Raila Says 2008 Killings Were Planned

Raila Odinga has said that the 2008 violence was systematically organized (and planned)! This is quite shocking indeed in light of the fact that it was in his name - more or less - that the deadly violence that killed over 1,000 was fought.

Even more controversial is that, since 2008, he has often said that the chaos that erupted across the country was spontaneous, following claims by his party that the poll was rigged in favour of President Kibaki.

The change in stand is really very worrying indeed for a man who wants to be the next leader of Kenya. Whether the violence was planned is another story, although I believe that it is quite farfetched saying the violence was planned. This is because, ahead of the poll in 2007, it was clear Odinga was wining the poll - so there was no need to plan any violence.

In the latest comments by Odinga, he said: "Killing 1,300 people is not an easy or simple task…. Something very serious must have been done in Kenya to lead to the death of 1,300 people."

It means that some Kenyans are planning to vote for someone who is so fidgety about his stand on issues of grave importance.

Even sounding sort of demented, he said that he is prepared to face charges if he is found to have been behind the murders.

Al Jazeera Swahili TV Coming Soon

I have been hearing this for a couple of weeks now. Now, I have decided to publish this post since I have heard from credible sources that indeed Al-Jazeera is planning to start a Swahili language television.

It is clear that the new channel will be available through satellite and cable systems.

Al Jazeera Arabic TV

Initially, it had been rumoured some while back that Al Jazeera was actually seeking to start a Swahili or English to Africa radio.


For the new Swahili TV channel, it is not clear yet where its main bureau will be. So far, it has not invested as much in east Africa.


However controversial it is, especially its Arabic channel, Al Jazeera has become one of the most influential news media in the Arab world and in the west.

Nigerian Conmen Take Con Game Notch Higher

You may have seen some of the Nigerian cons masquerading as virtually anyone. This latest, one appears well done… only that ''UN Under-Secretary Inga-Britt Ahlenius'' is stranded in Nigeria and needs your help! Amazing! 

Read on...

UNITED NATIONS OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL OVERSIGHT SERVICES

Internal Audit,Monitoring,Consulting And Investigations Division.  

From. Mrs.Inga-Britt Ahlenius


Attn:
This is to inform you that I came to Nigeria yesterday from U.S.A, after series of complains from the FBI and other Security agencies from Asia, Europe, Oceania, Antarctica, South America and the United States of America respectively, against the Federal Government of Nigeria and the British Government for the rate of scam activities going on in these two nations.

I have met with President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria who claimed that he has been trying his best to make sure you receive your fund in your account.

Right now, as directed by our secretary general Mr. Ban Ki-Moon, We are working in collaborations with the Nigerian Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) and have decided to waive away all your clearance fees/Charges and authorize the Government of Nigeria to effect the payment of your compensation of an amount of $10.5M approved by both the British government and the UN into your account without any delay. The only fee you will pay to confirm your fund in your account is your Notarization fee to the UN.

Sincerely, you are a lucky person because I have just discovered that some top Nigerian and British Government Officials are interested in your fund and they are working in collaboration with One Mr. Richard Graves from USA to frustrate you and thereafter divert your fund into their personal account.

I have a very limited time to stay in Nigeria here so I would like you to urgently respond to this message so that I can advise you on how best to confirm your fund in your account within the next 72 hours.

For oral discussion, call me on this number which I just acquired in Nigeria today:+234-7029153951

Sincerely yours,
For urgent and fast consideration,

Sincerely yours,

Mrs.Inga-Britt Ahlenius
United Nations Under-Secretary-
General for Internal Oversight.
CELL PHONE ++234-7029153951

Massive Military Might in Libya Attacks

It has been a display of massive military might as French, British, and American military launched ferocious air and missile strikes against Muammar Gaddafi's military. I am just amazed at the scale!

Some of the most sophisticated weaponry has been used in the attack, even as it becomes difficult to tell how this will end!

Rafale fighter

According to reports, several missiles were fired from US and British ships and submarines in the Mediterranean, targeting tanks, radar systems, surface-to-air missile launchers and communications facilities, effectively disabling Gadafi's military power.
 

At least 110 Tomahawk cruise missiles were used against 20 military/comm facilities across the country, most along the Mediterranean coast.

Tomahawk cruise missile

This missile - designed for medium- to long-range, low-altitude conditions - was launched from under the sea! This cruise missile is over 1,300 kgs.

UK's Tornado bombers were in use! This military aircraft flies at supersonic speed, with ground-attack capacity, capable of taking off and landing in short distances.

Tornado bomber

At least 20 French Mirage and Rafale fighter planes bombed facilities in Benghazi.

Mirage 2000 jet

American officials have said B-2 stealth bombers were also involved in the raids.

B-2 stealth bomber

F-16 fighter jets are on standby. It is not clear if they have been used.

F-16

New York Times Reporters Missing in Libya

The New York Times has said four of its senior war correspondents have gone missing in eastern Libya, where rebels have been fighting forces loyal to Muamar Gaddafi.


The Times says the missing journalists are Beirut Bureau Chief Anthony Shadid - a Pulitzer Prize winner, Stephen Farrell, a reporter, and two photographers, Tyler Hicks and Lynsey Addario. 


Farrell was kidnapped by the Taliban in 2009 in Afghanistan.

Ocampo Relied on NGO, Press Reports

It is now public that ICC Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo relied extensively on reports of NGOs to make his case before judges in a bid to try six Kenyans over the 2008 violence. Even more frightening is that the prosecutor relied on ''press articles and reports''.

Pre-Trial chamber judge who last week declined to issue summons against the six Kenyans said besides Ocampo failing to convince him that the crimes committed in Kenya meet the threshold of crimes against humanity, the prosecutor also relied so much on reports of NGOs. This is to imply that the prosecutor did not do his own independent investigations.

Judge Hans-Peter Kaul said: ''The prosecutor supported his application, to a large extent, with the same public reports of non-governmental organizations and commissions that he already  submitted on 26 November 2009 when seeking the Chamber's authorization for the commencement of the investigation into the situation in the Republic of Kenya pursuant to article 15 of the Statute''.

In footnotes below, the judge gave the reports that Ocampo relied on as:

Commission of Inquiry into Post Election Violence, "Final Report" ("CIPEV Report"), 16 October 2008, Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, "On the Brink of the Precipice: A Human Rights Account of Kenya's Post-2007 Election Violence. (Final Report KNCHR Report"), 15 August 2008, Human Rights Watch, "Ballots to Bullets: Organized Political Violence and Kenya's Crisis of Governance" ("HRW Report") March 2008 and International Crisis Group, "Kenya in Crisis" ("ICG Report"), February 2008

''The (prosecutor's summons) application, relied on only excerpts or a series of sentences, selected by the Prosecutor, from witness statements, reports, press articles and other material,'' Judge Hans-Peter Kaul said in his dissenting vie from two colleagues.

Of course some of the people mentioned adversely in these reports were not called to state their side of the story!

This is besides the fact that the same witnesses used by the NGO reports were the same few that ICC investigators spoke with. In recent months, some have come out to say some witnesses were coached.

With this information in the public, it is so difficult not to see ICC/prosecutor's Kenya case as rubbish!

The Star Publishes Kakamega Sex Pictures!

The Nairobi Star - or The Star newspaper - has published one of the pictures from the Kakamega bench sex drama, seeking to claim it rightful position as a tabloid, but promising to raise a storm before being accepted by an otherwise conservative Kenyan audience.

This is the first time in Kenya a newspaper - not the yellow press - has published a picture of people in sex scene, or what appears to be one!

Generally speaking, The Star has always been sensational in its reporting on news - often seeking angles that seek the newspaper more than traditionally getting the story right. Now, with the publication of this picture, they are hoping to realize two things: 1) Raise circulation, 2) Stir storm in the largely conservative nation.

Interestingly, to show how well throughout the decision to publish this picture was arrived at, the newspaper carried an editorial on the same subject, but commenting that public parks have been neglected in the country.

(Above is one of the two pictures The Star published. The other one it published is what we earlier published under post:)


My take: This story (or the picture) is seeking to delineate newspaper market. They want to have their own readership, and end this fight for audience with the Daily Nation and The Standard. They are seeking to draw to themselves a generation of people who get to read The Star daily, looking for scandals, much like UK's The Sun's 7.7million readers! Or The Daily Mail.

Somebody better tell The Star that, a market for the young generation of people - the like the people the Americans have been giving 3.6bn shillings in recent months - does not exist! It is available in the UK, France, Italy, USA, etc. Not in Nairobi; not in Kenya.

The sad bit is that that audience that The Star is looking for is nowhere. Well, strictly speaking, the young people who would buy such scandalous and outrageous content do not have the money to buy it. The middle-class with Toyotas buy the Daily Nation, and sometimes The Standard. People need to know the cost of fuel, food, etc, not some sex pictures in print!

Note: This approach will likely backfire badly on sales for the newspaper!