Ab-Titchaz
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- Jan 30, 2008
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What I would tell President Kenyatta if I was his adviser
By Barrack Muluka
okwaromuluka@yahoo.com
Every so often I have to remind my audience that I write what I like. But it is not just that, I like what I write. My fan club ends there. It is a one-man fan club. And I am most pleased at the thought.
I should be thoroughly disturbed if everybody reading me out there liked what I write. The generation to like what I write is not yet born. But make no mistake. It will be born someday. If the people who post insolence on social media did not post some nasty things about me, I would also get worried. You need these reprobates saying some nasty stuff about you, all the time. Their insolence satisfies me that I am doing a good job. I dont write to make anybody happy.
My task is simple telling it the way it is. If you are unhappy, that is fair and square with me. If you are happy, that is your business. Stop wasting your energy, therefore, telling me to give President Uhuru Kenyatta a break. I can promise you that I will not give anybody a break. I stayed in this column with Presidents Moi and Kibaki for a combined 15 years. Every bit of the way, I told it as it was.
Earlier, I was inducted into this business with the occasional contribution to the mailbox in the Jomo Kenyatta years. Even as a youth and a budding scholar in high school, I told Mzee the truth. I am an old dog. Who ever taught an old dog any new tricks? Spare that energy you might need it to cool your porridge.
Now let me tell you three things that I would tell President Kenyatta, if the scheme of circumstances made me his adviser. First, I would tell him that it is in his personal interest to clear his name before the International Criminal Court (ICC), at the very earliest opportunity. Second, I would tell him not to take lightly the rumblings within the Jubilee Alliance to the effect that someone fixed his Deputy before the ICC. These rumblings may yet mature into a full-blown political typhoon.
Third, I would tell him to take with a pinch of salt his deputys remonstrations against those saying he was fixed. For, every dog barks on behalf of its owner. Finally, I would remind him that there are no permanent friends or enemies in politics. The only permanent thing in that sphere is interest. It is about acquiring, consolidating and exercising power.
Riding on this, I would also tell him that some day either his TNA or his deputys URP is going to work with their nemeses in the CORD Alliance. They will unite against a present partner in Jubilee. And this is the crux of the matter. I would plead with him to allow me to walk him through the Constitution of Kenya (2010) in the light of all the things that I have just said.
I would especially draw his attention to articles 145 and 146 of the Constitution. I would remind him that they are about removal of the President from office via impeachment. I would remind him, too, that while he was working round the clock not to go to The Hague, his deputy was sorting himself out before the ICC. His deputy had good cause to start feeling optimistic about acquittal, because of shockingly poor showing by the prosecution so far.
Fancy a situation where the deputy is acquitted, while at the same time the country is in the grip of global sanctions because of a warrant of arrest issued against an uncooperative President. Someone could begin entertaining the thought of articles 145, 146 and 149.
I would ask President Kenyatta to tie up this thought with the emerging claims that his people in Government fixed his deputy and the call for them to quit. I would remind him that article 146(2)a says the deputy will take over for the rest of the period, if the Office of President falls vacant. But not just that, the Office of Deputy President automatically falls vacant when the deputy takes over as President. In which case article 149(1) applies.
The new President, within 14 days, nominates a new Deputy President to be endorsed by the National Assembly within 60 days. There is even no role for the Senate, leave alone the electorate. The new President could nominate just about anybody to be his deputy. All he needs are the numbers in the National Assembly, a simple majority.
This is where the Cord Alliance comes in. Who in that alliance would not mind benefitting from article 149(1) of the Constitution? When they say, This is not the time to talk about who fixed who, get the point. This is very broad amnesty. It could apply to Jubilee and to Cord alike.
As I file this column, the Security Council of the United Nations is just about to have the last word on President Kenyattas impending trial before the ICC. The council might just give him some moratorium.
But it would be just that moratorium. The ICC would still come back to haunt the President, unless he finds some way to become Life President. Again, articles 145, 146 and 149 could come in; when people see opportunities and friends become adversaries.
Make no mistake. This is a dead end affair. The only escape route is via The Hague. This is why President Kenyattas people should be working hard towards making minced meat of Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensoudas case against the President. They instead waste invaluable time, energy and other resources on futile invective and other propaganda that will do the President no good. Their focus should be, first, on building a powerful defence.
Second, they should seek to secure an extended excusal for the President, besides the start and closing of the trial. Finally, they should be seeking greater political friendships at home and more amicable relations with the international community and especially with Kenyas traditional friends. Anything else is an exercise in self-immolation.
The writer is a publishing editor, special consultant and advisor on public relations and media relations
Standard Digital News - Kenya : What I would tell President Kenyatta if I was his adviser
By Barrack Muluka
okwaromuluka@yahoo.com
Every so often I have to remind my audience that I write what I like. But it is not just that, I like what I write. My fan club ends there. It is a one-man fan club. And I am most pleased at the thought.
I should be thoroughly disturbed if everybody reading me out there liked what I write. The generation to like what I write is not yet born. But make no mistake. It will be born someday. If the people who post insolence on social media did not post some nasty things about me, I would also get worried. You need these reprobates saying some nasty stuff about you, all the time. Their insolence satisfies me that I am doing a good job. I dont write to make anybody happy.
My task is simple telling it the way it is. If you are unhappy, that is fair and square with me. If you are happy, that is your business. Stop wasting your energy, therefore, telling me to give President Uhuru Kenyatta a break. I can promise you that I will not give anybody a break. I stayed in this column with Presidents Moi and Kibaki for a combined 15 years. Every bit of the way, I told it as it was.
Earlier, I was inducted into this business with the occasional contribution to the mailbox in the Jomo Kenyatta years. Even as a youth and a budding scholar in high school, I told Mzee the truth. I am an old dog. Who ever taught an old dog any new tricks? Spare that energy you might need it to cool your porridge.
Now let me tell you three things that I would tell President Kenyatta, if the scheme of circumstances made me his adviser. First, I would tell him that it is in his personal interest to clear his name before the International Criminal Court (ICC), at the very earliest opportunity. Second, I would tell him not to take lightly the rumblings within the Jubilee Alliance to the effect that someone fixed his Deputy before the ICC. These rumblings may yet mature into a full-blown political typhoon.
Third, I would tell him to take with a pinch of salt his deputys remonstrations against those saying he was fixed. For, every dog barks on behalf of its owner. Finally, I would remind him that there are no permanent friends or enemies in politics. The only permanent thing in that sphere is interest. It is about acquiring, consolidating and exercising power.
Riding on this, I would also tell him that some day either his TNA or his deputys URP is going to work with their nemeses in the CORD Alliance. They will unite against a present partner in Jubilee. And this is the crux of the matter. I would plead with him to allow me to walk him through the Constitution of Kenya (2010) in the light of all the things that I have just said.
I would especially draw his attention to articles 145 and 146 of the Constitution. I would remind him that they are about removal of the President from office via impeachment. I would remind him, too, that while he was working round the clock not to go to The Hague, his deputy was sorting himself out before the ICC. His deputy had good cause to start feeling optimistic about acquittal, because of shockingly poor showing by the prosecution so far.
Fancy a situation where the deputy is acquitted, while at the same time the country is in the grip of global sanctions because of a warrant of arrest issued against an uncooperative President. Someone could begin entertaining the thought of articles 145, 146 and 149.
I would ask President Kenyatta to tie up this thought with the emerging claims that his people in Government fixed his deputy and the call for them to quit. I would remind him that article 146(2)a says the deputy will take over for the rest of the period, if the Office of President falls vacant. But not just that, the Office of Deputy President automatically falls vacant when the deputy takes over as President. In which case article 149(1) applies.
The new President, within 14 days, nominates a new Deputy President to be endorsed by the National Assembly within 60 days. There is even no role for the Senate, leave alone the electorate. The new President could nominate just about anybody to be his deputy. All he needs are the numbers in the National Assembly, a simple majority.
This is where the Cord Alliance comes in. Who in that alliance would not mind benefitting from article 149(1) of the Constitution? When they say, This is not the time to talk about who fixed who, get the point. This is very broad amnesty. It could apply to Jubilee and to Cord alike.
As I file this column, the Security Council of the United Nations is just about to have the last word on President Kenyattas impending trial before the ICC. The council might just give him some moratorium.
But it would be just that moratorium. The ICC would still come back to haunt the President, unless he finds some way to become Life President. Again, articles 145, 146 and 149 could come in; when people see opportunities and friends become adversaries.
Make no mistake. This is a dead end affair. The only escape route is via The Hague. This is why President Kenyattas people should be working hard towards making minced meat of Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensoudas case against the President. They instead waste invaluable time, energy and other resources on futile invective and other propaganda that will do the President no good. Their focus should be, first, on building a powerful defence.
Second, they should seek to secure an extended excusal for the President, besides the start and closing of the trial. Finally, they should be seeking greater political friendships at home and more amicable relations with the international community and especially with Kenyas traditional friends. Anything else is an exercise in self-immolation.
The writer is a publishing editor, special consultant and advisor on public relations and media relations
Standard Digital News - Kenya : What I would tell President Kenyatta if I was his adviser
