2007 Elections
Kenyans Meet Magara In New Jersey USA
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- Published on Wednesday, 03 October 2007 01:55
On Sunday, March 4th, 2007, Hon. Omingo Magara, MP South Mugirango met with Kenyans in Jersey City to articulate his and ODM-K’s vision for a new Kenya. It was a meeting that saw a large turnout of patriotic Kenyans, ready to have their concerns heard and hopefully, implemented. Magara told the gathering that Nyanza, which has 1.7 million votes, will vote as a block during ODM-Kenya nomination. “The people of Nyanza have common ties that bond them geographically, economically and now politically. We will vote as a block to support Raila because charity starts from home as a peaceful neighbor is a peaceful environment. Any problem with your neighbor is also your problem. It is discriminative to isolate others because of circumcision. Provincial blocks that we form in politics benefit even small communities to vie for executive office since there will be support from bigger communities.
God gave Nyachae riches, but the same God has kept me healthy and made him not hire anybody to attack me although he has said that he will do everything, he will sell everything to have me voted out of parliament. Money which was assigned to roads in my constituency has now been diverted to Karatina and yet tax payers from S. Mugirango were promised these roads. It is as if they are not Kenyans and all because I don’t dance for the master.
I’m the treasurer in ODM-Kenya and I’m here to inform you that we are not power hungry people in ODM as they are saying. They are corrupt and we shall fight for the common man when we shall take power not if we take power.
Corruption
During Moi’s era, Kenyans were compelled to contribute money from the grassroots and take it to mtukufu rais since his powers were unquestionable and autocratic. Corruption was the order and the monies which were stolen during Moi’s tenure in office were deposited in Swiss banks and they returned home bare handed and asked for foreign loans from IMF and World bank which has killed tax payers.
That culture where Kenyans used to take the money to the King (Mtukufu) made him and his team grab more and more. This is the period women were artificially made widows as their men were detained for long periods without trial.
During Narc campaign we promised Kenyans total war on corruption, but the good boys and girls were given briefcases and appointed into government and are now quiet and practicing what we pledged to the electorate not to do. Narc removed Kanu out of power for failing accountability, lack of good governance and lack of transparency, but that is what is being practiced today by Kibaki.
In 2002 elections what changed is the inhabitants, but the contexts remain the same. Anyway as a matter of fact Moi is the government advisor. In the Anglo Leasing scandal we paid for passport making equipment which was imaginary as it never came to Kenya. When I wrote a complaint on a Thursday to Britain the next Monday I got a reply back in original copies of the letter which made me perturbed as how did the letter reach London and come back within three days. That means the people were in the government and in Nairobi. These are dubious debts which increase poverty levels for innocent people.
When Kibaki came to power corrupt police officers were being taught a lesson on the spot if they asked for bribery, but today since some ministers were given briefcases there is nothing like fighting corruption, but making corruption.
Most people in corruption are men not women. When Martha Karua gave out the list of shame no woman was named.
Insecurity
In Kisii town there are about 17 road blocks each manned by four police officers but there are guns and insecurity everywhere. People used to store food in granaries but today they sleep with food in their houses in fear of it being stolen. Permanent houses are being broken into and thieves steal equipment as there is no government. If Michuki can deport Mamluk (Arturs) without prosecuting them what does that tell you about security?
Computerized criminal record should be installed to track down criminals because people change their names often for criminal activity when they are caught. The computer will indentify their finger prints even if they change their identities.
Saitoti’s case on Goldenberg is on appeal by the Attorney General, but he was appointed back to his ministry of education after he was sacked. This is insecurity itself. Kamlesh Pattni is the chairman of KEDA and is coming to buy power in the next general election from Westlands, Nairobi.
During Kenyatta these people in government were there, during Moi they were there and now in Kibaki they are there. How can we beat corruption and insecurity since the same people are occupying these offices for this long?”
Stay In ODM-Kenya
Leonard Manoti was curious whether, if Raila is not nominated for Presidency and Magara is not nominated in the grassroots level in S. Mugirango, they will jump from party to party? Magara said, “ We pledged to stay in ODM- Kenya and support whoever wins nomination because if we are fragmented we will lose. I should let Kenyans know that I have a preference about who I support between these candidates; not that I dislike others but I must support one. I will stay in ODM-Kenya.”
Rev. Huron Orutwa also questioned the transparency of CDF funds if they are being used for campaign. Magara said “ CDF money is being distributed out to schools, colleges and universities as bursaries to help poor students, not for campaign. I took CDF to the sub-locations and where they are not happy and have taken me to court two times and I have won the case with costs but those who file cases are poor who cannot even pay costs since they are sponsored. I’m not calling myself honorable but call me horrible if you want”.
Prestor Kenyanya questioned if the Moi’s pioneer car project was still in place or it was voted out with him and why ODM-Kenya is going to London to hammer out differences not in Kenya? Magara said “This was one way to waste money with Nyayo pioneer car factories which never went anywhere but was killing the tax paying public. ODM officials are going to London to meet Kenyans who organized for their travel.
Wycliffe Mugoya wanted to know Magara’s track record and that Raila’s name was mentioned in Kisumu molasses and how it was resolved? Magara said “ My track record is straight, I was the chairman of PAC (parliamentary accounting committee) where I did a lot of work for the public, I’m one of those fighting for Diaspora to have dual citizenship and voting rights and I’m one of those asking for minimal constitutional reforms before elections. About Raila’s molasses connection, he explained himself how he acquired Kisumu molasses”.
Anthony Karanja asked him as to what defines him to be re-elected from S. Mugirango pertaining law and order, alleviation of poverty and fighting insecurity? Magara said “ I’m proud that I beat clanism which existed in the constituency because I come from a small clan. I have brought the girls school in the constituency St. Lenus girls school at Etago, improved Nduru sec. school and plans are underway to construct Nduru girls sec. school.
Bartholomew Momanyi had a question regarding the newly created districts whose headquarters are not in strategic and accessible areas for the residents. He gave an example of Wanjare South Mugirango district whose headquarters had been proposed for Suneka but was now at Kerina instead of Nyamarambe which is the central place for everyone in the district, and thus he sought to know what was going on. Magara answered by saying that the Kibaki government is there to support people dancing to its tune and have decided to put district headquarters on highways which is not going to serve the interests of the people. He further said that the government was proposing Rongo, Awendo, Migori, and Keroka as possible district headquarters instead of taking the headquarters to better qualified locations, citing Kerina which has no infrastructure suitable to run a district headquarters. To him, Kibaki’s government is a highway government for the newly created districts.
