George Gathigi, University of Nairobi

The ongoing health workers strike in Kenya has taken a new dimension with medics adopting social networking sites to air their grievances. In the process they have forged a discussion in the new information spaces, and rallied support for their actions.

Kenya’s medical workers have downed tools to demand the implementation of a collective bargaining agreement signed in 2013. The unions accuse the government of breaching the agreement by passing over the healthcare workers’ payroll onto county governments without establishing the relevant legal framework for the devolution of health.

Additionally, healthcare funding across Kenya has been cut from a recommended 15% of the government’s budget to 2.7%.

Health workers have taken to social media as a way to apply pressure on the government, and to expose the plight of medical professionals as well as the overall status of health care in Kenya.

The health workers are tapping into a trend that has developed in leaps and bounds in Kenya over the past decade. This has seen citizens use social media to express their anger and speak truth to power.

The health workers strike shows how new information spaces can be used as sites to negotiate, challenge and resist power. Can social media serve as a functioning public sphere within an environment where mainstream media is constrained by, among others, partisan interests and the bottom line?

How it came about

In the days before the strike, medical workers used the hashtag #LipaKamaTender (pay it like tender). The phrase has became popular on social media, and in particular Twitter, as a way to criticise the current Jubilee administration led by President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Kenyatta’s four years in office have been laden with scandals. One of the latest involves the Ministry of Health. The allegation is that Ksh 5 billion – equivalent to US$50 million – has been “lost”.

There are also allegations that people linked to the president’s family won tenders to supply mobile clinics and facilities at grossly overpriced rates. The mobile clinics have been stuck in Kenya’s main port, Mombasa, for more than one year.

In most labour disputes, the government is able to take the upper hand by using state machinery as well as the media to influence the dominant narrative.

But, through various engagements on social media, medical workers have magnified their individual and collective voices to speak about their own experiences. They have revealed details about their individual and institutional realities, challenged various ideas and assumptions held by the public about the medical profession, and tackled questions such as ethics and industrial action.

By popularising and using the symbolism Kenyans have adopted against corruption, health workers have located their industrial action within a broader national debate. Doctors are making it clear that their demands are not misplaced. If the nation can afford to overpay tenders and fail to seal loopholes that cause corruption, why can’t it afford to pay doctors?

Telling their stories

Health workers have revealed their living conditions and the difficulties they sometimes have saving lives due to the lack of facilities.

Some have argued that the authorities expose them to dangers about which members of the public are largely oblivious. Among the issues they are highlighting are decent pay and benefits as well as shortages of medical equipment and supplies.

In one Twitter thread a young doctor told his story about working in northern Kenya on the Somalia and Ethiopia borders. As the only qualified doctor in the area he had to single-handedly manage a huge disadvantaged population. His salary was low and his allowances were slashed on the grounds that his cost of living would be low. In addition, the Ministry of Health refused to transfer him after he was involved in a road accident and disabled.

Another doctor took audiences back to 2013 when a baby died in her arms because there was no blood for a transfusion, and the equipment to do blood cross-matching with the parents was out of order:

After the morning round with my senior consultants in the hospital, we find an anaemic, gasping, pale as paper and fragile baby. We proceed to nebulise the baby and put him on oxygen, which is shared with many patients.

She could not get blood for the baby and the parents could not afford to buy blood:

That baby should not have died. No baby should have to die for lack of equipment. No baby should die for lack of access to blood transfusion.

Counter-narratives

One criticism of the health workers strike has been that doctors are bound to a set of responsibilities under the Hippocratic Oath, and that their work is a “calling”. Health workers have countered this by arguing that they have responsibilities, but that they also have rights.

As Elizabeth Wala, the CEO of the Kenya Medical Association, a voluntary membership organisation open to all medical and dental practitioners registered in Kenya, argued:

[Since] the social contract between doctor and patient is not considered void under any circumstances, strikes by doctors seem to raise ethical concerns about their professional conduct. Here it is vital to consider that doctors in their entirety are human beings having similar emotions, feelings and more importantly the needs as those of a common man.

The cost of living is not different to a doctor as to another citizen. Bounding them with a social contract does not eliminate these basic human characteristics.

Others have pointed to options that exist elsewhere. As Ashira Zephania, an obstetrician/gynaecologist in his third year of practice, wrote:

The Kenyan doctor can easily make around Ksh 2 million month salary (an equivalent of US$20,000 compared to as low as US$400 that some make) if he quits and goes abroad. But he is fighting to stay and make the system work.

The health workers strike discourse is more than an industrial dispute. In debating the status of health in Kenya through social media, the platform is allowing circulation of information and ideas. Different positions are put forward, discussed and challenged. Social media has become a functioning public sphere.

The use of social media has helped to advance the cause of striking health workers. Through these communication channels they have managed to mobilise allies to their cause while internally galvanising the health workforce.

George Gathigi, Researcher, University of Nairobi

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi on Sunday faced resistance from residents of Mumias town after he dismissed projects launched by the Jubilee administration.

Mudavadi had accused President Uhuru Kenyatta of launching projects that were not budgeted for during his tour of Western region last week.

Speaking at the Bishop Hannington ACK church in Mumias, the former deputy prime minister said all projects launched by the president in his tour of the region were fake.

“The projects are not reflected in the national budget and will not take off. Let the president desist from playing divisive politics with the people of Western region. It is wrong for the Head of State to lie to Kenyans in the name of launching projects when in real sense it is mere public relations,” said Mudavadi.

He asked the people of Western region to reject Jubilee and support the National Super Alliance (NASA).

But former ODM national youth leader Rashid Mohammed and politician Stanley Livondo mobilized locals to protest against Mudavadi’s criticism in Mumias town.

Anti-riot police officers were quickly deployed within the town to prevent confrontations between Mudavadi's followers and those of Livondo and Mohammed.

Read; Mudavadi: How Uhuru, Ruto duped me in 2012

At one time, youth disrupted Mudavadi’s speech as they responded with Jubilee!!! Jubilee!!! Jubilee!!!! mantra.

Mudavadi held another stop over at Ekero market where he addressed his supporters under security.

Bishop Beneah Salala of Mumias ACK church with ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi and other leaders during the ordination ceremony at the Bishop Hannington cathedral in Mumias on Sunday.

The president and his deputy toured Western region last week.

He launched six roads projects, issued residents of Mt Elgon with title deeds, launched Sh2 billion water project in Mumias, commissioned the opening of Panpaper mills and launched medical equipment at the Kakamega and Busia county referral hospital.

Read: Uhuru reopens Webuye Rai Paper during Western tour

“The president launched genuine projects that will benefit our people. There is no way a road worth Sh1.16 billion that is under construction will be a fake project from the president,” said Rashid.

Also read: Amani gives Mudavadi green light for super alliance to defeat Uhuru

He said Mudavadi had failed the Luhya community after serving as vice president, deputy prime minister and minister in the two governments of former presidents Daniel Arap Moi and Mwai Kibaki.

“Let him show the people of Western any single project he brought to his people when he served in the government in various capacities. He remained selfish and worked hard to benefit himself” said Rashid.

Livondo urged the people of Western to work with the government of the day in order to realize development.

He said the region was lagging behind in terms of development because of supporting the opposition.

Barely a week after President Uhuru Kenyatta claimed that external powers are seeking to influence the 2017 polls, the government has suspended a civic education program worth Sh2 billion run by the USAID.

Read: Uhuru hints at plans to pull Kenya out of ICC as country marks 53 years of independence

 The American NGO, International Foundation for Electoral System was implementing a program dubbed the "Kenya Electoral Assistance program, KEAP 2017".

In a letter copied to CBK governor Patrick Njoroge, Interior Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho, the USAID management, the NGO board noted that IFES does not exist in the their list of companies operating in Kenya. 

 “Records held by the NGO board shows that IFES, is not a registered body in Kenya and therefore lacks the legal status to operate in the country. In addition the section 22 (1) of cap 134 laws Kenya clearly outlaws and prescribes penalties and jail term for the operation of an NGO in Kenya without registration,” executive director of the board Fazul Mahamed said.

“We have also noted that the workers of IFES neither applied nor obtained a letter of recommendation from the board to the principal immigration officer for issuance of work permit. This means that all foreigners working for IFES including the chief of Party, Michael Yard, are working in Kenya illegally,” Fazul added.

The board has advised CBK to immediately freeze all bank accounts and any other funds held under the name of the company until further notice.

The director of immigration has also been requested to review the immigration status of all foreign employees and take appropriate legal action as stipulated under the Citizenship and Immigration Act.

 Last week US Ambassador to Kenya Robert Godec said the US will not support any particular political party next year but will help oversee a free, fair and credible poll.

Godec said that his country was determined to see Kenya hold a peaceful election and will give Sh2.5 billion for the exercise.

"The US had also promised to help strengthen the IEBC's institutional capacity, champion voter registration and advocate for peace before, during and after elections", he said.

Read:US to support Kenya's 2017 election process, says no hidden agenda

A fresh plan has been hatched to delay the general election to 2018.

MPs are eager to extend their terms, salaries and perquisites. They also say the country is far from prepared. They cite delayed appointment of electoral commissioners and numerous issues with timelines, procurement, technology and the voter's register.

This time round, MPs from both Jubilee and Cord are involved, however, it is not clear if they have the blessings of their principals.

Kenya traditionally holds elections every five years.

The extension, MPs argue, will allow the IEBC to fully prepare for the polls.

They say because of the delay in picking IEBC commissioners, those selected will need time to understand the situation and prepare for elections.

A panel interviewing prospective commissioners is expected to release the names of nominees by the of this week, and the proposed chairperson

The President then will pick seven commissioners from a short list of nine and pick the chairperson from another two names.

“Look at the where we are now. It's December and the commission is not in place, the secretariat has not been vetted, the voter’s register has not been audited and all the technology required has just been advertised. It is clear the IEBC will not be ready by August,’’ an MP involved in the plan told the Star, asking not to be named.

The IEBC awarded the tender for the audit of the voter’s roll last Friday but Cord has pledged to block the audit until new commissioners are in place.

The opposition says the Jubilee administration plans to rig the election.

The commission has also advertised for an integrated technology system to register voters, identify them on election day, transmit results from every polling station and manage all candidates.

“We hope to have this technology in place by April and test it before elections,” IEBC CEO Ezra Chiloba said.

Those pushing for delay also argue holding elections next August will cut MPs' terms short by four months. Unless the government compensates them for lost earnings, there will be no choice but to extend their terms.

But yesterday, Cord co-principal Moses Wetang'ula said any attempts to amend the Constitution and change the date would be unconstitutional.

“That proposal cannot work because it is unconstitutional. Jubilee which has been entertaining this idea for sometime now but does not have the two-thirds required to pass such amendment,” he said. Wetang'ula is Senate majority leader.

Even if the National Assembly passes it, the Senate will shoot it down, he predicted.

“Extending Jubilee’s term will visit a calamity upon the country,” Wetang'ula said.

In 2012, the Appeals Court extended the term Parliament and ruled the next election be held in August 2017, as provided by the Constitution.

Justice Martha Koome disagreed. She said pushing the elections to March 2013 would unconstitutionally extend the incumbent Parliament and the tenure of President Mwai Kibaki.

Kenya Ports Authority in Mombasa has effectively been shut down by the High Court.

All its bank accounts were frozen last Thursday by the High Court in Mombasa and it cannot make any payments, including December salaries.

The court froze the KPA bank accounts at Citi Bank, Equity Bank and National Bank. Justice Patrick Otieno was enforcing a judgment for Sh1.9 billion that he gave in September in favour of Modern Holdings (EA).

Modern Holdings is a large Tanzanian company that distributes Masafi energy drinks and fruit juice. It brought in 21 containers to Mombasa from Dubai between December 2007 and January 2008.

During the post-election violence, consignments could not be cleared from the port within the stipulated time so KPA, in consultation with KRA, moved long stay containers to Makupa private port to ease congestion and allow more cargo to be received at the port. Notices to that effect were published in local dailies and at the port. However Modern Holdings argued in court that the transfer of its containers to Makupa was illegal.

Modern Holdings cleared six containers with waivers from KRA and KPA but 15 containers were delayed and their contents valued at Sh60 million went bad.

Justice Otieno found in favour of Modern Holdings and awarded them Sh890 million, 14 times the value of the consignment. The additional Sh1 billion constituted interest and loss of business.

Once the judgment was delivered in September 2016, the proceedings continued at a high speed to realise the judgment sum. Modern Holdings filed their bill of costs on November 3 and were allocated a date for hearing on November 28. The bill of costs was adjourned for taxation on December 6,

After a short delay, on December 13 Modern Holding’s bill of costs was taxed at a staggering Sh72 million. A Mombasa lawyer described the amount as “way above what the scales prescribing the remuneration of advocates stipulates”.

The case continued at top speed. Modern Holdings then filed an application to attach all the bank accounts belonging to KPA. On December 15, last Thursday, Justice Otieno, who delivered the judgment in September, issued a ‘garnishee order nisi’ that effectively stopped KPA making any payments pending the hearing of the application. The application was fixed for yesterday, December 19, four days after the order was issued. The order requires that the banks show cause why they should not pay Modern Holdings Sh1.9 billion within seven days.

In contrast to the speedy hearing of Modern Holdings case, KPA’s attempt to appeal has dragged through the courts. KPA filed an application for stay of execution pending the hearing of its appeal in November 2016 before the Court of Appeal. That application, certified as urgent, was allocated a hearing date of today December 20.

“It appears that there was some urgency at the High Court to beat the date allocated for the hearing of the KPA application before the Court of Appeal,” said the Mombasa lawyer who expressed concern over the plight of KPA employees and other strategic operations.

The Russian ambassador to Turkey was shot in the back and killed as he gave a speech at an Ankara art gallery on Monday by an off-duty police officer who shouted "Don't forget Aleppo" and "Allahu Akbar" as he opened fire.

President Tayyip Erdogan, in a video message to the nation, cast the attack as an attempt to undermine NATO-member Turkey's relations with Russia - ties long tested by the war in Syria. He said he had agreed in a telephone call with Russia's Vladimir Putin to step up cooperation in fighting terrorism.

At a special meeting at the Kremlin, President Putin ordered increased security at all Russian missions and said "the bandits" who committed the act would feel retribution.

"We must know who directed the killer's hand."

The assassination of an ambassador, not least of a major power such as Russia, marks a dangerous escalation of tension in the region and beyond. Security sources said he was off duty and some witnesses said there was no security scanning machine at the entrance.

The attacker was smartly dressed in black suit and tie and stood, alone, behind the ambassador as he began his speech at the art exhibition, a person at the scene told Reuters.

"He took out his gun and shot the ambassador from behind. We saw him lying on the floor and then we ran out," said the witness, who asked not to be identified. People took refuge in adjoining rooms as the shooting continued.

A video showed the attacker shouting: "Don't forget Aleppo, don't forget Syria!" and "Allahu Akbar" ("God is Greatest") as screams rang out. He paced about and shouted as he held the gun in one hand and waved the other in the air.

Russia is an ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and its air strikes helped Syrian forces end rebel resistance last week in the northern city of Aleppo. Turkey, which seeks Assad's ouster, has been repairing ties with Moscow after shooting down a Russian warplane over Syria last year.

The gunman was killed by special forces. Three other people were injured.

"We regard this as a terrorist act," said Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova. "Terrorism will not win and we will fight against it decisively."

GULEN

Erdogan, who has faced a string of attacks by Islamist and Kurdish militants as well as an attempted coup in July, identified the attacker as 22-year-old Mevlut Mert Altintas, who had worked for Ankara riot police for two and a half years. CNN Turk TV said police had detained his sister and mother.

A senior security official said there were "very strong signs" the gunman belonged to the network of the U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, who Ankara says orchestrated the failed coup in July. Erdogan has denounced Gulen as a terrorist, but the cleric, a former ally, denies the accusation.

Gulen described the killing as a "heinous act of terror" that pointed to a deterioration of security in Turkey resulting from Erdogan's wideranging purge of police as well as the army, judiciary and media following the coup bid.

The government says Gulen, who has lived in self-imposed exile in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania since 1999, created a "parallel network" in the police, military, judiciary and civil service aimed at overthrowing the state.

Suspicion could also fall on a group such as Islamic State, which has carried out a string of bomb attacks in Turkey in the last year as Ankara has pressed a military campaign against the militants in Syria. The group has urged "lone" attacks in the West.

U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu was due to meet his Russian and Iranian counterparts in Russia on Tuesday to discuss the situation in Syria. Officials said the meeting would still go on, despite the attack.

"The attack comes at a bad time: Moscow and Ankara have only recently restored diplomatic ties after Turkey downed a Russian aircraft in November 2015," the Stratfor think-tank said.

"Though the attack will strain relations between the two countries, it is not likely to rupture them altogether."

However, both Russia and Turkey indicated that they were looking to work together to find the combat militant attacks.

The U.S. State Department, involved in diplomatic contacts with Russia in an attempt to resolve a refugee crisis unfolding around the city of Aleppo, condemned the attack, as did the United Nations Security Council.

Tensions have escalated in recent weeks as Russian-backed Syrian forces have fought for control of the eastern part of Aleppo, triggering a stream of refugees.

Heavily armed anti-riot police officers have blockaded Parliament buildings ahead of a special sitting by MPs.

The legislatures are expected to make major changes to the use of technology in the general election.

Tongaren MP Eseli Simiyu told The Star that members are not allowed to drive inside with their vehicles.

"We are forced to alight at Hotel Intercon and walk all the way, We are properly frisked before being allowed inside the parliament premises," he said. 

Police officers blockade parliament building ahead of a special sitting on Tuesday Photo/Sam Kisika

The MPs seek to change the law to give room for the IEBC to use other means of identification of voters and transmission of results where technology fails.

Read: IEBC trying to block new election law, claims Cord

The issue has already pitted President Uhuru Kenyatta's Jubilee Party against the Opposition led by Raila Odinga.

The two are presumed to be the key presidential candidates on Election Day.

The chairperson of the Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs, Samuel Chepkonga, will introduce new clauses to the Elections Act allowing the IEBC to come up with other ways besides technology to identify voters.

“Without prejudice to the preceding provisions of this section, the Commission shall put in place an alternative and complementary mechanism for identification and transmission of election results that is simple, accurate, verifiable, secure, accountable and transparent," section 44 (8A) states.

Chepkonga will also move several amendments to the Bill, adjusting major timelines.

Section 44 of the Elections Act, 2011, is to be amended in subsection (4) by deleting the word “eight” appearing in paragraph (a) and substituting the word “six”.

This means that the law will be amended to allow the IEBC more time to procure elections the technology to be used to identify voters and transmit results.

Read: MPs meet to change election law, Raila rejects

Should the age of consensual defilement be reduced from eighteen years to sixteen? Well, the goverment thinks so.

This amendment to the Sexual Offences Act is hidden in the The Statue Law (Miscellaneous Amendment Bill) 2016.

If the amendments are passed, teenagers aged 16 years can have consensual sex.

Even though rights campaigners who advocate for the rights of the girl child are up in arms against the amendment, Federation of Women Lawyers chairperson Josephine Mong’are told the Star that the amendment seeks to protect the boy child.

“The boy child has become the unintended victim of the Sexual Offences Act. A lot of teenagers are in relationships without their parents knowledge.

If the girl’s mother does not like the fact that you have a boyfriend, they go to the police station and claim rape or defilement.” Monga’re told the Star on phone.

Read; The law on child sexual abuse and how to handle the situation

Mong’are who led a team in coming up with the amendment says it is a move aimed at introducing Romeo and Juliet clauses in the act.

Romeo and Juliet laws and clauses concern young adults or teenagers who are a few years apart and have willingly had sexual relations.

The provisions concern incidents in which younger individuals have passed the age of puberty.

“The amendments have nothing to do with protecting predators. If the amendments are passed, they will enable magistrates have the ability to make a decision in determining if this was a boyfriend/girlfriend relationship as opposed to it being presented as a defilement case," Mong'are added.

Also read: Do teens have a right to have consensual sex?

An investigator in the Child Protection Unit who did not wish to be named welcomed the amendments, adding that it will make it easier for them to investigate such cases as some parents are taking advantage of the Act.

“You find that most of the time the girl is being forced to report the matter to the police basically because the parents do not like her boyfriend. This in turn makes it hard for investigators to collect factual information about the said relationship because the girl is not telling the truth owing to pressure she is getting from her parents.” the source said.

The bill has already been tabled for the first reading, and is now under the departmental committee on Justice and Legal Affairs for consideration who will thereafter report to the house.

Kenyans have until 27th December to give their views on the matter.

Drama unfolded in an Eldoret court when the wife of veteran politician Jackson Kibor wailed loudly during the hearing of their divorce case.

Josphine burst into a loud cry accusing her husband of being insensitive.

“Why are you disturbing me this way? What have I done to deserve all this? I am unwell and can only continue when am well,” she said as she broke down in tears.

Kibor, a once powerful Kanu bigwig, filed a divorce case after 51 years of marriage against his second wife Josphine Kibor.

Read: Politician Jackson Kibor files divorce case to end 51-year marriage

But the adamant Kibor insisted that the hearing must proceed to full hearing.

Senior Principal Magistrate Charles Obulutsa who is hearing the case, lawyers and those in court were caught by surprise as she cried out loudly.

But Kibor, unshaken told the magistrate that he wanted the case concluded faster so that they can divorce and move on.

“She should not have come to court if she knew that she was sick. I don’t care. All that I asked for is divorce and I don’t want many other issues. I have said I don’t need her and that is my final decision,” Kibor said.

He argued there was no way he could change his decision no matter what his wife did.

“You can see how disrespectful she is. Someone sick cannot produce such a loud voice in court. What I want is the divorce and that is it,” Kibor said.

Read: Kibor’s wife rejects divorce, says there is no reason to part ways

Obulutsa had tried to convince the lawyers to agree on how to move on considering she was unwell but Kibor’s lawyer Waziri Omollo said they wanted the matter expedited.

The court ordered the hearing to resume on February 1 2017.

The prominent businessman and farmer filed the divorce case last month seeking to end the marriage with Josephine, 67.

He accused her of desertion, cruelty and interfering with his ownership of 800 acres in Kipkabus, Uasin Gishu county.

Also read: Kibor wife calls co-wife, 3 witnesses to save wedlock

Kibor has told the court that he has not spent time with Josephine for 30 years and wants the court to cancel their marriage certificate issued in 1965. “She is my wife, but I have not slept in the house I built for her for the last 30 years. She does not respect me and she has been abandoning the farm for long, causing the death of my livestock and chickens,” Kibor said.

Last month Josphine told the court that she loves and respects her husband of 51 years and does not understand why the politician filed a divorce case demanding they separate.

“He is here in court and he knows very well that we have always lived happily. He is my husband and I don’t know why he brought me to court,” said Josphine.

She produced pictures of past family events where Kibor was photographed with all his three wives and other members of his family.

“The court can look at this picture in which we were very happy. We did not have any problem and you can even see he is happy here in court”, said Josphine who is represented by lawyer Amos Magut.

More on this: We’re happily married, Kibor’s wife shows court pictures to save her 51 years marriage

She has denied that she had at one time chased Kibor from their home at Kipkabus.

“Its not possible for me to chase my husband from is home. When he is away I manage the farm for the family and when we got married he always told us to work hard so that we repay a loan which he had used to purchase the land,”said Josphine.

Josphine has indicated that she will produce four witnesses to defend her 51 year’s marriage.

“In fact every Christmas we celebrate together at either of his homes and we usually take pictures in very happy moods,” she said.

Among the witnesses she will produce is Kibor’s third wife Naomi Cheptoo who also argues that they have been happily married to Kibor.

His first wife Mary is deceased and Kibor has a third wife Yunita.

Kibor has claimed that Josphine had been abandoning their home to visit her two children in Canada without his authority and those animals on the Kipkabus home had died due to lack of care when she travels.

Josephine links the dispute between them to a demand by Kibor to be allowed to sell part of their land, which she rejected.

Kibor has argued that Josphine did not come with the land when they got married.

He accused Josephine of imposing a caveat on the land to bar him from selling it.

Kenyans on social media have criticised remarks made by Mbita MP Millie Odhiambo calling President Uhuru Kenyatta a 'fake President who should go back to his Gatundu backyard."

Millie on Tuesday asked Uhuru to stop harassing Kenyans by barring MPs from accessing parliament for the special sitting.

"I dedicated this day to telling the President all the negative things I have. We fought for this country as he was in foreign land so President Uhuru cannot dictate his powers to me or any other elected member," she stated.

"Uhuru should start packing for his journey back to Gatundu as he is a fake President as his own backyard is poor. We have come here prepared for death and we are going to Canaan not back to Egypt," the MP added.

Millie further alleged that the President rigged the 2013 general election and was therefore not elected.

"Who does he think he is, he does not even compare to me leave alone Raila Odinga, tell him he can take me to court. He is extremely stupid and my conscience tells me so....msheenzi," Millie said.

Read: [VIDEO] Parliament buildings blockaded by police, MPs forced to walk ahead of IEBC sitting

But Kenyans took to social media and reacted to Millie's remarks.

"Freedom of expression does not include insulting the President. That's treason. Dignified women hold their tongues always," Sally Salome tweeted.

"Millie Odhiambo has just shown the kind of people who should not be elected and should have never been elected anywhere at any level because they do not respect our institutions."

Marie Mwangi criticised the behavior which happened outside Parliament buildings saying Millie took advantage of her gender.

"Millie Odhiambo is a very disrespectful woman from what I have seen, I'm all for girl power and but this woman is completely crazy to rant what she said because she is a woman."

Bedan Komu expressed distaste at the level which leaders will go to seek votes or please their bosses saying it was against the integrity act for Millie to have uttered the words she did.

"I do not blame Millie Odhiambo, we all know it is campaign time and all leaders are competing to please their bosses so it could be just business," his tweet read.

Sam Philips said no matter the wrongdoing by the government the legislator went overboard with her alteration to President Uhuru Kenyatta.

"We should and must not cheer Millie Odhiambo because it is a shame for her as an elected member of the National Assembly to have said what she did. Two wrongs have never made a right and she should have known that."

However others lauded the MP for the move saying Millie expressed what most Kenyans feel over the government's preparedness for the general election.

"Millie Odhiambo was just saying what Kenyans are thinking , Uhuru's government is trying to take us for a ride again and steal votes in the 2017 polls." Urban black tweeted.

Job Oyengo said insults from politicians have become the order of the day and called on Kenyans not to crucify Millie for standing her ground.

"Don't judge Millie Odhiambo she did exactly what Duale, Kuria, Ruto and Uhuru have done before. Let's be realistic and let her be."

"Kenyan ladies should borrow a leaf from Millie Odhiambo, power isn't given on a silver platter you must fight for it," Khaemba Wandabusi said lauding Millie for being strong and bold.

Opposition leader Raila Odinga yesterday said Jubilee wants election laws weakened because "President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto have sensed defeat and panicked."

Raila told the Star in an interview said the opposition's decision to join forces in the National Super Alliance, NASA, against Jubilee has sent shock waves through the ruling party.

"They have sensed defeat and gone into panic mode. That is why they are trying all manner of schemes that will allow them to play games with election results," Raila said.

Yesterday the National Assembly was to debate Jubilee's proposed amendments to the election law — amendments opposed by the opposition, which delayed the special sitting for almost two and a half two hours until noon.

Cord says the existing system is tamper-proof, and Jubilee wants to tamper and rig the polls next year, so it must water down the law.

By 8pm last night, debate on electoral changes had not begun because the opposition raised points of order and other issues were discussed.

Security was tight around Parliament Buildings in anticipation of a fiery debate and disruption. The buildings were blocked off and MPs had to walk a distance to be screened at the entrance.

ANC Leader Musalia Mudavadi has joined forces with Cord and promised a new alliance by February next year. Mudavadi's entry has energised the opposition.

Read: Experts reported 1.2 million dead voters swell the register

Uhuru phones Gideon to stay away from NASA

Kenya cancels Sh2 billion US civic education fund

[VIDEO] Kenyans react to Millie Odhiambo's remarks that Uhuru is 'a fake President'

Yesterday Raila said Jubilee "has realised late in the day the system created by the new laws is tamper-proof".

Jubilee presented Parliament a set of electoral proposals amendments to the law yesterday.

One of the key amendments is that the IEBC be allowed to revert to manual voter identification, tabulation and results handling should the electronic system fail on Election Day, August 8, 2017.

"They know they can not play monkey games with the new system. That is why they want to change. We are telling them Kenyans will not accept any changes," Raila said.

In Parliament MPs were informed the proposed amendments on use of technology in the elections were proposed by the IEBC, which believes the current law and timelines are not adequate or realistic.

Justice and Legal Affairs Committee chairman Samuel Chepkonga said the amendments resulted from a meeting with the IEBC.

"This is not my report but that of the IEBC and the amendments came from the meeting the committee held with the commission," Chepkonga said.

Jubilee legislators argued the reality was that the voter identification devices can fail and another system should be developed in case of this.

However, Cord MPs said Jubilee was plotting to return the country to manual voter identification in a plan to rig the elections.

“Without prejudice to the preceding provisions of this section, the commission shall put in place an alternative and complementary mechanism for identification and transmission of election results that is simple, accurate, verifiable, secure, accountable and transparent," the proposed section 44 (8A) states.

A new subsection, 8B, states that the commission shall use the alternative mechanism referred to in subsection 8A for identification and transmission of election results, only where the technology initially deployed fails.

However, the IEBC will be required to notify the public and all candidates and shall immediately cause the notification to be published in electronic media and in at least two daily newspapers of nationwide circulation, detailing the reasons for using the alternative mechanism.

Some opposition MPs and members of the committee had accused Chepkonga of coming up with the amendments on this own.

Minority Whip Jakoyo Midiwo said,"What Kenyans expect of us is a good and credible election. We in the House Business Committee have not discussed this matter."

"Let us not use the powers given to us by the Constitution and the people of this country to make laws that will drive us to anarchy. This matter has not been brought to the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee," MP Johanna Ngeno said.

Ruaraka MP Tom Kajwang, also a member of JLAC, said there may be merits in the reasons for amendments but House procedures must be followed.

In the morning, Cord MPs delayed and disrupted House business by blocking National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi from accessing the Chambers.

The Cord MPs blocked the entrance,delaying the session for almost two and a half hours.

The opposition legislators were furious over attempts to amend the negotiated elections laws to allow for an alternative voter identification system in 2017 if electronic method fails.

The MPs are also angry because Cord leadership in the House, including minority leader Francis Nyenze, his deputy Jakoyo Midiwo and Whips such as Chris Wamalwa and Thomas Mwadeghu, claimed they were not consulted about Tuesday's sitting.

The Speaker, the Jubilee leadership in the House including Majority Leader Aden Duale, and Cord leadership including Senate Minority leader Moses Wetang'ula convened a meeting to find the way forward.

Cord MPs maintained no amendment can be made to the negotiated elections laws because they were barred from amending the Bills by "even a comma" during the passage in October. The current laws are a result of Jubilee-Cord negotiation and accord.

"We cannot use the backdoor to amend the negotiated laws. Amendments can only be done through negotiation," Makueni MP Dan Maanzo said.

"This needy greedy plot by Jubilee to rig elections in 2017 cannot be allowed," Embakasi South MP Irshad Sumra said.

The opposition says changing the law to allow manual voting will lead to rigging on grounds the "dead" will also vote.

The MPs say they will only accept a kamukunji with the Speaker in Tuesday's sitting but not the scheduled business.

They say it would be illegal to reconvene after the disruption. It was to kick off at 9am as gazetted.

Mbita MP Millie Odhiambo said Jubilee has already sensed defeat and they will not allow President Uhuru to take "us back to Egypt where we came from".

In Kisumu, ODM leader Raila Odinga has accused Jubilee government of coercing opposition MPs to amend the election laws.

Raila said the presence of GSU officers around Parliament Buildings is a form of intimidation to scare legislators into succumbing to what Jubilee wants.

“No amount of intimidation will make us change our mind. Don’t think sending security officers around Parliament will do anything,” Raila said.

The opposition chief said the Joint Select Parliamentary Committee on Electoral reforms, whose mandate was to oversee the making of the new laws, agreed and passed the laws without any amendments. He asked why amendments were being slotted in by Jubilee at the tail end.

Kenya Ports Authority yesterday got temporary relief after the appeals court discharged an order freezing its bank accounts.

However, KPA has to pay Sh51 million within seven days of accessing its bank accounts as down payment of Sh1.9 billion awarded to Modern Holdings.

Justices Martha Koome, GBM Kariuki and Sankale Kantai issued the orders after parties in the case consented to it.

KPA said if forced to pay the entire Sh1.9 billion immediately it will suffer irreparable damage. Being a state corporation, it said, it is constrained by fixed budgetary and financial allocations and as a result, not in a position to pay without prior planning.

The court was further told KPA runs sensitive installations and if forced to part with huge sums of money at once its operations. might be disrupted.

Read:KPA shut down in Mombasa as court freezes its bank accounts

The freeze was imposed on KPA by the High Court in Mombasa. It affected accounts in Citi Bank, Equity and National Bank.

Modern Holdings sued KPA and obtained an order for Sh1.9 billion award. The company, which distributes energy drinks, had brought 21 containers to Mombasa between December 2007 and January 2008, which were detained at the port.

KPA did not clear the consignment within the stipulated time due to the post-election violence.

The Authority, in consultation with the KRA, moved long-stay containers to Makupa private port to ease congestion and allow more cargo to be received at the port.

Modern Holdings said the transfer of its containers to Makupa was illegal. It cleared six containers with waivers from the KRA and KPA, but 15 containers were delayed and their contents worth Sh60 million went bad.

The company asked to be compensated for the loss but instead, Justice Patrick Otieno awarded KPA Sh890 million. It was agreed that the appeal be listed for hearing on priority basis next year.

President Uhuru Kenyatta has sent Mbita MP Millie Odhiambo Christmas greetings and New year best wishes.

The card embossed in gold reminded Millie that Christmas was here again, and provided time to remember and apply shared love of compassion, sharing and communion.

“We share this holiday with all people of all persuasions because what we celebrate are cherished universal human impulses,” the card reads.

The card has the picture of Uhuru and the First Lady Margaret Kenyatta with their signatures.

“Often what we see as our differences are only expressions of problems that can be resolved through a commitment to goodwill, love peace and unity,” states Uhuru.

He concludes by saying, “To you, your family and everyone you love, Happy Christmas and a wonderful new year.”

Uhuru's card comes a day after the Mbita MP insulted him.

Read: [VIDEO] Kenyans react to Millie Odhiambo's remarks that Uhuru is 'a fake President'

Shortly after lawmakers brawled in Parliament, President Uhuru Kenyatta pronounced some MPs "idiots" using the august house to insult him at will.

He did not refer to the MPs from both sides who threw punches — and even used pepper spray — on Tuesday night during a tempestuous session on amending electoral laws. It was aborted and the video feed cancelled so the public could not see the scrimmage.

The same could happen today in two sittings.

Jubilee is pushing for changes, the opposition says weakened laws will be used to rig the election.

The President commented about idiots on Tuesday night, just hours after Mbita MP Millie Odhiambo was caught on camera hurling insults at him.

"On our left is the National Assembly representing democracy, but it has also given some idiots the ability to keep insulting me," Uhuru said as he presided over lighting the KICC for the festive season.

Saying he was not legally elected, Odhiambo told Uhuru to stop harassing Kenyans with heavy-handed security, a cordon and water cannons around Parliament.

"I dedicated this day to telling the President all the negative things. Uhuru should start packing for his journey back to Gatundu as he is extremely stupid and a fake President, as his own backyard is poor," she said.

Yesterday, the President hammered home the insults and idiots issue as he reopened the Volkswagen Kenya production line at Kenya Vehicle Manufacturers factory in Thika.

"They are looking for a wrong person with insults and intimidation. I have no time for confrontations. We will soldier on with our agenda for development because it’s even said frogs’ eyes cannot prevent cows from taking water," Uhuru said.

[VIDEO] Kenyans react to Millie Odhiambo's remarks that Uhuru is 'a fake President'

Uhuru responds to Millie Odhiambo with a Christmas card

We resist the Chepkonga ballot stuffing option

He spoke as the IEBC and the Communication Authority of Kenya met MPs to fine-tune the controversial amendments that turned Parliament into a battleground.

Expect turmoil today in sessions to wrap up business. Neither side has budged.

Uhuru said, "I won't stop nor be discouraged by noise and insults peddled by a few individuals because every market has its own mad man."

The opposition is trying to force a coalition government by sowing doubts and causing divisions and chaos about the election next August, Uhuru said.

"Kenyans are tired of retrogressive politics. Attempts to delay elections to get nusu mkate won't work. We want an election enabling Kenyans to form the government they want and nobody will prevent that," Uhuru said.

He repeated the opposition has no agenda, adding it is best at insulting leaders and relying on intimidation instead of helping Kenyans.

“We are on a mission to revive many industries so our youth can get employment opportunities," Uhuru said "The other day we were in Webuye to open Pan Paper Mills and we will head to Eldoret to open RiverTex Company and many others countrywide," he said.

The President was joined by Thika town MP Alice Ng’ang’a and Kiambu Governor William Kabogo.

“We cannot allow a few people to dictate how things will be done. Kenyans must be given space to peacefully exercise their democratic rights," he said.

Uhuru promised the election will be peaceful, transparent and open. He said the IEBC needs space and resources to oversee the polls.

“We have an independent commission mandated to run elections and it will ensure all Kenyans elect chosen leaders calmly. Elections are for over 40 million, not a few people seeking to advance narrow selfish intentions by trying to cause chaos,” the President said.

Jubilee supports the IEBC request for amendments to allow a manual voting alternative if electronic voter identification and results transmission fail.

Cord says this will allow Jubilee to sneak in easy-to-manipulate manual voter identification and steal the election.

The chaos on Tuesday forced National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi to abruptly adjourn the session.

Sources told the Star Muturi was forced to call two special sessions today after senior Jubilee officials gave him a dressing down over the tumult and failed session. He was criticised for giving the opposition leeway to interrupt and block amendments.

Instead, Muturi extended the session for 55 minutes, in which the opposition raised points of order. The session aborted.

After the violence, Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma urged Muturi to punish Nyeri Town MP Esther Murugi for using pepper spray in his face.

Kaluma told the Star Majority Leader Aden Duale moved time be extended until business was concluded.

"We voted, the Jubilee side had won ... We were chatting with Bahati MP Kimani Ngunjiri as the bell rang," Kaluma said.

He said Murugi and three woman reps — Rachel Shebesh (Nairobi), Wanjiku Muhia (Nyandarua) and Sabina Chege (Muranga) — surrounded Millie Odhiambo who had insulted Uhuru.

Kaluma said, "We removed Millie ... As we chatted and laughed, Murugi sneaked in between and before I noticed,there was a lot of spray directly in my face and my eyes."

Parliament's special sitting on Thursday turned chaotic after Cord MPs walked out while Jubilee's passed contentious election laws.

The legislators were expected to make major changes to the use of technology in the general election, at the session called by National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi on Tuesday.

Wetangula, who is a co-principal of the opposition's Cord coalition, walked out of the chambers claiming some Jubilee legislators were armed and ready to attack them.

"We have information that some Jubilee MPs came into the chambers carrying guns; this is against House standing orders. For their own security, MPs decided to leave the chambers," he said.

Wetang'ula further told the media that the legislators left citing abuse of power by their Jubilee counterparts and the Speaker.

"Jubilee MPs did not come to debate and it is very sad that our members were attacked on Tuesday night yet no action has been taken," he said.

Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo said Muturi abused his powers on Tuesday when he called today's special sitting to discuss amendments to elections laws.

"The Speaker has outrightly abused his powers because he is only allowed to call a special session when something is urgent and related to a state of emergency, appointment to commissioners and impeachment of a president, his deputy or declaring war yet non of these are before us," he said.

He added: "We have information that Jubilee MPs were instructed to use the most lethal and unreasonable approaches to ensure the amendments pass but what they are doing will haunt them for a very long time because it is affecting the lives of Kenyans."

The Cord MPs further criticised the move by the government to deploy police officers outside Parliament buildings saying they were harassing journalists, even inside the premises.

"It is very sad that the security officers resorted to harassing the media. I am told one journalist has been arrested and a video he had recorded deleted before he was released. This is absurd," he said.

Read: Police seals off Parliament again ahead of today's special sitting

The MPs seek to change the law to give room for the IEBC to use other means of identification of voters and transmission of results where technology fails.

The issue has already pitted President Uhuru Kenyatta's Jubilee Party against the Opposition led by Raila Odinga.

[VIDEO] Parliament buildings blockaded by police, MPs forced to walk ahead of IEBC sitting

Among the laws the MPs passed was a proposal by Majority leader Aden Duale for MCA candidates to have a minimum of a degree by 2022.

Ainabkoi MP Samuel Chpkonga had proposed that the IEBC finds an alternative mechanism for identification and transmission of election resurrects in the event of technological failure.

He had also proposed that all independent candidates submit names and photos they intend to use in the elections just like those who will be vying under different parties.

The MPs also passed a law concerning Election Campaign Financing Act 2013. They sought to reduce the time by which persons ought to have opened mandatory bank accounts and registererd with the commission for the purpose of campaign financing.

The period had been set as eight months.

The IEBC selection panel has nominated High Court advocate Tukero ole Kina and Wafula Chebukati for chairman and nine others as commissioners.

The commissioner nominees include Zephania Okeyo Aura, Roselyne Kwamboka Akombe, Professor Abdi Yakub Guliye and Professor Henry Kizito Okola.

The others include Samuel Kimeu, Ambassador Dr Paul Kibiwott Kurgat, Boya Molu, Consolata Nkatha Bucha Maina and Margaret Wanjala Mwachanya

The nominees now await vetting by Parliament before their names are presented to President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Selection panel chairperson Bernadette Musundi said the process was guided by commitment to ensuring free, fair and transparent selection.

Musundi said the candidates were assessed for academic and professional qualifications, leadership and integrity, ICT and presentation skills, general knowledge and technical proficiency and competencies.

She said the most suitable people were picked from a list of 15 who applied for chairperson and 748 who applied for the positions of commissioners.

Musundi said the panel also took into account the reports of the various agencies, memoranda received on some of the applicants and their responses to the two.

She said Kina and Chebukati were chosen as they demonstrated the ability to run the IEBC and ensure a credible August 8, 2017 general election.

Musundi praised the panel for dedication and a speedy yet professional process. Other members are Evans Monari, Mary Karen, Tom Mbaluto, Olga Chepkemoi, Peter Karanja, Abdulghafur el-Busaidy, David Oginde and Mohan Lumba.

The chairperson also thanked the Parliamentary Service Commission for providing facilities and ensuring a conducive working environment.

The select committee re-advertised the posts after the first five applicants failed to meet the requirements.

Read: IEBC chair Interviews: I will enforce 2/3 gender rule at party level, IEBC chair candidate Lucas Naikuni says

Also read: Eyes on selection panel as interviews for IEBC chair start on Monday

ODM leader Raila Odinga has castigated the Jubilee government for planning to reprimand Mbita MP Millie Odhiambo for insulting the President.

Millie asked President Uhuru Kenyatta to stop harassing Kenyans by barring MPs from accessing Parliament for a special sitting on Tuesday.

She further alleged that the President rigged the 2013 general election and was therefore not elected.

More on this: [VIDEO] Kenyans react to Millie Odhiambo's remarks that Uhuru is 'a fake President'

But Raila defended the MP saying she was motivated by the protection of the people's rights and should not be punished.

He also noted that Uhuru called him a "mad man" during his tour of former Central Province two weeks ago but that he did not take any action.

“They should not get indignant when they are corrected since they also hurl insults but no action is taken against them. Millie was fighting for the rights of Kenyans,” he said.

Regarding the election laws, the opposition leader told a rally at Homa Bay High school on Wednesday that changes will not be permitted.

He said the recent by-elections have shown that the electronic voter identification system can operate without hitches.

“The by-elections were conducted (by digital systems) in areas considered remote. We can use satellite to avert the electoral malpractices Jubilee is trying to avoid," he said.

Raila said there will be no general election next August if Parliament amends the laws to pave way for manual voter identification.

“We understand what the manual process entails and cannot allow ourselves to go back to it. That’s why people like Millie are out to save this save country,” he said.

Members of the Minji Minji na UhuRuto women's group during a demonstration in Kiambu county against Mbita MP Millie Odhiambo, whom they said should apologise for insulting President Uhuru Kenyatta, December 21, 2016. /STANLEY NJENGA

Read more: Cord MPs walk out of special sitting as Jubilee's pass contentious election laws

MPs John Mbadi (Suba) and Gladys Wanga (Homa Bay woman representative) pledged to block any amendment tot he laws.

“We will not sit back and watch while the Jubilee administration brings contravening bills to Parliament. In that I’m ready to be associated with my sister Millie,” said Mbadi, who is the party's national chairman.

Wanga told off Gatundu MP Moses Kuria for "disrespecting" women. She said Jubilee was ready to take action against those who criticise yet has done little to reprimand the corrupt.

“We don’t want double speech. Jubilee leaders cannot tell us that they are looking for Millie yet no action has been taken against those smeared with NYS scandals,” she said.

Read: Moses Kuria threatens to assault Millie Odhiambo with broken bottle for insulting Uhuru

Members of the Minji Minji na UhuRuto women's group during a demonstration in Kiambu county against Mbita MP Millie Odhiambo, whom they said should apologise for insulting President Uhuru Kenyatta, December 21, 2016. /STANLEY NJENGA

Kiambu's UhuRuto women's group condemns Millie

A women's group demonstrated in Kiambu town on Wednesday saying they were angered by Millie's remarks against the President.

The group named 'Minji Minji na UhuRuto' warned the MP against insulting Uhuru, saying this had become the norm yet she has never been punished.

Leader Margaret Waithera demanded an apology by the legislator saying they would take matters into their own hands if she did not.

"The MP has insulted the President before yet no action was taken against her. We say as women that enough is enough and warn her [against the habit],"said their

Ngewa MCA Karungo Wa Thangwa said National Cohesion and Integration commission chairman Francis ole Kaparo should take action against Millie.

"The President is the symbol of unity in this country. Attacking him with insults is a sign of ignorance and inciting Kenyans against each other," said Thangwa.

Local leader Anthony Ikonya said members of the public will retaliate once the opposition starts inciting them by insulting leaders in Jubilee.

"Leaders should be careful about what they utter in public. The country should never again go back to violence due to political differences," he said.

Opposition protesters plan to pour into the streets in mass action starting January 4 to protest what they call Jubilee's "legal coup".

Yesterday Jubilee lawmakers passed amendments that Cord says weaken electoral laws and enable rigging and election theft.

Cord leaders Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka yesterday said the demonstrations would be peaceful but more intense than their weeks of anti-IEBC protests in May. At least six people were killed.

Cord had stormed out of Parliament yesterday as Jubilee with its 'tyranny of numbers' passed the contentious amended electoral laws. Notably, they allow a manual backup if electronic voter registration, identification and transmission systems fail on August 8, 2017. Cord says this is a recipe for rigging

Raila and Kalonzo said they had not choice but to return to the streets.

The opposition announced the protests hours after Jubilee locked journalists out of Parliament chambers, pulled the plug on the live video feed and deployed massive security around Parliament Buildings.

As happened on Tuesday night, some MPs exchanged blows and insults. Jubilee MPs dragged opposition lawmakers away. Some ended up with bloodied faces.

Cord MPs Gladys Wanga (Homa Bay), Irshad Sumra (Embakasi South) and James Nyikal (Seme) were among those saying they had been assaulted by Jubilee lawmakers. They appeared at the Cord press conference.

Tigania East MP Mpuru Aburi left the chamber with a bloody facial wound. He claimed he was assaulted by deputy minority leader Jakoyo Midiwo.

Both Sumra and Wanga said they had been assaulted by Aburi.

"So today I arrive in Parliament and Jubilee have instructions to break my neck. As I find my place, Mpuru Aburi calls me names, spits on my face and begins to rain blows on my chest and all over. Jubilee is desperate but we want them to know that we will not be cowed or intimidated," Wanga said.

After Cord MPs left, the amendments, also recommended by the IEBC, were passed without debate in 10 minutes.

"No one should blame us," Wiper chief Musyoka said.

Opposition MPs led by Midiwo and Senate minority leader Moses Wetang’ula told journalists at Parliament buildings that some Jubilee MPs unlawfully took weapons into the chamber.

“I don’t think Jubilee came to debate. We decided to walk out because I was informed by a friend from the Jubilee side that guns were being aimed at us. For us, we don't have guns, we have brains,” Midiwo said.

Jubilant Jubilee MPs celebrated their victory and dismissed allegations they were armed.

“These are just claims, just as I can say Cord MPs were carrying grenades in chambers. Can you believe this?" nominated MP Johnson Sakaja asked.

"No one should blame us," Wiper leader Musyoka said.

Midiwo, also Gem MP, claimed Speaker Justin Muturi was biased and abused his powers by making rulings stopping members from debating, just to pass the amendments.

He questioned the legality of the reconvened Special session on grounds Muturi on Tuesday evening had already adjourned the House until January 24.

“The Speaker has abused his powers by calling for this special session. Parliament is guided by Standing Orders. He is allowed to call a special sitting only on specific issues and specified instances that are very grave and urgent,” he said.

He said these are state of emergency, declaration of war, appointments of commissioners to a government body and impeachment of a President and DP.

Midiwo said Cord will benefit greatly at the polls from Jubilee's undemocratic actions.

“What is happening today is illegal, abuse of power and we will not accept as Cord. This is giving us the electorate and we are happy,” he said.

GSU officers were stationed at the intersections of Uhuru Highway and Parliament Road, and that of City Hall Way, Parliament Road and Harambee Avenue.

The battle now moves from the National Assembly to the Senate, which will consider the same amendments, probably next week.

“Interior CS Joseph Nkaissery must buy more tear gas, more poisoned water and let’s meet on the street. You can kill some people, you cannot kill all Kenyans," Wetang'ula, the Senate minority leader, said.

The Jubilee Parliamentary leadership was summoned to State House immediately amendments were passed to discuss how to deal with Cord in the Senate.

Deputy President William Ruto on Wednesday night said former Devolution CS Anne Waiguru was fired over the theft of Sh791 million at the National Youth Service.

She did not resign for medical reasons, as she claimed, Ruto said in an interview on Citizen TV.

The amount of the theft has since been placed at about Sh1.6 billion.

The DP said Waiguru was sacked from the Cabinet, when it was discovered she was involved in the scandal.

“Waiguru was running the programme when it was discovered she had something to do with the mess and the theft. We are very clear, we work with people and when it comes to our knowledge they are not implementing the programme we sent them to implement, we remove them. We take action. We prosecute them. That’s what we have done,” Ruto said.

Waiguru says she is innocent, she was the whistle-blower preventingmore theft. She says she is the victim of cartels and people in high office.

In November last year, she announced she had stepped aside on doctor’s orders. She said the war on corruption had been turned into a war against her and her family.

She is expected to run for Kirinyaga governor against Martha Karua.

Asked whether Waiguru should take responsibility for corruption, Ruto said investigative agencies should be allowed to probe her.

He said he was upset when Waiguru alleged people in high office were trying to influence investigations.

“The institutions charged with investigations should deal with that ... She was in charge that time,” Ruto said. “I was against her trying to insinuate we were trying to influence investigations.”

He denied defending Waiguru and later turning against her, saying he only defended NYS. “I defended the NYS programme and will defend it today, because it is good and helped transform thousands of young people ...[it] will take in 30,000 young people, up from 20,000 every year.”

The DP said he is bothered his personal assistant Farouk Kibet was linked to the NYS theft, promising to fire him if allegations are proved.

He said he does not know NYS scandal suspect Ben Gethi.

“I have said when it comes to public money, we have a clear line,” the DP said.

In 2013 shortly after the election of Uhuru Kenyatta, retired President Daniel Moi reportedly told the Kalenjin people that if they had listened to him in 2002, it would have been their turn at the presidency. To him, they had wasted a good decade in defiance after they rejected his choice of Uhuru Kenyatta and had paid for it dearly when Kibaki became president. While it sounded like Moi was having the last laugh, others were left wondering what exactly he was saying. What he didn’t tell those listening was which Kalenjin would have been president in 2012 had Uhuru had become president in 2002. You can be certain he did not have William Ruto in mind. You would be right to suspect that he probably had his son Gideon in mind. Moi’s hold on the vote rich Rift Valley would have ensured this arrangement would have been done and dusted.

Until his retirement in 2002, President Moi held great sway over the Rift Valley, a block he had represented since his Legco days in 1955. In 1963 he was elected as the President of the Rift Valley Regional Assembly further giving him a firm grip over the region.

The King-making block

Today the Rift is the single largest vote bloc in Kenya. In the last voter records, it is home to 3.7 million votes, a figure that is set to rise to over four million in the next few months. As per the last census, there are a total of ten million Kenyans living in the Rift Valley accounting for a fourth of Kenya’s population. It has 14 counties with Nakuru as the most populous at 1.6 million residents.

The death of pastoralism among the Kalenjin has seen their population greatly swell and is projected to be the second largest community in the next few years and the largest by 2040. As the single largest vote bloc, whoever has the heart of the Rift Valley has the Presidency. It is as simple as that. The disclaimer however is that it is generally also a divided block with each sub-region tending to vote its own way. This may account for about 25 to 35 per cent of the Rift votes and tend to exist in the fringes (extreme north and south as well as portions of the Western Rift). However, the bulk is likely to vote Jubilee because the Kalenjins and the Kikuyu form the largest part of the voting numbers and they have two principals within the Jubilee line-up.

Understanding the Rift Valley

After the abolishing of the administrative provinces, the Rift Valley today exists more in the minds of the people that once lived within its geographical boundaries. It has since morphed into a ‘psycho-political’ bloc meaning that the politics of the region are defined through the associative characteristics of the old Rift Valley as it was understood in the 70 years that the province existed. The Rift Valley was a mammoth province created to put together three main pastoralist communities – the Turkana, Kalenjins and Maasai into one fold. It was also home to the bulk of the settler community who occupied its choicest lands particularly in the highlands.

The province was nearly evenly divided between these communities which tended to hold onto the pre-capitalist mode of production (livestock, pastureland, watering points, salt-licks, un-monetized markets among others). Access to these was largely dictated by weather patterns that saw them engage in itinerant pastoralism for the thriving of their livestock. It was therefore not surprising that the Rift Valley became the home of the drive to create ‘Majimbo’ or a federal state to preserve the resources that supported their ancient ways. They were deeply wary of incursions and forays by foreigners and non-indigenous people. Over the years however, the people of the Rift Valley began to appreciate the resources they had and began to adopt the modern economy although the vestiges of the old ways remain hard to crack to this day.

The livestock economy in the Rift Valley today is a major driver of intra-regional conflict pitting various communities against each other. The Rift Valley therefore needed a resource nationalist to hold them together. Moi at first positioned himself as a resource nationalist even reportedly willing to delay independence to give time to his people to catch up with the rest particularly in education. When he was appointed Vice President, he slowly withdrew himself as a resource nationalist and the vacuum that was created saw the rise of the likes of Jean-Marie Seroney, William Murgor, Dr. Taaita Toweett, William Morogo Saina, Chelagat Mutai, William ole Ntimama trying to protect the ancient heritage of their people. They tried to prevent incursions by other communities into the Rift but largely failed. Today the Rift Valley is home to every community in Kenya but the core is still largely around the original three – Kalenjin, Maasai/Samburu and Turkana. Today, the Rift Valley is poised to be a great oil & gas producing region.

The Battle for the Rift Valley

For a while now, former President Moi has tried to recapture his hold on the Rift Valley but has largely failed. And so has his son Gideon Moi. It is clear that indeed William Ruto has a far too powerful influence over the Rift Valley and he is not about to let go. Back in 2007, Raila managed to rally the Rift to vote for him in what Kibaki’s strategists had dismissed as impossible. It turned out that his friendship with Ruto paid handsomely and so he won the Rift Valley - but not the presidency. The Rift Valley became the epicentre of the post-poll violence that arose and the international intervention saw Raila Odinga become Prime Minister. In a way, the Rift Valley had made him and then he began to turn his back on the region. His mistake was to allow personal differences with William Ruto to turn political. He tried to fire Ruto who had become a cabinet minister in his side of the Coalition Government. It failed and instead augmented their differences. In the run-up to the 2013 poll Raila his strategy in the Rift was largely flopping. He suffered the humiliation of being associated with the drive to jail William Ruto and Uhuru Kenyatta in the ICC. Even after they were acquitted, he did not seem quite happy about the development which instead portrayed him as having hoped that they would be jailed to get a smooth path to the presidency.

The rise of Ruto as Rift Valley Supremo

In the vacuum that arose from Moi’s retirement in 2002, William Ruto was suddenly thrust into the front seat in Rift politics. Many still remember him standing next to the defeated Uhuru in 2002 as the latter read the sombre speech conceding defeat. It was as if fate had destined them to stand with each other. And so it would be that a decade later, the duo found themselves on the same political path and thanks to a special set of circumstances, they ended up in State House. The restless man that he was (is), Ruto walked out of the Kanu and joined up with Raila Odinga in the run-up to the 2005 Constitutional referendum.

It is therefore true that in many ways, it was Raila Odinga who made Ruto. Raila needed a points-man in the Rift Valley to represent the onslaught against the Wako draft. Ruto was that man. Ruto rallied the Rift Valley against the Wako draft and two years later he was very instrumental in leading the Rift Valley to back Odinga in 2007. After the fallout in the months that followed the formation of the Coalition government, Ruto swam the waters against the tide falling out with Raila on various matters. He proved to be his own man in 2010 when he led the ‘No’ campaign in that year’s Constitutional referendum. His side lost but he had succeeded in garnering a respectable 30 percent of the vote which was spread evenly across the nation.

Why Raila is failing in the Rift Valley

After the region failed to back him in 2013, Raila Odinga has tried to make some considerable forays into the Rift Valley. He is currently a favourite among the Maasai, Turkana and portions of the Western Rift. The most populous group – the Kalenjins are now at odds with him. He has reached out to Isaac Rutto who recently launched his own party – Chama Cha Mashinani with which he intends to defend his gubernatorial seat. However, as things stand on the ground, Rutto may be personally popular but it is very unlikely that he will direct any presidential votes to Raila Odinga. As Chama Cha Mashinani has no presidential candidate, Rutto will definitely need to support Uhuruto if he is to survive. It will be suicidal for CCM to openly support or campaign for Raila Odinga.

Raila has also met and discussed the up-coming Itare dam project with the Kipsigis saying it is likely to destroy the Tea industry. Without complete facts and little or no experience in such environmental matters, the Kipsigis have quickly realized that it may just be political posturing aimed at boosting his presidential chances. He is unlikely to gain much from hyping his opposition to the dam.

Raila hyping up Jubilee corruption is also hurting his chances with the Kalenjins. While it is true that the Jubilee’s record in fighting corruption is at best dismal, corruption perceptions among the people are quite varied. In fact it may just be like the ICC in which the people voted for Uhuruto if only to save them from the ICC. They may still vote for Uhuruto again to save them from Raila.

More importantly Raila has refused to address the real concerns of the Kalenjin people – the high costs of farming inputs (seeds and fertilizer), poor and unregulated market prices of agricultural products, farmers lacking cushioning from erratic weather patterns, poor infrastructure among others. He recently brought up the issue of the ICC to attack Uhuruto which has only further dampened any hopes of a comeback in the Rift. The ICC issue is still a fresh wound among the Kalenjin as it seemed an indictment over the entire community (three of the Ocampo six were Kalenjins). The ICC should have no role in Cord rhetoric at all. Overall, it hurt that party more than they care to admit.

There are leaders who stood by Odinga in the Rift Valley and paid a great political price for it. Some of these include Henry Kosgey, Sally Kosgey, Magerer Lang’at and Franklin Bett. Although some have since decamped mainly to Jubilee, Raila should have maintained at least one or two of them for the sake of the party’s name in the region. The last to leave was Magerer Lang’at who was humiliatingly hounded out of office following accusations that he was a Jubilee mole within ODM. After the senatorial by-elections in which Magerer was defeated, Raila should have reached out to him and rehabilitated him. As it stands, Raila still has no major points-man among the Kalenjin and that should worry him.

Working with Gideon Moi

The formation of NASA as an omnibus political body, may just serve to help bring on board several political parties that are not fielding presidential candidates. One of those Nasa has considered working with is Kanu under Chairman Gideon Moi. The party however, is greatly divided about being in Nasa and the President reportedly asked Gideon Moi to stay away from it. In fact Kanu is something of a ‘loyal opposition’ party. Raila must reach out to Gideon Moi exploiting the personal differences he has with William Ruto. He must find space for him in their power sharing arrangement. There are Jubilee plenty of rebels that he can reach out to particularly as the party nominations are getting messier. William Ruto on the other hand has treated his own rebels within Jubilee with kid gloves and has been unwilling to let them go. Alfred Keter for instance remains in Jubilee despite his acerbic rhetoric against it. This has marked out the differences between Raila’s leadership style and Ruto’s. Ruto realizes that he needs everyone going to 2017 and is still working with his worst critics. In fact he has even ceased to publicly criticize or ridicule Gideon Moi and that might ensure he continues to politics of the region.