Famous 6 AKA Kenya 6

I realised after drinking over the Christmas period that some of my drinking mates spoke from an ignorant point of view. They only knew the famous Kenya 6 from what they hear from their friends, papers and media. Thus an argument ensued and thus my lazy self has decided to post a quick bio on our famous 6. Mind you it is not original but good reading. it's 9.30p.m on a Thursday the second last day of the year of our lord 2010 and I'm a few shots of J & B under.

Francis Muthaura

As the head of the civil service, Muthaura has been the nerve center of Kenya’s public service. He has held several senior positions in government before finally rising to the pinnacle of the public service.

He has worked as District Officer (DO) in Mombasa district, Assistant Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kenya’s diplomatic missions in New York and Brussels, Under Secretary and Head of Economic division in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

He has also been the Kenya’s Ambassador to Belgium, Luxemburg and European Community, Kenya’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN), New York, Secretary General and East African Cooperation.

He has served as the PS in the Ministry of Transport and Communication, Environment and Natural Resources, Provincial Administration and National Security in the Office of the President (OP).

He is one of those who received regular intelligence briefs on the possible violence that would break out. He is also accused of having attended a meeting at State House that planned retaliation in Naivasha.

William Ruto

His political history can be described as meteoric, having risen from relative obscurity in the 1990s to a position of significance within a short period.

Enjoying a near fanatic following among supporters from his ethnic Kalenjin community, Ruto, 44, considers himself fit to be president.

The deputy ODM leader is remembered for his vehement opposition to the plan by the chairman of the disbanded Electoral Commission of Kenya Samuel Kivuitu to announce the results for the presidential election in 2007 because ODM believed they were not true.

At one point during Kivuitu’s attempt to announce the final result at a media briefing at KICC’s Aberdare room, Ruto, who had got hold of a microphone, told Kivuitu: "We have a different tally of the results from Molo other than the one you have read. You cannot continue reading results which are not real!"

Ruto’s name was linked to the post election violence by a report that was prepared by the Kenya National Human Rights Commission.

The suspended Higher Education Minister has been fighting to exonerate himself from the accusations in the report.

Uhuru Kenyatta

Before 1997, Uhuru only claim to fame rested on the fact that he is the son of Kenya’s founding President, Jomo Kenyatta.

Uhuru’s entry into national politics began in 1997 as the chairman of the Gatundu branch of Kanu, with the tacit approval of former president Moi,

In the General Election held in December of the same year, Uhuru contested the Gatundu parliamentary seat, which he lost to little known Nairobi architect, Moses Mwihia. Uhuru then quit politics and retreated to obscurity.

In 1999, Moi appointed Uhuru as the chairman of the Kenya Tourist Board, and in 2001 he was nominated to Parliament. He was subsequently made a Cabinet Minister, and later elected vice chairman of Kanu.

In the 2002 elections, Moi saw to it that Uhuru became the presidential candidate for Kanu. However, Kanu lost the elections. In the 2007 elections, he chose to support President Kibaki.

Central Kenya politicians have been fronting the Finance Minister as a successor to President Kibaki when his term comes to an end in 2012.

Maj-Gen (Rtd) Hussein Ali

He is a former military commander who was moved to head the police force in 2004 while at the rank of brigadier.

Born in Eldoret in 1956, Ali joined the Kenya Army in 1977 finally rising to the rank of Brigadier in 2003, a year before he was appointed to head the Kenya Police force.

During his military career he served as a military attachÈ in Zimbabwe and Uganda, and was commanding officer of the Western Brigade. He also at various times headed the Kenya Army Paratrooper Battalion, and the Air Cavalry regiment in Embakasi. He is also a former chairman of the Ulinzi Stars football club.

He was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General in 2005 and finally Major General in 2005.

It was during his tenure that the post election violence occurred resulting in the death of more than 1000 people. The police force is accused of killing at least 400 people out of the total number of those who died during the chaos.

He has never spoken publicly about the ICC investigations but those close to him reveal that he has been closely monitoring the process.

Henry Kosgey

Kosgey is like the dinosaur of Kenyan politics. He has spent most of his adult life serving as a Cabinet Minister. From1979 when he was appointed as a minister, it was only for less than ten years that Kosgey has stayed out of Cabinet-between 1988-1992 and between 2002 and 2007.

He is one of the longest serving political leaders in the country having won six successive parliamentary elections.

The Tinderet MP has only spent one term out of Parliament after he was tossed out in the infamous 1988 mlolongo election.

He succeeded powerful and fiery Nandi politicians Jean Marie Seroney and former Senator Gerald Nathaniel Kalya after he rode on the whims of the then power brokers let by former nominated MP Ezekiel Barngetuny to become MP for Tinderet.

Despite the smooth ride he has enjoyed as an influential leader in local politics, Kosgey’s influence in Rift Valley has been waning since suspended Higher Education Minister William Ruto came on to the scene. And as if by chance, both Kosgey and Ruto have now been named as suspects by Ocampo.

Joshua arap Sang

Kass FM presenter Joshua arap Sang honed his journalistic skills in Eldoret. He first joined and worked for Christian Radio and Television network Sauti Ya Rehema (Sayare RTV) based in Eldoret for five years.

After Sayare, Sang then moved to Bibilia Husema Broadcasting from 2003 to 2005 before joining the newly established Kass FM media station in Nairobi. Apart from being presenter, Sang was appointed head of studio.

Sang, who hails from Cherangany constituency, attended Kitale Academy Secondary School and later joined the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication (KIMC).

In the 2007 General Elections, Sang had expressed interest to vie for the Cherangany constituency’s parliamentary seat currently held by Joshua Kutuny.

Sang, who made inroads into the constituency prior to the polls is said to have been prevailed upon to drop his bid for a later date.

It is his morning show dubbed lene met (what is the world saying) that has earned him the wrath of people and institutions who accuse him of rubbing them the wrong way.

Hague 6 Movie.

Today is a turning point for people in Kenya and the politics by which we are governed by. On the basic principals of fair play we were given ample time to redeem and try the perpetrators of the 2007 post election violence but in our haste to hide our dirty laundry, we decided the impunity route was the best avenue to go. In regard to our failure to set up a local tribunal and because of our wayward behavior, a senior prosecutor was sent by the world court ICC on recommendation from Koffi Annan to help us sort out of mess and root out the snakes and bad elements residing in the garden that was Kenya.

We have those that we suspect of having taken part and those that we really will never know of their involvement and to what extent which s life so to speak. But, as is the rule of thumb, there exists the saying collective responsibility which in Kenya unfortunately means those senior politicians without conscience, who have repeatedly stand up to shout "siyo mimi" and "muta do nini". Their time has finally arrived and we as Kenya have finally gotten to the point of no return. The senior world prosecutor Ocampo has just announced the list of the Hague 6. They include the likes of: politicians and ministers sitting in the current cabinet at the moment, the head of the civil services and secretary of the cabinet plus a local journalist who got carried away by ego and his radio show. They now have an opportunity to stand up and state in no uncertain terms their involvement and or lack of.

Some of the winners of the Hague trip include:

1. William Ruto has taken to task the ICC and the human rights commissions in a scathing attack that leaves a lot to be desired. His famous words include calling on Hassan Omar Dead of school of lies in reference to his name being included in the list of PEV perpetrators.
2. Also on the list is Uhuru Kenyatta who is purported to have organized PEV reprisals, planning and financing and in addition mentioned as the link between Mungiki and PNU in organizing attacks on ODM supporters. He at one time went to court and tried to remove his name from the list. When it did not work he tried defending himself and saying he tried helping people affected and is ready to go to the Hague if he is required. He's reply to being mentioned as one of the Hague 6 is " My consciences is clear" in todays press conference.
3. Major General RTD Ali is mentioned as having authorized his reports to use excessive force and the shot to kill order that brought on more chaos. In a bid make himself look rosy in a hole of sewage, he is quoted as having stated during the Waki commission "if a similar thing happens today i would do the same thing and not change anything. i take full responsibility." He is also quoted as saying " police enforcement is not a PR gimmick" .
4. Francis Muthaura chaired security council that recommended actions to be taken during the post election violence period and is purported to have authorized Major Ali to use force against ODM supporters and the shot to kill order.
5. Joshua Sang Kass FM presenter is purported to be main organizer and planner of violence towards PNU supporters in the Rift Valley through his radio program. Earlier in the year in an interview with Jeff Koinage on K24 Capital Talk he said that if he is guilty he is ready to go to the Hague and clear his name even in light on the recordings stating the opposite.
6. Henry Kosgey as Chairman of ODM and high ranking politician in Rift Valley is purported to be one of the key planners, organizers and financiers of instigated violence towards PNU supporters.

In light of this development and the seriousness of the accusations leveled against them, they should resign from public office and reinstated when cleared. Many would cry that they are innocent until proven guilty but the gravity of the issue and the worlds eyes on our democratic process and judicial understanding should be enough to make us think twice and do the right thing. Trust is earned not demanded and making the issue political as is being done by some politicians namely Michuki and Githae in a press conference leaves a lot to be desired and begs the question what kind of politicians do we elect and if those are our choices then should we complain/