tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54120586072521333662024-02-06T22:18:29.830-08:00Welcome to QADARWORLDs BlogNews, Big Interviews, Lifestyle, Business Features, Entertainment and Short DocumentariesQadarsWorldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10575375341341029614noreply@blogger.comBlogger60125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5412058607252133366.post-74105053134097307572023-01-28T00:24:00.003-08:002023-01-28T01:49:12.291-08:00 Right of Reply: Of UDM, political minnows and why the restive North must queue behind Duale <p> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;">To begin with, UDM was allegedly bought with proceeds of pilfered county funds. Funds that were meant to better lives of the people. Never ending droughts and sick hospitals in that county notwithstanding. There’s a pastoralist proverb that says Dibi booli aah weyl xalal madalo.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlAVIp_lblhCkIPBNaiuBLPeVjaSfVm4IrCY_VGcHCg-CSKc6IUOQLdafIlrK1sd1SefLXabGuWelmITrk6_3n1ME4x3O59VQpO22pjbxAR100YWH4aK0Q6Hi-z_ZcOJRGR0IzronbJF-W5pLYKrNKkoKOOtxt90SZRJJ4yUtvMj9hg__BX5FgnSBm/s1275/Blog12.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><img border="0" data-original-height="1275" data-original-width="1242" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlAVIp_lblhCkIPBNaiuBLPeVjaSfVm4IrCY_VGcHCg-CSKc6IUOQLdafIlrK1sd1SefLXabGuWelmITrk6_3n1ME4x3O59VQpO22pjbxAR100YWH4aK0Q6Hi-z_ZcOJRGR0IzronbJF-W5pLYKrNKkoKOOtxt90SZRJJ4yUtvMj9hg__BX5FgnSBm/s320/Blog12.jpg" width="312" /></b></a></div><br /><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">NEP is privileged to be blessed with a leader who is a voice for the voiceless and fair in his dealings with them. That’s Hon Duale, the former longtime Garissa Township MP, first Leader of Majority and the current Cabinet Secretary for Defense.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Why should we subject NEP to political minnows who are after their selfish, parochial interests ala UDM and it’s clueless members? Above all, NEP can’t be served by a village briefcase party that is run by a man who hops from one coalition to the other just for his own survival.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">How do you trust such a character with a region that needs development? Roba has trust deficit. Anyone can register a party. Anyone can buy a party, more so when you have emptied the coffers of a whole county! To have a party is one thing, to use it for the betterment of all is a</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">different thing altogether. UDM doesn’t represent the aspirations of NEP. Let’s not be excited by small things. NEP should see the bigger picture and queue behind the most progressive, transformative leader NEP has produced, Aden Bare Duale.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Nice weekend.</span></p>QadarsWorldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10575375341341029614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5412058607252133366.post-44366580758118934722022-10-26T10:11:00.001-07:002022-10-26T10:31:45.233-07:00Duale’s farewell address to parliament touching, oozing wisdom <p> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">Duale’s farewell speech as he exists the legislature and joins the Executive was great. What a transition! It goes without saying that</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">Aden Duale will be missed in parliament. A pretty independently minded guy whose shoes can’t be filled. Garissa Township lost big this evening but they have loaned the nation a good fortune by allowing their progressive MP to serve our nation. Hope Duale’s replacement will be up to the task and serve Garissa Township better.</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcjZ9RK_kk3fPmOJg0zAxwSExPDCpjOyhULAEn_EQ-z7dPel3vKGiRqCEEAlN4KBMpQ7vzcQx_OTFXwH2Uzbli5_gdK0ZGceA60dsevncrxdoYYkH0hXKOlYyfU1YchnuqlnljeTSiSLNX_vidLesVr0TwybWUFYnZV9wjhtSz-fesOAlYr4DkkOrf/s512/F86B38F0-C4F5-4877-8B51-E7D90584BB93.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="512" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcjZ9RK_kk3fPmOJg0zAxwSExPDCpjOyhULAEn_EQ-z7dPel3vKGiRqCEEAlN4KBMpQ7vzcQx_OTFXwH2Uzbli5_gdK0ZGceA60dsevncrxdoYYkH0hXKOlYyfU1YchnuqlnljeTSiSLNX_vidLesVr0TwybWUFYnZV9wjhtSz-fesOAlYr4DkkOrf/s320/F86B38F0-C4F5-4877-8B51-E7D90584BB93.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Unlike many MPs and specially from the restive North, Aden Duale always knew why he was elected an MP. He’s a man of the people. He’s good on the bread and butter issues which hit ordinary people so hard. Aden Duale has always strived to provide a more honest and honourable, progressive political leadership than the predatory negotiated system we’ve developed in the north. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ4VetK9DPMalkX9jtrKh7SeIq93Daf4uxBFSWD9uEfyAcz1CPZOreNIr6OS3_CdYc3XU7cGEN8DlRdVjIj9_GWljRaR_10QXbSAo4sJwDwIlpee_QhqFp59_pCYDW3xZGM8xF4OFgSPoowQD96BeGRjl2Go-_F1e9V6bnA0TuIm8ASZ-BeeSgl9Bm/s739/9C16878C-21EF-451C-9D7D-4049F7A7D7C6.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="415" data-original-width="739" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ4VetK9DPMalkX9jtrKh7SeIq93Daf4uxBFSWD9uEfyAcz1CPZOreNIr6OS3_CdYc3XU7cGEN8DlRdVjIj9_GWljRaR_10QXbSAo4sJwDwIlpee_QhqFp59_pCYDW3xZGM8xF4OFgSPoowQD96BeGRjl2Go-_F1e9V6bnA0TuIm8ASZ-BeeSgl9Bm/s320/9C16878C-21EF-451C-9D7D-4049F7A7D7C6.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Duale has always bypassed the petty clan politics and got elected 4 consecutive terms thanks to the cosmopolitan nature of his constituency. Garissa Township is a community within a constituency and not a slice of somewhere else like most seats in that part of the region.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwrythpfl2Mhyzm0QOVcPqFwW4TB_EsGB-UoAYiHwrPGudUWZbylUy8j8gIkpwlAu7fUUC5akN-Lo-I3LncPg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">May Garissa Township constituency get the kind of leader it deserves as Duale leaves for national duty. As he takes over the defense ministry, we people of Northern Kenya thank president William Ruto for appointing Duale the Cabinet Secretary for Defense.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">May Allah make it easy for you all. </span></p>QadarsWorldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10575375341341029614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5412058607252133366.post-74758099486933547642022-10-17T01:58:00.002-07:002022-10-17T01:58:10.645-07:00Abdul Haro, The vocal MP who has been ‘Studying’ Mandera South for the last 20 years. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">The 13th parliament is the most diverse ever, including a record number of women. In Northern Kenya, where clan politics - a system that is entirely out of date, cumbersome and unbusinesslike method of running a whole region - is the order of the day in every election, quite a number of youthful leaders resisted the archaic model of politics and emerged winners in the recently held general election and many see this as an opportunity for the region to overcome some of the barbaric political cultures it has practiced since time immemorial. </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Since the advent of devolution a decade ago, Northern Kenya has witnessed the emergence of huge numbers of clan-less, well informed young people who have a powerful desire for change and who could dramatically influence the region’s future. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: start;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: start;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Northern Kenya’s youthful leaders are burning with ambition and have a desire to see a better region, one that is free from hunger, diseases and droughts.</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">In an attempt to understand what the young parliamentarians from NEP are up to, I did a virtual one-on-one with Mandera South MP Abdul Haro. </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><b>Here are the excerpts…</b></span></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEWUxozmsXAb-t7Nfb6OU7EPIrhCcjYaB_mcMXuxVGyBiE9l6qcVwqJbBAVbGa6UTG1Yh2hPJMzj2BglP03U44X2H1nfFhVdYbWzxZ--BMjpAXXWn94X1h0WyttD1rJLlBnfShfwYP0CC0cCQlEYj08DSS5TAWnV-Ukq7l4UAak2qdLMNjOsEKG1VN/s1024/95A1089C-B96F-4D62-BBB1-2E6D2F578094.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEWUxozmsXAb-t7Nfb6OU7EPIrhCcjYaB_mcMXuxVGyBiE9l6qcVwqJbBAVbGa6UTG1Yh2hPJMzj2BglP03U44X2H1nfFhVdYbWzxZ--BMjpAXXWn94X1h0WyttD1rJLlBnfShfwYP0CC0cCQlEYj08DSS5TAWnV-Ukq7l4UAak2qdLMNjOsEKG1VN/s320/95A1089C-B96F-4D62-BBB1-2E6D2F578094.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleEmphasizedBody; font-weight: bold;">Who is Abdul Ebrahim Haro (Kore)?</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">I was <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>born in at the old town of Elwak, in Mandera South, Mandera County. </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Kore is a Masters’ degree holder in Diplomacy and International conflicts Management.</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">As a candidate, I believe I was the most experienced in the politics of Mandera South than any of the Candidates in the 2022 parliamentary race. I’m also most focused in terms of ensuring there is equity and building of trust between all the stakeholders in Mandera South in its cosmopolitan nature.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">The 2022 election was a special moment for me. Some twenty years ago (2002), I made my most serious attempt in contesting for the Mandera Central Parliamentary seat (now Mandera South). Hon Kore, as a candidate and now an MP, has cut an image of one who is not isolated from the people, who feels the pain of the common man and woman, and one who shares the dreams of his constituents and one who draws his strength and wisdom from the people he represents.</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Twenty years, ago when I made my first debut, I was a young man in his early twenties, fresh from university and a political greenhorn. I touched the hearts of many but was not lucky to make it to Parliament because I was pitted against well experienced and resourced politicians at the time . Most of my supporters then were the youth and women, majority of whom had no IDs and votes by then.</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd0TXEukOTvtPjcqZiUp4dnsknjpCulBXVJ8YGIem9QMWmFXf4SBLToNEXfWcJoQluLtbfBbAJO-WD6so2bE8A0ZpbvhO81go4WFwd0_IGVEbxlh2hlo59Mhgfb3QLhaAdhQS66hLaL3jVhohvkYxpEy2nSHj4flczj7-BLTDBubnXxlDWYuQOp1bM/s960/8B52C868-B5B0-41FE-A57E-D480879D2C9A.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd0TXEukOTvtPjcqZiUp4dnsknjpCulBXVJ8YGIem9QMWmFXf4SBLToNEXfWcJoQluLtbfBbAJO-WD6so2bE8A0ZpbvhO81go4WFwd0_IGVEbxlh2hlo59Mhgfb3QLhaAdhQS66hLaL3jVhohvkYxpEy2nSHj4flczj7-BLTDBubnXxlDWYuQOp1bM/s320/8B52C868-B5B0-41FE-A57E-D480879D2C9A.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">The last twenty years have therefore been like a school for me, politically speaking. I must have learnt a lot during the period. In that period, I had seen 4 MPs ascend to power in Mandera South (Kerrow, Abdikadir Lawyer, Huka, Kullow) and had also witnessed all of them voted out at some point. I therefore believe that I learnt many lessons from their ascending to and descending from power; also learnt about the vision and development issues for Mandera south during this period. During that period, I have had the opportunity to work with international non-governmental organizations and acquired useful experience in leadership and development.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Simply put, the last twenty years I have been “studying” Mandera South Politics and it has taught me useful lessons about how leaders miss the point, how the citizen priorities are ignored and how bad politics have caused misery and bad life for the people. </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">I believe that integrity, courage, hope and people sensitive development are important ingredients of good leadership. </span></p></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdJqYYo2acMb7IilBaJs7PB9rYO657axsaRa8RxRNB8edR0bw24wQ6DHDYNQ9bvon9bGkb7ObOuHbtk89H0eW1kMqbeedQofbsm_yxXabvih0auHW_KFhJzDtJvfTL3z5hTowneWK3eGdWJXV8L8GBspChjuUXuZiE2lxo9_9fXZ5p7j_Z2lh_yGmm/s743/DAAB920B-92A5-44D0-9C68-97B1C9D245BA.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="743" data-original-width="688" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdJqYYo2acMb7IilBaJs7PB9rYO657axsaRa8RxRNB8edR0bw24wQ6DHDYNQ9bvon9bGkb7ObOuHbtk89H0eW1kMqbeedQofbsm_yxXabvih0auHW_KFhJzDtJvfTL3z5hTowneWK3eGdWJXV8L8GBspChjuUXuZiE2lxo9_9fXZ5p7j_Z2lh_yGmm/s320/DAAB920B-92A5-44D0-9C68-97B1C9D245BA.jpeg" width="296" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleEmphasizedBody; font-weight: bold;">What is your plan for Mandera South?</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> Having studied the constituency for the last twenty years, I know what is affecting Mandera South, the energy crisis (power blackout), water crisis, drought and livestock Matters, the economy especially those running small businesses, I have talked about the Elwak Market issues on several occasions and equally we have talked about matters of security, peace, coexistence and boundary disputes. We have also talked about youth joblessness, identity cards, bursary etc. I know my constituency well and know the problems of my people and we have concrete plans for Mandera South and I promise to narrow the problems of our constituency to three enemies… <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>illiteracy, Poverty and hunger. </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleEmphasizedBody; font-weight: bold;">There is currently a devastating drought in your constituency in particular and Northern Kenya in general. What’s your take? </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">The drought is cyclic and we have tried short term fixes from time immemorial. While this has helped in the short term, we need long term solutions in terms of addressing issues/ policies that will create an enabling environment that will make it easy for our people to live with the drought situation. The drought will not go away. We need to prepare to live with it. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleEmphasizedBody; font-weight: bold;">What are your plans and is there is any support for small businesses and start ups by the youngsters in your constituency?</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Yes, this is an issue of priority for my constituency. Unfortunately, CDF does not cover this area directly but I will work with the County Government to push for workable programmes to realize this objective. My Governor has prioritized this in his election manifesto and we will push the county government to actualise this. We will also talk to friends and well wishers in the non governmental and private sector to invest in this area.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleEmphasizedBody; font-weight: bold;">The world is flat and technological advancements have opened up places than never before. How do you plan to use technology to transform Mandera South? </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleEmphasizedBody; font-weight: bold;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">The first priority for me is to make sure that all the areas in my constituency are not covered by electricity are covered and the mobile networks are fixed because without these many opportunities that are available online to many youth in other parts of the world will not be available to youths in my constituency and the region. We will then build the capacity of the youth through training and awareness programs to make use of technology to advance their socio economic well-being </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLepz5pzXfBbh8le1nNnW8baNBBLwS8eKk3rgO_d7_RsI7HZoJDDqYh4RO8UHPBP2rrLinY1TE47ae2sUoesEuigmdRjFc35fETCYSzsulQPcGoa_tcwvjAFSIyJEZd7Onz8DlGjBcqZl5TLLYZwEwcmX5Ob2wj_YsZOOhjcPGejGcTlJF9ZOk8met/s1024/60D66BEC-81A5-4343-84D0-11FC7B460835.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLepz5pzXfBbh8le1nNnW8baNBBLwS8eKk3rgO_d7_RsI7HZoJDDqYh4RO8UHPBP2rrLinY1TE47ae2sUoesEuigmdRjFc35fETCYSzsulQPcGoa_tcwvjAFSIyJEZd7Onz8DlGjBcqZl5TLLYZwEwcmX5Ob2wj_YsZOOhjcPGejGcTlJF9ZOk8met/s320/60D66BEC-81A5-4343-84D0-11FC7B460835.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleEmphasizedBody; font-weight: bold;">The county government of Mandera has pledged to support and reduce the burden of doing business. Any contribution to this in relation to your constituency?</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Yes, we will definitely contribute to this both in terms of encouraging and ensuring there is public participation and citizen engagement in the whole programme…we will support assessments and development of strategic plans to advance this course.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleEmphasizedBody; font-weight: bold;">Mandera generally bearing the brunt of insecurity. As an MP for a border constituency, what’s your plans for handling insecurity in partnership with relevant stakeholders?</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Indeed this is one area I will make sure I have cooperated with the relevant national government institutions as well as ensuring that security policies and guidelines are applied on a conflict sensitive manner as welll as ensuring that there is trust building between the security service providers and the security services consumers. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I will make sure we address all security matters proactively with prevention in mind instead of reacting to incidences when they happen.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleEmphasizedBody; font-weight: bold;">Mandera suffers from acute shortage of teachers and insecurity has contributed to the mass relocation of teachers. How are you going to handle this crisis as far as Mandera South is concerned?</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">The TSC policy of encouraging non local teachers to live Northeastern while at the same time using the region as recruitment ground for non local teachers is unfortunate to say the list…this must change and favorable policies developed to make sure education in the region is given equal attention like the other parts of the country for the country’s attaining universal education. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleEmphasizedBody; font-weight: bold;">And finally: What is your association with the Hustler government, if any</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">? </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">We have signed a post-election agreement with Kenya Kwanza therefore we are a key stakeholder in the Hustler government. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We are happy to support the legislative agenda of the hustlers government. The bottom up policy which is the cardinal tenet of the hustler government is what we need in my constituency and the northeastern region. </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p>QadarsWorldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10575375341341029614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5412058607252133366.post-12483808227444882202022-06-01T08:02:00.002-07:002022-06-01T11:43:02.097-07:00None Of The Current NEP Governors Deserve Re-election. <p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">As gubernatorial candidates and other political aspirants jostle for power in northeastern, it’s important to note that the region has not witnessed any meaningful development since the advent of devolution despite reports on how the national government has disbursed money to counties since devolution began in 2013 showing previously marginalized counties have gained the most.</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9JDl7AGK6AfJm_XtAKwKREFnOq04hUIOmJvIom43KIF5zKB3ZtePLWQvP09UKYVaygt5Cyj5Jv4w5vtIaCpurMTNCTo7As1mYhOPUNo4P_N1BcMGNS3IMZNZAN9mB8sJiph2nGddowkv0-Squm6dCd4jSzS0ZQhfGqjC_1a8lx-F1bu0G3eyuXtH6/s3072/F3EFC622-CEF1-4217-8B85-74E6537DD5DF.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="3072" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9JDl7AGK6AfJm_XtAKwKREFnOq04hUIOmJvIom43KIF5zKB3ZtePLWQvP09UKYVaygt5Cyj5Jv4w5vtIaCpurMTNCTo7As1mYhOPUNo4P_N1BcMGNS3IMZNZAN9mB8sJiph2nGddowkv0-Squm6dCd4jSzS0ZQhfGqjC_1a8lx-F1bu0G3eyuXtH6/s320/F3EFC622-CEF1-4217-8B85-74E6537DD5DF.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Mandera, Wajir and Garissa - some of the the biggest beneficiaries in relative terms - have received close to a combined Sh250 billion over the last nine or so years. This region previously bore the brunt of the centralized system that had been in place from independence in 1963 to 2013, when devolved units were formed.</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">So why is the region still lagging behind? It’s therefore safe to say Mandera, Wajir and Garissa have been marginalized by their governors and the privileged few that fly almost every day between Nairobi and NEP powered by devolved corruption. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">A recent governance poll focusing on the 47 governors' development and approval ratings ranked Wajir Governor Mohamed Abdi as the worst performing governor. Likewise both Mandera and Garissa governors were in the bottom ten of the list. Yet Ai Bunow and Ambassador Mohamed Abdi are seeking reelection while Mandera’s Roba wants to ‘downgrade’ to a Senator so as to ‘protect’ his legacy of misgovernance. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">In every election year, it’s the norm in NEP for low budget sultans, donning cheap Kanzus,</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleEmphasizedBody; font-weight: bold;"> </span><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">and clan power brokers to position themselves to catch some of the campaign funds - money mostly looted from public coffers- that are spent oiling the wheels of patronage as politicians exchange briefcases of shillings for clan votes and allegiances. The so called Sultans mortgage their clansmen for few pennies at the expense of five years’ development plan. Campaign politics is an industry all by itself in Northern Kenya. The amounts being spent are eye-popping, and enough to sustain a huge array of influence peddlers and political jobbers. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">There is financial wastage and runaway graft in Mandera, Wajir and Garissa and the Auditor General has severally flagged down these three counties for Irregular procurement, questionable pending bills and stalled projects. Roba and his fellow governors from NEP also appeared before the Senate’s county public accounts and investments committee over damning financial audit reports and key queries on theft of public money. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">As we head to the August elections, the people of these three counties need to put clan emotions aside and elect responsible leaders for sake of their own development and the future of their children. NEP can’t afford another decade of plundering. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p>QadarsWorldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10575375341341029614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5412058607252133366.post-29562489315132732602022-05-31T05:12:00.003-07:002022-05-31T05:27:18.824-07:00The Cop Who Helps The Vulnerable And Refines Police Image <p><span color="inherit" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit;"><b><i>VOICES OF THE NORTH</i></b></span></p><p><span color="inherit" style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">When you think of a selfless police cop with a touch of finesse and pulchritude, you will probably have him in mind. Alas! That is Mohammed Ahmed Omar, the perfect gentleman of a police officer who hails from Garissa county, North Eastern.</span></p><p><span color="inherit" style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpdDWd94maZEXYmO5qHQvG3T6MvUyW9Xrhbj1bTzGO7SXvolkyCUnV-1BZVdsnrV6aRjhCacOVt6S_ZjsQCFRPQfDvuSaQ8MfTKNTPBXWjnkM0jYFxt5dfRSmaLMxlZDLwLv74UYElXi2hh7s9C8M-7zy-JSNarHyyV0XjukCtfSeQ5zyBD5V5LLkH/s1280/Vangal.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpdDWd94maZEXYmO5qHQvG3T6MvUyW9Xrhbj1bTzGO7SXvolkyCUnV-1BZVdsnrV6aRjhCacOVt6S_ZjsQCFRPQfDvuSaQ8MfTKNTPBXWjnkM0jYFxt5dfRSmaLMxlZDLwLv74UYElXi2hh7s9C8M-7zy-JSNarHyyV0XjukCtfSeQ5zyBD5V5LLkH/s320/Vangal.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><span color="inherit" style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="x_p2" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span color="inherit" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">The young officer joined the police service sometimes 2006 after graduating from Utali college where he earned a diploma in tour operations. Due to his footballing talent, Mohamed was noticed by a senior police officer who requested him to join the national police football team. Six months after playing football for the police team, he got convinced and joined the police service and played for three years before quitting the beautiful game due to injuries. </span><span class="x_s2" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></p><p class="x_p2" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="x_s2" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br aria-hidden="true" /></p><p class="x_p3" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="x_s2" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The issue of my being here today - my current duty station- started from when I entered the job, I took a strong vow to serve my country and fellow citizens and that is why who I am, said Mohamed. Social media is full of stories praising him for his outstanding work and the people he has helped in one way or the other in line of duty. </span></p><p class="x_p2" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="x_s2" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br aria-hidden="true" /></p><p class="x_p3" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="x_s2" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The gallant police officer has won the hearts of many after going an extra mile to help a woman and her son who was suffering from cancer but could not get a passport to travel to India for specialized treatment.</span></p><p class="x_p3" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="x_s2" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Mohamed Ahmed, who is attached to the Immigration department, Nairobi, says the story of that woman and her ailing child was so touching that he had to do everything possible to help her and ensured she got the passport within a day despite her tribulations while seeking it. Many praised him for that noble act when the story went viral on social media.</span></p><p class="x_p3" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="x_s2" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></p><p class="x_p2" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="x_s2" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br aria-hidden="true" /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiH9_92hexIHO0kiZal32vI_sBVUd183a-_Zx-7B4Wr0ZTIpZ5IkCePQ0FP9i9tuA5d_GAiCHBrYwUwTr9BXOkKcvXV50q3Qat1fxmSAROFz1NlkIYD-RoLu-9qROnH-gny4llsIZOBXvVBWOnJlXWDHqHpnWBEJVfPYiutE4ut7q3Tu4ZznYROo6z/s1080/Vangal3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="1080" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiH9_92hexIHO0kiZal32vI_sBVUd183a-_Zx-7B4Wr0ZTIpZ5IkCePQ0FP9i9tuA5d_GAiCHBrYwUwTr9BXOkKcvXV50q3Qat1fxmSAROFz1NlkIYD-RoLu-9qROnH-gny4llsIZOBXvVBWOnJlXWDHqHpnWBEJVfPYiutE4ut7q3Tu4ZznYROo6z/s320/Vangal3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p class="x_p3" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="x_s2" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Mohamed said that sometimes policeman’s life is threatened, “but the beautiful thing is that at the end of the day, when we go out of our way to help the people we are meant to serve, we earn respect and get confidence not only from my colleagues but also from the public.” </span></p><p class="x_p2" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="x_s2" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br aria-hidden="true" /></p><p class="x_p3" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="x_s2" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Here’s how the interview went...</span></p><p class="x_p2" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="x_s2" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br aria-hidden="true" /></p><p class="x_p3" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="x_s2" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b>Who is Mohamed Ahmed</b></span><span class="x_s2" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">? </span></p><p class="x_p3" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="x_s2" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I was born and and raised in Garissa and s</span><span color="inherit" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">chooled in Tana River. Later joined Utali college and graduated with Diploma in tour operations. </span></p><p class="x_p3" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span color="inherit" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="x_p3" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="x_s2" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b>So how did you end up in the police service after Utali</b></span><span class="x_s2" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">? </span></p><p class="x_p3" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span color="inherit" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">While working for a tour agency agency, I used to play football a lot and I was good at it. </span></p><p class="x_p3" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="x_s2" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A senior police officer requested me to join the national police football team. Six months after playing for the team, I joined the police service and trained as a police officer. After that I played for the police team for three more years. Due to injuries, I quit the beautiful game. </span></p><p class="x_p3" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="x_s2" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">My first posting as a police officer was in Isiolo county where served for for one year and later Kitale and then Nairobi. </span><span color="inherit" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">Due to the good relation I developed with the public, I got seconded to Nyayo House, Immigration department. </span></p><p class="x_p2" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="x_s2" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br aria-hidden="true" /></p><p class="x_p3" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="x_s2" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b>Family?</b></span></p><p class="x_p3" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="x_s2" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I'm the second born in a family of six. Raised by my both patents. It’s important that children get the opportunity to be raised by their both parents. My dad passed away sometimes early 2022 </span></p><p class="x_p3" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="x_s2" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I’m a father of one boy. </span></p><p class="x_p2" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="x_s2" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br aria-hidden="true" /></p><p class="x_p3" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="x_s2" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b>How do you unwind</b></span><span class="x_s2" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">?</span></p><p class="x_p3" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="x_s2" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">As a passionate footballer, I rarely miss a football match especially the premier league and also have a test for movies and captivating series.. Also love touring places when time allows and above all I love helping humanity. </span></p><p class="x_p3" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="x_s2" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></p><p class="x_p3" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7iylPfXWsiVAgw7hr-h6QQuCG-i9wFAomPRUBpZ1cScsTnREJRCXK9p7ynTGt4iNUNa5lwdlu7zNX06Scxte94P2j1cDeeGgi6dzHiG8l5MKmUFIQHbbHosqdyeO-47O6I9clO_aBnWTcMyKZSR0WkVzdBc6AhRt5Qgu_SAseDTZyk32OqocZE-Mk/s1280/Vangal2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7iylPfXWsiVAgw7hr-h6QQuCG-i9wFAomPRUBpZ1cScsTnREJRCXK9p7ynTGt4iNUNa5lwdlu7zNX06Scxte94P2j1cDeeGgi6dzHiG8l5MKmUFIQHbbHosqdyeO-47O6I9clO_aBnWTcMyKZSR0WkVzdBc6AhRt5Qgu_SAseDTZyk32OqocZE-Mk/s320/Vangal2.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><span class="x_s2" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="x_p2" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="x_s2" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br aria-hidden="true" /></p><p class="x_p3" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="x_s2" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b>Which is the most moving story you encountered in your line of duty</b></span><span class="x_s2" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">? </span></p><p class="x_p3" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="x_s2" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">My encounter with a mother who applied for a passport for her son who was a cancer patient is one story I will never forget. She had difficulty in getting the passport for the boy, 9 years old. </span></p><p class="x_p3" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="x_s2" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">One morning while reporting for duty, I found a woman sitting at the entrance of Nyayo House dejected and depressed for not able to getting the vital document. </span></p><p class="x_p3" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="x_s2" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">It took her about five minutes to compose herself to narrate her story to me. I took <span class="x_Apple-converted-space" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>her details and followed her case up. I made sure by all means that the passport was out the same day and ensured her she gets in a day. When she came back the following day I couldn’t remember her face because I deal with many people but I had her passport. When she introduced herself, I recognized, gave her the passport and she could not believe. She was crying for close to ten minutes and at the same time praying for me. </span><span color="inherit" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">After three days she came back and when I asked her why she’s back she told me that she came to thank me and the team but to also tell me that her son </span><span class="x_Apple-converted-space" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span color="inherit" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">died. It was such a sad story. </span></p><p class="x_p2" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="x_s2" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></p><p class="x_p3" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="x_s2" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b>How will you describe yourself</b></span><span class="x_s2" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">? </span></p><p class="x_p3" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="x_s2" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Humble, believes in helping humanity and believe in the positive image of the police service and it’s only through our actions that we will have a positive impact on society. </span></p><p class="x_p3" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="x_s2" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">We are not in the police service to earn salary or to gain power but to touch lives and empower the vulnerable civilians. </span></p><div><span class="x_s2" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></div>QadarsWorldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10575375341341029614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5412058607252133366.post-87514104173433453712022-05-09T06:36:00.001-07:002022-05-09T08:33:41.320-07:00Why Duale Will Deliver The North to The Hustler Nation <p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 28px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 3px;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">There is no one from the pastoralists’ political landscape who can whip a crowd quite like him. Nor is there any politician from the restive North with his special talents for handling political foes. </span><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">From a junior politician in the 10th Parliament to a political bigwig in the 11th and 12th Parliament, Duale commands huge support across the North – the political base of the pastoralists - not basing on tribal cocoons compared to his foes and has earned the respect and admiration of the North. Indeed he is the indisputable kingpin of the pastoralist community and the Muslim Ummah.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Patronage from his followers is overwhelming, above all, to his political opponents who deploy all means to thwart his political determination. But, he has outshined their conspiracies innumerable epochs and emerged as the winner. Refer to him as the Member of Parliament for Garissa Township or rather the first Majority Leader of Kenya’s National Assembly, Adan Barre Duale. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">The effect of Hon Adan Duale’s national position – Majority Leader of the National Assembly – has been felt across Northern Kenya; from Marsabit to Mandera, Moyale to Masalani just to name a few.</span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Before Jubilee came to power, Garissa residents – and the region at large - were treated to frequent power blackouts as businesses often came to a halt due to lack of energy. In those days, electricity was a preserve of few and those in urban areas and businesses in rural areas were left to find alternative ways of operating. </span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Things are different today. That part of the country has been connected to the national grid. The Kenya Kwanza Coalition government's goal of electricity access by all will be achieved and the North won’t be left behind since NEP’s celebrated son will deliver its fair share.</span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">History has been made courtesy of the Garissa Township MP. Mind you, he’s vying for his 4th consecutive term. Uninterrupted. That shows the love his people have for him.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">There is a clear indication of Dr William Ruto’s incoming administration’s interest in developing the restive north and such plans<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>will definitely change the economic aspect of Northern Kenya positively since investors will be attracted to the region due to the availability of power and other related infrastructure necessary for business. The hustler nation unveiled its plan for the region early this year while campaigning in Wajir. Hon Duale, as the undisputed kingpin of the pastoralist politics, has a say in all these and how they unfold.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">On Nomadic animal husbandry, once the hustlers form a government after the elections, it has plans to upgrade the Independent Livestock Authority with the objective of providing a ready market for the Pastoralists livestock. The Kenya Kwanza coalition has a plan to ensure the north get Equalization Fund to assist the marginalized areas in providing basic services to bring the region’s development at par with the rest of the country.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Infrastructure-wise, the road from Garissa to Madogashe is complete and being used. It has indeed eased transportation of people, goods and of course livestock - the livelihood of Northern Kenya. This road bears the leadership signature of Hon Duale. He lobbied for it when he was the majority leader and ensured it’s delivered. Also Dr Ruto has a blueprint to unlock the region’s infrastructural need as there are plans plan to connect the region with itself and other parts of the country.</span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Duale’s record as far as Garissa Township constituency is concerned speaks for itself and it’s a story for another day. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Lately, the Majority Leader has locked horns with his opponents in their attempt to register a tribal, individualistic political party in the name of UDM to ‘’fight for pastoralists interest’’ when in the real sense it’s the political vehicle of one outgoing Governor who is reportedly accused of looting his county and now purporting to contest for a senatorial seat to salvage his capsizing political boat and probably escape accountability. The outgoing Governor also knows that his own political star cannot shine brighter than the seat he currently enjoys. The writing is on the wall!</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Hate or love him, the first Majority Leader of Kenya Hon Adan Barre Duale remains the kingpin of the Pastoralists’ political landscape. Hon Duale knows the way, goes the way and shows the way! And the Pastoralists have no option but to be with him. And sure they will.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p></p>QadarsWorldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10575375341341029614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5412058607252133366.post-8379635359034118322022-04-28T07:29:00.004-07:002022-04-28T14:24:48.123-07:00Wajir At Crossroads: Why County 008 Deserves A Fresh Start<p> </p><p class="x_p1" style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="x_s2">Wajir now at the crossroads, and this is a good place to be. It is at this
juncture that the people of Wajir are forced to make decisions
about the future that they desire. Evil thrives in darkness. Bad things
happen when good people say nothing. </span></p><p class="x_p1" style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="x_s2"><br /></span></p><p class="x_p1" style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="x_s2">Wajir’s politicians- rather the
clan influence peddlers (Sultans) and the wheeler dealers masquerading as leaders -
have taken it this far and we should commend them for forcing Wajir to
see what it refused to accept. Wajir should refuse to resign itself to
poverty of ideas, irrationality, self-hatred, failed devolution and a
cursed future.</span></p><p class="x_p2" style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="x_s2"></span><br aria-hidden="true" /></p><p class="x_p1" style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizriQrt5l1sSXCajGRseJXT1sV_NEoXT1WCuuK1iHnP0CASw5vlnVF6yYeBDk2GhtNklxLHCunl94YJCkOFPG5mTULW2ewRffQ3H41xXZdG4TAdvw5YehxFJVmnudZiLFCGeMg8oEuaF1pkCaFOUnlUGaZn9M2mwCqGysv-pIz0mvWqV0yAlno1F-P/s1280/blog%20photo.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizriQrt5l1sSXCajGRseJXT1sV_NEoXT1WCuuK1iHnP0CASw5vlnVF6yYeBDk2GhtNklxLHCunl94YJCkOFPG5mTULW2ewRffQ3H41xXZdG4TAdvw5YehxFJVmnudZiLFCGeMg8oEuaF1pkCaFOUnlUGaZn9M2mwCqGysv-pIz0mvWqV0yAlno1F-P/s320/blog%20photo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="x_s2">For
how long should Wajir tolerate bad leadership? A decade of
misgovernment has bankrupted the county resulting to absolute poverty,
joblessness, arrogance of the ruling class, indiscriminate killings due
to clan clashes and wanton theft of devolved resources by all of the
politicians and the privileged ilk.</span><div><br /><div>Wajir
should not accept to be dominated by the few privileged groups - that
sip coffee in upmarket buildings that were bought with looted devolved
funds - purporting to draw a roadmap for county 008. A plan that only
fits their selfish interests and not the aspirations of the people of
Wajir. </div><div><br /><p class="x_p1" style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="x_s2"></span><span class="x_s2">When
a county is led by a leader, who has deficit of leadership qualities,
intellectual vacuity, and moral and spiritual aridity, that county will
be doomed. It takes a great political leader, who is visionary, to
remake a damaged county and set it on the pathway to a successful
devolution and true economic prosperity.</span></p><p class="x_p2" style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="x_s2"></span><br aria-hidden="true" /></p><p class="x_p1" style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="x_s2">Wajir’s
Millennials and smart generation must realize that their collective
efforts would put asunder the mythical grip of the clan power brokers
and the privileged few and achieve their most desired political goal of
good governance. Devolution is a game changer and it’s unfortunate that
Wajir has not benefited from it, the billions devolved in the last
decade notwithstanding. </span></p><p class="x_p1" style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="x_s2"><br /></span></p><p class="x_p1" style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="x_s2"></span><span class="x_s2">The
young generation should not be bystanders in the management of the
county affairs. They should detest the illegality of politicians
representing themselves and not those who elected them into office. They
must see beyond the preoccupation of their clans. They must
reject the idea of a county government whose operational expenditure
always exceeds its developmental budget —a county executive whose
members hardly propose any meaningful county development plan. </span></p><p class="x_p2" style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="x_s2"></span><br aria-hidden="true" /></p><p class="x_p1" style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="x_s2">The 2022 elections should be the dawn of a new era for Wajir and it should not let the sun go down on this momentum.. So
how does Wajir get out of the current political crisis? Go beyond the
petty sub- clan thinking - which hasn’t served anyone any good - and
recall your MPs, governor, and all representatives. </span></p><p class="x_p1" style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="x_s2"><br /></span></p><p class="x_p1" style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="x_s2">Wajir should cause a ballot
revolution and simply elect officials that care like Hussein Abdi
Bare of Tarbaj and demand that they serve well, and respect your vote
for respect is reciprocal even though unuh know say I special, as Burna
Boy sung! </span></p><span class="x_s2"></span></div></div>QadarsWorldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10575375341341029614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5412058607252133366.post-3705948967750488912022-04-07T01:28:00.006-07:002022-05-31T07:25:53.418-07:00The Boy From Mandera Who Conquered Medical School And Now Saving Lives and Livelihoods<p> <b style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;"><i>VOICES OF THE NORTH</i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">First, it is a service to humanity for
which he is known. Starting from childhood – those who know him well may tell
you more – doctor Abulhamid’s tradition has always been to care for the less
privileged and use whatever at his disposal to improve the lot of others. For
the good doctor, philanthropy and service to the community are generational
values and virtues but that is a story for another day.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeCV9r03xLpVWrEC7k-MK_B6QMTl1-OEdcLTQRAdmPcCjZaxdiBYEXTJtxP8eCELAZHCxv9rjpripLo_vyGMysOnfubmNHd7hsAesw6U6k0Zm0tzAs7NLstqfaSJ-BM5xOuFp08R5ax_1XeWN2_gEslzAp1tTZB5TRFt3kfGslf-8IYtpXLVIGR0DZ/s1024/Photo%20Abdulhamid.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeCV9r03xLpVWrEC7k-MK_B6QMTl1-OEdcLTQRAdmPcCjZaxdiBYEXTJtxP8eCELAZHCxv9rjpripLo_vyGMysOnfubmNHd7hsAesw6U6k0Zm0tzAs7NLstqfaSJ-BM5xOuFp08R5ax_1XeWN2_gEslzAp1tTZB5TRFt3kfGslf-8IYtpXLVIGR0DZ/s320/Photo%20Abdulhamid.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 107%;">Born in Mandera, Northeastern Kenya, the
sight of </span><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 107%;">malnourished, traumatized and overly
sick people who could not access basic healthcare has been a daily occurrence
for Abdulhamid in his formative years. While in school, he promised himself
that he will work hard, join medical school and comeback to save the situation
and help his kinsmen get out of the misery. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 107%;">After completing Mandera High school, the
young bright boy secured a slot </span><span style="line-height: 107%;">in medical school at Egerton
university. After graduation he worked at Garissa County Referral Hospital as a
medical doctor attached to the department of surgery and came face to face with
the stark reality of the difficulties folks from the villages endured to have
an access to safe surgical interventions and it was at that point he realized he
had to act and do something to end their suffering and Safe Surgical Aid was
born!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 107%;">The initiative covers people who ordinarily
cannot afford to pay for lifesaving surgeries. These people live on the
threshold of poverty that having a three meal a day is a luxury let alone
footing the cost of a surgery. The Safe Surgical initiative is a fresh
perspective into giving back to one’s community. In a society where people die
of small ailments and other uncomplicated diseases whose treatment can be
handled in public hospitals - </span><span style="background-color: white; background: white; color: #212529; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; background: white; color: #212529; line-height: 107%;">In
Northern Kenya counties health centers are in filthy state, patients share beds
and are advised to purchase prescribed drugs in private chemists where probably
drugs meant for the public is sold and money budgeted for healthcare is usually
looted. NEP’s healthcare is generally sick and needs surgical intervention!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: georgia; line-height: 107%;">Safe Surgical AID was set up in 2021 and
has so far undertaken over two thousand surgeries in the counties of Mandera,
Garissa and Wajir in partnership with international and local organizations
involved in health-related issues and other charitable works across the country.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 107%;">Doctor Abdulhamid’dis love for medicine
has continued to manifest in his commitment to helping to build a healthy
population that can contribute tremendously to the aspiration to reset,
rebuild, and grow Kenya.</span> Below is our one on one interview with him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: georgia; line-height: 107%;">Who
is Abdulhamid Noor?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia; line-height: 107%;">I am Abdulhamid M. Noor, born and brought up in
MetaMeta Town – What used to be the liveliest part of Mandera town
entertainment wise - of Mandera County.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia; line-height: 107%;">Schooled at Mandera DEB primary and Mandera secondary
school.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: georgia; line-height: 107%;">What
is your professional background?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia; line-height: 107%;">I am a medical doctor by profession, did my MBCHB
degree in Egerton university school of medicine, Nakuru County where I
graduated in December 2015.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia; line-height: 107%;">Now pursuing Masters Degree in Urology at the
University of Nairobi.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia; line-height: 107%;">Am assionate about good governance and accessible free
health care services for all Kenyans.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia; line-height: 107%;">After I graduated from Egerton, I worked at Garissa County
Referral Hospital as a medical doctor attached to the department of surgery
till I was released for the post graduate program that I’m currently pursuing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: georgia; line-height: 107%;">Tell
us more about the charity work you are involved in Northern Kenya<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia; line-height: 107%;">In Garissa I saw the difficulties folks from the
villages, refugee camps, and those from across the border in Somalia endure to
have an access to a safe surgical intervention, how many kilometers they cover
to see a doctor and the long surgical list that they endure to have their day
in theatre and it was at that point that I realized I had a responsibility to
end their suffering and Safe Surgical Aid was conceptualized.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia; line-height: 107%;">I co-founded Safe Surgical Aid with Dr Khadija Hassan
and Alibashir Mohamed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Safe Surgical
Aid is a non-profit organization that provides Safe and free surgeries in where
there is no access especially the marginalized communities in Asal counties, refugee
camps and parts of the coastal towns.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia; line-height: 107%;">Since we started we have done more than 2000 cases of
surgeries involving the eyes, ears, nose and throat, cleft lip and palate. We
also perfomed obstetric fistulas and gynecological surgaries. We plan to expand
the services across the region in the fullness of time.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: georgia; line-height: 107%;">What
adjective will you use to describe yourself?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia; line-height: 107%;">I am a true Northerner in its actual sense, born in
Mandera, married from wajir, working in Garissa, I should be the poster boy for
the region.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia; line-height: 107%;">I am one among the many ordinary Kenyans who are doing
God’s will in advancing the country and by extension the region. Quite patient
and dedicated in what I intend to achieve, if I don’t get it today I wait for
another day and replan to attain it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia; line-height: 107%;">My dream is to see every Kenyan have access to free,
safe and accessible health care in their own towns and villages, where every
county has a progressive healthcare system for all its residents. Thank you.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>QadarsWorldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10575375341341029614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5412058607252133366.post-39042641457227489152022-03-05T00:23:00.005-08:002022-03-05T00:28:30.140-08:00Of Devolution, Plundering and Why Mandera Deserves Better<p></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">The majority voiceless people of Mandera have endured hardship brewed by incompetent leaders - MPs, MCAs, Senators- who couldn’t make head or tail of governance. Leaders who have nothing to offer but hardship, bad governance and insecurity. The hardship in Mandera didn’t start with Roba’s administration. It started way back but it has in fact been made more naked-sticking out like sore thumb by Roba’s County government. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Mandera county is one of the best managed counties in NEP but that’s like the best among the worst if the funds allocated to Mandera in the last 9 years is anything to go by. Just like his first, Roba’s second tenure is an emblem of hardship and insecurity. His 3rd tenure via “a project of the profligate incumbent” as Senator @BK puts it, will be the same as the second or even worse! </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Except one of the candidates, all the other contestants mentioned by the former Senator of Mandera who is not blameless as far as the country leadership is concerned, have been tried and tested in one way or another. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">It’s too early to predict who will be Mandera’s 2nd Governor but the entry of Waziri Adan Mohamed into the race is definitely a game changer! A man who has reached the apex of the corporate world and a CS post to boot, there’s no doubt that he will help turn around the failing County, 009. If success is measurable, Adan Mohamed has probably achieved what every brainy professional wants to achieve. Unlike the majority who join politics for the sake of it, Adan must be ‘retiring’ to make his home county a better place. He has the skills, knowhow and the network to just do that. He must have been waiting for this moment! </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Mandera has a choice to either take a leap forward forward or suicidal dive in River Dawa and that’s what Roba and his project represent. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p>QadarsWorldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10575375341341029614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5412058607252133366.post-60106990173447954192022-01-23T05:21:00.009-08:002022-01-23T05:32:12.294-08:00Senator Mumad: Here Is My Journey And Why Mandera Deserves Better <p>By Senator Mumad</p><p>My public service journey has been long and fulfilling. I first joined the Public Service as a civil engineer, then served as Resident Engineer, range water, North Eastern Province. From there I became the North Eastern Provincial Water Engineer and then promoted to become the head of Division at the Ministry of Water Development. I was seconded to the National Water Conservation and Pipeline CorporationI where I served as the Chief Engineer. Later on I was privileged to be appointed Ambassador of Kenya to the Arab Republic of Egypt with accreditation to Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco and Eritrea. Thereafter, I served as a Permanent Secretary in the ministries of Regional Development, Home Affairs and Roads and Public Works. </p><p> I took an early retirement in 2007 and sought an elective post as MP for Mandera West where I served for two consecutive terms. During my first term as MP Mandera West, I also served as an Assistant Minister for Energy. </p><p> In 2017, I opted to run for the Senator of Mandera County where I am now serving. I owe my success to Allah and I am deeply grateful to the people of Mandera who have been part of my journey throughout. I have now decided to offer myself as a gubernatorial candidate for Mandera. I have the experience, knowledge, competence and requisite network among the communities in Mandera to best fit this position.</p>QadarsWorldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10575375341341029614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5412058607252133366.post-76696652857795655052019-04-05T05:54:00.020-07:002021-12-26T00:38:10.380-08:00The failure that is Kamukunji leadership and its MP<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal;">
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I'm privileged to be a voter of the great constituency that is Kamukunji.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">So, if I'm worthy of talking about anything politics, definitely Kamukunji will top the list. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Africa's celebrated novelist Chinua Achebe said that whenever you see a toad jumping in broad daylight, then know that something is after its life. By now you know why the great people of Kamukunji - forget about the few busybodies who have nothing else to do other than praising mediocrity 24/7 - are all over the net making some noise about the poor and failed leadership of the area MP, Yussuf Hassan.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The focus of this blog post is on leadership, corruption and nepotism in Kamukunji constituency. A constituency once represented by the legendary nationalist leader the late Tom Mboya. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">First, how does leadership failure, both in terms of its ethics and its incompetence affects Kamukunji? To begin with, Yussuf's failure to address the concerns of his constituents and his inability to make use of his legislative powers have made Eastleigh, and Kamukunji in general, the ATM of the corrupt Kenya police. That's an open secret. The area MP has never addressed this problem ever since he became an MP, a decade plus ago. Even during the so called "Kasarani concentration camp", Yussuf was missing in action, to say the least. We were there. Addressing the people's concern. If you know, you know...</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Misuse of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The misuse of Kamukunji CDF continues unabated. In WhatsApp forums Kamukunji residents have for long accused their MP and the CDF Fund Manager of perpetually and unlawfully redirecting funds. Most of the projects undertaken in the constituency have their costs ballooned beyond the normal acceptable price. </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">And those who closely follow the politics of Kamukunji know very well that the fund manager is the one who collects the kickbacks for the MP - a man who struggles to present a holier-than-thou image. Bob Maley once sang that that you </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">can fool some people some times but you can't fool all the people all the time</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">. There are myriad controversial deals transacted through the Kamukunji CDF kitty. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Owing to instances of misappropriation and diversion of funds, corruption and outright misuse of CDF funds, millions have gone down the drain and several projects completely stalled over the last few years. The situation is so dire that </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">we maybe forced to petition the relevant authorities to look into the books of Kamukunji CDF properly. We are even prepared to hire external auditors to undertake a proper audit of these funds. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Most of the constituency roads are in pathetic shape. Some of them were launched during the 2017 elections to hoodwink the public. And that was it! Some of these so called roads have turned into dams, full of sewers and other waste that even our school going children are at risk of drowning while on their way to and from school. If the MP has decided to be silent about this, we have no option but to pursue him to the end. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The office of the Kamukunji constituency is run by the nephew of the area MP. If this is not the height of nepotism, then we don't know what is. Such postings are deemed to be illegal, unconstitutional and immoral. But what morality does the MP have if he can let his nephew run a cosmopolitan constituency like Kamukunji? The people of Kamukunji are tired of this micromanagement. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">All constituency tenders including the construction of the Kamukunji Technical Training college is being done by the MP’s wheeler-dealers. What remains is usually sold to the highest bidder. This is corruption in its best form and if indeed we're fighting corruption as a nation, then Kamukunji is the right place to begin that fight. We are able and willing to pursue this matter, no matter what. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Were it not for the county government of Nairobi that is beautifying the City, Kamukunji will look a ghost town. And Yussuf brags about the county projects as his. Shameful. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> A luta continua...</span></div>
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QadarsWorldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10575375341341029614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5412058607252133366.post-70566399330680641482019-03-30T04:35:00.002-07:002021-12-26T00:29:45.086-08:00<div style="color: #454545; font-family: '.SF UI Text'; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext-bold"; font-size: 17pt; font-weight: bold;">Why Garissa County Officials should tone down the rhetoric </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">Chinua Achebe once said that an old woman is always uneasy when dry bones are mentioned. Why are Garissa county officials jittery about Duale's remarks during the Pastoralist Education and Career Fair which happened last weekend in Garissa county? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">Our attention has been drawn to some county officials running helter-skelter trying to respond to Duale's remarks during the education expo - the first of its kind in Northern Kenya. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">First of all, Duale's remarks were nothing but the truth; and the TRUTH IS HARD! It's also true that some of the senior county officials in the Pastoralist counties have FAKE academic papers while the majority of the young people who are properly schooled are jobless. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">Just watched a clip of Garissa Govenor doing rounds, surrounded by his clueless bootlickers, claiming that he has the power to employ anyone. It was an astonishing thing to watch. Well, it's important that we remind the governor that the County Public Service Boards have a code of conduct and ethics and these codes must be followed to the letter. The law on public employment and appointments is very clear. We also want to remind the county officials that there's nothing to shout about here. What was their press conference for? You either have a genuine degree or you don't. It's as simple as that! And that's all Duale said. No wonder a wise man once said that the guilty are always afraid. Even though no one mentioned them, they started raising their hands up! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">Devolution was meant to correct years of marginalization and not to perpetuate a new form of marginalization. When Governors employ whoever they want, meritocracy is shown the door and mediocrity sets in which is exactly what we're currently witnessing in the counties of Mandera, Wajir and Garissa etc etc. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">The crude and corrosive attacks on the Leader of Majority by the clueless county officials is unfortunate and highly uncalled for. The young people of the Pastoralist community stand by and support Duale's statement because it was uplifting and necessary. Someone must talk sense into these Governors! </span></div>
QadarsWorldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10575375341341029614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5412058607252133366.post-23222803662344732102018-10-16T22:45:00.001-07:002018-10-16T22:45:17.286-07:00Why petty propaganda won't win Wajir's gubernatorial case <div style="color: #454545; font-family: '.SF UI Text'; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: '.SFUIText'; font-size: 17pt;">As months turn to weeks and weeks to days in the run up to the supreme court's ruling on Wajir's gubernatorial case, a new trend has been noticed among a section of Wajir politicians and their followers. A trend of desperation and distorting facts. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: '.SFUIText'; font-size: 17pt;">The tone and texture of everything has changed. Govenor Mohamed Abdi popularly known as Shuluq has turned the tables on his adversaries and seems to be in control as far as running the affairs of Wajir county is concerned, if the desperation on the other side is anything to go by. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: '.SFUIText'; font-size: 17pt;">Even though Govenor Shuluq has been in and out of the courts for the last one year, his stewardship of the county has been remarkable. Unlike the previous administration that had a penchant for baseless PR, governor Shulug does his stuff without caring much about what the outside world says as long as Wajerians are satisfied. And satisfied they are. Look around. Ask around. Let petty propaganda and clan sycophancy not blind you. Smell the good aroma of the change sweeping across Wajir. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: '.SFUIText'; font-size: 17pt;">What started as a cruise control for the former governor along the corridors of justice seem to have been too early to call. His team have realised this and to forestall a defeat at the courts, they are exhibiting acts that can only be described as desperate. They have now turned to petty propaganda and peddling outright lies - even on matters before the courts - like the drama we have been treated to last Sunday when a leading daily was bribed to publish a fake latter purporting to disown Govenor Shuluq's academic papers. But the public was too smart for such idiocy. It didn't take long for Wajir people and all concerned parties to figure out the pack of lies in that forged letter. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: '.SFUIText'; font-size: 17pt;">By now you must have noticed that there are many lies, rumours and half truths that are paraded in the media and social media networks by team Jiir. Their level of desperation is just too much that they would go any length to win public sympathy - a public that cares less about their self inflicted tribulations.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: '.SFUIText'; font-size: 17pt;">Someone remind team Jiir that propaganda will not save the former governor. The SCORK will have the last word. Can't they just be patient enough to wait for the court verdict? It may silence them forever. The aftershock of that ruling may even last beyond 2022. </span></div>
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QadarsWorldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10575375341341029614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5412058607252133366.post-39158748206139383032018-10-06T00:19:00.000-07:002018-10-06T01:07:22.443-07:00Devolving the handshake: Time for Governor Mohamed Abdi and his nemesis to shake hands and pledge reconciliation? <div style="color: #454545; font-family: '.SF UI Text'; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">After a year of acrimony, dirty politics, raw propaganda and court cases, many believe that it's time for the two wrangling factions of Wajir's political formation, Governor Mohamed Abdi and his rival ex governor Ahmed Jiir stand side by side, shake hands and pledge reconciliation. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">The region's political pundits argue that during the last one year, the county government of Wajir has known no political stability neither has its governor Amb Mohamed Abdi, popularly known as Shulug, been given the space to run the affairs of the county. Observers also say that there has been deliberate attempts by opponents to vilify and concoct stories to portray Governor Shulug and his administration as clueless, aloof and ineffective, the county progressive agenda notwithstanding. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">In this blog post, we independently tell you why it's important to expedite the handshake for the greater good of Wajir as suggested by elders and elected leaders. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext-bold"; font-size: 17pt; font-weight: bold;">Propaganda from day one</span><span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">: The former governor's online battalion spared no effort to discredit, denounce and deconstruct Shuluq's government. They have religiously dedicated time to hunt like sneaky scavengers, bouncing on everything and anything. When they are on the hunt, they will call and squeal to one another, spreading propaganda and tagging each other on Facebook, sounding like cackling demons thus creating a propaganda machine - oiled by monies allegedly diverted from the public coffers, if the Auditor General's report is anything to go by - that turned out to be too much for Shulug and a mortal threat to his authority as the Governor of county 008.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> Of course constructive criticism is fine and allowed in any civilized society but what Shuluq's opponents have been engaging for the last one year is just beyond civilized politics. The handshake will bring these deadly and divisive political fights to an end, unify Wajir residents and enable all - opponents or otherwise- to participate in the development of the county.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">Given a chance, the handshake can bring end to the vitriolic attacks between the rivals. No doubt that the handshake has the ability to appeal to Wajerians across clan lines — in a county where community and politics are inseparable — in a way that no court cases can do. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext-bold"; font-size: 17pt; font-weight: bold;">Court cases: </span><span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">In this part of the world no one concedes electoral defeat if the number of election petitions filed at the courts are anything to go b</span><br />
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">y. While the 2017 general election had its own fair share of madness and lack of respect for the rules of the game, to understand the Wajir scenario better, it's important that we rope in the 2013 gubernatorial election. Nomads have their own mode of resolving disputes no matter the magnitude. Politics is the norm rather than the exception. Shuluq was the main contender against the former governor in 2013 and chose not to seek legal redress despite the fact that there were irregularities and abnormalities committed against him during the 2013 elections. Reason being, immediately after the 2013 elections results were announced, a delegation of elders were sent to Amb Shuluq to convince him to give the then governor, Ahmed Jiir, an opportunity to govern. Governor Shuluq being the decent man he is, heeded the wazees' counsel and let it go knowing well that there is always another day to fight. And true to his words, that day did come sometime August 2017. To cut a long story short, Jiir was dismantled by the same forces that brought him to power in the first place. Why, one may ask but that is a story for another day. And months of court cases seem not to have been of much help. So one wonders why not the handshake and lower the political temperatures once and for all? In fact analysts of the region's politics believe the handshake may be of more benefit to team Jiir than to any other camp just like the current governor benefited from the 2013 unpublicized handshake that delivered Shulug the Ambassadorial post. We have seen what the devolved handshake has done for the counties of Mandera and Marsabit. It's important for Wajir to heed the handshake call being spearheaded by elders and influence paddlers. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">Moments after the Supreme Court allowed Wajir Governor to file new evidence as he fights to retain his seat, respected elders and elected leaders from Wajir county were quoted in the media saying they wanted the governor's case settled out of court. The elders argue that time and resources have been wasted on a petition that hasdivided the county down the middle. Wajir residents too say they are tired of a never ending case and want the current governor to be given the space to run the affairs of the county just like the previous governor was given the goodwill to manage the county. This, they say, will enable them benefit from the second phase of devolution. They also say five years is too short a period to agonize over an election loss and in any case Shuluq's new evidence - which he had no opportunity to present in previous trials - is believed to be earthshaking and may be a game changer. The elders insist that the handshake is good for the progress of the county and must be accepted by all unconditionally. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext-bold"; font-size: 17pt; font-weight: bold;">Ineffective Communication team</span><span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">: Okay, it’s probably disingenuous to pretend that social media is still something nascent and unproven for NEP politics but Shuluq's opponents used social media to manipulate public opinion on matters Wajir county. Facebook has been turned into a battleground for dirty politics, promoting lies, misinformation and propaganda against the county government of the day. This could have been easily rebuked had Shulug team understand their role considering the progress the county government has made for the last one year - these developments have been dwarfed by social media propaganda. Recently the world bank in partnership with the county government of Wajir launched a multimillion livestock restocking project in the county, an initiative Governor Mohamed Abdi commended the World Bank for saying that the programme would alleviate poverty. Equally important to note is that Wajir County is the first county to launch a climate change fund. Everyone knows that Wajir, like many other arid and semi-arid regions, has been experiencing increasingly frequent and severe drought that have largely weakened the livelihoods and economy of the county and setting such a fund will definitely alleviate the problem. These among other noble initiatives undertaken by the county government are the kind of progress no one talks about much as they matter. Giving credit where it's due should not be a problem. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">It's so obvious that Shuluq's so called communications team is too down, clumsy and disorganized.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">Now that the Supreme Court gave Governor Shuluq a chance to redeem himself, he should turn the tables and reorganize his communication team for effective communication, and put things into shape. Ni muhimu!</span></div>
QadarsWorldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10575375341341029614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5412058607252133366.post-37623287199823195042018-09-09T01:37:00.003-07:002018-09-09T04:22:12.780-07:00Punda amechoka: Why Kenyans must resist high fuel prices<br />
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">As the fuel shortage around the country continues to intensify following a boycott by oil transporters to protest the recent imposition of the 16% VAT tax on petroleum products, its the poorest of the poor that's paying the consequences of an insensitive parliament and clueless technocrats running what many will describe as a government that no longer cares about its people.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">Jubilee's appetite for borrowing, Rotich's poor management of the economy and passing on the burdens to wananchi has brought kenya the economic mess being witnessed where Treasury is desperately going after poor Kenyans with punitive taxes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">What becomes of the Big 4 agenda - if at all they're still pursuing it -in this kind of economic mess where the common man finds it difficult to even afford basics goods like kerosene? Are they literally strangling the poor? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">Our economy relies on constant transport of goods and services and low cost of transport enable companies to have a competitive edge in their pursuit of profit - which any serious business entity should be after. But the skyrocketing fuel prices have disrupted this chain of operation. The increase in the price of oil has significantly affected the economy in so many negative ways. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">It's not rocket science to understand that high oil prices will not only stress the entire Big 4 agenda but will also lower the consumption of goods and services of all other sectors of the economy. The government should really think twice about this tax. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">But it's the people's representative - Parliament - that has failed everyone. They pass impractical laws like fuel tax knowing well it won't work and then they address rallies and funerals shedding crocodile tears pretending to give a solution to a problem they created. Nonsensical.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">No doubt Rotich will be remembered as the the most out of touch Finance Minister in Kenya's history. It's about time we cautioned the poor, and Kenyans at large, from clueless technocrats and selfish and radar-less politicians.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">Let the government suspend this punitive VAT tax once and for all and Instead tame wasteful spending of public money and desist from living beyond its means. Failed austerity measures over the years have made poor Kenyans shoulder the burden of those in power. Not anymore. Punda amechoka! </span></div>
QadarsWorldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10575375341341029614noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5412058607252133366.post-11754088732741780912018-04-19T11:16:00.000-07:002018-04-19T22:53:01.390-07:00Of Wajir tomorrow's verdict, petty propaganda and other useless stories.<h2>
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<span style="color: #454545; font-size: 17pt;">The courts of Appeal’s big announcement regarding Wajir will be made tomorrow and naturally everyone expects the case to go their way.</span><span style="color: #454545; font-size: 11.5pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545; font-size: 17pt;">Through his lawyers, Ahmed Jiir- the gubernatorial loser of last year's election- submitted before the the High Court a water-tight case that nullified the election of Governor Mohamed Abdi due to election malpractices. As a result, the High Court agreed with him and nullified Wajir’s gubernatorial election. And that is how the matter ended up in the Appeals court. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545; font-size: 17pt;">So what does tomorrow’s Court of Appeal verdict mean for Wajir? Ambassador Mohamed Abdi has only been at the helm for eight months and his nemesis never gave him the opportunity to govern. Unlike 2017, the current governor never pursued the legal battle with the latter in 2013. This was a result of negotiations between Wajir elders and Jiir on one side and the Ambassador on the other. As a gentleman, the Ambassador went his way knowing that there's always a tomorrow. Five years later, Jiir was beaten hands down by the good Ambassador. But Jiir being the bitter loser he is decided to rush to the courts and frustrate the old man using everything they looted.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545; font-size: 17pt;">After the ambassador’s exit, no one frustrated Jir. He ruled with iron fist without any meddling and squabbles. No one paid bloggers to castigate a newly formed government just to frustrate anyone nor portray any quarter as a non performer.</span><span style="color: #454545; font-size: 11.5pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545; font-size: 17pt;">Jiir also sponsored daily propaganda against the Ambassador’s administration and it seems like the good Ambassador- despite all resources at his disposal- couldn't counter the constant propaganda of Team Jiir. Not because he couldn't afford a sophisticated communication team but Mohamed Abdi decided to surround himself with a team full of mediocrity. </span><span style="color: #454545; font-size: 11.5pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545; font-size: 17pt;">Without taking sides, it's not fair to judge the Ambassador on the basis of just 8 months being in office. By all standards, the stint is too short to make a head or a tail about its merits and demerits.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545; font-size: 17pt;">After all, Jir governed for 5 years and there is nothing tangible to show for it. Apart from the PR gimmick played by his foot soldiers, Jir did little to raise him to the pedestal he currently enjoys. Empirically speaking, the much touted developments he bombarded us with are a tip of an iceberg compared to what his colleagues have done in other counties. That is why some people often ask what has Jiir done for the last five years for him to be a governor once again?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545; font-size: 17pt;">But as it seems, Jiir is determined to be a governor once again by all means necessary. During the five years Jiir was in power, the county government received close to 50 billion as per the Auditor General's report. Does Wajir look like a place with an investment of such magnitude? Every time folks question about the performance of Jiir's ousted government they are reminded of a 28KM road which costs less than 1.5B. Other than the much-hyped Wajir county headquarters and a KMTC college, what else can we write home about? Nothing but a charade.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545; font-size: 17pt;">Speaking of visionary, caring and selfless leadership, al marhum Ahmed Khalif, former labour minister and Secretary General of SUPKEM comes to mind. Word has it that Ahmed Jiir is a replacement of the late MP for Wajir West. Nothing could be further from the truth. Mzee died while his account was negative unlike those purporting to be his replacement who have amassed immeasurable amount of money in five year's s time. Wealth that can only be traced to public coffers. What a miserable moment. They say you can fool some people sometimes but you can't fool all the people all the time. Going by this, the true colors of the first Wajir Governor is known. Far from what he portrays himself to be.</span><span style="color: #454545; font-size: 11.5pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545; font-size: 17pt;">On the other hand, it's unfortunate that Wajir has found itself where it is. In the hands of clueless, inept, rudderless and colourless characters as leaders. While the former governor emptied the county coffers smartly as per the records of the Auditor General, the current regime has no clue how to cover their "juwan kuxabis." And that's the only distinction between the two regimes.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545; font-size: 17pt;">No matter how tomorrow's verdict goes, Wajir has already lost. If Wajir would like to regain its lost glory, it has no option but to front a third force in the likely event of a by election.</span><span style="color: #454545; font-size: 11.5pt;"></span></div>
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QadarsWorldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10575375341341029614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5412058607252133366.post-22283254112684246622017-07-28T22:09:00.000-07:002017-07-29T04:27:26.779-07:00Of Team Shuluq, Jiir's uphill re-election battle and other stories <br />
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All indications are that the Wajir gubernatorial contest is a two horse race. As in 2013, the race for Wajir's governorship is between Ahmed Abdullahi, now the incumbent, and Ambassador Mohamed Abdi aka Mwalimu.<br />
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The outgoing Kenya's ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Amb Mohamed Abdi, is pulling out all the stops to unseat Gov Ahmed Abdulahi - a man many hail as the most progressive governor in the restive north since devolution came to be.<br />
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Going by his age, many believe that Mohamed Abdi, just like Raila, has one last bullet to win the governorship. But unlike that of Raila, the good ambassador's last bullet is not a blank! This time round Mwalimu's magazine seems fully loaded.<br />
Mohamed Abdi, a former MP for Wajir East and a powerful minister in the Moi regime is mounting a well oiled campaign that has the support of Wajir's power brokers and influence-peddlers, majority of whom were in Jiir's camp in the last elections.<br />
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Popularly known as Jiir, a rat in the local dialect, Ahmed Abdullahi is the first governor of Wajir county under the new dispensation. Elected on an ODM ticket in the 2013 elections, Jiir has overseen the transformation of Wajir county for the better. Infrastructural projects initiated by Jiir's administration like the Sh1.6 billion 28KM tarmac road is the first in the county since independence.<br />
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Sycophancy and the clan mindset aside, Jiir has done better than any other governor in Northern Kenya. Wajir is the only county in NEP with a fully fledged county Headquarters.<br />
Even international institutions like the World Bank have praised Wajir County's success in devolution and accelerating growth in the county. Wajir has allocated more than 58 per cent of its budget to development unlike other counties.<br />
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Same as many parts of the country, - if not all - this contest will be determined by clan arithmetic rather than what Jiir did as a governor. Whether the Amb is good enough to replace Jiir is not even a topic for discussion because the restive North is so fixated with stupid clan bullshit.<br />
Wajir county has six constituencies. All the current MPs from Wajir -except Mohamed Fai, Dakalow and one Ore -are seeking reelection and none of them is supporting Jiir's reelection. Jiir is counting on the support of Wajir West but prophets of doom have been salivating at the prospect of a fallout between the West and the Governor. It's therefore safe to assume that Jiir is running a one-man-show campaign. This is Jiir's Waterloo. Unlike Mohamed Abdi - who after a lifetime in politics has no real enemies, thus a uniting figure — Ahmed Jiir has made very many enemies in his short stint 5-year career in politics. These political enemies will do everything they can to keep him from winning.<br />
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Governor Ahmed Jiir might have succeeded administration-wise but political pundits argue that he has failed to steer the political leadership of the county. It's one thing to be an administrator, it's quite another thing to be a politician. A cerebral, self-proclaimed policy wonk in a county known for colorful politicians, Ahmed Jiir wants to be seen as the energized “outsider” candidate, raging (politely) against the machine. His campaign is a full-frontal assault on the institutionalized, local power-broker world of Wajir politics. Nevertheless, Team Shulug is brimming with confidence. They describe Jiir and his regime as liars and thieves. And they are, as they say in their political rallies, ready to send him to the political dustbin.<br />
<br />
The big question remains; will Ahmed Jiir be a one term governor??<br />
<br />QadarsWorldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10575375341341029614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5412058607252133366.post-70088083718268517382016-08-07T23:52:00.000-07:002016-08-08T12:23:43.006-07:00Is the Sultan system marginalizing NEP?The control of large budgets and political influence that came with devolution has turned competitive politics in Northern Kenya into a zero sum game. It has also seen the emergence of winter-white haired men with spade-shaped devil’s fork beards. Unlike in the old cultural system where women and youth had a specific role, the new generation of Sultans have completely sidelined this important group despite being the majority and they even determine who gets elected to the detriment of the people.<br />
<br />
Since the 2013 elections, NEP counties received close to hundred billion, if not more, and there's nothing much to write home about as far as development is concerned. Why? Because majority of those elected are not answerable to the masses but to these old men who call themselves sultans. Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with having a council of Elders but all that is wrong is, they're involved in the wrong job. All communities in Kenya have councils of Elders but they hardly get involved in politics to the extent of nominating individuals for political posts. Theirs is purely cultural. Why can't ours just restrict themselves to matters cultural and allow Northern Kenya residents to exercise their constitutional rights to elect whoever they want? Isn't it time the marginalized majority (Youths and women) wake up and revolt against this barbaric political culture that has made the region lag behind? These Sultans have made northern Kenya more divided than ever.<br />
<br />
From Banisa to Tarbaj, Giriftu to Balambala, Madogashe to Marsabit, Northern Kenya's so called Sultans will be converging to 'determine and direct their clan's political future'. Which begs the question, where were these sultans since the 2013 elections? If they really care about their people, as they will claim, why not hold the current office holders accountable and make them answer for every shilling they have received since 2013? Or are the sultans for sale to the highest bidder?<br />
The Sultans have always got it wrong when it comes to deciding the various political posts.<br />
<br />
Save for the Majority Leader,– he is not a by-product of the disastrous sultan system and that is why he is who he is today and he is the only MP who represents the larger interest of the Somali community in this country- NEP members of Parliament have failed. Both in the House and in their constituencies. Why? Because they know they are not representitive of the people but a few men who can always be silenced by some brown envelopes.<br />
<br />
The recent frenzy on the so-called Sultanship is actually the biggest mistake Northeastern has ever made. Look for instance, the system encourages incumbents to loot and do less in terms of development because they know very well that they won't be re-elected. The scourge that is Sultanship actually fosters underdevelopment.<br />
<br />
Immediately after the last general elections, majority of NEP youth who went back home to vote along with their Sultans were so disillusioned that they vowed they will never repeat the same mistake again. Social media is my witness. Am now shocked to see the same Facebook-ers and the ones in the various whatsapp groups druming support for a system they know well won't benefit them. The only way out is; ONE MAN, ONE VOTE.<br />
<br />
The new county governments and the political and economic largesse that comes with them are, if not managed equitably, likely to further exacerbate existing conflicts in the poor and conflict-prone counties of northern Kenya.<br />
<br />
Is Sultanship the bane of Northeastern Kenya? Your answer lies pretty well in the track record of its products. Now you know.QadarsWorldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10575375341341029614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5412058607252133366.post-68436478184552196682016-05-03T10:42:00.001-07:002016-05-04T12:30:02.575-07:00Why Duale will determine the Pastoralists’ political future come 2017<div class="MsoNormal">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2eo88hEZjykh6UlU3ve4gg47qqM_IQF7yo2yB3vSDV1YeeKfz2XPC1KMOHWHvZFVEQH-UMjEY1Q86mEMTnjL7ntOh40XMIjqhWv3Nw3bMwaKUgRcSNgOPM34SCMgZPuMyJtwBQSC21cI/s1600/Duale1.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2eo88hEZjykh6UlU3ve4gg47qqM_IQF7yo2yB3vSDV1YeeKfz2XPC1KMOHWHvZFVEQH-UMjEY1Q86mEMTnjL7ntOh40XMIjqhWv3Nw3bMwaKUgRcSNgOPM34SCMgZPuMyJtwBQSC21cI/s640/Duale1.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Majority Leader Hon Adan Duale with Sultan Hassan Omar Shurie<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuKfURPiGvRtJTHLosJYM3XRAY7G7RCq1gW3MyZpZq2Up5mRTd_UTMuv6IhTU9HSgLEWT7CQChrIw5oHW0yMg_fd3YO6s3D5FeL9szdlw1ps8EfVeLDxgjYc6Fte1hb2bzCM3Q4EBlg9E/s1600/Duale2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="background: white;">There is no one
from the pastoralists’ political landscape who can whip a crowd quite like him.
Nor are there many with his special talents for handling political foes.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="background: white;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #404040;">From a junior politician in the 10</span><sup style="color: #404040;">th</sup><span style="color: #404040;">
Parliament to a political bigwig in the 11</span><sup style="color: #404040;">th</sup><span style="color: #404040;"> Parliament. Currently
he commands myriad support across the North – the political base of the
pastoralists - not basing on tribal cocoons compared to his foes.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #404040;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #404040;">Patronage from his
followers is overwhelming, above all, to his political opponents who deploy all
means to thwart his political determination. But, he has outshined their
conspiracies innumerable epochs and emerged as the winner. Refer to him as the Member
of Parliament for Garissa Township or rather the first Majority Leader of Kenya’s
National Assembly, Adan Barre Duale. </span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #404040;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #404040;">The effect of Hon
Adan Duale’s national position – Majority Leader of the National Assembly – is being
felt across Northern Kenya; from Marsabit to Mandera, Moyale to Masalani just
to name a few.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #424242;">Before Jubilee came to
power, Garissa residents – and the region at large - were treated to frequent
power blackouts as businesses often came to a halt due to lack of energy. In
those days, electricity was a preserve of few and those in urban areas and businesses
in rural areas were left to find alternative ways of operating.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #424242;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #424242;">Things are different
today. Jubilee government’s national project of Kindaruma-Mwingi-Garissa 135 KV
line has reached Garissa - the gateway to Northern Kenya since independence-
twitted the Majority Leader @HonAdanDuale. The honorable member for Garissa
Township also reminded us in his tweets that ‘’history is being made by
expanding the transmission line and transforming energy supply to all corners
of the country’’. After connecting Garissa, the Ministry of Energy plans to
extend the national power grid transmission to Wajir and Mandera. This, says
the Majority Leader, will translate to more industries hence improve the
economy of the region thus empowering the residents. The President, H.E Uhuru
Kenyatta, will be in the region to officially launch the project sometime in May,
this year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0neyJfvANUpG_RAaZBsAub-ZlQ93QBT8v8tXJfDke3w4NeWdN1aye4gS2u6gATzY4gB2ihEymF99iYQE3bnSnnkRRXIr3qdSaHkeqmeqFoIK5N3IzJXXBwfHb9re22kefZA17UaFSQtc/s1600/Duale2.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0neyJfvANUpG_RAaZBsAub-ZlQ93QBT8v8tXJfDke3w4NeWdN1aye4gS2u6gATzY4gB2ihEymF99iYQE3bnSnnkRRXIr3qdSaHkeqmeqFoIK5N3IzJXXBwfHb9re22kefZA17UaFSQtc/s640/Duale2.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hon Duale addressing a mammoth crowd</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #424242;">The energy sector has
recorded tremendous progress and continues to register growth under the Jubilee
administration. The dedication by President Uhuru Kenyatta's Jubilee government
to transform the energy industry is clearly godsend and will help boost the
country's economy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333;">Last July the President
broke ground for Africa's biggest wind-power project in Laisamis, Marsabit
County – One of the Northern Kenya counties - as Kenya took giant steps in
asserting its position as a leader in green-energy production globally.</span>
According to reports, the project is the biggest single private sector
initiative in Africa, costing about Sh70 billion with a galaxy of investors
participating in the project.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333;">The region does not
support any other economic activity except nomadic animal husbandry due to its
harsh weather. But this is set to change with the new investments that the
power project will unveil.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #424242;">The Jubilee
government's goal is raising electricity access to 70 per cent by 2017 and
universal access by 2020 and the North won’t be left behind since NEP’s
celebrated son will deliver its fair share. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #424242;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333;">This is a clear
indication of Jubilee administration’s interest in developing the restive
north. This and other ongoing projects will definitely change the economic
aspect of Northern Kenya positively since investors will be attracted to the
region due to the availability of power and other related infrastructure necessary
for business. Hon Duale, as the undisputed kingpin of the pastoralist politics,
has a say in all these and how they unfold. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333;"><br /></span>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQmxuOUGBPXM_b9ht0l-lgvMLvIrmmAyUICeuKCvmq2rg6ng_gJ8AW7WKl7jdzN76iNGEhHGxt-1RidXD67wHEQ2wv2JrDE69TiDsWeu6CjdK8ltz1BBVWJuDV3I_l4Bc4_z_JxSqQFhQ/s1600/Duale3.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQmxuOUGBPXM_b9ht0l-lgvMLvIrmmAyUICeuKCvmq2rg6ng_gJ8AW7WKl7jdzN76iNGEhHGxt-1RidXD67wHEQ2wv2JrDE69TiDsWeu6CjdK8ltz1BBVWJuDV3I_l4Bc4_z_JxSqQFhQ/s640/Duale3.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A mammoth crowd in Northern Kenya listening to the Majority Leader Hon Duale</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333;">On Nomadic animal
husbandry, the president, on March while addressing the Pastoralist Leadership
Summit, announced the formation of the Independent Livestock Authority with the
objective of providing a ready market for the Pastoralists livestock. In the same Summit, the President launched the
Sh6 billion Equalization Fund to assist the marginalized areas in providing
basic services to bring the counties development to par with the rest of the
country. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333;"><br />
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #424242;">Infrastructure-wise, the road from Garissa to Madogashe is
under construction and the contractor is on site. Meanwhile there is also a
plan to start the construction from Elwak to Mandera town as the Madogashe one connects
all the way to Wajir. <span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #424242;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #404040;">Lately, the Majority
Leader has locked horns with his opponents in their attempt to register a
tribal, individualistic political party in the name of Pastoralist Party of
Kenya to ‘’fight for pastoralists interest’’ when in the real sense it’s the political
vehicle of one Senator who is fond of ranting on social media and castigating
other leaders even when he has nothing to show for his time in political office
since 2002. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #404040;">The Senator also
knows that his own political star is at its peak today and cannot shine
brighter than the Senate seat he currently enjoys. The writing is on the wall! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #404040;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #404040;">Hate or love him, the
Majority Leader Hon Adan Barre Duale remains the kingpin of the Pastoralists’ political landscape. Hon
Duale knows the way, goes the way and shows the way! And the Pastoralists have
no option but to be with him. And sure they will.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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QadarsWorldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10575375341341029614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5412058607252133366.post-80420325532688507232015-12-26T05:03:00.002-08:002015-12-26T05:16:46.190-08:00A road trip to Mombasa and meeting a man I have always admired.<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Last week, Friday, 18th December, me and my good friend
Ahmed Mohamed -Eastleigh's point man and 'Governor' at large - decided to take
a road trip to Mombasa. Though we have been to Mombasa before, this trip was
totally a different one for three reasons.<br />
<br />
<br />
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One, I was travelling
with a story teller. Ahmed - popularly known as @Asmali77 on Twitter, is a close friend, mentor, guardian and big brother all rolled into one - can tell
all sort of stories that can make one shriek with laughter. He can translate Somali
songs word by word and give you the reason behind each and every song. Of
course we had a full compact of Somali music. The curious beauty of Somali
music is that it uplifts even as it tells a sad tale. Probably a true love gone sour. Somali music is often
about the inspirations of the Somali people. Indeed we're in a festive mood. Ahmed is the kind of man you will cherish to travel with to anywhere.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ahmed Asmali deep in the sea</td></tr>
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<br />
Two, we were looking forward to meet a man we have always admired. A man we have
interacted many a time on social media. A man who inspires his followers and
fans. Am talking about Mohamed Hersi, CEO of the Heritage Hotels.<br />
A week before we decided to travel, Mohamed shared on Facebook about an event -The
White Party themed ‘unleash the courage within’. The White Party, organized by
the Mombasa Rotary Club, Nyali branch - Hersi's wife, Mrs Sureya Roble is the
president of the club - was meant to raise funds for some charity work the club
is engaged in. As the guest speaker, Hersi never disappointed. He gave us an
exceptional, inspirational talk that gave everyone in the room a reason to look forward to
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<![endif]-->Mohamed is an irreproachable and
upstanding man. We also appreciate Mrs Sureya's care and concern during our stay.<br />
Even City lawyer Rahma Jilo was there. <br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy0PRAJBPSWIvuL01fjbrxR3hdFywnSetxrckZLjagrjLkMoq3rTVluT61NSpgZ7_urKQoibeZvRd-psHo-LC0m5qnqzAqeZvFISWSVJeWri5vSPT-TZpiWxmLHbhJWungnlNAr2Q32gg/s1600/Q08.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy0PRAJBPSWIvuL01fjbrxR3hdFywnSetxrckZLjagrjLkMoq3rTVluT61NSpgZ7_urKQoibeZvRd-psHo-LC0m5qnqzAqeZvFISWSVJeWri5vSPT-TZpiWxmLHbhJWungnlNAr2Q32gg/s320/Q08.jpg" width="295" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From Left: Ahmedkadar, Mohamed Hersi and Ahmed Asmali</td></tr>
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<br />
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</xml><![endif]-->Three, we travelled to Mombasa to unwind, have fun, eat Mombasa's mouth-watering Biriani, drink
madafu, rediscover the beaches and all that pertains to Mombasa. We really
enjoyed the gorgeous beaches - From the Pirates (I have no idea why it's
called the Pirates) to Voyager Beach in Nyali - exciting water sports, vibrant night scene and bustling Mombasa city
life. Of course you cant be in Momasa and not visit the famous Kongwea Merket.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicTJed27OhmJT_8DKz4f6p4Fu9LSAPs_r19sz9NFyFIu5y_dcKfHUBiV8M4r0F1jwNLhJsyVjWl32xw7aigmqhsZQfIm0Yior88UzKEYAG_B8ZkB-7mnsA9sAll5N9iz2cpdtp7PIoqnc/s320/Q04.jpg" width="319" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ahmed Asmali with a friend (Baken) shopping at the famous Kongwea Market.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Our journey back to the city was equally thrilling. One day, when I grow up, I
will relocate to Mombasa and try to see whether I can make a sense out of a
coasterian. Indeed Mombasa is a Cockaigne.Watu wa bwani husema, kama raha yaua, sumu ni ya nini??<br />
<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the Voyager Beach Resort Hotel</td></tr>
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QadarsWorldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10575375341341029614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5412058607252133366.post-70876075303362178112015-12-12T21:39:00.000-08:002015-12-12T22:03:14.310-08:00CORRUPTION: NEP Governors owe NEP people a list of corrupt officials. <br />
March this year, while delivering his State of the Nation Address, President Uhuru declared war on corruption. In doing so, the President tabled a list of senior government officials - including cabinet secretaries - suspected of corruption before Parliament.<br />
<br />
Recently the President, while reshuffling his cabinet, declared corruption a threat to national security, dropped all the cabinet secretaries mentioned in his March speech and released a raft of the most comprehensive anti-corruption measures in history. The President restated his firm commitment to step up the war against graft in his Jamhuri Day address.<br />
<br />
With devolution came governors. A sort of mini-presidents - after all the constitution talks of two levels of government. North Eastern heartily welcomed devolution, for the people of the restive North - who have known no real development, literally - always believed that they were marginalised because of unfavorable centralized national decision-making system. They hoped devolution will be a quick fix to marginalisation which was blamed for the underdevelopment in the expansive region. <br />
<br />
Instead of delivering on local priorities long neglected by successive regimes, the region's governors are wantonly blowing money and spending incredible amounts on things that do not benefit the citizens who elected them. Corruption has 'officially' been devolved since reports emerging from these counties suggest that the county leadership has expanded the eating table and spread the loot around. As a result, we have counties where all is in harmony. Where no dissenting voice or challenges to county expenditure or budget is heard because they are all in it together. <br />
<br />
In a rare move, NEP residents petitioned the Senate. In the petitions presented separately before the Senate Finance committee, the three governors have been accused of allocating projects in a skewed manner, institutionalized corruption, nepotism and plunder of public resources. <br />
<br />
NEP Governors ought to deliver the great expectations with which devolution was received in North Eastern and not dash the legitimate hopes and inspirations of the people.<br />
<br />
Therefore the governors of Garissa, Wajir and Mandera owe the people of NEP a comprehensive explanation for what has been happening on their watch. <br />
Above all, they owe us all a long list of shame.QadarsWorldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10575375341341029614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5412058607252133366.post-85130367232482919452015-11-22T06:23:00.000-08:002015-11-22T06:24:19.377-08:00SOMALI HERITAGE WEEK: SOMALI KENYANS, KENYAN SOMALIS, CALL THEM WHAT YOU WILL<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This week, a
festival of its kind happened in Nairobi - the first Somali Heritage Week – a festival
meant to highlight ‘’the contribution of Somalis to the beauty and cultural
richness of Kenya’’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Last night, this
blog promised its fans and followers that it will highlight the contributions
made by the community to the development of Kenya. But before the blog was
published, the Sunday Nation carried a shallow feature with a catchy title but
little content. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Other than
quoting some panelists and participants, the Sunday Nation’s feature ‘’</span><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Insight into
the earliest settlers of EA: Somalis’’ </span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">either
ignored the community’s contribution politically, economically and culturally
or the writers were too lazy to do a proper story. Bloggers have a duty to
correct those who disregard the truth and distort facts. Allow me to educate
them.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">It’s foolhardy to write about the contribution of
the Somali community ‘to the beauty and cultural richness of Kenya’ without capturing
their daily struggle politically, economically, socially, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>how we have reached where we are now and the
men and women on the steering wheel of the community.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">The Somali Heritage Week – An event that brought
together Somali leaders, writers, youths, activists, bloggers including yours truly
-was officially opened by Kamkunji Member of Parliament Hon Yussuf Haasan.
Yussuf’s <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>– a veteran journalist, long
time employee of the UN, activist and </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">an ex executive member of the Committee for the Release of
Political Prisoners (CRPPK) – personal story is intertwined with that of Somalis
in this country. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His opening remarks “The
Somali national is everywhere and is easily visible, yet invisible because
little is known about us. It’s now important to engage with other Kenyans,” set
the stage for an interesting discussion that lasted for four days. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hon Abdikadir Ore, Member of Parliament for
Wajir West, was also a panelist and heavily contributed to the event’s success.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTOqLG3gn4jYbpP4LZ73fIhyphenhyphen_3UbXlVeQaQfb3Aw7g_0mAEXM6wyX3gaEWwz9ZX4M-Xya2u12xVlXO9eRGpSYD-jDrFhJD7NFTRmX1da0vVuKLGAfFZGJ3lBVaAXUiJLFfJRKpZp66ezk/s1600/images+3.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTOqLG3gn4jYbpP4LZ73fIhyphenhyphen_3UbXlVeQaQfb3Aw7g_0mAEXM6wyX3gaEWwz9ZX4M-Xya2u12xVlXO9eRGpSYD-jDrFhJD7NFTRmX1da0vVuKLGAfFZGJ3lBVaAXUiJLFfJRKpZp66ezk/s1600/images+3.jpeg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So, who are
the Somalis and what is their story. Why is it important to celebrate them now?
In his documentary, <span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">“<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QeagOhyABXU"><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Not Yet Kenyan</span></a></span>’’,
renowned journalist Mohamed Adow brought to the fore an interesting, dramatic
and yet bold narrative of the tribulations the Somali community has endured
over the last 50 years of Kenya’s independence. The Somali Heritage Week was
meant to highlight this historical injustices, share the community’s
contributions to the development of the country and change the perception other
Kenyan communities have of the Somalis. In order to overcome ignorance and
prejudice, we must celebrate diversity. Diversity is our strength.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">As I sip my favorite sweet-hot- black tea,
comfortably sitting at the balcony of Diamond restaurant, overlooking Eastleigh’s
skyscrapers, let me tell you the story of Somalis commercial enterprise and
their political power. Welcome to Nairobi’s Eastleigh estate, you are now at
the global commercial hub of Somali entrepreneurship. When the British
colonialists established an airbase at Eastleigh, little did they know that it
would grow into a huge commercial gateway. It has since evolved into a “Dubai”
of East Africa, where cheap imports are accessible. Today, the dry ‘free’
inland port attracts traders from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan and
Uganda. Capitalism finds its real home here; with small businesses coexisting
alongside big establishments. Eastleigh, described by many as "Little <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mogadishu" title="Mogadishu"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Mogadishu</span></a>",
as well as a city within a city on account of its robust business sector has
come from far. All that thanks to the Somalis who were here as early as 1914. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Somalis are the most entrepreneurial people
in Africa. It is due to their entrepreneurial spirit that the Somali grew up
with the mentality of leadership. When you have leadership drives you also have
entrepreneurship with it because you don't want to take orders from a 'boss' so
you go out and set your own business even if it’s a taxi. Somalis have a thing
with taking orders.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnRDqMhFdjzhnA4os5jo94EX3axAnpOIV4chlqUWszW6x5STd5hwbdAPhHo5_xJMvsHCn1x8h9HcTIA8xq0Gg49d7TmOBZC36pnGTC0rxEKdPirzNLQKuMtKqrBWR0INIPHnkRjdOMIIk/s1600/image+2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnRDqMhFdjzhnA4os5jo94EX3axAnpOIV4chlqUWszW6x5STd5hwbdAPhHo5_xJMvsHCn1x8h9HcTIA8xq0Gg49d7TmOBZC36pnGTC0rxEKdPirzNLQKuMtKqrBWR0INIPHnkRjdOMIIk/s1600/image+2.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Politically,
Somalis have contributed to the political development of the nation, from
Lancaster conference, second liberation to the struggle for the 2010
constitution. </span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Here are the
most <span class="mw-headline">Notable <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Political
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>figures of the Somali Community.</span></span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Hon Adan Dualle</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> –Hon Adan Duale, Mmeber of
Parliament for Garissa Township and Leader of Majority is the ruling party’s –
Jubilee – top MP and the most senior politician from the Somali Community. Vocal,
fearless, inspiring, deeply religious and highly educated.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To most Kenyans, Duale is the Jubilee
government’s foremost defender.<br />
The Garissa Township MP takes on opponents of Jubilee – from the civil society
to CORD leaders – head-on. He has heavily to contributed to the success of the Somali
community and majority of the community youth see him as a role model.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has a dream of one day becoming the
President of the Republic of Kenya, as he once said on Jeff Koinange’s show,
JKL.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Hon Billow Kerrow</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">: The Senator for Mandera<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and Chair, Finance, Commerce and Budget
Committee, Kenya Senate is one of the most vocal senators in the country. He’s
also a columnist with one of the local dailies.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Ambassador
Amina Mohamed</span></b><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ambassador Amina Mohamed, former Assistant
Secretary General of the United Nations and Deputy Executive Director of the
United Nations Environment Programme at Nairobi is Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary
for Foreign Affairs and International Trade. A former Permanent Secretary of
the Ministry of Justice, National Cohesion and Constitutional Affairs and
former Ambassador of Kenya to the United Nations at Geneva. Amb. Amina Mohamed
is a lawyer and diplomat by profession and has served in the public service for
the last three decades. Somali girls need not look anywhere else for inspiration.</span><br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Hon Yussuf
Hassan</span></b><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">: Politician, diplomat, social
activist and former journalist and Director of IRIN is the Member of Parliament
for Kamkunji. The only Somali politician representing a cosmopolitan
constituency in the heart of Kenya’s capital city, Nairobi.</span><br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Late Ahmed
Khalif Mohamed</span></b><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">: The former
Labour Minister and MP for Wajir West died in a plane crash in 2003, weeks after
he was sworn. One of the most respected and renowned politician since 1978. He
was among the founders of KANU B, a rebel group within the then ruling party,
under the one party state.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
QadarsWorldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10575375341341029614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5412058607252133366.post-365404338814338232015-11-08T10:03:00.000-08:002015-11-08T13:32:52.139-08:00WHAT YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT MANDERAWelcome to Mandera. Located about 1200 km from the capital city -Nairobi - Mandera is a semi-arid county in North Eastern Kenya.<br />
<br />
Mandera has often been described as “the worst place on earth to give birth”. The county with the highest maternal mortality rate. This week the First Lady launched her 33rd Beyond Zero Campaign Clinic in Mandera County. It will go along way in reducing maternal death by 75%. No woman should die while giving life.<br />
<br />
Mandera has been in the news for all the wrong reasons. Security has really deteriorated. Internecine conflicts and cross- border terrorism have trapped so many of Mandera’s people in poverty and misery. Rather than acting as a deterrent, it strengthened the people's resolve and they're on the journey of pacifying their county. Things have really improved. Business is booming. Buildings coming up every other day. The glorious days are back!<br />
<br />
Mandera has produced world-conquering men and women. Champions such as Senator Billow Kerrow, Senior Counsel Ahmednasir aka the Grand Mullah - Publisher. Newspaper columnist. Tough Advocate. Clothes horse. Hell-raiser. Arsenal FC aficionado and Godfather of Kenya's corridors of justice - as once described by a local daily hail from Mandera County. I know you know that I admire the Grand Mullah a lot and always stick my neck out for him in social media wars. <br />
The Senior Counsel has also coined "The Raila Doctrine, a phrase which has been used to describe how Raila Odinga has been reacting to his losses in Elections in Kenya."<br />
<br />
The great Banker and Harvard alumni - former Barclays Bank CEO for East and West Africa - and the current Cabinet Secretary for Trade and Industrialization Hon Adan Mohamed is a Mandarian. So is another Harvard alumni and award winning lawyer Hon Abdikadir Mohamed. Abdikadir, ex-MP for Mandera North constituency, is President Uhuru's Constitutional Advisor. <br />
<br />
Vice Chair of Commission for Revenue Allocation Fatuma Sheikh, Fatuma Ali Saman, IPOA Commissioner, Adan Mohamed aka Patel, NCIC Commissioner, Former powerful Rift Valley PC Mr Adan Noor and currently a senior official at the Devolution ministry, Senior lecturer Fatuma Daud, Hadi Sheikh Billow, Commissioner KRA, Ambassador Mahat, Ministry of Foreign Affairs's Abdishakur Hussein, National Bank of Kenya CEO Munir Sheikh Ahmed and Mohammed Abdalla, Director of ICT at National Bank, are Manderians too, just to mention a few.<br />
<br />
In the 2013 elections, Mandera County was the Tharaka Nithi of Jubilee coalition. It voted 98% for Uhuruto. They're yet to pay back the political debt. Hope UK will soon visit Mandera.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />QadarsWorldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10575375341341029614noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5412058607252133366.post-84831085358033601862015-09-23T01:34:00.001-07:002016-09-09T12:49:45.426-07:00Eid Mubarak to every one<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 24px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; position: relative;">
</h3>
<div class="post-header" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em;">
<div class="post-header-line-1">
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</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7004209228501338879" itemprop="articleBody" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.3; position: relative; width: 300px;">
<br />
Eid al-Adha, the Festival of Sacrifice, will be observed on Monday, 12th September 2016. 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.<br />
<br />
Muslims all over the world will be marking Eid Al-Adha. On this day, Muslims remember the sacrifice made by Prophet Ibrahim (A.S).<br />
<br />
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).<br />
<br />
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.<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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!<br />
<br />
Eid Mubarak to every one.<br />
<br />
*This Article has been edited to reflect the date of this year's Idd-ul-Adha.</div>
QadarsWorldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10575375341341029614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5412058607252133366.post-90791043317329169692015-09-21T22:56:00.003-07:002015-09-21T22:56:45.113-07:00Education Crisis: Parents and students are the biggest losers in this standoff <br />
The government's directive that all schools be closed from Monday is going to be a double tragedy for parents. The one million dollar question is: What happens to the fees the parents paid to cover the third term? Will the fees be refunded or will the balance be carried forward to 2016? What was the rationale of sucking in private schools into the crisis? Is Tahidi High affected by the same directive?<br />
<br />
There is the possibility that the performance of this year's national examinations may be hampered. KNEC keeps saying that they're ready to administer the exams. Who will supervise the candidates?<br />
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The cost of closing schools early and indefinitely will definitely be an additional burden to the struggling parents of this nation. The unexpected expense of hosting the students at home plus the time and energy required to supervise them to ensure that the time spent at home is well utilised is an additional one many parents can't afford. Clearly parents and students are paying dearly for the teachers strike.<br />
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Am shocked that the Senate is agitating for former councillors to be given hefty gratuities and pensions. We are currently facing a cash crisis over teachers' pay and instead of finding a solution, they are championing spending more money. This is foolhardy, reckless and downright immoral!<br />
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The union has dug in and is in for the long ride. The government seems unwilling to budge. The only way out is a compromise. For the sake of our children and their parents. <br />
QadarsWorldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10575375341341029614noreply@blogger.com0