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23:54
From: You Missed This
Read This Entry & More At You Missed This
…As Gitobu Imanyara emerges to sue serial slapping first lady for recent attack at State House
Jael Mbogo was a parliamentary candidate in Nairobi’s then Bahati constituency in 1969 and she recently explained to a British newspaper in great detail how she was rigged out of that parliamentary seat.
The amazing thing is that the manner in which it was done bears striking resemblance top how the presidential elections was rigged late last year plunging the country in chaos. And guess who the candidate she was standing against was? Yep, one Emilio Stanley Mwai Kibaki.
Much as I am a great admirer of Tom Mboya, one of the big mistakes he made was to drive all the way to Makerere University from Nairobi in his VW Beetle to fetch one Mwai Kibaki, then an economics lecturer at that university to become Kanu’s first executive officer. Kibaki learnt a lot of his politics from Tom Mboya but by the time the 1969 general elections were held, Mboya was dead, assassinated by Kibaki’s inner circle and his close friend Kibaki was carrying on life as if nothing had happened.
But it seems that the voters knew about this betrayal and firmly voted against Kibaki. Mbogo told the Obserever that she was so far ahead in the early vote tallying that the BBC went ahead and announced that a young woman had defeated a government minister for the Bahati seat. It was not to be. In circumstances that are remarkably similar to what happened in December, the results for Bahati were delayed for several days as GSU officers surrounded the vote counting centre. When those results were finally announced, Mwai Kibaki had won by a razor-thin margin.
Jael Mbogo who is now a civil rights activist told the Observer; 'Kibaki stalled the result, and then robbed me of victory. Because he looks so holy, people are still asking if he really was capable of stealing this election. What I say is "Of course, he has done it before".
Read the Observer story here
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/world/story/0,,2251523,00.html
Meanwhile Gitobu Imanyara emerged yesterday after days in hiding to announce to the Kenyan press that he was suing serial slapper Lucy Kibaki for attacking him at State House. Imanyara who is now also a member of parliament, says that because of Mrs Kibaki’s short stature her “slaps and blows” did not reach the tall legislator. Interestingly at one point rumors had it that Imanyara had been injured very badly from the incident that he had been hospitalized. One sensational version even said that he had died.
Imanyara also says that he had decided not to take any action because former president Mwai Kibaki called him and apologized over the incident.
Imanyara told the attentive journalists that the reason why the First Lady was so upset was because he was handling the case of the KTN journalist whom the First Lady assaulted in 2006.
“Nobody takes the first lady to court and nobody gets away with it,” Mrs Kibaki is said to have screamed at Imanyara.
Imanyara says that the first lady was indecently dressed when she attacked him. He did not give clear details as to what exactly he meant.
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23:48
From: You Missed This
Read This Entry & More At You Missed This
If people can steal a presidential election without caring about the consequences, what else will they NOT do? For a long time now, there have been several attempts to hack into the Kumekucha site. By the grace of God all have failed. Now supporters of Mwai Kibaki have gone and cloned the Kumekucha site, producing an almost exact replica of this site which will easily fool many Kenyans into believing that the contents there have been penned by the real Kumekucha. It is now very easy to see the counter propaganda being peddled by Mwai Kibaki supporters. The latest is the ridiculous and insensitive story that ODM are killing their own MPs. Interestingly the site’s address is almost similar to Kumekucha’s except that there is an “s” at the end. The site has even already been indexed by Google. View the site here; http:kumekuchas.blogspot.comThe thinking that went behind this dirty trick is the same that rules Kenya today. For instance despite the killings continuing unabated, the hurriedly sworn in and constituted “government” has said that the country does not need a peace keeping force. Yet it is crystal clear that the police are overwhelmed and divided along tribal lines. Even our disciplined military are very suspect. Still whether opposition leader Raila Odinga has appealed for foreign peacekeeping troops from either the UN or AU. Looking at the volatile situation the country is in and the continued dirty tricks being planned by some Kibaki supporters, it will be difficult for Kenya to avoid foreign peace keepers in the country. Let us wait and see, shall we?
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18:17
From: Kikuyumoja's realm
Read This Entry & More At Kikuyumoja's realm
Twitter…what I particulary like about microblogging via Twitter et al is that you get to see new links and see what others are up to. Just a few minutes ago I came across AfroM’s twitter message (”tweet”?) which informed me about David Kobia’s new site: iHaveNoTribe.com
No matter how you feel on tribalism in Kenya, pls check out this nice new website and see what KENYANS ONLINE have to say about tribalism and nationalism.
I just skyped David on this as I - as a “mzungu” (gosh, I hate this word but you get the idea) - may be outside enough of the ring to contribute my 2cents on this. It’s because I’m often reminded of this debate we had on thinkersroom some time two years ago about what Kenya(n)Tourists are actually doing for Kenya - and how they perceive their status vs. those who are left at home, at the basis, trying to struggle with a corrupt regime and daily life. Well, I am not the person to judge who does it better, what strategy a young Kenyan should follow after school’s out. Everyone just tries to struggle, and we all know of the plenty Kenyans abroad who are busy making a life (with or without a visa!).
My Kenyan colleague from university recently told me that he was (financially) better off working as a cleaner for Mercedes-Benz factory in Europe than doing this 30.000 Kshs job for a GoK agency in Nairobi. Go figure…
Rather, I’ve been wondering about what Kenyans in Kenya think about their friends and relatives abroad, and how they expect us to help them.
Let me tell you something: no matter how bad the situation is in Kenya right now and no matter what kind of hatred we’ve seen - even online by educated ppl who should know better (although one could argue that’s just the power of an anonymous internet & normal flaming/trolls) - I cannot name any country right now that has more national pride than Kenya!
Remember the Kenya Airways slogan “The Pride of Africa” - there’s much more to this than just marketing. This has affected me in a way that I am constantly wearing this wristband - I feel proud of it. And this although my passport says I am German national. Can you imagine?
So, to make it short: the silver, no: golden lining underneath all this horror we have seen in Kenya lately - to me - is that we do now see people helping each other and beautiful initiatives like MamaMikes.com Special or food donations in front of Nakumatts where Kenyans are helping Kenyans. Did it take all this sheded blood to realize what’s inside of us all?
What I’ve seen and heard from Kenya lately strongly reminds me of Adolf Hitler and his fucked up policies: ppl being torn out of matatus just because they belong to another tribe and then beaten to death…
Now what… imagine you’re a Kenyan in the US and shocked just like me about this. What can we do about it?
Yes?
What else can one do except for showing unity and wishing for a better future?
As for the governments (worldwide) - I’ve said it before: we can not expect anything from them except for some political frameworks and lots of empty phrases. Everything else will be has to be provided by individuals - like you and me.
And yes, I do understand that we used to laugh about Tanzanians because of their economy & failures and that we are now addressing those very same issues that had been ignored in Kenya for a long long time due to “progress” + not even having a national language like Kiswahili. But so what? Does _unity_ depend on government decisions?
(on a lighter note: I take it that I am the only one out there who may call himself a “Kikuyu” these days :-)
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18:05
From: White African
Read This Entry & More At White African
The last couple days has seen the launch of 3 new websites from established African bloggers and developers. Impressive work to say the least!
I Have No Tribe
A website dedicated to positive discourse on the Kenyan conflict. From the mind of David Kobia, part of Ushahidi and behind the now-closed Mashada forums. David showed it to me on launch as a prototype late last week, it’s amazing to see that it already has poems, thoughts and prayers from Kenyans all over the world.
Don’t tell him, but I think he’s just having fun with his newfound love of map mashups… 
Nudjit
 A high-tech gadget blog from some well-established South African bloggers (Justin Hartman, Gregor Rohrig, and Nic Haralambous). I’m a gadget guy, so I’ve already added it to the reader and to AfriGadget’s blogroll.
“The site aims to inform, entertain, and alert South Africans about the gadgets that are available to us. Our gadget reviews don’t just highlight the technical aspects but will also judge how well they work, where one can get them, and if our local technology infrastructure can actually support these electronic toys.”
Kabissa
Kabissa.org has launched their brand spanking new website. Kabissa is a social tool for African civil society organizations. What does that mean? Well, it’s a social networking tool for African organizations focused on social change in Africa.
This is another site created by individuals who are well-respected within the African digital scene, Tobias Eigen and Sokari Ekine.
 
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15:10
From: More to Life
Read This Entry & More At More to Life
For as long as patriotism is being what Kenyans are making news over these days, then I am proud to say that I for sure, I'm not a patriot.
If I had to choose where to be, I'd choose to be where I felt safe, was able to go about my own business, develop myself and make and work towards my own personal growth. I would never declare some space, that in actuality belongs to God, seemingly because I was born in it. No. If my neighbors proved to be capable of murder, based on our birth distributed differences, then I would not want to be anywhere near them. I would opt to leave. I have no desire to change people or no great hope in that people change that much either. Borders are man made. And were it not for modern day border policies, human nature would have had many people move around a whole lot more, as was common before formal rule took over the world.
I have potential to be a patriot. If I could choose citizenship. Citizenship based on character and nobility, not birth places, color, accents or tribes.
I could very easily belong to a citizens group of intelligent thinkers, fair and balanced persons, people who understand self responsibility and overall responsibility to the world around you. I could be a citizen of people who are more interested in humanity, the things that havent changed since before Christ, the real things of the human nature. And in this realm of citizenship, I could be a patriot.
But patriotism, lover of a country filled with kinsmen that march around with machetes against their own kind over subtle differences? No, not for me. Actually I want to be far removed. From all types of people that have the potential to sink this low. I want no association.
Not only within citizenship, but even within species.
It bothers me that myself, and these machete wielding persons are of the same biological species. I'm willing to argue a sub species. And not along the lines people usually divide others; race, citizenship et al; no. A sub species, based purely on thought and thought processes.
Anyone who can find a way to justify an ethnic/racial cleansing at any time I don't want to be connected to. It's bad enough that we both are living beings. Even from a plant, bacteria, fungi; I would be offended by this behaviour. But to bring it so close to home, my so called country of citizenship, in addition to species? It's all too much for me. I want out.
I'm being told, it's about education level... well, maybe. But to what extent? I never once had an instructor tell me not to ever consider murdering my neighbors over my own opinions. And read around, there are really educated folk supporting and or calling for bloodshed. No, it's not about education. It has to be a sub species.
How else does it make sense to the rest of us?
Make no mistake, there are hierachy levels within this sub species. And no doubt, those with machetes, or inciting them or supporting them are definitely a grade - or more lower.
It baffles me in an overwhelming way that anyone would want to be president over a nation that raises these kinds of voices. Save for the innocent, guilted by association, these kinds of people?
I wish I had an island that I could relocate all "unwanted " and willing persons to. Where they could live as they pleased, within the rules of civility, but with pure knowledge that they can be free from savage attacks over associations provided by birth. I wonder how many, in the name of loyalties to places of birth would refuse to leave...Them, they are patriots of their birth places.
I am not willing to die, get maimed or lose a relative over a region in one of the world's continents. I am also not willing to suffer the same losses over what people deem as unfair chances or opportunities metted my way. If it bothers them that much, then I am willing to leave, so they may have my opportunities. I'll go elsewhere and make other opportunities. And I am definitely not willing to be neighbors with people capable of inflicting that kind of suffering on mankind. I want nothing to do with these people. We must have no associations.
Had I been born in another country, save for my accent, would I not essentially still be the same person, with the same thoughts and feelings? Would I still not desire the same things from life? Would I not value morality and other humanitarian values over material wealth? Would being born anywhere else have made me different? or as an adult, aren't I simply a product of waht I've chosen to make of myself? How I have chosen to use my mind, extent I have succumbed to undue influences and my propensity to be a sheep within the goat mentality that herds groups of people together; strengthening them in their loud voices but not in their correctness? At the end of teh day, wouldn't I still have to choose exactly what kind of person I was going to be?
I think I would. As far as behaviour and moral responsibility, I think we all choose who we become. And I think these two things largely define us as who we are in all the ways that matter.
Not having millions of dollars or lack thereof.
So my patriotism is to citizenship that is of a higher order other than borders and birth places. It's based instead on the choices we can make for ourselves as individuals. Because I for one, strongly believe that anyone who takes credit for or kills over aspects of humanity that no one chooses but is born into, is worth little to nothing; to him/herself and all those around.
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14:41
From: african bullets & honey
Read This Entry & More At african bullets & honey
(This post originally run in the February 3, 2008 issue of The East African.)
Watching television news the other day, I was struck by how many of the pictures of the rioting youth showed them apparently in good cheer. This despite the anger in the country about the presidential election results, at the lack of [...]
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13:24
From: You Missed This
Read This Entry & More At You Missed This
 Kofi Annan appear to have his hands on Kenya's pulse by aptly recommending a truth and reconciliation commission. That is an idea which is long overdue given our history of MISRULE. But to spoil the party comes the honest and brutal question: can Kibaki walk the talk given this history? Only time will tell but I must hasten to add that you don't have to be a genius nor a sooth sayer to see where we are headed -deadlock. Annan may be through with the easy part. His cleverly crafted his peace agenda by prioritizing on less controversial issues first. Coming to agreement on sorting out the violence and finding a satisfactory humanitarian response to tens of thousands of maimed and displaced Kenyans is the easy part. The crux of the matter lies in the next tackling the POLITICAL DIMENSION to the crisis. And that will definitely mark the point of departures among the hitherto agreeing negotiators from both camps. The naked and unpleasant truth is that Kibaki is simply buying time and fooling the world with motions bereft of no meaningful movement politically or otherwise. Let us be REAL for once and accept the bitter truth that nobody risks his/her reputation by sacrificing hundreds of lives only to STEAL an election and give the voters back their rights. More so if the thief holds the monopoly of force. Add this to the tribal cabal waiting in the wings for any trace of opportunity to strike Kenya dead so as to scavenge on the resulting carcass disguised as INDUSTRY. Well planned electoral theft Make no mistake, the ELECTORAL THEFT didn't just happen. Kibaki knew what was awaiting him by close of polling stations on December 27, 2007. He had all the time since referendum to plan with the help of supremacists and old hands from previous regimes. The NSIS had all the facts and the campaigns were just decoys like the 6% economic growth to pull wool over our eyes as the RAPISTS schemed for the ultimate attack on our rights. The non verbal language and the speeches from Kibaki give him away. His colonial model of RULERSHIP can fly but he has his fingers on both the trigger and extinguisher. You know as well as I do which option he prefers to hold dear. ti Kibaki's government is open to anything that FALLS WITHIN KENYA'S CONSTITUTIONAL AND LEGAL FRAMEWORK. What a refreshing and innovative yet obstructive conditions? Lies and deception have never come so beutifully painted. Kibaki is doing very well by exporting his brand of deception. He must have felt sweet telling other leaders in Ethiopia that he believes he won the election fairly and all the trouble since the election has been stirred up by the opposition. Nobody has ever collectively abused his audience with such balderdash knowing who wields the guns and power. Poor Annan I don't envy Bw Annan any inch. He may be having all his heart in the process but I am also very certain he cannot reconcile his efforts to the reality staring him in the eye. Heavy international pressure yes, but not for how long with Chad smouldering already up north. Already Annan has ruled election re-run out of the equation. Kofi fears conducting a re-election will results in more violence. Furthermore, there is no guarantee that either side would accept the outcome of a second presidential poll. The former UN boss is already neck-deep in this murk. There is no manual to contain a national uprising. Kibaki never saw it coming and he will resort to any CRUDE TOOLS (including Mungiki of course) he can lay his hands on to maintain the status quo. Call me a pessimist if you please but Kenya's problem lie squarely on her weak deep-seated institutional foundation. Kibaki and his cronies don't have what it takes to shape Kenya. Either way Kibaki is not baking his cake and feasting on it. The die is cast and Kenyans are out in both flesh and blood to reclaim their birth right. Kibaki's apologists can fly their sectarian kite all the much they want oblivious of the fact that the leash has snapped and the phantom remains rudderless in the sky. We value our backs too, no more ridding on them. Politico-economic justice no less.
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10:57
From: You Missed This
Read This Entry & More At You Missed This
Yesterday I posted a piece here that was exceedingly censured and trashed as being “irrelevant”. Read it here Shun Laziness at the Workplace. I reproduce some of the comments below and accompany them with my thoughts (in bold) about the ‘points’ raised in each piece: q Anonymous said: Ritch, you have the right message but giving it at the wrong time. Which people are you telling not to be slack, the 500,000 who are homeless and have lost their properties? The hundreds who have lost their jobs because they are the “wrong” tribe? The ones who have several people to bury? The landlords whose tenants have taken off due to insecurity? The drivers whose vehicles have been burnt? The industrialists whose premises, machines and stocks have been broken, burnt or vandalized? The Pastors whose churches have been burnt with ashes of humans still in? The hoteliers who have to close the hotels and send away thousands of workers? This is not the time to tell Kenyans to work hard. It is the time to bring about justice, peace and reconciliation; it is about restoring faith in the Kenyan voter. It is about setting up a new constitution that will seal all loopholes for thieves and ensure fairness, dignity, transparency and patriotism. Since you have turned spiritual today, please read Ecclesiastes 3, the whole chapter. It says: For everything there is a time and a season; a time to cry and a time to laugh; a time to build and a time to pull down; a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing etc. In Kenya, it is now the time to put wrong things right. It is time for wrong doers to ask for forgiveness. It is time for thieves to return what they have stolen and pay back four-fold Zacchaeus’ style (Luke 19) Anonymous, thank you for painting for us the stark, grave reality on the ground. I believe things are even graver than this. My heart goes out to each of these Kenyan brothers, sisters, children, mothers and fathers of mine. But, going back to your response, I think you got me wrong. You say that there is a time for everything, yes there is. Diligence and industry are to be employed in each of the “time for everything”. Slothfulness, slackness and complacency cannot be allowed to thrive even when things are ‘major’. You fail to realize that I am also telling the people in power, people whom we have mandated to fight our cause, not to be slack but to employ diligence in their everyday duties. The obverse side of the coin speaks volumes, anon!q Wanjiku – Mombasa said: I spend the cream of my time in the office on the net. That is 8 – 9 in the morning when I am freshest. And yes, mostly on Kumekucha. And a few minutes before I retire to bed. Therefore I stand accused as a thief of employer’s time. But I do deliver on work. Or so I hope.Wanjiku, let me believe that you are not on the net during “the cream your time” at the expense of something more immediate concerning your job. Anyway, keep it Kumekucha and, I believe, you’ll never regret using “the cream of your time” reading pieces here. q Anonymous said: Ritch, I love your message, best so far here on Kumekucha…Anon, I’m rather flattered by the adulation. Thank you and keep it here!Anonymous said: Ritch, well put. But in view of the prevailing circumstances, your message is ABSOLUTELY IRRELEVANT!!Anon, variety is the spice of life. And if you read the piece well you will see that I have not tried to touch on the prevailing circumstance. So, what is irrelevant? The gist of the piece? And to whom is it irrelevant? Slackness and slothfulness have never helped anyone. At the end of the day people want food on their tables from their very jobs. How people conduct themselves at their stations of work has a direct impact on their very livelihoods. So, what is irrelevant? q Taabu said: Ritch, nice one albeit preaching to the bereaved. The message is apt and useful but doesn’t serve its purpose. Going religious is good for a burdened soul but is also escapist. Turning your back to problems at your doorsteps amounts to seeking the presidency via deception ya kupita kati kati. Kenyans remain unrivalled in the field of clever deception – panda utavuna. Realists call it escapism and the faint-hearted call it exhaling, where do you belong and what do you mean? Just curious.Taabu, my bro, I think the first thing you should have said was “what do you mean?” instead of it coming at the very end. Anyway, Taabu, there is no problem I have turned my back to. You are a witness of how I feel about the whole shooting match (the situation in Kenya) from my writings here and, more so, from our discourses elsewhere. I am neither an escapist nor an “exhaler” (whatever that is supposed to mean). Taabu, there is more to life than meets the eye.And, with that, I rest my case… Sincerely Yours, Ritch (the Doodler).
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8:45
From: Marian's Blog
Read This Entry & More At Marian's Blog
Came across an interesting article from nearly a year ago: author Yvonne Bynoe's Black America After Jim Crow: Still Feels Like Segregation, published on AlterNet. (They have good stuff and deserve your consideration of $upport.) For decades I've been having...
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8:45
From: Marian's Blog
Read This Entry & More At Marian's Blog
Came across an interesting article from nearly a year ago: author Yvonne Bynoe's Black America After Jim Crow: Still Feels Like Segregation, published on AlterNet. (They have good stuff and deserve your consideration of $upport.) For decades I've been having...
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8:26
From: Kenyanentrepreneur.com
Read This Entry & More At Kenyanentrepreneur.com
70 people were killed over the weekened and I can no longer tell if the violence has remained at the same level that it was, if it’s gotten worse or if it’s stabilizing. What do you think?
All kinds of weapons are being used to kill - primarily the machete and these poisonous arrows. It’s a [...]
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7:53
From: My part of the world.......
Read This Entry & More At My part of the world.......
Things have been way to serious in this joint with all the drama that has been going on in Kenya so I thought it was time for us to loosen up. The side eye the girl below gave George Bush made my day! I bet there are loads of people who feel the same way about this dude as she does, oh feel free to caption the pic!  I was reading this post, and it really summed up my opinion about the mungiki. The government officials who are arming them and helping them all with the misguided aim of avenging the wrongs against the Kikuyu seem not to know what fire they are playing with. I also noticed lately that a favourite forum of Kenyans, Mashada is on hiatus. It seems it was getting waaaaaaaaaaay too taxing to moderate the hate speech that was going on on that site. Mashada was already a handful before this who election situation began, so I can only imagine the bile that was being written there. What I have noticed is that when people are behind a key board they feel that they are free to express any opinion, no matter how incendiary it is. There is a blogger who has been doing this with wreckless abandon and much as I do respect her freedom of speech, I do wonder if she would say any of those things in person because sooner rather than later she would be treated to a blanket party. Anyway before we get to the grind here is another funny picture I wanted to share. It seems that Tara Reid's slimming program didn't have the effect she wanted it to have weighing from the expression on that man's face.  Anyway for those back home if you have anything stories of anything positive going on amongst the drama and negativity by all means please share. We shouldn't wallow in hate and depression, nothing good shall come of it at the end of the day. Have a nice Monday all......
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6:12
From: Me, Life & Everything
Read This Entry & More At Me, Life & Everything
Rendezvous: 1512hrs
Prolixity: Prickly
Mood: Sorta Geeky
Whereabouts: Work
Track: I am a Flirt, R. Kelly
Update: On Thursday i decided to muck about with my PDA [HTC Wizard/I-Mate KJam] with some fantastic results. I am sad to report that some of the upgrades came bundled with lots of “features” **MS refers to them as features i prefer a less [...]
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5:28
From: Hapa Kenya
Read This Entry & More At Hapa Kenya
There is a legend of a woman who had a faithful dog. This dog was so faithful that the woman could leave her baby with it and go out to attend other matters. She always returned to find the child soundly asleep with the dog faithfully watching over him. One day something tragic happened. The woman as usual, left the baby in the “hands”of this faithful dog and went out shopping. When she returned, she discovered rather a nasty scene. There was a total mess. The baby’s cot was dismantled and his nappies and clothes torn to shreds with bloodstains all over the bedroom where she had left the child and the dog. Shocked, the woman wailed as she began looking for the baby. Presently, she saw the faithful dog emerging from the under the bed. It was covered with blood and licking its mouth as it had just finished a delicious meal. The woman went berserk and assumed that the dog had devoured her baby. Without much thought she clubbed the dog to death. But as she continued searching for the “remains” of her child, she beheld another scene. Close to the bed. The baby who, although lying on bare floor, was safe. And under the bed the carcass of a jackal torn to pieces in what must have been a fierce battle between it and the dog which was now dead. Then the reality hit the woman who now began to understand what took place in her absence. The dog fought to protect the baby from the ravenous jackal. It was too late for her now to make amends because in her impatience and anger, she had killed the faithful dog. How often have we misjudged people and torn them to shreds with harsh words and even with physical assault before we have had time to evaluate the situation? A little patience can drastically reduce major life long errors Blogged with Flock
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2:44
From: Black Looks
Read This Entry & More At Black Looks
URGENT ACTION NEEDED.
The U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief is requiring organisations in the global south receiving US funding to sign an “anti-prostitution” pledge in order to receive funds. This is outrageous, discriminatory and will create even more problems for AIDS programmes and people living with HIV and AIDS. PEPFAR has now [...]
Read the complete article at
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To all who helped make that happen, thanks. To all the new readers, I hope this blog is of service to you and I invite you to 
