Friday, 23 September 2016
Thursday, 22 September 2016
THE GREAT CARRICULUM VITAE FOR HASSAN OMAR SARAI TO DEFEAT JOHO THE CAR DEALER .
Hassan was born in the great city of Mombasa on 23 October, 1975.
His late father Omar Hassan Sarai then worked with the Cargo Handling
Services while his mother Aisha Abdallah Suleiman Mazrui worked as a
clerk at Cadbury Schweppes. His father was to later become a banker at
the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia while his mother became a housewife. Hassan
is married to Asli Osman Mahamud who is a lawyer.
Hassan was brought up as an only child by parents who inculcated strong Islamic values. Hassan grew up in the Kibokoni neighbourhood in Old Town, Mombasa. Hassan loved football and was the goalkeeper of the neighbourhood’s football team, Brazil Junior. Hassan grew up together with his cousins Khadija Ahmed, Hamida Soud, Alamin Soud, Rashida Soud, Salim Soud, Abdallah Mabruk, Joha Mbaruk and Abdulmajid Mbaruk who he regards as his brothers and sisters.
At an early age, Hassan attended madarassah (Islamic classes) and started his primary schooling at the Mombasa Primary School in 1982. During these formative days, Hassan’s uncle, a former Court Clerk and later a miner, the late Abdallah Mohamed Bin Suleiman became a strong political influence in his life. The late Abdallah not only got Hassan to loving his tea, but often discussed with the young Hassan a wide range of issues on current affairs and politics. His other uncle renowned professor Ali Alamin Mazrui was a strong intellectual inspiration to Hassan while former political detainee Prof. Alamin Mazrui was his strong influence towards the discourse for human rights and social justice.
Hassan joined Lenana School in 1990 to pursue his high school education at a time of both local and global transformation that not only shaped the course of history, but defined the direction Hassan eventually took. The collapse of the Berlin wall and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), the advent of multiparty politics in Kenya through the repeal of section 2A of the constitution, Muslim quest for political participation and representation through the Islamic Party of Kenya (IPK) among other highlights of the late 1980s and early 1990s.
After high school, Hassan briefly underwent military training at the Armed Forces Training College (AFTC) now the Kenya Military Academy between 1994 and 1995 as an Air Force cadet. Nonetheless, Hassan left the military college to pursue a career in law at Moi University in 1995. Hassan’s life at the university was extremely eventful. It is university life that served as a critical turning point for Hassan - taking the courageous plunge into student politics and leader and political activism towards expanding the democratic space during a repressive Moi/KANU reign.
Hassan was elected Chairman of the Moi University Student Organization (MUSO), the Kenya National Students Union (KENASU), the Kenya University Muslim Students Association (KUMSA) and the Council for University Students of East Africa (CUSEA). Hassan also served as Secretary General of the East Africa Youth Council (EAYCO- Kenya Chapter). Hassan got actively engaged in human rights advocacy and training under the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM), Muslims for Human Rights (MUHURI) and KENASU. He received training on governance and democracy from the Les Aspin Centre for Government, Washington DC, USA. Hassan was also a founder and board member of the Muslim Consultative Council (MCC) – a human rights and constitutional change lobby group – and the National Coordinator of the Muungano wa Mageuzi (Movement for Change) lobby group which advocated for the expansion of democratic space in Kenya in the period leading to the 2002 general elections.
In May, 2006, Hassan was nominated to serve as commissioner of the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) by religious institutions including SUPKEM, the National Muslim Leaders Forum (NAMLEF), Jamia Mosque Committee and the Coast Interfaith Council of Clerics (CICC). Aged 31, Hassan was appointed commissioner of the KNCHR in January 2007. At the time of his appointment, Hassan was the youngest person to be ever appointed as a commissioner to a legislative or constitutional commission and this remains the case to-date. Despite his young age, Hassan left a huge print in Kenya’s human rights discourse.
Hassan’s work at the KNCHR
As the time of his appointment as commissioner, the KNCHR as an independent National Human Rights Institution was established by an Act of Parliament, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights Act, 2002. Under the Constitution, the KNCHR is now a Commission established under Article 59(4).
Hassan was appointed as Commissioner in January 2007 aged 31 making him the youngest commissioner to serve the KNCHR for a 5 year term of office after a vigorous process which entails Parliamentary vetting of nominees, adoption by Parliament and eventual appointment by the President.
At the KNCHR, Hassan has served as commissioner responsible for various areas of work which include Security Sector Reforms, Transitional Justice, National Cohesion and Peace Building and Anti-Corruption Advocacy. Hassan was the head of the Commission’s election monitoring programme during the 2007 general elections and later the August 4, 2010 Constitutional referendum. Hassan served as the Commission’s Vice Chairman from 2008 to 2010.
At a young age, Hassan was undeniably the Commission’s most vocal and visible commissioner and in many ways represented one of the most trusted and respected human rights advocate in Kenya. He distinguished himself as a fearless and consistent defender of human rights and provided the KNCHR with massive public credibility and appeal. Hassan dedicated his time in the Commission as an ardent advocate for accountability and consistently spearheaded the fight against impunity. He is a trusted and dependable defender of the weak and often violated members of the Kenyan society and gives voice to the voiceless.
Hassan had a distinguished and illustrious term at the KNCHR. Being head of the Security Sector Reform programme, he advocated against extrajudicial killings by security agencies and in particular the police. He heightened the campaign to such points as to have the matter gain the notice and attention of the UN Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial killings and summary executions. The report produced under Hassan’s watch and leadership by the KNCHR, titled, “The Cry of Blood: Report on Extra-Judicial Killings and Disappearances” published in September, 2008 largely informed the findings of the UN Special Rapporteur during his mission to Kenya in February 2009.
As an advocate against torture Hassan through his department yet published another report following an investigation on a military operation, “Okoa Maisha” to root out the Sabaot Land Defence Force where innocent people were tortured and killed. The report titled, “The Mountain of Terror: A Report on the Investigations of Torture by the Military at Mt. Elgon” published in May 2008 was instructive in calling for the accountability of senior military officers and other duty bearers. The report calling for the prosecution of senior military officer hitherto unheard of in Kenya demonstrated not only the courage of the KNCHR but that of Hassan in dealing with impunity head-on.
Hassan demonstrated his personal commitment to fighting impunity by calling for accountability for perpetrators of the 2007 post election violence. At the risk of his own personal safety and security, Hassan consistently and tirelessly called for the prosecution of high level perpetrators of crimes including cabinet ministers, businessmen and other senior government officials. This was following the release of the KNCHR report titled, “On the Brink of the Precipice: A Human Rights Account of Kenya’s 2007 Post Election Violence”.
Hassan was responsible for putting in place the Commission’s Witness Protection Intervention Programme which offered critical interventions for potential witnesses into the post election violence at a time when the government’s Witness Protection Agency was yet to become fully operational. Witness protection is fundamental towards fighting impunity.
Despite public opinion in Kenya often appearing to provide legitimacy to illegal police action Hassan never relented in his constitutional and legal opposition to extrajudicial killings when combating crimes or renditions in terrorism related interventions. Hassan took firm positions against the vices. The KNCHR eventually cultivated relative public support against the vices and a call for accountability against perpetrators and violators of the law.
Hassan led initiatives aimed at making human rights a popular discourse in Kenya. Of particular note is the “Agenda 5” TV programmes that aired on one of the leading television network in Kenya, KTN. The programmes leading to the August 4 constitutional referendum were able to highlight pertinent human rights issues with respect to the then proposed constitution. The programmes which were immensely educative greatly helped Kenyans to make informed choices as regards the constitution and further articulated the human rights message and discourse to the people of Kenya.
Hassan has participated in numerous human rights initiatives both locally and internationally. He has been able to champion for the rights of Kenyans and for the dignity of all human beings. He is undoubtedly a selfless and unrelenting advocate for human rights and social justice. Hailing from Mombasa and some of Kenya’s minority communities, Hassan has distinguished himself as a true patriot. He has won the respect and admiration of many Kenyans and international actors.
Present
Hassan is one of Kenya’s illustrious and promising National figures and serves as Senator for Mombasa County.
Hassan was brought up as an only child by parents who inculcated strong Islamic values. Hassan grew up in the Kibokoni neighbourhood in Old Town, Mombasa. Hassan loved football and was the goalkeeper of the neighbourhood’s football team, Brazil Junior. Hassan grew up together with his cousins Khadija Ahmed, Hamida Soud, Alamin Soud, Rashida Soud, Salim Soud, Abdallah Mabruk, Joha Mbaruk and Abdulmajid Mbaruk who he regards as his brothers and sisters.
At an early age, Hassan attended madarassah (Islamic classes) and started his primary schooling at the Mombasa Primary School in 1982. During these formative days, Hassan’s uncle, a former Court Clerk and later a miner, the late Abdallah Mohamed Bin Suleiman became a strong political influence in his life. The late Abdallah not only got Hassan to loving his tea, but often discussed with the young Hassan a wide range of issues on current affairs and politics. His other uncle renowned professor Ali Alamin Mazrui was a strong intellectual inspiration to Hassan while former political detainee Prof. Alamin Mazrui was his strong influence towards the discourse for human rights and social justice.
Hassan joined Lenana School in 1990 to pursue his high school education at a time of both local and global transformation that not only shaped the course of history, but defined the direction Hassan eventually took. The collapse of the Berlin wall and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), the advent of multiparty politics in Kenya through the repeal of section 2A of the constitution, Muslim quest for political participation and representation through the Islamic Party of Kenya (IPK) among other highlights of the late 1980s and early 1990s.
After high school, Hassan briefly underwent military training at the Armed Forces Training College (AFTC) now the Kenya Military Academy between 1994 and 1995 as an Air Force cadet. Nonetheless, Hassan left the military college to pursue a career in law at Moi University in 1995. Hassan’s life at the university was extremely eventful. It is university life that served as a critical turning point for Hassan - taking the courageous plunge into student politics and leader and political activism towards expanding the democratic space during a repressive Moi/KANU reign.
Hassan was elected Chairman of the Moi University Student Organization (MUSO), the Kenya National Students Union (KENASU), the Kenya University Muslim Students Association (KUMSA) and the Council for University Students of East Africa (CUSEA). Hassan also served as Secretary General of the East Africa Youth Council (EAYCO- Kenya Chapter). Hassan got actively engaged in human rights advocacy and training under the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM), Muslims for Human Rights (MUHURI) and KENASU. He received training on governance and democracy from the Les Aspin Centre for Government, Washington DC, USA. Hassan was also a founder and board member of the Muslim Consultative Council (MCC) – a human rights and constitutional change lobby group – and the National Coordinator of the Muungano wa Mageuzi (Movement for Change) lobby group which advocated for the expansion of democratic space in Kenya in the period leading to the 2002 general elections.
In May, 2006, Hassan was nominated to serve as commissioner of the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) by religious institutions including SUPKEM, the National Muslim Leaders Forum (NAMLEF), Jamia Mosque Committee and the Coast Interfaith Council of Clerics (CICC). Aged 31, Hassan was appointed commissioner of the KNCHR in January 2007. At the time of his appointment, Hassan was the youngest person to be ever appointed as a commissioner to a legislative or constitutional commission and this remains the case to-date. Despite his young age, Hassan left a huge print in Kenya’s human rights discourse.
Hassan’s work at the KNCHR
As the time of his appointment as commissioner, the KNCHR as an independent National Human Rights Institution was established by an Act of Parliament, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights Act, 2002. Under the Constitution, the KNCHR is now a Commission established under Article 59(4).
Hassan was appointed as Commissioner in January 2007 aged 31 making him the youngest commissioner to serve the KNCHR for a 5 year term of office after a vigorous process which entails Parliamentary vetting of nominees, adoption by Parliament and eventual appointment by the President.
At the KNCHR, Hassan has served as commissioner responsible for various areas of work which include Security Sector Reforms, Transitional Justice, National Cohesion and Peace Building and Anti-Corruption Advocacy. Hassan was the head of the Commission’s election monitoring programme during the 2007 general elections and later the August 4, 2010 Constitutional referendum. Hassan served as the Commission’s Vice Chairman from 2008 to 2010.
At a young age, Hassan was undeniably the Commission’s most vocal and visible commissioner and in many ways represented one of the most trusted and respected human rights advocate in Kenya. He distinguished himself as a fearless and consistent defender of human rights and provided the KNCHR with massive public credibility and appeal. Hassan dedicated his time in the Commission as an ardent advocate for accountability and consistently spearheaded the fight against impunity. He is a trusted and dependable defender of the weak and often violated members of the Kenyan society and gives voice to the voiceless.
Hassan had a distinguished and illustrious term at the KNCHR. Being head of the Security Sector Reform programme, he advocated against extrajudicial killings by security agencies and in particular the police. He heightened the campaign to such points as to have the matter gain the notice and attention of the UN Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial killings and summary executions. The report produced under Hassan’s watch and leadership by the KNCHR, titled, “The Cry of Blood: Report on Extra-Judicial Killings and Disappearances” published in September, 2008 largely informed the findings of the UN Special Rapporteur during his mission to Kenya in February 2009.
As an advocate against torture Hassan through his department yet published another report following an investigation on a military operation, “Okoa Maisha” to root out the Sabaot Land Defence Force where innocent people were tortured and killed. The report titled, “The Mountain of Terror: A Report on the Investigations of Torture by the Military at Mt. Elgon” published in May 2008 was instructive in calling for the accountability of senior military officers and other duty bearers. The report calling for the prosecution of senior military officer hitherto unheard of in Kenya demonstrated not only the courage of the KNCHR but that of Hassan in dealing with impunity head-on.
Hassan demonstrated his personal commitment to fighting impunity by calling for accountability for perpetrators of the 2007 post election violence. At the risk of his own personal safety and security, Hassan consistently and tirelessly called for the prosecution of high level perpetrators of crimes including cabinet ministers, businessmen and other senior government officials. This was following the release of the KNCHR report titled, “On the Brink of the Precipice: A Human Rights Account of Kenya’s 2007 Post Election Violence”.
Hassan was responsible for putting in place the Commission’s Witness Protection Intervention Programme which offered critical interventions for potential witnesses into the post election violence at a time when the government’s Witness Protection Agency was yet to become fully operational. Witness protection is fundamental towards fighting impunity.
Despite public opinion in Kenya often appearing to provide legitimacy to illegal police action Hassan never relented in his constitutional and legal opposition to extrajudicial killings when combating crimes or renditions in terrorism related interventions. Hassan took firm positions against the vices. The KNCHR eventually cultivated relative public support against the vices and a call for accountability against perpetrators and violators of the law.
Hassan led initiatives aimed at making human rights a popular discourse in Kenya. Of particular note is the “Agenda 5” TV programmes that aired on one of the leading television network in Kenya, KTN. The programmes leading to the August 4 constitutional referendum were able to highlight pertinent human rights issues with respect to the then proposed constitution. The programmes which were immensely educative greatly helped Kenyans to make informed choices as regards the constitution and further articulated the human rights message and discourse to the people of Kenya.
Hassan has participated in numerous human rights initiatives both locally and internationally. He has been able to champion for the rights of Kenyans and for the dignity of all human beings. He is undoubtedly a selfless and unrelenting advocate for human rights and social justice. Hailing from Mombasa and some of Kenya’s minority communities, Hassan has distinguished himself as a true patriot. He has won the respect and admiration of many Kenyans and international actors.
Present
Hassan is one of Kenya’s illustrious and promising National figures and serves as Senator for Mombasa County.
Thursday, 15 September 2016
MOHAMMED ALI JICHO PEVU GIVING THE OPPRESSORS OF THE LAW SLEEPLESS NIGHT
MCK has proved that is partisan and taking instructions from junior officers are State House. As a regulator they should start by de registering State House based journalists who write only about one individual and hos propaganda yet they are paid by taxpayers. They should then move to DP's office and do the same. Kerich has proved that he is not going to be an umpire on professional matters but a megaphone for partisan politics. Radio Africa Group continues to underpay journalists under his watch. The Star has more errors and partisan opinion polls as he watches. Where does he expect the aggrieved to register their complaints?
We dare him to deregister the journalist and we will respond in defense of our civic rights in court and sue him to his last penny. We also ask him to appraise himself with how global media houses take sides a d endorse candidates with powerful page one editorials. The media space has to be defended and we cannot stomach such ill advised stand points from a council that has no track record any professional journalist can remember it for. The industry is in a mess and the regulator appears rudderless.
DENNIS ITUMBI MUST KNOW THAT WE ARE NOT IN K.A.N.U REGIME.
Kenya Union of Journalist(KUJ) rejects Media Council Position on Journalists with political interests:
" The Media Council guidelines on journalists with political interests should not be taken seriously by journalists. Those are illegal guidelines that suppress freedom of expression. In other countries journalists are usually affiliated to political ideologies. The Media Council Council of Kenya should come up with a framework that will allow journalists as professionals to take a stand on political issues to deal with the confusion it is trying to address rather than resorting to gagging. We must avoid KANU style of addressing problems in the industry. Civil servants are given a period to leave office to start campaigns. What about journalists? Is it one year? two years? One week?", Eric Oduor, KUJ Sec-Gen.
SENATOR OMAR HASSAN SARAI WILL DEFEAT ALI HASSAN JOHO IN 2017
senator Omar Hassan Sarai is one of the prominent gubernatorial aspirant in Mombasa county 2017. This has resulted to a panic mode of incumbent governor Ali Hassan Joho.
Mombasa residents have easy access to senator Sarai than governor Joho. the senator is regarded as one of the most leader who often interact with any given person in the society. He is a darling of may youths in Mombasa county and Kenya at large. his office management and staff are 90% youthful. Most of the university students in and outside Mombasa have had effective association in leadership mentor ship talks. This is because Omar Hassan believes in youth revolution leadership for positive future development.
Omar Hassan is the only and the first senator in Kenya to have a strategic plan that enhances article 96 of the constitution. Establishment of Renaissance center has been regarded as the new beginning to foster good narrative of different components of leadership and development. The center is facilitated and supported by well wishers who are regarded as friend of SARAI. The good coordination of technical staff at the center has established friendly pragmatic services that has experienced good reception from the member of the public.
The performance of Omar Hassan at the senate has been regarded as professional and standard expectation. this is because of eloquent and energetic contribution to the senate. This has attracted positive remarks from both the majority and minority side in the senate. Sponsoring of private bill on human dignity by Omar Hassan has raised his profile of defining his background as a human right defender. This is due of him playing a role of professional extension to the senate.
Sarai as the wiper secretary general, he played a crucial role in CORD fraternity. His outspoken views, has made him one of the outstanding politicians that CORD principals have always admired and cherished. This can be witnessed through various political podium he has attended.even though he has been a critic of Presidency as an institution, he has shifted a little to county government since it is one of the institution closer to the people.
his entry in gubernatorial race has caused panic to his big rival Hassan Joho.it is difficult for Joho to undermine Sarai bearing in mind sarai won senatorial position with landslide margin than Kajembe who was Joho's favorite. what itches Joho so much is up to now he hasn't known the exact strategies Sarai will use in 2017 elections. he can choose to undermine other candidates like Awiti and Shaabal but not Sarai.
Sarai stands a better chance of winning Mombasa gubernatorial 2017 because of his good community entry strategies. with the assistance of his friends like Mahamoud Noor, Sarai has established good mechanism of representation at the grassroots level. Mahamoud Noor has played a key role in ensuring sustainable network linkages towards the grassroots level. he has been regarded as the Alpha of team Sarai.
Sarai has had history of fortune that has God's blessing towards his career growth of life. back from the being a cadet in the armed forces, chairman of Moi University Student association, human right commissioner and now the senator of Mombasa. who knows the next governor of Mombasa??? GOD knows.
Mombasa residents have easy access to senator Sarai than governor Joho. the senator is regarded as one of the most leader who often interact with any given person in the society. He is a darling of may youths in Mombasa county and Kenya at large. his office management and staff are 90% youthful. Most of the university students in and outside Mombasa have had effective association in leadership mentor ship talks. This is because Omar Hassan believes in youth revolution leadership for positive future development.
Omar Hassan is the only and the first senator in Kenya to have a strategic plan that enhances article 96 of the constitution. Establishment of Renaissance center has been regarded as the new beginning to foster good narrative of different components of leadership and development. The center is facilitated and supported by well wishers who are regarded as friend of SARAI. The good coordination of technical staff at the center has established friendly pragmatic services that has experienced good reception from the member of the public.
The performance of Omar Hassan at the senate has been regarded as professional and standard expectation. this is because of eloquent and energetic contribution to the senate. This has attracted positive remarks from both the majority and minority side in the senate. Sponsoring of private bill on human dignity by Omar Hassan has raised his profile of defining his background as a human right defender. This is due of him playing a role of professional extension to the senate.
Sarai as the wiper secretary general, he played a crucial role in CORD fraternity. His outspoken views, has made him one of the outstanding politicians that CORD principals have always admired and cherished. This can be witnessed through various political podium he has attended.even though he has been a critic of Presidency as an institution, he has shifted a little to county government since it is one of the institution closer to the people.
his entry in gubernatorial race has caused panic to his big rival Hassan Joho.it is difficult for Joho to undermine Sarai bearing in mind sarai won senatorial position with landslide margin than Kajembe who was Joho's favorite. what itches Joho so much is up to now he hasn't known the exact strategies Sarai will use in 2017 elections. he can choose to undermine other candidates like Awiti and Shaabal but not Sarai.
Sarai stands a better chance of winning Mombasa gubernatorial 2017 because of his good community entry strategies. with the assistance of his friends like Mahamoud Noor, Sarai has established good mechanism of representation at the grassroots level. Mahamoud Noor has played a key role in ensuring sustainable network linkages towards the grassroots level. he has been regarded as the Alpha of team Sarai.
Sarai has had history of fortune that has God's blessing towards his career growth of life. back from the being a cadet in the armed forces, chairman of Moi University Student association, human right commissioner and now the senator of Mombasa. who knows the next governor of Mombasa??? GOD knows.
Wednesday, 14 September 2016
Kahawa Tamu: DENNIS ITUMBI AND JUBILEE GOVERNMENT WANT TO TARGE...
Kahawa Tamu: DENNIS ITUMBI AND JUBILEE GOVERNMENT WANT TO TARGE...: I have just seen the Media Council communique asking media houses to fire all journalists, on their pay roll, harbouring political ambitions...
DENNIS ITUMBI AND JUBILEE GOVERNMENT WANT TO TARGET PROMINENT JOURNALIST TO FINISH ACCOUNTABILITY. MOHAMMED ALI JICHO PEVU??
I have just seen the Media Council communique asking media houses to fire all journalists, on their pay roll, harbouring political ambitions. Through their Chair, Charles Kerich, the council has asked all journalists who have declared affiliation to political parties or indicated their intentions to vie for elective positions in the coming elections do so outside newsrooms. Kerich also says the Council will withdraw accreditations of such journalists which means they will not be authorised to work as a media practitioner.
Let me tell you something.
The first question I asked myself after reading that thing was; "Who is a journalist?" Is Bonoko-deh a professional journalist? What about Mwala Muteti Wa Kilavi? We have Kenyans who sink their hard-earned money to pursue a degree in broadcast journalism, go through the professional rigours equipping themselves with the core competencies of the demanding profession, then after graduation some rascal from a struggling comedy show, who has never seen an inside of a journalism class, is hired to take up the place of these trained chaps. I keep telling those who care to listen that if the Media Council do not want Kenyans to go to Journalism School, they should close them all allow media houses to hire quacks who broadcast illicit content on morning radio.
When you fail to do the constitutional job you were assigned to do, you have no business lecturing any journalist who harbours political ambition under the sun; because we all know where the motivation of this order has come from. Mohammed Ali will leave KTN today, or tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow, but his exit will not have resolved the ineptitude of the policy-implementors at the Media Council who either do no understand their scope of work or are blind to the glaring political interference currently exhibited by those in that board issuing decrees like crackpot dictators.
Radio journalist Njogu wa Njoroge threw his hat in the ring for the Njoro parliamentary seat a million years ago. It was well fleshed out in all the papers. He even had a photoshoot with President Uhuru Kenyatta. The hotrod Kameme FM presenter, famous for having a venomous tongue on air, even hosted a bash in Kasarani where a heavy contingent of TNA wagons, led by airhead Moses Kuria, amid cheers from the partisan crowd, called for the assassination of Raila Odinga. Anyone who associates with a thug is a thug himself. "Show me your friends, and I'll tell you who you are" is not any other idle expression of speech.
Yet you did not hear The Media Council issue a decree telling that cobra-tongued-masquerador to quit the clean profession of journalism and focus on the mud of politics. They kept their beaks all shut. Until Dennis Itumbi started a Facebook war with Mohammed Ali and was losing the fight, when the Media Council decided to tag team with the oppressive system to give them an unnecessary jolt.
The Media Council's terms of reference is not limited to placing a microchip on journalists alone. They have a constitutional mandate to also monitor media practitioners. Gladys Boss Shollei wants to be Uasin Gishu Senator on a Jubilee ticket. She is married to Standard Group's CEO Sam Shollei. This is Kenya, and we all know how the story goes. When GB Shollei was being hounded out of the Judiciary on corruption allegations, it is to Standard Media Group where she ran for cover - launching missiles upon missiles of comebacks against the, then, Chief Justice Willy Mutunga.
I didn't see the Media Council raise a finger. They coiled their tails like a washed out cat and fence-sat through the unprofessional melee. You can bet your yellow Volkswagen Beetle that the Council will not send any letter to Sam Shollei asking him not to allow his wife use the Standard Group the way she wants. You could argue The Standard Media Group will be Jubilee's official broadcasting partner when the bell for the campaigns are sounded.
Look at MediaMax Limited. All outlets belonging this corporation is as red as the Jubilee flag, they should actually redesign their logo to involve the two yellow fists with 'Tuko Pamoja' underneath it. The reason K24 ratings has refused to soar is because of their association with the ruling regime. There are homes in this country where that channel is locked because parents do not want to pollute the mindset of their children with unresearched government propaganda. AC Milan was owned by Sylvio Berlusconi, but even the former Italy Prime Minister was careful not to tell Carlo Ancelotti who to field on the day of the Champions League Final. He let King Carlo do his job, and was judged on his own merit. If K24 was a KPL club, they would have won the league ten times on the bounce, with a million matches to spare; thanks to coercion, bribery, and intimidation.
This country cannot afford to activate dusty rules and regulations only when it fits those in power. We have to make a choice as country whether we want to abide by the rule of all-law, or the rule of one-man.
I leave you with the immortal words of Mehmet Murat ildan, The Turkish Playwright, who said, and I quote; “Unless you have a free press in your country, there is no need to buy newspapers and there is no need to watch the news because there is no need to listen to the lies!"
If the Media Council are tired of doing their job, we have a million jobless Kenyans out here ready to serve their country without fear, favour, ill-will, bias, malice or prejudice. And for free. We love this country so much we'll fight for it's integrity even if we'll be the last people standing on this soil.
Step up, my country men. This country needs you now more than ever before.
Tuesday, 13 September 2016
DENNIS ITUMBI IS JUST A POLITICAL BEGGAR.
I
have seen Dennis Itumbi tear into Mohammed Ali on his Facebook page.
The photo that started this conversation features some media
personalities sharing a roundtable with ODM party leader, Eng. Raila
Odinga, one of his deputies, Emir Ali Hasan Joho, and nominated MP, Dr.
Oburu Odinga. While the photo depicts a harmless sit-down with the
unwavering statesmen, Dennis Itumbi has spun the narrative by creating
the impression that the meeting was plotting a dangerous mission
deadlier than the battle of Iwo Jima.
And this is the reason why he must be called out.
If you ask anyone what Itumbi is known for, they’ll be hard pressed to mention any meaningful contribution to the profession of journalism. Before Itumbi was hired at State House, he used to run a hurriedly-assembled, badly-configured, contraption of a blog. Little kids called him a Twitter bigwig - he, like his borrowed friend Robert Alai, used to pick fights with everyone online and because Kenyans love gossip and gutter, Itumbi made a name from being hounded in the back of police vehicles, spending his petit bum in cold cells, and making a name from backstreet journalism.
To say that Itumbi's blog had grammatical errors is to give grammar a bad name. That blog was painful reading, it is the reason he keeps walking with huge papers whenever he's invited to media houses. He has struggled to camouflage his dubious academic background, at one time the national intelligence service revealed that he is unfit to serve in the President’s office for he was not literate enough, neither was he of sound judgement. He still cannot construct an English sentence without referring to a pre-written script. If ever you find yourself debating Itumbi on television, you're better off sending Spongebob squarepants to take your slot. He’ll drag you down to his pidgin level, and beat you down with experience. The case of Dennis Itumbi is, therefore, that of the elephant on top of a tree - no one seems to understand how it got there, but everyone knows it will come down hard.
Which is why Dennis Itumbi is picking out Mohamed Ali.
Journalism in this country has immensely suffered from a crisis of confidence. Our men of the pen, and mic, aren't the best paid for the risky job they do. Just last week, there was a journalist who was found murdered somewhere in Kilifi and the murder trail pointed to his dedication towards seeing justice prevail. Journalists, in this country, constantly live with threats to their lIves and property. Thieving politicians don't like being exposed. Those on their pay roll with do all they can to buy your objectivity, or, in the case of those who stand firm, take you down.
Every journalist in this country, therefore, has a price. Francis Gachuri, of Citizen TV, left being objective a million years ago. Same to Jackie Maribe, Faizah Wanjiru and Sylvia Chebet. You could also add Farida Karoney to that long list of media personalities who have openly shifted from being the public watchdog to the politician’s handbag. Every media house has those journalists who come onto your screen and you want to ram your television set off the wall. KTN have socialite Sophia Wanuna and her morning breakfast twin Michael Gitonga. Daily Nation have Gitaru Warigi. Perhaps the most unapologetic Jubilee newsman is Oliver Mathenge. You will scour the four corners of this country to find a more biased journalist worse than Mathenge and your search will come a cropper. If Oliver Mathenge has survived the purge at The Star, then objectivity long ceased to be the centrepiece of media coverage in this part of the world.
Which begs the question why Dennis Itumbi is obsessed with Mohamed Ali.
The answer is simple. That despite Jubilee taking advantage of the transfer window to pocket all influencial journalists in this country, Mohamed Ali belongs to the few who have refused to subscribe to the narrow philosophy of brown envelope journalism. And that makes him a marked man. "If they can't beat you", Jalang'o always says, "they'll arrange for your beating."
Dennis Itumbi is obsessed with journalists who cannot be bought by State House blood money because it keeps Kenyans distracted from the cancer patients sleeping on the cold floor of Kenyatta National Hospital waiting for their chemotherapy turn, or death, whichever comes first. Jubilee will want you to forget they promised us fully- edged low-cost diagnostic centres and treatment facilities for persons with chronic or terminal conditions in every county. When you see Dennis Itumbi shifting attention to Mohammed Ali, you know shit has hit the fan and someone has to clothe the naked King.
Dennis Itumbi needs to keep this war on Mohamed Ali going for as long as possible because it keeps Kenyans distracted from asking about the 5 stadia they promised to build in 2013 for which not even a blade of grass has been procured. Itumbi, and his pocketed media friends, are under instructions to keep this war on Mohamed Ali going for as long as possible because it keeps Luhyas distracted from asking where the 1B shillings bailout that was given towards the Pan Parer revival. With the government's books leaking red ink by the bucketfuls, as confirmed by the Auditor General last week, it is important that Kenyans be distracted from asking who's been eating money by picking a quarrel with Mohamed Ali.
This war on Mohammed Ali is part of a masterful plan meant to camouflage the Jubilee stench thicker than the Kaloche swamp water. Jubilee government have 99 problems, and Mohammed Ali is not one of them. We now have the precedent of extrajudicial killings that makes banana Republics envious. It is un-Kenyan to incarcerate a large group of people when there is no credible reason to think they are dangerous. The Jubilee mujahideen must tell us why they have chosen to declare war on cancer patients in this country. Anyone who has a relative or a friend suffering from cancer, and sleeping on cold earthen floors at the KNH, should pick the Kenya Constitution 2010 and sue the state for denying them the social rights guaranteed under Article 43. Yesterday it was Willie Kimani and those lawyers who stand for truth and justice. Today it's Mohamed Ali and the few remaining journalists who mean well for this country. Tomorrow it will be you. And you know how the story goes, don't you?
If you see a government associating with the China Communist Party, you should begin applying for citizenship to the tiny island of Vanuatu. Or remain right here and fight back for your country. The pumpkin, and the knife, are still in your hands. But it won't be for long. When the dust, finally, settles and there’ll be no one else to speak out for all the atrocities meted on innocent Kenyans, it will be too late to turn back the clock.
I leave you with my all-time best quote from Thomas Sowell, who said, that; "If people in the media cannot decide whether they are in the business of reporting news or manufacturing propaganda, it is all the more important that the public understand that difference, and choose their news sources accordingly."
We are at war.
And this is the reason why he must be called out.
If you ask anyone what Itumbi is known for, they’ll be hard pressed to mention any meaningful contribution to the profession of journalism. Before Itumbi was hired at State House, he used to run a hurriedly-assembled, badly-configured, contraption of a blog. Little kids called him a Twitter bigwig - he, like his borrowed friend Robert Alai, used to pick fights with everyone online and because Kenyans love gossip and gutter, Itumbi made a name from being hounded in the back of police vehicles, spending his petit bum in cold cells, and making a name from backstreet journalism.
To say that Itumbi's blog had grammatical errors is to give grammar a bad name. That blog was painful reading, it is the reason he keeps walking with huge papers whenever he's invited to media houses. He has struggled to camouflage his dubious academic background, at one time the national intelligence service revealed that he is unfit to serve in the President’s office for he was not literate enough, neither was he of sound judgement. He still cannot construct an English sentence without referring to a pre-written script. If ever you find yourself debating Itumbi on television, you're better off sending Spongebob squarepants to take your slot. He’ll drag you down to his pidgin level, and beat you down with experience. The case of Dennis Itumbi is, therefore, that of the elephant on top of a tree - no one seems to understand how it got there, but everyone knows it will come down hard.
Which is why Dennis Itumbi is picking out Mohamed Ali.
Journalism in this country has immensely suffered from a crisis of confidence. Our men of the pen, and mic, aren't the best paid for the risky job they do. Just last week, there was a journalist who was found murdered somewhere in Kilifi and the murder trail pointed to his dedication towards seeing justice prevail. Journalists, in this country, constantly live with threats to their lIves and property. Thieving politicians don't like being exposed. Those on their pay roll with do all they can to buy your objectivity, or, in the case of those who stand firm, take you down.
Every journalist in this country, therefore, has a price. Francis Gachuri, of Citizen TV, left being objective a million years ago. Same to Jackie Maribe, Faizah Wanjiru and Sylvia Chebet. You could also add Farida Karoney to that long list of media personalities who have openly shifted from being the public watchdog to the politician’s handbag. Every media house has those journalists who come onto your screen and you want to ram your television set off the wall. KTN have socialite Sophia Wanuna and her morning breakfast twin Michael Gitonga. Daily Nation have Gitaru Warigi. Perhaps the most unapologetic Jubilee newsman is Oliver Mathenge. You will scour the four corners of this country to find a more biased journalist worse than Mathenge and your search will come a cropper. If Oliver Mathenge has survived the purge at The Star, then objectivity long ceased to be the centrepiece of media coverage in this part of the world.
Which begs the question why Dennis Itumbi is obsessed with Mohamed Ali.
The answer is simple. That despite Jubilee taking advantage of the transfer window to pocket all influencial journalists in this country, Mohamed Ali belongs to the few who have refused to subscribe to the narrow philosophy of brown envelope journalism. And that makes him a marked man. "If they can't beat you", Jalang'o always says, "they'll arrange for your beating."
Dennis Itumbi is obsessed with journalists who cannot be bought by State House blood money because it keeps Kenyans distracted from the cancer patients sleeping on the cold floor of Kenyatta National Hospital waiting for their chemotherapy turn, or death, whichever comes first. Jubilee will want you to forget they promised us fully- edged low-cost diagnostic centres and treatment facilities for persons with chronic or terminal conditions in every county. When you see Dennis Itumbi shifting attention to Mohammed Ali, you know shit has hit the fan and someone has to clothe the naked King.
Dennis Itumbi needs to keep this war on Mohamed Ali going for as long as possible because it keeps Kenyans distracted from asking about the 5 stadia they promised to build in 2013 for which not even a blade of grass has been procured. Itumbi, and his pocketed media friends, are under instructions to keep this war on Mohamed Ali going for as long as possible because it keeps Luhyas distracted from asking where the 1B shillings bailout that was given towards the Pan Parer revival. With the government's books leaking red ink by the bucketfuls, as confirmed by the Auditor General last week, it is important that Kenyans be distracted from asking who's been eating money by picking a quarrel with Mohamed Ali.
This war on Mohammed Ali is part of a masterful plan meant to camouflage the Jubilee stench thicker than the Kaloche swamp water. Jubilee government have 99 problems, and Mohammed Ali is not one of them. We now have the precedent of extrajudicial killings that makes banana Republics envious. It is un-Kenyan to incarcerate a large group of people when there is no credible reason to think they are dangerous. The Jubilee mujahideen must tell us why they have chosen to declare war on cancer patients in this country. Anyone who has a relative or a friend suffering from cancer, and sleeping on cold earthen floors at the KNH, should pick the Kenya Constitution 2010 and sue the state for denying them the social rights guaranteed under Article 43. Yesterday it was Willie Kimani and those lawyers who stand for truth and justice. Today it's Mohamed Ali and the few remaining journalists who mean well for this country. Tomorrow it will be you. And you know how the story goes, don't you?
If you see a government associating with the China Communist Party, you should begin applying for citizenship to the tiny island of Vanuatu. Or remain right here and fight back for your country. The pumpkin, and the knife, are still in your hands. But it won't be for long. When the dust, finally, settles and there’ll be no one else to speak out for all the atrocities meted on innocent Kenyans, it will be too late to turn back the clock.
I leave you with my all-time best quote from Thomas Sowell, who said, that; "If people in the media cannot decide whether they are in the business of reporting news or manufacturing propaganda, it is all the more important that the public understand that difference, and choose their news sources accordingly."
We are at war.
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