Kenyans Should Learn from Gor Mahia Fan’s Enthusiasm

We should just adopt their fanaticism. If we do so soon, Kenya will go far, indeed very far in all areas of importance.

Such a diehard attitude is vital if we are to stem ills icing our good habits. Bad things-corruption, thievery, philandering, laziness, truancy, and others in that league-would not see the light of day if we emulated Gor Mahia fan’s passion and willingness in fighting them.

Gor Mahia Fans are not equals to others, although AFC Leopard’s fans pride themselves in their invigorated fan-base, they just cannot rival these fans of The Team, K’Ogalo for the natives, that in addition to having the highest following in the country, has an energetic troop following them wherever they go to play. That’s what’s called zeal, yes, ever zealous Gor fans following Zico-led army. Zico, for Kenya-football rookies, is the other light-name for Gor’s coach, Zedekiah Otieno. Sample this: Whenever they troop into any stadium, their presence is felt left, centre and right. They sing praises of and for their team, they adore their success, and likewise reject poor performance. All these, they do in unison.

Kenyans have no much space for choice other than adopt this hysterical-like habit in all angles of life. If it’s fighting corruption, we should come out in unanimity, sing traditional songs that embellish honesty, put some generous tinge of verses praising ancient heroes who professed integrity and let their communities to prosperity like what brothers and sisters from the lake side say of Gor Mahia.

Most things have flipsides. And Gor Mahia fans are not an exception. First, they should try to shed the tag that the outfit is entirely a tribal grouping out to sell a point from the lake side. The best way to do this is by initiating a recruitment drive in all the regions of this country. Such a drive would not only out sell the club but will also enable it get a larger following than it’s enjoying presently.

Hooligans, yes, them who Gor Mahia officials say are plenty within. They, much alike activists are as good as bad. First, they point out weaknesses in a system. Though they normally do this with a good tinge of destruction-cum-stone throwing, they nonetheless bring to the light inadequacies marring the existing order and which provoke their misbehaviours. For instance, Gor Mahia’s hooligans blame bad decisions by ‘inept’ referees as the cause of their misbehaviour. As far as this, hooliganism Gor version is a good thing. They make local referees be more careful next time they take on such matches and others. Isn’t that good now?

Though, disadvantages are many like what some activists are known of-ever complaining, laziness as in ever demonstrating instead of getting locked in some office, depending so much on hand outs from some foreign donors etc etc, Kenyans should never do away with hooligans, maybe self-seeking activists.

Moral lesson: Kenyans should learn from K’Ogalo fans if they want to succeed in stemming evils as poverty, illiteracy, corruption, godfather-attitude and their acolytes.

Mr Okiya Okoiti Omtatah Has Just Lost It

Everything. Including the very endearing persona he has smoothly moulded, decorated and presented to the public over the years. That too has been lost by this confrontational guy whose job description now reads: basking in the sun, watching Prof Sam Ongeri make money by doing his job at Elimu House and self- chaining before going home at 5 O’clock in the evening.

It’s a noble job for him and everyone, except those he’s watching, has been happy with his job. However, opinions might start drifting against him now.

The public from yesterday will really doubt the soberness of this self-promoting activist who, as it is now clear, doesn’t have respect for anyone, not even the most respected rooms as court-rooms. These rooms are set to be feared.They are supposed to be treated with utmost decorum. However, Okiya and company seem to think that they have the usufruct to use such rooms especially in advancing their bitterness towards a particular individual.

Squealing the national anthem and shouting at an innocent magistrate, whose only duty was to oversee a dispute, and even going ahead to insinuate some sexual activity, was entirely unnecessary and contemptuous. That could only be seen as childish and acts similar to tantrums.

It’s African to respect offices, individuals of power and more importantly accord them the very least of disrespect and belittlement. Courts could rightly be compared with the ancient council of elders-the traditional grouping charged with solving disputes in the fairest manner possible and ensuring harmony reigned within. They, like the old systems, deserve unequivocal respect. 

What Okiya led others to do within that esteemed premise and in front of a shocked magistrate is unacceptable, foreign and not canonical. Some quick brains might even understand their behaviour as influenced by some foreign objects in their bodies-like hard drugs or something alike. By the way, their actions are not so different from what those misguided Mps did, in the name of comradeship, in front of the International Criminal Court. Political analysts, in high numbers, castigated their actions saying it was shameful and coated with arrogance. What Okiya did is similar to the Mps’ behaviour and therefore he alongside those others deserves such descriptions if not stronger.

Some of his supporters might now begin to think if what this well-built man is doing is out of personal conviction or he’s just being pushed by an external donor whose knowledge of African traditions is scanty.

Moral Lesson: Respect is a two-way traffic. Respect others and you’ll be respected too. Okiya and co will not get much back if they don’t lower their egos and respect others.

One Woman Mp per County? No, No!

Yea, that is it. No to that suggestion because it doesn’t really hold any water. There’s no way you can fight discrimination by discriminating. Or, cleanse society from disempowering women and then transferring the syndrome to men.

It’s not fair at all and Kenyans of this generation should not be stumping their feet to scare some of their people into doing things demanded by disgruntled human beings like the civil society or anyone else harbouring vested interests.

The drafters of the constitution had every good intention in trying to promote gender parity especially by ensuring at least a third of women are represented in public offices. It’s a progressive intention but it’s upon the intended group to smart up and promote their abilities without necessarily waiting for any affirmative action. Doing that would legitimize their election and halt Kenyans form adhering to principles fronted by groups only thinking of themselves and how they’ll satisfy the financiers of their drinks.

Women are wonderful leaders, women are beautiful beings, women are nice and women have proved that if given a chance they will perform optimally. Talk of individuals like Martha Karua (though some have reservations about her), Emmy Kosgey (the Kenyan woman who’s flying high on her musical exploits), Catherine Ndereba (the great Kenyan athlete), CEOs-Stella Kilonzo (Capital Markets Authority), and Ms Rita Kavashe (General Motors) and many others. All these women plus many others have worked hard get to where they are now. They are doing well and should have earned their places. Why don’t other women stand up and earn their places as Mps/senators/governors too rather wait to be given?  

Women can get what they want. They only need to broadly smile, wear make-up (fitting ones not those River-roadish), be charming and men will surely sing to their tune. They don’t even need to have lots of money like many men.

It is also important to conduct intense campaigns on the importance of voting for a qualified candidate and suppressing alive cultural feelings that dismiss women as non-leaders. It’s important to insist on meritorious fair system that would automatically allow voters cast their ballots without feeling intimidated or their rights infringed by a third figure.

The suggestion that some constituencies be labelled “Women Only”-more like ‘Ladies’ is ill-informed. Unconstitutional and goes against democratic ideals. People should be allowed to freely choose; in fact the constitution is very clear on this. Article 38 (1) says that “Every citizen is free to make political choice.”

Though those arguing that women have to be elevated base their argument on Article 27 (8): “the state shall take legislative and other measures to implement the principle that not more than two-thirds of the members of elective or appointive bodies shall be of the same gender” their suggestion totally goes against Article 38 (1).

If women are to be chosen then they have to be in the forefront marketing their abilities, strengths and vigorously fighting with other male contestants. They cannot just sit in some posh office, sip several cups of coffee and expect a senatorial position, governorship or that of Mp to drop in their office

Moral Lesson: “Ask and you’ll be given” Mathew 7:7. May those women who want to be elected tell the electees how fit they are for the various positions. 

Sonko Just a Typical Mutant of Nairobi’s Youth

He’s back. He’s reloaded and most of all he’s got a millennium prize for you: a full bag of theatrics.

May you all arise and hail the celebrity youngster Mp who has dedicated all his parliamentary life to hunting for fame, attention and kuwakilisha (represent). Give him a clap for he has done well on his motto of wakilishaing mayouth (youngsters), especially the Nairobi ones.

Gideon Mbuvi aka Mike Sonko is not a young man on his own. He is a mature Nairobi-boy doing what most boys in this chanukad (modern) city do to get the fame they desperately yearn for. He’s seriously after the celebrity status the lads are dying for. And he’s seemingly on the right path.

Fame, money-the two things that bring forth girls, bling bling, cars and flashy phones-are not so few indispensables making the heart and survival of these young Nairobians. Without them, or if they have a quarter or half of the two, they would default into distress mode, a fearful situation that, if not liquidated, would make them oscillate in and out of extinction cum anonymity-a syndrome none of these teenagers and daddy-teenagers do not want to be infected with.

Sonko, the amateur boxer whose opponents are often walls, steel doors and gates, tarmac roads, plus city hall tyre-cuffs, his main hobby being lying prostrate on solid tar and wriggling like a demon-infested individual waiting for the exorcist is man on a mission. 

The Makadara Mp adorns all sorts of attire, just like all other men of his or younger generation. They, if not in a skinny trouser and mix-coloured spear-like flat-footed ndulas (shoes), they are spotting an array of hairstyles. Of course, their trousers would be next to their knees dropping down at the back exposing their behinds to all, sundry and getting the coolness of the day’s wind. More so, they are ever complaining about what the government has not done, always pointing out at other people’s weaknesses without bothering to mention their frailties, ever throwing tantrums when advised to do something like taking a bath to wash away their sins, or brushing their teeth to clean their foul-mouths.

Sonko’s attitude is a perfect replica of the youths who will go as far as they can to get the much coveted attention and fame. That’s what Sonko is seeking and fortunately he’s getting.

Moral Lesson: When you see a Nairobi man out, shouting his heart out then know he has failed to get much attention in his house or in the hood. He’s trying to get it elsewhere.

Quitting? No, Not Our Newspapers

They will never quit even if they ‘kill’ some respected individual or even a kind flibbertigibbet.

But the British oldest newspaper literally ran away after its journalists overdid their profession. The News of the World, the self acclaimed world’s most read paper selling an average of more than 2.8 million copies every week, was buried yesterday. It was a culmination of investigative endeavours, by the paper’s overzealous journalists but seemingly coated by their rookie superiors, which eventually went overboard and were ultimately let out of the basket.

Over the past few weeks, the paper has been ailing from a self-infected terminal disease that seems to have mutated for almost five years but which finally killed it last week and the burial held last Sunday. It must have been a sorry send-off for a 168-year-old product of scribes. It must have been really emotional for its diehard readers. Now they have to think and rethink on where to shift their loyalty.

Now that’s in Britain. Back home. Would that have happened? Just wondering. If any of our newspapers were to engage in such egregious crimes and unfortunately they are exposed would they admit and fold. Everyone’s guess should be as good as anyone else’s here. They wouldn’t and will not. Never. Not when they make billions of money and making a mistake of giving in would mean automatic promotion and enrichment of their competitors who would definitely savour such a move.

By the way, why should they get bothered or roast themselves with stress or worst think of coiling their tails before saying goodbye like what the News of the World did when they can squeeze a ka-apology in one of its hidden pages when they feel like apologising or when they are pushed to do so by a suave lawyer who threatens to initiate a court case? Our papers ‘apologise’ yes they do like Correction: “Yesterday we carried a misplaced name of John bla bla with an obituary photo. We have since established the true identity of the photo. Inconveniences caused bla bla bla...” if you are a scrupulous reader you will realise that something is ever amiss with such ‘apologies.’ I will not say what it is but it’s something next to distancing away from weaknesses and not admitting to them. Even if they misname a living person with a dead one or vice versa-that is next to ‘killing’-they will stay put and fix a ka-apology somewhere. By the way it’s not wrong. It is how newspapers do it. Don’t talk of the broadcast media because you may wait for such apologies for ages. They never apologise, yea radio. TV may.

So when NoW used a full-page apology to try to smooth the hearts of those whose phones they hacked saying "Quite simply, we lost our way," and worst of all closing, they committed a grievous sin worth nothing else other than a big laugh from the local newspapers.

Moral Lesson: “it’s us, we don’t apologise. The weak do. We are not”...thoughtful anonymous.

  

Get a Maasai Shuka and Go to Dr Willy Mutunga’s Court

You’ll definitely find peace there.

First you won’t be intimidated by judges in hideous robes or attorneys clad in imported serious suits, ironed to the brim and their sharp edges hungry to devour one even before they get invited into the long, treacherous path to justice or injustice.

They themselves would probably be in similar dressing as yours. And as birds of the same feathers you’ll understand each other, engage in beneficial counsel; a thing far out of debate currently. If you try the very least of it, say miss a tie for members of the Bar, the judge will with utmost joy give you some terms inside for contempt of court.

That may not happen now. Thanks to the imminent revolution ignited by the recently sworn in Kenya’s Chief Justice Dr Willy Mutunga who, according to ongoing happenings, is ready to let his people enjoy the sweetness of adorning themselves with whatever comes to their minds. Yes, he says his people-the judges, magistrates and lawyers- are more than welcome into his school of thought, the school where there is no redline in anyone’s wardrobe, the school where none is restricted with the kind of clothes worn for duty.   

It was going to happen one day. And it has taken a stud-wearer to set free the arm of government that has stuck to its traditions even when the rest of the sophisticated world was fast opening up to modernity and letting people enjoy all sorts of freedom.

The latest development will genuinely tweak the attire dynasty that has for long characterised the Judiciary and its affiliate offices. It may not be received with a smile by the conservative ageing members in this justice distribution bracket but it is bound to set a historical precedent that would go a long way to define the modern Judiciary.

Now Kenya should expect revolutionised justice corridors. Instead of those expensive briefcases, lawyers would now find cheap alternatives in back-bags or better still school bags. They would not be confined to tight ties, sharp suits, and pointed shoes but in the spirit of revolution-the-Kenyan-way, they would be in polo t-shirts, normal trousers and even sports shoes. Same with judges. They can now take off those dreary, fearful robes and wigs and get back to earth with something sober and simpler.

Such endeavours is no big deal in this generation which doesn’t care a bit for what other people-from the religious, cultural or even academic corridors-say about their clothes. So this group of Kenyans should not fear adopting such radical changes.

Moral Lesson: If judges and lawyers are normal beings, who are they not to wear what other people in this planet normally put on?

Kenyans Should Be Told who’s Who in the Media Too

Yea, the teller should be told on too. However, the big question is who will tell on the teller? That’s the most difficult part.

But it’s not only the Fourth Estate that should open up, it would be better, much better if other private organisations-especially those operating across the country- are surgically reviewed and their employee composition published. Every Kimani, Kipkurui, and Kamlesh would certainly by happy to be in the know of such centurion secrets.   

For a long-time, the civil service has been a centre of attraction for researchers interested in revealing tribal imbalances in the department.

The Kenyan civil service is mostly ruled by “two communities-Kikuyu and Kalenjin” according to the latest statistics. That should not be shocking news to most Kenyans who have always been fed with beliefs that the big man at State House is in every way a job-maker for the community he comes from. Those beliefs have since independence been buttressed by increased appointments of people from the same tribe as the president. Not so many people need lots of seconds to remember that during President Moi’s time, Kalenjin packed every institution like Safari ants on top of a meal. Those people would certainly not like the monotony of being reminded that during Kibaki’s regime Kikuyu have flown up and high in the civil service appointment bracket. Such facts are with Kenyans and have accepted to live with it. For a difference, it’s high time other institutions playing a major role in the daily lives are opened up too so that Kenyans can have fresh info, either get used to it or reject it.

Those leading banks milking Kenyans’ earnings with wanton hunger, those national media houses, those private colleges bragging of indiscriminate service to Kenyans, and those private institutions with their feet in every corner of this country. Kenyans deserve to be told the kind of people they have-their academic qualifications, tribe, gender, race and anything as appertains to 21^st century employment considerations and more importantly in consideration to the supreme law of Kenyan land: the Constitution.

The media-the most trusted institution in Kenya the last time I checked-should in due respect of the constitution come out clear on the range of their employment radar.  Article 35 (1) (b) of the constitution says “every citizen has the right of access to information held by another person and required for the exercise or protection of any right or fundamental freedom.” It’s just that and by the spirit of this article, the media houses-mostly the national ones- being the shapers of a huge section of Kenyans’ lifestyles through their daily content should be free to tell their audience what sort of people they have.

Just like the way kind of men and women in the civil service has been put on the spotlight overtime, the Fourth Estate ought to take that moral step and let Kenyans get similar info of them from them.

Moral Lesson: Article 35 (1) (b) of the constitution says “every citizen has the right of access to information held by another person and required for the exercise or protection of any right or fundamental freedom.”