THE PARTY IS OVER: COULD IT HAVE A PHYRRIC VICTORY?

THE PARTY IS OVER: COULD IT HAVE A PHYRRIC VICTORY?

In every contest, there has to be a winner… he joy and jubilation that comes with winning is often great but one has to evaluate what kind of Victory they are celebrating. 

In 279 BC during the Pyrrhic War Greek King Pyrrhus of Epirus’, army suffered irreplaceable casualties in defeating the Romans at Heraclea in 280 BC and Asculum in 279 BC during the Pyrrhic War. The victory had such a devastating cost that it was tantamount to defeat.   "If we are victorious in one more battle with the Romans, we shall be utterly ruined." Pyrrhus was quoted to have said.

What am I driving at? Homa Bay County had scored and had been one of the well performing counties in the Country.  However, not so very good news is coming from the HCG of late there is a lot of infighting and serious allegations against many of the county officials. Many a Homa Bay resident are now complain of H. E. the governor  dishing out  plum positions to his cronies (as political) and majority of the officials holding influential offices are accused of conflict of interest and grand.

I’d rather someone accuse me of anything but not issue of integrity due to the negatively it can impact on ones reputation. Robert Renne and Joost Elffers see it as the cornerstone of power. He says thus “Reputation is the cornerstone of power.  Through reputation alone you can intimidate and win; once you slip, however, you are vulnerable, and will be attacked on all sides.  Make your reputation unassailable.”  The repute of HGC is wanting and thus it could make it vulnerable to attacks just as the ones we have been hearing about from within and without

Be as it may, I may conclude that the party is over and this Victory may make or break H.E. Dr. Syprian Awiti politically. Homa Bay County could as well make History as the first to be put under the Central Government. This may be a win for the retrogressive forces that are anti devolution and development of The Luo Nation. The governor should not let victory get into his head.

By

Brandon Chuchu

University of Nairobi Decides.

University of Nairobi decides.

This morning, students from the University of Nairobi campuses get to the ballot box to decide on who fits best to lead them through the year.

And in what may be termed as a turn of events in Campus elections, this year’s election has been termed as very impressive and magnificent. Just as witnessed in the 2013 General elections, contestant’s superiority in terms of resources and finances ‘played its course in the SONU election campaigns with contestants using very flashy vehicles and fuel guzzlers as well as other campaign materials.

It was indeed a great surprise to many Nairobi city residents and workers who in the past few days have been treated to a very rare happening during the campus elections. Major highways and skyscrapers, around the University of Nairobi main campus, Kabete campus, Chiromo campus and Parklands campus witnessed a very rare show as SONU contestants made their way into the various campuses to seek votes.

Just like the 2013 General elections, a number of students have declared interest for various positions. And in what is deemed as a tight race between contestants without a clear winner, Jim Akatch  will have to battle it out with ,Dan Koech and  Beena Mburu for the  Secretary General position while Babu who is deemed to win the Chairmanships’position, will still have to get opposition from  JN Kariuki, and Philbert Kongola .The Vice Chairperrson position on the other hand has once again attracted three contestants ; Irine Kendi , Ms B Chebet and Edith Mwirigi who will have to face off at the ballot box too.

And in what may be seen as a resemblance of the national election campaigns, contestants formed coalitions and wooed voters to their sides during their campaign period that ended yesterday.  The campaign mechanization and machinery used were similar to those of the general elections.

contestants and their coalition trans versed various campuses, holding rallies to woo voters.  The various election coalitions that were formed were that of Kariuki-Jebet Alliance that is also the ‘Jubilee Alliance’ look alike with the Red and Yellow colours as there theme colours. Chairperson top contestant, Babu, linked up with Irine Kendi while Philbert Kongola linked up with Edith Mwirigi to form their coalition.

But even as the election get underway, nothing is left to chance and Just like every National elections, the University electoral board has put strict measures in place to curb electoral irregularities. Speaking early this week when he met the contestants, Prof. M.A Jama, chairman of the SONU electoral Commission, stated that, “Violation of any rules and regulations and or rules and regulations governing the organization conduct and discipline of the student of University of Nairobi will lead to appropriate disciplinary action including automatic disqualification from the electoral process.”

Insecurity causing cracks in Jubilee Government.

Insecurity causing cracks in the Digital Team (Jubilee Government.)

As political players within the Jubilee coalition begin taking sides and holding their cards close to their chests, the sceptical public and party members are left to watch supremacy battles take charge of what might just be but a well-organised game between the two coalition partners; TNA and URP.

The coalition that rode to power on a platform of fighting corrupt cartels and insecurity among other promises is currently having sleepless night as the country is slowly degenerating into a gangster’s den. Funnily enough, since the coalition assumed office, street families have returned to the city and the lighting program has also been neglected.

The several cases of pick-pocketing, daylight shootouts and frequent muggings at the city centre have left Kenyans wondering what’s next. The terror alert issued two days ago coupled with increase in theft cases as well as grenade planting in most areas and towns including the capital city, is just but a show that the Government had relented on the war against terror and are just waking up from slumber to a surprise that the vice has been on the rise.

The current escalating insecurity that has engulfed the state and that has threatened the activities of the Government and Businesses is a force to reckon with. But even as thugs, assailants, terrorists and other outlaws wreck havoc in the country in recent weeks, the Jubilee Government has been fast to speak and maintain that it’s up to task to maintain security and ensure safety of its citizens.

As the Government gets its tools ready for the war against the assailants and Alshabab militia, there has been a notion that the country’s insecurity is just but a war between the two faiths; Christianity and Islam.

Leaders from the two faiths have recently held joint meetings and have come up to rubbish these claims, maintaining that the insecurity in the country is a vice that has to be fought at all costs by the Government instead of taking chances at the expense of the citizens lives.

However seemingly, the insecurity problem is digging deep into the ruling coalition and causing divisions among its leaders. Recently, Muslim leaders led by the Majority Leader Aden Duale threatened to quit the coalition if the Government continues with its activities of discriminating against the Muslims and Somalis. The Coalition leaders from the Islam faith have maintained that they are targeted and have shown dismay and are thinking of re-assessing their support for the Jubilee Government.

The Garissa Township Member of Parliament has also stated that while they support the Governments efforts towards fighting terrorism, they are totally against situations in which their members (Somalis and Muslims) are arrested indiscriminately.

Consequently, 7 members of North Eastern Parliamentary Group including Senator Billow Kerrow have promised to down their tools and resign from the coalition. Speaking in Eastleigh, Senator Billow stated that Somalis are not terrorists and that Eastleigh residents are likewise not supporters and sympathisers of terrorism.  

Jubilee marks first year in office.

Jubilee marks first year in office.

Being at the helm of power comes along with its responsibilities and duties. Similarly, attaining power status comes along with its challenges as well as with criticism; both positive and negative. This case is indeed not different to the Kenyan Jubilee case.

With Kenya attaining its Jubilee, making 50 years since independence, it was indeed hopeful that most of the problems being faced by the nationals were to be solved but funnily enough, the nationals are still left to experience the same problems for 50 years now.

The Jubilee Government celebrates its first year in office this month April. The Coalition Government led by the UhuRuto duo, came into power amid certain controversies and harsh criticisms starting from the ICC cases that they face as suspects.  The coalition that assumed office on 9^th April, has faced a myriad of challenges beginning from the teachers, lecturers and nurses strikes early last year, high unemployment rates, escalating insecurity, old corruption deals terror attacks alongside other problems. However these has made Kenyans have a spell of doubt in the Government as seemingly some of the corrupt deals have been inherited by the incumbent political heads.

The coalition successfully assumed office after luring Kenyans with goodies; good governance, employment opportunities, tackling insecurity, fighting corruption, economic growth, regional and gender balance in appointments and uplifting living conditions.

To date, the insecurity rates as well as terror attacks has been on the rise, with the worst being the September 22, Westgate terror attack that claimed more than 60 innocent lives. The country has also had several killings in Busia, Nyakach, in Mombasa where there has been several shootings with the latest being the shooting of a Muslim Sheikh, Makaburi. With the Alshabab, gaining more access into the country and planning certain terror attacks and even planting grenad3es at certain points, the Jubilee coalition has maintained that it won’t relent in fighting insecurity and terrorism and it has made this its top agenda and this has begun as the security personnel are at the moment hunting for illegal immigrants in the country.

Seemingly, the old corruption deals has been inherit5ed by the top Government officials and the President just recently redeployed his office personnel’s to other areas citing corruption. Seemingly, the Rift Valley Leaders led by Alfred Keter and Isaac Ruto have maintained that there was no transparency in issuing of the standard rail gauge tender as well as there has been catcalls that the laptop tender was messed up with during the tendering process. Seemingly, the Government is not working towards fighting corruption and I’m afraid that Kenyans will be treated to more of these well planned cynical games and an iceberg of the largest evil schemes.

To date, the public perception of the Government has significantly changed and even the citizens are left wondering what are next after all the events that have taken place. The sceptical public have been nagged by the legislators who work for their own benefits. Surprisingly, the tyranny of numbers has been evident even in the passing of the bills. The so much talked about VAT bill was passed due to what I term as the, ‘Tyrannical influence’ since the Government was seen as on the loosing side.

The President has decried and admitted that there are problems and that efforts are in place to deal with the problems starting from capacitating the police through police reforms so as to effectively deal with insecurity and terror attacks.

However much President Uhuru’s  Government has been criticized of trying to kill devolution, Its of importance to credit the jubilee Government with embracing the police reforms that is currently underway as well as backing devolution as all the 47 counties are now operational. The President has also maintained good external links with other Government’s and leaders both continentally and globally.

The Youths and women have been deemed and have remained the greatest and biggest beneficiaries of the Government through the issuance and rolling out of the Uwezo fund project that seeks to empower the two groups.

The Government has work on progress, but still may not realize its promises of economic growth due to the large national debt. This is evident as there is very little money to carry out most projects and the World Bank has declined to offer loans to Kenya as the debt has outgrown to more than 50% of the country’s GDP. The condition and state of the nation has become serious and this has even seen the president, his deputy as well as cabinet secretaries take a 20% salary cut as well as reduce the miscellaneous spending like the office tea so as to boost the money available for investment. 

UhuRuto Government has also encouraged investors to come into the country and the counties have signed several investments with other western countries with Homa Bay and Machakos county signing multibillions projects.

The President has also made the State house accessible by the Media, a place that was in the past regarded as only the Presidents' and could only be accessible to media and other leaders during the drama and music national winners perfomance and during presidents briefing. To date, the media house interview the President on various occasions

and topics, something that wasnt in existence in the previous regimes.