Update: We are nowhere near a solution to the Kenyan crisis. Raila Odinga has rejected the idea of a government of national unity which Kibaki has embraced. Kenyans continue to suffer and die. The biggst threat now is hunger and disease.
One man in Kisumu was found dead, hanging from a rope after losing everything but making it to safety. It is suspected that he committed suicide. We now have censored news even as reports of what appear to be revenge attacks are being reported.
Meanwhile I've just received the amazing email below. Read and make your own conclusions;
Hi.
The following is a comment I posted on your blog.Once again, thanks for keeping us updated - this is the only other site I have been able to turn to for what I hope is open coverage when it comes to politics.
Allow me to add that when we talk about the chaos that has broken out as a PNU/ODM or LUO/KIKUYU affair, depsite the regretable loss of lives, we trivialise the situation beyond belief.
The fight out there is one for democracy. The fact that actors this time are clothed in tribal outfits, and the scene could be titled "elections" doesn't change the fact that we must all rise above our weaknesses and comfort zones to liberate our country from the imposter who now sits in Statehouse.
Hi Chris,
First let me say thanks for filling the blanks where the mainstream media are too afraid to speak. Granted, everything we read must be taken with a pinch of salt, even what would be posted on this blog.
Allow me to share a theory, feel free to delete if you feel it is over the top; and let me know if it is worth thinking about.
First, I agree, this is not a Kikuyu versus Luo war. Far from it. It is a protest against the death of Democracy. No matter how hard we try to sugar coat it, and say we must move on, our grievances must be addressed. This dust is not about to settle soon.
Second, pre election, who's car was it that was found with pangas, machete's and battons? I need no correction, it was a government car. I will assume, this is one of the vehicles that got caught. Would it be preposterous to assume that there was a group of people, who had access to government vehicles who were arming themselves before the election???
Thirdly, which side was it that was screaming bloodshed in the event ODM won the election? What made them so sure that Kenyans out there would break out in violence?
Could it be that all the above are be connected?
Ukweli haifichiki.
Regards,
Victoria Marale.
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15:54
Genocide afoot
» Kenya Imagine It is not my intention to be alarmist or pedal rumours but I have been in touch with a group of professionals who just evacuated from Eldoret. They are now in Nairobi and they are reporting what is very sobering news.
They report that there is genocide afoot in Eldoret North and Mau Narok.
Read more from Joel Ngugi.
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14:45
Update Jan 5
» Kenyan Pundit Took a break away from the internet today, before my guys started to forget what I looked like Yesterday afternoon, I attended a meeting of a small group of concerned Kenyan citizens at the Kenyan High Commission. The recently appointed ambassador to SA chaired the meeting. We arrived a bit [...]
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13:41 The Kalenjins In The Rift Valley: Someone is Helping Them
» Kenyanentrepreneur.com Something is happening with the kalenjins in the rift valley. They’re anger is coming from somewhere and they’re violence is not spontaneous. I know Raila Odinga wants people to believe that (& maybe in Kisumu it was spontaneous, but in the rift valley, someone is funding and organizing these Kalenjin warriors). I think these Kalenjins have [...]
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11:13
Making A Tax Deductible Donation To Kenya
» For Love and Money Making A Tax Deductible Donation To Kenya -
Making A Tax Deductable Contribution To Kenya
» For Love and Money Making A Tax Deductable Contribution To Kenya
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10:55
Museveni was right: Africa is not ready for democracy
» Kenyanentrepreneur.com I admire many of the things Museveni has done in reviving and stabilizing Uganda. Now, of course, the west is pressuring him to step down and asking him to give democracy a chance, but Museveni’s arguments against imposing fast paced democracy in Africa are quiet right. Museveni has argued that Africa is still too poor [...]
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8:06
Will A Government Of National Unity Work?
» You Missed This Breaking News: There is a virtual news blackout in Kenya on what is really happening on the ground outside Nairobi and major towns. Yesterday at about 5 pm a bus coming from Kisumu and headed for Nairobi was ambushed at Naivasha and the passengers were attacked with Machetes and Pangas. It is not clear how many people were injured or if there were any deaths.
As you read this Mwai Kibaki is in the process of forming a government of national unity. The big question is whether this is going to work in resolving the Kenyan crisis. I will be answering that question in a minute.
The option of power sharing has greatly been favored by Britain and the United States and indeed it is believed that Kibaki made this announcement shortly after a meeting with Jendayi Frazer a diplomat who flew into Nairobi yesterday with very specific instructions from the State department to find a solution to the crisis as quickly as possible. Therein lies one of the mistakes in trying to resolve the Kenyan crisis. It has been assumed that this is a simple tribal tensions problem that can be resolved quickly.
Actually the ideal solution should have involved dividing everything into two priorities. The first priority should have been to stop the killings and the second should be to deal with the root problem of the tensions that brought about the whole problem in the first place so that it does not happen again. But the world rarely seeks ideal solutions. So what is happening is that there is plenty of diplomatic pressure to bring a quick end to the crisis.
Why exactly are Britain and the US so interested in what is happening in Kenya. Darfur went on for weeks before anybody paid any attention. Kenya got attention immediately. Why?
As you read this the entire region surrounding Kenya is in a mess. Raw materials not being able to reach factories in Tanzania has slowed down production. The price of petrol has shot up dramatically in Uganda and there are serious shortages of the same in Rwanda. Aid which all goes through Kenya has been delayed to Somalia, Congo, Sudan etc. causing great suffering. In other words the economies in the entire region and beyond would be greatly affected if Kenya shuts down. Kenya slipping into total chaos would actually be a major catastrophe because many Western powers have major interests scattered all over the region which are heavily dependent in some way to Kenya and will not operate when Kenya is shut down.
With that information you can begin to imagine the kind of pressure that Raila Odinga and especially Mwai Kibaki are having to soak in even as you read this. Interestingly Kibaki seems to have misread the whole situation at the beginning because the BBC says that he refused to invite the Ghanaian president into the country even after being told that he would lead an International mediation team. Kibaki is of the view that this is a “small internal issue” that does NOT need any outside mediation. Well, these guys are serious and they seem to have gotten him to change his mind, even if it is just a little bit, because today the president had a lengthy meeting with diplomat Jendayi Frazer.
But credit for the big breakthrough to State House has to go to locals, Bethuel Kiplagat, Lazarus Sumbeiywo and two other concerned Kenyans who took the initiative to invite Bishop Desmond Tutu to Kenya to mediate for peace. He ended up being the first international mediator to actually get an audience with Kibaki.
Let me take this opportunity to pay tribute to the following gallant Kenyans meeting right now at the Cellar (Kilimani)
J. H. R MURIGU - murigu(at)suntra.co.ke
CLIFF MUKULU - cliff.mukulu(at)rentworks.co.ke
KEN MBWAYA - ken.mbwaya(at)hp.com
PATRICK NGENGA - patrick_ngenga(at)wvi.org
MOSES MWAURA - mkmwaura(at)gmail.com
JAGI GAKUNJU - jgakunju(at)aar.co.ke
MOSES NDERITU - mnderitu(at)level1.co.ke
MUCAI KUNYIHA - mkunyiha(at)coopers.co.ke
JOHN KASHANGAKI - jkashangaki(at)sba.co.ke
MAINA KARANJA - adijai(at)wananchi.com
The fact is that they have taken the initiative like the Bethuel Kiplagat group to try and find a solution. In my view the fact that they dared is the important thing and not how successful they end up being. Kudos, guys.
But having said that, my view is that a government of national unity will increase tensions rather than reduce them. How does anybody expect Mwai Kibaki and Raila Kibaki to run a government when they can’t be in the same room without the room temperature cimbing considerably? And besides the hungry common man will not understand it. They are the vast majority and they are the key to solving this crisis. All they want to see to put their pangas down is Raila in State house as president.
Already Raila Odinga has ruled out the idea and called for negotiations instead.
The saddest thing in all this is the fact that everybody seems to have missed the point that the current violence is about the hungry common man losing hope. That is why the violence will be so difficult to halt in any other way other than Kibaki leaving office.
What makes matters even worse is that we are beginning to see evidence of revenge attacks like the Naivasha bus attack. It may already be too late…
P.S. Kivuiti is constitutionally mandated to fix the problem. He can annul the results. Read this eye-opener of an article. -
...Another Idea: Why Kenyans should not fight each other
» You Missed This BREAKING NEWS: Citizen TV says US have commended Kibaki for extending olive branch to Raila as he (Kibaki) prepares to form a government of national unity. Chris is preparing a post about this which will appear shortly.
By GUEST WRITER
From the onset, I wish to state that I’m a Kikuyu and I voted for President Kibaki on Dec 27, 2007. I voted for him thinking he was the right man to lead Kenya. But times have changed. I have seen another character in Kibaki, which, like most Kenyans, did not know of.
If the laws of the land allowed voters to recall their votes, I would have been the first to do so. The man I voted for has ashamed me and I regret why I wasted my fuel driving back to the city from my rural home to the city centre to vote for him. I voted for him to win a clean election but not to steal an election he had lost fairly.
Kenya has been bleeding for the past five days and the blood of innocent Kenyans – butchered by state agents and angry voters protesting the election theft – will haunt all of us for many years to come.
Why are Kenyans fighting each other? The blame squarely lies under the feet of Emilio Mwai Kibaki and the small clique that surround him for stealing an election in broad-day light! Newspaper commentators have argued that Kibaki and his clique should have used a little intelligence. I wholly agree with them.
One would have expected Kibaki to be somehow remorseful after stealing the election from Mr Raila Odinga. But the Kibaki we saw on TV on Thursday evening did not show any signs of being remorseful. He was maintaining his usual arrogance and daring those who do not agree with him for a fight.
Kibaki has been happily following the slaughter of innocent Kenyans from the confines and comfort of his State House bedroom. To him, the blood that is being spilt is just like the water you can fetch from a stream. This is the same contempt he has ruled Kenya with for the past five years.
I’m not shocked by Kibaki’s actions. Kenyans should be wiser. What does Kibaki stand to lose even if the violence escalates? Nothing. He has all the wealth and his children and grandchildren are well taken care off. The only thing they would do if the worst happened is to jump into a plane and take off and leave the rest of us swimming in our own blood.
Those who are expecting Kibaki to resolve the current political crisis, which he is squarely to blame for the election robbery, are badly mistaken. How is expected to resolve a national crisis if can’t solve his own domestic problems with his wife? Kenyans know the public dramas – leave alone the private ones! - staged by his wife. And the man maintains the same gloomy face through out as his wife had done nothing!
Kibaki has no business being the President if he can’t for once present himself as a leader. Those who have been in Kenya for the past five years know Kenya only had a figure-head President and not a leader.
For instance, Kibaki watched in the past five years as NARC, the party that swept him to power in 2002, disintegrated and finally died without making efforts to save the situation. Perhaps, he’ll wait in the same manner until Kenya disintegrates from the current violence right under his eyes!
I appeal to my fellow Kenyans to become wiser and know that Kibaki cares less about their plight. All he cares about is to be called the President of the Replic of Kenya! Is this a man worth dying for? The answer is NO. The people who voted were not enemies. The people who voted for Raila or Kibaki were not enemies. Their common enemy is Kibaki – he refused to form a party and refused to go out to campaign early knowing he would steal the votes even if Kenyans rejected him.
Kibaki has the guns, the police, the military and other state agents at his disposal to kill and maim anyone who does not tow the line. Mr Odinga has the Kenyan people right behind him.
I appeal to my fellow Kenyans that instead of killings each – which is what Kibaki wants – we should allow the illegitimate Kibaki administration to cling to power. We are now more wiser. Five years is not a long time. The entire Opposition can opt to back Mr Odinga in 2012 and we collectively ensure the Kibaki clique does not pull another surprise on us.
We’ll then deal with Kibaki as an individual and not punish the entire Kikuyu community for mistakes done by a single man who has no control of his wife.
History will judge Kibaki harshly. Kibaki’s actions and conduct are unacceptable to any right-thinking Kenyans – except for his few fanatical Kikuyus who reason like him.
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5:25
Update: Jan 5th, and Ways to Help
» Afromusing Update: 5:45 pm Nairobi Time.
The Mamamikes crew are working to catch up with the orders placed, some of them were stuck in various parts of the country and just made it back yesterday. Most of the orders to Eldoret and various parts of the country are being processed now. Thanks.
I left Eldoret yesterday, with a heavy and broken heart. As much as i wanted to stay and write about what was going on there, i needed to get back to Nairobi and get back to work on my Global Voices gig.
First, this is the link to Kenya Red Cross and you can donate here.I kept snapping pictures on my way out. This is of a Red Cross Truck heading into town, as we were leaving towards the airport. This was a good sign and a ray of hope.
The Kobil on the right only had diesel available, no petrol, same case with National Oil, just a few miles ahead.
The airport is operational. Saw remnants of a roadblock on the way.
From a chat with the former Councilor of Eldoret: There were attempts by religious leaders to convene a peace meeting yesterday, but this did not happen. The hurt and divide inflicted by events of the past several days may be too great to bridge over. It will take time and a concerted effort.
On what can be done: Donate to the Red Cross, which has a Uasin Gishu office. Happened to take a picture of the signpost…
I had ordered some credit using mamamikes on the 1st of January, but still haven’t received it as of today. Like KP said, Safaricom and Celltel need to enable online recharge of airtime so that the diaspora and even Kenyans in Nairobi can purchase airtime for others. My aunt who uses MPESA said it was a godsend and will always keep money for emergencies. This is because MPESA can be used to send airtime/money to yourself and others.Because of the hurdles encountered using either MPESA (their offices were closed) and Mamamikes, i would suggest that if you would like to Sambaza credit and have an immediate impact, you can send it to The Chairman of Kenya Red Cross Eldoret - Advocate Birech 0722 82 8484, who will distribute it to those affected and aid in the Kenya Red Cross effort in Eldoret. For international readers and diaspora, the link for donations to Red Cross should work, though will update you with more information as it becomes available.
Airlines operating out of Eldoret are
Aero Kenya
Jetlink - cant find website, but these are the numbers i have for Jetlink - 020827531, 020244285 and 0720 608 608
Fly540Anyone with other avenues of assisting is welcome to comment. Thank you.
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5:25
Alternative solution for Kenya election stalemate
» bankelele The police are tired, protesters are tired, and many displaced people are stuck and starving as they contemplate rebuilding their lives. The citizens are ready to get started, but the government is not ready to get back. Citizens are out today wishing their banks would open to enable them to start school shopping for next week's re-opening, but the government is the government is still on halt. The presidency is in doubt, and there is no cabinet in place.
Kenyans want to get back to ‘normal’ life and citizens in Nairobi are pretty much trying to do that. Solutions are being worked out, diplomat are talking to politicians, there are peace campaigns in the media – and some of us are fiddling and thinking at home while the fires cool outside.
what are some solutions? Some are not constitutionality possible
government of national unity - this seems to be thee consensus among bloggers and the diplomatic community – But no! We have had that since 2004 and it was about the business of government, not about national unity. Forcing two sides who don't agree, and can't stand each other to sit for an interim period is not going to work
interim government followed by new elections in a few months. These however cannot be overseen by the electoral commission of Kenya. In fact, after the 1982 coup attempt, the air force that instigated the coup were disbanded, and replaced by an 82 Air Force which ran for the next dozen years. Same thing should happen with the ECK. Also what will happen in those few months? Who will coordinate the government? Kenya’ can’t afford to remain in limbo for six months.
my thoughts: In primary school we learnt that there's the executive (president & cabinet) judiciary, and legislature (parliament). Other bodies are the citizens (who voted about 4 million votes each for either Kibaki or Raila) and remain polarized, as are the media and religious leaders. The judiciary is universally seen as not being partial in this debate.
One institution we have intact and legitimate is parliament – whose members were gazetted this week. Parliament to be reconstituted – and they can then vote for the president.
The MP's are our elected leaders and all (but 3) of the countries 210 constituencies have duly elected their representatives for the next five years. There elections are not in doubt for the most part and they are a legitimate group of people, many of them new to parliament for the first time. The vote can be in public or by secret ballot. And surely it will be easier to tally 210 votes than 10 million votes. This can be done in a week at most and will result in a legitimate president for the country.
With about ½ of parliament this would appear to favour the Orange side, but the race is open to all MP's gazetted –not just Kibaki and Raila only. Any MP would be eligible, provided they meet other requirements so potential successors such as Mudavadi, Kalonzo, Saitoti, Uhuru, Karua, and Bifwoli could all run. The election would take a day, be under the full glare of media, and not require the electoral commission of Kenya.
The president elected by parliament - will then form the next government and appoint a cabinet of his liking. His first task of business will be national healing which will include resettlement of displaced persons, rebuilding small businesses affected by riots, relief efforts, rebuilding infrastructure, peacekeeping operations, mending international relations, etc.
The idea stems from novel I read recently, (can't remember the title). Anyway, I'd dearly like to get back to posts on banking and stories like these, but until the politic is sorted out, they are not very useful to write about;
- Diamond Trust Bank: Taking regional banking to Uganda at no extra cost for cross-border transaction
- NIC desperate to go into stockbroking even with an imperfect deal - paid a lot, but don't have full control over stockbroker
-Safaricom extended their cheap calls offer which expired on New Year’s Day to January 15. Many people are still on holiday, some unintended and will benefit from the extended period of ‘cheaper’ calls.
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4:16
Video: Kenyans talking with GSU - Kenya Election 2007
» Mentalacrobatics I managed to capture a few short video clips of Kenyans talking to the GSU during the confrontation at Hurlingham. This clip shows Charity Ngilu asking the officer in charge why the rally is not allowed to continue. It is a bit shaky and ends mid sentence but at least it shows some sort of dialogue.
For those who have asked, the pictures on the original post and this clip were all taken by me at around the same time. Feel free to use them on your blogs and websites under the terms of the Creative Commons license.
© Mentalacrobatics for Mentalacrobatics, 2008. | Permalink | 6 comments
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3:54
Elusive "Normal"
» Hapa Kenya 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.
Blogged with Flock
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Kenyans pulling together - Kenya Election 2007
» Mentalacrobatics I’d like to share two stories of grass root initiatives that Kenyans are taking to build bridges.
- Nafsi Afrika is a team of acrobats formed in 2000. Its acrobats come mainly from the Kawangware and Kibera slums in Nairobi. These two areas have been rocked by the violence of the past few days. Later on today this team of acrobats will build a human pyramid of acrobats from different tribes in a show of unity. To build a human pyramid you all need each other and you all support each other. The symbolism is fantastic. Check out their website and find out some background information from one of their leaders Ken Owino.
- REPACTED is a community based youth-to-youth organization. They are based in Nakuru. In the Free Area part of Nakuru most of the landlords are Kikuyu and most of the tenants are Luo they managed to get both groups together in a forum. One of the organisers Dennis Kimambo writes:
.. . it was a very fired meeting as both side tried to prove that they are right in what is happening at the end of the day we all agreed that the leadership should help with the problem nationally but as locals staying here in Nakuru as neighbours they agreed to refrain from violence and they will hold the same meetings every 3 days just to help one another with the tension and console those who have lost there family in other parts of the country, this was possible with the help of the chief of the area, as we continue to push for peace we are asking you to pray for this country.
Even though tensions and accusations are high they agreed to meet every 3 days! Fantastic.
My pride in my country, Kenya, is building up again!
© Mentalacrobatics for Mentalacrobatics, 2008. | Permalink | 9 comments
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1:51
The Battle of The Titans
» What An African Woman Thinks The Battle of The Titans
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1:27
Where are our leaders??
» Paza Sauti Let me start by coming clean, I am an ODM supporter, a Raila man, who believes that that a serious injustice has taken place and this has set Kenya’s electoral process back to the stone age. I believe that the current administration is at best improperly constituted and at its worst illegitimate, and what has happened is unforgivable and the responsible individuals must stand and account for their actions. Having said this I am appalled at the lack of leadership, wisdom, and sincerity displayed by our so called leaders, where is our Mandela, Mahatma or Martin Luther King Jr.? Who will stand and be counted amongst the greater men/women in society for a time as such as this?
The Aggrieved
I have heard PNU members shout in their characteristic arrogance that they won the elections, advising the 'aggrieved' to go to court for resolution. My anger burns against this group for the aggrieved are not Raila, Mudavadi or Ruto for they will be fine with or without the presidency. The true aggrieved are the Kenyan people who have lost their brotherhood, their innocence and their lives. We will never be the same again. Ms. Karua, Uhuru, Nyamweya - please note I have left out the honorable because there is nothing honorable about these individuals - tell me, which court of law will restore brotherhood, what judge will confer trust back to us, and can even chief Gicheru in his highest court resurrect our fallen? So let us be clear, what is at stake here is more than your little egos, this puny competition or your war of words. Remember humility is hard and arrogance is easy.
The Prime Movers
For Kibaki and Raila I reserve my highest disdain - one is like a hyena on a stolen carcass he sits on his throne unaware of the stench and filth around him. He is like a pillar of salt cursed by God. You are the alleged president so act like one, even if it is just a performance, the EU, the US, the UK, the LSK, the AG, the ECK and even that ECK chairman who announced you king, all say something is amiss. Observers both foreign and local all say all is not well, but like the proverbial ostrich you bury your head thinking, "if I close my eyes long and hard enough, I will truly live in my dream." Wake up, put a plan on the table, negotiate, have mediators foreign, local, rural anything to stop the madness. Didn't you just swear on the good book protect the citizens? I say again, humility is hard and arrogance is easy.
And to Raila please follow your own words. Where is the 'Mandela like figure' you so often mentioned? Were these just words? Did you just want to charm us? Remember Nelson was "aggrieved" for 27 years yet he sat and negotiated with his foes, for the good of the masses. How can you be the people’s president if you cannot look beyond your own pain and see the people are suffering, the people are scared, and the people are lost in a wilderness? You are like a man walking backwards, a Paul turning into Saul. Shake off the scales from your eyes, before we find you hurling rocks at Stephen. Wake up and lead your people to safety and the 'Voice of God' will call you forward. Remember, anyone can claim their rights and be brave about it, but one who lays down his rights for his fellow man and is humble in doing so, shall be exalted for humility is hard and arrogance is easy.
The Father Figure
One other 'leader' who has squandered his inheritance on worldly pleasure is Moi. They say wisdom comes with age, but this is not always the case. Like him or not, President Moi is the one man in Kenya uniquely placed to act as a father figure at this time, when the nation desperately needed a father to give kind words of advice and counsel, but fearing irrelevance and like an alcoholic who just cannot have enough Moi had to involve himself in partisan politics in this election. "Just one more drink, this will be the last" you said, but now you have lost it all. Remember to whom much has been given much will be required. What will you say when you are before the Judge, when he asks " I raised you for such a time as this" Woe unto to you, for you set out to build a lasting legacy, but now that you look back all you see are ruins, with both you and yours rejected and irrelevant.
The Cheerleaders
Uhuru, Kombo, Mudavadi, Kalonzo, Saitoti, Kaura, Ruto the list is endless, - a group of non-leaders sitting on the sideline, and like the proverbial hyena following and watching as the arm swings hoping it will fall off, so that they can have a bone to gnaw on. Like cheerleaders in their little skirts they jump up and down and all their words just say "look at me, look at me". Be careful! You will go in the way of Gideon and Nyachae, leaders who refused to read the times and be relevant. Here is my advise, you have less to lose in comparison to Kibaki and your pain is not as great as Raila's, you have an opportunity to whisper a third way into their ears. "Let us consider the people, let us think of those in the cold, the grieving, the hungry," you should say. Pull them down from their hard-lines, help to make a way where there is no way. And maybe you may raise and be counted in their stead.
The Worst Kenyan Ever
The winner of this repulsive title is Mr. Kivuitu, the ECK chair, big boss, earning top dollar from the taxpayer. This man does not realize what he and his 22 witchdoctors have done. Let me make it plain for you - the 300 plus lives lost are for you to account for. Kenyans are taxed every month, money that they could feed and educate their children. This money is given to you and your brood of 22 vipers to avoid what just happened in Kenya. How dare you say 'you were pressured' into announcing fraudulent results. Did the pressure from the phone calls hurt as much as the church fire in Eldoret? Was your fear of being called 'a coward' more than the grief of the mother who lost her three children? What were you thinking? How were you thinking? Were you thinking at all?
It is, or at least was, your job to set up structures to stop election fraud. So when you say there was rigging, who are you telling and what do you expect us to do about it? When you announce that you do not know if Kibaki won, who do you expect to know, if not you. It would have been okay if we were disappointed, if we knew you tried, but failed, but we are disgusted, for it was out of personal consideration that you sold your country, like Judas, and for what, so that we do not see your cowardice? So that the TELEPHONE PRESSURE can stop? Take my advice, go to your God and ask for forgiveness, that he may show you mercy, plead with the Kenyan people for forgiveness, refund all the income you have earned as ECK chair, then visit each of the 300 families that lost their lives and commit to restoring the country's faith in the electoral process. Such is your lot and that of the 22 you lead.
That Silly Spokesman
I could not end this post without mentioning that silly spokesman. Can someone do us a favor and silence that government spokesman (no violence please). His comments and statements are extremely infuriating. Like a robot, he follows his basic play book as though he was talking about the budget. If you cannot find it in you to stop the spin when the nation is in turmoil, then you lack judgment. It was insulting for you to stand before the Kenyan people and trivialize this tragedy. You claimed that there were, I quote "few trouble spots.....that the government is dealing with ..... and we are in control". For your information we do not care about the perceptions you want to create, these are well good, and part of your job in times of peace, but at this time find it in yourself to serve the people and tell the truth. Can you console a mother who has lost a child by telling her there are many other children. Please! learn some empathy. We are learning of this grave situation from BBC, CNN, Al jazeera, while you flap your gums peddling lies like a paid professional. Stop reading from your playbook and empathise with the situation.
The Violent
To the violent causing mayhem my only words to you are stop, repent and turn from your wicked ways.
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A Compelling Case For A Government of National Unity (GNU)
» You Missed This There are a lot of initiatives that are currently underway to resolve the current political stalemate in Kenya that has resulted to Kenya being compared with Rwanda genocide by the international press. You can do something. Published below are the efforts of few individual Kenyans, some of whom may be known to you, who are taking the initiative because they believe they can influence change. These Kenyans are meeting today Saturday 5th January 2008 at 4pm - Kenya time - at The Cellar (Kilimani). Any Kenyan of goodwill who may be interested or have any positive idea(s) to propose are welcome to join. These are some of the thoughts they have put together and managed to communicate to ODM and PNU.(The ideas proposed herein are not necessarily those of Kumekucha nor the publisher)
We the undersigned are very concerned that destruction of life and property continues whilst politicians continue to posture. The country faces a meltdown. One of the undersigned has worked in many conflict countries and shared with us his experiences. We should all be determined that our country must not go that route. We should do everything possible within our means to ensure this does not happen.
The emerging evidence is that the electoral process was seriously flawed. Therefore no credible winner can emerge from this process. We are appealing to the two main protagonists to shift from their hard line positions and consider dialogue. There can be no winner in this contest and there may never be one for sometime to come.
The fears of all Kenyans need to be addressed and mechanism put in place to protect all Kenyans regardless. We feel this can only be achieved through an Interim Government of National Unity.
Whilst the issues that put us in our current situation are being addressed, we would like to put up a strong case for the creation of a Government of National Unity (GNU), as the most effective method of quickly resolving the ensuing stalemate as well as solving a number of other outstanding issues in the country.
Here are some of the options available to address these issues:- PNU can take the hard option of going on with business as usual, form a cabinet and prepare to live with the opposition for the next five years. This is not a viable option.
- The two parties can jointly file a consent agreement in an election petition court declaring the election to have been irregular and request for their nullification, after which new elections can be held.
- ODM can go to court and challenge the election of President Kibaki, and if successful then this can lead to a repeat election.
- PNU, ODM and other parties can agree that the election was irregular. PNU and ODM have been seriously implicated in the malpractices. However, other than seeking for a repeat election, they can agree to form a all inclusive Government of National Unity.
- Finalise the constitution including the creation of the position of a Prime Minister position. Mr Kibaki would become the President while Raila would take up the position of Prime Minister
- Remove the current stalemate and enable the country to engage in more productive activities.
- Unify the country and recreate the national image. The country needs it if it is to be saved from disintegrating into tribal enclaves under the authority of warlords.
- The country will degenerate into unprecedented chaos. The consultant mentioned above who has worked with many third world countries that went through similar experiences, is of the view that Kenya is ripe for this type of disintegration.
- Many of us, including the very leaders who are refusing to take up action, if not dead or if they will not have run away, will be lining up with other refugees for daily allowances.
- We shall lose all the gains we have achieved to date and go down in history as another fallen African republic.
CLIFF MUKULU - cliff.mukulu(at)rentworks.co.ke
KEN MBWAYA - ken.mbwaya(at)hp.com
PATRICK NGENGA - patrick_ngenga(at)wvi.org
MOSES MWAURA - mkmwaura(at)gmail.com
JAGI GAKUNJU - jgakunju(at)aar.co.ke
MOSES NDERITU - mnderitu(at)level1.co.ke
MUCAI KUNYIHA - mkunyiha(at)coopers.co.ke
JOHN KASHANGAKI - jkashangaki(at)sba.co.ke
MAINA KARANJA - adijai(at)wananchi.com
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Books for children
» Black Looks Chatoyance: Books will fly through the air for children (Tag, you’re it!): In honor of all those folks who’ve tagged me with memes (or are memes now all called “hooplas”?) this year and had to listen to me grumble, I’ve got a twist on the theme of meme. I read Doris Lessing’s Nobel speech through [...]
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