Has objectivity departed Muluka?

Barrack Muluka’s article ‘Mudavadi has right for self determination but must uphold law, resign as DPM, MP’ (The Standard, May 5) was largely vindictive and presumptuous.

Muluka’s affirmation that Musalia is a “State House project” was inaccurate no wonder he could not disclose an iota of tangible evidence to substantiate his half-baked claim. Virtually, all his assertions in the article were fallacious and unfounded and it appears from his article he is another intellectual tool playing the politics of reciprocity to the “master” after being hired.

In his article, Muluka appears to suggest the DPM is a coward who cannot win election on his own and he is bound to terribly crush badly, citing the 2002 case. I doubt if Muluka objectively considered 2002 Narc wave of change. It implies Mudavadi is a principled man and he stood by his decision not to be labelled a political nomad. The saying that one needs to study the past in order to make the present better is not in the dictionary of the politics of our country, reasons Muluka could not have relied on presumptuous speculation not based on facts, but the 2002 General Election.

By asserting, without explanation, “...in the end, Mudavadi may actually be a PNU project deficient in the slightest belief in his nascent liberal political posturing...” is purely vindictive with clear indication a democrat is now gradually perfecting in the politics of sycophancy! All along Muluka has been writing ‘balanced articles’ in the support of the DPM, what has suddenly changed and now he makes innuendos that demonise the man he could praise with zest?

Of pentagon crisis

I consider it wild for Muluka to claim that internal democracy exists inside Orange House and it cannot be the chief reason Mudavadi ditched ODM for UDF. If the DPM has failed to obey the rules of the game, Muluka should have explained why Eldoret North MP William Ruto and Mvita MP Najib Balala quit the Orange team, and why the other remaining Pentagon members have remained very quite.

Obviously, any person of sound mind read mischief in Muluka article and labelled him a man now dedicated to the ‘politics of bread and butter’ to please the ‘master’.

By all means, Muluka is wrong to use his column to influence the masses with lop-sided articles instead of enlightening the people. For instance, why did he target only Mudavadi in his article and did not send the same message to Ruto, Balala and DPM Uhuru Kenyatta among others who have differed with party ideology, but are still MPs?

Lastly, I take offense with Muluka’s complains that Mudavadi isn’t doing anything to “tame” or “speak out against” the zealots who are said to be muzzling other people’s freedom of choice and expression in certain part of Western Province. I do not support rogue behaviour from stalwarts of either candidate, but it is a case of double standards for Muluka to speak against fanatic supporters of Mudavadi and remain silent about those doing exactly the same for his boss. Whether in UDF or ODM, this is an act of infringement of democracy.

From the foregoing, Muluka better resign from media and concentrate with the new job as ODM Secretariat’s communications director rather than using the media as a campaign weapon in favour of his boss.
{Okwaro Oscar Plato, Via Email}

Mr Muluka, a polished journalist, has made a habit of attacking the person of Mr Mudavadi. While most readers of literature and newspaper commentaries respect his grasp of language and issues, the man has lost objectivity and honesty that goes with journalism.

The man who was a fierce critic of ODM style of management is now a staunch supporter and defender of the same political outfit. Is it the case of Saul seeing light?

Has ODM become democratic just because he has been handed a job by the party leader? I highly doubt that any fundamental developments have taken place in the Orange house to lead to a dramatic shift in Muluka’s political stand?

{B Amera, Nairobi}

Sarkozy exit to change France’s world role

Defeat of French President Nicholas Sarkozy at the hands of Francois Hollande has the potential to affect European politics. But the election of the first French Socialist president since 1995 also could dramatically change France’s role in the world, at a particularly sensitive time.

No doubt both sides of the Atlantic will keep a close eye on the rhetoric and actions of the new French leader in the days ahead.
Almost from the outset, Hollande will be in the international spotlight, with the G-8 meeting at Camp David, Maryland, and the Nato Summit in Chicago less than two weeks away, and a G-20 meeting scheduled for June in Mexico City.

There are already strong signals that a Hollande administration will bring more change than continuity. Sarkozy, while not a Gaullist, sought to restore French national pride based on France’s role as a leader in the international community. His efforts were most notable in his participation in the Nato operations in Libya.

President’s desire

Hollande will inherit record debt of just more than Sh160 trillion and a jobless rate hovering around 10 per cent. It is unclear what price the French defense establishment will have to pay to meet the president-elect’s desire to balance the budget by 2017, but with the Ministry of Defense in the midst of an internal review, French military policy will likely see changes driven by Hollande and his team.

President’s desire

Hollande’s advisers have stated the new leader is likely to announce an accelerated timetable for French withdrawal from Afghanistan that could bring all French troops home by the end of this year. While the operational impact of the early removal of all 3,300 French troops could be addressed with some effort, there may be greater political fallout from the French rejection of the principle of “in together, out together,” especially given the lack of public support for the Afghan mission throughout Europe.

The president-elect’s advisers have also claimed the new leader has reservations about Sarkozy’s support of increased participation in Nato, specifically the French decision to rejoin Nato’s military command structure.

A key adviser to Hollande and a potential defense minister, is reported to have said Hollande would demand a greater decision-making role for France within Nato. But France cannot, of course, have its cake and eat it too.

{Mark R. Jacobson}

Good concern but insensitive move

I commend Education minister Mutula Kilonzo for his concern over growing culture of academic documents forgery. This is a good start for Mutula in his new docket.

However, I wonder whether he is aware of the cost involved in the process of certifying documents with the national examiner, Knec.

For starters, recently, Mutula issued a circular that requires certification of academic certificates be done by the institution that issued them unlike previously when DEOs and school heads were allowed to do so if the individual produced the original document.

Knec does not certify documents but rather confirms results at a cost of Sh2,000 per copy. Consider a case of a jobless Kenyan applying for job with five prospective employers who demand certified documents for primary and secondary levels. This translates to Sh20,000.

Mutula should revise his directive or order drastic reduction of the process cost.

{Wang’ang’a David Thairu, Nakuru}

Let’s respect tenets of democracy

It is inappropriate for someone to describe a party as courageous. Bravery does not reside in a party but an individual. At the same time, it is wrong for someone to be branded a coward just because he hops from one party to another.

It is important to note this is normal in any democracy, especially when approaching elections. In fact, we are set to see more of this before the due date of elections.

Therefore, it is unfair to insult leaders for defecting from this or that wing. Democracy is about freedoms and liberties. Both the electorate and the aspirants deserve the opportunity to make choices.

{Concerned Kenyan, Nairobi}

Bravo Madrid for great achievement

I join millions of football fans worldwide in congratulating Real Madrid for winning the La Liga title after humiliating Athletic Bilbao 3-0. This is a big challenge to archrival FC Barcelona who have won the coveted  title thrice in a row.

The Madrid win was not a surprise to many because the team remained outstanding throughout the La Liga season. This was a magnificent and landmark feat for Madrid players and technical bench.

It’s also important to appreciate the record-breaking Lionnel Messi, who has become the first player to score 68 goals in one season in European football leagues.

{Enock Onsando, Mombasa}