Hapa Kenya

2015 Harmonised Draft Constitution

2009-12-16T15:11:00.000+03:00

It is an hour to midnight, I am dozing off on the couch, and on my left hand is a remote control while the other has the copy of the harmonised draft constitution. The blurring noise from KBC brings me back to my senses. The topic on the evening chat show is about the constitution. For the past two hours I have been trying to read through this humongous document with no success, it is just days to the deadline.

This scene has played over and over in the past one month with each time my mind racing around, back and forth from the constitution to other things of equal importance and to those that are controlled by nature, like sleep and reverie. Am reminded of the first eight weeks at the campus, though the desire to read would engulf me, there was just never a better reason to read, after all, exams were still weeks away.

I shut the telly and flip to the preface of the HD, only God knows how many times I have done that, I have never really had a chance to read past the preface. Am inclined to blaming the 844 systems, probably am too used to reading for exams, so much that my concentration is at its lowest when such issues of probable irrelevance are in my must do. After reading the preface for the umpteenth time, my mind wavers to my laptop. I remember that I do have a shorter edited version of the same draft sent to me by some wannabe Kenya-political spammers. A temptation guides me into looking at the Kiswahili translation of the same, but I win this time round. I open the pdf document, the Kenyan colours though not so enticing, they give me a reason enough to move the mouse.

Click, click and an am on the last page of the document, luckily it is a 23page document, reading from a computer has never been my favourite, but in such circumstances, it is the best. You can actually cover a whole book in one second by just clicking on the last page. The only word I remember seeing is the word PRIME. Am done reading, were it an exam, I would probably need sections of the draft scribbled on my thighs.

I click on the shutdown button and retire to bed. Hopefully I will have a better luck next time. I hereby promise myself to read the next Harmonised Draft, hopefully in 2015, my workload will be low.

My requests or recommendations for the next draft and to the Committee of Experts, is that the process ought to be split into two. One to cater for Political and Governance aspects of the constitution, the other to focus mostly on way of life. We would then have two separate drafts to read at different times. We would then easily pass into the constitution all those issues that are important and are less volatile but continue to suffer at the expense of politically charged clauses.

For the 2015 draft, let them set a mandatory examination to all Kenyans, especially those who went through the eight minus four minus four system. This will guarantee that we all read it. Let them allow us to use all necessary paraphanelia, mwakenya, to pass the exams. If need be, results from the political class should then be published for all to see.

My 2cents

Kenya's true devolution!

2009-12-15T11:49:00.000+03:00

what it was..

Office of the President
Office of the Vice President
Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development
Ministry of Education, & Science & Technology
Ministry of Energy
Ministry of Environment & Natural Resources
Ministry of Finance & Planning
Ministry of Foreign Affairs & International Co-operation
Ministry of Health
Ministry of Information, Transport & Communications
Ministry of Labour & Human Resource Development
Ministry of Lands & Settlement
Ministry of Local Government
Ministry of Roads & Public Works
Ministry of Tourism, Trade & Industry

what it is now....

Attorney-General
Ministry Of State for Public Service
Ministry Of Agriculture
Ministry Of Co-Operative Development
Ministry Of Defence
Ministry of Development of Northern Kenya & Arid Lands
Ministry Of East African & Regional Co-Operation
Ministry Of Education
Ministry Of Energy
Ministry Of Environment & Natural Resources
Ministry Of Finance
Ministry Of Fisheries
Ministry Of Foreign Affairs
Ministry Of Forestry & Wildlife
Ministry of Gender and Children Affairs
Ministry Of Gender, Sports, Culture & Social Services
Ministry Of Health
Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology
Ministry Of Home Affairs
Ministry Of Housing
Ministry Of Immigration & Registration Of Persons
Ministry of Industrialization
Ministry Of Information & Commnication
Ministry Of Justice & Constitutional Affairs
Ministry Of Labour
Ministry Of Lands
Ministry Of Livestock
Ministry Of Livestock & Fisheries
Ministry Of Local Government
Ministry of Medical Services
Ministry of Nairobi Metropolitan Development
Ministry Of National Heritage
Ministry Of Planning & National Development
Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation
Ministry Of Public Works
Ministry Of Regional Development
Ministry Of Roads
Ministry Of Science & Technology
Ministry Of Special Programmes
Ministry Of State for Provincial Administration and National Security
Ministry Of Tourism
Ministry Of Trade & Industry
Ministry Of Transport
Ministry Of Water & Irrigation
Ministry Of Youth Affairs
Ministry of Youth and Sports Minister
Office Of The Deputy Prime Minister
Office of the President
Office Of The Prime Minister

Tribalism is the only way ...to save Kenyan soccer

2009-12-14T13:32:00.000+03:00

Today, August 8th 2009 brought an odd opportunity to watch a live match between AFC Leopards (aka Ingwe) and Gor Mahia (aka Kogalo). The occasion, was nostalgic, it was reminiscent of the yester-years when our local premier league was the in thing. The background beats from the Ingwe’s Isi~kitu drums and the Oporo(Vuvuzela) wails from the Kogalo crowd reminded me of my childhood. The Kenyan streets would be loud with GOR BIRO! YAWNE YOO! to the chagrin of MROOMBO AHOO wailers from Ingo. Newspaper cuttings of favorite Kenyan soccer players, Abbas Magongo, Obwaka, and Peter Dawo would beautify the walls of every household.

What went wrong?

Our fathers still remember the early years after Kenyan independence when tribal soccer reigned supreme in the country. Those were the success years in the history of our football. In April, 1963, the idea of clubs soccer became a reality when 10 clubs lined up for the inaugural championship. Nairobi with seven teams – Luo Union, Maragoli United, Marama, Nairobi Heroes, Bunyore, Kakamega and Samia Union – had the lion's share of the teams taking part in the league.

Coast Province provided two sides – Liverpool (later Mwenge) and Feisal – while Rift Valley had one team, Nakuru All-Stars to complete the original line-up. No teams were drawn from Nyanza, Western, Central and Eastern Provinces until later. Luo Union was the brainchild of the Oginga Odinga and represented members of the Luo community from what was then the North Nyanza district.

The same year saw a number of Luhya clubs, including Bunyore, Kakamega, Marama, Bunyatso, Samia Union and Bukusu Brotherhood merge to form Abaluhya United. Abaluhya represented the majority of football fans from the Luhya tribe. Maragoli FC represented members of the Maragoli community, a sub tribe of the Luhya.

Kenyan political scene that was characterized by the feuds between Oginga Odinga and Tom Mboya saw the split of the Luo teams into two. These two teams were later to reunite in 1968 to form Gor Mahia. In that, Kenyan soccer had two formidable tribal teams in the name of Gor Mahia and AFC. The Luo Community being represented by the Gor Mahia while the Abaluhya represented by the AFC. Tribal devotion to these two teams is traceable to present time and in those years could only be rivaled to the attachment the English have to Man. Utd, Arsenal and a host of English Premier league clubs.

Arap Moi in his unschooled wisdom banned tribal grouping during his first years in the helm. This had a little strain on these two teams. Further, the growth of the English premier League and the bickering in our local scene did no justice to our game. Majority of the clubs suffered from mismanagement and luck of adequate finances to remain relevant in a fast moving new order. The likes of Reunion and Shabana died quietly and are no longer household names. In the years that followed many corporate players entered the soccer field and sanctioned the birth of Mumias, Tusker, Sher, and KCB as the new kingpins in the game. However with the entry of these new teams, the fan base shrunk. Gate collection went to record low. Many players got disoriented playing for few coins in front of paltry crowds formed of their relatives, teammates and security guards. How do we go back in time and recover the lost glory that the Kenyan soccer once had?

I say we go tribal! If there is one thing that Kenyans stand to gain by being tribal, it is high standards of SOCCER. Our competitiveness in the political scene especially with tribe as a driving factor is enormous. Let’s harness this energy into building our soccer. In the past one month, most European leagues are on a break, the amount of dollar figures being exchanged for players are mind boggling. Imagine, just an eighth of those figures changing hands between Gor or AFC and Bolton Wanders. As a country we can build more roads, more stadiums and even schools if we take this route.

How do we achieve this? Each tribe should form a soccer team, for example; let’s have OGIEK FC, KIKUYU FC. Teams can even form alliances, such as KAMATUSA FC or GEMA FC. With this, we can dissolve all of the corporate sponsored teams; each of these companies would then pick a team from a pool of the tribal teams.

What do you think?

Kimani Maruge and VISION 2030: Reply to Mugo Kabati

2009-08-31T18:49:00.001+03:00

Kimani Maruge and VISION 2030: Reply to Mugo Kabati

The list of graveside heroes and heroines seems to grow each day in this country. The reverence of Dedan Kimathi, Bildad Kagia and many others while six feet deep is always a must use opportunity for our leaders and opinion shapers. One man getting such attention in death is none other than Kimani Maruge, world’s oldest pupil. May God rest his soul!

Mugo Kabati the Director General at the Vision 2030 has struggled to eulogize the once world’s oldest pupil and with lots of effort he managed to draw a parallel between Mzee Maruge’s life and that of Vision 2030. The article on the Sunday Nation August 30, 2009,”Murage’s life and lessons on overcoming odds” goes a little short on drawing the full similarities between Murage’s ambition and that of V2030.

Mugo’s article is based on three points; First, Kenya has certainly had its fair share of achievements but more needs to be done, just as Maruge achieved a milestone as a freedom fighter during the colonial era but still went for formal education. Secondly he argues that there are setbacks that the country has faced comparable to Kimani being a widower and the subsequent death of his 10 children. The third point is that Maruge’s tenacity to overcome odds and challenges should be emulated in achieving the goals of this vision.

Allow me to take a divergent view of Maruge’s life and again draw similarities to that of Vision 2030. At 80yrs of age, this Mzee enrolled at primary school to study with grandchildren’s. Kenya is in more ways than not like the old Maruge—we are way past our school years and yet we spend so much time trying to learn instead of acting. How many vision papers are gathering dusts in govt’ shelves? 45yrs after independence we are still struggling with basics such as food, water, electricity just like Maruge was struggling with ABCD. Mugo Kabati believes that his grandiose outfit will aid us in learning how to pronounce food, water and electricity!

Years back Kenya was exporting expertise to Singapore in terms of technology exchange and administrative skills. In terms of growth, Singapore is far ahead of us. The same way we would compare another 84yr old take Michuki for instance Vis a Vis Maruge. Kimani would easily be said to be a missed opportunity. Countries of Kenya’s age are no longer putting up 30yr action plans; they are not enrolling 80yr olds into primary schools. They are reaping the benefits of good leadership and men of Maruge’s age are enjoying their advancement in age at government sponsored centers. It is a shame that Maruge was ever allowed into a primary school.

From the onset, I thought of Maruge’s idea of going back to school as untenable. It came late in the day. Mr. Kabati would agree that the success of any idea lays very much on its timing. As much as we would want to save face and take spaces in Guinness books of record, it was rather obvious that Maruge’s education was of little consequence and headed nowhere. NGOs made their kill in public relations gimmicks courtesy of Maruge but the truth will always be—he was headed nowhere. Vision 2030 is just like this idea…too late in the day. Late in two senses, it is yet to put motion into any tangible agenda since its inception and late in the basic sense of being time barred.

As a pupil, Maruge was a darling of the press, not so many standard two pupils get to enjoy so much coverage unless they are kidnapped, raped or killed. He at one point had the opportunity to visit America and lot of VIP treatment at public functions. Though his intentions might have been to be able to comprehend the bible, he got distracted. He became a public relation item. The more I think of it Vision 2030 is just like Maruge’s education… PR exercise with little visible achievements distracted in lots of forums, seminars and campaigns consuming billions of shillings hard earned by the struggling Kimanis and Maruges all over Kenya.

While launching V2030, it was said that ISIOLO would be one of the first towns to be made an economic zone complete with hotels, casinos, upscale retail shops, modern airports and transport facilities. Kibati should probably have used his space on the Nation to convince Kenyans that we are headed towards this direction and that the cattle rustling and insecurity in Isiolo district are as a results of economic positions owing to expected boom. Maruge died before he was able to read the bible, let’s hope this vision will not perish before Isiolo becomes our version of Las Vegas.

Over to Bwana Mugo Kabati (Director General, Vision 2030 Delivery Secretariat)

HAWAYU….!

2009-07-29T21:48:00.001+03:00

It’s a Comic rush in Kenya! Everyone thinks they are funny including my former boss, my landlord, my neighbour and even the newspaper vendor! Over the past one month there has been great effort by lots of Kenyans to crack jokes and make others laugh. How much success has come out of this is debatable. At least I get my fair share of comic relief from the politicians especially Hon Poghisio, don’t you just find him funny..lol! There has been an upsurge in televised Kenyan stand-up comedy, which is a good thing for our artists but the quality is definitely questionable. First there was the Top Comic show that was suppose to sweep us all on our feet, my feet are still glued to the ground and I have never even smiled at any of the jokes.

A rival TV station came up with a counter to Top Comic in the name of HAWAYU. Just as was the intention, the show lacks originality. For a 30 minute show, you get the feeling they are struggling to fill in the spaces. First Omondi, the comedian starts with one liner jokes that he only can find comical except for the stage managed claps and applause by otherwise distracted audience. In a flash, just as am waiting for the main act, guest artists are introduced.

I have nothing against wannabe comedians, and it is a fact that Omondi got his act under Churchill as a guest artist, but the difference in this case is that there is never a main act. What was the theme for today’s show if I may ask? The guest artist are definitely no names when it comes to comedy, their jokes are the same old jokes that are easily traced back to jokes.com and mchekoparadise.co.ke. For instance, that one about a priest in a plane asking how high the plane is flying was a hit back in ’97. Can I laugh about it now? I doubt! Oh, if you want to play Jeff Koinange, get the voice right, and don’t be in a hurry to say what you want, at least the last time I checked. The audience did applaud, so probably it’s me who has a different sense of humor.

After the guest artist, we are treated to a session of musicals, with known artist forming part of the show, today we were indulged by the MOG crew cleaning utensils and arguing about who sleeps where in their otherwise modest house. Then the duo was brought on stage to perform their two chart bursting songs. At this point the instrumentals were lacking, when they got their acts right, it was rather too late. Still on the musicals, without any intro whatsoever, Nameless pops on stage accompanied by some two overfed girls. Then Omondi dressed supposedly like Wahu appear. I didn’t really get what was funny about Nameless and Omondi (Wahu) hamming known songs, but probably it was one of those jokes I’ll get in an afterthought.

Overall the show is lacking on substance, nothing sticks in the mind after the 30 minutes other than what was not done right. The “Principle” in this case appears to be a little less on content that can sustain a show. The production quality is wanting; the editting is not upto par. The audince/crowd is managed and it is so obvious on the show.

Piece of advice to Omondi, create your own niche, develop your own style, and make a different script other than what is already known, to be Churchil is not going to be an easy task. You are judged according to old laws unless you make your own.

CATHOLICS, CELIBACY & SEX(Celibacy has a waive on Sodomy)

2009-06-24T16:42:00.000+03:00

The Catholic Church has recently been on the defensive, its morality is in question, it’s priest are paraded in public media in their nakedness showing the vile that is easily excused as only human. The Doctrinal pillar of the Catholic Church, celibacy, is in doubt, more so over its practicability in the modern world.

One school of thought argues that in the eyes of the Catholic Church, Father Milingo and his crew of deserters-the Catholic Prelature, have outraged the church more that the boys molesting pedophile in the name of Father Kizito. As far as the vow of celibacy is concerned, Kizito has only committed the sin of being unnatural while Milingo has shaken the very foundation that the Catholic denomination stands.

Probably to build on this argument, it would be prudent to define three terms that emanates from the overall meaning of celibacy from a catholic perspective. These terms are celibacy, marriage and sex.

Celibacy is the renunciation of marriage implicitly or explicitly made, for the more perfect observance of chastity, by all those who receive the Sacrament of Orders in any of the higher grades. The Wikipedia says,” Celibacy in its strictest definition means to be unmarried. However, the term is often popularly used to describe a state of life where one chooses to abstain from all sexual activities which is strictly "chastity".” From this we gather that Celibacy can only be measured against renunciation of marriage and sex.

To understand the proceeding argument, we need to define the second term that forms the overall l meaning of celibacy, marriage. In the African context, marriage was the union of two families symbolized by cemented bond between a man and woman from the two unrelated families. Biblically marriage the meaning is more or less the same thing however with the twist of being blessed by God.

With this kind of definition, Father Milingo’s peccadillo in the court of the Catholics is marriage and as such he has forsaken the vows of celibacy. On the other hand, Kizito is not guilty of this sin; he has not married anyone, has he? So what is Kizito’s real sin?

Whether or not Kizito is in contempt of the celibacy vow lies in the true meaning of sex. To counter any counter argument, allow me to state that the word Homo sexuality was never in the ancient Bible, it has found its way via the numerous versions that have sprung during the last century. Actually the word Homo is Greek meaning same while the bible was originally written in Hebrew. The closest act that would be equated for homosexuality was Sodomy and it was never considered a form of sex. Spiritually the meaning of sex can be derived from Gen 2:18-25,” {24} For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh. {25} The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.” The natural/contemporary meaning of sex is the intimate interaction between species of different sexes.

Homosexuality and sodomy not being sex in the spiritual context and the fact that Celibacy is silent on these, what are we accusing Kizito of at least from the perspective of a Catholic? Has Kizito really deserted his vows? Not really, he did not marry anyone, neither did he have sex. All he did was to have unnatural act.

WE GET THE LEADERS WE MERIT

2009-01-28T08:47:00.000+03:00

They say we get the leaders we deserve. So, by that mode of thought, we 'deserved' Mwai Kibaki, Raila Odinga, Amos Kimunya, Ruto and the genus. Our leaders do not fall down from Mars or Venus at 50 years old and are bad people. They grow up in our villages and communities, they go to our schools and they belong to our families. We choose them amongst us.

As is the the norm in democracies people get the leaders they deserve. Despite our complaints that our choices are limited, our fallacious arguments that all politicians are dishonest and can be bribed, and the truth is, we choose those who leads us. If we are afflicted with bad leaders it is because we have chosen them over better ones.

I think, if pushed to think about it, the average voter would probably agree, at least in theory, that the parliament should be a creative mix of people who have worked at home and abroad in as wide a range of jobs as possible.

I'd like entrepreneurs and innovators and one or two hot-shot accountants, economists, managers and bankers - yes, bankers - who have worked in industry and understand the nuts and bolts of the global economy. Less of the lawyers who find counter arguments on all issues, yes- few of them who will argue the legality of food being brought on the tables for all Kenyans.

I'd like farmers, fishermen, shopkeepers, garage-owners, matatu touts, kalembes, big and small, who could speak with authority about how laws that are fine in theory work in practice, as well as labourers and cleaners.

There would be room for a cross-section of ex-public servants from all ranks, through clerks and nurses and police and soldiers to councillors. Oh, and the odd scientist might be handy, along with a moral philosopher, an investigative journalist who had explored the sewers of our urban wastelands, and a historian of the kind who can clarify our present by reference to our past. Not to speak of a jester who could cut everyone down to size (Kalambe vs Wetangula).

We all subscribe unthinkingly these days to Abraham Lincoln's dictum that government should be run "by the people, for the people". So how is it that in fact it's run by the narrowest of narrow elites who know of little beyond the lawns of Muthaiga Golf club, the posh Mercedes Benz, the state house and the confines of parliament? Do you know how scared our leaders are to walk on the streets of Nairobi, other than during public demonstrations?

Now that Kenyans are starving from North to South, for the first time in our history people are starving in the President’s backyard of Othaya, Muranga, NSE is at its lowest, corruption scandals are the order of the day, money is scarce, Kenyans are united at least in pain. We are united in crying loud about theleaders we have. Regardless of whether we are PNU, ODM or Kalonzo’s joke, we are united in one opinion that we have a charade for leaders. Is it not us who elected them? Is it not Kenyans who were bribed and bought to vote? Are we justified to expect anything from our leaders?

We get the leaders we deserve because we have the power to dismiss them and we do not. It is our duty to vote our interest rather than our passions, if we fail to do this, if we fail to choose those who have the best interest of the people at heart; we betray ourselves and our children. As Shakespeare would have pointed out, the fault, dear electors, is not in our stars, but in us.

Enjoy your meal if you are lucky to have one!

YES WE CAN’T

2009-01-21T08:53:00.001+03:00

The inauguration of Barrack Obama as the 44^th President of the United States of America, to me as a Kenyan evokes lots of varied emotions. It makes me sad and happy both at the same time, glad that deep in a Kenyan village, we can trace the roots of the most powerful man in the world. This son of a Luo father has raised the hope of millions all over the world. On the other hand, sad, because, everyday in every corner of this country another son is born, probably ten times better than Obama, but he might never be what Obama is. It makes me sad that the socio-political environment in this country will consume him, destroy his soul and craft a monster out of him. He will grow to be the enemy of his own people.

This inauguration, reminds me of the feat that we will never be able to achieve as a nation. It is like that dress you always wanted as a young girl but never got, like that image of yourself you expect to see in a mirror but never see. Many Kenyans have wondered aloud whether one day this country will be able to create its own edition of Obama, a true idol of his own people, and as I watched and listened to his inauguration speech, it dawned on me that YES WE CAN’T! Not in this lifetime at least.

Kenyan politician, just like insects undergo some transmutation. They metamorphoses from this loved creature that traverses the electoral zones initiating development projects and making endearing ideas, to this ugly corrupt, tax evading, less caring and mentally retarded bigot who does nothing that he/she is mandated to do. Just before changing to the latter, they become divisive and full of hate; they propagate violence and segregate their people on the slightest front. They later get what they want and become what they are now. All this makes me wonder, “Suppose Obama had the unprivileged opportunity of leaving in Kenya! With his charisma, he would have been definitely been a leader back here.” The question is, would he have survived this transformation? I guess not.

In Kenyan politics, today’s saints will certainly be tomorrow’s imps. The activists, who yell loudest about the ills of the present regime, will be in tomorrow’s establishment, but nothing will change. I recently saw PLO Lumumba almost shading tears over the ill ways of the current system. That scene reminded me of a similar occurrence, this time it was Kivutha Kibwana of the defunct NCEC back in 1995, no need to go into the details, but it’s rather obvious what Kibwana became as Minister. It is said that we always get the leaders we deserve; this theory seems truer every time I look at our leaders.

Those who voted ODM live with the imagination that some change would perhaps have come. They forget that as much as they dislike Michuki, probably ODM would have recreated him in the name of Orengo. The bad manners of Muthaura would have been manifest in Caroli Omondi. The wrath of Lucy would almost certainly be raw in Idah. We imagine that, had we elected younger leaders, change would have come, but hey, look at Namwamba, Kitunyi, pyschophants who are now implicated in the maize scams.

I would hate to hurt anyone’s feelings but the so called enthusiasm going round among the youth that probably youthful leaders will bring change or to some extent emulate Barrack, is off the point. The desire to recreate Obama phenomena back here is hooey and is bound to fail. The likes of John Kiarie, Rachel Shebesh, and Anthony Kibagendi just to mention but a few, offer very little that is new other than the old tricks sugar coated in age. The so called young leaders are engraved in greed; the young leaders offer nothing other than youth. They practice the same old ways and exhibit very little of the Obama charisma. Lest they be reminded that age is never a leadership quality.

Can we recreate the Obama Phenomena in Kenya in the near future? YES WE CAN’T!

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Let this be the last headline on Obama! At least in Kenya

2009-01-19T17:55:00.001+03:00

Obama is good, he has a nice personality, he is a Luo, he is from Kenya, and Kenya might actually benefit from his Presidency! But hey! Can we get more of local content? Do you have to mention the name OBAMA to sell or to be heard and read?

Not to sound so critical of the local media but truth be told Kenyan journalist have become so contracted, one good example being Phillip Ochieng on the Sunday Nation in his article “The pride of a people: Barack Obama, the Luo”. He had to wag the magic name for his story to gain more weight. The story has very little about the US President but the Luo community. Today’s Nation has seven instances where the Obama has been part of a headline. Obama has been mentioned 46times in the whole paper, an average of once per page on the other hand, famine and the KNUT issues have been mentioned only 12times in total.

Phillip Ochieng’s article though quite informative, it epitomize the reek that welter the corridors of Kenyan media, large headlines with little content, miscued ideas and stale stories that must be anchored on revered personalities to hold some ground. How do you for instance connect the Luo roots (Jopadhola, Jokowiny) to Obama’s Presidency? How did Okot p’ Bitek and Charles Onyango Obbo find themselves in an article about Obama being the pride of the Luo? It is such fallacy to tell Kenyans that Cain was a Luo and not mention Abel in the same breadth.

Another writer who has lost it, with his continuous struggle to put in cheeky stories and allegories to match the Kenyan socio-political scene is Mutahi Ngunyi. So much for the stale Greek Mythologies that fail to symbolize the intended subject matter.

I am looking forward to a day when the Kenyan newspapers and the whole media at large will be a little more creative. You don’t have to publish daily editions if there are no content. I wish to see an announcement on The Nation on a Monday that Tuesday edition will not be available due to lack of content.

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Gutter or the mainstream media? What do you read?

2009-01-08T16:38:00.001+03:00

One evening when I was 6yrs old, my dad came home carrying two things, a newspaper and paper bag with lots of goodies. To his surprise, as my little sister was struggling with the candy bag, I went for the newspaper. I sat there for about 15 minutes perusing the paper, what the headline was then, I can’t recall. A week later, I heard my dad bragging to his friends how at 6yrs of age, I was able to read and comprehend the content of the newspaper. His pride and braggadocio made me very happy and there on I fell in love with newspapers, and for a long time I became an ardent reader of Nation.

Now that am older and wiser, I no longer read papers, other than for the Job Adverts and the full page Zain/Safcom offers, there is nothing to look forward to. Kenyan newspapers have become so parochial so much that they no longer excite, truth has become minimal and their stories cannot hold any water. The news are so imbalanced, 90% being bad news out of which 70% is political. Hopelessness that is so evident in the faces of many Kenyans is as a result of Kenyan press that is so full of hate material. Journalist have lost their touch, the so called news are half full of history. Flashy headlines with no content, the two mainstream papers have degenerated to gutter, where the news ends at the headline. Picture this … “KIBAKI COUP!”........ But no content!

Strange enough, two journalists from the two main media houses will cover the same event and come up with two conflicting stories on the same subject matter. This has gone on for so long so much that, The Standard is easily aligned to the ODM side while the Nation to the PNU side.

So what do I read? The problem with the Nation & the Standard newspapers is the temptation to believe their stories, only to find out later that much of what you actually believed wasn’t true. On the other hand, if you picked the Citizen Weekly from the streets and fed your self with the utter nonsense that fill it pages, at the end of which, you still have almost similar content as to what is in the mainstream papers, only that this time, there exist not the temptation to believe. That is why every Monday morning I buy one of the Citizen Weekly, read it for an hour and my newspaper session is done for another week. After all why buy Nation & Standard daily only to be fed with gibberish when you can fill yourself with the same claptrap once every Monday?

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Tired of the WHINING Kenyan Media!

2009-01-06T07:52:00.001+03:00

Little is wrong with the Media bill, but there is definitely something bigger, that is wrong with the Kenyan Media. We can blame Kibaki all we want, but the truth remains, the media and the Politicians played and equal role in the so called clashes n death during the past election. The media published unchecked stories,they were biased in their reporting prior to the elections. They relayed to the public irresponsible statements by the political class.

There is a great danger in letting the two groups go uncontrolled, let the politicians watch the media and let the media watch the politicians.

Personally, I got no quarrel with the Communication bill. Please, Kenyan Media, be told, the hullabaloo abt this bill is getting into my nerves now. You have made too much noise, and the fact that Kenyans can only hear what the media wants to talk about is quite irritating.

To kibaki, if you ever log in to this blog(I doubt), gag all media houses talking about the communications bill.Raid their houses, take away their equipments, arrest all of them coz this is tantamount to public incitement that might lead to civil unrest.

To the ODM brigade who are playing saints now. The last time I checked, you had the majority in parliament! I believe the rules haven't changed, and the will of the majority rules the parliament. All bills brought to the parliament are first circulated to each MP's pigeon holes. Raila is still the best at marshaling support. You could have shot down the bill if you wanted! Stop playing with Kenyans minds.The bit that is wrong with the said bill is there because of your own omission or commission. Sad that none of the ODM MPs is willing to introduce an amendment bill to correct it as such. Stop playing saints where you are not!

I would just wish to put on my radio and listen to music without the now common inciting interruptions about how the media is being gagged and how its gonna be bad for me. I am tired of the communication bill issue being the headline everyday, am sick of watching news full of media this media that. I am tired of the listening/reading/hearing just what the Kenyan media wants me to.

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TO HELL WITH 08!

2008-12-31T18:51:00.001+03:00

2008 has been a hell of a year for me, I have traversed the whole country, Kisumu, Nakuru, Mandera,Nairobi, Mombasa, Marsabit...all in the name of work. I never got time to settle down and be with the people I cared about and to do things that gave me joy. Money has been scarce, I suffered bigger losses. In all this I gave gained strength.

08 is all behind me now.........resurrect hapakenya.blogspot.com

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Kimunya resigned though still Alive!

2008-07-08T17:05:00.001+03:00

I adopted this post from one of the Kenyan sites, some of the contributions are quite interesting.......................

Kimunya step down to allow investigation.. so now will he die??????

==============
Finance Minister Amos Kimunya has finally bowed to pressure and quit his job.

Only last Sunday, an enraged Kimunya strongly asserted that he would not relinquish his Treasury job over the manner in which he handled the sale of the Grand Regency hotel, saying HE WOULD RATHER DIE THAN RESIGN.

However, the embattled Kipipiri MP eventually bowed out on Tuesday to mounting pressure to pave way for investigation into the hotel saga.

"I have requested his Excellency the president, to be allowed to step aside to facilitate the inquiry," said Kimunya in a brief press statement he read on Tuesday afternoon.

Saying his conscience was clean on the saga, Kimunya insisted that he was open to an independent inquiry to prove his innocence.

On Sunday, Kimunya had accused Prime Minister Raila Odinga of being part of a wider scheme to bring him down and said if he had to resign, then Raila, Attorney General Amos Wako, Lands Minister James Orengo and anti-corruption commission director Aaron Ringera must also step aside to allow for investigation.

On Sunday, Kimunya, who had been elusive since Parliament passed a Motion of no confidence in him on Wednesday, retreated to his Kipipiri constituency to launch a fight back at a rally at Miharati Stadium.

He had told his constituents that Orengo blew the whistle after "his bid to solicit a Sh3 million bribe from a legal firm involved in the sale was turned down."

"Orengo went public after he was denied a bribe of Sh3 million he demanded from a Mr Adan, one of the lawyers involved," Kimunya said.

But lawyer Ahmed Adan, hit back immediately dismissing Kimunya’s allegations as falsehoods, baseless and unfounded.

›› eddlove 08-Jul-2008 ...reply # 74313
jus sad

›› Sahau 08-Jul-2008 ...reply # 74323
He goofed big time. You dont swear when you cannot keep it. He has now lost so much face!
Now we ask the gava to contstitute a credible group to investigate. There should be no politician in that group.

›› ochuodho j 08-Jul-2008 ...reply # 74325
did he jump or was he pushed?

›› eddlove 08-Jul-2008 ...reply # 74328
@sahau i feel for kimunya coz i dont believe he made anything for himself in that deal. So will the govt nullify the deal. if not may be it must be political

›› songomiser 08-Jul-2008 ...reply # 74333
@eddlove although i strongly feel that he made nothing and to him all was well, i also think that if by any chance that he had realised it was a 'deal' possibly he could have thown off the towel..political??? think so but lets wait for PM statement in the house...u never know (smell what cooking)

›› eddlove 08-Jul-2008 ...reply # 74336
@songomiser heheheheh something is cooking coz am seeing PNU coming out strongly on the political violence report by justice waki.

But truth be told this deal wasnt wrong in principal but wrong on procedures dman its a shame we have lost such a gifted n intelligent person

›› matuma1 08-Jul-2008 ...reply # 74337
where is the toughness now? i think he was misled... hope he wont die

›› eddlove 08-Jul-2008 ...reply # 74341
but wat was wrong with the deal

›› Sahau 08-Jul-2008 ...reply # 74342
@eddlove, I dont believe he got anything but what has messed him is lack of political experience! He should not have been seen as arrogant and trying to pass the buck with some claims that nobody can even believe (Orengo asking for 3m bribe? You mean this guy is that poor?).

What he should have done is forestall the censure in parliament by apologising for misleading the house (he could even say he was misled himself). He should never have done what he did at a rally in Kipipiri saying he would rather die than resign - that actually sealed his fate.

›› eddlove 08-Jul-2008 ...reply # 74348
tru tru sahau but we have lost a brilliant mind

›› ochuodho j 08-Jul-2008 ...reply # 74349
thats what you get when you have a parliament without opposition....politicians are robbers in designer suits,this power sharing is not doing us any good it just stopped outbreak of civil war but other than that corruption has bloody doubled since

we are practical back to one party state but just divided

›› Ngunjagutu 08-Jul-2008 ...reply # 74350
i feel for kimunya. The deal should be reversed and those barking should buy it for 6B. where are the professional valuers to advise us, my worry is the poor kenyan who is shouting at the top of his voice that the hotel was sold cheaply and funny enough he has no clue on valuation, he cant even value a cow.
Let wait for investigation and stop shouting ignorantly.
Kimunya is out now sholud the MPS now pay taxes? Bonny Kwalale was very vocal on rejecting the proposal now that is what matters.

›› songomiser 08-Jul-2008 ...reply # 74351
@sahau agree with ur sentiments however it's a grave situation to lose talents coz gifted guys crafted or were laying traps for his eventual capture. Others on the way and like u mentioned those who lack requsite experience

›› matuma1 08-Jul-2008 ...reply # 74360
@ngunja i second u abt tax, now are the remaining some idiots lk khalwale accepting to be taxed...he is a big shame in western province

›› guru 08-Jul-2008 ...reply # 74363
Whoever watched Kimunya last nite on Capital Talk with Jeff Koinange knows that he is indeed innocent. Its a plot by ODM to finish all PNU's. But these PNUs are just selfish. How can they start thinking of 2012 (Martha Karua) instead of first uniting in one Political party???

›› eddlove 08-Jul-2008 ...reply # 74365
BBC are saying that the kibaki will not appoint a replacement for kimunya. heheheheheh

›› eddlove 08-Jul-2008 ...reply # 74366
guru true kabisa

›› Valentino 08-Jul-2008 ...reply # 74367
@ guru by the way Martha karua jazzed me kabisa while everybody is busy talking about Grand Regency she comes out and declares her 2012 stand... actually when we just expected her to say something again on GR! Kalonzo woiye chunga Karua yuaja!

›› Sahau 08-Jul-2008 ...reply # 74368
@guru my dear ati now is ODM finishing PNU? I can see you are a very good literature student and you have passed that exam! Remember Raila telling Oburu to push Kumunya to do the shady deal? Ha ha ha. Remebr Kimunya WENT to school? I knew this was coming thats why I posted that satire.

›› cjames 08-Jul-2008 ...reply # 74370
Kimunya kiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiino!!!!!!!!!!!!!! dont be a coward.

›› guru 08-Jul-2008 ...reply # 74374
@Sahau dear, i just remembered all u wrote last nite after listening to Kimunya on K24. For sure amechezewa kabisa. Poor him!!!!

›› Ngunjagutu 08-Jul-2008 ...reply # 74379
is there any valuer who can give us the exact/estimate value of Grand regency? i want to make an informed decision because i am in the darkness

›› cjames 08-Jul-2008 ...reply # 74394
Kimunya was the best Finance minister kenya will ever have after Kibaki but he allowed himself to bed with the wrong fellows.Rest In Peace Kimunya or its because you were to die after resigning.

›› Sahau 08-Jul-2008 ...reply # 74395
@guru, thats why I asked "Kimunya never went to school. Discuss!". He let himself be led to the slaughterhouse and maybe realised it too late!

›› wanito 08-Jul-2008 ...reply # 74418
guess who is the Minister for Finance? Oburu Odinga.Anyway does he have any accounting knowledge?

›› songomiser 08-Jul-2008 ...reply # 74420
@wanito Oburu isn't even aware of Kimunya resignation

›› guru 08-Jul-2008 ...reply # 74426
Raila has just agreed he knew of the deal. He is also a liar just as Kimunya. Even when Kimunya denied the sale of GR, Raila has said he knew... Who is fooling who?????

›› Ashum4 08-Jul-2008 ...reply # 74428
He threw his trump card on the table. I think he should have been careful with the statements he issued before "stepping aside" because its like eating your own words. @wanito question is do you think all the cabinet ministers have knowledge - academic knowledge for that matter - of their dockets for example Michuki is doing fine in Environment (Environment Knowledge?????) while all this is happening and while some think of 2012 this early, You dont have to be a cook to criticize the cooking do you?

›› cjames 08-Jul-2008 ...reply # 74435
@Songomiser, are you Oburu's press secretary?

›› songomiser 08-Jul-2008 ...reply # 74438
@cjames gossips husema ati hashiki vyenye kunaendelea uko na more inf.

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Master of Political Blunders: Uhuru Kenyatta

2008-07-07T19:29:00.001+03:00

Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta (born October 26, 1961) Kenya’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Trade, the leader of the Kenya African National Union (KANU), the former ruling party, which is currently part of the Party of National Unity (PNU). Nominated to Parliament in 2001, he became Minister for Local Government under President Daniel arap Moi and, despite his political inexperience, was favored by President Moi as his successor; Kenyatta ran as KANU's candidate in the December 2002 presidential election, but lost to opposition candidate Mwai Kibaki by a large margin. He subsequently became Leader of the Opposition in Parliament. He backed Kibaki for re-election in the December 2007 presidential election and was named Minister of Local Government by Kibaki in January 2008, before becoming Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Trade in April 2008 as part of a coalition government. To his supporters Uhuru Kenyatta is a visionary leader. To his detractors the heavy-smoking man is a reluctant politician synonymous to political blunders. Being the son of Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, Uhuru's upbringing was steeped in politics though with little evidence of political artistry.

Uhuru’s political footsteps are characterized by miscalculated moves ever since he lost the 2002 general elections.

Mungiki Association

Ndura Waruinge once questioned Uhuru’s sincerity on Mungiki issues, claiming that Uhuru was himself a member of the deadly Mungiki sect. After the 2007 elections and the skirmishes that followed, it was rumored in sections of the non mainstream media that he had financed Mungiki to the tune of 4million shillings to cause mayhem

Referendum debacle

After losing his footing as a Leader of the Official Opposition, Kenyatta tried to gain some ground albeit in the eyes of the other Kenyan communities at the expense of his native tribe by opposing the new constitution. He joined hands with the rest of Kenyans in handing Kibaki a humiliating defeat and while at it he angered what would have been his bedrock support.

Kanu Fiasco

After the Referendum, his protégé, the former President saw it wise that Uhuru Kenyatta delink from the evolving ODM. Uhuru stuck to its guts. What followed was slow and painful death to Kanu under his watch. On one side was KANU led by Mr. Nicholas Biwoot, on the othe hand, Uhuru was leading a boneless wing.

Supporting Kibaki

Late September 2007 Uhuru Kenyatta after several secret meetings with GEMA kingpins withdraws from the political race in favor of Mwai Kibaki. In what started as trivial and non practical demands to ODM, specifically on KANU fielding its own civic and parliamentary candidates, Uhuru ditched ODM. Politically with the GEMA block firmly behind Kibaki, Uhuru’s support had very little for Kibaki. Although many would argue that he did win his Gatundu seat, in the eyes of the larger Kenya, Uhuru had won himself the tag of a tribal chieftain. It’s anyone’s guess whether Uhuru will inherit the GEMA voting bloc as he as miscalculated. What is evident is that the other bloc that once thought of Uhuru as a non tribal alternative leadership have changed their minds.

Kimunya & the Grand Regency

After seating through the parliamentary proceedings against the Minister for Finance without uttering a word in Kimunya’s, Uhuru has unleashed the tribal card. His ridiculous support to Kimunya was rather late in the day and missing on fundamental rules of justice. He has adopted a see no evil, hear no evil say no evil.

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THE DEAL & ITS REALITY!

2008-02-29T09:52:00.001+03:00

In deed February 28^th 2008 will go down in the History books of Kenya as a day when the political class did put aside their differences and put on paper an agreement intended to end the bloodshed that had threatened to shake the foundation of a rather quiet and lovable nation. In an unexpected turn of events, Emilio Kibaki agreed to sign an agreement that he had disowned just five days earlier. Many analysts are still trying to understand the reasons behind the change of heart. In this post, I intend to point out the key contents of this agreement that could turn out to be trouble if goodwill does not reign.

One such clause is the section on what the holder of the PM should be. Below is an excerpt from the signed agreement that touches on the holder of the position of the Prime Minister:

(2) The person to be appointed as Prime Minister shall be an elected member of the National Assembly who is the parliamentary leader of -
(a) the political party that has the largest number of members in the National Assembly; or
(b) a coalition of political parties in the event that the leader of the political party that has the largest number of members of the National Assembly does not command the majority in the National Assembly.

It is important to appreciate that the talks were more about Raila and Kibaki than Kenya as a whole. With that in mind, it follows that if the agreement does not guarantee either one of them some power then it could easily be dishonored. From this excerpt and the basic mathematics in our parliament at this point in time, Raila could be the leader of the largest party in parliament but that party(ODM) does not control the majority in that parliament. What this means is that the PM could be the leader of a coalition if we go by part 2a of that clause. In a nutshell, the PM could be from either PNU-driven coalition or ODM-driven coalition. Whoever comes up with a coalition with that commands majority in parliament could be the PM, meaning there are no leadership guarantees here for Agwambo.

The second clause that could project problems for this agreement is the section on the dissolution of the coalition:

6. The coalition shall stand dissolved if:
(a) the Tenth Parliament is dissolved; or
(b) the coalition parties agree in writing; or
(c) one coalition partner withdraws from the coalition by a resolution of the highest decision-making organ of that party in writing.

One omission in this clause is what follows after the coalition is dissolved. Should there be an election or does the current life of parliament continue as it is? Part 6a has that taken care of by the current constitution which prescribes that in the event that a parliament is dissolved, then a general election shall follow. The subsequent areas of that clause (6b and 6c) are silent on what should follow this dissolution. The flipside of this is that even a day after this agreement is put in place and Raila becomes the PM with his ODM brigade having 50% of the government positions, PNU could withdraw or better still ODM could withdraw.

The last clause that was agreed on and could be tricky is the 8^th Clause on the lifetime of that act:

8. This Act shall cease to apply upon dissolution of the tenth Parliament, if the coalition is dissolved, or a new constitution is enacted, whichever is earlier.

In the disgraceful event that PNU withdraws from the coalition, then the whole agreement/act becomes trash.

Am no lawyer but this agreement has quite a number of loopholes that give the political class room to play around with the intelligence of peace loving Kenyans. Too much room has been given to whoever feels like going against this hard earned consensus.

RAILA-KIBAKI AGREES

2008-02-28T16:40:00.001+03:00

Reports indicate that an agreement has been reached between President Raila and Emilio Kibaki. Lets brace ourself for another MOU fallout...........

more to follow

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Televise Annan Talks

2008-02-28T14:48:00.002+03:00

Kenya being a Rumor country,the media have never failed to peddle (mis)information on almost everything that is going on. Contents of talks between two individuals will always find their way to the Kenyan media with the now common introductory remark,"Our reliable sources". We have been kept abreast with the happenings at the Koffi Annan Mediation talks since the onset. Matters that were discussed have always, one way or another, found their way into the public domain albeit with some exaggeration.

This week it was reported that a cabinet Minister(read Martha Karua) hurled unprintable words at both the panel and other negotiators. Prior to that, the government side were quick to castigate an earlier agreed settlement,claiming that such matters were not discussed in the first place. That brings me to the main reason for this post today. Should we or not have the mediation talks televised?

Kenyans need to know what is being discussed,after all these talks are about Kenyans. Why should they hide? What is so secret in these talks that should never be made public. We need to know what the ODM is asking for and how the Karuas feel about it. The selfish interest should be exposed so that each leader is seen as is were rather than their public gimmicks that have brought us to this state of affairs. We should be in the know what Kibaki tells Raila and how he responds.

What do you think?

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Annan is Wasting Kenyan's Time

2008-02-27T15:33:00.001+03:00

Over the past few weeks, I have finally realized that I actually do not care who the Kenyan President is. I don't care whether its Kibaki, Raila or Kukobo. What I care about is justice for the many Kenyans who turned up in numbers to vote. I care about this lot regardless of the manner in which they casted their vote.

Many people on the Kibaki side are rejoicing that he ended up being the "duly elected " president but I don't believe they would be satisfied were they to be on the other side. That makes us one thing in common, Kenyans who are dissatisfied by the electoral process and consequently its results. We need justice and we need it soon. The whole Serena peace talks are a waste of Kenyan's time. Justice delayed is Justice denied. Annan and the team of eminent persons are delaying justice to the Kenyan people.

The talks are doomed to fail , one because Kibaki and his goons planned to win unfairly while the ODM did not plan to lose unfairly. As such, on a Cartesian plane Kibaki is way ahead of the ODM. They had projected all these and are not prepared to give in to whatever boardroom pressure.Martha Karua redid the government take just a day after Annan had seen the light at the end of the tunnel. That is just a sign of things to come.The PNU goons will not bulge. The army will not enter the fray as many have requested or wished.

We need our country back. Kenya was founded on the strength of struggle and as such its foundation shall only be only be reinforced through struggle. Democracy was fought for on the streets when the likes of Kibaki were enjoying cups of cappuccino on the lawns of Statehouse, in effect the only language they understand is the verbs and nouns of the streets and teargas. The likes of Martha Karua did master the same language and they in the end believed that it is the only language. Her likes do not believe in negotiations. The psychopaths that surrounds the "President" in the name of matrimonial and conjugal association believe that they are also duly elected, as such they can take none of the papers done by the negotiating team.

Annan must realize that Kenya is unique and so are the people.He must, in that realization pack his bags and go. He has had Kenyans suffering from anxiety since he landed here. His presence has increased the resolve of our detractors. The detractors have therefore regrouped and rearmed illicit groups while our people wait for a negotiated settlement. Annan has wasted Kenyans time. He must be deported by the will and the intention of Kenyan people. We must regain our country from the scoundrels that roam the corridors of Kenyan Seat. The talks have failed and Annan must leave this country so that we can go ahead with our initial solution and language that our detractors understand.

Revolt....Lets reclaim our land.

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The Evil Society of Kenya

2008-02-25T21:33:00.001+03:00

Of Names n’ Opinions

2008-02-19T11:26:00.002+03:00

A lot has changed since Kenya went to the ballot. Violence, displacement, mediation have made the headlines. The print media and the blogs have become a forum for individuals to express their take on the Kenyan situation. Most of the writers have gone to extreme extent to tell Kenyans where the problem lies while others have been busy coming up with varied solutions to the impasse.

From the articles, post and subsequent comments, it's easier to pick a probable name for the writer. A Kariuki will knowingly bias his/her take towards the likes of Kibaki and Martha Karua. An Onyango will definitely comment on the ill side of the Kibakis. Solutions that are coming up in most of these articles are also geared to favor one side were they to be adopted.

Macharia Gaitho of Nation Media is one such writer. Kumekucha has similar writers and so is Siasa Duni.

Constitutional Excuse...

2008-02-18T09:33:00.001+03:00

Kenyans blame everything on the constitution.We blame our ability to do bad things on the constitution and so do we blame our inability to do good things on the same constituition. The 2007 elections failed to deliver an acceptable results not because of a constitutional crisis but because of some ignocentric lot in the high places yet many Kenyans will always twist this to mean a constitutional disorder. To get Kenyans out of this post election mess,we have refused to acknowledge and accept the truth, so much that the whole problem has stopped being what it was but a constitutional problem. On the same breadth,negotiators from one side have been busy quoting the constitution of the country as suprem. Their argument is that whatever solution that is arrived at in those negotiated talks must be in line with the supreme law of the land.

Kakamega on Fire!

2008-02-16T16:00:00.001+03:00

UPDATES:

Gun shots reigns the air as police try to disperse angry residents who are protesting the treatment vented on their kins who have just landed from Nakuru and Naivasha.
More smoke can be seen from the town area and Lurambi shopping centers.
Crowds are building up at the Police station. Reports indicate that Kakamega residents have surrounded the Police Station.
People are demanding that the IDPs at the Kakamega Police Station must vacate before the sunset.
A building complex has been surrounded, its being targeted for burning.

More to follow......

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Chaos erupt in Kakamega!

2008-02-16T15:28:00.001+03:00

Chaos have erupted in Kakamega following an emotional return of the people displaced from Naivasha and Nakuru areas. A lorry full of the IDPs has raised emotions in an otherwise calm Saturday afternoon. Running battles have ensued in the town with marauding youths trying to invade the Kakamega Police Station where majority of the people displaced from the larger Western Province are residing.

The lorry did several rounds within Kakamega town with wailing residents escorting it. Sources indicate that the lorry which came through the Eldoret Chavakali-Kakamega route entered the town at exactly 12pm.Everywhere it went,it was recieved with lots of emotions and wails.Majority of the IDPs in the lorry showed clear panga cuts, a sign of the atrocities vented on them by the Mungiki while in Nakuru and Naivasha.

Smoke can be seen all over town, youth are burning old tyres and targeting percieved enemies who were slowly returning to their early ways.Tension is high in the town.In Amalemba and Lurambi shopping centers,police have barricaded the roads,barring people from entering the main business district.

More on this story will follow.

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To be recognised or not?

2008-02-15T10:00:00.001+03:00

Away from accusing the ODM for xyz the Kenyan "coverment" is on a warpath with the diplomats. The "Sinister" for Foreign Affairs,Wetangula, has been continually telling the British that they(Kenyan Coverment) don't need their approval neither do they need their rubber stamp(British Fanyakazi Sasa Ruber-stamp). This followed the live interview that the British high commissioner had on KTN in which he emphasized the British stand that Kibaki's as a president does not represent the democratic will of the Kenyan people.

Martha "misbehavior" Karua in one of now common outburst keeps telling the diplomats to shut the F*8k up. She even wondered aloud why the Kenyan media gives the diplomats audience. In her reasoning they are inconsequential and should not have the audacity to speak for or to Kenyans.Strange, the same outfit is incensed to the point of summoning the same British Commissioner to complain about the "not forthcoming recognition". Last month, Mr Wetangula summoned Mr Wood to complain after Foreign Office Minister Meg Munn said London did not recognise President Kibaki's government.

Does Kibaki's (il)legitimate "coverment" need recognition from the International community? The answer to this is rather obvious. Yes they do. It is also easy to understand their anger when this recognition is not forthcoming. The feeling can easily be captured by a child who after being denied a sweet goes on to say that he doesn't need the sweet after all.

If Kibaki is not really interested in what other countries have to say, then he should say that categorically for the whole world to know. Suppose he indeed wants recognition, which i believe he does need, then he should do the magnanimous thing and let the democratic will of the people reign.

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Where are the Eminent IDPs?

2008-02-12T10:00:00.001+03:00

A lot of Kenyans are living under deplorable conditions due to the skirmishes that rocked the country over the recent past. Eminent Africans led by Koffi Annan are trying day and night to sort out the issues that might have sparked the violence. In Kisumu a Luo man lost all his property just because he was married to a Kikuyu woman. Same stories can be traced from different parts of the country with husbands and wives having to suffer coz of politically incorrect marriages.

Allow me to pose the following questions in regard to these so called "politically incorrect marriages" and the state of these were to be "Eminent IDPs" .

Fidel Odinga
Suppose Fidel Odinga were residing in his parental home in Bondo, would the neighbours have burnt his property? Would the wife,Wairimu, be an IDP at the Bondo Police station? The whole world knows that he is married to a Kikuyu,was his property torched either way? If not, what rationale was used in identifying the victims of this post election punishment?

James Aggrey Orengo
Was Betty Murungi Orengo in Ugenya when these violence started? Did the Ugenya constituents burn down Orengo's house? Is Betty Murungi an IDP at the Ugunja Police Station?

Am unable to exhaust the list but the drift is quite clear...........

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Whats happening to KTN?

2008-02-12T09:08:00.001+03:00

Kenya Television Network(KTN) has been off air in many parts of the country(Western parts of Kenya) since Friday last week.At a time when Kenya is grappling with unprecedented cases of violence and the media is in between two hard rocks, it is disturbing that a station of KTN stature should be off-air long. If the reporting during the election period and the post election times were to go by, it could well be rumored that the station has fallen prey to the long arm of the illegitimate government.

It is my hope that the station is having some technical difficulties that would be soon rectified rather than some political victimization. In the absence of KTN, I have just realized how boring KBC, NTV are.

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What Next for ODM in the event of Annan’s Failure?

2008-02-08T15:48:00.001+03:00

There is an eminent flop in the mediation exercise that is on going. The two sides, irrespective of meetings that have been ongoing for almost two weeks appear to drift further apart as each day goes by. From the media briefings it’s rather obvious that they are far from reading one script. The arrogance that is characteristics of Martha Karua is still at its best. Moses Wetangula is still behaving badly and same can be said of Mutula Kilonzo. In section of the blogospehere, reports indicated that Government spies implanted listening devices at Annan’s Serena Hotel room. What next for ODM?

Allow me to sound the devil’s advocate in this. The ODM brigade I believe have realized that these talks are headed nowhere. If the haven’t, they should watch Kibaki addressing the AU in Adis last week. ODM should also realize that calls for peace rather than Justice are gaining more ground. At its best, ODM’s success in fighting Kibaki’s leadership is very much dependent on chaos. On the other hand Koffi Annan’s mediation talks have in effect cooled a lot of tempers. The communities perceived to be in the wrong tuff have almost gone back to what Kenyans refer to as “reserves”, as such the scary chaotic scenes will cease to target any of the so called enemy. At this point in time, the precipitates for chaos are significantly reduced. In other words calm might soon evolve to mini-peace. Its that mini-peace that Kibaki requires.

ODM cannot afford partial success or partial failure of the mediation talks. It will be in the best interest of this movement if real success can be achieved. In this case real success should amount to nothing else rather than a presidential rerun within the next 6months. If that is not the case then ODM should consider the outcome of such talks as partial whichever side you look at it, failure or success.

Looking at the unfolding events, it is a sure bet that these talks are headed for a partial success/failure. The ODM should not in anyway allow that. Either partiality should be sired to the sure result. If failure it is, then ODM should ensure that the talks fail and not a single resolution should be arrived at. In the unlikely event that a partial success should be, then they must work extra hard to ensure the whole success. This reasoning might be controversial but I believe that ODM cannot achieve its agenda in a scenario where they are bound by certain aspects while others remain unresolved.

The latitude required in the Post-Annan Kenya will not require leaders with legs on both sides of the divide. If it is a disagreement, so let it be. Such a scenario will then give ODM the goodwill to soldier on with its fight against the perceived enemy. Raila should then go ahead and announce his plan B whose success depends very much on the success of chaos. The baggage of Annan’s resolution will not tether the ODM leadership to any binding documents. ODM should by now realize that things should not be allowed to go back to normal, and as such they should be working beyond these talks.

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Some nice story for Kenyans

2008-02-04T14:28:00.001+03:00

There is a legend of a woman who had a faithful dog. This dog was so faithful that the woman could leave her baby with it and go out to attend other matters. She always returned to find the child soundly asleep with the dog faithfully watching over him.

One day something tragic happened. The woman as usual, left the baby in the “hands”of this faithful dog and went out shopping. When she returned, she discovered rather a nasty scene. There was a total mess. The baby’s cot was dismantled and his nappies and clothes torn to shreds with bloodstains all over the bedroom where she had left the child and the dog. Shocked, the woman wailed as she began looking for the baby. Presently, she saw the faithful dog emerging from the under the bed. It was covered with blood and licking its mouth as it had just finished a delicious meal.

The woman went berserk and assumed that the dog had devoured her baby. Without much thought she clubbed the dog to death. But as she continued searching for the “remains” of her child, she beheld another scene. Close to the bed. The baby who, although lying on bare floor, was safe. And under the bed the carcass of a jackal torn to pieces in what must have been a fierce battle between it and the dog which was now dead.

Then the reality hit the woman who now began to understand what took place in her absence. The dog fought to protect the baby from the ravenous jackal. It was too late for her now to make amends because in her impatience and anger, she had killed the faithful dog.

How often have we misjudged people and torn them to shreds with harsh words and even with physical assault before we have had time to evaluate the situation? A little patience can drastically reduce major life long errors

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This is beyond Raila and Kibaki!

2008-01-29T10:53:00.000+03:00

A lot of pleas have been made to both Mwai Kibaki and Raila Odinga asking them to engage in dialogue so as to impede to the ever escalating hostility in the country. One supposition being made is that when an agreement is reached, at the top, the goodwill will trickle down to the warring Kenyans at the lowest level of the cadre. This is a fallacy that will not bear any fruits. The political class is assuming ownership to the prevailing conditions yet it’s not ready to accept responsibility of the same. They consider that the masses waging pangas at one another and the violence itself is a possession that can be directed and influence wielded upon. The leaders in their minds believe that by uttering the word stop they can put to an end the skirmishes.

At the onset of these skirmishes Raila Odinga could have directed the supposed followers from engaging in violence. Kibaki would have asked the police to stop killing innocent Kenyans. He would have stopped Mungiki from regrouping. This point in time, things have evolved to an extent that it is beyond these two leaders. None per se can and will stop the war that is emerging. The fundamentals and the driving factors in this chaos have outgrown the electoral discontent.

The violence has grown, the first stage was the election violence which saw a lot of people being displaced, some others losing life while others lost property. The second phase is a combination of the first phase and a component of revenge and counter revenge. We are yet to experience the third phase which will of course entail the first two phases and a third component that will not just be driven by any political theme. The first phase was more political than the proceeding phases thus a political solution would have been possible. In that political solution these two leaders would have been relevant. In the second phase in which this war has transformed into, politics has taken a minimal role, the main force being tribe.

Mediation, Negotiation or whatever you call it should put more emphasis on the whole Kenyan citizen body rather that the so called “two protagonist”. Those seeking “return to normal” should thus refocus efforts at the warring neighbors rather that the political elite. Koffi Annan, though much is expected of him will fail to bring any meaningful solution to our current predicament. In visiting the IDP and not having audience with the youth perpetrating this violence, Annan has one side of the story. The side of the story that can drive one into tears, though not the full story.

One solution that keeps coming up in different forums that I have engaged in is the splitting of this nation into two; Mt. Kenya Republic and Victoria Republic. Could it possible to borrow a leaf from Lesotho and South Africa?

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Mugabe Were Out: Which ODM MP is next?

Latest frm western kenya:destrution galore!

2008-01-28T16:38:00.001+03:00

Unconfirmed reports indicate that kipkaren river bridge that links eldoret to malaba(kenya-uganda border) is down cuttin off supplies to ug. Also,in kisumu,demonstrators are busy uprooting the railway line. In kakamega 8 hses have bn reduced to rabbles after about 700 youths descended on the town. I managed to talk to some n they indicated that they want to tell annan that this war is abt elections n nothin else n that Its not abt rift valley alone but the whole country.Bungoma,luanda,busia n kipkaren police have bn overwhelmed.More to follow.....

I change my mind………

2008-01-27T12:11:00.000+03:00

Yesterday I had the opportunity to feel the real pain of the Post-Election violence that has rocked the country over the past one month. For the better part of the day my fingers were glued to the dial key on my phone. Early that day my small bro who works in Nakuru had called, sounding disturbed, to indicate that some of the attackers were meters away from his house. Ten minutes later his phone went dead. He was unreachable for the better part of the day. I have never been worried that much in my entire life.

In numerous posts and in many forums I have always maintained that all that is happening is a sacrifice that the Kenyan people have to make in order to attain democracy. I hereby do change my mind. Kenyans need not die for anything. NOBODY deserves the kind of treatment that fellow citizens have brought upon one another. We need to get sober and avoid the cannibalization of our country.

My brother had to be in it for me to realize all these. For Kibaki, Raila and all those political leaders, it might just take the same to make them understand that this nation is crying. If only the pain could hit where it hurts most for these leaders, then we can stroll out of these skirmishes a better nation than before. Kibaki will not see the tears and suffering in Kenyan people unless it hits him too. The same can be said of all those other leaders.

For once since these violence started, I never considered what was happening to be a political issue but a moral issue. All the images of mutilated Kenyans kept reappearing to me, only this time my brother’s face glaring back. In those images it was never a Kikuyu neither was it a Luo nor a Kelenjin but a mutilated Kenyan. Do I care about democracy anymore? Yes I do. Do I care about Justice anymore? Yes I do. I care but let’s stop the Killing each other to achieve all these. Democracy and Justice can’t be that expensive.

Depressed Nation: Deploy Psychiatrist, Psychologists and Counselors not Police!

2008-01-14T12:51:00.001+03:00

Kenya is a depressed Nation. The hopelessness that the country is in is beyond any psychiatric description. The stolen elections, the death of a new hope, change that never came, new economic hardships, death and displacement. What Kenyans need are not the police to keep them away from the streets but someone to make them understand. Someone to make them live with all the bad things. Someone to psychoanalyze them and turn their anger into hope. The anger must be converted into strength. We need someone to explain to us why it had to happen the way it did. That someone must be able enough to tell us why we had to participate in the elections in the first place. Kenyans need counseling.

At the moment, this is somewhat melancholic acutely dissatisfied and to some extent bitter nation. The police might be brutal in containing the situation but the will of Kenyans might not welter. If Kibaki plans to stay in power for the next four years, then Kenyans must be made to understand. Someone must appeal to our minds. We must be made to accept him unconditionally. A psychologist/Psychiatrist/Counselor must be deployed.

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Martha Karua on BBC HardTalk

2008-01-11T10:59:00.000+03:00

To understand the genesis of Kibaki's intransigence and [recent] odd behaviour, look no further than Ms. Martha Karua's interview with the BBC here. Vindictive, tactless, irrelevant, blinkered, absurd, out of touch – no adjective can quite describe her toe-curling performance. What planet does this woman live in?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsa/n5ctrl/progs/08/hardtalk/karua_09jan.ram

or

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/hardtalk/7179270.stm

Listening to Karua's sullen, selective apportioning of blame, it's hard to see how the peace effort would have amounted to anything other than a tourist visit for President Kufuor and Ms. Jendayi Fraser. It's also obvious that the interviewer and Sir Edward Clay were having a laugh at her expense. I have given up on Kibaki, but I'm still holding out for Kenya.

Will Koffi Annan succeed? Let's wait and see.

Kibaki Embarrassed in Eldoret

2008-01-10T10:21:00.001+03:00

President Kibaki endured embarrassment at the hands of post election demonstrator who burnt houses barely 200m from where he was addressing a peace meeting. In his usual absent mindedness, he could not immediately realize what the crowd was beckoning him to see as they shouted him down with the chants of, "Angalia, wanachoma nyumba zetu nyuma yako… (Look! They are burning houses behind you)".

In clear display of his ignorance of the prevailing circumstances, Kibaki went ahead to tell the angry crowd to take their children to school beginning next week. The crowd again interrupted him asking, "Tutawapeleka wapi? Shule zote zimechomwa (Where will we take them? Schools were all burnt),"

For the third time, the victims interrupted the President, protesting at his directive that they channel their grievances through local chiefs.

The question many people are asking is whether Kibaki with his illegitimate title as the Kenyan President will be able to move around the country. The hostility even amongst his strongest supporters is clearly evident going by the statements that have been coming from his stronghold. Mwaura Wanjau a victim of these post election skirmishes sums it up by saying “Huyu Mzee ametumess” (This old man has messed us up).

His inability to end the on going violence was clear, although he had been escorted by the strongest security detail in the history of Presidential tour in this country, just 200m away, violence was evident.

It will be interesting to see whether Kibaki will visit victims of violence in Kisumu.

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Kalonzo's Miracle is yet to come!

2008-01-09T13:46:00.000+03:00

The elevation of Kalonzo “Wiper” Musyoka to the post of the Vice President has drawn mixed reactions all over the country with demonstrations being reported in some volatile parts, although the tunes of the W~a~thi wa Mukamba could be heard all the way from Kangundo. I hate to post articles that might appear to be rumors but on this occasion I will ignore that.

Allow me to build a case. In the run-up to this circus of an election, it was reported by the EA Standard that Kalonzo’s allies had met the former President. Mutula Kilonzo who attended that meeting later confirmed that the meeting was not meant to woo Kalonzo in supporting Mwai Kibaki. That fact has at least been proven. Mr. Wiper did not withdraw in favor of any candidate but soldered on to become the third with a paltry 600k and a bonus 200k courtesy of the PNU rig-squad. The details of that meeting have never been made public and I don’t expect them to be made public.

A week before the meeting with the former president, Kalonzo while addressing a mammoth rally at Uhuru Park divulged to the audience that he had gotten a goodwill message from Gideon Moi. He claimed that the son to the former President was indeed supporting his candidature. Although the younger Moi would later deny this, I wonder whether a politician of Kalonzo’s stature would make such a goof.

As a campaign issue, the Miracle man decided to let the public know how much he was actually worth. He put that at 50million, a figure that I highly doubt! Giving him some benefit of doubt though and assuming that 50m is what he is worth, how was he able to finance his campaigns? A friend of mine who worked with the PNU campaigns tells me that printing campaign materials alone did cost them more that what Kalonzo is worth. Unlike the PNU and the ODM, Kalonzo’s fundraising meetings did not give him so much. How did he pull it off? Who was behind his candidature financially?

PNU had a rallying call, “Kazi iendelee”. ODM had “Maisha Bora”. Kalonzo had “Raila upande mmoja, Kibaki upande mwingine na Kalonzo atapita katikati yao”. This is to say that Raila would be on one side, Kibaki the other as he strolls into Presidency. He interchangeably used this call alongside the “Miracle victory” line. Many Kenyans did not figure out how through divine intervention they would cast votes in favor of Musyoka. What miracle was Kalonzo referring to?

Having said all these and having in mind that Kibaki was not keen on running for a second term, now things appear clearer. Although he made some mistakes as a President, Kibaki unlike his predecessor has always been known to be a democrat. How could he throw all these through the window? That is the begging question. It is difficult to answer this but I do see a hidden hand in this Miracle. Is Kibaki in charge of his ill gotten Presidency? Allow me to be a rumor monger in this.(The following sections are not based on any factual information but personal imaginations)

Kibaki is convinced to run for a second term though he is scared of loosing. He is assured of a victory the African way by the expert in the rigging mechanism. Kalonzo on the other side is meanwhile briefed on how he’ll become the president by his erstwhile secretary general; all he can say is that it’s a miracle. Kibaki is unaware of the real game, what he knows is that in the post election Kenya, Kalonzo should be a VP. As the vote tallying goes on, things are falling apart. Kibaki is ready to accept defeat until the hidden hand gets back in the picture. Kivuitu is threatened (I imagined a worst case scenario, “children held at gunpoint”). ODM-K through the Secretary General and the innocent brats in PNU (the likes of Mungatana and Kiunjuri) piles pressure on ECK to release the results. The grand schemers did not anticipate being caught though, but it is important to note that the schemer in this is an old timer, he ignored technology. Chaos erupts, and as usual Kibaki does not know what to do. The plan has to go on. ODM-K must take its potion in all this. At all cost Kalonzo must become the VP. The hidden hand asks Kibaki to ignore the mediation talk but the pressure from the International community is too much. An idea crops up; half cabinet is named with Kalonzo in pole position.

Whatever will happen with the mediated talks is inconsequential as far as the hidden hand is concerned. He has a plan. I fear for Kenya because the constitution says that in the unthinkable event that something was to happen to Prezzo, the Vice President assumes the office. Many will wonder why it had to be Kalonzo. It is believed that he is widely accepted as a uniting figure full with an undeniable Christian foundation.What a stroll would it be to Presidency? The hidden hand will then execute the remainder of the plan, titled “Remaining the President”.

For sure it will be a long walk to democracy in Kenya, but our souls should not tire for the future is brighter.

Kalonzo VICE PRESIDENT

2008-01-08T17:50:00.001+03:00

Kalonzo has just been made a VP...........

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DEMOCRACY HAS FAILED, WHAT NEXT FOR AFRICA?

2008-01-08T16:29:00.001+03:00

The long list of disputed elections in Africa, Kenya being the latest entrant, raises serious questions about the depth of Africa’s commitments to democratic governance. Election as a symbol and means of achieving democracy has often failed to realize its intended goal. Disregard to basic human rights and freedoms, totalitarian rule and other misdemeanors characterize African Socio-Political way of life. Has Democracy failed in Africa? Shouldn’t Africans look for another form of governance?

Professor Donald Kagan in "Pericles of Athens and The Birth of Democracy” said that a successful democracy is based on more than elections. He maintained that an examination of the few successful democracies in history suggests that they need to meet three conditions if they are to flourish. The first is to have a good set of institutions. The second is to have a body of citizens who possess a good understanding of the principles of democracy, and who at least have developed a character consistent with the democratic way of life. The third is to have a high quality of leadership, at least in critical moments. There is great evidence in Africa that not a single country has been able to achieve these three pre-conditions for democracy, thus democracy is a failure. The foundation of our democracy is solely laid on Elections.

In recognition of these failures, that is, inability to develop robust institutions and the glaring nature of our citizen body coupled with lack of high quality leadership, there is need to analyze importance of elections in our continent. Elections in Africa are a gateway to more problems as we are seeing in most parts of the continent. The question is how long this will continue and how we can change this. It is high time we begin to question whether elections are relevant in Africa given their sticky nature. The Kenyan scenario is evidence to all these. For a country that has been haven for peace since its independence, the country is in turmoil due to the desire of the people to exercise the so called “democratic right”. For Africa elections do one thing: they confer the title of "democratically elected president" which in turn opens the coffers of Brettonwood institutions and other members of the International Community. For long, financial institutions have equated this title to good governance, accountability, respect for human rights etc. But this is not true for most African rulers.

I believe that long term economic reform in Africa can succeed only when we have a Marshall plan for Africa like was planned and executed for Western Europe. This plan should acknowledge that under conditions of underdevelopment and continuing economic crisis, where the state remains the primary source of material expectations and aspirations the so called “Democracy” cannot work neither can its election brother. The plan must devise a method for achieving what I would call “good dictatorship” for every African State. African brains must come together and device this plan, through the African Union we can be able to solve our own problems in our own model of governance that reflects the diversity of our people and in the end recognizes these diversities for the better good of this continent.

Why do I bring forth the issue of “good dictatorship”? The case of Singapore under the rule of Lee Kuan Yew comes in mind. As one writer once put it, “Singapore has achieved the American dream, but not in the American way”. This has been done through what they call a Benevolent Dictator. The challenge for Africa would be how to get the right dictators for each African State. With the brains that litter the world with lots of socio-political articles on how Africa can move out of its quagmire, I believe we can work through this and restore some pride in our people, reduce poverty and live a good life.

Kenya as an emerging problem can be used as a test programme. The AU chairman, Mr. Kuffour should cease this opportunity to bring about paradigm shift in the way African affairs are run. As a mediator in the post-election turmoil in Kenya, the goal should not just be to bring Raila Odinga and Mwai Kibaki to the table but also to bring about scholars and the African people at large into devising a new front in management of African affairs. In the interim a transitional mechanism should be put in place as the continent engage in the formulation of Marshall Plan. Within a period of 3months a Benevolent Dictator with wide raging powers put under strict institutional checks and balances should be identified and supported by all African nations.

A more intelligent solution to a Kenyan problem can solve an African problem.What do you think?

Returning the Loot!

2008-01-08T12:33:00.001+03:00

Apparently looters at the Kenyan Coast are one by one returning what they stole in the post election skirmishes. A spell has been cast on all those who took what didn't belong to them. A six day ultimatum placed has had the looters running scared with majority of them returning the goods late in the night while others are doing it in a broad day light.

It is said that at least two people have fallen victim to this curse, one is no longer able to pee while the other broke is backbone while getting naughty in bed.

I appeal to these Coastarians to cast the same spell to any presidential and parliamentary candidate who might have stolen the right of Kenyans to choose their leaders.

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Post-Election Kenya: Prophet Ngunyi?

2008-01-07T14:42:00.000+03:00

How could Mutahi Ngunyi be this precise? Did Raila or Kibaki see this?

Sunday Nation, Dec 2003

Why our second liberation is yet to be completed

By MUTAHI NGUNYI

This week I want to give a suggestion to President Mwai Kibaki: He
should fire his speechwriter! If we lived in a ''banana republic,''
these people would have actually been charged with sabotage.
What they gave the President to read on Jamhuri Day was flat and
shoddy.

In fact, his speech on this day sounded like recycled material from
the Madaraka Day and Kenyatta Day addresses. And what is worrying is
that his speechwriters did not even seem to notice the repetitions.
The question we should ask here is why?

The answer to this is simple: Maybe they also slept through the
speeches! The long and short of things is therefore that someone is
being negligent.

Let us now turn to the fact that the President has finally put his
portrait on our currency. In my view, there is absolutely nothing
wrong with that. In fact, there would be nothing wrong if he put a
family portrait on one of the currency notes.

What we must understand here is that President Kibaki is a human
being. He has urges and excesses. To deny him some things is
therefore ridiculous. It is like placing a pot full of honey in
front of a little boy and expecting him not to dip his finger into
the stuff! In other words, our new President is cuddling in the
warmth and comfort of the institutions that shaped former President
Daniel arap Moi. And, if this is the case, why should we be
surprised if he ''hatched'' into a dictator?

What we have witnessed in the last one year is the degeneration of
President Kibaki from a reformer to a ''Toad King''. This process
begins with the President becoming insensitive. At this point, he
breaks one pledge after another without feeling a thing. And, as he
does this, the question in his mind is: Where can you take me?
In the case of the MoU for instance, we took him nowhere. The
begrudged politicians yapped until the cows came home. Now the
President has put his portrait on our currency and we will take him
nowhere. The general attitude here is this: If you do not like it,
you can sit on a pin!

Numbing his sense to popular voices will definitely degenerate into
a state of paranoia. At this point, the President will make one
blunder after another. And instead of correcting his mistakes, he
will increase his speed in the direction of the wrong. This is where
former President Moi was when he introduced ''Project Uhuru'' to the
country. The crowds booed him, his loyal followers in Kanu abandoned
him and even his own people questioned his wisdom. But the more we
rejected his ''project'', the more determined he became.

There is a lesson for President Kibaki here. He is increasingly
becoming like Mr Moi during the 2002 elections. He is not yet
paranoid, but his insensitivity could develop into ''political
blindness''. Who knows how low he will have sunk by the 2007
elections? And this is what worries me.

Consider a hypothetical situation here. What would happen if
President Kibaki decided to run for re-election in 2007 and lost?
Would he and his men have the grace to hand over power peacefully?
From the way they have behaved in the last one year, I doubt it. And
where would that leave the country? At the risk of sounding crazy, I
want to suggest the following: If we thought that Mr. Moi would
plunge the country into civil strife, he proved us wrong. Narc is
the party to plunge the county into civil strife. You just have to
listen to the FM stations and the call-in television programmes to
see a pattern. From the name of the caller, you can almost predict
what they will say and what side of the divide they will take. In a
disputed election, such polarity would certainly take ugly
proportions.

But there are two possible ways out of this. The first one has to do
with the agenda of the second liberation. This process was meant to
achieve two things - to remove Mr. Moi from power and replace him
with reform-minded leaders. This was done successfully. However, as
we are beginning to realise, Mr. Moi was not the problem.
The problem was the institutions he inherited from the Kenyatta. To
change the leadership without changing the institutions is like
treating cancer with Malaraquin. This is partly why
the ''institutional cancer'' in the presidency is beginning to
affect President Kibaki.

Putting his portrait on our currency and junking the pre-election
MoU are just manifestations of this cancer. This is why the other
agenda of the second liberation was institutional reforms. Until
this is completed, the second liberation will not have happened.
More specifically, this refers to the constitutional review process.
And, at this point I would want to address the delegates preparing
for Bomas III on January 12, 2004.

It is my hope that you have had time to reflect on the issues at
hand in Bomas III. We are also told that the politicians have spent
this long break to bribe you. In my view you should take the bribes
and use the money to enjoy your Christmas. You must realise at this
point that you are involved in politics and that in this game there
is no morality. As such, you should have fun on someone else's
account! However, when it comes to voting, you must reject
the ''bribe givers'' and vote for the country.

This is important because of the following reasons. If the second
liberation had two phases, the first phase of replacing the
leadership had to be carried out by 3.1 million voters. Replacing Mr
Moi and his cronies was in my view the easy part. The second phase
is the tough one. And this is where you come in. You are only 600
people, and the future of our country depends on you.
I have two questions for you at this point. One, as you vote for
issues, will you be thinking of your ''tribal chief'' or your
children? In my view, your tribe is your children. If you make a
constitution for your children, you will have made a constitution
for Kenya.

Two, consider the question of the Prime Minister's post. And the
question to you is this: If this post had been created before the
2002 elections, do you think President Kibaki would have ''trashed''
the MoU? Do you think he would have put his portrait on our currency
and retained corrupt ministers in his Cabinet? If the answer to
these questions is no, then the cure to the ''institutional cancer''
in the presidency is the creation of this post. Do think about it!
The second possible way out of civil strife has to do with the
Kikuyu. Now that the presidency has returned to the ''House of
Mumbi'', some people from the community are convinced that it is
there to stay. In my view, this kind of thinking is retrogressive
and could result in ethnic animosity.Kikuyus should come to terms
with the possibility that they could lose the presidency in 2007. As
such, they should do two things: One, ''bank'' with the other
communities. This is important because they cannot survive alone in
future. Two, they should disown the Kikuyu ''sharks'' in the Kibaki
government.

Unless they do so, the entire community will be blacklisted simply
on account of a few people. In future, a Kikuyu presidential
candidate would be rejected because of the misdeeds of isolated
people. My submission therefore is: They should not support this
regime blindly!

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Complex Problem, Simple Solution

2008-01-07T11:15:00.001+03:00

Lets go back to the ballot and see who the real winner was... If Kibaki won in a free and fair election then he should be not be scared to prove to the world that he actually won. The same applies to Raila Odinga, if he indeed won the elections, he should not be afraid of repeating the triumph for the whole world to see.

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Elusive "Normal"

2008-01-05T12:54:00.001+03:00

Things will never go back to normal in Kenya. Majority of Kenyans are pleading with the political class to sort out their mess so that things can go back to the way they were.

Take it all

At about 3pm yesterday a neighbor of mine called me from downstairs of my apartment. He looked scared and disturbed. I half heartedly agreed to talk to him due to the number of idlers who were clearly baying for his blood and other Kikuyu property around there. He ushered me into his fully furnished two bedroom house. "My friend, I am leaving all these to you, do whatever you want with this but don't let them burn them down!" he said. "This is my sweat, you are a good person, I hope one day you will be able to pay me back." He continued.
I was shocked beyond words. Going into his house I expected lend him a hand at carrying some heavy luggage, but not to take all his property. I immediately refused and pleaded with him to hope for the positive. He forced one key into my shirt pocket and left in a huff tears rolling down his cheeks. It's sad to see a grown man cry.
I didn't know Ben that much except for the fact that he had a very beautiful wife and an Automobile shop in Kakamega town. He was a quiet and rare person, pleasant and easy to talk to but would keep indoors.

Mistrust

Still short of words and scared of the responsibility at hand, I got up locked the door and tried to catch up with him. He was literally running away from all he had worked for. He was running away from the very testament of his hard work.In the confused state that I was i went back to my apartment where I shared the incident with a lunje friend of mine. We started digesting the whole thing. I started thinking straight, "this guy is using me," that was my first thought. "He is trying to nail you, how comes he didn't give you all the keys?" "This guy will come back in the night, take everything and accuse you of theft." "The death squad have seen you getting out of that house, they'll come after you instead." After all these deliberations I decided to deposit the key at the police station after writing a statement.

At the police station
Lorries, children , women, pickups, old men, youth, stock and other property littered the police station as never before. I had never seen anything like that before. I changed my mind and decided to look for Ben instead. It was not hard locating him. His anger at seeing me were evident. "Did they burn it down?" that was his first question. It took me a cool five minutes to explain to him why I didn't want to keep that key. Of course I did not mention my fears. I assured him that I will do everything in my power to protect his property. He unwillingly took back the key to much of my relief.

Revenge, Payback

I took time to get some of the stories and to dissect the mental state of these people who have been displaced. There is anger and vengeance. Property n lives have been lost and someone has to pay. That was the bottom line from the few people I talked to. All that Ben wants right now is to get back to Thika. He intimated to me that people back home are just waiting for family members in the diaspora to get back before they hit back.

I had a chance to talk to Ciku, the only home she has know is in Molo, her parents are also staying in a police station. She has nothing and nowhere to go. She jokes that the choice she has is to choose which police station she wants to stay at.

Normal is an Illusion. Things can never get back to normal.

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Kenyan Police Divided over the poll crisis.

2008-01-04T13:17:00.001+03:00

The division in the police force regarding the poll crisis in Kenya is well depicted on the video
posted in this link.
Demonstrators can be seen passing through the armed policemen without much effort. In other areas of the country, TV footage captured demonstrators hanging on one of the police vehicles.

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Putting the Cart before the Horse: What a President?

2008-01-03T18:23:00.001+03:00

According to Reuters, President Mwai Kibaki called on Thursday for an end to post-election violence that has killed at least 300 people and said he was ready for talks with the opposition once the nation had calmed down.

"I am ready to have dialogue with the concerned parties once the nation is calm and the political temperatures are lowered enough for constructive and productive engagement," Kibaki told reporters

Can someone tell me what is wrong with the "President". Calm can only be restored in this country if and only if he accepts the will of the people. He cannot expect Kenyans to abandon the fight for democracy so as to negotiate with him.

In my understanding what Kibaki is saying to Kenyans especially those affected by this skirmishes is that he aint ready to talk, and that he doen't care about the violence that is going round this country.

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Bleak Future for Kenya

2008-01-03T16:48:00.001+03:00

Am glued to the TV watching the going-ons around the Nairobi CBD, am also following most of these on the Internet from a number of bloggers and the international press(shame on kenyan media for lack of presence on the net,websites are treated like print media where news is static for the day). Anyway, my take of the current situation.....BLEAK FUTURE FOR KENYA. Why do I say this?
My arguments are based on what I have seen on TV mostly. Its true to say that majority of the policemen are wearing off due to these riots. I've seen rioters hanging on one of the Police Land Cruiser. The police, unlike the first day of these riots, have been freely engaging them in dialogue and some chit chat. This is to say that the rallies and riots will continue with less opposition from the police. The same can be said of the countryside, Kakamega for instance, police officers could be heard telling rioters to burn the remaining houses with haste so that the work load can die down.

The second reason why Kenya has an unknown future is because of the quietness from the Kibaki side especially from the president himself. Majority of the people talking on behalf of PNU are losers who command little respect in the country. The crop of MPs-elect on the PNU side have little experience when it comes to National politics. Since Kibaki as a player in this has failed to decisively make a case for himself rumours and accusations will in aggravate the whole skirmishes. There is a rumor going round that Kibaki is ready to resign, though after the Safaricom IPO scheduled to start on Monday 7th.

The roits are taking a new shape, the battle grounds are moving away from the urban centers to the villages and the estates. Reports of violence in the residential areas are increasing with every passing day. New targets are being discovered in churches and its just a matter of time before smaller police stations are attacked.

Peace efforts and public appeal are falling on deaf ears. Most of the people listening to such calls are those that are scared to venture outdoors. The main movers of these violence have little time for TVs and Radios. Amos Kimunya on the Kibaki side rejected the overture extended by the African Union Chairman. This is in itself an indication that PNU is not willing to put matters on the table.So much for arrogance.

Food and other supplies are dying out. Medical attention is had to find. Kenyans in business are feeling the pinch of not being able to do business. The NSE has just postponed business. Shops all over the country are under lock and key. Soon Kenyans will get tired of this life and move to the streets in protest the Argentina or Ukraine way.

Leaders are now taking charge of these riots as has been seen in Kisumu where the two MPs, Shakeel Shabir and Alago Aluoch were arrested. Mungiki have also been given state machinery to cause chaos in Dandora. Rumour had it that some of them are being airlifted to Eldoret while the Chinkororo have been transported to Kericho to provide protection to the targetted communities. This will eventually boil to an all out war.

The noble thing is for Kibaki to resign and let the will of the people reign!

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Looting and Killing the Kenyan Hope

2008-01-03T14:28:00.001+03:00

"Hope is the most sensitive part of a poor wretch’s soul; whoever raises it only to torment him is behaving like the executioners in Hell who, they say, incessantly renew old wounds and concentrate their attention on that area of it that is already lacerated." Marquis de Sade

In his first term as the Kenyan President, Kibaki failed to stem the ever growing perception that his leadership was for the elite and the well off in our society. Many Kenyans in the lower cadres of this country in the end associated many of their problems to Kibaki's failure to be a president for all. The hope that they had prior to the 2002 election was swept aside, it boiled to frustration that was propelled by goofs and mistakes that characterized Kibaki's leadership throughout. The Anglo Leasing scam, Artur saga and many others fueled the negative perception. This hope was to be reignited by the ODM team.

As William Shakespeare once said, "The miserable have no other medicine But only hope." In a country where the majority live under a dollar a day, it can be well said that Kenyans are Miserable and thus hope being their only cure. When the ECK chairman deiced to announce a result that did not reflect the true statement of the Kenyan people that hope was dashed for the second time.

The looting and the killings that have been experienced countrywide are nothing compared to the death and the stolen hope that Kenyans had built in the run-up to the just "yet to be" concluded elections. The imaginations of a new beginning under the ODM team, the equitable distribution of resources, the better times and the empowerment of the Kenyan people as told by Raila Odinga are at the moment just imaginations and castles in the air. The poor will fight until these things do come true.

The election was more of a testament by the poor and the youth of this country,It will thus take a very long time to quell the skirmishes. As one friend of mine puts it, the poor have nothing to loose but their lives which will end either way if Kibaki is still the President. The youth have the energy and a a found conviction to have a say, thus they are ready to fight for that say to be meaningful.The youth also find the crop of leaders who looted this hope as people who project a bleak future for them, that is why the calls of ALUTA CONTINUA will continue to fill the air and more destruction and death will be experienced.

The most noble thing that can be done for this country is for Kibaki to resign and let the will of the people reign.

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JUSTICE OR PEACE? What is more Important?

2008-01-03T13:43:00.001+03:00

The post election period in Kenya has seen widespread violence and destruction that has led to enormous loss of property and life. The media fraternity is at the forefront of advocating for peace and normalcy. The three main newspapers had the same headline this morning: "Save our Beloved Country". The US Ambassador along side other international community representatives have called for peace.Barrack Obama addressed Kenyans through the VOA requesting for peace to prevail. The church and the local entertainers have not been left behind either.

The LSK on the other hand has made steps to solve the whole issue through the courts by making public its intentions to petition the re-election of Mwai Kibaki at the High Court. This brings me to the main question. Why aren't all these noble and well placed voices in our society not asking for justice instead. Can peace exist without justice? Kenya was a very peaceful country prior to these elections, can we purport to seek peace without addressing the main reason why this peace was destabilized?

As one of the callers did put it on KTN during a call in show, "Death and Destruction is the third issue in this impasse,the first issue is theft and the second is denial of rights." The caller went ahead to request that mistakes must be accepted first after which repentance and forgiveness should follow and only thereafter shall peace be realized. Can we have peace without exploiting and resolving the route cause of these horrendous atrocities.Samuel Kivuitu the ECK chairman in an attempt not to be a coward released results that in his own words he wasn't sure about. In this admission he cast doubt into the whole electoral process which i believe has brought about this level of chaos in an otherwise peaceful country.

Is justice possible through the Kenyan Courts having in mind that the CJ himself was ready to swear in Mwai Kibaki even before the announcement was made.The justice that Kenyans seek in these problem cannot be obtained through the court systems but through the streets. The street justice system must take route. Peace as a rallying call cannot hold since for it to exist the destabilization factors must first be resolved.

In order for this country to move on as it has done in the previous years, Justice must prevail to all. Peace is a testament of a fair society. It cannot be propelled as a lone call. It is important to note that majority of Kenyans did not need incitement to take to the streets to protest these results. A youth warrior in Eldoret cannot abandon his fight just because someone asked for peace to prevail. A more convincing reason for peace to prevail will be the solution of the main problem and that is Justice.Justice in this case being the true results of the just concluded polls. Kibaki must resign to allow for the will of the people to reign.

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Disturbing Pictures

2008-01-02T10:26:00.001+03:00

Check out the magnitude of the mess this country is in. Anyone with Emilio's email address, kindly forward this link to him.

http://josephkaroki.wordpress.com/

Prayer and cry for peace will not solve this problem. This is not a spiritual problem but a political one. The only solution is in Kibaki's hands....RESIGN and let the will of the people reign.

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IS THIS NOT RIGGING?

2007-12-05T14:44:00.001+03:00

Is it possible for two people to have the same ID card number? I entered a random number 22222222 to the ECK website and alas, i got two people registered as voters, one in Embakasi and the other in Keiyo South with the same ID Card number . Could this be the rigging the ODM brigade is complaining about? See the details below.

PROMPT_NATIONAL_ID_KEYWORD 22222222

Entry found
	Surname	MUSYOKI
	Other Names	JOEL MUTUNGA
	ID No.	22222222
	Gender	M
	Date of Birth	1976-09-03
	Electors No.	008/012/1407974769
	Year of Registration	2002
	Polling Center	NJIRU ACK NUR. SCH.
	Constituency	EMBAKASI
	Status	OK

Entry found
	Surname	KURGAT
	Other Names	DANIEL KIPROTICH
	ID No.	22222222
	Gender	M
	Date of Birth	1976-01-01
	Electors No.	123/112/1648047839
	Year of Registration	2007
	Polling Center	SAMABUL PR.SCH
	Constituency	KEIYO SOUTH
	Status	OK

One of the two has another ID card (genuine card) and he is probably registered in Langata or Eldoret North. Check out! Someone could be registered with your ID number somewhere in this country!

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Thought for the Day

2007-12-04T23:05:00.001+03:00

"Democracy must be something more than two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for dinner. (And, when I watch the changing demographics, it is clear I am the sheep in this equation.)"
--James Bovard, Civil Libertarian (1994)

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Ten Reasons why I may not vote

2007-11-26T23:36:00.001+03:00

I recently got a job with one of the unprofitable parastatal and was posted to Kakamega. Looking at things, poor road network, high transport cost and the desire to save, I decided to change my polling station from Embakasi to Lurambi. The flipside is that on the ECK list, I am a voter in Embakasi while my card reads Lurambi. I don’t see this changing soon.

The last time I tried voting, the queue was 1km long. That was during the just concluded ODM nominations. After spending about 30minutes without the queue moving, I decided to grab a beer as it reduced. Two hours later I was too drunk to think about politics I decided to chase skirts. I intend to wake up early on the Election Day, if I don’t indulge on its eve.

A friend of mine, with a relative on the ECK has just promised to hook me up with a temporary jobbo as a polling clerk in Sabatia. That is 30KM from my designate polling station. If I get this job, how the hell will I vote? Am still debating, though the chums looks handsome, loaf is 32/= and the economy has grown to 7%, I might just need the ECK cash

Chris a college buddy who once declared that the use of condoms is a form of celibacy is breathing his last chain of air. The doctor says he for sure will not vote for PNU. If he goes, let his burial not be on the 27^th.

I got hooked to this lovely mama who is enslaved at Equity Bank. Due to our busy schedule, we only get to see each other during the “Madaraka” day, “Jamhuri” Day and “Lucy Kibaki” day. She might just pop in 27^th morning. If she does, some glory we’ll be in order. I don’t think voting will an agenda if she does come.

“Mimi Raila Amolo Odinga nimeamua kutojihusisha na uchaguzi ambao umeibiwa tayari”. If I hear that radio on the 26^th or any day before, I might just ignore the whole thing in solidarity with Rais Mtarajiwa.

Due to harsh economic times (2month rent arears) and the political differences that I have with my landlady, she decides to lock me in the house. The lady is so Ford-K, you wonder what century she lives.

Am on the ECK list, 20^th on the queue but as expected, ECK misroute the Lurambi papers to Garsen, 3hrs later the papers can still not be traced.

Kibaki steps down: I will not waste my vote if this were to occur. My candidate would have worn without so much sweat.

I spend most of the time watching election news on TV, planning to do a last minute rush to the poll station, then just 15minutes past 4, an idea hits me and I turn to this lousy laptop to post a blog.

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Raila Maniac T-Shrit Design

2007-11-24T11:54:00.000+03:00

Business Vs Morality: Kenyan View

2007-11-20T22:37:00.000+03:00

The phrase 'it's just business' is often used to justify morally questionable behavior. The immense power business wields over the well-being of this country makes the issue of morality in business more important than ever.

Outside of the “sanctified” realm of business, where profit rules above all else, most of us are pretty good at knowing good from bad. Good is when someone is true to their word, when they act with generosity, respect and compassion, and when they treat others fairly. Bad is when someone exploits another for their personal gain or lies, steals and kills.

Strangely though, we have been letting businesses literally get away with murder. Why is this so? Who is to blame? Is it the individual decision makers, the businesses or the system? Over the recent years, we have had pyramid schemes that have broken families, many Kenyans have lost in millions as a result high blood pressure, heart failure, and alcoholism is driving Kenyans into morgues. The same period has seen extreme growth at the NSE will little to show for by the small timers. The names of such firms as Transcentury elicit envy at the small scale traders at the stock house.

Large firms with control of the NSE, as Chairmen, Stockbrokers, Investment Bankers and at the same time as major shareholders in the listed firms, have used their positions to play unfair in the business environment. It’s all for profit though. At what price do you sell or buy and feel morally satisfied? Many of our business people do not look at this aspect. In a capitalistic economy where the supply- demand and willing buyer-willing seller dictates business like ours, personal morality should provide the check and balance. It is worth noting that there is a very thin line between a thief and a businessman. In both cases we do get what did not initially belong to us. The thin line that separates these two is the level of fairness.

As an entrepreneur Kamlesh Pattni would easily claim high moral standards in his dealings through the Goldenberg. Overnight Lending as a mischief mechanism is clearly immoral considering that interest was paid for money not spent.

When it comes to money and profits, people in general seem quite prepared to throw the accepted norms of social decency out the window. Such group-think says: as long as we make money ASAP and don’t immediately or directly see the cost of that activity, we are a-ok.

Certainly the systems we have constructed around business perpetrate this lack of conscience. We actively celebrate the making of money and extravagant consumption. The individual leaders must also be held accountable.

All business decisions have moral implications that must be considered. Business is personal because it directly affects our lives and our futures. It is also personal because each and every one of us can use it to choose the sort of world we want to be part of building.

Google’s motto – don’t be evil – is a clear moral stance. It is no longer good enough to say “business is just business”. There is a price to be paid for every shilling we make.

The SMS: Understanding Men

2007-11-16T15:43:00.001+03:00

“Why would a guy, promise to call after a fantastic first date, and then do nothing but send flirtatious text messages for the next two weeks?”

I have some wonderful female friends. Some single, some in relationships. Like you, they are all sexy, intriguing and intelligent women. Yet, you all suffer from a common condition. As a result, you seem to spend a significant portion of your lives analyzing men’s actions and words.

In the case of communication, the answer is really quite simple. Men don’t really enjoy speaking with women on the phone. OK, maybe if the conversation turns a little flirtatious our ears prick up, but for the most part, the very thought scares us to death. You have blackbelts in voice boxing. It’s what you do. Your aim is to see if we are capable of stimulating your mind with our least exercised organ. Our objective is to get off the phone whilst you are still interested enough to see us again.

In face-to-face land, we don’t need to solely rely on our bogus communication skills. We can flash our boyish smiles, tenderly hold your hand, make stupid jokes, or attempt handstands. Anything to distract you from what we have to say. As visual creatures, we feel right at home here. We can gauge your reaction to our antics, read your body language, and take peeks at your cleavage when you’re not looking.

On the phone, we feel naked and exposed.

Sometimes we might be. Once you stop talking, we are expected to reply, and we know you are listening intently with those inbuilt radars. We open our mouths and the words are almost too terrified to come out. We can feel your analyzing mind ticking over asking, “What did he mean by that?” “How is getting your dog stoned funny?” between “Mmm hmm”’s and deafening silence. Our confidence falters as we grasp for insightful comments and sweet anecdotes. It really hurts our brains, alright?

Then along comes text messaging, beep beeping like a beacon of light towards the shallow world of manhood, offering the perfect weapon against verbal interaction. We can make you feel desired whilst having a beer with our buddies at the local joint. We have time to deliver the perfect funny line. It enables us to absorb your probing questions and reply with confidence. Even end the conversation with a suggestive rendezvous, without committing to a date, and still come out looking good.

You want to know why a guy sends you endless text messages and never calls? Think of his mind as a refrigerator. If he’s insatiable for a taste of you the next day, he slips you between his left over nyamchom and six-pack of beer. If he’s not that keen, you’re his ugali kunde. A delicious dish, but he doesn’t really want you two nights running.

So what’s the answer if you really like the guy? Stop making it easy for him to keep you at arms length. He’s riding Message Street and there’s no sign of traffic. If you want him, you have to turn the tables. It’s time to get out of your way. It means taking text to the trenches. Where the hunter becomes the hunted and one false move can be fatal.

EgoTrips’s Recipe To Turn Swaggering Players into Begging, Pleading, Ground you Walk on Worshippers in 4 Easy Steps!

Step Number One – Resistance. Never succumb to those naughty midnight messages. He’s drunk, alone and horny. Leave him to marinade a while. Ignore for at least three days.

Step Number Two – Set The Bait. Send a short reply telling him you’ve been busy, hope he’s well, and you’ll catch up soon.

Step Number Three – Be Patient As The Fish Nibbles.

Step Number Four – Reel The Sucker In. His imagination will be running wild by now. When he calls, be friendly but not over-enthusiastic.Set the date.

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When did the game change? Men vs Women!

2007-11-16T14:34:00.003+03:00

It's a fact of life for the modern woman, committing to someone other than themselves is scary stuff. Commitment means compromise.

I often hear women complaining that there are no eligible men anymore and that they struggle to find anyone who matches up to their most basic requirements as a mate. Think about this, you rarely hear a man saying that there are no eligible women anymore, though they may argue there are too many highly selective women. No, this lack of commitment used to be an accusation thrown at men wary of marriage, but these days you are more likely to find a woman with a good job who has taken over this role as the wary one.

I know lots of eligible men. They are young, unmarried, good looking, single, with good careers, lifestyles, are fit and healthy and looking for a serious relationship. In fact most men I know are serial monogamists! I asked one of my friends, Munene,28, about whether he felt that the modern women he met were ready to commit and he said:

" I have wanted to settle down for a long time now, but women are too interested in their careers, want a casual lover with a fat wallet and nice car, or are simply too scared of the commitment levels required to live with someone. It seems to me, women just aren't ready to compromise their new found strengths and are very frightened of monogamy. Every time I have attempted to have a serious relationship, it is the girl who has panicked when things become more intense."

Sociologically, this is an interesting development . When did the game change? The fact is, there is a huge pool of resourceful, talented men out there ready to commit, but they are really struggling to find partners. Its important to note that there is no great difference in the number of single, available men and women and so we don't face an imbalance. So what is going wrong?

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Happy Birthday Kibaki

2007-11-14T22:18:00.001+03:00

Born on November 15, 1931, Kibaki turns 76 today 41days to the forthcoming elections. If reelected for a second term, Kibaki will end his presidency at the age of 81. Below are some facts to chew

§ He is 21yrs above the civil service retirement age pegged at 55.

§ Kibaki is15yrs older than Raila and 22yrs older than Kalonzo Musyoka

§ Old age is known for accompanying physical and psychological inadequacies

Kazi Iendelee na Kibaki

2007-11-14T13:59:00.001+03:00

KAZI IENDELEE

2007-11-14T11:25:00.000+03:00

Raila’s Drop in Poll Ratings, What it really means!

2007-11-09T14:56:00.001+03:00

The latest Steadman polls released early today indicates that the ODM presidential candidate’s ratings have dropped by 5 percentage points. That of Kibaki has gained marginally by 2% while Kalonzo has gained by 3%.

Mathematically Kibaki has gained Raila’s 2% while Kalonzo gaining his 3%. Considering a margin of error put at plus or minus 3, it is necessary to point out that not so much has changed. The bottom line is that Kibaki is trailing Raila and Kalonzo has no chance at all.

In any polling unless the pollster retains the same sample, we cannot actually say that a candidate is gaining or loosing. In an ideal poll, the pollster would trail a sample and gauge their opinions over time. From the prevailing results we can thus tell whether an idea or a candidate has lost ground or not. This is because in such a situation there is a clear change of mind from a specific sample

The first poll gave Raila 53%, if the same sample was used and in it Raila has 45% then there is a real problem. What is clear is that if elections were to be held today, Raila is still the candidate to beat.

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Great Minds in Kenyan Politics

2007-11-08T08:19:00.001+03:00

Great Minds discuss Ideas, Average Minds discuss Events, Small Minds discuss People! **Eleanor Roosevelt

Raila Discuses Ideas (Transparency, Accountability, Responsibility, Quality Leadership, Development, Fairness, Freedom, Devolution Of Resources, Peace Etc).

Kalonzo Discusses Events (Miracles, Of Course - And How Big His Recent Rallies Have Been!)

Kibaki And Moi Discuss People (Raila And The Pentagon And How Bad They Are for Telling Kenyans The Truth!)

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Whose term should be extended, Kibaki or Kivuitu?

2007-11-07T16:03:00.001+03:00

Kibaki and the ECK chairman are on the same side, at least when it comes to seeking another term or their reigns to be extended. Kibaki is pleading with Kenyans to give him another chance to continue with the so called "good work". On the other hand Kivuitu is pleading with Kibaki(not in public though... the guy is wearing an "i don't care" attitude) to extend his term.

The opposition and majority of Kenyans would like to see these coming elections done under Kivuitu's leadership. The verdict is that he has done a good job. Kibaki and his cronies would also like the next government to be under the PNU leader. According to them Kibaki has done a good work.

The logic follows, If Kibaki feels that on account of a job well done he should be given a second chance, and he has gone ahead to give Kenyans the mandate to judge for themselves the work he has accomplished, and Kenyans feels that Kivuitu's term should be extended coz of good work, then, for good work to be a reason for contract extension Kibaki must extend Kivuitu's term and then wait for Kenyans to extend his term.

What do you think?

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Securing your Future: Stupid Myth!

2007-11-06T11:04:00.001+03:00

Is your future secure? What measures have you put in place to secure this future? It's never rare to see these types of questions on magazines, newspapers and many other articles done by the so called "experts". What most of these "experts" don't say is when exactly this "future" will be.

The same concept is fed into young minds right from primary schools; "study well for your future". A 30yr old graduate decides to pursue a master's degree so as to have a prosperous future. At 54, a college professor enrolls for a second degree to secure his future. The question that begs is when exactly does this "future" begin. When do we stop working for our future and live it?

A soccer player hits a burn out at the age of 30 while the peak age for political life is boundless. A friend of mine in his early forties admires vehicles on the streets and announces that in 5yrs time he should be having one just like that. He sees a bright future just like a 20yr old college student. Is it right to obsess with the upcoming at the expense of the present?

We deny ourselves a lot in the gist of a better life in the period to come. The sacrifice is enormous. We put so much of what we make into savings and investments denying ourselves the daily thrill obtainable by spending what we get in the short run. Is the future that important? You are probably sinking in anticipation of a better future yet you are so much into that very future whether better or not.

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Should Kibaki buy votes?

2007-10-21T11:55:00.000+03:00

How many votes can one buy to win a general election?

Allow me to lay down some facts before we can answer this question. None of the presidential candidates will put a 10billion shilling campaign. The most expensive campaign might go to the tune of 5billion. Secondly, voter turn out in Kenyan elections can be put at 64% leaving out a cool 36%, this translates to about 5million Kenyans considering the 14million registered voters.

At a going price of KSH.1000 per voter’s card, to buy 10000 cards would cost an aspirant 10million Shillings, 100000 cards would cost a staggering 100m. 1million cards would cost 1billion. Assuming the opinion polls are a true reflection of the reality on the ground, then Raila Odinga should expect to have 53% of the 9million possible votes cast. That translates to around 4.7M votes. Kibaki on the other hand will have 3.2million votes. I’ll ignore the Miracle Candidate (Musyoka) on this. The probable difference between the candidates would be about 1.5 million votes.

The challenge is how the number two will close down on this difference. The vote buying project would require to the tune of KSH.2billion if 2million voter’s cards were to be bought. The flipside of this is that majority of people who are willing to sell their votes are those that forms the 36% who will not turn out to vote.

Kibaki should just campaign because vote buying does not help.

Homosexuals Feel at Home in Kenya!

2007-10-14T12:50:00.001+03:00

Homosexuals are finding it very comfortable in Kenya......I hate this...check out how this Luzau jamaa is finding it in Kenya.

Nairobi- Luzau Basambombo spent six months in a Kinshasa prison, being abused over and over again. The Congolese human-rights activist suspects that he was put behind bars because he openly admitted being homosexual. "If you are gay in Congo, you become an outlaw," Basambombo says. After being released from prison, he left Congo for Uganda where he was granted asylum. "When the authorities found out that I was gay, I was asked to leave the country," he says. Today, the 38-year-old Congolese lives in Nairobi and he feels comfortable there. "Things are changing here in Kenya - in favor of us," he says.

Can't we just make it hell for these psychopaths?

Steadman poll: Kibaki sees dust!

2007-10-12T21:29:00.000+03:00

ODM presidential candidate Raila Odinga has widened his lead over the incumbent Mwai Kibaki in the latest opinion poll released today by Nairobi’s Steadman Group.
The poll gives Mr Odinga 53 per cent, Mr Kibaki 37 per cent and ODM-Kenya’s Kalonzo Musyoka eight per cent. The ratings show that the ODM candidate has gained six points from two weeks ago when the same pollster had him at 47 per cent. President Kibaki has dropped by one point while Mr Musyoka has maintained his eight per cent over the same period.
The polls were conducted between 10-11th October covering all districts countrywide. The pollsters interviewed 2,736 respondents.
Its lost for Kibaki and nothing can be done to salvage his presidency. LOOOOOOOOOOOL

Where is Moi?

2007-10-12T15:26:00.000+03:00

How comes Moi went silent all over sudden? Why did Moi go quiet? Am looking for answers tafadhali. Is it the realisation that fighting Raila is a futile mission?

The Economics of Sex

2007-10-12T15:11:00.001+03:00

(Away from political issues...........lets talk some economics)

What is a price?

Unless you're an economist, you probably think of a price as simply the amount you pay for a given thing - the amount of shillings you surrender for, let's say, Friday Chupa Mbili at the local pub. But to an economist, price is a much broader concept. The 20 minutes you spend waiting for the drink is part of the price. So, too, is any hangover afterwards. While the pub's price-list may put the cost of one beer at SHS.75, that is clearly just the beginning.

The most fundamental rule of economics is that a rise in price leads to less quantity demanded. This holds true for a restaurant meal, a real-estate deal, a college education or just about anything else you can think of. When the price of an item rises, you buy less of it (which is not to say, of course, that you want less of it).

But what about sex? Sex, that most irrational of human pursuits, couldn't possibly respond to rational price theory, could it?

Outside of a few obvious situations, we generally don't think about sex in terms of prices. Prostitution is one such situation; courtship is another: certain men seem to consider an expensive dinner a prudent investment in pursuit of a sexual dividend.

But how might price changes affect sexual behavior? And might those changes have something to tell us about the nature of sex itself?

Here is a stark example: A man who is sent to prison finds that the price of sex with a woman has spiked - talk about a supply shortage - and he becomes much more likely to start having sex with men. The reported prevalence of oral sex among affluent or urbanite Kenyan teenagers would also seem to illustrate price theory: because of the possibility of disease or pregnancy, intercourse is expensive - and it has come to be seen by some teenagers as an unwanted and costly pledge of commitment. In this light, oral sex may be viewed as a cheaper alternative.

In recent decades, we have witnessed the most exorbitant new price associated with sex: the H.I.V. virus. Because AIDS is potentially deadly and because it can be spread relatively easily by sex between two it is true that when a client requested sex without a condom, a prostitute would typically be paid more.

In other words, sexual preference, while perhaps largely predetermined, may also be subject to the forces more typically associated with economics than biology. If this turns out to be true, it would change the way that everyone - scientists, politicians, theologians - thinks about sexuality. But it probably won't much change the way economists think. To them, it has always been clear: whether we like it or not, everything has its price.

A RAILA’S PRESIDENCY, A PLUS FOR THE KYUKS

2007-10-09T16:01:00.001+03:00

There are pretty evident things that are going to happen in these coming elections, I’d rather not dwell on them. For the sake of those who don’t have a clue, one of the obvious is that Kikuyus will not vote for Raila. If I may digress a bit and ask, why is it that Kikuyus have never voted for any other candidate since independence other than those from their own tribe? The second apparent thing is that Odinga will comfortably win these elections.

I have set the stage for my argument regarding the post election period, but before I indulge you in my reasoning, let’s take time to understand Raila. From many pronouncements and his long trek to these campaigns beginning from the world cup period, he has projected himself as a nationalist and more so pan Africanist. Raila is the sort of leader who wants to be compared to the likes of Kwame Nkrumah, Nelson Mandela, Julius Nyerere, and Mahatma Gandhi etc. In short he is after a legacy that would be in the minds of Kenyans in years to come. He wants to live a mark in the hearts and history books of Kenya

This is in itself a dilemma and a tall order for any African leader in the neo colonial era. Will Raila be able to achieve this? To bring on the Kikuyu issue, and to factor in the ultimate desire of the so called Agwambo, I project that Kikuyu community at large stands to benefit more from his leadership than other tribes. Why do I say this?

In order to leave a legacy, a leader must steer clear of segregation on basis of tribalism and any other dividing factors out there. These elections will put Kikuyus on the other side of the divide and thus the world will be watching if Raila will repeat the misdeeds of Moi and Kibaki by alienating one community due to political incorrectness. My take of Raila, the man might just appoint more Kikuyu in his government than any other tribe.

Tony Gachoka as the state house comptroller or Government spokesman would be a lovely sight. What do you think?

The Aftermath(February 5th 2008)

2007-10-05T16:28:00.001+03:00

The day is February 5th 2008; there is noise all over the state house, from upstairs where his Excellency is entertaining some German Delegation loud Benga Music could be heard. Down stairs the number two is shaking terribly to the high pitched tune of Mkangalla from his Nokia 3310 phone. What a turn of events. Waiting at the gate to see the son of Mulembe is nobody else but him who once accused another son of mulembe of lacking something between the ears.

The man charged with the gate is a retired professor of mathematics at Maseno University; he resigned from his duties as a scholar to man the gates to power. His hypothesis is that power is a mathematical function that is virtually equals to the differential sum of Cosine theta where theta equals to the input. In which case input is what comes in through the gate. After putting that on his application letter and handing it over to his MP who also doubled up prior to December 2007 as a SEC GEN of one fruit party, he was immediately appointed as the Gatekeeper No 1.

Back to the one waiting at the gate, the mathematician is at odds to deduce whether there is anything between his ears. In a soprano voice that is most suited for a lecture hall he asks, “UliPaNUa ama ulikula Chungwa?” “This queue is very long, please don’t waste my time, did you PaNUa or did you eat Oranges?” he shouts in a heavily accented lakeside English.

Away from the skirmishes at the gate and back at the State House, “Midamba, could you please come up!” his Excellency can be heard. The No.2 runs up the stairs as he tries to switch of the noisy Nokia phone. We, the people of the press have been kept waiting for at least 30min. The new Sirikali is expected to be given shape after a month long consultations that have been described as fruitful.

Somewhere in Muthaiga a two battery Sanyo Radio is on, surrounding the tiny gadget is the one time Commander in Chief and now an MP for a tiny village somewhere in the middle province of Kenya. “Ne dete Kira”, he manages to utter in a faded voice, thanx to the loud shouts of PaNUa towards the end of last year. To his right is the former MP with a way ward name, the Swahili would say Kombokombo. To the left is the leader of TIPTIP. A myriad of who was who in prior to 1st 08 can all be seen lingering in the spacious compound with nothing to do. Some clearly wishing they could shout PaNUa! one last time.

Upstairs his Excellency holds the remote to SONY HiFi to reduce the volume. The man of “we are the people phrase” is busy putting down lyrics to go with the tune from the radio. I later check out what he was writing and it goes something like this.
Sirikali ya Mawezi
Sirakali ya Mawezi
Sirikali Ikivunjika
Wengi wanalia sana(He later signed it off as By KaJwa Nyadundo)

“Have you perused the application letters for the PS Finance position?” His Excellency asks in a deep voice. Midamba hands over the flash disk with the merited list of all the applicants. The time is 3.20pm

I get the feeling the list is going to take quite a while top come out due to the levels of scrutiny being put. Its 3.25, I decide to dash out and check out how Mzee is doing at Kabarnet Gardens. Traffic is light and by 3.45 am at the gate. Two armed GSU guards usher me in with the announcement that Mzee is a sleep. “UUUUUUUIIIIIIII UUUUUUUUUIII, UUUUUIIIIIIII, Kitu Gani HIII, Hi ni nini”, wails are coming from the bedroom. The armed men run into the house. I am warned to stay where I am. Curiosity drives me into the house. “Who is the President?” He asks, he is scared as hell. I had never seen this guy in a pajama before; he had been dreaming…lol. “I told you that yesterday Mzee, don’t you recall?” asks one of the guards. Mzee goes back to sleep with tears rolling down his cheeks. One of the guards tells me that he has been having those nightmares ever since the elections results were announced. “He has never had any meaningful meal since then”, he continues. I have my story from Mzee, without talking to him…eheh…

I drive of to State House………………………………………

Crowd for Hire......Kabaki are you listening.

2007-10-05T14:18:00.000+03:00

And you wonder, where the hell Kibaki and his PaNUa goons got the crowd from. I just dug it out for you, so look no further. Speaking of hired crowds,how much does Kibs pay those school going kids who are ferried out of classrooms to hear him yap abt hapahapa na hukuhuko kama mavi ya kuku?

What would a campaign rally be without the crowd? What if you had the crowd but they refuse to listen to you? Which is better, a booing crowd or a no crowd rally. If I had the chance, I would have posed some of these questions to Hon Kalonzo Musyoka.

Anyway, maybe to avoid these two worrying scenarios some of our politicians are better of with RAC Ltd. Reliable sources tell me that the pioneers of this firm are the two geniuses now famous for the Kenya Law Reports. They are already making a kill out of it having parted with a cool 3.42million after expenses during the just ended PaNUa day last weekend.

Let me forward my noise making resume to them..they might jus gimmi the noise coordinator position.

PNU Launch or Raila Bashing Rally?

2007-10-01T10:51:00.000+03:00

I was expecting to hear ideas, I expected to be told why Kibaki should be given 5 more years. The occasion should have at least been used to tell Kenyans what Kibaki is going to do if re-elected.
The circus of our Kenyan Politics...it turned out to be a mchongwano session. Speakers were trying to out-do each other on who had the most hilarious insult at Odinga. What a missed opportunity this was for Kibaki!

Nyachae, Kombo, Shaaban, Taib, Livondo the list is long but non of these so called development minded leaders did use the podium to address policy matters. The insults absorbed Kibaki's promise for free secondary education. The incumbent could be seen having a loud laugh when Nyachae took the opportunity to thump his chest an undisputed leader of the now famous chinkororo.

If your still wondering how Kibaki is going to loose these elections, its spelt out. Every time Nyachae takes the platform to speak, 200000 voters will defect to ODM side. Kombo will take away 50000, Mwakwere 20000, Livondo is just another heckler alongside the TIP guy(Kalembe, together they will deny Kibaki 5 votes whenever they take the podium.

Get some serious campaigners and avoid road accidents this time round Mr Kibaki.

Raila surges ahead in presidential poll

2007-09-28T17:07:00.000+03:00

ODM presidential candidate Raila Odinga has for the first time overtaken President Kibaki to top the latest Steadman opinion poll.

Poll results released this morning by the Steadman pollsters give Mr Odinga 47 per cent, the incumbent – President Kibaki is at 38 per cent while ODM-Kenya’s Kalonzo Musyoka comes third at eight per cent.

In the provinces, Raila is leading in Nairobi (51%), Coast (48%), Nyanza (85%), Rift Valley (53%), Western (65%) and North Eastern (70%). President Kibaki is leading in Central (79%) and Eastern (49%).

A total of 2020 people were asked who they would vote for if elections were to be held right away.

The pollsters said the sample was weighted across the country’s districts according to the distribution of the over 14 million voters who would be eligible to participate in the elections expected in December.

The poll was conducted over the last one week, between September 21 and September 25 in 53 districts across all the eight provinces.

Mr Odinga’s ratings have jumped from 25 per cent in Steadman’s previous poll released in July. The July poll had President Kibaki leading at 45 per cent.

The results have come out only a day before President Kibaki officially launches his campaign to seek a second term.

Mr Odinga will be formally rolling out his own presidential push from Nairobi’s Uhuru Park on October 6.

The new poll reflects the worst performance yet by Mr Musyoka, who led the rankings most of last year.

On popularity of political parties, the new poll has ODM leading at 47 per cent, Party of National Unity comes second with 20 per cent, Narc-Kenya eight per cent and ODM-Kenya seven per cent.

In the provinces, ODM is the most popular party in Nairobi (46%), Coast (48%), Nyanza (84%), Rift Valley (54%), Western (64%) and North Eastern (69%).

Steadman Opinion Poll

2007-09-26T09:25:00.000+03:00

This blog brought it to you before any other. Some little adjustments though. Raila leads Kibaki with 44% while Kalonzo trails the two with a paltry 10%. At 40% Kinaki is on a downward spiral that will for sure continue.

Reliable sources informs me that a similar poll has been conducted in Rift-Valley though powerful people in the political circles are holding on to the results which put the ODM candidate at 63% with Kibaki following at 21% . Kalonzo Musyoka has 4%.

This blog will keep you informed once the final document is out.

Happy Birthday Kibaki

2007-09-25T11:32:00.000+03:00

Born on November 15, 1931, Kibaki turns 76 today 41days to the forthcoming elections. If reelected for a second term, Kibaki will end his presidency at the age of 81. Below are some facts to chew

§ He is 21yrs above the civil service retirement age pegged at 55.

§ Kibaki is15yrs older than Raila and 22yrs older than Kalonzo Musyoka

§ Old age is known for accompanying physical and psychological inadequacies

Funny stuff about these elections

2007-09-20T13:58:00.000+03:00

Western Province: A standard 6 pupil recently got the wrath of the mother after shouting “Kibaki Tena” at the site of Kibaki’s helicopter during the just ended visit by the PaNU candidate. The agitated mother of five slapped the little girl so hard that the neighbors had to come to the rescue. Asked why she had to do that, she did not utter a word but displayed torn blankets and pointed at her ailing two year old daughter. The amused neighbors shouted ODM…Chungwa …as the retreated to their houses.

Nyanza Province: A group of men have vowed never to go to bed with any woman until the end of the forthcoming elections claiming that it could be a bad omen (mkosi) to Agwambo . The group of more than 30 men drawn from Maseno, Kisian, Alego and Nyando areas has taken an oath.This is a very difficult to adhere to owing to the sexual appetite common in Luo Nyanza. Contacted for opinion, many of the wives and girlfriends these men were of divergent opinion. Akinyi Yimbo who wedded Jack Yimbo of Maseno three months ago cried hysterically when told of her husband's oath. She is contemplating divorce, saying that she cannot live without some KalingLing.

Still in Nyanza, Rarieda constituency: A middle aged woman known for her Changaa brewing skills had to watch 10 men pour out all her brew after she adorned a KIBAKI TENA t-shirt. The incident that took place at ARAM centre took many by surprise as the men (her common clienhts) did not taste even a pint of the treasured drink. One of them said that the ladies actions had eroded the thirst that had been nagging for long hours. “If she wears that T-shirt every day for the next 4 months, I might just quit drinking since she is the only one who sells this drink around here”, said Mr Kotiyo Anyango.

Central Province: A bizarre scene was witnessed in Mukurueini after a 24 year old, Mr.Pius Muriithi was roughly undressed on suspicion of being uncircumcised. The suspicion arose from his staunch support for Hon Raila Odinga. An enraged mob descended on him tearing off all his clothes to prove whether he is a true Kikuyu or a Jaluo. Muriithi who was of course circumcised paraded his well endowed member at the crowd with most of the men bowing in jealousy. Women who were at the busy market all clapped for him in unison and started to hull abuses at some of the men who had earlier tormented Pius.

…………………….to be continued………………………..

Kibaki's Campaigners

2007-09-20T12:33:00.000+03:00

Those who have doubted that Kibaki is presiding over Kikuyu-supremacy tribal agenda now have the following at last to reckon with; what shocks me is the arrogance of this gang even when they are seeking the vote from other people;

The Presidential advisory Board
• Nick Barage Wanjui- Chairman - Kikuyu ( the chancellor of University of Nairobi )!
• Nat Kangethe- Member - Kikuyu
• Solomon Karanja- Kikuyu
• Peter Kanyago- Kikuyu
• George Muhoho- Kikuyu
• Titus Mbathi - ( Ed Njoroges Chairman)
• Ed Njoroge- Secretary - Kikuyu

The Presidential elections Board
• Eddy Njoroge- Chairman - Kikuyu (KenGen)
• John Waweru - Kikuyu (CCK)
• Michael Waweru - Kikuyu (KRA)
• William Kirwa- Nandi ( ADC)- Kirwas point man
• Lee Karuri- Secretary - Kikuyu
(How come our parastatals chiefs can now get to this level?)

The Kibaki Tena Secretariat
• Lee Karuri - Director- Kikuyu
• Mr. Wangombe- Kikuyu
• Ms. Mary Mukindia- Kikuyu
• Prof. Macharia Munene - Kikuyu
• Ngatia Patrick - Kikuyu - Vijana
• Owino Magana- IT Luo

As Okemo said in Busia on Sunday, Kikuyus must now explain why they can never vote for any other man or woman except for a fellow Kikuyu.

The Leaked Steadman Opinion Poll

2007-09-20T11:06:00.000+03:00

With the coming general election shaping up for the final hit, and the third quarter of the year coming to a close, the now famous Steadman Group is at it again. This time round though, their announcement will come, a little bit without so much surprise, since already there is a copy of their report in the hands of select media houses and well connected bloggers like this one.

I present to you, the un-edited, leaked poll. Strange things have happened, with the mainstream ODM brigade naming its candidate and the fact that this was down without the much anticipated fallout, this quarter gives Raila Amolo Odinga the much sort after lead of 43%. Kibaki is trailing by 2% while Kalonzo Musyoka of ODM-Kenya distant third with just 10% out of the 2040 adults polled countrywide.

It is interesting to note that Kibaki is leading in Western province despite the vigor in which the ODM party has put in consolidating what is now referred to as the Western Alliance that comprises of Nyanza, Rift-Valley and Western Province. Most analyst reason that Kibaki’s lead in Western could be as a result of the failure of Mudavadi to clinch the ODM ticket. Same voices are quick to say that this is a temporary lead which could tilt with the regrouping of Lughya leaders such as Cyrus Jirongo. Over the last two months, the incumbent has pitched camp in this province and to some extent going for door to door campaign which some analyst claim is too early.

Note: A pdf copy of the whole report is available here.

Next Leader of Opposition

2007-09-18T10:29:00.000+03:00

The coming elections as much as pundits put them as a hotly contested race, I disagree. These elections are going to be a one way affair with the real opponents being those advocating for real change and those rooting for status quo. With the current state of things, very few, maybe the elitist will be comfortable with the present as such these elections will be won by the pro-change advocates.

That brings me to this nagging question. In the obvious event that Kibaki looses this election as he is going to, who will be the leader of opposition? Before we consider answering this, some facts need to be put down. One, Kibaki will loose the elections as an MP through the PNU (Potea Na Uhuru) party. Signs are that he could be the only MP through that party. This is in itself a technical knock out for Kibaki as a leader of the opposition benches since the constitution states that the leader of opposition will come from the party with majority seats on the opposition side. The second fact is that PNU does not have any leadership structure. This gives it a vacuum of leadership in the event that Kibaki does not take serious interest in its affairs as has been the case with NARC. The third fact is that PNU is a coalition of individual parties, parties that are so eager to retain their identity.

Will Kibaki be the leader of opposition if he loses these elections assuming that the constituent parties all recognize him as their leader in the post election period? Will he resign leaving a vacuum to be preyed on by the leaders of constituent parties? Knowing the greed levels exhibited by our MPs and the kind of returns that this office bear, who among the leaders of PNU member parties wouldn’t want to be the leader of opposition? A case could be projected that the presidential running mate will automatically be the leader of opposition in the event that Kibaki resigns but will he go into these elections with a number two knowing the how destabilizing that could be to his bid?

Could the precedents set by Uhuru lead to the eventual death of opposition in Kenya?

PNU?

2007-09-17T12:36:00.000+03:00

Party of National Unity or is it Party of Nationally Useless. Of all the jokes and absurdity that have characterized Kibaki’s leadership over the past 4years. This is the most ignorant moves ever. I would rather hear him abuse Kenyans as Wapumbavu 40 times than hear him shout PNU once.

Emotions aside, what does this move portends to his reelection bid? Am no Mutahi Ngunyi, who of late has been of mark in some of his analysis and predictions, but I can comfortably tell you that Mr. Mwai is headed to Othaya in face-me matatu. On the other bench during that road will be Uhuru Kenyatta hitching a hike towards Gatundu. Why am of this opinion?

For one Kibaki is surrounded with big time looser, two losers in a presidential race, Uhuru and the aging psychotic Nyachae. Musikari Kombo is even doubtful in his own Webuye home. Mwakwere had nothing to say other than use such a podium to spread rumors and call other witch crafts. Who is going to sell Kibaki?

The notion that Uhuru will inherit the Kibaki mantle in central province is far fetched and he knows it. People like Kimunya, Njoki Ndungu, Martha Karua, Paul Muite and Saitoti might just carry the day. I don’t see Mr Kenyatta putting his resources in this campaign other than in his Gatundu area. Majority of the so called leaders of political parties will be struggling with opponents in their backyard hence very little time will be available for them to sell Kibaki. In 2002 Kibaki’s campaigns were marshaled by leaders who knew they would comfortably win in their own constituencies. Who amongst the crop of leaders in Kibaki’s camp is assured of the 10th parliament other than himself?

In short its going to be an uphill task selling PNU and by extension selling Kibaki

Second reason, PNU, as young as it is, is a house on fire. The crunch time will come during the nomination of parliamentary and civic candidates. The proposed method of constituent parties fielding candidates in areas in which they are strong is unworkable. How will one party prove that its stronger in an area as opposed to the other? Is Kanu stronger in Kiambu that Narc- Kenya? The chaos and disorder in PNU will have a ripple effect in Kibaki’s reelection bid in two ways; one, two much energy will be focused on civic and parliamentary seats as opposed to his campaigns. Two, the confusion that will be brought in by many parties will disorganize the rural network that is so much required to win an election.

Another reason why Kibaki is doomed is the extent to which his campaigns are a Mt. Kenya affair. The save face efforts being pushed through PNU will not work. This is a reason because PNU as an entity lacks leadership. Who is in charge of PNU? PNU is an umbrella party of parties, through what party is Kibaki coming in? The lack of clear cut leadership will eventually erode the good will that smaller parties that dominate other communities have. This will come about since for sure the likes of Murungaru Murungi and the now common faces of Mt. Kenya mafia will want to have control of things in the new outfit. This will lead to net defection by many leaders as a protest. How this will affect Kibaki’s bid is obvious.

What does these so called leaders of political parties bring into Kibaki;s basket? I wonder! Take for Uhuru Kenyatta who moved into PNU with a bare shell composed of retirees and councilors. In Kenya, when party affairs are run by councilors, as is the case with Kanu through Taib Ali Taib, then the party is doomed. Uhuru is givin Kibaki, the name leaving behind the people.

College Girls

2007-09-17T10:38:00.000+03:00

It’s a Friday evening and as per kawa the body is demanding some appreciation. The urge to quench the week long thirst is so enormous, that its now a routine, from jobbo straight to the ka next joint…Illusions as they call it. The pub jus happens to be on the first floor just above a supermarket that goes with the name Mama Watoto. It’s never uncommon to hear people responding to calls with the phrase…niko juu ya mama watoto.

The now gone Friday I happened to be Juu ya mama watoto to release the tension or if u like kupigia mwili pole. The university that is so close to this town did open recently and as is the case, HELB is still in plenty as such some college peeps decided to Kesha at par with the workin fretenity. The college girls were in plenty so much to male salivation

Meet this smoothed-baby faced Kale chic, her name is Chepchumba. She’s got a sizable supporting document that would make any male species including me look in apprehension. After three beers, I was man enough to chat her up, we had dance together during which I had a chance to whisper the now stale n' mischievous line….aki ya mungu nika kupata…ehe …ilekitu nitafanya… She was like uta fanya?

Anyway come Sunday she was at my place for lunch. They say that the only way through a man’s heart is through his stomach. I think I got my version for that. The only way through a chics trousers is through her stomach. “When should we go to a VCT? I will be free on Monday and Wednesday,” she unexpectedly announced. I am cautious, but hey, why should “we” be planning a visit to the VCT with this chic at this point in time. I managed to trick her out of the VCT stance. After two hours of serious work out, that was around 530pm, I was surprised to hear her asking what we were going to have for supper. She was announcing her stay.

I unwilling obliged to her stay for the night. After supper that night we went back to the bedroom where for the first time I felt like my space had been invaded. “I think I’ll be coming here every Sunday, it’s quite boring in the hostels”, that was another announcement from her. I quickly interjected by telling her that was subject to me being in the house.

Is this how it is with college girls?

Food for Thought

2007-09-07T11:36:00.000+03:00

I got an email from a political friend of mine, just thought i should share it with everyone else...

Dear friend

Why it will be Spiritual, Moral, Legal and Professional Corruption to Vote for this Government in December 2007.

After queuing for 2 hours to vote for this government in 2002, it rubbished voters trust by appointing people in government who tried to block it, (In the name of Government of National Unity), which in itself was an attack on multi-party democracy that came at a high price. A government that breaks the constitution it swore to protect and uphold has no business being power.

When it was felt that tribalism and nepotism had been buried in December 2002, the system has perfected it like never before by appointing people largely from one ethnic community in key public offices, such as Kenya Revenue Authority, Ministries of Education, Finance, Parastalas, the Provincial Administration and Security, among others.

Negated on the promise to have a lean government contrary to previous regimes. Today government is the largest in Kenya's history, over paid and wasteful when it comes to handling public funds.

Cannot prove that it has been creating 500,000 jobs per year for the last 4 yours.

Observed development is much below the money government is collecting in form of taxes from various sources

While all honest people agreed that the Draft Constitution was not good for Kenya, the government fired honest ministers whose interests were "Kenya" and not their tribes or economic interests. To retain sycophants and dishonest people to run government was a disaster as has been well demonstrated.

The government is shamelessly deceptive as evidenced by its not honouring agreements that brought them to power or those they supported while in opposition such IPPG, independence of ECK, the famous 2002 MOU.

It has grown cold feet on Anglo-leasing because it involves itself, yet lots of public funds were embezzled. Remember the leaked Kroll report that government has kept secret since 2004.

The way the privatisation of public firms is being done has much to be desired as exemplified by government's reluctance to gazette the privatisation bill. Why would one want to sell for instance safaricom, what is the hidden agenda?

The Artur Brothers saga has been effectively covered because it touches on itself.

It has demonstrated dislike of media freedom, despite its contribution to Kenya's development through exposing corruption and also in the democratisation process, (Remember the Standard Media Raid and the current Media Bill debate).

It has no will to address the land distribution problem, which remains a time bomb with potentially serious consequences because few people in it are beneficiaries of land-grabbing having served in the previous two regimes that had perfected this evil practice.

Has no motivation to decisively address historical injustices meted on Kenyans as exemplified by its failure to allow a truth, justice and reconciliation process.

Although fully aware of the income inequalities within the populace, this government has no political will to address this kind of corruption although its fully aware of the negative implications of this scenario on socio-economic and political development.

Most of its key persons do not really understand the pain of political freedom and struggle for liberation. That explains why their every move seems to take the country back to dark ages practices.

It has little or no regard for intellectuals as exemplified by the way it handled the University strike that was legal, moral and just. Indeed University Dons and any parent, who knows the cost of education and indeed respect themselves, would be the last people to vote for such a government.

The top brass in government had opposed CDF, and only conceded under duress. It cannot therefore get credit for the benefits CDF has brought to communities around the country.

Key persons in this government are kings and queens of fowl language and arrogance, when their every utterances and actions are supposed to reveal refined character worthy of being emulated as role models.

Infrastructure development is very skewed. While minor roads in certain parts are being improved, a major inter-country highway (Nakuru-Kisumu; Nakuru-Eldoret) has been largely ignored, complicating livelihoods of Kenyans from that region.

It is determined to maintain the status quo of socio-political structures that have been used to oppress Kenyans in the past as exemplified by its resolve not to devolve government to the people, contrary to the basic definition of democracy: government of the people, for the people and by the people.

Daily observations indicate that it has no strategy to decisively tackle insecurity (Mungiki, mt Elgon, UPDF frequent incursion in Pokot area etc).

It is unable to enforce the rule of law and deal with corruption especially when it touches on the elites. Loss in the Michuki transport gains, justice delays in court systems, inability to arrest and prosecute known criminal/corrupt elites are some examples in this regard.

Last but not least, denying this government a second chance is the only way to teach some of our communities to think Kenya and not tribal. It is unfortunate for a community to hold the view that the leadership of this country is its birthright. Further it is now common knowledge that however good and capable any other Kenyan may be for the presidency, members from some "Communities" will not vote for this Kenya as long one of their 'own" is vying for the same seat.

NB: If these issues had been addressed, the supposedly celebrated economic growth rate would perhaps be two digit right now and the trickle effect to most Kenyans would be very high.

Well, we can all determine to weight all aspiring candidates on these items and vote for the one most likely to act on these issues for the good of Kenya. The common argument of "rather the devil that we know than the angel that we do not know" is a cleaver way of running away from social responsibility, yet intrinsically practising tribalism. By all fairness everybody can only be judged after being given a chance to prove oneself.

I hope that Kenyans will stop being short sighted and of very short memory and indeed gullible and for once vote for proven good leadership qualities and value systems that will inspire generations to come.

.
--
Regards,

From the desk of Mr. Anthony Kibagendi,
P. O. Box 1468, 00100, G.P.O,
Nairobi.
East Africa.

+254 721 990921
http://www.kibagendi.org/

Anthony Kibagendi is a youthful and able Parliamentary Aspirant for Kitutu Chache

The Material Woman

2007-09-05T15:28:00.000+03:00

The major locus of women's materialism, as portrayed by this post, is the unrelenting and egocentric quest to accumulate personal fulfillment in material things without the slightest consideration to the other party, in this case the male partner. This post will seek to indicate that a woman is defined by her intense desire to shop, to be offered gifts, to live lavishly at the sole expense of her partner rather than her personal attributes.

Is women materialism a stereotype? Women place an unjustifiable amount of value on material gratification. It goes without saying, given the prevalence of the stereotypes associated with women and gold digging, that most women are generally consumer species.

Most women I meet are with no depth or aptitude, apart from spending endless hours whining about what they don’t have and what they would like to have. They cry about the things others do to their girlfriends and are not being done to her. Is it me looking in the wrong places or same women are just everywhere?

I asked one of my buddies to list some of the things that are a turn-off to him and it went out something like this, Turn-offs? Easy. A women who acts like a little bratty girl and has tantrums instead of acting like an adult mature woman, or takes 4 hours to get ready are two turn-offs. A woman who has no sense of humor and is boring and serious all the time that's a turn-off. A women who is needy and clingy and is not a challenge is a turn-off. Soap opera fanatics are turn-offs, Liars are turn-offs. At this point I would have told him to summarise, coz in my case a real turn off is a materialistic woman.

Could someone please tell me why women have in excessive or centralized or over-emphasized concern with things, either in the form of money or in what money may buy? Meet Monique, we met on an online dating website; actually I was doing research on this topic when I got to see her profile. The profile reads as follows: Those who know me know that I am very materialistic woman. My style is very simple, classy, and trendy. I love to shop (not much of a widow shopping). ... This got me thinking so I made a call to her, she excitedly agreed to meet me after hearing the exaggerated material wealth that I supposedly have.

I chose to indulge her in a not so flashy encounter, after taking a bodaboda ride to her place and letting her walk all the way to the nearest joint(200m) she didn’t have so nice words for me. I ordered Nyama fry and Kachumbari and that was it. The lunch date was done.

……………..to be continued

The Kroll Report : The looting of Kenya

2007-09-03T12:15:00.000+03:00

Could this be the reason why Moi is so eager to retain the status quo? The leaked Kroll Report goes to an extra mile to project the magnitude of looting that the Moi Government was characterised by. Its beyond imagination how much these people are actually worth.
What is sad to Kenyans who had hoped for change, is the fact that the current regime under the leadership of Mwai Kibaki(who is seeking re-election) has kept this report under his matress with the watchful eye of Lucy.
This couldn't have come at a better time, when we need all the details to make a choice between the status quo and the need for change.
Click hereto take a look at the report. Or you can read the online version by clicking here

Osa Vinya Mukamba

2007-08-31T16:45:00.000+03:00

Imagine 1365 delegates out of the 4200 that kalonzo gathered didnt think he is gud enough. That is roughly 32.5%. This is shameful considering that the other contender was a non-starter in politics.We will keep monitoring the moves of this martket's mad man...Musyoka

Marriage Vs Prostitution

2007-08-29T16:21:00.000+03:00

Right, well I know how much fury this will cause in many women especially my new admirer Emma, but what the hey, let's talk about a delicate topic and see what happens.

I was listening to some colleagues at the other day at work. They were discussing their marriages; one was married, the other was getting married. They were discussing cost, mainly.

All this got me thinking. Women are expensive creatures to keep.

Even women that have decent paying jobs (or families) can often be just as much a drain on your financial resources as a poor one. The reason for this being that all women like doing stuff. "Let's go for lunch in a pub in town" is a fine example. I have no problems with this, but when you eat out a lot, the cost does mount up. This seems a bit unfair to be making these claims, but I talk from experience.

So I wonder, would it be cheaper, over the course of a lifetime, to have a wife, or pay for prostitute? I'm making my mind up as I go along, as I haven't come to a decision. All the thinking about this is happening ad lib.

A wife has certain requirements. Here is a list of things that cost money, which they ALL seem to do:

• Need new hair, new neighbourhood, new phone, new car . Generally the pattern goes: things that add no value , the new, new, new and new eventually kills the marriage
• Need things. Things for the house, things for the garden. Things that hold no purpose, except to chisel your home into the type of place you only see in magazines. I know one man whose wife suddenly bought some live chickens and a little house for them, completely out of the blue. Just goes to show you never know what they might NEED.
• Want children. I'm gonna write a post some time on how the world's going mad from overpopulation. For now, the relevance for children is that they are bloody expensive, and a hell of a lot of work. You pay for them for over a fifth of their life, and usually more, unless you were an outstanding child like me, and got the fuck out before you were 17
• Desire clothes, shoes, presents, etc. They have birthdays, valentines, and plenty of other consumer whore days. If you have kids, there's more still. I know I've only scratched the surface as far as costs are concerned, but I think this is enough to make my case for my gut reaction of prostitution being cheaper in the long run.

I would estimate that as your married life becomes exponentially more expensive, most of your income would go towards keeping this 2.4 family unit happy. Primarily the wife, because if she isn't happy, then nobody is. For most people I work with, I would say that that is in excess of 600k per year. Some of my colleagues in my team earn around the mark of 600K per year, and I know that they don't get as much cash to themselves as I do, and I earn less than they do, an amount nowhere near in proportion when you consider how little money they have to spend compared to me on my lower salary. If I earned what they do, I'd would probably have at least twice as much money, maybe three times the amount at my disposal than they do, due to, in essence, their wives.

Now let's say the average decent quality hooker in the KENYA costs500 per shag. For 150k a year, you could have sex 300 times. And that's not counting the fact that she'd probably give you a discount for that much business. You could have sex nearly every day for less than it costs to have a family. Now there might be the odd day you don't want sex, and so, you gain more money.

If you found one like this, you would be even better off!

Let's say the average married couples have sex 4 times a week. Now that's generous, and doesn't count the fact that once you stay with someone for a long enough period of time, the sex dries up. Over the course of a married lifetime the average amount of sex per week is probably only about once, and I reckon that's generous, given the number of people who seem to complain they're not getting it enough.
Anyway, for 4 times a week at 500 a go, that's still only 20k. You're getting more sex than the average married man, and you're more than seven and a half grand richer.

Now if you has a successful career, and you're busy a lot of the week with lots of activities that you enjoy doing, then it might be better off just having a hooker at the weekend and on special occasions. You could have a regular posh and pretty escort girl to accompany you Saturday evening, have a great getting drunk and Banjukaing in nightclubs, soaking up the envy of other men, especially the 'happily' married ones, and then back to your swanky bachelor pad for a night of explosive porno sex.

I have no idea how much a night like this would cost (honest!), but I bet it would be cheaper than the lifetime of debt, marriage and children. Hell if you wanted really high class, you could just do it every other week and on special occasions or work night outs. If you had a regular high class call girl, nobody would need to know she wasn't your other half, except of course your close friends.

Another advantage would be if you became bored with your regular girl, or you weren't really getting along too well, you could just change her. Sure, she may have given you a discount, but she would always cry after sex, and it was really disconcerting. Sorry, ahem, back to topic.

It would seem to me so far at this point that life would be not only cheaper, but easier too, when you consider all the complex emotional stuff that comes with marriage.

Come on Girls, admit it. You'd do this given half the chance wouldn't you?

Kenya 'ireda' Raila

2007-08-21T11:09:00.000+03:00

I had this conversation this morning with a political friend of mine...check out how it went....

[10:52:41 AM] Illusions says: Kenya "ireda" Raila
[10:56:47 AM] Anita says: hahaha
[10:56:55 AM] Anita says: na vile tulimfukuza huko nyeri
[10:57:19 AM] Illusions says: those r primitive pple with little tolerance for democracy
[10:58:07 AM] Anita says: i'd say they r pple who nu what they want... n its defn not RAILA
[10:58:56 AM] Illusions says: mathira yesterday manifested the true picture in central
[10:59:38 AM] Illusions says: other than the elite...the common kenyan kyuk has nothing to celebrate abt Kibs presidency other than a share of the mother tongue
[11:00:21 AM] Illusions says: they came out in numbers to usher in the new dawn in kenyan politics where regardless of tribe, reason can still prevail
[11:01:29 AM] Illusions says: the behavior of Wera was unfortunate and can not be used to gauge the overall feeling of Kenyans in the mt-Kenya Region
[11:01:53 AM] Anita says: why r U suddenly preaching
[11:02:55 AM] Illusions says: when tribalism takes root.....it calls for stringent measures.....preaching might just be one of them
[11:03:48 AM] Anita says: Ur just upset coz it was Raila who was chased... maybe if it were Kalonzo u'd b comfortable
[11:04:49 AM] Illusions says: the unfortunate thing is than one presidential candidate was chased, whoever it is can never be an issue to me
[11:05:27 AM] Illusions says: the fact that she could not tolerate an opposing view is retrogressive in modern Kenya
[11:06:16 AM] Anita says: who couldnt
[11:07:16 AM] Illusions says: did u see the reception raila got in mathira
[11:07:30 AM] Illusions says: now those r the real voters
[11:08:05 AM] Anita says: lol
[11:08:22 AM] Anita says: sounds like u have personal feelings attached to this dude
[11:08:40 AM] Anita says: ukichezez Raila unachezea Jaro
[11:09:04 AM] Illusions says: what do u mean
[11:09:10 AM] Anita says: apart frm that ua mning seems vibrant...
[11:09:15 AM] Anita says: what r u upto
[11:09:48 AM] Illusions says: i dint get those two statements up there
[11:10:09 AM] Anita says: [11:10:59 AM] Anita says: ukichezez Raila unachezea Jaro
[11:10:35 AM] Anita says: u always get so personal when it comes to him
[11:10:46 AM] Anita says: whats with him nyway
[11:10:49 AM] Illusions says: i don’t get personal..
[11:11:04 AM] Illusions says: It’s not Raila...it’s the course
[11:11:48 AM] Illusions says: its what i want for this country..I wish it were another person so i can be vindicatted...but its jus Raila
[11:12:05 AM] Anita says: ok
[11:12:54 AM] Illusions says: put Uhuru where Raila is and I wud be so angry if he is chased out of JaUgenya Beach Resort
[11:13:14 AM] Anita says: lol don worry.... its Luo republic Vs Kenyan Republic after all remember

Sexual Jealousy

2007-08-16T14:09:00.000+03:00

If we could find a cure for sexual jealousy - perhaps a drug - what would we not be capable of? We would certainly have to rethink our ideas about progress.

Just a Thought

2007-08-16T13:57:00.000+03:00

There is this common notion of “intelligence” as a largely inherited talent that can be assessed in one hour interview. Do you know your Intelligence Quotient (IQ)? I don’t.
In fact, I’m terrified by IQ tests.
You see, those tests may well find out that I’m an idiot, or at least, that I’m not that sharp.
No thanks, in this case I’d rather be a smart coward and influence my destiny in complete ignorance. After all, I can still be “imperfect” and yet make a difference in this world.
Edward de Bono, one of the leading business creativity experts, likes to describe intelligence as the horsepower of a car, our potential. The skill of thinking is then the skill of the driver. A poor driver on a powerful car can still be outperformed by a skilled driver on a humble car.
We may not all have the same IQ, but we can certainly learn to become skilled thinkers.
If I could only remember where I left my car keys
The irony is that highly intelligent people may fall in what Edward calls the intelligence trap: for example, they may be unwilling to take risks for fear of not being right all the time. Or they may be so good at supporting and “sell” their own point of view that they may never find a need for seeking potentially better alternatives. Ouch!
As the French philosopher Alain (Émile Chartier) once said:
“ Nothing is more dangerous than an idea when it’s the only one you have.”

Ksh. 1Billion Luncheon: Who is Invited?

2007-08-02T11:48:00.000+03:00

President Kibaki’s campaign team is planning a high profile lunch next month to raise Sh1 billion to finance his re-election bid.
In a move reminiscent of retired President Daniel arap Moi’s strategy of yester-year, the planned lunch will cost Sh1 million per plate. It mainly targets business tycoons and politicians supportive of President Kibaki.I went the extra mile and got the list for you people.

1. Philip Ndegwa Family
2. Manu Chandaria
3. Simeon Nyachea
4. Anoop Vohra
5. Kentan Somaia
6. 'Sir' Charles Njonjo:
7. Chris Kirubi :
8. Chief Samuel Koriata
9. Duncan Ndegwa [Unga Group, Rea
10. Stanley 'Don King' Githunguri
11. Gethere Wa Mbugwa Family
12. Da Gama Rose
13. Laxmanbhai Raghvani
14. Naushad Merali :
15. The Ramji Shah & Jadavji Rughani
16. Wilfred Murungi (Mastermind Tobacco)
17. John Michuki
18. Mike Maina (Arch Marble N Pelican Paints)
19. Adbul Jaffer
20. Mohamed Zubedi
21. Jimmah Mbaru
22. Sk Macharia
23. Lalit Pandit
24. Nicholas Biwott
25. Hayer Bishan Singh
26. Baba Moi & Sons
27. Tahir Said Sheik
28. Hosea Kiplagat
29. Mulji Devaj Brothers
30. Ephraim Maina (Kirinyaga Construction Ltd)
31. HJ Paunrana Family (Athi River Mining Company)
32. Mohamed Said Bawazir
33. Nginyo Kariuki (Nginyo Towers, Hotel)
34. Maganlal Chandaria [Not Related To Manu] : Comcraft Ind. And Madhupaper.
35. Jerad Kagwana [The Mall, Communication Centre]
36. Munish Shah [Village Market/ Kingsway Motors/ Car Tires/ Charterhouse Bank]
37. Karanja Kabage [Insurance/ KBS]
38. Haban Singh
39. Philip Wahome
40. Terry Childs (Brookside Schools)
41. Micheal Somen Of Hutching Biemer.
42. Udi Gechaga [Masharik Motors]
43. Shaukat Noorani [Glory Hotels, Driving Sch. Etc]
44. SS Metha (Construction Tycoon)
45. Nemubhai Shah [Nakumatt Supermakets]
46. Pius Ngugi [Amazon Motors'vovlo',Norwich Union Bldg., Stedler Pencile Kenya, Kenya Nuts Company, Thika Coffe Mills,]
47. Wilson Kipkoti [Prudencial Bank, Standard Assurance Co.,Hotel Sirikwa]
48. Ruben Block (Block Family)
49. Chief Lerionka Ole Ntutu
50. David Bowen (Kenya Charity Sweepstake)
51. Matu Wamae
52. John Kariuki N His Brother James Kanyotu
53. Ma Bayusuf
54. Lord Cole (Africa Air Rescue)
55. Salim Alibhai (Salodin Paints, Silentnight & Kenya Orchards)
56. Davidson Kuguru (Kuguru Food Company)
57. Martin Dunford [Carni/ Termarid Group]
58. Samuel Gichuru
59. Harbinder Seti
60. D*Cky Evans (Homegrown)
61. Vora Family (Sarova Hotels)
62. Sunil Behal
63. Edwin Yinda [Hardrock Cafes/ Shipping Magnet/ Insurance]
64. Gideon Toroitich (Moi's Nephew Agricultural Finance Corporation)
65. Humphrey Kariuki [Hotel Diplomat/Green Corner/ Property]
66. Abdul Karium Popat [Simba Colt Motors/ Imperial Bank/ 20th. Century]
67. Kibathi Family (Sagret Hotels)
68. Kenneth Matiba
69. John Harun Mwau
70. Njenga Karume:
71. The Kunyiha Family {Coopers Kenya Ltd.]
72. Julius Gechau (Interest In DT Dobie, Hillcrest Group Of Schs.)
73. PK Jani ( CFC Bank & Heritage Insurance)
74. Joshua Kulie (Moi's Business Manager)
75. Kimani Wa Mbagi (Kenyatta's Business Manager)
76. The Kantari Family (Prime Bank)
77. The Shah Family (I&M Bank)
78. GK Kirima (Property, Half Of Riva Rolly)
79. Joe Wanjui
80. Samuel Gichuru ( KBS, Chaka Place,
81. Eric Kotut (Goldenberg Money)
82. Chamanlal Kamanis: (Kamson Body Builders & Anglo Licensing)
83. George Saitoti
84. Raphael Tuju
85. Abraham Ambwere
86. Lloyd Masika
87. Walter Mukuria
88. Humprey Kariuki (Green Corner)
89. Eluid Mahihu
90. Njoroge Muigai
91. Bethwel Gechaga
92. Stanley Murage
93. Mama Mitumba (Njeri Wa Macharia)
94. Philip Wahome
95. Fred Waiganjo Family
96. Paul Ndarua
97. Viscount Kimathi
98. 'Mohamed' Kariuki
99. Francis Thuo
100. Ngenye Kariuki
101. Gathecha (Architect)
102. Muiruri Laban (Property)
103. Davidson Ngini
104. Mike Maina (Marble Arch Hotel/ Pelican Paints)
105. Kuria Wa Kanyingi
106. John Gachui
107. Stanley Livondo
108. Njirii Wa Karago
109. Koinange Family
110. Joel Nyasame
111. Edwin Yinda
112. Stephen Kungu
113. Tahir Sheike Said
114. Mbugwa Wa Gethere Family
115. Kibathi Family (Sagret Hotels)
116. Stephen Kungu (Kunste)
117. The Kyuk Family Owner Of Nairobi Homes
118. Eddy Njoroge
119. Famed Businessman Joe Mugambi
120. Macharia Merera (Matco)
121. Pg Muriithi
122. Eratus Muriithi
123. Isaiah Mathenge
124. Kinuthia Wa Makumi (Lavington Shopping Centre)
125. Goldfinger
126. Evelyn Muigai (Eveyn College)
127. Eunice Mathu
128. Kiarie Wa Njoki
129. Kuria Wa Gathoni
130. FT Nyammo (Pan African Insurance, Kenya School Of Profesional Studies)
131. Ngenye Family That Own The Muthaiga Shopping Centre
132. Gatehi Wa Kanyi (Late)
133. Samson Macharia
134. Samuel Githegi
135. JP(JPN Properties USA)
136. Bob Gachehe
137. Julius Memano
138. Manga Mugwe
139. Mwangi Coffee
140. Issac Githuthu
141. Kanyanja (Mbuni Drycleaners)
142. Peter Kanyago
143. P.N Mashru
144. Buyufus Brothers
145. Mary Okelo Awori Family

New Topics

2007-07-31T17:14:00.000+03:00

Coming soon

10 Political Mistakes that Kalonzo is making!

The actions of Kalonzo Musyoka over the past many months have sketched a politician without a plan more so in his reactionary approach to issues. He is making mistakes........

Will ODM fail without Kalonzo's Support? Figures will tell!

The press and political analyst are saying that ODM will fail if Raila is not in it, but can the same be said about Kalonzo Musyoka? What does he bring on to the table that is so worthy?

KES 780Million already wired,who is on the recieving end and why?

The government and Kibaki's election machinery is already out to disturb the unity in its opponents. 1Billion shilling lunch was launched and 780M was wired to one of the ODM candidate's accounts to distabilise its activities. I will tell you who.................

QUESTIONS: ELECTION 2007

2007-07-23T16:55:00.000+03:00

Thought leaders have an obligation to ask the right questions on behalf of the people they are trying to influence. As Naguib Mahfouz, Egyptian Nobel Prize winner once said: "You can tell whether a man is clever by his answers. You can tell whether a man is wise by his questions." One of the advantages of age and experience is that it finally dawns on you that questions are often far more important than answers. Questions jump-start thoughts, and thoughts jump-start choices and actions. Prior to making your choice of who to vote for President in the 2007 election, here are twelve questions to ponder:
Since our future is not found in the rearview mirror, which presidential candidate, those in ODM Kenya and the others in other obscure groupings, has articulated the clearest vision for the future for Kenya and its direction?
Whether you approve or disapprove, Raila has a known track record in public service, life long crusade against bad governance, tribalism and democracy but what evidence have you seen in the other Candidates that would make them better at leading our country as President?
Can you name one accomplishment as a Minister or one major legislation that Kalonzo Musyoka or Musalia Mudavadi has sponsored?
If you are a "security Mom" or a "security Dad," which leader do you think will do the best job in insuring the future security of Kenya?
Which leader do you think will do a better job of keeping more of your hard-earned money in your pocket?
Who among the presidential candidates gives you the hope for a new beginning devoid of tribalism, nepotism and all the ism that have brought down the values that we stand for?
Whom do you trust with your economy? If you put aside the hullabaloo about the projected and realized growths in the past years, who is in better place to let the goodies of growth trickle down to the common Kenyan?
Put in mind the deplorable state of our public institutions and the fact that these trends continue to manifest 4 years into leadership under the NARC government. Who has the stamina and the will power to crack the whip? Do you favor the status quo?
Without mentioning Anglo Leasing and the Armenian Brothers, do you share in the school of thought that there is zero tolerance on corruption? If you don’t, who has the desire and the conviction to finish this vice?
As a nation that has been struggling with economic, social and political strife, who among the contenders share with the common man these plight? Which leader reminds you of the common suffering and in that promises better days?
Having in mind the broken promises on the new the constitution and our constant desire to devolve power to the common citizen. Who amongst these politicians projects you with these possibilities in this lifetime?
Of the crop of leadership that we have, who has demonstrated desire for change and has got the experience in politics to bring forth this change?
Finally, let's bring it back to leadership--Which leader by his words and actions gives you the sense that he has the strong and clear values needed to stay the course as a leader in these difficult times?

SIASA DUNI

2007-07-20T15:55:00.000+03:00

I was looking in an English dictionary to find out what this phrase truly meant, after failing so miserably, I sought help and came up with the following probable meanings:

Siasa Duni:

-The notion that Raila is unelectable
-The idea that in ODM, Kalonzo is the best bet against Kibaki
-The mentality that a Luo can never become a president
-The fact that a lightweight such as Julia Ojiambo and Joe Nyagah are constantly referred to as -ODM Luminaries
-Of the opinion polls and how quick they are discredited when not in your favor.
-When Fred Gumo tells Kibaki to “Kaa Ngumu”
-When the media reports that Kalonzo is the most handsome presidential candidate, (I wonder when that poll was carried out)
-Uhuru thinking that he can be the president before 2029
-When the relevance of Biwott in Kenyan Politics is still more than 1%
-When Daniel Moi goes berserk and asks, “ODM ni nini?”
-Mutula Kilonzo registering another party yet he is an official in ODM
-Ndura Waruinge declaring his interest in Langata Parliamentary seat.
-KANU trying magic in its resurrection bid
-Lucy Kibaki declaring “Kibaki Tosha” (Haven’t I heard that before)
-Kamangu declaring support for Maina Kamanda
-The propaganda that the NSE will fall if Agwambo becomes the President
-Kalonzo(President)-Mudavadi(VP) line-up
-Imagining Kalembe Ndile being elected unopposed
-Workers Congress Party crying foul over the Hammer symbol
-60 new constituencies
-Martha Karua being a Presidential candidate in 2012
-Kamlesh Pattni garnering 2 votes in 2007 elections

The list is endless……..I don’t mind if you got anymore meaning to Siasa Duni

THE ALIGNMENTS (Purely Speculative)

2007-07-19T13:33:00.000+03:00

So dynamic is Kenyan politics that every minute count, dare not spend two minute with a fellow MP, coz that can be translated to something else. Do the events of the past weekend ring a bell? Kiraitu went to Eldoret where he intimated that they have been meeting with Hon. Ruto. It turned out that the encounter between these two lasted less than 2minutes.

Allow me to cogitate on how these two minute meetings and encounters will influence the country’s future. For one, Kanu led by Uhuru Kenyatta is already out of ODM-Kenya. The wing that is yet to move out, although, I don’t not foresee that likelihood is the Kanu led by Hon Ruto. The Serena meeting between Uhuru and Biwott group is a move towards forming a third force. It is going to be interesting how the play develops in ODM-Kenya itself where Kalonzo Musyoka is pitted against a no retreat Raila Odinga; also eyeing this elusive seat is Musalia Mudavadi.

In the event that things do not work out for Kanu in ODM, I believe Ruto who is more or less being alienated will remain behind to form a coalition with Raila. This will be the case since in Kanu of Biwott and Uhuru; he might not wield so much power since his Rift Valley clout will be tamed by both Biwott and Moi. Kalonzo will of course be disgruntled at the end of ODM fight and in more sense will join up with old buddies to form the Kalonzo-Uhuru-Biwott axis (3rd Force). This will of course isolate Ruto much further. At this point Ruto might just look at his possibilities ten years from now and calculate his probable gains. The obvious judgment will be to join the Raila axis. This is supported by the notion that Raila’s support ten years from now is much guaranteed than that of Kalonzo.

As a candidate in the coming elections having eclipsed his fiercest opponent the Mwingi North MP, Kalonzo Musyoka, Raila will be very busy in keeping his former competitors intact as allies. Already Balala, Nyagah and possibly Ojiambo will be in his basket. The tough job will be bringing Ruto and Mudavadi on board. As earlier stated Ruto is already isolated by the Kanu activities, and as a survival measure Raila faction will prove to be his best option in line with his ambitions. Mudavadi on the other hand will be a difficult prey to hunt. His options as an independent candidate will be slim. The Kalonzo side will be a no go zone since Musyoka will be a candidate with Uhuru as running mate. As indemnity come the year 2017, he will say “Raila Tosha” hoping to be the VP and subsequent presidential candidate once Raila is done. This school of thought will obviously throw him into Raila’s nest.

To counter Kalonzo, Agwambo will finally bring to front the agreement that was made between Ngilu and him. Kalonzo will no longer be an obstacle and thus Ngilu will become her true self as a Raila supporter. This will obviously bring to the basket some of the Eastern votes.

The brewing scenario, Kibaki included will see three fronts. One led by Raila, including Mudavadi as Prime minister, Ngilu as VP, Ruto as a Deputy Prime Minister together with Balala. The second alignment will have Kalonzo and Uhuru as running mate. Kibaki will have the other group that will include his perennial tribes mate and the likes of Kombo

Of course all this can take a different turn if Kalonzo accepts a lesser position in ODM- Kenya. In such case Mudavadi’s take might be inconsequential. If this were to happen, then the line up will take this form; Raila-Kalonzo (VP)-Mudavadi (Prime)-Balala (DepPrime).

I still would love to see the latter succeed.

DEMOCRACY: KENYA’S MOST VISIBLE FAILURE

2007-07-18T12:12:00.000+03:00

Democracy is a frequently used word but its meaning is rarely fully understood especially in Kenya where the noise is so deafening when it crops up. A democratic political system is one in which the ultimate political authority is vested in the people. The word democracy comes from the Greek words "demos" which means the people and "kratos" which means authority.
Democracy may be direct, or indirect and representative. In the modern pluralistic democratic state, power typically is exercised in groups or institutions in a complex system of interactions that involves compromises and bargaining in the decision process. The democratic creed includes the following four concepts:
· Individualism, which holds that the primary task of government is to enable each individual to achieve the highest potential of development.
· Liberty, which allows each individual the greatest amount of freedom consistent with order
· Equality, which maintains that all persons are created equal and have equal rights and opportunities
· Fraternity, which postulates that individuals will not misuse their freedom but will co-operate in creating a wholesome society
As a political system, democracy starts with the assumption of popular sovereignty, vesting ultimate power in the people. It presupposes that people can control their destiny and that they can make moral judgments and practical decisions in their day lives. Are Kenyans able to do all this? It implies a continuing search for truth in the sense of humanity’s pursuit of improved ways of building social institutions and ordering human relations. Democracy requires a decision-making system based on majority rule, with minority rights protected. In a country with skewed election process and a tribal agenda during electioneering period, can we say that the majority should be the bona-fide decision makers?
Effective guarantees of freedom of speech, press, religion, assembly, petition and of equality before the law are indispensable to a democratic system of government. Politics, parties and politicians are the catalytic agents that make democracy workable. In country where politicians themselves are parties, are these catalytic agents of democracy working as independent units?
For a number of centuries democracy was regarded as a dangerous and unworkable doctrine. It took a hold in the western world during the C19 and C20 and was attacked by both extreme left and right wing political groups. There are those who condemn it as mob rule that vulgarizes society and as a belief that tolerates mediocrity and incompetence. It has also been criticized as a sham - a belief that can’t work as it goes against human nature. i.e. a government will claim to be democratic in name but in practice it will decide what it will do for the people as an election victory has given it the public mandate to do this but it will rarely - if at all - use referendums to fully find out what the public think about potential legislation during the life time of that government.
Plato and Greenberg believe that for democracy to work in its purest form it needs to have certain pre-requisites. Society has to be educated and responsible. The state must have a degree of economic stability. Social cohesion and social consensus must exist. Above all, it requires the acceptance of the democratic "rules of the game”:
That there should be frequent and fair electionsThat the losers must accept the verdict of the public and allow the majority to governThat the majority will respect the right of the minority to provide the government with oppositionIf the minority wins a future election, it will be permitted to take over the reins of government
Can democracy ever be created in its most perfect form? It is argued that if governments try to move in the direction of democracy then they have the right to be labeled democratic.

Who is better of with whom?

2007-07-13T11:43:00.000+03:00

The on goings on ODM Kenya and the now fading memories of the Kalonzo-Mombasa Rally whines are a complete pain in the A**. It is in such times that often than not politicians of the likes of Ruto and Musalia Mudavadi make mistakes that are costly.
If my memory serves me right, it was during a similar period that Musalia Mudavadi made the gravest political blunder that locked him out of parliament for the last five years. This particular mistake cost him the presicdency and more painfully his parliamentary seat. Failure to identify with whom to assocaiate.
In his association with Agwambo, the whiny Musyoka has built himself the stature of a presidential material. In his heydays as a Moi protégé, he was nothing more than a loyal servant who was not even assured of his political survival. Look at him now, thumping his chest allover the place hoping that he can be the president. He knew at that time who was important.
This brings me to the argument that I would like to project to the two Honorable, William Ruto and Musalia Mudavadi. These arguments should be taken with maximum selfishness that can be achieved. For one, the two of you are very young and presidency at this time might not be such a rush. Your ambitions can still be put on hold until 2012 when you will hit atleast 56. Just as Raila has done in the past he built his image as a nationalist, the two of you, individually should spend the next ten years erasing the past that is so evidently haunting you. Take time and build your selves as drivers of change.

To do this there has to be an overall salvation ceremony. You ought to do something that is so selfless that many Kenyans will never forget. Remember Raila saying Kibaki Tosha. Who would have thought that he would say that and go ahead to drum up support for Kibaki during the latter’s convalescing? Your salvation might just be a similar thing. It has been believed that the two of you along side Kalonzo have regrouped to sabotage Raila Odinga. Use this time to build yourself. Kenyans have the knack of forgiving politicians. We will soon forget that you insulted Raila’s ability by mentioning the presence of his foreskin. Say the curse word “Raila Tosha” and the echo might just sound ten years after.

In comparing the gains of supporting Kalonzo Vis a Vis Raila. It is important to note that the chances of Kalonzo keeping his promise are much less than that of Raila. At the same time it is worth noting that of these two, Raila commands more respect and say among his supporters that Kalonzo does. He is thus much more reliable in drumming up support on your behalf when the right time comes than Kalonzo.

For Ruto, from the unofficial and unscientific opinion polls that have been going on within Rift valley, it is important to note that Raila is commanding a lot of goodwill. Support for another candidate might be costly as it will be viewed as going contra to the general opinion of the community.

For Musalia, you must have noticed that Western province will be 50-50 between you and Raila. Why fight when you can wait for your chance to take it all.

Long Live Agwambo

WHO STANDS TO GAIN MOST FROM MUNGIKI’S ACTIVITIES?

2007-06-13T11:05:00.000+03:00

Am watching news along side a friend of mine…Giddy, then the question of who is stands a chance of gaining most by Mungiki’s activities hits. Giddy as will always be the case is controversial, but for the first time, am in agreement. Who is the real beneficiary of the Mungiki’s skirmishes?

Allow me to take you through some of our arguments, first we need to appreciate that Mungiki is a Kikuyu outfit. Not many Jaluos or Lughya do subscribe to this sect. Infact I hear Kakamega town went into panic when rumor went round that some Mungiki people had brought with them sacks of Warus. The Lughya version of Mungiki (Msumbiji) were supposedly ready to tackle them if need were to be. Anyway, it is also necessary to appreciate that Mungiki as Kikuyu outfit, in the current political scene can only act in the benefit of two politicians, either Mwai KIbaki or Uhuru Kenyatta.

As the story goes, the Mungiki’s atrocities are as result of unfulfilled promises by the current regime. With that argument holding, we are left with one visible and possible beneficiary. Why are the Mungiki so eager to project Kibaki government as a failure? And were they to succeed in presenting Kibaki as a failure in the eyes of Central Province and the Kikuyu’s in the Diasporas, which alternative Kikuyu leader stands the chance to benefit most? If in deed Kibaki promised them some goodies, it has been five years since then, why all the killings now? This sect (some people say soon we will have Mungiki sector alongside the Jua-Kali Sector, a metamorphosis from Mungiki Sect to Mungiki Sector) could have realized long time ago, that whatever was promised wasn’t not forthcoming. As such they would have started killing Kenyans maybe in the 3rd year of Kibaki’s Presidency. Their timing is little convenient, casting doubt as to their real intentions. Is a Kikuyu politician, with lots to be gained, so as to project Kibaki in bad light, financing them?

The GEMA communities, being the largest tribal bloc in Kenya, lots can be lost if a candidate is seen as a traitor. Who will gain most if Kibaki is depicted as a leader who did little to help his own people? Death has been brought to his own community, his failure to protect his people will be used to the advantage his alternate. Who is that option?

The activities of Mungiki have been sporadic in Nairobi, Central province and part of Kikuyu dominated Rift Valley. They are not confined to a particular area and thus bringing the second argument, why is Mungiki so eager to touch every corner of Kibaki’s political bedrock that could also be the bedrock of his substitute? Mungiki has played its political cards strategically over the years. In the last national election, it aligned itself to Kanu with Uhuru Kenyatta as the party’s presidential candidate. Recently, it switched its allegiance to the present government after promises were made to them. Is this an about turn?

The most glaring pointer to who is the sole beneficiary of the Mungiki atrocities was the arrest of the aide to the current official opposition leader. Although our policemen and women are less effective in their duties, more often than not when they arrest a high-ranking politician, thorough investigations were done. Geoffrey Gachagua, a Kanu official from Central province (Kanu Provincial Coordinator) and a brother to Mathira MP Nderitu Gachagua was arrested and charged in court for his involvement with the Mungiki sect. He supposedly was the source of a leaflet that was distributed in central Province. The leaflets which were discovered by authorities in Karatina, Banana and Githunguri areas a few weeks ago urged the youth aged between 18 and 24 years to arm themselves with guns and fight the “enemy.” Written in vernacular, the leaflets also alluded to the names of two powerful politicians from Central province as the main force behind the movement. Don’t you think its fishy that we face such coincidences? The following Saturday, Uhuru accompanied by family members and two lawyers stormed the CID headquarters where the suspect was being grilled to protested the arrest. The group was, however, denied access and they left without talking to Gachagua.

Who has the financial might to finance the activities of Mungiki, especially now that they are a hunted lot? Yes many politicians are rich but who has the ambition, desire and the financial riches that can warrant such atrocities?

Last argument, the Kanu NDC that was held this week. The timing has been suspect. The Kanu chairman fails to present his papers to the ODM election board, goes to the UK for a whole week, he later calls national delegates and announces that he is going it alone. Who or what resuscitated the Leader of Opposition? While Uhuru was away from Kenya, Mungiki were busy beheading and mutilating fellow citizens. Could it be a ploy to rejuvenate Uhuru while Kibaki is at his lowest among the victims of the Mungiki massacre?
******************************************************
The Mungiki are beheading defectors yet Ndura Waruinge and Maina Njenga who changed to other religions are walking the streets free. So much for a course.

POST ELECTION MUNGIKI: WHO WILL FINISH THEM?

2007-06-11T10:41:00.000+03:00

The quasi-political religious sect in Kenya as the Wikipedia puts it has gone berserk over the past many months. The current regime has obviously done little to put them to rest. The question among many Kenyans, especially those leaving in Nairobi and the Central province, is, when and who shall do away with this brutal group that has and is still willing to guillotine the heads of fellow citizens.
Today I would like to envisage on how the different presidential candidates might act in response to the Mungiki, once elected as the Kenyan Supremo.

EMILIO MWAI KIBAKI

The incumbent will obviously be seeking reelection under NARC-Kenya party. It is important to remember that as part of his strategy in the 2002 elections, Mungiki were seen as an asset. His team cohabited with the sect and somehow used it to its eventual victory. The rumor is that the horror that this group is subjecting Kenyans to, is as a result of unfulfilled promises to them by Emilio.
In the event that Kibaki is reelected as the President, I see a resurgence of Mungiki. Prior to this coming election, the Kibaki team might just follow the advice given by Njenga Karume to negotiate with Mungiki. In its negotiations they might make more promises to this sect. With the knowledge of what this sect is capable of, I see Kibaki sticking to the clauses of agreement once he is reelected; we might see the registration of a body (of course with a different name, probably Kenya National…). This will be the first step in legitimization of the group of death. Mungiki’s powers and their hold on the Kenyans will grow further. In the event that Kibaki does not negotiate with the Mungiki and the economy continues to grow for the rich only, most youth especially the urbanites and the Kikuyus might just resort to Mungiki as a source of income.

RAILA AMOLO ODINGA

The scion of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga might find it a little difficult to deal with the Mungiki sect, but I see a total decline of Mungiki’s activity in the second year of his presidency. This will be the case having in mind the perception the Kikuyus have on Raila. So as not to appear tribal in his quest to finish off Mungiki, he will tread carefully not to anger the general Kikuyu population. This will be the case mostly due to the fact that Mungiki is a faceless group without uniform or identification symbol. The only obvious thing is where they come from. If Raila is to make true of his vision of this country, we will then see growth in the economy that will be favorable to the less fortunate Kenyans. This will give the Mungiki adherents an alternative mode of life. Raila’s desire to improve infrastructure especially transport sector might disorganize the Mungiki sect due to its over reliance on the Matatu industry. Introduction of electric trains and subways will obviously make Mungiki less active. Overall, Odinga’s no nonsense attitude will give Mungiki less room to maneuver. The challenge will be to make Kenyans understand that the fight against Mungiki is not a vendetta against the Kikuyu but crime.

STEPHEN KALONZO MUSYOKA

His chances of clinching ODM ticket seems diminished as days go by. In the event that he prevails, it would be tricky and less obvious how he will deal with the sect. Kalonzo’s presidency will probably see an initial onslaught on Mungiki in the first months but eventually the whole hullabaloo will die once he is comfortable on the seat. I see Kalonzo maintaining the status quo in the government. This will of course mean that the fight against Mungiki will be headed nowhere since majority of those in leadership positions at the moment are less perturbed by the activities of this group. Kalonzo might in the long run use the Mungiki to fight political survival games. As is becoming clearer as elections nears, the economy under Kalonzo might take a cue from what has been seen in the past five years. The less privileged will continue to suffer, as the rich get richer. This of course will see an even more deadly Mungiki.

MUSALIA MUDAVADI

Laissez faire leadership, those routing for him would say he is a composed leader with high level of humility. Those on the other side would say he is a coward who might find it intricate dealing with difficult situations. I predict in Mudavadi a president who will take enormous amount of time in dealing with Mungiki. As such the group’s activities will flourish. Mudavadi not in his mind would be in support of the Mungiki group but his sort of lazy approach to issues will hinder his immediate response to this group. Consequently Mungiki will grow to the magnitude of the Uganda rebels.

UHURU KENYATTA

Not in more than one occasion he has tried to dispel rumors that he is a Mungiki supporter. His close aides have faced similar accusations. Mungiki is predominant in his region, the larger Kiambu, Thika, and Muranga areas. President Uhuru Kenyatta might be the only person able to do away with this menace but on equal strength he might be just the person to let it thrive. His vijana calls might just be what this sect requires. Mungiki will also find Uhuru as an easy president to cut deal with. On what side the deal will fall is anybody’s guess.

Am sorry I have got no opinion on Joe Nyagah, William Ruto, Najib Balala, Julia Ojiambo, Cyrus Jirongo , Kamlesh Pattni and the rest. Lets wait and see……

THE ADVERT

2007-06-07T09:16:00.000+03:00

The dogs are on the loose, once they bite you, they will run back to thier homes from where the owners will quickly put them back into their kennels. You will not have a chance to know where the dogs went just that you were bitten. Who is Mungiki? Who owns Mungiki? Where do they hide? Maybe this advert can shed some light.....who knows?

THE LETTER

2007-06-05T10:30:00.000+03:00

It’s another election year and those noises are already deafening. The unofficial campaigns have started though the chief referee is yet to be decided. In the midst of these pangangas, for ordinary Kenyans it would be difficult to know what matters most. The so called middle class Kenyans will be waiting to analyze which aspirant has staged the best advert on TV or whose Billboard is more captivating. The elite will be so busy in conferences and political dinner parties and in the long run missing out on the real issues.
The Honorable Sylvester Wakoli will take that opportunity to write this letter to the common mwananchi back in Bumala constituency. Due to the noise that will raid the air, this letter will go unnoticed, but the words will of course present the real scenario in our Kenyan politics.
Allow me to preempt the letter, give me this chance to put you in Wakoli’s mind. The Bumala MP will write to his constituents as an estranged lover would do. The letter would go this way:

Dear Sweet Pape
How I have missed you my tarling, forgive me pepi for the long period since I last saw you my efriting. I tont know whether I had peen in Ukanta or in Kenya. Were it not for Kompo, propaply I would have come once in a while to see you. I want to come pak home papy, I want to come pak home so much tarling so that we can continue with our affair paipe.

How are the papies toing, I hope our lord has guided you, I heard about the kang kalod Mungiki that tried to scare you sweety pie, if you kiv me anata chance paipe, I will finish them off. I would have done that but the neipa Chirongo tried to seduce you so I had to keep Chirongo off. I love you Paipe.Some people will say tat they cannot sleep without you tarling but I slept well my askondita. I slept very well and dreamt of you my La Mujer.

I Silfesta Wakoli Bufwoli promises to take care of you my Shindu. I tiklare that from now on, I will give all my earnings to you paipe. The emprassment that I brot to you by shouting at my brother Moody will not be repeated. You’re my orange and panana. Oh my sukari, I will not chenj my Nampa again after you take me back again. You will be aple to call me on Telkom Wireless, efen if am in Naropi tarling.

I know Wafula tit not have skul fees, I will kiv you all the CDF, I know you tont know what that is, it is Cash for Donating at Funerals. In the name of Muliro and Wamalwa I will guard you as I do to the house of Apantu Abaluyha.

Papy kal, I laf you with all my being. You are my reason for waking up in the morning and for drifting off to sleep in meetings. My life without you would be like a captain without a ship, a pilot without his plane, a bird without its wings. I look forward to December and cannot fathom the future without you

.
Me always
Wakoli Bufwoli

PS: I lafo u swity yanche ent i hope to pi ur haspant akain.

Musalia Mudavadi: Epitome of Mediocrity

2007-06-04T11:14:00.000+03:00

So Musalia Mudadi gathers a crowd at Safari Park to launch his Vision.. I never thought SK Macharia would be so duped at giving this guy coverage on his Citizen TV. Of course in the midst of confusion and disorganisation I was able to pick out some stuff from him. I thought it would be a chance for me to change my opinion of him, but he failed miserably to convince me otherwise. The likes of John Keen and the dozens of former MPs whose names were echoed throughout were a clear sign of a directionless afternoon. I regreted coming all the way from Kakamega to attend this day.Anyway first things first...Musalia was not born after indipendence as it was so claimed, contratry he was born on the 21st september 1960, that was 3yrs before Kenya got self rule.
To his vision and mission once he becomes the president...there is a lot to be desired. There are enough questions that can be asked about his past performance as a senior Minister in the Moi regime.
Musalia should have used that forum to guide Kenyans in a comparative analysis of his past actions and achievements vis a vis what he would do for Kenyans as a President. In his speech that was titled "Dignified Lifes for Kenyans" one cannot fail to notice the irony that Muvadadi whom at one point had all the powers to effect majority of his so called present vision failed to do so. The 8 pillars of his government starting with Stable Economy, Mudavadi should have outlined his perfomance as a Finance Minister. He should have told Kenyans how achieved the sound fiscal policies and efficient market economy during his tenure. Or he should have told Kenyans why he failed. He should have made a case for himself in his application for a second chance at leadership in this country.
Its a case of "Look who is talking" when you hear him talk about corruption. There are still the unaswered questions about the Goldenberg and it is also worth noting that the Anglo Leasing scandal has a genesis during his time too. Mudavadi should have been more explicit on how he intend to accuse and punish himself in regard to these scandals. He should have taken the time to apologise to Kenyans on his involvement.
As a Transport Minister he failed to initiate projects that would cater for improved physical infrustructure that was part of his vision's pillar. How can he claim to be in the know on how to do it this time. He should have given a clear reason why Kenyans should give him a second chance at improving th infrustructures and in correcting the existing imbalances.
On the statistics that he used to disparage the present government...did he realise that Kenya was much lower on the poverty ranking during his time than the present? The economic growth figure that he was so critical about..did he ever remember that during his time we were ashamed of even mentioning the figure? And on inflation how fast did Musalia forget what it was when he was in the government?
Humilty? This was a term that was used in the wrong place. The right term should have been cowardice. As a celebrated coward, Musalia should have tried convincing Kenyans why they need a coward as opposed to a worrior.When you fear your opponent that should never be construed to be humility.
..................ODM is good, but MUSALIA MUDAVADI would be a mediocre candidate.

SUICIDE NOTE

2007-05-16T09:55:00.000+03:00

SUICIDE NOTE
BY JOB JR SEEKER
Existence has no significance, this life has become so meaningless, and I do not look forward to tomorrow. If I fail to take my life today, probably I’ll face the same day that I have lived today. This is why am going, never to see tomorrow again coz its for sure going to be worse than today.
I woke up this morning smelling of yesterday but that did not remind me of it. I had vowed to forget. Maybe I should just tell you what happened, I woke up Monday morning with the zest of life, all psyched up for the promises that the liars of this world proclaim given audience. This man I guess I shall never see again. Meet Peter, IT manager for a blue chip company. What’s blue chip anyway? I will end without knowing that. So Peter a cousin to a friend of mine after being told of my bleak predicament asks me to see him in his office armed with my CV and certificates. That was Sunday – just to meet him, I stepped into a church, and the sermon was appalling. Come Monday, am all spruced up. If my dad were here he would say, "They pimped ma son".
At his office there is this ugly Ogiek lady… I didn’t know there are Ogieks in large firms. She asks if I had an appointment, to which I quickly nod. Thirty minutes later am still seated at the stupid Peter’s lounge. He pops out and saves me from the sight of this unsightly woman. Picture an image of a dark woman with lipstick all over her face, her teeth shining brown with traces of red lipstick sticking out of them. Doubtlessly its Peter’s wife who gave her that Job…so much for barring competition. "Are you here to see me?" That was it; the dude had no clue who the hell I was.
My tongue was stuck, I couldn’t speak! "How can I help you?" he continues. After gathering my composure I explain to Peter that we actually discussed my coming to his office. This is why I say "Stupid Peter". "We don’t just employ coz someone is looking for a job. Wait for our advert." He rudely declares. He could have said that at the church or was he so scared of God he couldn’t break a soul’s heart in His house. The lift ride was so slow you would mistake it for a traffic slam on Mbagathi way .If it were any faster I would have jumped through the window up on the 14th floor of Lonrho House. I am done looking jobs. No more printing of resumes, no more Friday newspapers. To hell with www.bestjobskenya.com and screw www.brighternonday.com
So when I woke up this morning the stench of beer was raw on my mouth, the aftermath thanks to a former college buddy buying me seven mugs of Senator Keg just to floss, just to rub it in how good he is feeling on his new job as a graduate clerk. I am done listening to people. What’s the use of taking breakfast when you are going to die in the evening? What’s the use of food to a dead man? I would have asked myself these questions, if only I knew, in the morning, what am about to do.
Eleven in the morning I am out of the house pimped again for an interview, the job of an IT administrator for a Tanzanian firm. Do I really want to relocate? Not Tanzania, maybe to heaven coz am already in hell. A panel of three, seated in the middle is a young but ambitious looking lady, how I hate that face now. Women in positions of power are a dangerous lot. She made sure that I knew that I wasn’t fit for the position. Who knows everything anyway? And to inflict more injury to the wound, she tells me that they’ll keep my CV for consideration if any other opening arises. "If we don’t call you within the week just know that your CV is in our databank for future consideration". Utter Bulshit! What’s the point of keeping me in suspense when it’s so obvious you didn’t like my presentation?

Do you want to know what I know or you want to know what I don’t. Do you want a software developer or an IT Admin? This interview is Bulshit! After one hour of blubbering, my degree means nothing anymore. An advice, people, if you see a lecturer in a panel, quit he interview. I mourn the wasted years. Maybe what I have left of the four years is the addiction I have for alcohol. On my way home I stop over at the cousin’s office, he has no 30 bob for my fare to Mbotela, here comes the great trek. You only notice the hanging ropes on sale along Jogoo Rd when you are contemplating what I am about to do.
It’s been a year since I graduated form the University not so lucky with Jobs I guess.
Anyway this is how my personal belongings should be apportioned. All my clothes should go to my Twin Brother Kevin. If any inheritance were in my name let them be divided to all my siblings equally. I had a son or was it a girl with a lady called Karen Moraa (I don’t know its name). The baby should be given my surname. Poor thing that’s all I’ve got. To my only cousin, let him be the one to dig my grave, it’s the last favor he can do for me.