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23:32
From: Kenya Imagine
Read This Entry & More At Kenya Imagine
Kenya is in deep crisis. It is sitting on the precipice of a fully-fledged ethnic-based violent rupture. As death, mayhem, and possible genocide unravel, Kenyan politicians and leaders seem dangerously unwilling or unable to show genuine and effective leadership in ending the ethnic strife pitting their supporters. In refusing to seek an immediate end to the ethnic strife, perhaps each side hopes to somehow gain the upper hand in the resolution of the post-election crisis. This is both dangerous and unacceptable. It is needlessly stoking tension and violence as innocent Kenyans get killed by overzealous supporters of each camp. Both the Kibaki and Raila camp must act immediately to end the madness. Everything else must come after that. Read more here. ----------------------------------------------------------- Written by: Prof. James Gathii is the Governor George E. Pataki Professor of International Commercial Law Albany Law SchoolProf. Dismas A. Masolo is the Justus Bier Professor of Humanities and Distinguished University Scholar and Professor of Philosophy, University of Louisville, Louisville, KentuckyProf. Joel Ngugi is an Assistant Professor of Law, University of Washington, Seattle Ms. Atieno Caroline Odhiambo is a Human Rights Lawyer in Seattle Dr. Kiarie Mwaura is a Visiting Fellow, Human Rights Program at Harvard Law School and Lecturer in Law, Queens University, Belfast, Northern Ireland Prof. Sylvia Kang’ara is an Assistant Professor of Law, University of Washington, Seattle 
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21:26
From: Kenyanentrepreneur.com
Read This Entry & More At Kenyanentrepreneur.com
Even if these people believed Kibaki rigged himself in, there is no excuse for this kind of behavior.
Click on the link and watch this video:
After seeing this, I want Michuki to fight them till the end and bring them down.
I’m tired of reading all these Kenyan blogs where people are intellectualizing the problem. (”Pray for [...]
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18:50
From: Kikuyumoja's realm
Read This Entry & More At Kikuyumoja's realm
Probably like many others, I’ve been following the intense coverage of the current situation in Kenya through the media and especially the Kenyan Blogosphere online. Kudos to everyone within the blogosphere (bloggers & commentators) who contributed valuable news & information!
Ory of KenyanPundit already pointed out a few good things how we - those that are sitting in the save heavens during these days and watching the unfolding events with sadness - may be able to help and contribute our share, i.e. by documenting the events online with names of all the victims, buying airtime for our family & friends online or maybe also by pushing our local government to assist Kenya in finding a quick solution. While the latter one may not be possible, I’d still like to second her ideas on this and offer my help. For those of you who are able to read German, pls have a look at this interesting article on why Germany would have an interest in helping Kenya. I also heared that Germany’s foreign minister, Mr Frank-Walter Steinmeier, today talked to Raila A. Odinga.
I wonder how Germany may be able to assist Kenya on this? Maybe Daimler-Chrysler should build a remote control / backdoor access to their Mercedes cars so that whenever a president or government does something “undemocratical” (sic!), they can stall the entire car pool. Ha!
…
Besides all the pain and sadness of the recent developments, I am with Bankelele when he concludes that the Kenyan voters are the actual winners (despite the rigged tallying) as they turned out in record numbers. And I believe it’s these very same people who will make a difference for Kenya and show to the world that Kenya isn’t ruled by a handful of powerful people, some executive forces and rioting youth, but instead a strong electorate that knows how to do business, care for itself and those in need and thus also knows how to maintain peace in a multi-ethnic society.
In an attempt to do some bridge blogging, I will try to compile a short summary in German during the next few days pole, sina saa…, also because the German media has in the past few days reported about the riots under the usual Kikuyu vs. Luo label - something that has really put me off!
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16:33
From: Mentalacrobatics
Read This Entry & More At Mentalacrobatics
On Thursday I headed into town to get a feel of the mood on the ground before the ODM rally, banned by the government but which ODM insisted it would go ahead with anyway, at Uhuru Park was due to start.
I took a matatu into town, jumped out at Railways and started walking towards the centre of town. I noticed all the newspapers had the same headline, Save our Beloved Country. The local media has been criticised in some quarters for not utilising its unique position to help the efforts against the violence, clearly the editors had decided to get proactive.
I continued walking towards the centre of town and got as far as The Hilton Hotel before I encountered a crowd running towards me and obviously running away from something. There is only one thing that would make Kenyans break the 100 metre sprint record (we are more of the long distance running types), the police. Or specifically the elite paramilitary police, the General Service Unit.
The GSU are not known for their conversational skills and they had one message for all the Kenyans in town, “Rudi Nyumbani” – Go back home. With ODM threatening to go ahead with the banned rally the cops were not taking any chances in case some ODM supporters had arrived in town early. The GSU units clearly had one objective, to clear the streets. I positioned myself behind them and followed them around as they did they work.
Once in a while they would come across an unmovable force. This watch repair man (seated behind the cardboard box) stated that he had come to work he had no money to go home and would have to stay until he earned some money to go home. He clearly had neither the inclination or motivation to attend the ODM rally, the only orange thing about him was the wall where he had positioned his stall. They left him alone.
Everyone else was not as lucky. Pretty soon and rather effectively after a pretty normal start to the day, downtown Nairobi was like a ghost town.
Roads were blocked with stones and the GSU surrounded the perimeter of Uhuru Park making sure that anyone trying to get in would have a fight on their hands.
All the action was taking place much further away up in Hurlingham a couple of kilometres from the centre of town. ODM leaders had been blocked by police further up although a small group of people included Members of Parliament had managed to walk a little further down.
The cops were not having any of it however and showed up with a display of might and they were not going to let anyone through.
Led by former Health Minister and ODM Pentagon, Charity Ngilu, members of the public tried to engage the police in debate. In effect asking them why they were participating in the oppression of Kenyans and asking for understanding for the rally to go ahead. The police used the usual, “following orders from above” excuse.
At one point a member of the public accused the police of using live ammunition earlier in the day. The police insisted that none of the police officers had used live ammunition that day and if she had any cartridges she should bring them to him. The police insisted they were there to disperse the crowd peaceful. At which point someone asked, why many of them were carrying tear gas canisters then?
The police explanation did not go down well with Ngilu, there is a determination amongst the leadership of ODM to not buckle under the intense pressure to ensure that at the very least the votes are recounted.
Then the GSU did something I have never ever seen them do before. They turned around and walked away.
This lead to shouts from the crowd of, “You are Kenyans, you are our brothers.” It felt like at least this section of the crowd wanted the cops to understand their position and join them.
After a few minutes the road was empty, like nothing had happened there. But as usual it was the small traders who suffered the most, those that open had property and goods looted. The owner of this kiosk, wisely, decided not to open today.
More pictures in on my Flickr Page.
 kenyaelection07
© Mentalacrobatics for Mentalacrobatics, 2008. |
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15:41
From: Kenyan Pundit
Read This Entry & More At Kenyan Pundit
We arrived safely in Joburg earlier this evening. The trip to the airport was one of the scariest moments in my life. Though we had planned to leave for the airport early in the morning even though the flight left late in the afternoon, winding up took much longer then we expected and [...]
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15:23
From: Mentalacrobatics
Read This Entry & More At Mentalacrobatics
Due to the sporadic nature of my internet connection these past few weeks I have not had much time, to read and engage with those of you who are leaving comments. Making sure my pictures and posts are uploaded correctly usually takes more time than Safaricom/Celtel GPRS gives me before it gives up on me. I would like to thank the vast majority of you again for coming out and engaging with me and with each other in a respectful yet passionate manner.
However, it is sad to note that some of you are using the space I provide for your comments to spread hate and violent tribalism. I WILL NOT STAND FOR THAT. No doubt many of you were unaware of this blogs existence before this election and thus may not be aware of where I stand on this so let me some things clear.
I do not blog as part of a popularity contest. I do not really care if I get no comments on my posts (search my archives, I have said this before) as I believe there are other ways to measure a blogs impact. I would rather have one sensible comment that 20 comments shouting nonsense.
Secondly, I am not here to spoon feed you or even debate with you what does or does not make valid commentary. My younger cousins who are just out of their teens and about to join high school know the difference between intellectual and valid commentary and hate speech. So do you. I will not enter into a lengthy debate on whether your comment, that we should “finish” this or that tribe is valid because of some socio-economic-political-historical injustice you quote. For crying out loud our country is burning. You fuel the flames here and I will burn your comment, i.e. I will delete it.
Thirdly, if you do engage in the nonsense highlighted above, not only will I delete your comment but I will probably ban your IP address as well. There is too much at stake here for me to spend time fighting hate here and if you spread hate I really do not care if you feel aggrieved at being locked out of my blog. I will not engage with you and more importantly I will not give you a platform from which to spread that hate. If you really must, then start your own blog and spread your nonsense there. I have banned people from commenting before and I have banned IP address from this domain before and I can tell you for sure that it works as, surprisingly, each and every person I have banned from this blog returns a few months later with a cleaner mouth (and new IP address). Some are even taking part in this debate about the aftermath of the elections, perhaps they will be brave enough to share why they are back after being banned. This shows to me that many of irresponsible people only leave hate comments because they feel they can get away with it. So I will not let you get away with it here.
Now to the vast majority of my visitors, who have left comments, thank you i appreciate you and I urge you, please, please start your own blogs and add to the voices from Kenya. Ignore the rant above it was not directed at you.
© Mentalacrobatics for Mentalacrobatics, 2008. |
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15:19
From: Mentalacrobatics
Read This Entry & More At Mentalacrobatics
(I wrote this post on the morning of Thursday 3rd of January but due to internet connectivity problems can only post it now. It has been overtaken by events somewhat, but as I sat down and wrote it I insist that I be allowed to post it!)
The uneasy calm that settled over Nairobi for the past two days has been replaced by overbearing tension once again. Everybody knows that how today plays out will be vital for how our country will move forward. This is because today is when ODM is planning on holding a massive rally at Uhuru Park in the middle of Nairobi.
Under Kenyan law if you want to hold a public rally you have to notify the local police at least 48 hours in advance. You do not have to apply for a license; you are required to notify the police. The rally can be banned for two reasons,
- The venue has already been booked by another group
- On national security grounds
It is for this second reason that the police (allegedly working on orders from the Minister of Internal Security) have banned today’s rally. The ban on this rally is a very bad idea. This is why:
Immediately after Kibaki was hurriedly sworn in on the 30th of December, ODM called for a rally on the 31st of December which was immediately banned. As the 48 hours notice had not been given, as the tensions in the country were very high and as we did not even know if the ODM leaders had been arrested or not, ODM decided to cancel that rally and scheduled today’s rally instead.
It is important, especially as the country is divided, that as PNU has grabbed the instruments of State, that ODM be allowed to meet. By banning all ODM activity the government is sending the message that it considers ODM a nuisance at the best and illegitimate at the worst, which is VERY dangerous especially when a large section of the country feels the president seized power illegitimately himself.
Secondly, everyone recognises that the country is split in half politically. Tensions are high everywhere. Sitting in Kenyan right now is like sitting in a Pressure Cooker. The pressure keeps rising and rising. This tension needs an outlet and there are various outlets that it can express itself in. One such outlet is allowing ODM supporters to see their leaders in person, hear them talk, and express their frustrations. This would significantly cool the emotional temperatures in the country. An experienced peace mediator and negotiator told me yesterday that if the rally was allowed to go on today and if it passed peacefully, tensions in the country could drop by over 50%. If you close this outlet for the tension and frustrations, then other outlets such as violence and looting may be employed instead. For the sake of stability and security this rally should go ahead.
Thirdly, with the ban on live broadcasts (which should also be lifted immediately) it is important that ODM leaders are given a forum through which they can express themselves directly to their supporters. ODM has at least 3 times as many Members of Parliament as any other party, ODM is the largest political force in the country. It is completely nonsensical to refuse them the opportunity to talk to their supporters.
However, this government seems to have taken leave of its sense. I am writing this in Golf Course/Ngummo on the edge of Kibera and as I was coming in this morning I could see lorries of policemen being deployed around us (to try and keep the crowds from Kibera from attending the rally). The water cannons are out with people determined to break through them, the crowd has already clashed with the police on Ngong Road. Unlike Monday today people will reach Uhuru Park. I hope that unlike Monday the police do not resort to using live ammunition.
kenyaelection07
© Mentalacrobatics for Mentalacrobatics, 2008. |
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13:51
From: Startups in Kenya
Read This Entry & More At Startups in Kenya
Because I love Kenya, because I love Kenyans and all its peoples, because I love peace, because I believe in dialogue, democracy, fairness, and justice, I am setting up a new blog http://amanikenya.blogspot.com as a platform for practical and peaceful solutions to our situation. A blog to capture the goodness and neighbourliness of Kenyans even in these times of turmoil. A blog that champions the cause of only one party - the party of the Kenyan people. This is a blog about restoring peace, harmony and unity in Kenya during these times of unrest. While there are other important issues in Kenya arising from the December elections of 2007, peace remains the most important, most urgent, and most universal issue to all Kenyans. Let us reject tribalism, hatred, bigotry, intolerance, intransigence, and incitement. Let us embrace peace, dialogue, unity, prayer, compromise, and neighbourliness. I know I cannot make this initiative a success on my own and I appeal to all who share my cause to join me as contributors on this blog.
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12:47
From: Kenya Imagine
Read This Entry & More At Kenya Imagine
I consider myself a patriot, one true and pure in my love and devotion to Kenya. To understand how I got here, you would have to know my life story. Too long to be told here, but one that must be heard to understand my journey. I will not attempt to make you understand me, I fear it may be an impossible task. Besides, I may only have your attention for the next few minutes. Instead I will tell you about the two days that I came to realize just what being Kenyan is about. Read more from Doris Sadera. 
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12:14
From: More to Life
Read This Entry & More At More to Life
We must find our way back to daily activities and economic viability. Kenya must go on.
It's not that Raila won, or Kibaki won. Who really cares about this? Who can prove any of the vote counting wrong doings being discussed and alleged everywhere, and prove that they would have given Raila a win; as of yet? A lot has to go into the validating of allegations from both ends. Keeping in mind that these rigging reports are heavy from both sides of PNU and ODM. Quite frankly, given the bloody situation on the ground, how is it that people still really care for yesterday's results? Can we start where we are now? Which is in a besieged country, and start working towards peace? Can't we decide that both are wrong, or both are right, just so that we can find some common ground where we can start dialogue? The one focus we all must have is ahead! We must look forward. We can't go back. And where we are at is at a crossroads between peace and war. We must choose the right path.
I read my pre election posts, and those of many other bloggers. The one thing that was common was that there were many calls for peace during the election period and the election process. Which made me wonder why we are all so shocked, moved and actually very very alarmed at the current situation. If we were potentially expecting it, it indicates that history has taugt us that we get here sometimes. What is so different this time?
I think the freedom of expression of ideas is key here. Bloggers for sure have had a lot to say and many people have had a lot to read and argue or agree with. As much, despite the much publicized and condemned media blackout, the newspapers have carried content that they never before would have been able to without risking themselves a visit to the nyayo cells, or whatever the detention centers used to be called. Freedom of speech may actually be allowing us to see exactly who we are. It may be that we as a nation really are uncontrolled. And perhaps it is how those who argue for dictators arrive at their conclusions.
I am not in any way saying that we need a dictator. I am addressing the fact that too much freedom with no direction on how to handle it could easily be a factor in what has easily become the scariest violence Kenya has ever seen since independence. Everyone has a voice now. And if we can't all learn how to co-exist within the frameworks of self expression, what is happening now could easily become our common experience.
We must now more than ever educate people on analytical controlled approach to living, thinking and speaking. Freedom of speech is a huger responsibility than it is a freedom. Words can hurt and words can change a nation. Just ask Rwanda.
People keep saying to me that we are falling apart as a nation. Perhaps this is a wrong assessment. I dare to say that we are actually coming together as a nation. These may just be birth pains.
Kenya has always been, with the exception of major cities and towns a country of tribal people living together. What happened in one smaller city was rarely likely to influence other cities. Recall the Molo clashes? The carnage was much much higher than experienced now. And we didn't flinch half as much as we are right now. What we might be experiencing is the coming together of Kenya.
We are being reborn. Being forced out of our tribal shells. Being forced to come together as a common people. We are being forced to trust people we have never in our cultures been taught to trust. We are being forced to abandon stereotypes and embrace change. We are being forced to stop being our tribes and start being Kenyans. It is a sign of our future. We must however stop now and address that we are here, take a deep breath and proceed with caution. Change is always scary, painful and met with resistance.
The kicking out of various tribes from various towns is a good form of resisting change. Insisting on wanting to remain as tribal towns and cities. But this won't do for development. We might have become the first African country to become developed enough to face this situation. Let us embark on writing a good history for other African countries to follow.
Why would I think these things? Because Kenya is different. Because even CNN describes Kenya differently now. So does BBC. Has anyone heard what they speak of Kenya now as they describe the chaos? No one is citing accuracy in their reports. Just that their description of that country is a far cry from what it used to be.
So is the honest expression of the newspapers and the average Kenyans.
We are at a turning point. It would also explain the cut right down the middle in presidential hopeful support.
If we are going to have effective dialogue, let's know what it is we are going to address in the dialogues. These dialogues must be done for this current situation and that of the future.
We must become a nation with many tribes, not many tribes forming a nation as we have previously been.
Kenyans must feel safe in Kenya. Not in various provinces depending on their ethnic backgrounds.
This dialogue is going to be very important for the future of Kenya.
And it needs to be done soon.
It must address change. How to prepare citizens for change, how the government must invest in helping people understand these changes and take advantage of them and how we all must be taught to love our cultures, embrace our differences but to first and foremost understand that we are human beings first, then Kenyans and that our tribal differences come after that. And that our common ground (humanity and citizenship) must be the basis for all our policies and laws; as well as outlook and attitudes going forward so that we can continue this surge ahead we have been on.
All is not lost in Kenya. Far from it.
People are more aware now. Better informed. They just need to be educated on what to do with that knowledge. How to handle it.
We must be done with these skirmishes. And get to convincing investors that they can trust us again as an economy.
The dialogue cannot happen soon enough.
Stop arguing about who is right or wrong. Start fighting for dialogue. And one that addresses our actual reality. One that after which, a platform for Kenya will have been built, that will allow us all to feel safe and welcome at home.
Kenyan refugees in Uganda? Could I read anything more heartbreaking? Kenyan refugees? Kenya hosts refugees. Not the other way round. Anyone need any other wake up call?
It way past that time. Dialogue. And address the real key issues. I'm personally done with the macho games. I want a bigger man now. Anyone who chooses Kenya first will do. Because if neither Raila nor Kibaki can see the need to save our country, how has either one earned the right to lead it? Dialogue. Face each other like men. Argue, disagree, scream, talk, think. Just come out of there with a solution that screams of peace for all and a prosperous future for Kenya.
It's a simple request to any presidential hopeful. What else did you think your work entailed?
There is only one outcome right from the elections, and that is PEACE. At all costs. Egos included.
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12:03
From: You Missed This
Read This Entry & More At You Missed This
I am fresh from a long and tedious flight during which I got to think through the Kenyan situation. We have just had elections which were closely contested. It is unfortunate that hundreds of innocent people are dying as a result of either politicians wanting to cling to power or ascending to power for the first time by all means.
I said here before the poll many times over that both Mwai Kibaki and Raila Odinga are not fit to lead Kenya. If anybody still has doubts about this one fact, then they can do with some prayers. Look here, this violence is not about Kenya or its democracy. This violence is about two people who clearly have no agenda for the country but who want to rope it in for their own very shallow and selfish reasons. The most worrying thing however is that none of these guys has out rightly called for an end to the violence. All we have heard are half hearted statements that are quickly followed by “buts”. Raila Odinga, who is central in the crisis, has not said a word about the need for humanitarian aid to the displaced and the injured. He is giving interviews left right and centre where he goes on and on about how he is “the rightly elected president” with no mention at all on the plight of innocent Kenyans (even when asked about it, he somehow gets away with it with little excuses of how democracy is being muzzled). The same thing goes for President Kibaki. Kibaki, just like Raila, is responsible for the genocide in Kenya. He is a fabulously rich person and he has not offered a cent towards resolving the mess, a mess he is directly responsible for. He has similarly continued to issue half hearted statements that are capped with the words “after the free and fair elections”. Granted, the government has offered some humanitarian aid but then this is not about the government. This is a war started by Mwai Kibaki and Raila Odinga as individuals. It has nothing to do with the interest of the country. I have seen Kalonzo Musyoka donate Kshs 500,000 through Red Cross. Now Kalonzo is not the richest of the three. He is not at the centre of the dispute like these other two guys either but he has repeatedly spoken for the innocently suffering Kenyans. I believe I am different from most other people because that is what I call leadership. Raila’s and Kibaki’s are leaderships to death and destruction.
Now, what exactly is the bone of contention? The elections are over and there is no formal dispute, but people keep fighting. I blame Raila Odinga’s supporters (if not Raila himself) for starting a war for no reason. I blame Mwai Kibaki for failing to clump down on perpetrators of runaway hooliganism as the head of state.
Here is why I blame Mwai Kibaki; you cannot claim to defend the rule of law and democracy if you have no respect for the same. Why do we have the Presidential and Parliamentary Elections regulations providing for petitions? We have these provisions to take care of any emerging disputes. Since the ODM which claims to have been rigged out does not have the guts or the civility to file a petition with the high court, Kibaki should have instructed his Attorney General to file one. The Presidential and parliamentary elections regulation states that any registered voter can file the petition. Out of the aggrieved hooligans, none has filed the petition. It also says the AG can do it. This is where Hon Kibaki should have stepped in and demonstrated leadership. It is only through petitioning that the poll can be treated as disputed. Right now, what we are seeing is an uprising that has no basis.
Raila Odinga is the biggest protagonist in this entire circus. He lost the elections (either fairly or unfairly) and decided that the election was not free and fair. He wants us to believe that Juja Constituency registered a voter turn-out of 30%. He also feels that Tigania west, Nithi, Central Imenti and South Imenti all registered their lowest ever turn-outs since the introduction of multipartysm and that Karachuonyo, Ndhiwa and Kisumu Rural registered their highest. Fine, may be he is right, but is going on a slashing and looting spree the best way out of the predicament? I believe that if anybody has any respect, let alone love, for their country, they have to adhere to the rule of law, the force of the constitution and the power of tradition. The best way would have been to file a petition. We are not a jungle nation whose problems are solved using pangas. I also believe that Raila will be the sure loser if he continues with the route he has taken and if Kibaki continues with his exaggerated degree of rigidity. You cannot lay unreasonable conditions for negotiations with the president who not only has executive power, but who also feels he was democratically elected. That is like shooting yourself in the foot because nobody is going to bulge.
I once said here that Raila Odinga is a leader unto darkness, anarchy and death and people accused me of hating him. I have watched him on TV totally unwilling to take even a modicum of responsibility. He passes the buck all the time even when his most ardent supporters are dying. But for how long are you going to duck responsibility Mr. Raila? What is remarkable about Mr. Raila’s passion for anarchy, beyond its intensity, is the ease with which he wins over converts. He has always tenaciously clung to his unverified beliefs which he confuses with fact and often inflicts this confusion to his supporters in his struggle to resolve any situation to his favour. When many people are persuaded to subscribe to the same pretense, of course it can gain the aura of objectivity. The trick is simple; depict yourself as persecuted and you will surely win sympathizers. If this is not delusion, tell me what it is.
My humble submission is that the ODM need to petition the outcome of the election in court. Nobody can reverse the ECK chairman’s announcement, not even the president or the AG. Amos Wako is just being afraid of taking an unpopular decision. The best way to resolve this quagmire is telling people the truth which is that the ECK which had a pre poll approval rating of 75% announced the results and anybody dissatisfied with the verdict should either go to court or to hell. We cannot continue being a country at war with itself. When the losses are counted believe you me, ODM supporters will be the most affected. It is a pity that our so called educated, exposed and enlightened brothers continue to urge the idle and jobless youth to go on the rampage. I want to see Anyang Nyong’o, William Ruto and Raila Odinga themselves throwing stones and looting in Nakumatt. I want to see Sam Okello in hospital nursing a bullet wound sustained during “a fight to save his country”. Only when that happens, shall I acknowledge that Kenya means anything to any of these people.
Meanwhile, the government should continue being ruthless when dealing with perpetrators of violence. It is indefensible when someone breaks into an innocent person’s property or when people torch a poor man’s house all in the name of fighting for democracy. That is stupid fundamentalism.
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11:07
From: Afromusing
Read This Entry & More At Afromusing
With the situation in Kenya getting even more tense, you realise that it will be awhile before the country recovers. Sadly, when a life is lost, there is a hole left gaping in the hearts of family, friends and even a whole nation.
*Sat in on an interview with Martin Keino of Keino Sports Marketing and Tim of Reuters. Martin had just come back from a meeting to make arrangements for the funeral of Lukas Sang. The funeral will be next saturday the 12th at Kuinet farm. This post is based on the information from the interview.
Lukas Sang was an olympic sprinter who represented Kenya in the olympics in 1988 and 1992, he retired in 1995. He was a tall imposing man, well known in Eldoret for his role in Administration of Athletics as an official, and also as an influential member of the cereal growers association.
What Happened: He was in a car with other people when they went to help a colleague. He was caught up in the rioting that was reported yesterday, and he was hit by a rock on the head. His driver was badly hurt but managed to get away, and later Lukas’s body was found in a slum - Burned. Part of how they were able to identify that it was indeed him was a piece of his tracksuit on the ground. Even worse, is the fact that a dog partly ate his arm.
With the fracas happening at night, no one knows who is who, and it appears he may have been at the wrong place at the wrong time.
The deaths of people around the country is senseless. Its costs are inumerable and the sooner the leaders resolve this crisis, the better. When Kenya loses an athlete, we lose a piece of our face to the world.
Any message of condolences left on this post will be forwarded to the family. Thank you.
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9:23
From: Hapa Kenya
Read This Entry & More At Hapa Kenya
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. Blogged with Flock
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9:02
From: Black Looks
Read This Entry & More At Black Looks
White Africa has published a comprehensive list of Kenyan bloggers covering the elections and the post-election violence that has erupted over the past week.
Below are my choice bloggers
Kenyan Pundit
Joseph Karoki ***(new picture blog)
African Path
Mentalacrobatics
Gerald Baraza
Gukira
Links: Guardian Video
Tags: Kenya + Elections
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7:58
From: Walk of Kings:
Read This Entry & More At Walk of Kings:
25 I am laid low in the dust; preserve my life according to your word. 26 I recounted my ways and you answered me;
teach me your decrees. 27 Let me understand the teaching of your precepts;
then I will meditate on your wonders. 28 My soul is weary with sorrow;
strengthen me according to your word. 29 Keep me from deceitful ways;
be gracious to me through your law. 30 I have chosen the way of truth;
I have set my heart on your laws. 31 I hold fast to your statutes, O LORD;
do not let me be put to shame. 32 I run in the path of your commands,
for you have set my heart free.
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7:48
From: Hapa Kenya
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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! Blogged with Flock
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7:47
From: Afromusing
Read This Entry & More At Afromusing
Today is an even sadder day. I am trying to keep my tears in check…but cant. Town was quiet in an eery, uneasy way. The hopelessness is palpable and the sadness in people’s eyes is overwhelming. Some streets are deserted, shops are closed and Eldoret as we knew it is gone.
There is an appeal for blood donations at Moi Referral and Teaching hospital
There were funeral arrangements being made for Lukas Sang, an athlete who was burned.I do not have all the details yet, but will update once i get more info.
What is Eldoret without Paul’s Bakery?
For many of the displaced, this was the only home they knew. where have they gone, and will they be able to return?
- Mr. Limo of Limo House Hospital, and a leader in the area; taped a peace message to air on Sayare TV station (The ban on live broadcasts is not helping, because the peace appeals need to be heard and seen as many channels as possible) Cant listen to local radio. How can we listen to music at this time?!
- Fewer people at the cathedral on Uganda road.
- Shortage of vegetables
- Airtime is expensive - double the amount actually. For Ksh100 worth of airtime it will cost you Ksh200
Watching the news, seeing the military on the streets of Nairobi…this has got to end. We can never ever talk of normal again. Their is no normal. Stability? Of what sort? Honestly, i am afraid to say what i think on this blog as I will be in Kenya for a few more days. Whatever little hope I had that our country could rise to the greatness it was on a cusp off…is dwindling. AG Wako’s call for retallying of the votes (as seen on NTV afew hrs ago), seems like an avenue to be explored immediately. Kenya is on the brink, Kivuitu, ECK and the Kibaki Govt need to ask themselves…to what end is all this? Till when? and How? If you anyone of them calls themselves a Kenyan, a retallying of the votes, a lift on the live broadcast ban, and immediate resolution of this state of affairs is needed. Anything else is just denial, excuses and cowardice. Stand up, lead and save our beloved country. People have lives to get back to. Work, school, businesses…How is that ever possible when sections of the country are unpassable? Will we have to get different ID’s for every tribe possible? It just isn’t sustainable, its madness.
Let me stop here…Be safe, and God Save Kenya.
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7:14
From: My part of the world.......
Read This Entry & More At My part of the world.......
What happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object?
I'll give the answer to that riddle at the end of the post. For the last almost one week I have been following the news from Kenya. I have been on a roller coaster of emotions that I can't even begin to describe. A friend of mine told me before these elections that Kenya will never be the same again, I scoffed at her but now I agree wholeheartedly. It has been hard for me to do this post, I have started it several times but the right words wouldn't come out.
Basically from what I gather the elections seemed to be going well with the usual hiccups. Then the count began to take longer than expected, and then it was stopped to investigate irregularities. Upon resumption the leader was now the follower; results were announced followed by a shot gun swearing in. One side wasn't taking it down and rose up to demonstrate and the government decided that they were going to put them down with an iron fist
At one point I wanted to accuse and point fingers. At another juncture say that certain people had brought this upon us and if anything happens to them they asked for it, but now the only thing I can ask for is peace.
One thing I am going to say is that alot of the sentiments that led to this state of affairs have been fomenting for a very long time. We have had elections before in Kenya and yes we did have scuffles but for things to get this bad must mean that something was building in the back of people's minds.
What's worse is that tribal relations in Kenya will not be the same again. It is now going to be them vs us mentality for many different tribes for a long time to come.
Anyway I'm not on the ground so there is a limit to what I can say since I am not experiencing things first hand. One thing I can say is that there is no winner in this election, in fact the greatest losers have been the Kenyan people.
All I am hoping for is that most bloggers and readers out there are fine, and that even if you lost property that at least you and your families are safe.
Oh and as for my riddle you might have guessed that the unstoppable force is Raila and the immovable object is Kibaki.
What happens when an unstoppable force meet and immovable object?
They must both yield or there shall be total chaos......
ps: I did see Gathara did post a similar version to this riddle but with a different answer somewhat, I guess great minds think alike.
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6:37
From: You Missed This
Read This Entry & More At You Missed This
Plus: Tear gas and heavy police presence stop ODM rally from taking place
One of the saddest scenes in the Kisumu morgue that brought tears to my eyes yesterday was the site of a woman’s very stiff and dead body neatly placed on the floor next to that of a little girl who everybody presumed must have been her daughter. Both had bullet wounds.
And then the utter horror of having women and children trapped in a church where they thought they were safe being burnt alive. Can you imagine the terrible screams of distress and unimaginable pain as they burnt to death? The human body is mostly made up of water and therefore there can be no pain worse than that of being burnt alive.
The victims in the morgue were Luo while those who died the most terrible death were Kikuyu.
The ODM rally as expected has so far not taken place as the heavy police presence at Uhuru Park and in the slum areas surrounding the city has held tight. Nairobi appears to be calm at the moment but violence in the rest of the country is spreading. In fact it may have been a better idea to have let the rally happen so as to ease tensions somewhat. Now that it did not happen, the violence and outrage in ordinary Kenyans is bound to cause much more trouble than we have so far seen.
Thus far we have talked much about Kibaki’s hand in the current crisis but we have left out other major culprits in all this mess. Namely the international community and especially the United States.
For starters, there is evidence that the American intelligence services may have had a hand in the intricate plan to rig the elections. You will remember the Gallup poll just before the elections that took everybody by surprise by showing Kibki slightly ahead of Raila. All other polls gave Raila the lead. The Kumekucha poll (which I believe with all my heart was the most accurate as the voting patterns clearly showed, before the rigging kicked in) gave Raila a lead of well over 60%. But even more interesting was the exit poll also done by an American outfit that showed a Kibaki win. It is clear that somebody was very determined to prove that Mwai Kibaki had a chance of winning against all the evidence on the ground that contradicted this.
Then it was the Americans who were first to congratulate Kibaki on his win. So what changed their mind to such an unprecedented extent that they withdrew their congratulations and instead questioned the poll? There is a possibility that the American’s intelligence service which works most of the time, showed them the real situation on the ground which cannot sustain a Kibaki presidency. Too late!!! The blood of all those dead Kenyans is already on their hands.
But the international community too is guilty for ignoring numerous warnings that all was not well with the Kibaki regime. The most obvious example of this was the Anglo Leasing scam that forced one John Githongo (former ethics PS) into exile because his conscience would not allow him to take easy money from his fellow Kikuyus and shut up.
How did the international community react to that? It reacted by pouring in even more aid into Kenya. In fact the international community is guilty of giving the corrupt Kibaki administration much more breathing space for corruption than was ever given to the Moi government which incidentally was much more of mindful of ordinary folks. The golf playing elitist Kibaki administration has clearly demonstrated that they are completely out of touch.
Well, Kibaki cronies have tasted the contents of the corruption in high places cookie jar and now they will not let go. With support from the Moi family plans were already under way in the run up to the election to ensure continuity even in 2012 through the hands of a trusted new lieutenant Uhuru Kenyatta.
Now as the International community scrambles to find a solution to the escalating crisis in Nairobi, they too must take responsibility for the deaths including that of the mother and her small innocent daughter lying at the Kisumu morgue.
And as they do so, in the next few days they will discover the true character of a man called Emilio Stanley Mwai Kibaki. I can assure them that they will not like what they find. Already the statement by the government that Kenya does not need a mediator is only a taste of things to come.
Fellow Kenyans let me take this opportunity to admit that I was wrong when I predicted this government would last 3 days. I thought that smart people in State House would quickly read the situation on the ground and do what is sensible. I was wrong. I fear that we now need to dig in for a long long time as one old man called Emilio ensures that now that his legacy and image in the world has been destroyed forever, that there will be no Kenya left for anybody else to have a chance to do a better job than he did. Watch this space as we highlight the true developments in a country where the media has already been gagged and a least one site, Mashada.com is reported to have been shut down.
P.S. Kalonzo Musyoka’s ODM-K did not attend the State House meeting between newly elected MPs and the president. The press were shut out of the meeting. ODM-K say that the reason is that they were not invited properly. No ODM MPs attended either.
P.S. 2 The Uhuru Park Rally has been called off as the AG has called for the formation of an independent body to scrutinize the presidential votes of the recent rigged presidential elections.
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5:29
From: Startups in Kenya
Read This Entry & More At Startups in Kenya
It saddens me that my absence from blogging has not been broken by innovation or entrepreneurship - those things that I love so much to write about. But today I am forced to I write about something I love even more, and that is my country Kenya.
On December 26th 2007 I broke my vacation upcountry and drove two hundred kilometres in order to get to my polling station early the next morning to cast my vote. My enthusiasm to exercise my civic duty ensured that by 7:30 am on voting day I was done and was only to wait for the results.
Confident that my subscription to SMS election updates would keep me adequately informed of the results and with my phone on roaming I accepted an invitation to spend one week abroad at a friend's house. My vacation has since turned into an unplanned exile from my country as I watch in disbelief as Kenya disintegrates at an alarming pace.
I cannot stand by and watch as my beautiful Kenya is destroyed by the pride of two men. Kenya is bigger than both actors in this current crisis. The intransigence of these leaders will not endear supporters to them in the long run. The solution is compromise; making equitable concessions that bring them to a middle ground.
I preach compromise because it is the surest way to resolve conflict. I have had conflicts as well in business; I have had to deal several times with dissatisfied clients, unsatisfactory service/products from suppliers, angry creditors, mteja debtors, unreasonable landlords etc. and I have found that however bad any situation seems it can be resolved where there is compromise. I've had to compromise where I feel aggrieved and where I am perceived as the instigator of the conflict; and where necessary I have actively sought compromise from my antagonist.
I therefore make a passionate plea to Hon. Raila Odinga and Hon. Mwai Kibaki not to act like compromise is a dirty word, and instead to embrace it for the sake of millions of Kenyans.
I also challenge Hon. Kalonzo Musyoka to rise to the occasion. Kenyans are looking for a leader who will aggressively pursue the path of peace and reconciliation. A leader who will desist from empty rhetoric and instead act pragmatically to quell violence and sow harmony. Hon. Musyoka this is your opportunity to show us what you're made of; don't waste it.
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5:28
From: Hapa Kenya
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"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. Blogged with Flock
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4:43
From: Hapa Kenya
Read This Entry & More At Hapa Kenya
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. Blogged with Flock
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2:59
From: bankelele
Read This Entry & More At bankelele
some rambling thoughts to start the new year It's been a week since the election was held last Thursday and we are in a different world at the beginning of 2008. Up till December 2007, the focus of Kenya was investing towards Vision 2030 - now we may have to find a new target to aim for – a Vision 2009, which is to perhaps to get the economy back to where it was in 2007. The coverage by bloggers, Kenyan Pundit, Thinker's Room and others has shown how we have receded from a generational vote (half the cabinet and sitting MP's voted out – some after spending decades in parliament) to the equivalent of a - hate the term banana republic Kenya has been there before, but was it necessary to go back? To be on CNN and Al Jazeera alongside Pakistan and Zimbabwe? If Ms. Bhutto had not been assassinated, Kenya would probably have been the top world story. This has now happened as Pakistan has reverted to status quo (with an election next month)- while the situation in Kenya has gotten worse each day. The election was a spark; When one is car-jacked carjacked or caught in a Nairoberry situation, the smart advice, is to co-operate with the thugs – as a car or money is not worth your life. The election created such a feeling of being robbed in many parts of the country, but people fought back. They could not hit at the alleged (and likely) carjackers at the KICC, so they revenged against the agents of their perceived enemy (Kibaki, Raila, Moi, and Kivuitu) on the ground – their own neighbors. Beyond Politics From stories about the violence around the country, this has gone beyond any PNU vs. ODM, or Raila vs. Kibaki. It has pitted neighbors against each other, the have-nots against the haves, communities being targeted, revenge targeting, rapes, looting, highway extortion or murder gangs, and others acts verging on ethnic cleansing. There have been simmering issues in the country – unemployment, poverty, landlessness, jealousy & envy, police crackdown on cartels in slums and the matatu sector, the government crackdown on pyramid schemes that had developed extensive networks of ' | |
