Category: GOVERNANCE AND OPINION

Earlier today, Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party Leader HE Dr Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka attended Church Service at the CFF Kiambu Church, Kiambu Town.

Dr Musyoka was accompanied by former County of Kiambu Governor HE Hon Ferdinand Waititu aka ‘Babayao’, Jubilee Party Secretary General Hon Jeremiah Kioni, DAP – Kenya Party Leader Hon Eugene Wamalwa, Makueni County Senator Dan Maanzo & Kitui Central MP Hon Makali Mulu among others.

Bishop John Michael Wanderi ministered to the congregation, cautioning worshippers on the dangers and gifts of the tongue. “Create your own life; mould your own destiny through the words of your mouth.”

Speaking to the congregation, Dr Musyoka thanked Bishop Wanderi for his powerful sermon, stating that he was “leaving Kiambu renewed in spirit.” He asked Bishop and the Church to keep Mama Pauline in their prayers and thoughts.

Dr Musyoka also said to the amusement of the congregation that no one would ever again call him a watermelon, that the vision is being restored.

Dr Musyoka noted that Kiambu Town was growing rapidly and his vision going forward was a dual carriageway from Muthaiga to Ndumberi.

Calling for a spirit of Oneness, Dr Musyoka reminded the worshippers that when it comes to Olympics, Team Kenya athletes are not viewed in terms of tribe. “The tribe issue has been put to bed forever by Gen Z and we must thank them.”

Speaking to the congregation, Wamalwa noted that The Third President of the Republic of Kenya, the late Mwai Kibaki had the most able deputy in Kalonzo Musyoka and together they and the Administration were able to develop the economy of Kenya from negative to 7% growth

Talking about the current political situation, Dr Musyoka said that “nobody should sell fear to Kenyans. The Constitiuton of Kenya 2010 that Kibaki amulgated enshrined freedoms that could not be taken away,” he said, referencing the police brutality and KK insensitivity that Gen Zs and Millennials have been subject to. “What are saying about our national pride when you attack and kill young Kenyans who are armed with a phone, a bottle of water and the Kenyan flag?” Dr Musyoka posed.

Dr Musyoka also added that while Azimio was proudly in the Opposition, coalition poltical arrangements were here to stay. “The idea of cannibalising or swallowing parties like what UDA has done with ANC has no place in our multiparty democracy.

ENDS./

National Liberal Party (NLP) Leader Dr. Augustus Muli has termed the removal from IEBC selection Panel as illegal.

He went further to back his statement by providing detailed letter that proves his win was legitimate.

The National Liberal party (NLP) participated in the elections for one of the 3 slots under PPLC to the IEBC selection panel, which were done in strict compliance with Section 2B of the first schedule of the IEBC (Amendment) Act, 2024 which requires that the process be competitive and transparent.

To ensure that the process was competitive and transparent, the PPLC elected its representatives by way of a secret ballot, with each fully registered political party having one vote.
There were three clusters namely:
1. A party other than a Parliamentary party or coalition of parties
2. Majority party or coalition of parties
3. Minority party or coalition of parties

The National Liberal Party (NLP) party leader, Dr. Augustus Kyalo Muli and Dr. Koki Muli from the Wiper democratic movement represented the Azimio One Kenya coalition which is under the Minority coalition of
parties’ cluster.

The following information was shared to all political parties by the National Chairman PPLC, leading to the election.

1. On 23rd July 2024, the registrar of Political Parties wrote a letter to all Political Parties outlining the process of the elections.
2. A notice of Elections dated 23rd July 2024 was issued to all Political parties.
3. Further, a notice of procedure of elections for PPLC Nominee to the IEBC selection Panel was issued on the 24th of June 2024 by the returning officer.
4. A notice to all candidates for the election of the nominees to the IEBC selection panel was issued on the 25th of July 2024 by the returning officer. It was upon this notice that PPLC members in their respective clusters would proceed to apply to be candidates for the elections to the IEBC selection
panel.
5. It is imperative to note that the PPLC election process is exclusively guided and managed within
PPLC structures and processes. Any other election process outside these structures and processes is
NOT and cannot purport to be a PPLC process and the outcome of such remains foreign to the PPLC
as the nominating body. This is in compliance with the spirit and letter of the law requiring PPLC to conduct a competitive and transparent process as dictated by the letter from the clerk of the national assembly dated 16th July 2024 addressed to the Chairman of Political Parties Liason Committee.
6. Following this notice the PPLC members in their respective clusters proceeded to apply to be candidates for the elections to the IEBC Selection Panel guided and managed within PPLC structures and processes.
Our candidate, Dr. Augustus Kyalo Muli of National Liberal Party (NLP) was vetted and approved to appear on the ballot paper to be elected at a duly constituted PPLC plenary on the 26th of July 2024. The election was conducted by IEBC on 26th July 2024 at Kyaka Hotel Machakos during a duly constituted PPLC plenary.

Results of the balloting were recorded in results declaration forms and indicated that candidate Augustus Kyalo Muli garnered 16 votes out of the possible 23 votes while Dr. Koki Muli had 7 votes. candidate Kyalo Muli
was further issued with a duly signed certificated by the Returning Officer and therefore declared the winner to represent the Minority coalition, with agents from both candidates signing and endorsing this exercise.

The above letter serves to let all the stakeholders be aware of malicious machinations purporting to subvert the outcome of that election as officially communicated by the office of the registrar of political parties and the PPLC.

The faith leaders in Kenya held consultatiton meeting that recognized the immense impact that the climate change crisis is having in the country and the enormous responsibility bestowed on our nation’s leaders to address the crisis.

The leaders, also took cognizance of the instability in Kenya, occasioned by desire to control limited resources in various communities and the Generation Z and millennial governance wave and notes its potential to exacerbates the negative impacts of climate change thus eroding the gains made in climate adaptation. As a community and with deep conviction, they believe that their sacred duty extends beyond the spiritual realm and into the stewardship of the planet.

Faith-based organizations have and continue to contribute to food security & agriculture; disaster and risk management; water, sanitation & hygiene; public health systems as well as tree planting interventions. This aligns with the inspiration in the word of God

Hinduism: “There is an inseparable bond between man and nature. For man, there cannot be an existence removed from nature.” (Amma, 2011)
Islam: “Devote thyself single-mindedly to the Faith, and thus follow the nature designed by Allah, the nature according to which He has fashioned mankind. There is no altering the creation of Allah.” (Qur’an 30:30)
Christian: “The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.”

In Kenya, we are alive to the reality of the world we live in today, where climate extreme events are increasingly impacting the critical sectors of our economy and social well-being. These events, such as droughts and floods, have become more frequent and severe, leading to crop failures, livestock losses, and water scarcity across the country. These climate-related events disproportionately affect the most vulnerable among us, including smallholder farmers, women, children, pastoralists, and marginalized populations thus further exacerbating existing inequalities and hindering progress towards poverty reduction and a more inclusive society. This is made worse by our dependence on rain-fed agriculture, a sector that contributes approximately 33% of our Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and is a source of

Christianity is the main religion adopted in Kenya. As of 2019, over 85 per cent of the population identified as Christians, among which 33.4 percent were Protestants, 20.6 percent Catholics, 20.4 percent Evangelicals, and seven percent from African Instituted Churches. Furthermore, nearly 11 percent of Kenyans were Muslim. We believe that efforts to address Kenya’s climate adaptation burden need to be inclusive and multi-faceted, not only integrating scientific and indigenous knowledge but also incorporating religious values in community-based locally led climate solutions.

The Faith leaders applaud the government’s efforts and strides made in developing and enabling policy framework and policies and action plans to enhance climate resilience and adaptation across various sectors, including agriculture, water resources, and disaster management.

Although Kenya has shown tremendous leadership in helping communities adapt and thrive in the face of climate extremes, resource constraints and institutional challenges remain significant barriers to effective adaptation measures. This is further aggravated by Kenya’s debt burden, which presents a formidable obstacle to climate adaptation efforts, diverting financial resources away from critical adaptation initiatives. High cost of borrowing for Kenya and other developing countries heavily impacted by the climate crisis has strained government finances, constraining investment in climate adaptation measures. As a result, our country faces heightened vulnerability to climate-related risks, with limited capacity to mitigate the adverse impacts of these climate extreme events.

Our joint call to Action- a case for Value Based and Accelerated Climate Adaptation Action in Kenya

As faith leaders, we stand at the forefront of social responsibility. Our sacred duty extends beyond the spiritual realm into the stewardship of our planet. Our teachings across our diverse faith groups (Christian, Islam, the SIKH community and Hindu) implore us to care for the environment, this is not only a moral imperative but a spiritual discipline and an expression of our faith. By practising environmental stewardship and promoting sustainable living, we honour God and contribute to the well-being of our planet.

As passionate advocates investing in Kenya’s future, joined by faith imperatives, and guided by our collective responsibility to remain good stewards of our country and planet,
We:
Call upon our leaders to be accountable and transparent; We urge our leaders to honour their oath of office and respect our constitution. We ask that as custodians of our nation’s resources and well-being, you demonstrate ethical behavior, particularly integrity and openness in your actions. Transparent governance will ensure that climate adaptation initiatives are implemented effectively, with public scrutiny and participation fostering trust and collaboration. Additionally, accountability mechanisms will hold leaders at all levels of our governance accountable for their commitments, ensuring that climate funds are utilized efficiently and equitably to benefit us all and help the most vulnerable communities among us. By upholding these principles, you will foster a culture of responsibility and ensure that climate action serves the best interests of both present and future generations.

Implore our government to ensure that climate adaptation action starts at and with Grassroots Communities; for climate action to be effective, start at and with grassroots communities that are heavily impacted. We urge the government and all actors to be inclusive, we believe that where local communities are included and consulted, the resultant action will address the needs and realities of these communities. It is, therefore, imperative that climate action start with and actively involve grassroots communities, particularly, smallholder producers who are the backbone of our agricultural sector, they should be heard, their wisdom valued, and their livelihoods protected.

Urge the government to ensure Inclusion of Marginalized Groups, Women, Children, and PWD – In our pursuit of climate justice, we can not afford to leave anyone behind. Marginalized groups, women, Generational Groups (Gen Z & Millennial), and children are disproportionately affected by the adverse impacts of climate change. Therefore, any climate action plan should prioritize their inclusion and address their unique needs. By ensuring their participation and empowerment, we not only promote social equity but also enhance the resilience of our communities.

Implore our government to invest in research and Data Capabilities; To drive an effective climate response and make
Mindful that the current financial mechanisms fall short in adequately funding climate initiatives, especially in vulnerable regions like ours; We join our government in urging for drastic reforms in the global financing architecture to ensure climate vulnerable countries and communities can fairly access the needed resources to fund adaptation and mitigation efforts effectively and sufficiently. We urge that countries and funding institutions move away from the current framework that often lacks transparency, accessibility, and fairness, hindering our ability to tackle the climate crisis effectively.

Emphasize the need for effective national coordination mechanisms; We call upon the national government to prioritize strengthening existing coordination climate action mechanisms and efforts. This should build upon existing initiatives and leverage the expertise of diverse stakeholders across the country. Recognizing that numerous organizations, communities, and individuals are already engaged in climate-related activities, it is essential to foster collaboration, synergy, and coherence among these efforts to maximize impact and avoid duplication of resources. Moreover, fostering collaboration among stakeholders, including faith leaders & faith-based organization, government agencies, civil society organizations, academia, and the private sector, will promote inclusivity and ownership of climate initiatives, ensuring that diverse perspectives and expertise are harnessed to develop holistic and context-specific solutions to our climate challenges.

Aware of the realities of our limited capacity to effectively fund and respond to the climate extremes, we join our government in asking for ambitious mitigation ambitions from the world’s most affluent, industrialized nations, urging them to expedite their efforts to align with the 1.5°C target outlined in the 2015 Paris Agreement. Countries like Kenya bear the brunt of climate change impacts despite contributing minimally to global emissions, it is imperative that wealthy nations take decisive action not only to curb their carbon footprints and mitigate the devastating effects of climate change but provide the needed financing. They must also commit to provide financial and technological support to developing countries as they strive to transition to low-carbon and climate-resilient economies. This should include an ambitious New Quantified Goal at COP29 in Azerbaijan in November 2024.