy master plan of Ethiopia. The planned increase in power generation, however far exceeds domestic needs with the surplus which is estimated at fifty percent being exported to the neighboring countries including Kenya which the Ethiopian Electric Power Company (EEPCo) predicts to export 500MW to.

The Omo River is a transboundary river that contributes at least 80 percent of the waters of Lake Turkana. Its terminus is at northern end of Kenya’s Lake Turkana, and most of the Omo Delta is in Kenya. A sharp reduction in the Omo’s downstream flow volume would cause a significant retreat of Lake Turkana.

An assessment of the overall impact of the proposed Gibe III project on the Lake Turkana, in Kenya must begin with the direct impact of the reduced flow into the lake, since the Omo River is the major source of water for Lake Turkana. Reduction in flow volume from reservoir filling would be the primary impact.

Based on a combination of calculations from satellite imagery, and published flow data, it is reasonable to say that the effect of the flow on the Lake Turkana can be established. Therefore, concluding that over the first five years, there would be a loss of about 53.5km3 of water from the lake, corresponding to a drop of about 7 meters. This should be considered as a conservative estimate: an alternative estimate, based on other available data is 10meters.

Using bathymetric data for Lake Turkana, it is possible to predict that the Omo delta and the northern section of the lake will desiccate, and the shorelines would recede to almost the halfway point, southward along the lake. A salinity increase in the lake is likely to severely affect the aquatic salinity of the lake which is already barely portable. Concentrations of the ions in the lake will. The effect of this is increased concentration on fish populations and on the usefulness of the lake for watering livestock and for human consumption will need to be determined. In turn the region’s livelihood systems-particularly those of the Turkana, Dassanech, Rendille., Samburu and other groups in Kenya would be significantly impacted as they are dependant upon recession cultivation, lakeside livestock grazing and watering at the lake, and fishing.

The Omo Delta and northern shoreline area have long provided habitat for a unique abundance of hippopotamus and Nile crocodile, with extraordinary numbers of water birds. This entire area would be the first part of Lake Turkana to undergo major destruction of habitat and wildlife. Consequently, the unique floral and faunal systems of Lake Turkana would likely be threatened with major destruction. The lake is now internationally recognized, including as a World Heritage Site for its abundance of wildlife, as well as unique floral and fauna species-many of which are barely described or understood, from an ecological perspective.

Friends Of Lake Turkana (FoLT)

FoLT is currently undertaking a campaign to highlight the possible dangers posed on the lake and its eco-system due to the Gibe III damming project being undertaken by the Ethiopian government in its quest for energy development both for domestic consumption and for export to neighboring countries of Djibouti, Sudan and Kenya. FoLT is working to bring attention to the impacts which Gibe III Dam will have on the Lake Turkana region and peoples and to find lasting solutions to this social injustice.

FoLT does not to totally disregard the idea of producing hydroelectric power, but would like to encourage pursuit of alternative forms of energy development that avoid unacceptable trade offs which jeopardizes indigenous economies and destroy the eco-system. For example the formulation of a program of small dams, with fundamental attention on the maintenance of maximum river flow, or a slow in the filling up of the dam to allow for adequate flow of water into Lake Turkana rather than drastic five year filling up plan currently in place. Also see : Original EIA carried out by the Ethiopian Government: Ethiopia - Gilgel Gibe Hydroelectric (Energy II) Project : environmental impact assessment (Vol. 2) : Main Report Commentary by African Resources Working Group (ARWG): ARWG (2008). Environmental and Social Impacts of the Proposed Gibe III Hydroelectric Project in Ethiopia's Lower Omo River Basin

Other Documents:
The Gilbel Gibe Affair: An analysis of the Gilbel Gibe hydroelectric projects in Ethiopia - Campagna per la Riforma per la Banca Mondiale (CRBM) and CEE Bankwatch Network

The Gilgel Gibe II hyrdoelectrocal pojects, a case of super-tied aid

Related Links: International Rivers Letter to JP Morgan Chase on the Gilgel Gibe III Dam European Investment Bank Gilgel Gibe II Hydropower Plant Loan This is His Excellency The President of the republic of Kenya 2040

VOTE for Human Rights for this year’s Blog Action Day 2009 Topic!

2009-08-30T13:31:00.002+03:00

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights celebrated its 60th Anniversary in 2008. 60 years on the definition of what constitutes human rights has changed. Human rights are universal, inclusive but each person has their own perspective on what human rights mean to them. They are economic, social, cultural, civil AND political. However, the USA ... Read Morestill hasn't ratified of economic, cultural and social rights Conventions while China does not respect civil and political rights. Two super powers at extremes. So, what are human rights 60 years on? And how does this understanding affect global issues today like Poverty, Climate Change and Corporate Accountability?

VOTE for Human Rights for this year’s Blog Action Day 2009 Topic!
Distribute to you’re your networks and activists to make this possible
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=vgxlY3JzQGvGg_2fmM_2fr240g_3d_3d

VOTE NOW

This is His Excellency The President of the republic of Kenya 2040

Mexico: Indigenous woman accused of kidnapping six agents named prisoner of conscience

2009-08-24T13:32:00.002+03:00

18 August 2009

Amnesty International today adopted 46-year-old Jacinta Marcial as a prisoner of conscience for being unfairly sentenced to 21 years in prison and demanded that the Mexican authorities release her immediately and unconditionally.

The organization said she has been denied a fair trial and is in prison solely due to her marginal status in society as a poor indigenous woman with limited access to justice.

Mother of six Jacinta Francisco Marcial, an Otomí Indigenous woman from Santiago Mexquititlán, Querétaro state, has been held in the Centro de Readaptación de San José El Alto prison since August 2006. She is charged with the kidnapping of six agents of the Mexican Federal Investigation Agency. The agents claim they were held hostage by Jacinta and other market stall holders during a raid on pirate DVD vendors on Santiago Mexquititlán square in March 2006.

"Jacinta's case is a scandal," said Rupert Knox, Mexico Researcher at Amnesty International. “This is a travesty of justice and a clear example of the second class justice Indigenous People often receive in Mexico.”

“Jacinta’s story shows how the Mexican criminal justice system is being misused to unfairly prosecute the most vulnerable. She has been targeted because of her ethnicity, gender and social status,” said Rupert Knox.

On 26 March 2006, six plainclothes agents of the Federal Investigation Agency entered the main market in Santiago Mexquititlán. They claimed to be carrying out an operation to locate drugs and pirate DVDs. Tensions were raised as the agents tried to confiscate goods and vendors punctured some of the agents’ car tires.

According to the community, the protest ended that same day after the Regional Police Chief went to a neighbouring town to collect money to compensate the vendors for the damage to their merchandise. That evening, the six agents filed a complaint with the Federal Public Prosecutor, alleging they had been kidnapped for several hours by the protestors.

More than four months after the event, on 3 August 2006, Jacinta was arrested and taken to the Federal Attorney General’s Office. At the time she was told she was going to be questioned about the felling of a tree but only when she was taken to prison did she find out that she was being accused of kidnapping the agents, along with two other women.

The only evidence against Jacinta was a photo in the local newspaper taken when she was walking behind the crowd of protestors. In their original statements on 27 March 2006, the federal agents made no reference to Jacinta Marcial. Only a month later, when shown the photo from the local newspaper, did the agents accuse Jacinta of involvement in the alleged crime. No other evidence to prove her involvement was ever presented and the federal agents were never required to appear during the trial proceedings to substantiate their claim or confirm her identification.

At the time, Jacinta spoke very little Spanish and did not understand what was happening. She was not provided with an interpreter and the state-appointed public defender never spoke to her to explain her rights or defence. Jacinta said he just sat down in the corner of the room and said nothing while she was pressed to sign papers she did not understand.

Speaking with an Amnesty International researcher who visited her in jail, Jacinta said: “The first night in my cell it was raining and it was very cold with the bars open onto the main courtyard and at that moment I felt bad because I knew that I hadn’t done anything wrong and I was in prison. And yes, I started to cry, I cried and I asked myself “what now?” And when I heard doors opening I thought perhaps they’ve come to let me out, and I would stand up and look through the bars to see if someone was coming to let me out, but they never did.”

On 17 July 2009 the National Human Rights Commission concluded that there were serious irregularities and fabricated evidence in Jacinta’s case. Jacinta remains in prison pending the outcome of a retrial.

More information regarding Jacinta Marcial’s story, see: http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/AMR41/041/2009/en

This is His Excellency The President of the republic of Kenya 2040

YOUR GUIDE TO THE CENSUS

2009-08-23T08:32:00.003+03:00

A population census is the process of collecting,compiling,evaluating,analysing and publishing demographic,social and/or economic data pertaining to all persons in a country or a well delimited part of a country.

On the night of August 24th 2009,Kenya will hold its fifth National Population and Housing Census as an independent country.

Since 1969,kenya is among the few countries in Africa that have carried out a population and housing census every ten years.

The census provides us with a window to our current realities and provides us with the information we require to embrace the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

The counting of people is a universal exercise and virtually every country in the world carries a census albeit in varying intervals.

Information gathered from the census is an integral requirement for the development planning process and management of the affairs of a country.The statistics will tell us of our current status and can be used to provide information on how we can move on where we intend to go.

The census data is useful to the private sector for appraising market conditions and for making informed investment decisions.For example it is important for estimating customer demand which depend among other factors,on size,composition and geographical distribution of the population.The census data is also widely used in conducting social and economic research.
As examples of usage of data,the census is designed to meet variousdata needs such as:

The basis of updating population data bases up to the lowest level of administrative unit.
Valuable input in monitoring the progress of implementation of vision 2030 and for achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDG)
Basis of preparing population projections.
Benchmark data for studying the direction and trend of population changes.
Access to hospitals,VCT centres and schools.
Access to the use of ICT and mobile phones.
Access to water and sanitation.

IMPORTANCE OF THE CENSUS

The censs provides a statistical snapshot of our country and its people.A vast majority of all countries regularly carry out a census to collect important information about the social and economic situation of the people living in its various regions.

CONFIDENTIALITY

All information collected will be confidential and used for planning and research only.All census officials will swear an "Oath of secrecy"as embodied in the Statistics Act 2006.The Oath forbids census officials to divulge the information collected to unauthorized persons.

ETHNIC AND RELIGIOUS COMPOSITIONS

Yes,information on tribe/ethnicity will be collected due to its statistical and cultural value.
The value lies not so much in the numbers,but in the label/attribute.Ethnic origin data paint a picture of Kenya's cultural diversity and provide insight into the changing in-migration patterns and increasing diversity.Governments,community groups,ethnic and cultural organizations,school boards,hospitals,and researchers use ethnic data to assess the
social-economic characteristics of people of different backgrounds.

A number of quality assurance measures are in place to ensure complete and accurate information is collected.Qualified and well trained senior supervisors and supervisors will will control quality at the field level,while experts and key stakeholders from vrious census committees will oversee the exercise nationally.Additionally,an independent team of experts in census taking is expected to monitor the exercise nationally.

KENYANS IN DIASPORA

Household members will be asked some questions about their relatives living abroad.

RELEASE DATE

It is expected that preliminary results will be released by end of December 2009,with full reports on the various aspects of the census expected in the next year.

ON THE DAY

Time:Counting of people will start on the night of 24th August 2009 and continue upto 31st August when counting is scheduled to end.People will be counted with reference to where they spent the night of the 24th August.

It is expected that enumerators will spend about 30minutes in each house,though this may be shorter or longer depending on the size of the household.

Security:The security agencies are fully involved and are part of the national and district census committees.Enumerators will have official identity cards and T-shirts for ease of identification.Also they have been recruited from where they live therefore,they are people who are known by the locals.Enumerators will also be accompanied by village elders or headmen who are well known by the households.

If you are not counted:It may not be possible to reach everyone everywhere on the night of 24th August.The census teams will proceed with enumeration throughout the week,but all information will refer to the night of 24th August-census reference night.Those not enumerated by August 31st should report to the local provincial administrative office.However care must be taken to ensure that you have indeed not been enumerated.It is not uncommon for members who are momentarily away from their households to be enumerated in absentia.

(This is information from the government of Kenya)

This is His Excellency The President of the republic of Kenya 2040

I need my Kenya:The TJRC (Truth Justice and Reconciliation commission) and the Hague

2009-08-07T13:56:00.003+03:00

Retired President Moi has warned that the Truth Justice and Reconciliation Commission could divide the country.He further argues that “Kenya is not South Africa, and the public may be unable to handle the fallout from divisive issues of land and past skirmishes,”

This is just one among the many arguments put for or against the formation of the TJRC as compared to the Local special tribunal and vise versa.

Okay,some strongly claim justice can only be achieved through the Hague route,this term Justice is being too complex to be understood by many,for example the dwell on Restorative justice and Retributive justice,they forget Justice as a whole cannot be conclusively achieved if all its four aspects are not taken into account.

I stood against the Hague because there is no way on earth Retributive justice can heal a nation,believe me you it will just open new enemy patterns and this is dangerous in a country that is plunged with a very high level of economic inequality (this is mostly the catalyst to major conflicts).
Even the Special courts would have been a better bet than the Hague if only our legislators had agreed to amend the clauses that encouraged Impunity in the Executive.

So what?

Do we need Retributive justice,Restorative justice,Procedural justice or Distributive justice?

I would say If you have been wronged, consider carefully what kind of justice you are really seeking.

If you are the wrong-doer and others are seeking justice against you, seek first to ensure distributive justice.

A question may be asked why people are put in prison. If it is to prevent them re-offending, then it is restorative justice. If it is to punish them, then it is retributive justice. Sadly, this has proven a poor method of prevention of injustices because it is not clear what role it plays.

At the end of the day,we Kenyans are to blame,the law is there,we knew the law had been broken and we accepted the status quo,in Signing the National accord,Raila or Kibaki never signed it for Duncan Mikae or you,they signed it to reach a compromise,this accord was a law made to cover a breaking of a another Law (stolen elections),I don’t say this was bad because at the end of the day it was the most honourable thing they did because it saved lives,so my point is we accepted to have the two principles and we also accepted to live together.

That was then,so if anyone comes up now and wants to convict a post poll violence financier or whoever,this person is not relevant in my eyes,to me it seems he or she wants to overwrite the National accord and assume that Kenya was a peaceful state or he or she wants to break down the government because it is only after we accept that the Kibaki presidency is an illegal one and the coalition government an extra unwanted government that we can now stand up to prosecute reprimand and do anything with the “so called” post election architects.

To me Kenya needs Reconciliation efforts that are geared towards reducing or killing of the hatred that we saw in 2007/2008,I don’t see why the TJRC mandate should be changed to give TJRC prosecutorial powers or any other powers that can make it another court or police department,we also don’t need the Hague or the special tribunal,we ONLY need KENYA.

This is His Excellency The President of the republic of Kenya 2040

POVERTY IS NOT NATURAL,OR INEVITABLE,BUT A RESULT OF DECISIONS.ADD YOUR VOICE TO OUR CAMPAIGN

2009-06-26T11:39:00.003+03:00

Poverty is not simply about the economy. It’s not just about money or economic growth. Poverty is insecurity because of the threat of forced eviction or violence. It is exclusion from basic services. It is discrimination and the denial of justice. It is world leaders and corporations ignoring the voices they don’t want to hear, and not being held accountable for the human rights violations that keep people poor We are collecting your opinions on the biggest human rights issues facing the world to publish them. We want to connect people to each other and to their governments.

DEMAND DIGNITY NOW

This is His Excellency The President of the republic of Kenya 2040

Help Sharon Chepkirui

2009-05-30T12:20:00.002+03:00

1. Her nose and ears were chopped by her husband after a domestic quarrel

2. 20 year old Sharon was locked in her house until last week when a well wisher rescued her.

3. She looks terrible and needs reconstructive surgery that will cost Ksh: 200,000 at Kenyatta hospital.

Check here and see if you can Help Sharon Chepkirui

This is His Excellency The President of the republic of Kenya 2040

Sharon Chepkirui's Odeal

2009-05-30T12:06:00.001+03:00

This statement by TABITHA NJOROGE is an example of how our sisters are suffering..

Please read as she explains Sharon Chepkirui's Odeal.

"On Saturday the 23rd of this month as l read Saturday Nation newspaper, l came across a story done by Kwamchetsi about a lady whose nose and ears were chopped by her husband after a domestic quarrel. I was very disheartened and disturbed and was compiled to find out the details of the story and the state of that lady. I went to COVAW on Monday and spoke to one of the officers there by the name of Carol Waiganjo who gave me the shocking details of the battered lady. Sharon Chepkiru i(20yrs old) was brought to Nairobi 3 weeks ago from Kericho to Nereo Chepkorir to work for her as a househelp. Nereo was shocked to see the state that Sharon was in and kept her in her house until last week when she took her to COVAW to seek any assistance for Sharon, since she is in bad health and can’t even work and has nowhere else to go. From Carol’s interview with both Sharon and Nereo, Carol was able to establish that Sharon was battered by her husband in March last year. She was taken to Kericho general hospital by good Samaritans where they only gave her fast aid, the wounds have since healed, though she looks terrible and needs reconstructive surgery that will cost Ksh: 200,000 at Kenyatta hospital. She has lost her self esteem because she ties a head scarf quite low near her nose to hide the scars and she keeps looking down as she doesn’t want people looking at her, she doesn’t speak much as it was Nereo who was speaking for her. All she had to say to Carol was “Hi mambo tumezoea na ni kawaida” which means she as reconciled to domestic sexual violence and accepts it as normal. One question am left wondering is could it be that domestic violence in Kericho is more rampant? Sharon’s husband was arrested then and has since been released and he is a free man, probably now married to another woman who he is likely to assault or is already assaulting. Carol could only give me Nereo’s cell number to try reach Sharon, l have tried calling that number continuously but it’s off since yesterday. I will keep calling it till l find them and l also left my contact at COVAW just incase Nereo and Sharon shows up again. I will keep you all update on this case because l must see and find ways of helping Sharon. She also needs counseling. Anybody in this forum who can offer Sharon counseling services? I will also pick up Sharon’s husband case with FIDA to follow-up. Justice must prevail."

This is His Excellency The President of the republic of Kenya 2040

MY SILENT SPEECH

2009-05-30T11:59:00.003+03:00

That first day,
I wanted you when i spoke to you,
I wanted to hear your voice again,
Over and over again,
I can only hope your affection,
Continues to grow

I admit it,
I am excited,
I reach my hand through the phone,
you're always out of reach;
Is now my silent speech,
But I want you to know,
Behind it all is a true heart

The time slows down,
it seems to crawl,
I know that time will come,
I have to wait for another day,
I must wait,
For you i must

I sit hopelessly in my bed,
Waiting for you to call,
Till it's time for me to shut my eyes;
Then i meet you in my dreams,
And i kiss u my angel,
After all in spirit i am with you.

This is His Excellency The President of the republic of Kenya 2040

A conversation between a lazy minister,a Kenyan youth and the police commissioner:

2009-04-04T20:29:00.001+03:00

"Muhoho is 71 and still productive"The lazy minister said.

"When are you going to stop recycling grandfathers and give us jobs?" The young kenyan asked.

"After We have finished our Quatar deal and many other unfinished businesses"The Lazy minister answered.

"We are going to demonstrate" The young man Shouted.

"Demonstrate and we will hit you you with live bullets,Walahii" The police commissioner warned.

This is His Excellency The President of the republic of Kenya 2040

What should be done to end Violence against Women? Please sign the Guestbook and tell me.

2009-03-29T10:02:00.001+03:00

This is His Excellency The President of the republic of Kenya 2040

Paid blogging http://www.payingpost.com?xyz=676

2009-03-24T12:48:00.003+03:00

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This is His Excellency The President of the republic of Kenya 2040

Payingpost,a place for serious bloggers

2009-03-24T12:22:00.004+03:00

While on my daily activities on facebook,i realized a friend had joined Payingpost,a place for bloggers and advertisers to benefit mutually,i immediately signed up on Payingpost and am sure i stand to gain alot from this vibrant idea.
Dear friend,dont be left out,join paying post today.

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This is His Excellency The President of the republic of Kenya 2040

Violence against women is unacceptable

2009-03-21T11:17:00.001+03:00

Violence against women is any act of gender-based violence that results in, or may result in, physical, sexual or mental harm or suffering to women, including threats of such, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life.

Change is a responsibility and is within the power of an individual.

I believe we can change the way things are done, we can end Violence against Women We can stop the habitual and socially ingrained violence that mars lives, destroys health, perpetuates poverty and prevents us from achieving women’s equality and empowerment..

This is His Excellency The President of the republic of Kenya 2040

Kenya: Amnesty International calls for immediate investigation into execution-style killings of human rights activists

2009-03-11T11:03:00.002+03:00

6 March 2009

Amnesty International today called on the Kenyan government to investigate immediately yesterday’s execution-style killings of two human rights activists.

The two men were shot dead in their car while stopped in traffic in the centre of Nairobi. It appeared to be a coordinated ambush. At least two gunmen fled the scene, according to eyewitnesses.

Oscar Kamau Kingara and Paul Oulu both worked with the Oscar Foundation Free Legal Aid Clinic (the Oscar Foundation), campaigning against illegal killings by the police and for the police to respect human rights in their security operations against alleged members of the Mungiki – a government-banned group operating in parts of Nairobi and central Kenya.

The Oscar Foundation has filed complaints against the Kenyan government in court, and called for investigations into illegal killings by police of people suspected of being members of Mungiki.

“Kenya must not become a place where it is unsafe to be a human rights defender. The Kenyan authorities should make it clear that attacks against those who promote human rights are completely unacceptable and that anyone who carries out such attacks will be brought to justice.”

The shooting followed a live television broadcast of a statement by a government spokesperson, Alfred Mutua, stating: "Mungiki has an NGO by the name of Oscar Foundation, which they use to try and get funds from overseas.... It is a front so that they can be able to carry out their activities”.

“It is unacceptable for the Kenyan government to make statements suggesting that opposition to illegal killings by the police amounts to support for banned groups,” said Erwin van der Borght. “The government should make it clear that this is not the case, and pledge support and protection for anyone doing legitimate human rights work – even if it amounts to criticism of government practice.”

Notes to editors:

Amnesty International, the Kenyan National Commission on Human Rights and other Kenyan human rights organisations have documented the extra-judicial execution of hundreds of alleged Mungiki members by Kenyan security forces. On 27 February 2009, following a fact-finding mission in Kenya, the UN Special rapporteur on extra-judicial, arbitrary or summary executions issued a statement condemning these killings and calling for police perpetrators to be brought to justice. He also called for the resignation of the Police Commissioner and the Attorney-General of Kenya.

The Mungiki group is mainly active in Nairobi and parts of central Kenya. Group members say that they are guided by traditional religious and moral beliefs and the group claims to have a role in maintaining law and order and the running of the public transport industry in parts of Kenya.

Alleged members have demanded "protection fees" from owners of public service vehicles and been implicated in killings and the assault of members of the public.

Leaders of the group have publicly alleged that the group has tacit support from prominent government officials in the current and previous governments, but have so far not named any.

The previous government banned the group on 8 March 2002. At the time, the then-Commissioner of Police is reported to have categorized Mungiki as one of the "perpetrators of lawlessness and insecurity in the country. It is illegal and Kenyans are advised to keep away from them and their activities. Adherents to the group will be arrested and charged in court."

This is His Excellency The President of the republic of Kenya 2040