Monday, January 07, 2008
Kibaki announces 10th Parliament
“In exercise of the powers conferred by section 58(1) of the Constitution of Kenya, I appoint that a new session of Parliament shall be held at Parliament Buildings in Nairobi, and shall begin on the 15th January, 2008, at 2.30 o’clock in the afternoon” said a legal notice signed by President Kibaki yesterday.
http://allafrica.com/stories/200801071580.html
Lawyers Demand Kibaki Resignation
Lawyers have called for the resignation of President Kibaki following the recently disputed elections, even as the Head of State announced the date for the Tenth Parliament.
http://allafrica.com/stories/200801071589.html
Association of Concerned Africa Scholars statement on Kenya Crisis
The Association of Concerned Africa Scholars (ACAS), an organization of United States-based academics and activists, today rejected superficial and misleading popular and media portrayals of the post-electoral violence in Kenya as “tribal.”
Ethnic woes a legacy of colonialists’ power game
If you’re looking for the origins of Kenya’s ethnic tensions, look to its colonial past. Far from leaving behind democratic institutions and cultures, Britain bequeathed to its former colonies corrupted and corruptible governments. Colonial officials hand-picked political successors as they left in the wake of World War II, lavishing political and economic favours on their proteges. This process created elites whose power extended into the post-colonial era.
http://www.eastandard.net/news/?id=1143980043&cid=15
ODM report analyses electoral fraud by ECK
“This report presents a summary of the instances of electoral fraud committed by the Electoral Commission of Kenya while tallying the Presidential votes at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre. ECK fraudulently manipulated the Presdential votes by unilaterally increasing the numbers for Mwai Kibaki and reducing those of Raila Odinga with a view to closing and eventually eliminating the earlier lead taken by Raila Odinga. The results from Raila Odinga strongholds were tallied first and then those from Mwai Kibaki’s strongholds were deliberately increased.”
ODMreport.pdf
Human Rights Defender Murdered in Kenya
The East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Network (EHAHRD-Net) is appalled by the continued killing of innocent civilians in Kenya, which has so far claimed over 300 lives, including HRDs. According to the Independent Medico-Legal Unit (IMLU) EHAHRD-Net’s Focal Point for Kenya, one human rights defender Anthony Njui, a former Catholic Justice and Peace Commission National Secretary (CJPC) was reportedly murdered in the ongoing tribal killings following President Mwai Kibaki’s re-election. Another HRD Nahashon Gachihi working with IMLU is now displaced, having been forced to move out of Huruma Estate under similar circumstances.
Kibaki calling parliament on 15 January
According to unconfirmed SMS messages from the Daily Nation, Mwai Kibaki is calling for the 10th Parliament to be held on 15th January. Will this comprise the old or the new members of parliament? Does Kibaki has the constitutional authority to convene such a parliament? We don’t yet know what the response of the ODM and other parties is to this proposal, but at present it could be read as a highly provocative move.
KNCHR estalishes crisis centre
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) has also established a crisis information centre to record testimonies, gather evidence and
information on the extent of violations of human rights in Kenya.
UN Special Rapporteurs issue statement on Kenya
SPECIAL PROCEDURES MANDATE HOLDERS DEEPLY CONCERNED BY SITUATION IN KENYA
The United Nations human rights experts whose names appear below issued the following statement today:
Geneva, 4 January 2008: - -"Following and in line with the statement made by the High Commissioner for Human Rights on 31 December 2007, we wish to express our deep concern at the events that have occurred in Kenya in the last days following contested election results. We are especially distressed by the tragic loss of human lives, the numerous casualties and destruction of property and infrastructure.
Law Society of Kenya calls on Kibaki to step down
NAIROBI, Jan 7 (Reuters) - The Law Society of Kenya called on Monday for President Mwai Kibaki to step down and for fresh polls in the east African country where a government committee said post-election violence has killed 486.
“The Law Society ... strongly demands that Honourable Mwai Kibaki steps down and that fresh presidential elections be held,” it said in a statement, citing reports from its own monitors and foreign observers who said the poll was flawed.
“It follows that the presidential election was not credible and the announcement of a winner is unacceptable.”
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L0728325.htm
Call for Urgent Resolution of Kenya Electoral Crisis: Petition
The online petition “Call for Urgent Resolution of Kenya Electoral Crisis” at http://www.petitiononline.com/kenya08/petition.html passes the 4,000 signature mark. Make sure you have signed.
Making donations for rape crisis centres
For those wishing to contribute to the appeal for rape crisis centres, the bank details are available from
Time to show greatness
Kenya’s politicians must take the lead in bringing an end to violence. If not, they risk a terrible legacy
Wangari Maathai
Monday January 7, 2008
The Guardian
The situation in my country, Kenya, is shocking and dangerous. We must act to end the violence and senseless killings, which erupted after the announcement by the Electoral Commission of Kenya (ECK) that President Mwai Kibaki had won the presidential elections. It is important to understand that there has been longstanding underlying discontent and mistrust between some ethnic communities, which has been fed by generations of politicians.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,2236333,00.html
Kenya: Review of Elections Needed to End Violence
Government Should End Curbs on Peaceful Demonstrations and Press
(New York, January 4, 2008) – An independent investigation of the presidential elections is needed to avert further violence in Kenya, Human Rights Watch said today. Human Rights Watch urged the government to end unnecessary restrictions on the media and peaceful assembly.
http://hrw.org/english/docs/2008/01/04/kenya17688.htm
Letter: Your Excellency The President
I am pained to the marrow when I think about what has taken place in Kenya. I want to believe that you have the same feelings and have had sleepless nights like me. Your Excellency, you know just as anyone in Kenya knows that you stole the just concluded presidential election.