About Sh72 billion of taxpayers’ money is stashed in several bank accounts in Switzerland.
The money was looted by some of our trusted sons and daughters, who we diligently elected to positions of influence so that they can safeguard our resources.
Switzerland is not happy that these crafty Kenyans, some who we still worship and have become demigods, have used the country to hide the ill-gotten wealth.
Swiss officials want the money returned to Kenya as soon as possible. They have handed dossiers, mainly from Anglo-leasing and Goldenberg scandals to the Government. The files have been forwarded to Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, Attorney General Githu Muigai, among others authorities.
Githu, with the help of the World Bank, has promised to recover the loot hidden in Switzerland, Japan and New Jersey before the end of this year. PointBlank would like to remind the AG that his word is his bond. Come December, Kenyans will expect to hear that the looted cash has been recovered and that the money will be used to fund elections, Free Primary Education and upgrade slums.
Fan wants date with Gor, not love SMS
There is no team, PointBlank is certain about this, which has staunch supporters like Gor Mahia FC. The club’s fans go at great lengths to support their team.
They buy merchandise and follow the club wherever it goes to play. So, when Gor recently launched an SMS service, 5282 to keep in touch with its fans, many subscribed to it. Among them was Emmanuel Oyier, a doctor in Awendo, Migori County.
Oyier, however, feels shortchanged by the team. “I had hoped to receive daily updates about my favorite team, as they had promised, but all I got were love messages,” he recounts.
Oyier says he was receiving two messages everyday, which cost Sh10 each. “Even when the league was on summer recess, I thought there were no updates from my team, but the messages kept on coming,” he notes.
Being a patient person, Oyier waited for the league to resume hoping the love messages will stop, but he got a rude shock. Finally, he unsubscribed from the service and now demands answers from Gor. “If they do not give me a proper response, I will start supporting Sony Sugar FC,” he threatens.
How will IEBC overcome this headache?
He is not a pessimist, but advocate Gachiengo Gitau believes the Elections Act N0.24 of 2011, clause 26 (1) will be the hardest to police as the country heads to elections. The section bars politicians from fundraising eight months before elections. Those who disobey the law risk being disqualified.
“I do not know what policing mechanisms are there to ensure the law is followed? And who will make sure politicians stick to the rule?” he wonders.
If it is Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), Gitau believes, the institution has a magnanimous task since politicians will devise schemes to beat the law. “What will stop a church from organising a fundraiser and then inviting politicians as ordinary worshipers,” he notes.
The politicians will raise the funds, Gitau tells PointBlank, which the pastor will announce as part of the day’s offertory. “The last time I checked, it was a constitutional right to worship, therefore, while this will be a fundraising, the politician would have circumvented the law,” he says.
But the only thing that may save us is that most politicians have inflated egos, which do not allow them to hold such events without journalists being around. So the public and IEBC will get to know, observes Gitau.
