GEMA ABROAD LAUNCHED!

500 Kenyans from GEMA community in the UK met on Wednesday 23rd January, 2008 in London and agreed in one voice: "WE ARE IN A SERIOUS SITUATION". The members expressed their concerns that the GEMA community in Kenya is being persecuted and the persecutors are getting away with these evil acts. "We are officially expressing our concern that members of our community are being targeted for genocide. Were also very sad as one of our brother here lost five members of his family in the last one week." one member stated. "It is mostly GEMA people who have been targeted and now we are launching "GEMA ABROAD".

They posed a big question to President Mwai Kibaki and they asked the media to communicate to the president: "WHAT ARE YOU DOING WHEN OUR PEOPLE ARE BEING SLAUGHTERED LIKE CHICKEN." "We were beaten during Moi era and now we are beaten during Kibaki's era. Our patience is over now and we are getting impatient." the group explained. "It is our property being destroyed, its our men, women and children who are being killed - our hearts are crying while abroad. We cannot hold any longer and we have to help our people back home." the group agreed. "How can one say there will be peace when Raila Odinga has explained loud and clear that Kisii community should not be killed but did not condemn the killing of other communities. What is the Kenyan government doing about this statement." the group asked.

They agreed that all GEMA community in the UK and Ireland will count themselves and everyone will have to have a number. Every man or woman over the age of 18 years will register with at least £50 and above. A committee of 12 people were nominated to be the interim committee with an additional 10 members from other UK cities with one member from Oxford, Northampton, Reading, Bristol, Nottingham, Scotland, Manchester, Coventry and Luton to make a total of 22 members. Everyone on meeting registered themselves and they were all given membership number and the will start executing their work immediately. They agreed to involve GEMA communities in USA and in other parts of the world so that we can help our community whom has become the target of the recent mass killings. Everyone should register as a member immediately because back home people are in a serious problem. The UK committee is co-ordinating with the Kenyan committee to see that the funds will not be misused. The group explained that if you don't join and register at this crucial time you are of no use to the community. The membership is to help monitor the progress of the registration and to know who is who. To register you need to text or ring the following number where you will be advised what to do. When you text you will be texted back your membership number. You will use your membership as a reference when paying for your membership. The number is 07518891930. GEMA ABROAD is registered as a community organisation in the UK.

Everyone entering the meeting had to communicate with the community language before being allowed into the meeting. The meeting became emotional when one of the members in the meeting from Molo area phone home and he put his mobile on loud speaker and you could hear the crying man back home explaining that large part of Molo was on flames. He explained that Mau Summit town has been burnt. Several members called their home area at the meeting and hundreds of houses has been burnt at Mau Summit, Molo, Njoro, Elburgon, Kipkerion, Londiani and Tomboroa which have become no gone zone, as have Subukia, Narok, Nyahururu and Eldoret. As the meeting went on a member was called from Kenya by his brotherand was told that a school in a place called Karandi in Molo is on fire. The group went wild when one member suggested that "ODM groups in Kenya are paying KShs. 200 for every GEMA member killed in the field". It was revealed at the meeting that this is the beginning of a series of meetings till peace prevails in Kenya. Most members hold the view that the atrocities commited were pre-arranged for a long time behind the scene.

A big demonstration in support of the President Kibaki and protesting against the Western Media has been arranged on Saturday 2nd February 2008. People who are expected in large numbers will be assembling outside Kenya Embassy, 45 Portland Place, W1B 1AS at 10.00 a.m. where the procession will proceed to 10 Down Street - the Prime Minister's house to present their memorandum in support of Kibaki and explaining that we cannot allow some selfish people to destroy our country Kenya.

Another urgent meeting was arranged for Saturday 26th January, 2008 in London at Memorial Baptist Hall, 395 Barking Road, London E13 opposite Plaistow Police Station as from 5.00 p.m. Those who will not be available on Saturday can join a similar meeting at 185 Hermon Hill Road, London E18 1QQ on Sunday 27th January, 2008 as from 6.00 p.m. For information you can contact 07931106692

Source: http://sylkwan.blogspot.com/2008/01/serious-hatred.html#links

Comments from KDPM:

Many people have been emailig us asking how they can join KDPM. It is very easy. Just write to:
The Secretary- KDPM:
Email: kdpm2000@gmail.com

KDPM is taking every precaution so as not to involve itself in any activity that will jeorpardise the peace initiatives being undertaken in Kenya. However, we also want to be pro-active by pre-empting potential catastrophies and assisting the needy in their hour of need. Thus if anyone is interested in touching the lives of Kenyans in any way or another, please get in touch with us and we will give you details of how you can do this.

Thanks,

S. Rogers

Secretary-KPDM

Lessons we could learn from Australia!

I followed the 2007 Australian Federal Elections with a lot of interest. Firstly, because our country Kenya would be treading the same path in December 2007, just one month after the Australian elections and Secondly, The two elections had a few similarities which I would like outline.

The Howard government, facing a stiff challenge from the opposition Labour Party had built its campaign mainly on strong economic growth among other things. That sounded very similar to President’s Kibaki’s Party of National Unity campaign which was based on strong economic growth the country had experienced since his taking up power in 2002. Kevin Rudd and the Labour Party on the other hand persuaded the Australian electorates that they needed new leadership and his party also tackled more significant issues like Climate change that were held dearly by the Australian People, and issues more Australian’s felt were not tackled adequately by the Howard Government.

Back home, the opposition’s main selling points were new leadership and taking the corruption bull by its horns. Kibaki like the former Australian Prime Minister John Howard, had built a stronger Kenya and like In Australia, many Kenyans felt corruption was still an issue that had not been tackled significantly by the government; sadly this is where most of the similarities ended.

I watched John Howard’s conceding speech to party supporters with teary eyes. One, because I strongly admired his leadership and two because he ultimately decided to have the interests of Australia ride higher than his party’s or other personal interests, and in a way, I was looking forward to seeing a similar mature handing over of power, just to show the world that mature democracies were also found in Africa.

In his speech, Mr. Howard truly bequeathed his successor a "stronger and prouder and more prosperous" country than it was 11 years ago when he came to power. I recalled watching former President Moi’s speech when he was handing over to Kibaki and realized he could not utter such words to describe the state of the country. Then I thought maybe Kibaki could be bold enough to use such words since “he would leave a stronger, prouder and a more prosperous Kenya” than what he took over from Moi.

With the current state of affairs, assuming Kibaki stays to finish is five year term, what will he leave behind. If things don’t change, it will be a country divided among ethnic lines, a poorer reputation in the world, probably a weaker economy and a much wealthier clique of close selfish ‘friends’ among other things. When he retires he would wish someone turned the hands of time; probably that’s how retired President Moi is feeling; Right now he does not have the face to stand out and even call for Peace, if he had remained neutral, with his experience he would be mediating and visiting all parts of the country to advocate for peace. If Moi had taken time to ponder over Ruto’s advice of not being used to run petty PNU errands.

Then there was this passionate appeal to president Kibaki by 13 year old Terry Aching. The girl’s letter shows so much wisdom that if followed by our political leaders, we would not need high profile international mediators. The wisdom is plain simple; “could we please have the country’s future at heart”. Terry’s letter may not receive much attention though it has gone far and we are reading it around the world. If you grew up in the Nyayo era like me, then you would remember how it was official that the president loved children, Moi’s image did not show a lot of family but the strategist who worked on the children thing did a splendid job. We all knew the president loved children and if you were lucky enough to have enjoyed the free school milk, and then you would know what I’m talking about. Children don’t vote, perhaps that’s why the new strategists have never bothered to make build the Love Kids image.

This is Terry’s letter published in the online version of The Daily Nation of 21 January 2007.

Please talk to Opposition

Publication Date: 1/22/2008

Dear Mr. President,

I am a 13-year-old who has hopes and dreams of how the future Kenya should be like.

Like other youngsters in the country, I am amazed at how you and your fellow colleagues have handled the current situation.

Pride and selfish ambitions have come in the way of what would be the pride of Africa, the oasis of peace or even the next super power.

At the moment, you are old enough to be my great grand father and you already have achieved your dreams. I mean, you have been the President of Kenya for a whole term, but for me, I pray and yearn for a bright future. If the current situation is not resolved peacefully, it is me who will suffer the consequences.

I am calling upon you the President to dialogue with the Opposition for a solution.

TERRY ACHIENG’,

Nairobi.

Most probably in Response to Terry’s letter the President formed a high level committee chaired by the Vice President to LEAD the government in negotiations. I wonder what must be very pressing at statehouse that the president cannot lead the government in negotiations aimed at removing the country from the current crises. Over 600 people dead and thousands displaced from their homes. I think this is more important than reading speeches at Nyayo Stadium during the national celebrations.

In the good old times when Kibaki led the nations, the president had to cut short an official trip to Sudan in 2006 when a building collapsed in Nairobi. The President flew back to Nairobi and according to press reports, he did not even go to the statehouse to refresh, he drove directly to the scene. Who bewitched this man? He doesn’t care anymore or maybe he’s never cared at all.

David Okunyah
AUSTRALIA
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