Those Bratty, Silly University Students should Style Up!

Universities are supposed to provide temporary home to young intellectuals whose natural reason for being there is to only lay a firm ground for their future careers.

Basically, these higher institutions of learning are supposed to do that, to provide a good home through quality lectures, equipped libraries and laboratories, standard learning modules and least of least a suitable programme for extra-curricular activities. They are supposed to do that. But remember suppositions don’t automatically happen. They are uncertainties, suppositions. If they are not there, nobody should complain, not even the normally confused comrades, who always think their ‘angelic’ stature demands treatment akin to that given to every king or queen.

Among the mentioned suppositions, there is nowhere it’s indicated that primary utilities like access to 24-hour KPLC power, good food, like their grandmother’s, inviting and dancing with degree-less celebs,katiaing (sheng (for men)-means to seduce) and being katiwad (for recipients(women) to be seduced or accept the same), or being given friendly pakas (Continuous Assessment Tests), or signing contracts to befriend stones and make them travel at hundreds of kilometres per hour before landing on a lecturer’s head or lecture rooms’ shiny window panes. 

The latter, though excluded among the suppositions, is very common among  university students in Kenya. However, it is one of the looniest, silliest, prankish, and roguish things a university student can do. When they do it, then change the adjectives above, add similar ones and you get their perfect first names; Loony Kip-someone, Silly Njoki-one, Fool Onyang-one,Lunatic Wafula-one.They deserve such names.

Students still robbing the earth of its worthy inhabitants: stones, tree branches, or cars’ of their property; tyres, then foolishly throw the stones at fellow elderly human beings (lecturers, administrators, and cooks), wave drooping branches along the highway, burn tyres and choke lightly from their black smoke, do not belong to this century, to this modern generation where grievances are e-mailed, better posted on administrators’ Facebook walls, or best tweeted. They do not belong in this tech-savvy generation, instead the belong in the stone-throwing generation where their colleagues, the hunters normally stung a gazelle with a stone to get meat, where physical tantrums similar to those of a frustrated bush gatherer struggling to pull down a hanging pawpaw were the order of the day , or shouting at the top of the voice like calling down a Colobus Monkey up in a tree. I mean they belong in that generation, that age, Stone Age.

So when students, temporarily pitching camp for only four or five years at respective universities, and lately those academic HDPs (home displaced pupils) at Egerton University, decide to tell the whole world of their small minds, they should be simply dismissed and asked to go back to where they belong; The era of stones. When they insist on flexing their rather wanting elbow muscles by throwing stones, hefty fines, a number of times (ten and above) more than the cost of the stones should be instantly placed on their silly heads. And further black-listed so they do not get employed when they are done with university education.

Blacklisting is in order. Or which employer would want to get a hot-headed graduate whose only friend is a stone in his/her hand in its payroll? You say TSC. No never. Whose parent would want a silly brat as the striking university student to take custody of their child? Who would want that? Nobody wants a fake teacher who spent half of his university years on the road throwing stones and after and when in class his/her best practical example is to throw a stone in fury at the board when teaching about Isaac Newton’s Theory.

Style up!

Kenneth Marende is the Man, the Man!

First, Kudos to Kenneth Marende for his fearless declaration; for his bold choice to close doors on rambunctious politicians and open it for soberness; telling the President it’s not his way always; closing the floor for a vote in parliament which in all its intents and purposes could have sealed an unconstitutional move through a mere vote. The latter was a perfect stab on the ribs of zealous politicians who have now found a common ground in despising the rule of law by ever breaking it and had thought only being the majority they would have a clear way.

Many intellectuals agree that the law was neither adhered to the letter nor the spirit when the judicial nominations were made. So if someone thinks otherwise I fear that could not be as intellectual as it should be. When it comes to learned people like most of us, you do not expect them to foolishly agree with such blatant abuse of the supreme law in the name of amusing some bellicose old sons and/or daughters whose time, in this world, despite on the edge are eager to drop their smelly faeces on the law. It’s unacceptable and everyone with a right mind should stand in defense of the law.

Kenya’s politicians, and indeed most were formerly respected individuals before they joined politics and totally lost their minds, do not care about the law and what it says. Even though they make them, which I guess they invariably forget, they more often than not seek to turn their backs on the set rules whenever they feel they do not favour them. That’s what those lawyers, doctors, university lecturers, engineers, diplomats, respected opinion makers, now in parliament and whose vested interests are not met, are doing to the law. It’s a pity for such formerly successful people in their careers to do such. They now only think of how to amass power today, tomorrow and forever. If it means doing that at the expense of the constitution they would not waste a second but do it.

kind of digressing but related...President Kibaki, with all due respect, might go along as the Kenya’s head of state whose joy, peace and soul-harmony emanated from disrespecting the country’s rule of law.  Ex-President Moi was known for his high-hand on critics but instead of silently breaking the law he overtly changed it to suit his wishes. Kibaki has not sought for any change. He forces his wishes into the constitution even if they are in the contrary. Some might say he’s being misled by close cronies whose only interest is to maintain status quo, but as the president he should be able to make right and final decisions.

 finally...Those thinking of indicting Speaker Kenneth Marende should be reminded that their heads are seriously ill and need immediate check-up. He’s a messenger from most sober Kenyans who do not worship politicians and if you think it’s right to sacrifice the majority’s messenger then expect their wrath and it’s not Tunisia like nor Egypt’s copy of revolution but expect lots of anger.

Just by the way...

Makau Mutua’s article on Sunday Nation (13^th February) about Kalenjin was wrong, too overbearing and full of general arguments. Not all Kalenjin men and women have idolised William Ruto. No, never, period. Some are saved and worship only one God, Jehovah and no man. Rare traditionalists know of only one small god, Asis. Others have working minds and can think for themselves. While many are busy in their farms, indeed fertile lands, tilling, sowing seeds, reaping and eating well; they do not have time to follow politicians up and down. Next time he should do better. 

Poking Holes in Muthaura’s One-shot Revelation

Once upon a time there was a powerful or perceived so, Head of Civil Service, called Ambassador Francis Kirimi Muthaura. He was ‘feared’ by all and other civil servants trembled when he walked passed. However, one time he was bugged by some burgers and almost brought him down to his knees even after he, Muthaura, handsomely tipped them. 

That’s how the tale will go ten or so years to come. I would love to hear it when it comes. It will be very hearty and interesting I can foresee. Before then though, the latest revelation, christened a big blow to the former ambassador’s power by some media houses, is a sham of its kind. It’s cheap. From its taping to publishing.

So some strangers went to Muthaura, told him to unwind by storytelling, put on their bugs, and the old man sat there, supported his chin with his right hand, scratched his white head with his left middle finger, and downloaded his ‘candid’ thoughts. Should we believe this? I mean honestly, should we? A bright old man like him who did some courses on Politics at the University of Nairobi, has worked as Secretary General for East African Community, being fooled into revealing such fine details?

Then another thing. Where was this bugging done? It’s not clear but the fact is these people passed Muthaura’s security checks, gained access to him and recorded him without raising suspicions. Unless this was done in some dungeon in Meru, how can his security, which I guess is not a group of some poorly Kiganjo-trained APs, but serious police trained abroad or somewhere better within, let ‘strangers’ in without searching for such taping equipment or anything similar. Then let them, Muthaura and 'Strangers', hold intimate conversations alone without keeping an eye on their progress. It beats logic.

And of course the amount of the tips he gave the ‘student leaders’. My wild guess is the money, substantial as he himself confirmed, could be in hundreds of thousands, from 100k and above. You know, 10k or 20k or even 50k for someone earning a seven figure salary is nothing really and Kenyans won’t mind about it if he generously gave out such small amounts but if the tip goes into six figures then they will be after you neck.That could have informed his silence on it.

Then that flash disk. That cheap computer auxiliary device. How can it be the carrier of such ground-breaking information?A flash disk cannot record. Definitely something else, presumably a tape recorder, can. So to make this revelation believable that original tape recorder should be made available to all and sundry. Kenyans are knowledgeable now. They know such things could be doctored or better still computer generated. To make this authentic, individuals who taped it should come forth if they are truly honest and say the motive of doing it like what John Githongo did when he secretly taped Kiraitu Murungi and Chris Murungaru plus Aaron Ringera. Not doing it assumedly and expecting Kenyans to consume it without question.

It’s hard not to believe this is the work of detractors of the head of the civil service. And those who want to force him to eat a humble pie and let go of his powerful position.

And why oooh why did these imaginary people let co-Chief whip, Jackoyo Midiwo solely give out the recordings to the media. You know, Midiwo represents the other section of the coalition government not happy with how they are being treated by the former sole government. So anything done associated with them is ever seen as politically motivated and set to achieve certain targets. 

East African Media Gets a Beating

One of the resounding concerns from the East African Legislative Assembly members during their just ended meeting was a persistently lackluster media towards their activities.

The members, meeting in Nairobi, revealed a hunger for more information about them on newspapers, their video footage on region’s televisions and a mention here and there on any other kind of media rooted in the region.

During workshops held to acquaint the members on one or two responsibilities, a member tasked with leading debate would rise up and point an accusing finger at the regional media for failing to give the Assembly “enough publicity”. They did this before urging the fourth estate to give them respectable coverage like what their counterparts in respective national assemblies get.

When the East African talked with EALA speaker, Abdirahin Abdi, he responded with a similar message. He said they have indeed been overlooked, giving an example of the regionally thought exuberant Kenyan media. He said the country’s media developed cold feet on them throughout the two weeks they were in Nairobi for the Third Sitting of the Fourth EALA Session.

“Apart from reporting on President Kibaki’s official launch of the Sitting, what else have they said about us?” asked the speaker. He was referring to the opening of the Assembly’s session by President Kibaki. The function was widely reported. Mr Abdi added that not only was media black out slowing integration but was also denying citizens vital information necessary to stimulate their interests in advancing the EAC.

This dissatisfaction follows similar sentiments raised by Burundi president, Pierre Nkurunziza Earlier last the week the president reprimanded the media for “dwelling much on stories that portrayed the region in bad light” at the expense of promotional stories he said could endear the Community to many development partners. To underscore the point that sought to sting media houses and their personnel, most of them were busy focusing and refocusing their cameras on him while others speedily scribbled their notepads to keep pace with his speech, the president who is the present chair of the EAC Summit, said that the media had paid much attention on reporting negatively about “alleged stronger economies in the region prospering at the expense of fledgling nations.” Nobody was in place to counter that but the message was nonetheless driven home.

It was the same with the coming appointment of the next EAC Secretary General to take over from Ambassador Juma Mwapachu. The media has since received enough rebuke for what Mr Abdi said “manufacturing what seemed to be a misunderstanding” between Kenya and Rwanda over the imminent replacement. The speaker was more than ready to add on the fast piling criticism. He insisted that there was no disagreement about which country to take over the soon-to-be filled position and that his members never raised the issue during their two-week sittings. It was a feeling expressed by Mr Gervase Akhaabi, the Kenyan representative at the Assembly who said anything touching on the Treaty was left for heads of state to deliberate on and solve any differences.

“Unless we receive any direction from them, we are not able to discuss the Treaty,” said Mr Akhaabi adding that they would have overstepped their mandate had they debated on the change of power at the Secretariat. He too had no good news for the media softly saying they had blown something previously working out in order out of proportion.

Kenya’s minister in charge of EAC affairs, Hellen Sambili, who in the past said the matter was squarely in the hands of the five presidents, chose a safer path while addressing an interactive session bringing together EALA members and some Mps from the Kenya parliament.  She challenged the participants to “get out of the hotels” and go out to educate the people on how they could benefit from the integration. She said the media was one of partners the Community had to closely work with if it was to succeed.

The said existing gap was confirmed by outgoing EAC Secretary General, Juma Mwapachu, when he revealed the Secretariat’s plans to open its radio station soon. The station, Radio Afrika Mashariki, will broadcast throughout the partner states in the regions’ major languages-Kiswahili, English, and French-will be a subject of discussion during the forthcoming Media summit in March. The radio is expected to give priority regional matters and probably enable people in the region learn more about the Community.

Mr Abdi, while asking for more exposure of the region for citizens to have real grasp of regional matters, said despite their rarity in the media they were not planning to formulate any law to force the media to report more on EAC matters or even EALA.

If the lack of publicity made Mr Abdi’s heart hurt, then the successes of the assembly he leads brought back joy into it.

Over the session four Reports were debated and adopted by the House. First was a Report on Regional Dialogue on the Politics of Food Security in Eastern Africa jointly presented by the Committees on Agriculture and Tourism and Natural Resources. Then another on Strategic Planning to address Climate Change brought into the sitting by the Regional Parliamentary Symposium. Also adopted were Reports on Developing Mining Legal Frameworks in the East African region and that of the EAC Observer Mission to Southern Sudan Referendum.

“This sitting was very successful. We received and debated on many reports and Bills which came for second and third reading” said the speaker when EALA held its last meeting before adjourning to the end of March when they will meet again in Kigali.

He reiterated on high competence of the organ’s members saying they were up to the task and skilful in law making.

“They were thoroughly vetted by parliaments in their countries and therefore up to the huge task of coming up with pieces of legislation to guide regional integration and enable citizens fully embrace the EAC.”