PM Raila Odinga Opens Bi-National Kenyan Governors Summit

Dallas, Texas USA

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has appealed to America’s private sector and government to help Kenya’s devolved units succeed by directing investments to Kenya.

While officially opening the meeting between governors from the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy and investors in Dallas, Texas, Mr.Odinga said America has always stood with Kenya at times of significant transition like the one the country is undergoing today.

Mr. Odinga down played the recent decision by President Barack Obama not to visit Kenya saying it did not mean the ties between Kenya and the US had been downgraded.

“The ties between our two countries are strong as they have always been. Don’t worry so much that President Barrack Obama never stepped in Kenya during his recent tour of Africa. I am sure the President appreciates the depth of the ties that bind our people and our countries,” Mr. Odinga said.

“The truth is; the boundaries between our people and our countries are overwhelmed by our connections. Kenya’s prosperity will benefit  America. Our security certainly contributes to America’s. The steady march of our democracy certainly advances human rights, which is a
pillar of America’s value systems,” he added.

The former PM said that because America has always stood with Kenya at significant moments, it was “therefore not a surprise” that Kenyan governors are in the US as they seek to implement devolution which he described as, the most significant provision of our new constitution.

He called on US investors to support Kenya’s governors by directing investments to various counties saying it would ensure equitable economic growth and create jobs for the youth.

“Governors are at the frontline of our dreams for an equitable society where development opportunities are evenly spread across the country. They are the most prominent symbols of the new order we are trying to create in Kenya. The Governors are on the ground. They are able to see directly what is working and what is not working, what needs to be retained and what needs to be fixed. Their success will be our success as a country,” the former PM said.

“We are at this forum to learn and to seek opportunities for the benefit of our country. I am here to invite the American business fraternity to join us in the exciting but complex journey of taking  power to the people through devolution,” he added.

Mr. Odinga said CORD prioritized expenditure on social programs that  it believes will transform the lives of the people, reduce poverty, improve healthcare and create jobs.

He called for investment in infrastructure, healthcare and education.

“A trained and skilled workforce will attract investments and also ensure the youth are able to compete for and get jobs. At the same time, a good network of feeder roads across our counties, coupled with provision of affordable, reliable, clean and efficient energy together  with healthcare will change the lives of our people,” Mr. Odinga said.

He said that although education is not entirely under the mandate ofcounty governments, the governors still welcome investments in areas that will promote Early Child Education, create a sound working environment for teachers and proper infrastructure in schools for the pupils. He called for investment in Agriculture which remains the main source of income for our people.

Mr. Odinga said changing weather patterns across the world, Kenya  included, means the sector cannot stand in its traditional form.“We need to set up more research institutions; to produce more quality and diseases and drought resistant seeds. We need to produce fertilizers and to pursue irrigated agriculture. We also need to process  our agricultural produce and package them for the global market. I invite you to partner with us in this too,” he said.

Mr. Odinga appealed to the governors to establish linkages and learn from America’s long history with devolution, multipartism and the culture of bipartisanship that has enabled decentralization to work in the US.

“Some of the goals we are pursuing back home require that we join hands with colleagues from other parties in a bipartisan manner. Securing Devolution requires that the governors, the senators and Members of Parliament must work hand in hand,” Mr. Odinga said.

ODM Reassures Supporters on Loyalty of Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero

ODM STATEMENT ON GOVERNOR EVANS KIDERO via @ODM_News @KideroEvans

Our attention has been drawn to information circulating in sections of the media claiming that Nairobi City County Governor Dr. Evans Kidero is associating with politicians outside the ODM and CORD fraternity.

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) would like to clarify that Dr. Kidero is a life member of the party and he has not indicated quitting the party and CORD. Dr. Kidero remains committed to the ideals of the party and CORD especially Devolution which is at the heart of every Kenyan.

As a matter of fact, Dr. Kidero has been attending meetings and retreats organized by the Coalition, the latest being the CORD Governors and Senators retreat held at the Serena Beach Hotel in Mombasa last month. As the Governor of Nairobi which is the seat of power, Dr. Kidero is free to work closely with the Executive.

On the CORD Governors tour of the US organized by CORD Leader Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga, Dr. Kidero will be among the Governors travelling in the next trip.
Therefore, the party assures all its members and supporters of the CORD fraternity that Dr. Kidero is still in CORD and and remains a member of the ODM.

Prof. P . Anyang Nyong'o.
Secretary General
Orange Democratic Movement
28/07/2013

PM Raila Odinga Hails Makueni County Voters For Electing CORD’s Mutula Kilonzo Junior To The Senate

Dallas, Texas USA

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has hailed Makueni County voters for electing Cord’s Mutula Junior as their new senator.

Mr Odinga also congratulated the Wiper Democratic Party and CORD leaders for the firm stand that ensured the coalition clinched the seat.

Mr Odinga thanked the youth who poured in Makueni in their thousands to stand with one of their own, Kilonzo Junior , and to ensure Cord won the seat.

The former PM also thanked Mutula Kilonzo Junior’s sister Kethi Kilonzo for her fight for Makueni seat, which was frustrated by Jubilee, saying it inspired Makueni residents to come out in their thousands to make their intentions known.


”I have just received good news that the Makueni people have elected Cord’s Mutula Junior. I am very happy that the Makueni people have  confirmed to the doubting Thomas that they are still ardent supporters and member of the Cord as many majority Kenyans are’ he said.

“I congratulate Junior. I congratulate the Wiper Democratic Party and the CORD fraternity for refusing to budge. This victory shows our future lies in standing together especially in times of trial, and Makueni was a big trial on our resolve and our unity,” Odinga added.

Referring to the struggle that pushed Kethi out, the former PM said the young lawyer remains a critical member of the Coalition going forward and
asked her to stay focused and support her brother and the party, adding that CORD believes Jubilee will never forgive or give her rest but the
party will stand with her and the family.

Mr Odinga said CORD is determined to hold the hands of the youth and lift them to key leadership positions as shown in the coalition’s fight to put a young
man in a critical Senate seat after Jubilee ruined her sister’s chances.

He said the election of Kilonzo Junior is a win for the forces of Devolution that are determined to ensure all regions of Kenya get a fair share of the national cake out of the taxes they pay.

The former Prime Minister spoke during a dinner party organized for him and his  entourage that included governors by Kenyans residing in Texas, a head
of a two day summit between the County Chief Executives and key
investors.

He challenged Kenyans living in the Diaspora to help County Governments stabilize economically by investing in the country.

Raila said the country new system of governance will succeed in alleviating poverty if Governors got support from Kenyans in the Diaspora through
‘back home investments’.

‘The foreigner investors we are looking  for every time will only play a minimal role in spurring economical growth of our county economies. Some investors will invest with a set mind that part of the profits they will make, must go back to their mother countries but if a Kenyan invests back home that is a win win situation’ Raila told a team of Kenyans in Dallas, Texas in the USA.

The former PM spoke on Friday Said he ‘Kenya can only be built by Kenyans themselves no matter where they are’ he said. The Cord coalition leader was accompanied by Governors among them John Nyagarama (Nyamira, Alfred Mutua (Machakos) Josephat Nanok (Turkana),  David Ngetiany (Kajiado), Cyprian Awiti (Homabay), Ranguma (Kisumu), rasanga amoth(Siaya),James ongwae(Kisii) Amason Kingi (Kilifi)and Sospeter Ojaamong (Busia)

Also in attendance was National Assembly leader of Minority Jakoyo Midiwo and eliud owalo,among others, Speaking on behalf of the two day summit organizers, Raphael Atore dispelled fears that his group was harbouring political agenda in inviting only Cordallied governors.

“We have no political agenda. We are not here to campaign for Raila Odinga or party as such but we opted to invite Cord Governors because of their being in the opposition. As Opposition allied leaders they will carry out investments transparently bearing in mind their roles as the ruling coalition’s watchdogs’ he said.

He said the organizers had invited leading investors to interact with the governors and agree on best partnership modalities. 'Our main focus as Kenyans in the Diaspora now is to help our governors come up with means of at least reducing poverty rated as being the highest in Nyanza and North Eastern and Eastern parts of the Country’ said Ochieng.

He added ‘ours is to revolutionalise management of development matters for the better Kenya under devolution’ he said.

After the Dallas meeting Raila will lead his entourage to three other States in the USA.

SUSTAINING DEMOCRACY’S FUTURE IN AFRICA: A CHALLENGE TO THE NEXT GENERATION - Raila Odinga

Presentation by Hon. Raila A. Odinga, Former Prime Minister, Republic of Kenya during the Forum at the University of Pretoria, South Africa.

Mr Chairman; Ladies and Gentlemen:

It is always an honour for me to have the opportunity to discuss a subject that ever-remains so close to my heart: democracy, particularly with special reference to my continent, Africa;

For some people in this audience, democracy in Africa could be mere theory; safely commented upon and discussed from the safe confines of the academia or a conference setting.

For some us though, it has become life; real life. At your age, my generation of Africans believed there was only one threat that, once conquered, everything would be fine on our continent.

Growing up in the Africa of the 1950s and 1960s, we believed that once colonialism was defeated, the future would be bliss.

While today we repeatedly say Africa’s future belongs to its young people, in the Africa of pre and immediate post independence period, the present and the future were in the hands of the revered founding fathers. We deeply trusted the founders of our newly independent nations.

The idea that after independence, Africans could once again take up arms, return to the streets and even to the bushes to fight fellow Africans who were taking over the reigns of power from the colonialists was extremely remote.
Independence had come. The leadership comprised those who had fought for basic freedoms of expression, speech, association and movement.

We assumed the leaders understood the pain of being denied these freedoms. They understood the pain of inequitable distribution of resources.

They knew the pain of being discriminated against on the basis of tribe, race, religion and place of origin. They would not commit such sins against their own people.

Today, we know we were wrong. The struggle that the African people have had to endure in the years after independence have been as vicious as, sometimes more vicious than, the ones they waged against the colonialists.
It was a struggle laced with the pain of being betrayed by a brother, an uncle, a father, a neighbour, and a friend. Where were we to turn?

This is the reality this generation of Africans here in Pretoria and across the Continent have to face. We must never trust individuals. Only institutions count.
Even more importantly, we bequeath to you that the reality that freedom, as President Ronal Reagan said, is never more than a generation from extinction.

It must be fought for, protected, and handed on to the next generation to do the same, “or one day, we will spend our sunset years telling our children and their children how it was once like in a land where men were free.”

Let a young Kenyan, Zimbabwean, Sudanese, South African or Ugandan not say “the environment is so bad here, let me struggle and get out to Britain, the U.S, France or any other countries where systems seem to work.”

You have a rendezvous with destiny. To protect democracy, the youth of Africa must reinvent the spirit of patriotism that informed our struggle to be free.

And by patriotism, I don’t mean blind obedience. I mean a deliberate effort by the youth to treat their countries as the last heaven on earth where if they lose freedom, there is nowhere to escape to.

You have the responsibility to tell those in power that the first duty of the government is to protect the people, not run or ruin their lives.

Sometimes you will succeed in these efforts. Sometimes you will fail. But there is always an option. You have the energy, the flexibility the audacity to dream. And you have the numbers.

So do what Reagan told us: “When you can’t make them see the light, make them feel the heat.”

Engage in the affairs of your nation and your parties. Retreat and surrender are never options.

Leaders, elders and pioneers; whether in government or out have a duty to keep empowering the youth, support their education, strengthen their grassroots networks and help them keep the flames of liberation burning.

Your generation is coming up well aware that the single goal we were made to pursue; that of throwing out the colonialists, was not good enough.
We know the colonialists left, but in a number of places, secret admirers took over from where they left.

This generation is therefore confronted with two paths and two realities. One reality you must grow up with is that the struggle in Africa continues.
You must know that without securing the basic freedoms, you are on a path to conflict, bloodshed, underdevelopment, poverty, racism, tribalism and religious intolerance and strife.
The other path will lead you to more democratic space, more opportunities more freedoms. It is the path to take.

Let me conclude by reminding you that there still remain forces that want to perpetuate impunity in the continent.

They scheme to scuttle the free expression of the popular will by ensuring that even the most expensive electoral technology must fail in African elections.

They endorse fraudulent elections, even where all other facts point to the contrary;
They ensure that even judicial decisions are compromised and a far cry from basic sense of natural justice and expectations, and;

Who knows, they will ensure that any remnants of true African liberators are gagged, hounded and tormented to their graves;

I remain optimistic and emboldened by faith; that with your engagement, propelled by the history you have been eye witnesses to, Africa will triumph; the goodness that God intended for all of us will triumph over all evil;

And as I said as Prime Minister, Africa remains the next frontier for genuine economic hope, peace and prosperity.

RT. HON. RAILA AMOLO ODINGA

A Solution To The MPs Salaries Impasse

By Dr. Oduwo Noah Akala (M. B. Ch. B.)


There is a prevailing clamor in the national discourse regarding the issue of salaries. This is not only for Members of Parliament but for Civil Servants in general. The Sarah Serem-led Salaries Review Commission (SRC) had recommended the reduction in the amount of MPs salaries. This drew support and condemnation in equal measure. Francis Atwoli, the Secretary General of the Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) came out in strong support of the MPs even going as far as threatening legal action against the SRC. However, the prevailing public mood appears to be in favor of the Serem Commission with social activists such as Boniface Mwangi orchestrating the much talked about "Pig Protest" against what they termed the MPs' unbridled greed.

In my view, this matter can be settled by a keen examination of the roles and responsibilities of a Member of Parliament by law vis-a-vis the expectations of the electorate with regards to their representatives.

The primary role of the Member of Parliament has always been representation. The goal of such representation is to influence the political process in favor of their constituency. This means that if I am a slum resident in one of Nairobi's sprawling 88 settlements then it is my MP's role to make known my plight in terms of water scarcity, insecurity, poor infrastructure, lack of healthcare facilities, illiteracy, etc to the Executive Government. It is then the Executive Government's role to address these issues appropriately. It is this arm of Government that collects tax and as such, it is they who bear the responsibility of putting it to good use.

This brings to light the ludicrous nature of former President Daniel Moi's assertions that such and such an MP is responsible for the roads in their constituency remaining untarmacked. Members of Parliament have never collected tax. They cannot then be expected to play the role of the Roads Ministry. By the very fact that the President at the time knew of the said untarmacked road proves that the MP was doing his job. This confusion of roles was a popular political gimmick used at the height of the KANU era to disenfranchise opposition leaders from their support base and sadly, it has continued to date.

The political system in the African set up has been skewed resulting in a gross misconception among the electorate as to what to expect from their MPs (who form the Legislative arm of Government) versus what to expect from the Executive. I put it to you that the Executive constitutes the implementors of Government policy and as such bear primary responsibility for building roads, equipping hospitals, empowering women through education, training teachers and all other matters pertaining to public interest that you can think of. It is the MPs' role to make these issues known to Government and to exert pressure on the Executive to fulfill their mandate to the public.

Somewhere along the way, we as Africans began to elect our representatives based on what they did for us in terms of cash hand outs, paying bursaries, roofing churches, etc. Basically, we chose our leadership based on mass bribery! This was not the intention of the founding fathers when they drew up and included representation in our democratic constitution. We have been led to believe that the rightful criteria for election was how much money one had at his/her disposal and not one's ability to hold the Executive Government to task as to their campaign pledges. In such a body politic, it is inevitable that we end up with less than moral representation in some cases.

The end result of this is that our Members of Parliament are viewed as Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) and they in turn view public office as the same. The core of my argument suggests that if we re-adjust our national mindset as to what the National Assembly's role is as opposed to that of the Executive Government then dare I say that reaching a mutual compromise on the matter of salaries will be much simpler.

Kind regards,

Raila Odinga Speaks On Devolution

PMPS
Nairobi, April 3, 2013

Prime Minister Raila Odinga has strongly spoken against attempts by the government to interfere with letter and spirit of devolution saying a situation is developing where some forces in government want county commissioners and other members of the provincial administration to act as legitimate authorities in the countries.

Saying the situation was inconsistent with provisions of the constitution, the PM stated that attempts to make governors either take orders from county commissioners or play subsidiary roles to what he called agents of an outdated order were unacceptable.

Addressing CORD Nairobi County Assembly members today, Mr. Odinga recalled that he had warned about this development immediately the office of the President embarked on appointing county commissioners adding the transitional clause is very clear that the provincial administration would be restructured to fit in the new constitution.

“Let us get this clear. It is the system known as the provincial administration which was to be restructured to fit in to the new constitution, not the other way round,” he said.
 
He emphasized that CORD as a coalition stood strongly for the full and undiluted devolution of power and resources to the counties adding Kenyans must enjoy what they voted for in the new constitution promulgated on August 27, 2010.

Saying Kenyans must not be caught in unnecessary drama and theatrics, the PM added that Kenyans must be allowed to look up to and hold responsible only people they elected in the last polls to take care of their counties.
 
He said, “That is why I want to call on all governors and county assembly members, regardless of party to hold their ground, stand firm and demand to be given the full space and mandate to implement the devolution agenda of their voters.”
 
The PM pointed out that without the full implementation of the devolution agenda, the country will return to the old centralization that is responsible for the inequities dogging the country.
 
Raila at the same time said he did not need to be pitied after his election loss, saying the many messages of sympathy that he was receiving were misplaced and unnecessary.
 
Emphasizing that he was still strong and committed to the ideals of democracy for which he will continue championing, Raila made it clear that he will continue to soldier on. “There are many ways of killing a cat,” he added.
 
The PM, who hosted the county assembly members to lunch at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, reminded them that they had a responsibility and duty to implement the promises CORD made during the campaigns as written in the coalition’s manifesto.
Ends..

Prime Minister's Statement on Directive to Elected Ministers to Resign

REPUBLIC OF KENYA
OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER


PRESS STATEMENT:
DIRECTIVE TO MINISTERS RESIGN:

The status and tenure of the President, the Prime Minister, the Vice President, Cabinet Ministers and Assistant Ministers are governed by Section 12 of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of Kenya and the National Accord Reconciliation Act.

There are no provisions requiring Ministers to resign in the manner stated by the Head of Public Service through the Government Spokesman.

There are self-executing provisions of the Constitution that prohibit members of the Executive as a whole from taking seats in the legislature and as set out in Section 99 (2) of the Constitution.

The Attorney-General was therefore correct in his interpretation of this matter and the clear position is as follows:-

1. The persons occupying the position of President, the Prime Minister, the Vice President, Cabinet Ministers and Assistant Ministers remain in office until the assumption of office by a duly elected President; and Cabinet Secretaries have been appointed. Since the tenure of the President and the current Government has exceeded the term of five years, the President and the Cabinet, which includes the Prime Minister and the Vice President, are in office as a caretaker Government and are only exercising executive power during a temporary incumbency.

2. It should be noted that the incumbent President, as a caretaker, amongst other things cannot nominate or appoint or dismiss Ministers and the State or Public Officers.


3. The Statement of the Head of Public Service can only be relevant in respect of Cabinet Secretaries appointed after the conclusion of the General Elections.

The purported directive on this matter from the Head of Public Service has therefore no constitutional or legal foundation. It is misleading and inaccurate and should be disregarded.

For the avoidance of doubt, the Grand Coalition Government is still intact and in place led by the President and the Prime Minister. The Coalition Government at the level of President, Prime Minister, Vice President and Ministers will stand dissolved when the duly elected President following the first General Elections under the New Constitution, takes the oath of office.


Rt. Hon. Raila A. Odinga, EGH, MP
PRIME MINISTER

Wednesday, March 20, 2013