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23:44
From: You Missed This
Read This Entry & More At You Missed This
Following the ugly skirmishes, angry protests and acrimonious exchanges on Saturday that resulted to the suspension of the announcement of results from Thursday’s General Election, the country wakes up today with even more anxiety on wanting to know who will be Kenya's president.
As at the time of suspension, only 38,000 votes separated the two leading presidential candidates with President Kibaki trailing his challenger. Observers feel that even after overnight negotiations, it is unlikely that the audit of all the 210 constituency elections files will yield some agreement between the PNU and ODM.
As a Kenyan citizen, I am an interested party in this saga. My unsolicited advise to Kivuitu and company is to order a repeat of the presidential poll; and in collaboration with the police and political parties, put in place a strict supervisory structure on the poll. This proposed repeat poll should NOT be a run-off, but a repeat of the poll only involving ALL registered presidential candidates. I am not sure about the logistics involved but in my opinion, the poll should take place within one week.
It is obvious that there was some fraud on the presidential poll as it is unbelievable that, with only a clear lead in one province and slight lead in another, President Kibaki IS AT PAR with Raila Odinga who has a clear lead in 5 other provinces including the vote rich Rift Valley, Nyanza and Western provinces.
The riots that rocked parts of the country on Saturday will get worse should Kivuitu be naive enough to declare Kibaki president notwithstanding electoral malpractices in Kibaki's stronghold areas.
As matters stand now, the law places all powers on the ECK and its Chairman - and as he was repeatedly informed yesterday, the fate of this country is in his hands.
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19:48
From: Black Looks
Read This Entry & More At Black Looks
“I keep hearing from white africans [sic] that they know blacks (Africans) since they are from Africa and that they have the mentality of teen agers [sic]. They insist that they are difficult to educate and have hard time [sic] understanding basic procedures. They also claim that blacks are irresponsible and won’t do what is [...]
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15:54
From: Kenyan Pundit
Read This Entry & More At Kenyan Pundit
For the anxious folks - there’s no news until tomorrow. No data, no results, nada. TV programming is back to normal - movies, soccer etc.
Unfortunately, innuendo and rumors will fill in the gap between then.
Guys, please keep your comments clean until then and avoid baiting. I understand that all [...]
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12:46
From: Kenyan Pundit
Read This Entry & More At Kenyan Pundit
First, some housekeeping.
For those who’ve addressed me as Mr., Mister, “man”, “brother” etc. - I know si kwa ubaya but please note that I am female - it is important for me to fight stereotypes against women.
Second, I’m a bit miffed that this whole fiasco has jettisoned the family’s plans to go [...]
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12:07
From: You Missed This
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21h20 local time, 29th December 2007
Presidential poll results announced by ECK earlier today in favour of President Kibaki differ greatly from what the ODM officials tallied in their own polling station count yesterday and today.
Journalists have apparently been able to assemble the accredited agents at a secret location in Meru town where these sensational revelations have been made.
For instance, they claim that the votes in Nithi constituency were actually 71,404 in favour of Kibaki but the ECK announced 95,693 at KICC this afternoon resulting to protests from those attending the press briefing.
The agents further add that the votes in Tigania West were 33,304, but the ECK announced 37,688. The story is the same in South Imenti where actual results were 56,144 in favour of Kibaki, but the ECK announced 75,441. Kibaki votes in Imenti South were actually 78,684 , yet the ECK announced 98,684!
Luckily, these announcements have now been halted before the ECK announced those from Imenti North which were actually 45,029. It goes without saying this was going to be marked-up by several thousand.
All political party representatives are mandated to sign FORM 16A to show their agreement for the results announced by the ECK Returning Officers at the polling stations. The ECK ROs also counter-sign the same form to endorse the counting. It is this FORM 16A that is considered as "certified results" which the main ECK head office uses to announce official results to the nation. Most of the results announced this afternoon WERE NOT on the basis of FORM 16A because ECK ROs were out of reach through out the night and the better part of today, strangely, having already filed civic and parliamentary results!
Not only are the individuals who doctored these results breaking the law, they are also depriving Kenyan people a fundamental democratic right.
According to the agents, some of whom were locked out of counting halls, they will not accept the ECK announced results because the figures are not only makred up, they seemingly do not tally with parliamentary and civic results. The highly intimidated agents reported the matter to the Meru OCPD but he was apparently unable to offer any help but asked the aggrieved agents not to "please cause for us any trouble in this area."
If these allegations are proven to be true by ECK, it will be a sad day for Kenya and a huge embarrassment for President Kibaki and the PNU.
The country goes to sleep tonight with plenty of anxiety.
Kibaki's remarkable come-back in catching up with ODM presidential candidate was evident as at the time there were about 70 presidential constituency results yet to be filed although parliamentary results were filed on 28th December 2007. At that time, the Kibaki was trailing the ODM candidate by more than one million votes and most of his cabinet ministers within and without Eastern and Central provinces had already been voted out.
ODM Agents from other disputed constituencies, especially Central province, have yet to surface.
Keep it Kumekucha.
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11:48
From: More to Life
Read This Entry & More At More to Life
And these goes to both ODM and PNU supporters. There are posts such as this calling for bloodshed should Kibaki win. Why? What does democracy mean to all of you people? It means that as far as voters go, some will have favorable outcomes and others not so favorable outcomes. democracy always has victims. And you should always be aware of this as you head out to vote. These results are not shocking. They agree very much with preliminary polls that were carried before the elections were held. We all knew it was going to be close. So grow up and wait for the ECK. Those claiming rigging, if you don't have tangible evidence, stop propagating propaganda! You're directly contributing to any bloodshed that will occur here next! Please note that most ODM supporters were ok with the results when Odinga was ahead by far. Truth be told, his strongholds had been tallied and Kibakis had not yet. This current figures following those should not be surprising, shocking or alarming to anyone with any common sense and understanding of the process. if you must edify yourself about the process then do so, but don't make it your place to create victims of this elections. The counting stations are filled with observers from all over and have every party and candidate represented. So if you're claiming rigging, once again, I say prove it. Otherwise shut up and promote peace. No one can call this election yet. It is too close to call. So sit back and let ECK work. The process is slow because there are that many voices to be heard, from every party. And every dispute starts a counting vote all over. Why the panic over the final result? Why not have the confidence that you're going to win? And the common sense to let peace prevail if you don't? Don't forget, the poorer you are, the likelier you are to be caught in a skirmish riot or melee. You are likely to be injured or to die. And it is also highly likely that you are the sole bread winner, with no savings in the bank. people with money incite, then they sit at home and are safe, some with body guards; and you do their dirty work. The results here today are of no use to anyone if there is bloodshed in the streets. you won't have a place to go to work, hence you can't eat and seriously neither one of these two candidtaes in power is going to be that bad for you in a peaceful environment, as much as they arent really going to do anything for you on a personal note should they win. So what it is, is "Isn't that serious." Get to understanding your priorities. It's an election, and it's overall effect on you personally unless you lose your life or a loved one is not going to be that significant. That's the truth. Give it a chance to set you free!
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11:30
From: Black Looks
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When a giver of life
gives hers to the world, we should
listen for, and trace, the ingredient in her
that carries forward — it’s in the way
she lasts like a river, even at this late hour
past life and its impediments, past
frail moments and grand ones,
a child’s death there, a grandchild’s [...]
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10:47
From: You Missed This
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It is emerging now that out of 35 member strong of President Kibaki's so called Government of National Unity government, only 9 members have made it back to the August House following the 27th December 2007 general election. They are:- - Wilfred Machage
- Amos Kimunya
- Kiraitu Murungi
- Chirau Ali Mwakwere
- John Njoroge Michuki
- Noah Wekesa
- Soita Shitanda
- Mohammed Kuti
- Martha Karua
It therefore means, in the unlikely event that PNU wins the election, new faces like KANU's Uhuru Kenyatta and possibly ODM-K's Kalonzo Musyoka and Mutula Kilonzo may be named as full cabinet ministers. However, Kibaki's government, even if it includes ODM-K and KANU members of parliament will have to contend with a minority in parliament because the latest MP's breakdown show the ODM has more than 96 MPs so far, against PNUs 35, ODM-K's 15 and KANU's 7. Whether a PNU government will conduct business smoothly. Other parties affiliated to PNU with seats won so far are Safina which has 9 seats and New FORD-K 2. Nationally, 21 seats have yet to be announced. Nairobi, with eight constituencies has won 5 seats (Langata, Westlands, Embakasi, Kasarani, Starehe) while PNU has only won 1 seat (Dagoretti). The Kamkunji seat is hotly disputed and the ECK has announced the vote will have to be repeated.
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9:53
From: You Missed This
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19h00 Saturday 29th December 2007
The ECK will announce Kenya's new president tomorrow (Sunday 30th December 2007).
This, according to Commissioner Tumwa, is to allow 29/30 December night for the ECK to verify all the 210 constituency files and announce the winner after reviewing all the files and ascertaining that the information therein is correct.
This is the decision of the ECK reached after deep consultation between the 21 commissioners and the Chairman. Each political party/presidential candidate will be allowed to have two agents together with the ECK commissioners during tonight's critical review sojourn.
It is not clear how the Kamukunji and Maragwa constituency files, which were rejected by the ECK earlier, will be reviewed or verified.
There seem to be a lot of animosity beween ODM and PNU although some media houses, like the Nation Media Group, have already started running peace campaigns in the TV stations.
Skirmishes, looting and violence have spread all over the country and unconfirmed reports reaching this blogger indicates several people have been killed while tens more are in hospital nursing injuries. People in Kibera and Mathare slums waved pangas and other crude weapons while others in the Nairobi CBD stoned cars, looted shops, lit huge bonfires and burned down informal settlement homes.
The US Ambassador was interviewed a few minutes ago and appealed to the political class to accept ECK results and reach out to their opponents so as to heal the country.
19h07: ECK press briefing ends with the above agreement. No further election results will be announced until the ECK and political party agents have audited the election results.
Any further developments shall be posted here.
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9:21
From: Kenyan Pundit
Read This Entry & More At Kenyan Pundit
The latest ECK briefing just got down. The briefing was very chaotic, with lots of interruption, ODM claimed that the Nithi numbers had changed 3 times each time getting higher and that the results don’t tally with what their presiding officers had on the ground - no time to go into the nitty gritty. [...]
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7:17
From: You Missed This
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16h00 local time
This blogger just witnessed the ECK press briefing breaking down after agents (mostly from ODM) demanded that the ECK Chairman should come down and announce the winner of the presidential poll.
It seems the parliamentary results being announced are deemed to be a way of building President Kibaki's votes towards overtaking those of Raila Odinga.
This blogger is genuinely afraid for this country - and only Mr. Kivuitu can save this country at this point. His arrival at the press conference is awaited.
Updates coming.
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6:52
From: You Missed This
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Vote recount in Kajiado North constituency, represented by Education Minister and former Vice President Professor George Saitoti are on going and nearly completed.
The challenger Rev Moses Ole Sakuda of ODM is currently leading in the recount with 16,642 votes against Saitoti's (PNU) 15,590 votes.
Surprisingly, Kibaki is leading in the presidential vote with 16,542 against Raila's 15,595. The constituency has a total of 107,381 registered voters.
The winner will be known in the next few hours or so.
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6:41
From: Words Much Like Poetry
Read This Entry & More At Words Much Like Poetry
there was once a time,
when i moved through the world
like a sleeper whose mind was filled with constant dreams,
fairy tale lands, happy endings,
and a sun that never set.
then, came the awakening,
like that of ice water upon skin that burns hot with fever,
and my eyes flew open and have since never shut.
the constant dreams came to an end
and, instead of the bright, shining light of my make belief world,
there’s darkness about my soul,
a dark misery caused by love,
or is rather the harsh consequence of love.
o why, dear love,
did this rude awakening have to come about so soon?
o why, dear love, have you gone?
the stench of my misery overwhelms my senses,
and the walls reverberate with the emptiness,
echoing loudly my loneliness.
all that is left is the pain, such pain, such pain!
it floods the chambers of my heart
and constricts my lungs ‘til i can hardly breathe,
and the fear.
i fear i am inept at that thing called love.
and, so fearing, i embrace the dark misery,
the despair;
yet, even as i do so,
i feel hope stirring as time inexorably moves forward
and the promise of new love
brightens the distant horizon.
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6:39
From: Words Much Like Poetry
Read This Entry & More At Words Much Like Poetry
scars, which were once naked, festering wounds,
unseen to the eye,
are now the visible, blatant declaration
of my cynicism towards that fickle,
less than savory woman that is venus,
goddess of love.
and terrible temptress that she is,
she dangles the hope of new love before me.
in response, i run,
chased by my madness,
which nips at my heels like a deranged dog that
salivates and foams at the mouth,
and whose eyes are glazed with the delight of the chase.
i run.
forever running as a wind of venus’s making
whips and stings and rips open those grotesque welts
of barely healed heart,
so that they bleed afresh at unguarded moments
and refuse to remain those faded reminders of pain
so aptly named scars.
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6:37
From: Words Much Like Poetry
Read This Entry & More At Words Much Like Poetry
was it only last night that i was so young,
in knowledge and in action?
now i lay here, far older than i was yesterday,
soiled and unclean with a filth
that will never wash off my soul.
no longer an innocent,
now, i am among the damned,
and i long for the sunflowers of my youth.
my youth is liberally perfumed with the scent,
a sweet intoxicant that made me dim of wit
and convinced me of an invincibility i did not own.
all too soon, the world, with all its rounded dimensions,
crashed down upon me,
devastating me with one mighty, unforgivable stroke,
and stealing from me my youth.
was it only last night that i was so young?
that i felt so wonderful in my ignorance,
in my innocence.
oh, sweet sunflowers of my youth,
i crave the carefree air that you lent me,
but i no longer breathe as those who have not sinned do,
and with gills grown out of necessity i continue to live,
though i drown in the misery my wisdom has wreaked upon me.
and for what?
a love that blinded me against reason?
a love that i had already scorned?
redemption is beyond me.
were it offered,
i would probably refuse it.
wretches such as i do not deserve paradise,
and it is the scent of light blue and not sunflowers
that will wreathe around me as i descend into the pit hell.
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6:36
From: You Missed This
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PNU have just held a press conference where they have announced that according to their figures President Mwai Kibaki has retained the presidency after getting 4.5 million votes to Raila Odinga's 4.2 milion votes.
A number of PNU leaders including Amos Kimunya, Uhuru Kenyatta and Raphael Tuju held consultations briefly just before Noah Wekesa addressed the press. I know Wekesa well and he looked visibly shaken as he made this announcement.
This press conference was a big mistake as it clearly shows the world for the first time what State House is thinking. It is clear that the game plan here is to hang on to power at all costs.
Their plan will bring nothing but chaos and somebody needs to talk sense into them urgently. You cannot frustrate the will of the people. Not when Kenyans are in the mood they are in, as clearly displayed in the way they voted.
Kibaki's government is now starting to resemble the Kamikaze-type Pakistan government that seems to have had a hand in the assassination of former premier Benazir Bhuto recently as she campaigned ahead of the General election in that country on January 8th next year.
Kenyans have rejected Kibaki (apart from some from his own community and a few neighboring communities), the honorable thing is for him to go home in peace. Why must Kenyan lives be lost before he gets the message?
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6:27
From: Kenyan Pundit
Read This Entry & More At Kenyan Pundit
- I am concerned about reports of poor reporting and ethnic baiting by stations in the rural areas, especially vernacular stations - tensions are high enough as it is.
- I agree with the commenters who say that Kivuitu should have been more responsible during the press conference, his cavalier attitude when people are [...]
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6:22
From: Words Much Like Poetry
Read This Entry & More At Words Much Like Poetry
as a girl, i made choices that have affected me
as a woman.
i lost my innocence to a one i did not love,
i drifted on an oar less boat down a fermented and distilled river,
i squandered, on demeaning tasks, the intelligence that set me apart,
and took part in two miracles
that have placed upon my shoulders
a burden i was not prepared for.
now, shelved dreams beg to be dusted.
but the bed i made, with its rumpled, tousled sheets,
seems to stretch on forever.
i cannot throw my feet over the edge and stand,
my limbs have grown weak from misuse,
i've lain on this bed too long,
and dusk threatens in the distance,
an eternal night, an end to all things,
or at least, an end to me.
i long for the rose bed,
that answer to my prayers, the accomplishment of my goals
and the return of my pride,
the angels i was bequeathed deserve nothing less,
i cannot wrong them as i was wronged.
life's lessons have taught me well;
else, were for naught
and fool that i am, if i do not learn,
should stay where i lay.
but, for the rose bed, i'll do almost anything.
i'll twist and turn, scrape and claw,
bloody my nails if i must to gain the edge.
stand,
rise,
never fall.
never, never again, fall.
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6:10
From: You Missed This
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The EU and AU observer teams are currently addressing a tension packed press conference in which they are urging calm to prevail "in this great country Kenya" even as skirmishes spread countrywide.
President Kibaki and some of his close ministers are holed up in State House Nairobi awaiting official results announcement by ECK. Raila Odinga's whereabouts are unknown.
The observers are urging restraint and stressing that kenyan citizens and their leaders whould learn to respect the law which in this instance mandates the ECK to undertake the counting and tallying of the votes before announcing the final winner(s).
The ECK are also investigating the sudden high voter turn-out in certain constituencies in Mt. Kenya region. They are concerned that the delay in releasing presidential results from these areas raised their interest, more so because the presidential votes appear to outstrip the sum-total of parliamentary and/or civic seats.
Questions are also being raised as to why tallying of votes was not done as is normally and commonly practiced. ie. Presidential, Parliamentary and Civic, in that order. Former ECK Vice Chairman - Gabriel Mukele - attributes this to pressure from politicians.
Raila Odinga: 4.356m
Mwai Kibaki: 4.009m
Votes still awaited from 21 constituencies. Kivuitu expected to announce results any time now.
Updates to follow.
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5:29
From: You Missed This
Read This Entry & More At You Missed This
I hereby reproduce an article which we carried in Kumekucha more than a year ago. Kindly note that this post has nothing to do with tribal opinions because Mr Ngunyi is a Kikuyu from Nyeri Tuesday, April 04, 2006Will President Kibaki Hand Over Power Peacefully? When former Nation columnist Mutahi Ngunyi boldly said in one of his columns 2 years ago, that he did not think that President Kibaki was capable of handing over power peacefully in the event of losing elections, many people wrote Ngunyi off as an alarmist. Now after recent disturbing developments, including the raid on the Standard newspapers and KTN media houses, it is clear that this is no longer such a far-fetched suggestion. Ironically Mr Ngunyi is now working for the Kibaki administration. What is probably even more disturbing are the powerful forces working around the President. These are the same forces that cancelled a scheduled meeting between Raila Odinga and President Kibaki after the two met at Safari Park Hotel and mutually agreed on such a meeting. This meeting would have been for the better of Kenya and those who cancelled it had their individual needs (which hinge on President Kibaki remaining in power) at the topmost on their minds. Despite some well-laid plans, a defeat for the President is almost certain bearing in mind recent opinion polls. So what happens if the president and his men refuse to hand over power peacefully? What would be the consequences especially when you consider the fact that the wounds created by the referendum of last November are yet to heal? You can find the original post here; [kumekucha.blogspot.com]
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5:07
From: Mentalacrobatics
Read This Entry & More At Mentalacrobatics
The Electoral Commission of Kenya (ECK) needs a strong and experienced press officer and press team to support the ECK chairman, Samuel Kivuitu, or if the ECK have such a team already he needs to let them do their job.
What is the point in having the ECK chairman read out random figures from polling stations around the country in the middle of the night? This can be handled by a press team. Then once we have news of presidential results the ECK chairman flanked by his commissioners can read those results. I also feel that the ECK should let a spokesperson handle the press briefings as Kivuitu’s rambling at press conferences are becoming increasingly shambolic.
Early this afternoon for example, he insulted the Chinese (by saying that anyone who attempts to rig the election will probably only be able to find refuge in China as the west would never grant them asylum), he stated that returning officers who haven’t not returned results should be ready for death by mob, he told journalists off for not being religious as they were reluctant to answer his call for someone to say a prayer at another briefing a few days ago. And all this was in the 5 minutes I caught of the press conference.
To be fair we all say a lot of things that in hindsight can be embarrassing and Kivuitu who has been working flat out with his team and must be exhausted and thus less cautious than normal. This is exactly why a dedicated press team in necessary for such events that last 3 or 4 days.
Another example, the ECK officials at KICC are eager to repeat that they have no idea why results from some areas are yet to arrive (52 constituencies are still to report). They say this over and over again. That is not good enough and a experienced press officer would tell them that they need some information from the ground which can explain what is happening as the tension in Kenya is rising rapidly.
All that said Kivuitu has some random jokes and insights that come with being a mzee that are quite funny like when he told off reporters for running to their computers to do simple sums instead of using mental arithmetic, I nearly turned to look around as that is exactly what my father is always telling me!
 kenyaelection07
© Mentalacrobatics for Mentalacrobatics, 2007. |
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5:01
From: You Missed This
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Report From Kakamega And Mombasa
I have just received the following two reports from Kumekuchans on the ground;
This first one I reproduce verbatim;
Hi kumekucha,
I have been following the latest stories of a chance of rigging in president Kibaki,
But the reaction here in Kakamega has started being violent with people chanting "Kibaki toka" and a fight between the police and the people, no business going on and the tension is very high as people follow the proceedings from KICC with more anxiety of the latest development.
Thats is what i can say for now.
Report from Mombasa
It is difficult to believe that the usually peaceful and quiet city of Mombasa has now degenerated into violence. A Kumekuchan on the ground (danlieve) informs me that he was caught in the city centre in widespread fracas and left the island on foot (he lives on the North Coast). For at least two hours there was no public transport operating anywhere in the city as riots have quickly spread across Kenya's second largest city.
The government's response to this is the usual (dealing with the symptom rather than the disease) my appeal to the President is that he acts quickly and averts disaster.
When a peaceful city like Mombasa has trouble...
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4:38
From: You Missed This
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Even as ODM were holding a press conference to claim victory in the presidential race, my tally as I had indicated in an earlier post clearly shows a Raila victory.
Interestingly the ECK is still giving Kenyans stories about missing returning officers and switched off mobile phones to divert attention from the crux of the matter.
Back to my figures. Assuming an amazingly high average voter turn out countrywide of 60% from approx 14 million voters, that would give you a total vote count of 8.4 million votes meaning that as soon as Raila hit 4 million votes he should have been declared the winner. Available figures show that Raila has accumulated well over 4 million votes.
Having said that, the new ODM government must institute immediate investigations into the strange vote counts in some areas of the country in Western Kenya, Eastern Kenya and the Mount Kenya region so as to prevent any future government allies (including the incoming ODM government) from ever using the same tricks in future elections.
Kumekucha takes this opportunity to congratulate Raila Odinga on being elected the 4th president of Kenya. However while wishing him the best I would like to remind him lest the comfort of State House and the trappings of power make him forget; wembe ni ule ule.
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4:34
From: Mentalacrobatics
Read This Entry & More At Mentalacrobatics
Nairobi is calm but tension is high as everyone waits with baited breath for the Electoral Commission of Kenya (ECK) to announce the results of the presidential poll. There were reports of street battles in central Nairobi along Tom Mboya and Moi Avenues but by the time I got there the streets were empty.
After five days of public holidays covering the Christmas and election period I expected to find downtown Nairobi full of people trying to conduct some business (banking, dry cleaning, household shopping etc.) Instead this is what I got:
Empty streets, boarded up businesses, closed shops. The tension in central Nairobi is unbelievable. People are even talking in whispers. Kenyatta International Conference Centre which is acting as the nerve centre for the ECK is still a fortress.
I have been receiving txt messages all morning which state the ECK is planning on rigging the election. The txts end with the plea that “We need 1 million patriotic Kenyans to march to KICC NOW!” These messages have started to irritate me. I am dealing with them by immediately calling the person who sent it and asking them, “which route are you using into town? I want to join you in the protest.” Of course you will find that the clown is sat at home probably still in their pyjamas. I then give them a quick lecture telling them NOT to send me txt messages imploring me to attend a protest they are not willing to attend themselves and to contact me only when they have reached town. I doubt I will be hearing from them again!
Let me state right now that anyone thinking of marching on KICC better have a plan B. The security forces out there are not in the mood for anything. (It is telling that today’s small protest happened all the way on Tom Mboya and not near KICC, clearly even rowdy people have a sense of self preservation.)
There is so much to talk about this election and I will do that once all the results have come in. The two big stories now are:
The Kenyan public have rejected Kibaki’s cabinet emphatically.
The Kenyan electorate has a habit of kicking out the occasional cabinet minister. What is different this time is that it is big names the so called regional “kings” who can gurantee you a block of seats in parliament that have been sent packing. Roads minister Nyachae who has been in politics for over 40 years and politicsl King of Kisii is out. Kombo, Minister of Local Government and political King of the Bukusu, has also been overthrown. Vice President Moody Awori who has been MP for 25 years was beaten. Education Minister Saitot,i a former minister of Finance and Vice President ,was also sent packing. Even in central province, Kibaki’s stronghold, the electorate had no respect for this cabinet. Defence minister Karume, Kibaki’s closest political ally, was kicked out. Information and Communication minister Mutahi Kagwe was also shown the door. In all at least 20 cabinet members have been rejected by the electorate.
The second big story is that former President Moi is increasingly the angel of political death. The self proclaimed Professor of Politics is now a political disaster as anyone he campaigns for ends up soundly beaten. In 2002 his project was Uhuru Kenyatta’s presidential bid which ended in disaster. This time round he tried to set up a little fiefdom with three of his sons running in adjacent constituencies, all three lost! Including Gideon who was the incumbent in his father’s old seat. On top of that men who used to hold the fate of the nation in their slimly hands, former powerful figures such as Biwott were destroyed at the ballot box. The biggest causality of Moi’s kiss of death looks like it will be Kibaki as Ralia takes the lead in the presidential polls. Moi had tears in his eyes in 2002 when his project failed, I hope he is weeping wherever he is sitting now.
Meanwhile Kenyans wait to hear of the man who will be president.
More pictures on my Flickr page
Check out AfroMusing’s and Kenyan Pundit’s coverage for the latest.
kenyaelection07
© Mentalacrobatics for Mentalacrobatics, 2007. |
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4:08
From: You Missed This
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ODM Presidential Candidate has won Kenya's presidential election according to a press conference addressed by Musalia Mudavadi. As Samuel Kivuiti was reading the latest results at KICC earlier in the day, the ODM were addressing a press conference claiming victory.Official figures earlier released by ECK gave Raila 3,726,247 votes against Mwai Kibaki's 3,416,139 and Kalonzo Musyoka's 346,214 votes. However, at an international press conference addressed by ODM presidential running mate Musalia Mudavida, the ODM said, "In view of the growing anxiety and restlessness in the country over the extended delay... we now call upon the outgoing president to acknowledge and respect the will of the Kenyan people and concede defeat." The press conference indicated that ODM's own independent tallying centres had established that Raila had received 4.2 million votes in his favour in comparison to Kibaki's 3.7million votes. Further reading: BBC Breaking News: Kenya Opposition Claims Victory
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3:30
From: Kenyan Pundit
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I’m quite concerned about the terrible coverage by KBC given its natonwide coverage. Anyone listening to radio, how is that coverage? If it’s just as bad then most Kenyans are in the dark about the results, which is just unacceptable.
- Chaos in Kawangware and Jogoo Road.
The ECK briefing just got [...]
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3:27
From: For Love and Money
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Wow! Kivuitu needs to more serious. This is not the time for casual talk and telling jokes. The country is on the verge of civil unrest!
There is no sleeping until the last vote is tallied. No matter who wins, Kenyans need to relax. Even if Kibaki recaptures, all is not lost. No need for Kenyans to kill each other.
God bless Kenya.
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3:05
From: You Missed This
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11h55 local time Kivuitu says if balance results are not sent in immediately, ECK will have to announce what they have and ignore those individuals who are "sitting on results" of over 50 constituencies. Kivuitu is categorical that ECK will not wait forever! The following constituencies have not filed their results with the ECK and a frustrated Kivuitu is threatening to declare Raila Odinga president as the whereabouts of its own Returning Officers is unknown. - Kamukunji
- Makadara
- Dagoretti
- Embakasi
- Changamwe
- Kisauni
- Likoni
- Mvita
- Msambweni
- Kinango
- Bahari
- Magarini
- Garsen
- Ijaara
- Wajir North
- Wajir West
- Isiolo North
- Igembe
- Tigania West
- Tigania East
- North Imenti
- South Imenti
- Nithi
- Tharaka
- Mutito
- Kangundo
- Kathiani
- Mwala
- Mbooni
- Kilome
- Makueni
- Kibwezi
- Olkalaou
- Kiambaa
- Limuru
- Turkana North
- Turkana Central
- Kacheliba
- Kapenguria
- Baringo East
- Baringo Central
- Laikipia East
- Naivasha
- Nakuru Town
- Molo
- Kajiado North
- Sotik
- Buret
- Ainamoi
- Malava
- Emuhaya
- Kimilili
- Funyula
- Muhoroni
- Rangwe
- Ndhiwa
- South Mugirango
- Bomachoge
- Bobasi
- Nyaribari Chache
- Kitutu Chache
12h15 ECK press conference still on going, although Kivuitu leaves to go and pursue outstanding constituency presidential results. He says he is very disturbed!
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3:01
From: Cock And Bull
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If a guy travels to Nairobi from Mombasa and decides to narrate his experience to his buddies over a drink, the conversation will invariably turn to chicks. I am laughing with myself as I think that now, I have some additional information that I did not have.
You can get “Ideal Chicks” – broilers and layers - which are also “The best” from this building along Digo Road in Mombasa Island.
Chicks are usually sold to poultry farmers when they are 1 day old. The eggs usually hatch after being incubated for three weeks. So how does a hatchery determine whether a chick is a rooster (male) or a hen (female)? By using a method known as chick sexing. Sexing day-old chicks can be accomplished by one of two methods:
1) Vent sexing: visual identification of sex based on appearance of sexual organs.
2) Feather sexing: identification based on differences in feather characteristics at hatch time.
Chick sexing is usually done by a trained person called a chick sexer or chicken sexer.
And now you know.
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2:16
From: You Missed This
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29th December 2007: 11h15 local time
The ECK Chairman - Samuel Kivuitu - is due to address a press briefing at KICC anytime now.
Meanwhile, independent media tallying have their provisional results are follows:
Raila Odinga: 4.049m
Mwai Kibaki: 3.678m
Kalonzo Musyoka: 661k
However, there are a total of 30 constituencies countrywide whose results are not yet in. The balance constituencies have a combined total registered voter of 2.4 million votes! They include 5 constituencies in coast province, 2 in Nairobi, 3 in North Eastern, 1 in Central, 8 in Eastern and others whose details this blogger is still trying to establish.
It is strange that parliamentary and civic results for these balance constituencies are already officially announced by ECK but the presidential tallies are "unknown" tot he ECK although all votes were counted at the same time by the respective Returning Officers.
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2:05
From: You Missed This
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Plus two corrupt men refuse to accept defeat from two young ambitious women heading to parliament
Skirmishes have now been reported in parts of Nairobi, Kisumu, Migori, Eldoret and Kakamega as the electoral commission has appealed for calm, claiming that they are trying their best to release the presidential election results as quickly as they can.
This should be a clear sign to those trying to "doctor" the results that Kenyans will not take it.
I am absolutely amazed at how some people are immune to grasping clear and very loud messages from the electorate. Imagine a situation where your point men (previously very popular) have all been rejected countrywide. Imagine a situation where your opponent already controls half of the total parliamentary seats and you still cannot sense the mood on the ground.
Even if Kibaki "wins" how will he rule? These are not the days of Moi and even then Moi did not have all tribes minus Mt. Kenya united against him.
P.S. Meanwhile after a tearful day yesterday being chased from the counting hall by riot police, Margaret Wanjiru is all smiles today as she has been announced the winner of the Starehe parliamentary seat. Kudos, Bishop. My great joy is that this means yet another woman in parliament.
Interestingly Mr K. Kaindi the immediate former MP of Kathiani (who distributed money in the mostly remote and poverty stricken constituency like there was no tomorrow) is like Maina Kamanda refusing to conmcede defeat in the hands of yet another woman, young and very attractive Wavinya Ndeti who has won the Kathiani seat with a huge majority.
Mr President, be careful that you do not face the direct wrath of the angry Kenyan voters, they are certainly in no mood for games.
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1:57
From: Kenyan Pundit
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First, for all those who took advantage of my time away from the blog to turn the comment section into a space for your tribal-based vitriol - SHAME ON YOU! From reading this blog you should know that I don’t entertain that kind of crap, and my readers have always respected that. [...]
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1:31
From: You Missed This
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...And It Will Cost Kenyan Lives
Two incidences of yesterday that many did not take note of to me spoke volumes.
At first I ignored information which I received to the effect that John Michuki had put the crack paramilitary GSU on red alert. Were they fearing excessive celebrations by ODM and Raila supporters, I wondered?
Then a daily newspaper reported about President Mwai Kibaki's strange remark. On being asked by a Foreign journalist whether he would concede defeat, he replied in Kiswahili; "Wacha kuniuliza swali ya upumbavu." (stop asking me a stupid question).
Today Kenyans woke up to some strange happenings. To start with most parliamentary results are in but the presidential results are NOT. Then I personally observed some very "strange" results trickling in from the Mount Kenya region. Unbelievable voter turn out and very high votes for the president, but they do not tally with the parliamentary results.
If he has his way, we are about to see a President whose point men countrywide have been strongly rejected by the electorate being declared president. I wonder how he will feel having been elected ONLY by his own tribe and their neighbors. But I guess some people's consciences get numb when they have power and they would care less.
The big problem is that Kenyans are not going to take it lying down. As I post this I am being told that there is tension and trouble and skirmishes in parts of Nairobi.
Sam Okello has written an open letter that portrays the feelings of millions of Kenyans countrywide.
For those who pray, now is the time to get on your knees and seek divine intervention because the truth is that the country is on the verge of blood-letting.
I have been travelling a lot and even now I am still travelling but I will keep you posted throughout the day, as long as I can find electricity or a Cyber cafe.
I still stand by my Kumekucha poll which gives ODM and Raila over 60% and based on this it is very clear to me that already President Kibaki has rigged and votes in parts of Western and Ukambani do not make sense to me. In fact my careful estimates show that even with the rigging Raila has won. The delay in announcing certain results could be a bid to adjust and tinker votes in certain areas. But according to my calculations the only way Kibaki can win is with a voter turn out of about 150%
Stay tuned to Kumekucha...
Phil and other Kumekuchans currently in Nairobi, what is the situation in the capital city? Please update readers as I seek my insider contacts.
P.S. Is this why so many new ECK commissioners were appointed by President Kibaki who even wanted to remove Kivuitu and replace him with his personal lawyer (the current ECK deputy)?
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1:03
From: You Missed This
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Dear Mr President,
The time has come for you to save the nation. If you'll recall, the Electoral Commission of Kenya asked Kenyans to vote on the 27th, and Kenyans did so in unprecedented numbers. For all of us who love democracy and have worked hard to inculcate a sense of civic duty in our people, this has been a big win. I hope you share the joy of witnessing democracy take hold in Kenya.
After the voting, which the commission insisted had to be wound up by five o'clock on the 27th, vote-counting started in earnest. Within hours the fate of civic and parliamentary candidates across the nation was known. Indeed, you must be aware that some of your strongest supporters in the PNU were trounced by newcomers. What should distress you is that the electoral commission has seemingly allowed the vote-counting process to go on indefinitely. Does it make you wonder why the voting itself was restricted while the counting is open-ended? At what point will you realize that quashing the dreams of an entire nation is an impossible task?
Let me play out the scenarios for you. One, you could go out and concede defeat. What that does is...it makes you take your place as a true democrat, a man who believes in the rule of law and a patriot who puts the interest of Kenya above his own.
Two, you slow the counting in provinces where your people are in total control so that numbers can be tinkered with. What that does, Your Excellency, is it makes you close the gap with Hon. Odinga and may even lead to your narrow victory. But consider the consequences. For starters, your win will be illegitimate. Your government will be illegitimate. And you stand a good chance of facing a successful vote of no confidence in parliament. For a man of your stature, that would be the saddest end to a distinguished career.
And so, Mr. President, I call upon you to listen to the voices of the elders who've told you that it's not worth it. Listen to the wise men and women who've warned you that your government won't survive a ferocious Opposition in the new parliament. And listen to your own inner voice that's telling you to do the right thing.
Don't let the blood of innocent Kenyans be spilled in your name!
Kind regards,
Sam Okello
President & CEO
Sahel Books Inc.
P.o. Box 6451
South Bend IN, 46660-6451
USA
Phone: Toll Free: 1.877.297.2435
samokello@sahelpublishing.net
www.sahelpublishing.net
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1:01
From: Kenya Imagine
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It has been said that this election and the campaign period preceding it have been far more violent and turbulent than the 2002 election. Still, Kenyans have conducted themselves in a manner that is much to be admired, even if some of their leaders have showed the most poor form. Read more from Vitalis Oyudo.
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1:01
From: You Missed This
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Whole country on the edge as ECK delays announcement of presidential election result
As the ECK dilly-dallies with presidential ballot results, sporadic violence has broken out in parts of the country.
In Nairobi, cars are being stoned and occupants dragged out in kicks and blows at the Kangemi bridge as well as the Globe Cinema roundabout / Kirinyaga Road. It is instructive to note that these areas were previously perceived to be PNU strongholds (Starehe and Westlands) but have now been won by ODM candidates. Motorist and pedestrians are advised to avoid these areas.
This blogger regrettably predicts that it is a matter of time before the violence spreads to other areas across the country – which may force the police commissioner to impose a country-wide curfew if ECK delays announcing the presidential result further.
At the time of posting this (10h00 local time) violence has reportedly broken out in Kisumu (Kondele and Main Bus Park) areas with youth harassing motorist, especially PSV operators from Nairobi who are known to dominate the public transport in Western Kenya circuit. This blogger is also receiving reports of violence against certain communities in Kericho, Muhoroni, Chemelil, Sotik and Narok areas.
More on this as the story develops and the country await the ECK verdict.
Read the complete article at
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