Once again the West has succeeded in robbing Kenya of its deserved praise for passing a homemade constitution. It’s simply just that, nothing else, not even the Omar al Bashir visit.
It’s heartbreaking to know such a great milestone achieved by a ‘third-rate country’ has not touched the single most eyebrow of the so-called developed world.
The architect of this robbery, truly not but the western media say, is none other than Omar al Bashir, the Sudanese president indicted by the International Criminal Court for crimes put on his head by this mostly Africa-attracted court.
The President, for starters, was in the country last Friday to witness the promulgation of the new constitution. He was one of the many invited heads of state who were around that day.
And, oh my, don’t the western media know how to divert attention from such a huge feat for a young nation as Kenya, to some other trivial things as failing to honour its ratification of the Rome Statute. As per the statute, Kenya was supposed to arrest the president and present him to the ICC. It didn’t happen and Kenya deserves a hearty clap for choosing to abstain.
Back to the self made media incompetence. Immediately Al Bashir arrived accompanied by Tourism minister Najib Balala, they went bonkers about his presence. From then it was not about an African made collections of supreme laws but the head of the guest president cooling at The Hague.
And to the ignominy of all, the local media too fell victim to the diversionary tactics. From the time Bashir sat, every broadcast was now being tagged with Al Bashir’s presence soiling the historic occasion- crap! , to the time he left-I guess they were caught flatfooted on this, anyway, they rehearsed, sang and re-sang Omar al Bashir-mere hogwash!
Soberly, to put the facts straight, Omar al Bashir came to Kenya as a state guest upon request by his Kenyan counterpart, President Kibaki. He honoured the invitation and attended the auspicious occasion period. So any other hullabaloo about his presidential coming doesn’t hold any water. Kenya was in a celebratory mood and my Kalenjin roots taught me to respect neighbours no matter how bad they are and further they are supposed to be the first to be invited for any festivity. And certainly it’s not kalenjin but African culture. Kenya did the same to ask Bashir to come over and he did.
True, he’s wanted by the ICC to answer to charges pressed upon him but for goodness sake the last thing Kenya can do is arrest its neighbour. Take for instance, the consequences of doing that: the boundary between the two nations would be as volatile and death zone forever, Kenyans-they are in thousands-living and doing business in Sudan would be slaughtered and the remaining kicked out and Kenya will retaliate by doing the same. All the time, if this happens, the western world would be enjoying the bloodshed and focusing on famine stricken refugees hauled in camps. They would not do anything until...God knows. Thirdly, Kenya would be the proverbial black sheep among the other 52 Africa nations for doing the undoable to a sitting head of state; sending him to a stranger to a far country- incest of the rankest order. Kenya did great for choosing peace over a stupid thing as demanded by Obama and cousins.
Finally, for rookies, Kenya mid-wifed a truce between the North and South Sudan in 2003, precisely led by then Foreign Affairs minister Kalonzo Musyoka. It was a great achievement which opened way for peace and expected secession of Southern Sudan next year. Because of this Kenya holds a vital position in Sudan’s history and inviting Al Bashir was next to inevitable.
Just by the way...
*A democratically ailing friend and neighbour ought not to cause any furore when s/he attends a festivity buttered with democratic ideals and writings. It’s human to let them learn a lesson or two. Al Bashir must have surely picked some vital lessons when he visited last week, so no more noise please!
*Those silly demonstrators asking for the arrest of Al Bashir- they who were so desperate for a not forthcoming heroism- did the looniest thing this part of the world has ever witnessed. Instead of staying in their peaceful abodes and savour the moment they resorted to street-march in front of thousands of police officers demanding for the throat of a guy secured by dozens of security detail. How silly was that? Their battering was well deserved, they were just stupid.
*Raila’s assertion that he was ignorant of the coming of Sudanese president is proof enough he’s not competent for the PM’s post. How comes? I mean a whole Right Honourable, who’s employed to supervise and coordinate the government in the dark side of such a huge visit? It’s laughable and at the same time unbelievable. Personally I don’t believe him because I feel he’s just playing to the gallery.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Let Us all Welcome Promulgatarian New Kenya
It’s approaching the dawn of a new country and early morning rays are already beaming beautifully on the gleaming peaks of Mt Kenya, lustrous rocks in Kerio Valley, welcoming sun dunes in Chalbi desert, and excited schools of fish at the shores of Lamu.
Indeed, the whole country is on the eve of a historic day, 27th August, when a new beginning is ushered in. Kenya is undeniably on the brink of a major shift not experienced since independence. It’s the proverbial eleventh hour for the British-born constitution existence in Kenya and when the clock ticks over the twelfth hour, a new child in Africa home will be born. This birth will come forth with a new set of instructions on how to nurture the newborn.
When President Kibaki pens into law the collection of supreme laws he would forthwith project Kenyans to the land with bright stars shinning on it and fresh, cold rivers stream in; it’s the land where forefathers imagined and salivated for long but didn’t get to.
One major thing about the promulgated-to-be document is that it’s proletarian friendly and post promulgatarian Kenya will, for sure, be a better place to live and prosper in for all.
As the hour nears, true patriots will be counted among those who will remember the day and inform their children, grandchildren, great grand children and future generations of the day’s importance towards transformation of this country.
What’s In the Shadows takes this privilege to urge all to attend the NATIONAL function to be held at Uhuru Park tomorrow as a show of unity and love for our country.
Just by the way....
*Promulgation is not a new vocabulary and those who claim so are just exposing their wanton ignorance. The word means simply to make something widely known.
*Promulgatarian is not a new word in Oxford’s dictionary so don’t waste time looking for it.
Indeed, the whole country is on the eve of a historic day, 27th August, when a new beginning is ushered in. Kenya is undeniably on the brink of a major shift not experienced since independence. It’s the proverbial eleventh hour for the British-born constitution existence in Kenya and when the clock ticks over the twelfth hour, a new child in Africa home will be born. This birth will come forth with a new set of instructions on how to nurture the newborn.
When President Kibaki pens into law the collection of supreme laws he would forthwith project Kenyans to the land with bright stars shinning on it and fresh, cold rivers stream in; it’s the land where forefathers imagined and salivated for long but didn’t get to.
One major thing about the promulgated-to-be document is that it’s proletarian friendly and post promulgatarian Kenya will, for sure, be a better place to live and prosper in for all.
As the hour nears, true patriots will be counted among those who will remember the day and inform their children, grandchildren, great grand children and future generations of the day’s importance towards transformation of this country.
What’s In the Shadows takes this privilege to urge all to attend the NATIONAL function to be held at Uhuru Park tomorrow as a show of unity and love for our country.
Just by the way....
*Promulgation is not a new vocabulary and those who claim so are just exposing their wanton ignorance. The word means simply to make something widely known.
*Promulgatarian is not a new word in Oxford’s dictionary so don’t waste time looking for it.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Misplaced Euphorimania...
KENYANS have gone to a place, indeed a far place by the name, crazy. The day they will come back, God only knows.
The match stick that struck on this insomniac-like behaviour is the new constitution endorsed by the majority of Kenyans few weeks ago.
On that day, 5th August, some hours after midday, madness hit optimum and everyone was speaking constitutionally. Suddenly, everyone was lawyer! Every Otieno, Kipkoech and Wamalwa was uttering all sorts of words bordering constitution. And all Aminas, Wangaris and Cherutos responded with shrilling sounds laced with enthusiasm about laws, and more laws; nothing different, they were madly constitutional too.
The leaders, starting from His Excellency and the Right Honourable fell victim of the hysteria that hit everyone in the villages and on the streets after early referendum results returned a Yes win. KICC was the place where the two sought to empty out their anxiety and as expected desperate Kenyans filled the ground in fraction of a second.
EMOTIONS had hit a record high by then and the country was already in the moon savouring an achievement, now christened historic.
The historic feat, which propelled Kenya into a higher level democratically, deserves warm embrace from all but factually, sooner than later Kenyans will realise that their hysteric reception was just but unnecessary. When the fibres of the document begin to prick their weak bodies, when their wallets become smaller and thinner, and when the sweetness of the now almost worshipped document manifest its true monstrous colours then reality would have belatedly struck.
REALISATION of a new constitution is not something to be celebrated over like when Neil Armstrong and company set foot for the first time on the moon.
It’s understandable the document is progressive than others before but mere writings don’t transform themselves into good things alone. A mere human being is needed to give power to the document. And if that worthy being is not there then the writings remain that way forever.
CELEBRATIONS experienced so far are immature. Imagine if Armstrong and Co had started celebrating long before their rocket Saturn V was launched. Surely, they would have been fore-immersed in immature excitement and probably their dream would have died before the rocket was fired up.
It’s the same here. When some people relish too much for this new constitution they set a stage for not only heartbreak but also disillusionment in the very near future.
It’s indeed crazy, for lack of a better word, for citizens to have such stellar expectations from just slightly over 200 writings. Indeed beliefs such as getting jobs automatically, food being on the table always courtesy of some piece of black marks on a paper, and others, clouding Kenyans ought to be demystified to eschew imminent rebellion from overly expectant Kenyans.
IT’S not bad to revel for long-awaited feat but for now horses have to be held longer to await tangible benefits of the new constitution. And 10 to 20 years is not a long time to hold a horse, is it?
Just by the way...
* It’s fair and plausible to give all Kenyans a chance to participate in the implementation of the ratified constitution. Whether they voted for or against should not be a key thing to decide to include or not, a person’s will should
The match stick that struck on this insomniac-like behaviour is the new constitution endorsed by the majority of Kenyans few weeks ago.
On that day, 5th August, some hours after midday, madness hit optimum and everyone was speaking constitutionally. Suddenly, everyone was lawyer! Every Otieno, Kipkoech and Wamalwa was uttering all sorts of words bordering constitution. And all Aminas, Wangaris and Cherutos responded with shrilling sounds laced with enthusiasm about laws, and more laws; nothing different, they were madly constitutional too.
The leaders, starting from His Excellency and the Right Honourable fell victim of the hysteria that hit everyone in the villages and on the streets after early referendum results returned a Yes win. KICC was the place where the two sought to empty out their anxiety and as expected desperate Kenyans filled the ground in fraction of a second.
EMOTIONS had hit a record high by then and the country was already in the moon savouring an achievement, now christened historic.
The historic feat, which propelled Kenya into a higher level democratically, deserves warm embrace from all but factually, sooner than later Kenyans will realise that their hysteric reception was just but unnecessary. When the fibres of the document begin to prick their weak bodies, when their wallets become smaller and thinner, and when the sweetness of the now almost worshipped document manifest its true monstrous colours then reality would have belatedly struck.
REALISATION of a new constitution is not something to be celebrated over like when Neil Armstrong and company set foot for the first time on the moon.
It’s understandable the document is progressive than others before but mere writings don’t transform themselves into good things alone. A mere human being is needed to give power to the document. And if that worthy being is not there then the writings remain that way forever.
CELEBRATIONS experienced so far are immature. Imagine if Armstrong and Co had started celebrating long before their rocket Saturn V was launched. Surely, they would have been fore-immersed in immature excitement and probably their dream would have died before the rocket was fired up.
It’s the same here. When some people relish too much for this new constitution they set a stage for not only heartbreak but also disillusionment in the very near future.
It’s indeed crazy, for lack of a better word, for citizens to have such stellar expectations from just slightly over 200 writings. Indeed beliefs such as getting jobs automatically, food being on the table always courtesy of some piece of black marks on a paper, and others, clouding Kenyans ought to be demystified to eschew imminent rebellion from overly expectant Kenyans.
IT’S not bad to revel for long-awaited feat but for now horses have to be held longer to await tangible benefits of the new constitution. And 10 to 20 years is not a long time to hold a horse, is it?
Just by the way...
* It’s fair and plausible to give all Kenyans a chance to participate in the implementation of the ratified constitution. Whether they voted for or against should not be a key thing to decide to include or not, a person’s will should
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Ocampo, Please Leave Us Alone
Come Friday, 27th August and Kenya will be a new state. A ‘new kid’ in Africa. In fact towards this effect a Kenyan emissary should be sent to African Union on Saturday to deliver a message of a newly born baby. Among the key things the messenger should do is ask the AU chair to scrap Kenya from the list of its members-the Old Kenya- and replace it with New Kenya, as a different state not generic of the old.
It is true Old Kenya, which is counting its last days of existence, stinks enough; blood of innocent Kenyans assassinated since independence still ooze asking for justice, blood from Kenyans killed because they held different political opinions is spilt all over, children, spending cold nights in under porous tents in camps because they were displaced from their legal homes are incessantly crying, corruption is as prevalent as former president Moi from 1978 to 2002 and president Kibaki from 2003 to 2010 and the likes of John Githongo are cooling their heels in foreign countries after firmly standing against the common rite in most offices, police are still ‘harvesting’ daily from matatus and nobody cares, and nepotism is above merit for most employers. These and other odours oozing from never sealable pores in this slightly over 40 years-old state makes it more repugnant than before.
Thank God we are into the last days of this dirty and annoyingly ugly country.
Another emissary, a special one, should board a plane too to the Hague on Friday night. In the note to be delivered to none other than His Feared Luis Moreno-Ocampo, should be a clear message that Kenya has been reborn and therefore he should give welcome gifts sooner than later. As to what gifts, he ought to be well informed along this line: any new born child comes to the world without anything. Apart from the remains of the umbilical cord, the child is totally naked and has nothing. It’s the same for New Kenya. With a new constitutional order in place it will be fair to totally scrap the past and let the new country grow. These descriptions provide a hint of what gift he should give.However, one thing he must not do is to slap it with huge loads of international cases. It would be implausible to do this to an infant nation, a state that would have barely inhaled enough amounts of oxygen to get its lungs working.
The point is Ocampo’s services are seldom required when the ratified constitution is promulgated. He should forget prosecuting anyone from New Kenya at ICC as far as past elections mayhem is concerned . If he goes on and try to haul someone there,he ought to be reminded that doing so bring back memories of the putrid Old Kenya. If he gives a deaf ear to this reason, then the government should employ someone, a lawyer of high repute, to take him through the new laws. The lawyer should take enough time to stress clauses in the Bill of Rights to the Argentinean born prosecutor, who may fail to hand a prison term to former Democratic Republic of Congo rebels’ leader Thomas Lubanga. He has since failed to convince the ICC judges to hand a sentence to Lubanga.
That aside, the Bill of Rights, the Land Chapter, and other progressive clauses are well articulated in the new constitution and will prevent crimes such as those experienced after 2007 elections in future. So Ocampo should not worry anymore that impunity may prosper if perpetrators of the deadly violence were not imprisoned.
Besides the clauses, any idea of hauling suspects to the Hague is retrogressive and will put to a halt constitution implementation. Imagine if the President and the PM are asked to face trial at the Hague, who will take their positions in guiding the country to fully effect the document. None, not the politicians who could not agree on how to share power until Kibaki and Raila were forced to personally face each other.
Furthermore Ocampo's return to Kenya, when it’s in the moon savouring its rebirth, is totally uncalled for. He should just back off and give us a break at least for two years or so.
Just by the way
*Nazlin Omar, her who was beaten hands down in the last general election when she dreamt of being the Head of State, is doing her reputation more damage than praise by trying to block the promulgation of the new constitution. It’s true she’s starved of media coverage and publicity, but when she tries to use an important document such as the new set of laws to bet for publicity she messes up everything!
It is true Old Kenya, which is counting its last days of existence, stinks enough; blood of innocent Kenyans assassinated since independence still ooze asking for justice, blood from Kenyans killed because they held different political opinions is spilt all over, children, spending cold nights in under porous tents in camps because they were displaced from their legal homes are incessantly crying, corruption is as prevalent as former president Moi from 1978 to 2002 and president Kibaki from 2003 to 2010 and the likes of John Githongo are cooling their heels in foreign countries after firmly standing against the common rite in most offices, police are still ‘harvesting’ daily from matatus and nobody cares, and nepotism is above merit for most employers. These and other odours oozing from never sealable pores in this slightly over 40 years-old state makes it more repugnant than before.
Thank God we are into the last days of this dirty and annoyingly ugly country.
Another emissary, a special one, should board a plane too to the Hague on Friday night. In the note to be delivered to none other than His Feared Luis Moreno-Ocampo, should be a clear message that Kenya has been reborn and therefore he should give welcome gifts sooner than later. As to what gifts, he ought to be well informed along this line: any new born child comes to the world without anything. Apart from the remains of the umbilical cord, the child is totally naked and has nothing. It’s the same for New Kenya. With a new constitutional order in place it will be fair to totally scrap the past and let the new country grow. These descriptions provide a hint of what gift he should give.However, one thing he must not do is to slap it with huge loads of international cases. It would be implausible to do this to an infant nation, a state that would have barely inhaled enough amounts of oxygen to get its lungs working.
The point is Ocampo’s services are seldom required when the ratified constitution is promulgated. He should forget prosecuting anyone from New Kenya at ICC as far as past elections mayhem is concerned . If he goes on and try to haul someone there,he ought to be reminded that doing so bring back memories of the putrid Old Kenya. If he gives a deaf ear to this reason, then the government should employ someone, a lawyer of high repute, to take him through the new laws. The lawyer should take enough time to stress clauses in the Bill of Rights to the Argentinean born prosecutor, who may fail to hand a prison term to former Democratic Republic of Congo rebels’ leader Thomas Lubanga. He has since failed to convince the ICC judges to hand a sentence to Lubanga.
That aside, the Bill of Rights, the Land Chapter, and other progressive clauses are well articulated in the new constitution and will prevent crimes such as those experienced after 2007 elections in future. So Ocampo should not worry anymore that impunity may prosper if perpetrators of the deadly violence were not imprisoned.
Besides the clauses, any idea of hauling suspects to the Hague is retrogressive and will put to a halt constitution implementation. Imagine if the President and the PM are asked to face trial at the Hague, who will take their positions in guiding the country to fully effect the document. None, not the politicians who could not agree on how to share power until Kibaki and Raila were forced to personally face each other.
Furthermore Ocampo's return to Kenya, when it’s in the moon savouring its rebirth, is totally uncalled for. He should just back off and give us a break at least for two years or so.
Just by the way
*Nazlin Omar, her who was beaten hands down in the last general election when she dreamt of being the Head of State, is doing her reputation more damage than praise by trying to block the promulgation of the new constitution. It’s true she’s starved of media coverage and publicity, but when she tries to use an important document such as the new set of laws to bet for publicity she messes up everything!
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Raila ‘Not-Obama’ Odinga's Intolerance
When a list of the most intolerant top politicians in Kenya is produced, Raila Amollo Odinga’s name should not miss it, at all. It would be a grave mistake to omit this personality from it as his activities over the past few weeks have wholesomely qualified him into this group of Kenyans.
Though, some may try to portray him as among stellar revolutionaries the country has ever had since independence, they do it at the risk of exposing their massive ignorance of what the PM has of late been engaging in.
Raila is a gigantic personality. And people talking of Kenya history would appear lunatic if they don’t mention him as one of those who gave up their lives in fighting for redemption of this nation. However his place in the liberation books would be of no significance then because his poor record of handling opponents would have tainted it enough. It would instead speak greater of his egotism than patriotism.
The patriotic side of Raila would have triumphed in any contest over his intolerance of critics had he followed President Barrack Obama footsteps. Unfortunately, the later is doing well, for now, over the former unlike the USA president who’s evidently scoring well both in patriotism and tolerance of former and present pundits.
Obama is one politician who has portrayed lots of confidence on his opponents and it would be an error of this millennium to equate him with Raila. Obama, despite facing dissention from his closest stalwarts not to appoint perceived nemesis,installed fierce rivals in powerful offices. Hillary Clinton, a magnanimous and humble loser to Obama in Democratic Party primaries got an influential job, reportedly salivated for by many pals of Obama.
And even before picking Ms Clinton, Obama had demonstrated admirable restraint on his critics when he appointed Delaware Senator Joe Biden as his running mate. Biden had crudely criticised Obama’s inexperience on US foreign policy during the primaries, where both contested for the party ticket.
Raila, on the other hand, has not only failed to handle open-minded critics in his ODM party but also displayed his inability to allow different ideologies to prosper from within. Take an example of William Ruto, the Higher Education minister. When he expressed different opinions about Mau evictions, and where to charge post-election perpetrators, he, the self-appointed enigma of Kenyan politics, took a swift route, only explainable in terms of bigotry, to separate Ruto and his allies from their constituents.
People who subscribe to tolerance do not employ any sort of rudimentary ways to handle opponents; instead they face them with their thoughts and try to reach a common ground. Raila did not do that, and if he did, his intolerance and impatience may have cost him success.
After months of fiery verbal exchanges, Raila, the Kenyan whose abilities to woo crowds is unequal, threw the first fist after what appeared to be a well worked framing of Ruto, then Agriculture minister, by unsuccessfully suspending him from the docket when accusations emerged that the minister had engaged in dirty dealings with government maize sales-he though disgracefully demoted him later. It was the height of egotism on the side of the PM captured well by his reactions after the President rescinded his move.
Came the new constitution making alongside campaigning for or against it and Raila and Ruto found themselves in a duel again in as many months. After a successful passage of the documented new laws, which gave Raila an upper-hand in politics over Ruto, Raila has once again sang very well to his intolerance tune by sacking an assistant minister, Jackson Kiptanui. He was with Ruto in campaigning against the proposed laws and follows his opposition counterpart Charles Keter, a close ally of Ruto, who suffered from Raila’s crude tactics months before ballot day. Both have been given an Obama-opposite kind of salutation and now they have to cool their hot heels in the backbench.
Of all the three leaders who form the Grand Coalition government, Raila has sacked two assistant ministers in the past year. Undoubtedly those relieved of their duties are honestly victims of Raila’s inability to face off with opponents.
Just By the Way...
* Thanks all for finding time to read this blog. I totally appreciate your time. God bless you all.
Though, some may try to portray him as among stellar revolutionaries the country has ever had since independence, they do it at the risk of exposing their massive ignorance of what the PM has of late been engaging in.
Raila is a gigantic personality. And people talking of Kenya history would appear lunatic if they don’t mention him as one of those who gave up their lives in fighting for redemption of this nation. However his place in the liberation books would be of no significance then because his poor record of handling opponents would have tainted it enough. It would instead speak greater of his egotism than patriotism.
The patriotic side of Raila would have triumphed in any contest over his intolerance of critics had he followed President Barrack Obama footsteps. Unfortunately, the later is doing well, for now, over the former unlike the USA president who’s evidently scoring well both in patriotism and tolerance of former and present pundits.
Obama is one politician who has portrayed lots of confidence on his opponents and it would be an error of this millennium to equate him with Raila. Obama, despite facing dissention from his closest stalwarts not to appoint perceived nemesis,installed fierce rivals in powerful offices. Hillary Clinton, a magnanimous and humble loser to Obama in Democratic Party primaries got an influential job, reportedly salivated for by many pals of Obama.
And even before picking Ms Clinton, Obama had demonstrated admirable restraint on his critics when he appointed Delaware Senator Joe Biden as his running mate. Biden had crudely criticised Obama’s inexperience on US foreign policy during the primaries, where both contested for the party ticket.
Raila, on the other hand, has not only failed to handle open-minded critics in his ODM party but also displayed his inability to allow different ideologies to prosper from within. Take an example of William Ruto, the Higher Education minister. When he expressed different opinions about Mau evictions, and where to charge post-election perpetrators, he, the self-appointed enigma of Kenyan politics, took a swift route, only explainable in terms of bigotry, to separate Ruto and his allies from their constituents.
People who subscribe to tolerance do not employ any sort of rudimentary ways to handle opponents; instead they face them with their thoughts and try to reach a common ground. Raila did not do that, and if he did, his intolerance and impatience may have cost him success.
After months of fiery verbal exchanges, Raila, the Kenyan whose abilities to woo crowds is unequal, threw the first fist after what appeared to be a well worked framing of Ruto, then Agriculture minister, by unsuccessfully suspending him from the docket when accusations emerged that the minister had engaged in dirty dealings with government maize sales-he though disgracefully demoted him later. It was the height of egotism on the side of the PM captured well by his reactions after the President rescinded his move.
Came the new constitution making alongside campaigning for or against it and Raila and Ruto found themselves in a duel again in as many months. After a successful passage of the documented new laws, which gave Raila an upper-hand in politics over Ruto, Raila has once again sang very well to his intolerance tune by sacking an assistant minister, Jackson Kiptanui. He was with Ruto in campaigning against the proposed laws and follows his opposition counterpart Charles Keter, a close ally of Ruto, who suffered from Raila’s crude tactics months before ballot day. Both have been given an Obama-opposite kind of salutation and now they have to cool their hot heels in the backbench.
Of all the three leaders who form the Grand Coalition government, Raila has sacked two assistant ministers in the past year. Undoubtedly those relieved of their duties are honestly victims of Raila’s inability to face off with opponents.
Just By the Way...
* Thanks all for finding time to read this blog. I totally appreciate your time. God bless you all.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Security is Paramount on August 27
Bloodshed is the least thing to usher in a successful rebirth of any nation. Though many African countries have experienced blood spilling occasioned by efforts from revolutionary armies to set them free from dictators, it has often been the last resort.
Rwanda, Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Guinea are few examples of states where blood was shed to rescue them from hands of authoritarian rulers.
Kenya, widely considered a peaceful country before 2007 post-election violence, has experienced wavy kind of stability, from peaceful handovers (in 1978 and 2003) and rocky elections (1992 and 2007). Despite the last war, the country has picked up its pieces and indeed three years after the dreadful episode, it’s regaining its place among the stable nations in Africa.
Having done that, it’s essential to firm the stability by ensuring a peaceful constitutional change on Friday, August 27. The day is hugely significant as it welcomes in a new Kenya, a nation to be pegged on a different set of laws, a country to be democratically ruled, and a state to be led by people from the people.
Historicity of the event, though very important to all Kenyans but none, should not overshadow security for all. Those planning to attend ought to be assured of their safety.
Uhuru Park is an open ground and everyone is able to get in without passing through any security surveillance unlike in other grounds such as Nyayo Stadium or so where gates could be easily manned. The easy accessibility to the Park could be a fountain of trouble unless it’s policed all over and a single entrance opened. If not other mechanisms towards safety ought to be put in place to avert bloodshed which might taint the historic day. It is vital to do this in view of what happened few months ago when mysterious grenades exploded during a meeting organised by Church leaders to front their No messages on the proposed constitution.
Such esoteric happenings should not be repeated on Kenyan soil, not at least during momentous celebrations, to be attended by thousands of Kenyans and foreigners, to mark incoming of a new constitution. It’s therefore incumbent on those in power and indeed those in charge of internal security to put in place mechanisms towards eschewing all sorts of activities that may cause mayhem on the red-letter day.
Just By The Way...
*For those people who are intellectually less on what’s happening on 27th August, let me try to elaborate: During this day, billed historic by both the media and Yes politicians, the President, hope you know who he is, will publicly sign the ratified constitution into the supreme law of the land. He will do this at Uhuru Park accompanied by Right Honourable Prime Minister Raila Odinga, among other government dignitaries.
Quotes of the day
“Politics is war without bloodshed, while war is politics with bloodshed”-Mao Tse Tung
“Blood is a cleansing and sanctifying thing, and the nation that regards it as the final horror has lost its manhood... there are many things more horrible than bloodshed, and slavery is one of them”-Padraic Pearse
Rwanda, Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Guinea are few examples of states where blood was shed to rescue them from hands of authoritarian rulers.
Kenya, widely considered a peaceful country before 2007 post-election violence, has experienced wavy kind of stability, from peaceful handovers (in 1978 and 2003) and rocky elections (1992 and 2007). Despite the last war, the country has picked up its pieces and indeed three years after the dreadful episode, it’s regaining its place among the stable nations in Africa.
Having done that, it’s essential to firm the stability by ensuring a peaceful constitutional change on Friday, August 27. The day is hugely significant as it welcomes in a new Kenya, a nation to be pegged on a different set of laws, a country to be democratically ruled, and a state to be led by people from the people.
Historicity of the event, though very important to all Kenyans but none, should not overshadow security for all. Those planning to attend ought to be assured of their safety.
Uhuru Park is an open ground and everyone is able to get in without passing through any security surveillance unlike in other grounds such as Nyayo Stadium or so where gates could be easily manned. The easy accessibility to the Park could be a fountain of trouble unless it’s policed all over and a single entrance opened. If not other mechanisms towards safety ought to be put in place to avert bloodshed which might taint the historic day. It is vital to do this in view of what happened few months ago when mysterious grenades exploded during a meeting organised by Church leaders to front their No messages on the proposed constitution.
Such esoteric happenings should not be repeated on Kenyan soil, not at least during momentous celebrations, to be attended by thousands of Kenyans and foreigners, to mark incoming of a new constitution. It’s therefore incumbent on those in power and indeed those in charge of internal security to put in place mechanisms towards eschewing all sorts of activities that may cause mayhem on the red-letter day.
Just By The Way...
*For those people who are intellectually less on what’s happening on 27th August, let me try to elaborate: During this day, billed historic by both the media and Yes politicians, the President, hope you know who he is, will publicly sign the ratified constitution into the supreme law of the land. He will do this at Uhuru Park accompanied by Right Honourable Prime Minister Raila Odinga, among other government dignitaries.
Quotes of the day
“Politics is war without bloodshed, while war is politics with bloodshed”-Mao Tse Tung
“Blood is a cleansing and sanctifying thing, and the nation that regards it as the final horror has lost its manhood... there are many things more horrible than bloodshed, and slavery is one of them”-Padraic Pearse
Monday, August 9, 2010
The Biggest Dilemma: To Sack or Retain
Celebrations resulting from the majority acceptance of the proposed constitution last week have eventually died down.
It’s back to day to day living, mostly characterised by hustles and bustles towards putting a meal on the table- I wonder what human beings would be doing if there were no adjustable organ called Stomach in their bodies- they would be damn lazy I guess. It’s just a wild thought.
Anyway, this is not a dilemma bordering stomach business. It’s about the most difficult task ahead for both President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga as far as how the cabinet should look like after the passage of the draft document.
It’s no doubt a cabinet reshuffle is necessary if implementation of the new document is to succeed. However, in reorganising it, the biggest of challenges, indeed a huge quandary, is whether to expel or retain cabinet ministers who were in the No camp during the just concluded referendum campaigns.
Suggestions galore have hit the media on how the principals ought to approach this. But most have failed to give a worthy blueprint which could enable the two leaders quench expected dissatisfactions from those who might feel targeted.
Firing could be an easier way out, after all writing a dismissal letter has never been a difficult thing for any CEO. But this could herald another dawn of rebellion and a serious risk for peace and tranquillity in the Rift Valley where most of the newly-born dissenting voices to government projects come from.
William Ruto, the Higher Education minister has shown both foe and friend that a huge part of Rift Valley ‘belongs’ to him and he has enormous influence over it. Showing him the door could as well be a perfect excuse for some violence-hungry youths in the province to kick-start forceful eviction of all and sundry except them of their tribe.
Violence of any sort would not be good for this fresh start the country has found itself in. And therefore Mzee Kibaki, he whose legacy is well oiled after the passage of the largely progressive constitution, would not want anything to taint it further-after all it has enough spots, increased after post-election violence of 2007- and therefore he may not want to forthrightly punish Ruto for voting No. Raila is still dreaming of stepping into the inner rooms of State House as president and Rift valley votes are not worth sacrificing if he’s to easily sail through come 2012; the deliverer of such votes is now well proven as Ruto.
If the nay ministers are not kicked out, they will have to remain with the bosses. And honestly they will be a painful thorn in the flesh. This is where real problem begins. How will the president and PM deal with these hot-headed Kenyans who dared slap both on their faces and furthermore accused them of misusing government resources during campaigns? What good information would Samuel Poghisio, for example, give about a government he vehemently accused of using civil servants to look for more votes?
On the other hand, how would Ruto and Co. co-exist with colleagues who fronted Yes support and accused them of land grabbing?
Another larger block is inevitable volatile cohesion among cabinet members. Human beings, unless they are from another planet where perfection is directly related to the norms, gel well with those they are in agreement in advancing their agenda and intuitively reject those who are/seem to be against it. Therefore bonding in the cabinet will be just equally abrasive as it was during the last few weeks as Yes and No sides fighting finds its way into cabinet meetings.
The two principals are faced with a huge challenge and any decision made would have undesirable effects. They have surely been left in the lurch but a decision has to be made at the end of the day. Let us keep waiting!
Just by the way
*When Kenyans are tired of fruitless and ineffective politicians being their leaders they should elect one of the celebrity- human-Kenyans to lead them. Other countries have been given an opportunity to choose these people whose wealth is well known-revenues from tickets sales and Disc sales and other transparent ways. Liberia and now Haiti have George Weah and Wyclef Jean respectively in their presidential ballot papers. A Jua Cali of sort, or Nonini (will be a miserable choice), or Eric Wainaina can make good presidential candidates, or who else do u think? Suggestions are much welcome!
It’s back to day to day living, mostly characterised by hustles and bustles towards putting a meal on the table- I wonder what human beings would be doing if there were no adjustable organ called Stomach in their bodies- they would be damn lazy I guess. It’s just a wild thought.
Anyway, this is not a dilemma bordering stomach business. It’s about the most difficult task ahead for both President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga as far as how the cabinet should look like after the passage of the draft document.
It’s no doubt a cabinet reshuffle is necessary if implementation of the new document is to succeed. However, in reorganising it, the biggest of challenges, indeed a huge quandary, is whether to expel or retain cabinet ministers who were in the No camp during the just concluded referendum campaigns.
Suggestions galore have hit the media on how the principals ought to approach this. But most have failed to give a worthy blueprint which could enable the two leaders quench expected dissatisfactions from those who might feel targeted.
Firing could be an easier way out, after all writing a dismissal letter has never been a difficult thing for any CEO. But this could herald another dawn of rebellion and a serious risk for peace and tranquillity in the Rift Valley where most of the newly-born dissenting voices to government projects come from.
William Ruto, the Higher Education minister has shown both foe and friend that a huge part of Rift Valley ‘belongs’ to him and he has enormous influence over it. Showing him the door could as well be a perfect excuse for some violence-hungry youths in the province to kick-start forceful eviction of all and sundry except them of their tribe.
Violence of any sort would not be good for this fresh start the country has found itself in. And therefore Mzee Kibaki, he whose legacy is well oiled after the passage of the largely progressive constitution, would not want anything to taint it further-after all it has enough spots, increased after post-election violence of 2007- and therefore he may not want to forthrightly punish Ruto for voting No. Raila is still dreaming of stepping into the inner rooms of State House as president and Rift valley votes are not worth sacrificing if he’s to easily sail through come 2012; the deliverer of such votes is now well proven as Ruto.
If the nay ministers are not kicked out, they will have to remain with the bosses. And honestly they will be a painful thorn in the flesh. This is where real problem begins. How will the president and PM deal with these hot-headed Kenyans who dared slap both on their faces and furthermore accused them of misusing government resources during campaigns? What good information would Samuel Poghisio, for example, give about a government he vehemently accused of using civil servants to look for more votes?
On the other hand, how would Ruto and Co. co-exist with colleagues who fronted Yes support and accused them of land grabbing?
Another larger block is inevitable volatile cohesion among cabinet members. Human beings, unless they are from another planet where perfection is directly related to the norms, gel well with those they are in agreement in advancing their agenda and intuitively reject those who are/seem to be against it. Therefore bonding in the cabinet will be just equally abrasive as it was during the last few weeks as Yes and No sides fighting finds its way into cabinet meetings.
The two principals are faced with a huge challenge and any decision made would have undesirable effects. They have surely been left in the lurch but a decision has to be made at the end of the day. Let us keep waiting!
Just by the way
*When Kenyans are tired of fruitless and ineffective politicians being their leaders they should elect one of the celebrity- human-Kenyans to lead them. Other countries have been given an opportunity to choose these people whose wealth is well known-revenues from tickets sales and Disc sales and other transparent ways. Liberia and now Haiti have George Weah and Wyclef Jean respectively in their presidential ballot papers. A Jua Cali of sort, or Nonini (will be a miserable choice), or Eric Wainaina can make good presidential candidates, or who else do u think? Suggestions are much welcome!
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Peace Won Not the Yes Camp
A new set of laws is in place. It’s a done deal after months of brokering. What’s more exciting is that the laws came by chiefly in a peaceful manner. Though there were pockets of criminal activities in the run up to voting, they were not of huge impact. Such criminalities represent humanity and true peace, just as Mahatma Gandhi said peace is not the absence of conflict, but the ability to cope with it.
It’s post-referendum Kenya and it really feels good now we are back to a fresh start. Any beginning is always sweet, especially when wrongs were committed before. It’s another chance for Kenyans to push the Kenyan-bicycle pedal rightly and carefully so as to be safe from mistakes committed in the past.
When celebrations are over and normalcy returns it’s important to understand that a constitution however glorious or angelic it may be is a mere compilation of writings by men; is never perfect; never wholly representative and therefore whatever it is put on the table by the majority MUST be adhered to by all even those aggrieved by it.
What remains now is the arduous task of implementing it. The mere writings call for a serious and sober parliament for them to be felt. The august house is required to come up with dozens of legislations to tighten these writings; otherwise they might forever remain as such.
Focus now shifts to members of parliament and Kenyans must keep their fingers crossed until the last legislation to backup the constitution is passed. Please pray for intelligence and sobriety to reign in this house so that good bills are brought in, otherwise a Recall Bill may be made difficult enough for constituents to call back their lazy and ineffective Mp.
Speaking of recalling Mps, a bill overseeing this ought to be clear and adjectival enough. It should say of clear characteristics of a legislator who should be kicked out of parliament. Such traits should not miss greed, abruptly pot-bellied, anonymous in the village, too silent in the House, polygamous and randy.
Other bills should be drafted too with the welfare of wanjiku in mind and nobody else.
Anyway, after all was said and done, Kenya emerged from the historic plebiscite peaceful. It’s so sweet to know this, we did it peacefully, I love this. Thumbs up fellow Kenyans!
The international community and especially the foreign press that often brag of their superiority mostly in reporting civil wars, famine and hunger, and coups in Africa but never on successful elections or economic progress in Botswana for example, were waiting in the periphery to savour bloodshed. None this time and we are not apologetic at all!
The western media frequently allergic to good things in Africa as they are attracted to bad stuff did not give any prominence to the passage of the draft laws as they enthusiastically reported the post-election violence. They always do that, so nothing new, anyhow, peace was the winner not the Yes camp. Kudos Kenyans!
Just by the way...
* William Ruto’s assertion that the slightly less than six million voters, who voted for the draft constitution, were only 40% of registered voters does not hold any water. Percentage calculations take consideration of those who vote, those who don’t have no say and they are understood to have resigned to any eventuality. So trying to say they would have had some influence is crap.
It’s post-referendum Kenya and it really feels good now we are back to a fresh start. Any beginning is always sweet, especially when wrongs were committed before. It’s another chance for Kenyans to push the Kenyan-bicycle pedal rightly and carefully so as to be safe from mistakes committed in the past.
When celebrations are over and normalcy returns it’s important to understand that a constitution however glorious or angelic it may be is a mere compilation of writings by men; is never perfect; never wholly representative and therefore whatever it is put on the table by the majority MUST be adhered to by all even those aggrieved by it.
What remains now is the arduous task of implementing it. The mere writings call for a serious and sober parliament for them to be felt. The august house is required to come up with dozens of legislations to tighten these writings; otherwise they might forever remain as such.
Focus now shifts to members of parliament and Kenyans must keep their fingers crossed until the last legislation to backup the constitution is passed. Please pray for intelligence and sobriety to reign in this house so that good bills are brought in, otherwise a Recall Bill may be made difficult enough for constituents to call back their lazy and ineffective Mp.
Speaking of recalling Mps, a bill overseeing this ought to be clear and adjectival enough. It should say of clear characteristics of a legislator who should be kicked out of parliament. Such traits should not miss greed, abruptly pot-bellied, anonymous in the village, too silent in the House, polygamous and randy.
Other bills should be drafted too with the welfare of wanjiku in mind and nobody else.
Anyway, after all was said and done, Kenya emerged from the historic plebiscite peaceful. It’s so sweet to know this, we did it peacefully, I love this. Thumbs up fellow Kenyans!
The international community and especially the foreign press that often brag of their superiority mostly in reporting civil wars, famine and hunger, and coups in Africa but never on successful elections or economic progress in Botswana for example, were waiting in the periphery to savour bloodshed. None this time and we are not apologetic at all!
The western media frequently allergic to good things in Africa as they are attracted to bad stuff did not give any prominence to the passage of the draft laws as they enthusiastically reported the post-election violence. They always do that, so nothing new, anyhow, peace was the winner not the Yes camp. Kudos Kenyans!
Just by the way...
* William Ruto’s assertion that the slightly less than six million voters, who voted for the draft constitution, were only 40% of registered voters does not hold any water. Percentage calculations take consideration of those who vote, those who don’t have no say and they are understood to have resigned to any eventuality. So trying to say they would have had some influence is crap.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Media Failed to Proclaim their Independence
Firstly, I’m not happy with the way the media have handled the referendum campaigns.
On a scale of one to ten, I’ll give them six. They have just been above average but do not deserve a clap of any sort. Were it not for the wide coverage of political rallies and some informative plenary discussions I would have comfortably given them four!
I’m particularly perturbed by how Standard Media Group and particularly its TV station, KTN, though it is not alone in this cocoon, manned by politicians, reported news about the referendum.
The station focused so much on former President Moi and his family- a child born after 2002 and ardent fan of KTN, could have guessed right the sitting President of Kenya as Daniel arap Moi and his son Gideon Moi his Vice-president.
The most abuse of the media group was how they gave Moi’s son lots of coverage. For goodness sake, why should young G. Moi be given so much airtime on TV? Who’s he?
These not-so-rhetorical questions are worth an answer. Let me try to guess.
If it’s because he’s KANU’s vice-chairman, then I’m sorry he got more than he should have had. How many other vice-chairmen of other so-called big parties, factually more prominent than him, got such huge daily footage on TV?
Asman Kamama, for example deputises Martha Kara for Narc Kenya and I bet since referendum campaigns began, if my mind serves me well, was never mentioned let alone given any coverage by the media.
The likes of George Nyamweya of PNU found some little mention when he accompanied the likes of his boss, President Kibaki, to a function-no he didn’t at all- the nominated Mp was in the No and therefore a total black-out though he was in Gideon’s side. No other time was he given a whole time to express his No ideas.
So when G.Moi, a mere vice-chair, is all over the Standard’s news outlets, then it’s questionable. I don’t need to say more of former president whose name was mud immediately after NARC came to power in 2002. However, the past few days, a foreigner could have easily thought he was still at State House if his less anonymity on TV, especially KTN was to go by.
It is without any doubt that most media stations once again failed to observe the Media Act which clearly stipulates in section 35 (I) that: “The media shall, in a free and independent manner and style, inform the public on issues of public interest and importance in a fair, accurate and unbiased manner whilst distinctly isolating opinion from fact and avoiding offensive coverage of nudity, violence and ethnic biases.”
Fairness seemed elusive for most of them and campaign news beamed by most TV stations were either skewed towards a particular side or meant to promulgate more one message (either Yes or No) over the second.
By the way
*‘Decision 2010’ on NTV is just the bomb! Please make an effort to watch it. It runs from 1st to 6th August.
*May the side which read and understood well the proposed constitution win.
*This is my penultimate post on referendum matters.
On a scale of one to ten, I’ll give them six. They have just been above average but do not deserve a clap of any sort. Were it not for the wide coverage of political rallies and some informative plenary discussions I would have comfortably given them four!
I’m particularly perturbed by how Standard Media Group and particularly its TV station, KTN, though it is not alone in this cocoon, manned by politicians, reported news about the referendum.
The station focused so much on former President Moi and his family- a child born after 2002 and ardent fan of KTN, could have guessed right the sitting President of Kenya as Daniel arap Moi and his son Gideon Moi his Vice-president.
The most abuse of the media group was how they gave Moi’s son lots of coverage. For goodness sake, why should young G. Moi be given so much airtime on TV? Who’s he?
These not-so-rhetorical questions are worth an answer. Let me try to guess.
If it’s because he’s KANU’s vice-chairman, then I’m sorry he got more than he should have had. How many other vice-chairmen of other so-called big parties, factually more prominent than him, got such huge daily footage on TV?
Asman Kamama, for example deputises Martha Kara for Narc Kenya and I bet since referendum campaigns began, if my mind serves me well, was never mentioned let alone given any coverage by the media.
The likes of George Nyamweya of PNU found some little mention when he accompanied the likes of his boss, President Kibaki, to a function-no he didn’t at all- the nominated Mp was in the No and therefore a total black-out though he was in Gideon’s side. No other time was he given a whole time to express his No ideas.
So when G.Moi, a mere vice-chair, is all over the Standard’s news outlets, then it’s questionable. I don’t need to say more of former president whose name was mud immediately after NARC came to power in 2002. However, the past few days, a foreigner could have easily thought he was still at State House if his less anonymity on TV, especially KTN was to go by.
It is without any doubt that most media stations once again failed to observe the Media Act which clearly stipulates in section 35 (I) that: “The media shall, in a free and independent manner and style, inform the public on issues of public interest and importance in a fair, accurate and unbiased manner whilst distinctly isolating opinion from fact and avoiding offensive coverage of nudity, violence and ethnic biases.”
Fairness seemed elusive for most of them and campaign news beamed by most TV stations were either skewed towards a particular side or meant to promulgate more one message (either Yes or No) over the second.
By the way
*‘Decision 2010’ on NTV is just the bomb! Please make an effort to watch it. It runs from 1st to 6th August.
*May the side which read and understood well the proposed constitution win.
*This is my penultimate post on referendum matters.
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