quit coalition if u are unhappy: Ruto

quit coalition if u are unhappy: Ruto

Standard Group Kenya

25 people dead

President Obama says his decision to end his trip abroad in Turkey was meant to highlight its importance.Barack Obama, the US president, has begun talks with senior Turkish officials aimed at strengthening bilateral relations between Washington and Ankara.Obama, who is in Ankara on the last leg of an eight-day European tour, is also scheduled to address the Turkish parliament.Obama's two-day visit to Turkey is his first trip to a Muslim country as US president."I look forward to strengthening relations between the United States and Turkey and supporting [the founder of modern Turkey- Mustafa Kemal] Ataturk's vision of Turkey," Obama wrote in the memorial book at Ataturk's mausoleum where he laid a wreath ahead of official talks.In the talks, Obama is expected to try to sell his new strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, which includes proposals to counter a persistent Taliban and al-Qaeda campaign.Obama will also "reaffirm US support of Turkey's bid to become a member of the EU", a US official said.France, Austria and other nations oppose Turkey's long-running efforts to join the EU. Others in the organisation have urged Turkey to do more to guarantee minority rights, curb the powers of its military and pass new rights for trade unions.Recent tiffsWhile Turkey has been long regarded as a close US ally in the Muslim world, some analysts believe there has been a cooling of ties during the administration of George Bush, the former US president.However, Obama hopes his visit will strengthen US-Turkish relations strained by the Iraq war.Washington and Ankara had been sharply at odds in recent years over such issues as how to deal with Iran's nuclear programme, the rise to power of Hamas in the Palestinian territory of Gaza, and political developments in Sudan.Al Jazeera's Anita McNaught, reporting from Istanbul, said: "What everyone wants to hear is how Obama will define new US ties with Turkey, because they are concerned that instability in Iraq may increase as the US pulls back, which could make Iraq their problem."At the same time, Turkey has enormous benefit in a peaceful and stable future for Iraq because while exports are down globally, Turkish exports to the re-nascent nation of Iraq are up 75 per cent," she said. "That's not to mention the ongoing security agreement and a very critical emergent relationship between Turkey and the Kurdish autonomous region in northern Iraq," McNaught said. Busy tripWhile in Turkey, Obama will visit Istanbul to meet religious leaders, tour historical sites and hold a round-table meeting with university students.He is also scheduled to attend a reception of the Alliance of Civilisations, a forum which aims to foster dialogue between the West and the Muslim world.The Turkish authorities have taken unprecedented security measures in view of Obama's visit.A street leading to the hotel where the US president is staying in Ankara has been blocked off. Military jets and police helicopters have been instructed to patrol the capital's skies.There have been huge protests preceding Obama's visit across many Turkish cities.Protesters said the US president was seeking to pressure Turkey to deploy troops in Afghanistan in an effort to control the situation there. [More] [Less]

a simple discussion becomes a huge paintball fight between Hillary Clinton, McCain, Obama, Romney, Edwards and Huckabee.John Sidney McCain III (born August 29, 1936) is the senior United States Senator from Arizona and presumptive Republican Party nominee for President of the United States in the upcoming 2008 election.McCain's grandfather and father were the first pair of father/son Four-Star admirals in the United States Navy. McCain graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1958. He became a naval aviator, flying attack aircraft from carriers. During the Vietnam War in 1967, he narrowly escaped death in the Forrestal fire. On his 23rd bombing mission over North Vietnam later in 1967, he was shot down, badly injured, and captured as a prisoner of war by the North Vietnamese. He spent five and a half years as a prisoner of war, including periods of torture, before he was released in accordance with the Paris Peace Accords in 1973.McCain retired from the Navy in 1981 and was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Arizona's 1st congressional district in 1982. After serving two terms, he was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1986, winning reelection in 1992, 1998, and 2004. While generally adhering to conservative principles, McCain has established a reputation as a political maverick for his willingness to disagree with his party on several key issues. Surviving the Keating Five scandal of the 1980s, he made campaign finance reform one of his signature concerns, eventually co-sponsoring the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act in 2002.McCain lost the Republican nomination in the 2000 presidential election to George W. Bush after closely contested battles in several early primary states. In the 2008 presidential election cycle, McCain staged a comeback after his campaign stumbled in mid-2007, and by the end of January 2008, he was the Republican front-runner once again. Following victories in early February and the withdrawal of his closest competitors, McCain gained enough delegates to solidify his status as the presumptive nominee on March 4, 2008.Barack Hussein Obama, Jr. (born August 4, 1961) is the junior United States Senator from Illinois and a candidate for the Democratic Party's nomination in the 2008 U.S. presidential election. He married in 1992 and has two daughters. Obama has written two books: a memoir of his youth titled Dreams from My Father, and The Audacity of Hope, a personal commentary on U.S. politics.Born to a Kenyan father and an American mother, he passed most of his childhood and adolescent years in Honolulu, Hawaii. At age six, he moved to Jakarta where he lived with his mother and Indonesian stepfather for four years. A graduate of Columbia University and Harvard Law School, Obama worked as a community organizer, university lecturer, and lawyer before serving in the Illinois Senate from 1997 to 2004.Following an unsuccessful bid for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2000, he announced his campaign for U.S. Senate in early 2003. The next year, while still an Illinois state legislator, Obama delivered the keynote address at the Democratic National Convention. He was elected to the U.S. Senate in November 2004 with 70% of the vote.As a member of the Democratic minority in the 109th Congress, he cosponsored legislation to control conventional weapons and to promote greater public accountability in the use of federal funds. He also made official trips to Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. In the current 110th Congress, he has sponsored legislation regarding lobbying and electoral fraud, climate change, nuclear terrorism, and care for returned U.S. military personnel. Since announcing his presidential campaign in February 2007, Obama has emphasized ending the war in Iraq, increasing energy independence, and providing universal health care as top national priorities.Go obama! [More] [Less]

kiai meets Obama

kenya news

„Obama be thy name is "Ohanglaman" MAKADEM's musical contribution to the US presidential elections. As a world citizen, the Kenyan afro-fusion & reggae artist calls upon every American to vote. Inspired by the musicians international approach, filmmaker Katrin Ender worked out a concept bringing across the universal message of the song. Song title: Obama be thy nameArtist: MakademComposer: MakademProduction: Katrin EnderDirector: Katrin EnderCameraman: Willie OwusuEditor: Katrin Ender© Katrin Ender 2008 All rights reserved [More] [Less]

cabinet line up

THE PRIME MINISTER OF KENYA VISITS THE UKIt was a historical turnout for Kenyans and friends of Kenya as they filled and overflowed in the Cumberland hotel. They waited to usher the first ever Kenyan Prime minister honorable Raila Odinga to address the gathering. Many came with mixed expectations, to see in practice how the cabinet ministers of the grand coalition government related.The PM Raila Odinga was accompanied by his wife, Ida Odinga, Cabinet Ministers John Michuki (Finance and Environment), Moses Wetangula (Foreign Affairs), Kiraitu Murungi (Energy), Mutula Kilonzo (Nairobi Metropolitan), Najib Balala (Tourism) and Mohamed Elmi (Northern Kenya and Arid Lands).The ministers showed a thorough understanding of how their ministries are run, their goals in the upcoming future and the expectations of their performances. This was music to the ears of the Kenyans in the Diaspora as they evidenced an enthusiasm from each of the ministers, who passionately spoke of their intention to bring Kenya back to the economic high ranks.The prime ministers shone to the eyes of many Kenyans as he delivered a highly conciliatory speech, denoting the importance of community cohesion. He shared his commitment to good governance, communities well being, 2030 vision for Kenya and achieving millennium development goals.Of course, as expected, a die hard ODM supporter opened a can of worms which was as easily buried off to the past by the attendees. The prime minister showed his commitment for the grand coalition government as he diplomatically requested Kenyans not be slaves of history. Feature by Janet Wainaina African Acts [More] [Less]

ODM is accusing PNU of attempting to monopolise power while PNU insists ODM is shifting goalposts.

cabinet line up

maina kiai on cabinet