Malawi: Setting the record straight about the First Daughter. Or not.

Dinah reports, you decide.

Back on May 14th, I posted this blurb about an article from the Nyasa Times that caught my eye:

Read this report of a reported al Qaeda henchman on the President's payroll. And get this, he's dating the President's daughter. What's up with that? From the Nyasa Times

(The original post in its entirety can be found here.)

Surprisingly, Malawi's first daughter, Duwa Mutharika, (or a reasonable internet facsimile thereof) responded in the comments section of this post. Being Dinah Lord and always being interested in the scoopage, I took the bait and asked her to respond to the 10 questions listed below. Even if this is some hoho like poser playing games (the Lord and Master doubts the veracity of Ms. Mutharika's comments) and at the risk of having to endure an email box full of Nigerian phishing scams, I said I would post her clarification and here it is.

1.) Are you aware that the Mr. Kimani you refer to, is purported to also be known as Rikki Shayo, aka Rashid Abdul Shariki? (see comment by Nyasa Times reader, Gambatula Chako here) And if Mr. Kimani isn't Rikki Shayo, then just who is Rikki Shayo? (see opinion pieces written by Rikki Shayo here on today's editorial page of the Guardian online.) Do you know Rikki Shayo? Does your father know Rikki Shayo? And if so, what are the circumstances of the relationship?

2.) How did Mr. Kimani first make your acquaintance? In the United States, friends of the First Family are vetted and issued clearance by the Secret Service. Are there similar procedures in place for Malawi's first family?

3.) Do you categorically deny having a romantic relationship with Mr. Kimani, in the past or at present?

4.)Is someone named Mr. Kimani/Shayo/Shariki currently employed by President Mutharika's Guardian Newspaper in Lilongwe? If so, for how long and in what capacity? If not, has he ever been employed there and in what capacity?

5.)In his role as your political consultant does Mr. Kimani have use of a tax-payer or government funded vehicle?

6.)What do you know about his stint as Communication Officer at the Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation?

7.)Is Mr. Kimani involved in the roll out of Malawi's fourth mobile phone network in any way, shape or form?

8.)I have been unable to find out anything about the group named Mujiha. Can you shed any light on this shadowy al Qaeda linked organization?

9.) Do you have political aspirations? (Most first daughters don't have political consultants here in the states unless a political career is planned.)

10.) Have you met Madonna? ;^)

Here is Duwa Mutharika's reply.

Dinah, I am ready to answer your questions. Rikki Shayo Kimani is a Kenyan National who works for MY newspaper not my father's. I hired him as a consultant because of his work in the media and human rights organizations to help organize the administration departments of the Guardian. I met Rikki through mutual friends and we have never been romantically involved. Although I personally feel this information is none of anyone's concern. He is not employed by the government of Malawi. This is verifiable by contacting the Office of the President and Cabinet. In addition, because he is not part of the State House or other government departments it is not feasible or legal for him to receive any benefits such as security detail or transport. This is also easily verifiable. He can not be considered a politcal advisor to me as I am not a politician but a private citizen. As far as I am concern I do not know of any involvement in the fourth cell phone provider. Mr. Kimani's citizenship can be verified by the Kenyan High Commission located in Lusaka, Zambia which oversees interests of Kenyans in Malawi. They are willing to release a statement to this fact and will also talk with you if you contact them. I have no political aspirations. As stated I am a private citizen who would just like to be left alone to live a quiet life instead of being publically crucified just because I am the President's daughter. I am very proud of my father and his achievements. I support him 100% but that does not give anyone the right to attack me. I can personally vouch that Mr. Kimani is not a member of Al Qeada as reported. He is a Christian with whom I have shared the word of God on many occasions. I have met Madonna only once and I am grateful for your condolences on my loss. Unfortunately being under constant scrutiny and having false accusations perpetuated about me all over the world has not helped with my healing process. I know nothing about the group you mention. I only hope that they do not succeed in any way, shape or form in continuing their message of terror.

For the record: Rikki Shayo Kimani is still being referred to as an al Qaeda operative in the Nyasa Times. Here he is referred to as an "al Qaeda operative son-in-law. And here he gets tagged with the sobriquet "Eritrean illegal immigrant, prostitute-chasing Rikki Shayo a.k.a. kimani of The guardian News Paper".

Malawi is clearly in turmoil. There's been an alleged coup attempt. (The Nyasa Times claims it is all 'fantasy'.) As evidenced by the fact that Parliament has been temporarily suspended. There are reportedly riots in the streets and teargas is in the air. But P.Diddy has signed onto Madonna's Malawi 'campaign'. And just in case you were wondering Madonna's adoption of David Banda has been finalized but his father may challenge the ruling. In addition, Madonna is rumored to become an honorary citizen of the country. Her documentary about Malawi "I Am Because You Are" debuted at Cannes on May 24 to critical acclaim.

It is interesting to note that none of this information can be found in the online edition of Duwa Mutharika's paper, the Guardian which looks like it hasn't been updated in some time now. There is also some question about the recent impounding of a vehicle registered to President Mutharika. The vehicle was reportedly seized to satisfy a claim for back wages owed to former Guardian reporters.

Sheriffs on Tuesday impounded a personal vehicle belonging to President Bingu Mutharika registration BM 8580 over K600,000 compensation money for five senior reporters his daughter fired at The Guardian newspaper on January 7, 2008.

Duwa –the President’s daughter - and her boyfriend Rikkie Shayo, the foreign consultant, were not in the office when Sheriffs came with a warrant of execution. Several employees at The Guardian confirmed the Sheriff’s action and further said salary delays have been a common occurrence at the newspaper especially last year.

If you are interested, the US State Department fact sheet on Malawi can be found here. Malawians have also been targets of the xenophobic violence recently taking place in South Africa.

What does this all mean? I wish to hell that I knew, possums. Something still smells rotten to me.

The question remains, who is Rikki Shayo? Who is Rashid Abdul Shariki? And why is the Nyasa Times saying all these nasty things about them?

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