Devolution is not helping Northerners because of zero- sum game politics.

Twenty months later, residents of Northern Kenya have nothing to write home about devolution. in fact one can authoritatively say that, in the restive North, devolution maintain governors’ lifestyles and those of their stooges -talk of fuel guzzlers, unending seminars at the coast, 24/7 presence in Nairobi and MCAs tripping to where-who-knows just to have selfies with wazungu waiters and flight attendants (of course no one receives them). Devolution is turning out contrary to people's expectations.

Two of NEP counties top the county revenue allocation list. To be precise, one was allocated 8 billion in the recently released proposed allocation - 2015/16 financial year. What can't that do? A lot!
It's unfortunate that 80 per cent of that is going to recurrent expenditure leaving very little for development. I wouldn't be surprised to hear that there are ghost workers. Devolution is not about salaries, fuelling vehicles, foreign travels and holding workshops. It seems devolution has been misunderstood and many governors have seen it as an opportunity to create jobs for their relatives, side-kicks and friends.

Governors are particularly spending a lot of money on foreign and local travels yet they had not undertaken any tangible development projects. Even after some have launched irrigation schemes worth billions, famine came and swept all including the trees. One wonders what happened to the crops. 'Birds' have eaten  them, they will say, in defence.

The never-ending tribal clashes and cowboy contractors make things worse. Last week, the Star newspaper reported that the bombings in the border county of NEP was as a result of vicious war between contractors. "Three explosions spaced out in one hour sequences rocked Mandera town Wednesday morning as contractors compete for roads tenders. The explosions caused by IEDs are believed to be the work of road contractors competing to get tenders to tarmac roads in the county. In the first explosion that occurred at 7:30am, a tractor that was leveling a section of a road within the town was damaged, the driver suffered minor injuries."  How about Marsabit? Wajir? What makes you think the tribal clashes were not financed?

The dwellers of the restive North who have known no real development, literally, were made to believe that they were "marginalised" because of unfavorable centralized national decision-making system. That is true, somehow. They have always hoped devolution will be a quick fix to “marginalisation” which was blamed for the underdevelopment in the expansive region. That is yet to materialize and no signs of big-time change are forthcoming mostly because of the kind of leadership in office and not devolution.

Politicians are the same all over. They promise to build a bridge even where there is no river. But we can at least go for the best among the worst. Lets keep changing them. Politicians and diapers should be changed frequently and all for the same reason.

I challenge you to tell me of any development project worth mentioning, from Marsabit to Mandera County. Which one? Tell me!

Know your representatives and their constitutional roles.

Many of us have been heard shouting from the top of the roof accusing one elected leader after the other, especially at the county level. But do we really understand their constitutional roles and responsibilities? Early last month I was challenged by a Senator friend of mine -from the mountain side and a fan of this blog. He simply suggested that I should at least say something "in your popular blog" about the roles and responsibilities of various elected leaders.

I have taken the challenge wholeheartedly but I was a bit reluctant to put pen to paper because some things are not my stuff.

Today we  try  our best to make you understand what these leaders were elected to do. For now we tackle three types of leaders, who in one way or the other, are associated with the county governments.


Senator

A senator, in my opinion, is to a county what a Member of Parliament is to a constituency. A county is a larger administrative unit to a constituency and as a matter of fact covers more than one constituency in geographical area.

In as much as the governor is the administrative head of the county, the Senator is the political head.

What are the roles of a senator?

His or her role is not to govern a county but is as a member of parliament: of the senate. Reading the constitution gives the impression of a very limited set of functions for the senate.
The main one is law making, laws that are of county nature. But, though every Bill, or draft Act of Parliament, must be passed by the National Assembly, only Bills that affect counties have to be approved by the Senate. This means anything that affects the constitutional powers of counties, or their finances or elections to county offices.

A Bill about something to be done only by the national government, which does not affect what county governments do, will not have to be approved by the Senate.

In fact, almost all the functions given to the Senate concern the county governments. It is important in allocation of national revenue to, and between, counties once every five years. The Senate makes the initial decision (it must use the work of the Commission on Revenue Allocation, constitutional principles, public input, and the input of others including the county governors). Its decision is final unless two-thirds of the National Assembly reject or change it.

The Senate has other important finance-related roles; according to the constitution it “exercises oversight over national revenue allocated to the county governments”, and this is backed up by detailed provisions of the Pubic Financial Management Act. But when the MPs passed the Constituency Development Fund Bill, they removed provisions giving the Senate a role in overseeing the CDF, changing a proposed supervisory Senate Committee to a National Assembly Committee - even a “parliamentary committee” did not satisfy them – and providing that CDF Regulations must be approved by the National Assembly not the Senate.

The Senate must approve any changes to county boundaries. And the Senate must approve any suspension of a county government by the President (if that government “engages in actions that are deemed to be against the common needs and interests of the citizens” of the county, says the County Governments Act) and can end a suspension.

A county may appeal to the Senate if the Transition Authority decides that the county does not have the capacity to exercise a governmental function that the county wants to be transferred to it.

The Senate does have two truly important functions in connection with national government. If a motion for the removal of the President or Deputy President is passed in the National Assembly, it will go to the Senate which will appoint a committee of its members to investigate the charges, and if its found they were justified, the Senate could remove the President or Deputy by a two-thirds vote of all its members. Perhaps, rather more often, the Senate may be called upon to perform a similar role in the removal of a governor under the County Governments Act.

A Senator will no doubt be able to bargain for benefits for his or her county, as US Senators do: “I shall vote for this Bill that you, the government, want only if you do this-and-this for my county” – what the American call “pork-barrelling”. Their ability to do this may be less than for MPs – because they will vote on far fewer Bills.


Governor.

Who is a Governor? A governor is a person charged with the direction or control of an institution, society, etc. In our dispensation, the definition of the title could not be any different. For once, the title would not be a preserve of one person, the Central Bank Governor.

They are therefore the heads of the 47 counties established under the constitution and have a more managerial role as opposed to legislative, as exercised by members of parliament or County Assemblies.

The roles and responsibilities of a governor are, as per the constitution, stated in  chapter eleven, Devolved Government, Part 3.


Since the governor at the County level is the chief executive of a county, the person elected ought to be visionary with managerial skills, resourceful and above all, a humble leader. Today's governors with such qualities are few in this country. So far things are not as they ought to be for we voted with our stomach, tribal mind sets and what-have-you.

Governors and Senators in advanced democracies are presidential materials and it is  safe to reiterate here and now that days of anyone pretending to ascend to the presidency is  history. A future presidential candidates will be to a large extent persons who have served as governors or Senators and will be judged by track performance in those  units.


Member of County Assembly

Who is the County Assembly Member?

Each of us belongs to a county and much more a ward where the public services to be provided by both the national and county governments affect our everyday life. This is regardless of whether we participate in the governance or not. No one is to be excluded but there is all the more benefit to participate while seeking to ensure that services are economical, efficient and effectively provided to all without fear or favour.


The  Member County Assembly (MCA) who is the most local representative of the people plays an immense role in ensuring that county governments are kept accountable and supported. Each of the 47 Counties have a parliament, referred to as County Assembly (CA) responsible for making laws, approving budgets and plans of the county, and providing oversight in the running of the county governments. The CA is chaired by the speaker and "shall be elected for a five year term."


So who constitutes a MCA?
Article 177 of the Constitution provides for four categories:

(i) a person elected in each ward by the majority of the registered voters (this can be an independent candidate or a member of a political party)
(ii) a person nominated through a political party to ensure that the composition of the CA is such that no one gender is more than 2/3rds of the members
(iii) a person nominated through a political party to represent marginalized groups, persons with disability and the youth. The County Government Bill 2012 sets the total number of this nominations at 6 persons.
(iv) The speaker, who shall be an ex-officio member elected by the MCAs from among persons who are not MCAs.

The responsibility placed on the MCAs is to, (a) maintain close contact with the electorate and consult them on issues before or under discussion in the county assembly; (b) present views, opinions and proposals of the electorate to the county assembly; (c) attend sessions of the county assembly and its committees; (d) provide a linkage between the county assembly and the electorate on public service delivery; and e) extend professional knowledge, experience or specialised knowledge to any issue for discussion in the county assembly. A member of the county assembly shall not be directly or indirectly involved in the, (a) executive functions of the county government and its administration; or (b) delivery of services as if the member were an officer or employee of the county government.  (See County Government Bill 2012)


If the CA is to do its proper work properly, then both the MCAs and the citizens they represent need to play their respective roles. But how equipped are the MCAs to carry out their mandates . Do they have the expertise or at least access to expertise to ensure their effectiveness? How well are the County Assembly Service Boards resourced to ensure that the MCAs have offices to operate from? Of late the MCAs have turned out to be rogues than representatives. Here is why http://kadarsview.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/new-wonder-of-world-welcome-to-world-of.html

Meet the only 'visible' County Women Representative from the restive North Eastern

 Women leadership remain the exception in Northern Kenya politics but activists say  things are looking up. Politics can be said to be the act of making public choice and making decisions on behalf of the people through the medium of the State and its apparatus. It is accepted that for development of society, women, who make up a larger proportion of the population, should not be left out because there is no doubt that both men and woman can equally contribute to the development and growth of our society. There is abundant historical evidence that African women have for long been playing crucial roles in the political life of their countries.

 Many great women have helped in shaping African society and political evolution. Of late, one such great woman from the restive NEP - North Eastern Province - has cought my attention. Simply for her tireless effort to change the lives of the forgotten, downtrodden and marginalized women of Wajir County. Meet Madam Honourable Fatuma Ibrahim, the Women Representative for Wajir County - the women there call her the MOTHER of Wajir.

Honourable Fatuma Ibrahim is perhaps the only female 'visible' MP from the restive North. Not me saying but everyone in the streets of Wajir and to a larger extent, the region. How else could this blog get to know of her? Let her actions speak for themselves. In the short stint she was in Parliament, what has she done? Action speak louder than words, they say.

Lets start with the basics before the 'complications'. She has educated and still educating girls more than any leader from the region. At times she sacrifices her personal meagre resources to put happiness and joy in the lives of Wajir girls. She has enrolled more youths in the National Youth Service than any sitting MP. Again, the statistics are out there.

So what are the 'complications'? Of course they are many. For me three of these 'complications' major my list because they are landmark achievements. Never heard before. First, in the history of North Eastern Kenya, the first ever free Medical camp fully sponsored by a politician happened recently in Wajir County. All were treated. Only Allah heals. Major surgeries were done. Cleft lip deformities were corrected. Women were treated for women 'issues'. All courtesy of Honourable Fatuma.


Honourable Fatuma didn't stop there. She decided to uplift the lives of Wajir Women. She hosted H.E Rachael Ruto - wife of the Deputy President - to launch the first ever table banking in the region. When you empower a woman, you empower a society. Madam Hon knows that too well.

Weeks ago she hosted the first lady, Her Excellency Margaret Kenyatta in Wajir town to launch her Beyond Zero Campaign in the county. Again, the first in the restive region. Lets appreciate the doers. Hon Fatuma Ibrahim is a doer!

Before she joined politics, she was in the civil society where she sharpened her skills of serving the society ably. Mind you, she was a commissioner with the Kenya National Commission for Human Rights.  While still a Commissioner, Hon. Fatuma Ibrahim Ali visited the United Nations in New York and Minnesota at the invitation of the International Leadership Institute (ILI) to share ideas with the African Diaspora on the human rights situation in Kenya. She has always championed for a free and fair society. In her, our beautiful daughters are not short of a role model. Women like madam Hon Fatuma can only succeed because of the men in their lives. Statistics  suggest that successful women have great men in their lives.

So far, her parliamentary work is beyond reproach. I will not hesitate to endorse her for bigger political positions in the future. She deserves it. Today we decide to speak through the lens. Nowadays a picture is worth a billion dollar.

To NEP's peddlers of ethnic hatred on social media and their fellow crackpots

The increasing tribal hostility and rumours spewing from various Pages and Groups related to Facebookers from the restive North in social networking site - Facebook - must be condemned by all peace lovers.

These dudes - some call them internet trolls - are so obsessed with their clans, even when they have nothing to show, as individuals, for being that tribal. They 'pollute' our timelines and normalize acts of violence. Some even have the audacity to call fellow Muslims names that can't be mentioned here.

It is in our best interest to work towards a united and peaceful Northern Kenya so that we can build a bright future for ourselves and our families. For that to be achieved, the peddlers of hatred and their crackpots must be silenced.

Log into any of those pages - you all know them - and what you see can scare you to death. If you are a keen follower of the happenings in the region, you will agree with me that hatred among our people is at its peak. The negative things we post only escalate the violence more than we can imagine. Brethren ItaquAllah (fear Allah). If you have nothing to say -I know each one of us has an opinion - just read others' updates and comment accordingly and responsibly.


A fellow facebooker tagged me his Facebook post, what I assume to be a response to a previous post of mine. First, I don't tag people my posts to seek attention neither do I like my updates. That is un-facebook, if at all there is such a word.

We can agree to disagree but I don't have to insult you to sound brave. Many have done that today. I don't know what the beef is all about! When did debates become personal? When did ideas become personal? Can't we raise issues? Did I mention names?

Lets be civil for a moment. When we learn to debate from an informed perspective devoid of pride and arrogance - you can have a certain arrogance, and I think that's fine, but what you should never lose is the respect for others.

I have been taught not to fight wars that are not mine. I have never been a cheerleader.And I have never been loyal to anyone. Only ideas. We can always walk the talk. Not talk the walk 24/7.

NEW WONDER : Welcome to the world of our MCAs

The current crop of MCAs are a serious indictment on our society generally and our leadership in particular. If you have been following the news, by now you very well know that their latest victim is H.E Kivutha Kibwana, the governor of Makueni County.

I don't know Governor Kibwana at a personal level neither have I ever met him. The only time I 'saw' him, it was on my TV screen or his photos on the newspapers - I read them religiously. But for the years I have 'known' the good professor, I have known  him as a man of high intellect and integrity completely intolerant of corruption and other shenanigans that accompany holders of high office. I was shocked when those rogue Makueni MCAs purported to have impeached him.

Their drama never ceases. In Wajir County, early this year, the Ward Representatives engaged in fistcuffs and chair throwing over a questionable vote that led to the appointment of a new Clerk. Sometimes early this month, they purported to have impeached one of the county women Executives. The whole drama ended in an ambiguity - they were last seen walking out of the assembly one by one and nobody knows what influenced their walkout. The story has never been different in the counties of Garissa and Mandera.

Our MCAs are like children who visit a supermarket for the first time, see all the lovely goodies and think their dream has just come true. They throw a tantrum at every turn, demanding to have everything on the shelves, the cookies, toys and all. They  exhibit a serious structural problem that requires urgent rethink.

No doubt, many af the MCAs took office with the old councilor mentality only to find themselves being called members of an assembly, complete with a speaker and majority/ minority leaders. They heard that they were supposed to make laws to govern counties, and it dawned on them that they were VIPs.

There and then they demanded to be called waheshimiwa. They googled to find out what honorable people do to travel abroad, use VIP lounges at airports and drive monster vehicles bought by taxpayers. They even want us to take care of their spouses!
Soon, the MCAs may demand to travel in motor Cades complete with outriders and escort. Otherwise, how will the villagers know the MCAs are no small people? By the end of their term in office, MCAs will have become another wonder of the world.

This situation requires urgent intervention if the citizenry is not to be disillusioned by devolution. A Bill by Senator Kindiki which stipulates a jail term of up to two years or Sh500,000 fine, or both, for county assembly members found guilty of misconduct in the county assembly is on the floor of the Senate. The Bill's intention is to regulate behaviour during debate. I totally disagree with Senate and the originator of the Bill.

On this, I side with the MCAs. Who regulate Members of Parliament? MCAs were elected just like the the rogue MPs. The MPs and their fellow confused-octogerians  in the Senate are also not accountable to anyone! They pass laws that only benefit, not Wanjiku, but them. Talk of the pot calling the kettle black.

There is nothing like Tribalism, forget about clanism and the never-ending clashes, Nepotism is NEP's new cancer

There is nothing like tribes in North Eastern Province (NEP) that can warrant tribalism. What is a tribe? According to Wikipidia, "The social structure of a tribe can vary greatly from case to case, but, due to the relatively small size of customary tribes, social life in those kinds of tribes usually involves a relatively undifferentiated role structure, with few significant political or economic distinctions between individuals. Tribalism implies the possession of a strong cultural or ethnic identity that separates one member of a group from the members of another group. Members of a tribe tend to possess a strong feeling of identity"

Based on this definition, I think it's safe to say that there is only one tribe in NEP, that is, the tribe Somali- Kenyan Somali, Somali Kenyan, call them what you will.

What we have are clans.

Clanism has always been termed as the major stumbling block to the achievement of unity in the restive North Eastern Kenya. The never-ending story that is "tribal clashes" and violence have both been blamed on ethnicity, but is tribalisim the major problem behind our disunity? I don’t think so.

Clannism and nepotism will finish this region as we talk of “my tribe”. Devolution has made politics more local and violent than ever. Thanks to devolution, we can now clearly tell where the problem with our region is as far as cohesion and integration are concerned. If a fellow clansman can draw a gun with the aim of harming another clansman to settle a political dispute, then tribe - hope you still remember the tribe we are talking about- has no meaning. If clannism was the major obstacle to peaceful co- existence, why then do we hear of brothers - men and women of the same clan - 'killing' one another over county jobs? Why are we witnessing unending clashes among members of the same clan? It happened before devolution. It can happen anytime.

Many experienced and knowledgeable professionals from the region, some working for the national Government and others in the corporate sector do not apply for jobs in the region due to what they term as vicious clan squabbles. And you talk of underdevelopment? Who will develop the restive NEP if you don't pacify it? Whose kids and wives want to live in such 'uncivilized' culture?

For one to work in these devolved units, a lot of importance is placed on clan and family, and whether they supported the governor in the last general election. Some even applied through the so called Council of Elders -an entity that is not recognized by any law as far employment and recruitment are concerned. Yes, we respect our culture but the elders of our world do not deserve our respect. They belong to the highest bidder and are very partial. Elders of them days were highly respected because of their wisdom and impartiality.

 In the last general election, members of the same family supported different candidates. That is democracy! Must they pay for it? To paraphrase Isaac Asimov, there is a cult of ignorance in North Eastern, and there has always been. The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.

This has seen unqualified people who are loyal to politicians in the counties take up senior positions. No wonder some of our counties are unable to prepare annual budgets for approval by the controller of budget. Our MCAs make matters worse. Those from big clans - there has never been anything big about our clans - plot among themselves on whom chief officers, Clerks or County Executives they want impeached on frivolous grounds due to the devolved tyranny of numbers in the county assemblies, as witnessed in Garissa and Wajir counties recently. All they need to do is cook up something irregular about the officer’s conducts, prepare a censure motion and throw him or her out. This has made working for the county governments risky.

The Kabaro led National Cohesion and Integration Commission should now re- focus its energy from tribalism to clannism and nepotism and help the people of North Eastern know how to share their share of the national cake amicably.

The unqualified fellows in our counties have turned out to be the unofficial spokespersons of the counties in social media. They spew venom and 'tackle' accordingly all those who question about the misuse of power and the scarce resource that is our 'fair' share of the national cake. We do not blame them. They are idle most of the time. Nevertheless, they draw salaries.

Am privileged to know a few men and women who are above our new cancer - nepotism. They reward meritocracy.

Eid Mubarak to every one

Eid al-Adha, the Festival of Sacrifice, will be observed tomorrow, October 4, 2014. One of two feast festivals celebrated by Muslims, Eid al-Adha falls on the 10th day of the Islamic calendar’s last month, Dhu al-Hijjah.

Muslims all over the world will be marking Eid Al Adha. On this day, Muslims remember the sacrifice made by Prophet Ibrahim (A.S).

Eid Al-Adha, is not just an opportunity to celebrate, but also a valuable lesson in sacrifice for Muslims around the globe. According to the Islamic scriptures, Eid Al-Adha, also known as the Greater Eid, is an opportunity to give and forgive and reminisce about the story of the great sacrifice made by Prophet Ibrahim (AS) several centuries ago, when he surrendered to the will of Allah and offered to sacrifice his son Ismael (Peace be upon him).

Prophet Ibrahim (AS) was committed to Allah’s command, which later proved to be only a test. He showed that his love for his Lord superseded everything else.
In return, Allah gifted him a male sheep to sacrifice, and that action has become a ritual for all Muslims to emulate on the occasion. Its meat is to be equally distributed among family, friends and the poor.

May Allah shower His countless blessings upon you and your family. May this day be a special day that’s filled with warmth and love, and may it hold the happiness you are  so deserving of!

Eid Mubarak to every one.

FULL OF LIES: NEP's devolution story they never told you and why peace matters for development's sake

Early this year, in one of his captivating pieces, Dr David Ndii says "If you follow the media, you may have discerned that there are two devolution narratives. One narrative is that devolution is a Frankenstein monster. It is the narrative of tin gods, globe-trotting MCAs and chicken taxes. Devolution is cast as decentralisation of corruption, a fiscal disaster, an administrative nightmare. The second narrative is that of devolution as a godsend"

Indeed to the people of North-Eastern Kenya, devolution is a godsend.

Mandera county -that restive north-east tip of Kenya - has installed street lights for the first time since Independence.

It's not a news that Madera has borne the brunt of insecurity and terror attacks more than any other county in the country. Having floodlights  will definitely help residents feel safe at night. Trivial as it may seem, these new street lights in Mandera are a wonderful example of why devolution is godsend for Kenya, more so, for Mandera and the entire North-Eastern Province (NEP).

Wajerians (People of the great county of Wajir) have decided to move with speed so that they could catch up with other parts of the country. Before we go deep into their charming devolution story, allow me to narrate a little bit fact about the middle-county of North-Eastern Kenya.

Wajir- probably the only place on earth where bucket latrine system still exists due to its high water table -has produced more highly educated and intellectual men and women who sit in high positions in different corners of the globe than any other county in NEP. Mind you, the first and the only woman that ever represented Kenya in an Islamic state is from Wajir. Her Excellency, Rukia Subow, is the current Kenya Ambassador to Tehran.

Recently, Wajir residents and their leaders came out in their droves to attend the ground breaking ceremony of the first ever tarmac road for Wajir, amid excitement and hope of a new change in town!

I have done my best to research about Garissa-the then capital city of NEP- but unfortunately there is nothing tangible (no big-deal project (s) ) to write home about as far as devolution is concerned.  Surprise, Surprise, some of its leaders are fighting devolution at the national level!

The dwellers of the restive North who have known no real development, literally, were made to believe that they were "marginalised" because of unfavorable centralized national decision-making system. That is true, somehow. They have always hoped devolution will be a quick fix to “marginalisation” which was blamed for the underdevelopment in the expansive region. That is yet to materialize and no signs of big-time change are forthcoming mostly because of the kind of leadership in office and not devolution.

However, devolution is proving to be a curse for the residents in the drought prone area, than the anticipated blessing as deadly inter-clan conflict creates widespread mayhem. The inter-clan conflict especially in Mandera and Wajir counties is giving security apparatus sleepless nights in the region. Given that their hands are almost full with 'al-Shabaab' terror group renewed attacks, the security teams are now fighting a two front war. The Clashes have led to the destruction of properties and the mass killing of innocent women, children and elderly people. No one can tell exactly how many people died since the clashes begun.

If after 50 years, with the ever rising number of representation from the region, we couldn't lobby for the tarmacking of Garissa-Wajir-Mandera highway and quell the clashes, then, I don't think there is leadership worth talking about.

On the BENCH : My interview with Jeff Koinange on Eastleigh crackdown

Jeff Koinange LIVE interview with the Blogger, Ahmedkadar

Why Uhuruto Administration should mentor youth.

This piece was inspired by a youth-related seminar I attended recently. We are often watched but rarely seen. The jobs go to the aged - fellows of uncertain age but certainly not a day below 70.

Now that there are no jobs for the youths, is it not time to see their gifts and acknowledge their wounds? Most youths today have no clue of their talents or gainful projects they can engage in to transform their lives. The youths should be given the opportunity to participate in life-skills workshops with employees paid for by the government who are trained as mentors.

The government's effort must be so conducive for mentors and mentees to engage in deeper conversation about what’s going on in their lives. They grow up believing that only white -collar jobs are gainful employment. Most parents in this country are too poor to finance their children to talent academies and instead take them to school to study professional careers. The number of students graduating from these schools do not match the slowly shrinking Kenyan job market.

The state can also motivate corporates to come in by developing initiatives like Corporate Mentoring Challenge- where special recognition is given to companies whose employees engage in mentoring youth.

This will greatly address unemployment and tame the ever rising crime levels in the country, mostly committed by frustrated youngsters. However, mentoring our youths should never be a substitute for a caring family, community support, or a concerted youth policy agenda.

Almost two years and Eastleigh has nothing to write home about Kidero's government.

On Tuesday, in his meet-the-people-tour, Nairobi governor Dr Evans Othiambo Kidero made a stopover in Eastleigh - the unrivalled Somalis business hub on the east of Nairobi christened "small Mogadishu".

Despite being a jubilant, I wish to bring to the attention of Nairobi's 'Commander in Chief' that I voted for him during the last general election, but had the Supreme Court upheld the Court of Appeal nullification of his election, I would not have voted for his re-election. Why? You may ask. It's simple. Very simple. In the last 18 months he has been in office, there is nothing to write home about.

We the people of Eastleigh live in estates that are chocking under the weight of garbage and bursting sewers. To add insult to an injury,our roads are under construction for over 3 years,probably more than it took to complete the Thika Super Highway. Hawkers are everywhere on the streets for their only market (former Nairobi City Council Market) has been grabbed. The mushrooming Merus-owned miraa kiosks make the environment dirty as they throw garbage and miraa leftovers (Somalis call it barixi and hardly buy) on the roadside and in drains. Eastleigh is literally chocking!

I invite the governor and his Environment Executive - a former Town Clerk no less! -to visit Eastleigh and stay there for a day and perhaps spend a night in one of Eastleigh's skyscrapers to see the extent of dirt. Not just to be dropped by a fuel guzzler, talk to the people for less than ten minutes and disappear to where-who-knows.

Eastleigh is the only suburb outside the Central Business District that contributes close to 30% of the entire revenue collected by the City County of Nairobi. For your information, Eastleigh is dotted with skyscrapers of which many were constructed within the last eight years. I have been taught that development comes with social amenities. None exists here. People travel from all over Kenya and neighbouring East and Central Africa countries to Eastleigh to shop. You will virtually find anything under the sun in Eastleigh.

The recent police crackdown in Eastleigh -Police are being investigated for harassment, extortion and assault -in the name of fighting terror had a serious negative impact on its business and image. Eastleigh has bounced back!
Kidero where are you???

WHY THE ORAHAY REVOLUTION MUST SWEEP ACROSS NEP

There is surely a ferocious elephant in the room in Wajir County in regards to governance and financial management and integrity. The preposterous style of leadership employed by the governor is immensely deplorable and is informed by canternkerous and arrogant absurdity devoid of any wisdom—the tendency to extinguish a corrosive and insatiable colossal greed is outstanding and all over the place.

Tragic as it may get, the economic mismanagement and amassing of illegal wealth by the governor and his henchmen is moving at a surprisingly rapid pace that needs to be stopped in its tracks before the strings or articulation of Wajir goes back to the central government.
The bulletins and narratives coming to the fore are filtered and are robustly backed by painful and embarrassing facts in the public domain.
It is hugely consternating that the patience of the residents is overstretched and relentlessly put to a test by a previously trusted leader whose character and persona is synonymous with sickening pride and pretentiously over rated self importance.

The new constitutional dispensation that paved way for the much hyped devolution is not in any way a watershed moment for the residents of wajir county, and if anything the people of this county are treated to a ludicrous rhetoric that play a perfect role in smoke- screening a profound and damaging corrupt under hand dealings. This unchecked and devastating large scale economic crimes are detrimental and destructively wrecking-havoc in an already impoverished society and its hard earned finances.
The unfolding astonishing episodes will come to no halt when a trusting society is subjected to unabated drama of political and economic mendacity.

Mischief upon mischief fortified with disintegrated and deceit, will no doubt aggravate the enormity of a potentially explosive mass revolt.
Something is amiss when the unrivalled tolerance of the masses is misconstrued and taken for granted, like a naive and a foolhardy folk effortlessly taken for a ride. An abhorrent gross mismanagement of the fiscal allocations of the county is felt across the whole nation and the shock waves are crippling every sector or spheres of life and, thus wajir is left at the mercy of the malevolent devil—the resultant uproar and damning public disapproval is deafeningly wide spread. Wajir is a county on its knees, but the remedy of its innumerable ills is not in sight or within reach.

Detestable and obdurate plenary sessions are draining the little remaining resources and, these are one of the unfortunate calamities bedevilling that helpless and failed county government of fallacies.

A dysfunctional belittled repugnant county assembly acting at the behest of the beleaguered governor and his beguile foot soldiers is so ill informed, ineffective and
Intellectually incompetent to correct or arrest the pathetic situation. An excruciating bad situation has gotten worse and the buck stops at this famished and unremorseful hegemony. Great deal of time and valuable resources have been wasted and nothing has been rolled out as a progressive blue print or marshall plan for a seriously under developed, drought and insecurity prone county whose public institutions have collapsed or are on the of brink of collapsing. God save the beloved middle county of NEP.

Why did Senator Kerrow meet Ethics and Anti-Corruption Chief? Is Ali Roba in the EACC list?

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission(EACC) wants 15 governors charged over alleged graft at their respective counties.  The 15 governors hail from North-Eastern, Western, Central Kenya and the coast. Residents of NEP have been speculating who the NEP governor in EACC list is. Reliable sources have informed QadarsWorld’sblog that Mandera Governor, Ali Roba, is the likely governor from NEP in the EACC list.

Our source also alleges that over the weekend, Mandera Senator Hon Billow Kerrow was seen with the EACC boss. The two were said to be in deep discussion, perhaps pleading for his governor to be expunged from the list.  Of late Mandera County has been under investigations. Recently EACC ‘raided’ the offices of senior officials of the county but the offices were closed before the EACC team arrived and the county Executives and Chief Offices fled. A second impromptu visit by the same team yielded result. That formed the basis of the EACC investigations as far as Mandera County is concerned.

Corrupt governors should be arrested and prosecuted. Ali Roba and his administration has been accused  of misuse of county funds on extravagant and misplaced trips, employing family and friends and awarding tenders to close business associates as indicated in the Auditor General’s report. The county business community also accuse the governor of awarding the governor's residence project tender to his brother in-law.

Is the Senator protecting his governor? Does he have the moral authority, as the Chair of Senate’s Finance and Economic committee, to investigate other governors?

Graft team to ‘’probe’’ Wajir Governor

Problems for Wajir governor intensified after a Wajir based anti-corruption lobby said it had written to the Auditor-General and the EACC over corruption allegations in the county.  Wajir Governor is the only governor from North-Eastern counties summoned by the Senate.  A section of Wajir residents, opposition county Assembly members and Members of Parliament from the county accused the Governor and his Executives of misuse of public funds terming trips by the executive extravagant and misplaced.

The chairman of Wajir Anti-Corruption and Justice Forum, Mr Mohamed Abikar, said they supported the Senate decision to summon the Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi over allegations of abuse of office.

The anti-corruption watchdog said it was investigating corruption claims in all the 47 counties. Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission spokesman Yasin Amaro , speaking to one of the local dailies said his team had received complaints related to procurement and irregular hiring of staff. “We have since launched investigations, which are ongoing,” he said.

According to Kakamega Senator, Dr Khalwale, one governor spent Sh1 million to rent a public address system. On Sunday while addressing a public forum Dr Khalwale posed “Why the tantrums when these people don’t even provide any documentary evidence for the expenditure?”

The Kenya National Audit Bureau says the Auditor-General had concluded an audit in all 47 counties and the reports, which have unearthed irregularities, are set to be tabled in Parliament. There is a shocking high level of sleaze, which has been exposed by the Auditor-General.

Following the impeachment of Embu Governor Martin Wambora by the Senate on Friday, the actions of the county bosses have been thrust into the spotlight, raising concerns over the stability of county governments. Mr Wambora was impeached for ''violating the Public Procurement and Disposal Act 2005 and Regulations 2013, the Public Finance and Management Act and the Constitution.''

Governor disowns county Press Director as Radio goes to Court over raid.

Wajir Governor Ahmed Jiir addressing residents at a past function.

 





Wajir County Governor Ahmed Jiir Abdullahi has distanced himself from the Wajir Community Radio raid over the weekend by county officials. Ahmed Jiir said he was shocked by the raid led by the County Press Director one Yahya Dahiye.  
The governor is in a heap of hot water for not being in touch with the real situation of the county. After an onslaught of criticism from residents and media stake holders all over the country, the good governor has humbled himself by apologizing to the Wajir Community Radio board. According to reliable source, the  governor insisted that he ''was not aware of the raid and  I have never questioned  the said governance program that prompted the raid'',the governor is quoted to have said.

The governor stopped short of saying that he felt the timing was wrong and was calculated to incite the public against county government by opening a new battlefront against him in what he perceive as a wider war against his government by “enemies of wajir”.

Meanwhile, a wajir based human right organization is planning to take the county government to court over the illegal and unconstitutional raid.