Photo:US Ambassador Godec and his counterpart, Western envoys suppors Jubilee regime.
Via Cde D.
The Mau Conservation issue was bad politics then and those who pushed it should be reminded about it now.
Advisers of Raila Odinga are very learned people but where I never understand them is how they organize the PM’s ‘talking points’ diary.
Right now, in every church, in every rally, in every gathering; it should be our turn to REVISIT the Mau and environmental conservation generally.
Raila Odinga fought environmental degradation alone, facing up against the cheap politics of Mwai Kibaki succession.
It always amazes me that Mwai Kibaki today passes around as some water ambassador. Which water? Tap water?
At the height of environmental wars Raila was waging against Rift Valley and Central Kenya politicians who had then started caucusing together, Kibaki kept quiet. He shamelessly did!
By not boldly coming out as head of state, who had rigged himself in to take care of Kenya, he empowered his acolytes to damage Kenya’s nature.
He never joined the environmental conservation war. This should be clear. Kenyan children should grow knowing he never supported Environmental conservation. Selfish old Mzee didn’t!
As President he never supported PM Odinga, choosing to play cheap succession politics Ruto, Uhuru and their footsoldiers were then playing.
Mau Forest conservation had three components.
First was to stop logging immediately. Second was removal of people who had encroached the forest to pave way for a reforestation programme. Third was compensation for those evicted, who genuinely had claim to the forest, either through title deeds or cultural stakes.
Uhuru Kenyatta was then Finance Minister.
Cabinet would sit and allocate the money for resettlement. Same cabinet would give the start date for removal of those who had settled in the forest, Treasury having given the assurance that money for resettlement would be availed.
Uhuru and Ruto would then rush to Rift Valley and tell the people they had allocated billions for their resettlement, which they added should be done ‘humanely’.
Problem is: Treasury would deliberately refuse to release the monies, or delay the release. At the same time, Ministry of Internal Security would move with speed and destroy the houses and structures people lived in, claiming the order came from OPM.
As Treasury delayed releasing funds for compensation and resettlement; same Treasury would quickly allocate and release funds to Ministry of Special Programmes (then under Naomi Shabaan -KANU/PNU) to distribute to “those removed by Raila”, so as to “alleviate the suffering of those Raila is evicting from the Mau”.
This group was assisted by a totally partisan mainstream press that hid the details, played first and loose with the facts or just chose to disseminate what what the highest bidder wanted it to.
And when it comes to corrupting the press no one beats Uhuru and Ruto and government machinery!
Kenyans watched it unfold right in their faces. Kibaki kept quiet as these shenanigans played not just within the executive but also in parliament, where Rift Valley MPs used Prime Minister’s Question Time to make very wild public spectacle regarding the Mau.
What was a conservation issue became a hot political issue.
Raila lost it, and Kenya lost.
Today, let it be known Raila Odinga meant well for homeland, as he has always, even if he loses.
Kenya is dry.
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