Now, Can the ‘Angel’ among Kalenjin Politicians Stand

First, is there one? Many don’t think so. Not after most of its leaders, or the so-called tribal kings, have faced or are facing the 'hangman’s rope' for looting public coffers.

Finding a good leader is quite tricky now. You know corruption  is the most stinging morality test for the leaders of this community mostly enmeshed in the Rift Valley, but which after tasting the sweetness of Nairobi and alike cities have slowly adopted nomadic lifestyles; being in the village over weekends and reappearing in the city during weekdays.

That's aside and a quick look at perceived leaders from this region:

William Ruto

He’s the topmost politician in the region. But as things stand now, he might have to ask for super services from leading face-surgeons to spruce up his heavily soiled face and character.You know, being named a top performer in class makes you an instant hero and every student will mill around you expecting endless benefits, however, being named a suspected key perpetrator of any sort of violence is no honey licking. It destroys the very core of your character, sends friends scampering to the safest of places, invites all kinds of enemies plus the very weakest of them, and other egregious invitees-this is Ruto's situation now.  Some may want to argue that he is an innocent chap but in Kenya one is guilty until proven innocent. 

His heroics are known. He surprised both foe and friend when he pulled substantial opposition during last August referendum and he consequently put the final coating on the belief that Kalenjin were in his pocket. But now he’s under siege and nobody seems to care about any heroics now. By the way, he’s suspended from cabinet.

Henry Kosgey

He struggles with eloquence but never unequivocal when it comes to defending himself. The ODM chair has also lost his job to thought of corrupt activities. The Kalenjin-man has kind of been very silent or undecided on matters tribal but his support on the ground has been strong enough. However, things are going south for him. Some people, led by Moreno-Ocampo, think he ordered the wanton slaughtering and drinking of blood by possessed youth from innocent Kenyans in 2007. For more information, ask Luis.

If there’s anything attractive left for this man, then it got to be his suit, only. Another Kalenjin deposed from top leadership!

Who else?

Franklin Bett? (A little laugh), sorry. He’s Raila’s stooge in Rift Valley. Serious. And if someone thought ‘stooging’ for Raila in the Rift now is like distributing Nyayo milk then s/he should be woken up or be asked to change his/her dream. It’s like biting a hard stone. So you can guess where FB’s fate lies now.

Dr Sally Kosgey.

The no nonsense Agriculture minister and former President Moi’s right-hand woman, is one admirable lady. She gave one Stephen Tarus, the former Aldai Mp, a sleeping pill politically and ran the show without any intimidation. Half a clap for her. It would have been full clap had she not been in Raila’s bandwagon. She’s not listened to just like Franklin Bett.

Isaac Ruto

Mmmh! (Almost heard someone shout in agreement). Right, the Chapalungu man has shown unwavering leadership qualities over the past few years. His eloquence and fearlessness should be attractive for the Kalenjins who are desperately in need of an untainted figure. Ruto kinda fits but what powers does he have nationally? None as at now. And it’s difficult to influence without power these days. However his common tirades in the august house could catapult him in future. (I hear he might be vying for Bomet County senator in 2012...not very sure).

Samuel Poghisio

He can make a good leader by the look of things. Unfortunately, he has not demonstrated enough to enable the Kalenjin to ‘like’ him. He’s weak and by the virtue of being elsewhere from where many Riftians were in 2007.

And others...

This other bunch comprises rookie-politicians whose hunger for fame drives them above anything else. Communal leadership should still be a pipe dream for most of these youngsters. Gideon Moi should be leading them, only them, and not Kalenjin.

This is the bitter reality. And every member of this community should be a little tweaked by this worrying inadequacy.

*Wild Solution: Kalenjin  should 'borrow' someone from Western just like their forefathers thought of doing when they failed to find the right  man to represent them in the LEGCO long time ago. Moses Mudavadi-a non Kalenjin-was fronted but he refused. This time round they could be successful unless another Moi rises soon!

Twitter and Facebook Crazy Updates on Ocampo Six

Social networking sites went ballistic with crazy updates when the list of the suspects was made public by the ICC chief prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo. 

Twitter uploading with amazing speeds was observably in the lead over others like Facebook as its updates popped up fastest.

Among the updates though were creative enough, paradoxically brought forth humour instead of the expected sadness.

One which sought to borrow Hague as an acronym had this H for Henry Kosgei A for Arap Sang G for General Hussein Ali U for Uhuru Kenyatta E for Eldoret N MP Ruto. This was from an individual named, Crazy Nairobian.

Of the interesting updates this could easily qualify as the most humorous. it “To save Ruto sms 1 to 7777, to save Uhuru sms 2, to save Ali sms 3...!dead!” posted by one Evedesouza. The idea behind the update seemed to borrow from the annual reality show, Tusker Project Fame which normally asks viewers to send a unique number to save participants from eviction.

Another which might not be sweet to many hearts but still portrayed the creativeness of twitter users is “Overheard in the office. I feel sorry for Uhuru, his father was in the Kapenguria 6 and now he's in the Hague 6” retweeted a popular journalist. This co-relates Uhuru Kenyatta’s naming and subsequent appearance at The Hague with Jomo Kenyatta’s detention at the famous Kapenguria detention camps alongside six others by the British colonialists for their association with the dreaded Mau Mau organisation.

“Spotted on...Ati Hussein Ali was appointed Post Master General in a bid to intercept the Ocampo envelope,” was another one appearing on Twitter immediately former Police Commissioner and now Post Master General was mentioned by Moreno-Ocampo. This one humorously relates the appointment of Mr Ali to the Post Office job and the Waki list of the suspects.

A famous person going by the identity Diasporadical sought to make fun of William Ruto’s recent visit to The Hague by uploading this “Ruto is about to show the rest of these people the hot spots in The Hague”

With a perceived regional balancing in the names, one update from Funnytweets posed this question “Guys from Nyanza have been marginalised by Ocampo...sisi pia nataka mutu yetu huuko Hague (we want our guy there too), yawa!”

"The Joshua Sang dude is on the #Hague6 list to represent the local Mwananchi” quipped a Mwanikih in particular reference to a Joshua Arap Sang, one of the suspects, and whose mention came as surprise considering his low profile nationally.

Most of these updates were replicated on Facebook but not interestingly as on Twitter. Most  bordered on the six named by Ocampo few hours ago. They include, Uhuru Kenyatta (Finance), Henry Kosgey ( Industrialisation),  William Ruto (Suspended Higher Education), Head of Civil Service, Francis Muthaura, Post Master General Ali Hussein Ali, and media personality, Joshua Arap Sang. 

Just By the way...

*How comes neither of the suspects made to the Trending Topics or they feared Ocampo will nail them for perpetrating people to over-tweeting about them?