I know people have been looking for the electronic version, so here you go. Haven’t had a chance to peruse, but according to the twitterverse there’s lots of things that make you go hhmmm (and worse).
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Kenyan Pundit
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New (proposed?) Nairobi City by-laws
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Barcamp Diaspora
» Kenyan Pundit For US/DC folks, Barcamp Diaspora will be held at John Hopkins on July 25, 2009. The theme is “Investing our Talent Where it Counts.”
More details here.
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Quick Hits (Lazy edition)
» Kenyan Pundit Lazy, because the links are largely lifted from stuff I put up on twitter [yep, twitter still sucking dry my blogging mojo - it's like color tv vs. black and white].
Anyway, on to the links:
- African Venture Capital Fellows: Program aimed at promoting venture capital in Africa by educating and training future venture capitalists and leaders of high-growth and early stage companies based in Africa. Initial target countries - South Africa and Nigeria.
- Stanford’s E-corner: free videos and podcasts of leading Silicon Valley thought leaders.
- What Google should do in Africa - support Open Spectrum
- Twitter for newbies.
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Mobile Tech for Social Change Camp Nairobi
» Kenyan Pundit Date: June 27th, 2009
Location: Strathmore University
Time: 10 a.m - 9:00 pm
Cost: $15:00 beforehand, Kshs 1,000 at the door
Organizers: The geek-chick triumvirate - Juliana (Afromusing), Katrin Verclas, Jessica ColacoWhat?
# A day-long camp on mobile tech 4 social change at Strathmore University in Nairobi
# Will explore mobile tech to advance social development and social change goals
# Will be participatory and interactive
# Is open to anyone with passion and interest in the topic
# Will include a fun afterparty with “Just a Band”More details, click here.
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Techsoup Kenya Launched
» Kenyan Pundit From the website: “Techsoup Kenya programme aims to assist NGOs in Kenya by providing software for very low fees in conjunction with ICT donor partners (currently Microsoft), as well as by supporting NGOs to make the most of their ICT purchases and infrastructure.”
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Podcast of It’s Our Turn to Eat Reading in Nairobi
» Kenyan Pundit As you might know there have been numerous efforts both by Michaela Wrong and others in Kenya to try and circumvent the self-imposed ban that book-sellers in Nairobi have put on the book, It’s Our Turn to Eat.
Among the efforts is a programme called “It’s Our Turn to Read” where readings of the book will take place throughout the country along with discussions as well as distributing 5,000 copies of the book through various channels e.g. media (the Nairobi Star campaign(, street vendors, churches and school).
The first reading was done at the Kenya National Theater in Nairobi where about 4,000 people showed up. You can catch a great podcast of the event here. Also see Rasna Warah’s op-ed on whether this campaign can be the beginning of something larger.
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Beyond the Romance of Micro-finance
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World Economic Forum, Africa
» Kenyan Pundit I’m in Cape Town for the World Economic Forum. I’m a panelist on the Mobile Revolution panel tomorrow afternoon, along with Michael Joseph, Nick Nesbitt (Kencall), and Wolfgang Lehmacher (Geopost). You can catch a livestream of the panels here.
Let me know if there’s anything you’d like me to ask/discuss on the panel.
I won’t blog much, but will be tweeting lots so catch me on Twitter. Also search for #africa09 on twitter.
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Is Political Reform Possible in Kenya (event in DC)
» Kenyan Pundit Roundtable discussion with:
- Martha Karua, Member of Parliament, Kenya
- Paul Muite, former Member of Parliament, Kenya
- Makau W. Mutua, Dean and Distinguished Professor, University at Buffalo Law SchoolTuesday, June 16, 3:00-5:00 p.m.
B1 Conference Level Room B
Center for Strategic and International Studies
1800 K St, NW Washington DC -
Africa Diaspora Marketplace
» Kenyan Pundit For US-based diaspora folks, your chance to make a difference back home?
“The USAID and Western Union have launched a business-development program that will support U.S.-based African Diaspora in creating plans for sustainable start-up and established businesses in Sub-Saharan Africa. The program will also provide grant funding to 10-20 small-and-medium businesses with the strongest proposals for boosting economic opportunity and job creation in Sub-Saharan Africa through Diaspora-driven development.”
Deadline to apply is July 21, 2009.
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Alston report discussion webcast
» Kenyan Pundit Watch the webcast here. It will be interesting to watch what exactly the govt has to say in its defense (they sent a 30-person delegation to Geneva and only have 7 mins to speak WTF!!).
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New funny Kenyan blog
» Kenyan Pundit I was saving this for a Quick Hits post, but I can’t wait.
Peculiarly Kenya - hilarious blog. Enjoy.
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Revisioning Kenya 3 - June 4th
» Kenyan Pundit PERSEVERANCE AND RADICAL BEHAVIOUR CHANGE TO FEATURE IN REVISIONING KENYA 3
Details: Thursday 4th June 6.30 to 8.30pm with drinks afterward and music by Ugomatic.
Alliance France auditorium, Loita/Monrovia StreetFeatured Speakers:
- Filmaker Judy Kibinge’s film “From the Ashes”, Revisioning Kenya, organised by Beyond Words, will provide a platform for a series of stimulating talks given by visionaries drawn from Kenya, around the continent, and abroad.- Nation Media CEO Linus Gitahi will challenge our notions of giving back to the community at the forthcoming Revisioning Kenya forum, asking Kenyans to behave very differently in order to be more nation focused.Seems Impossible?
- The world’s oldest pupil Kimani Muruge will talk to us about flouting convention, following dreams and perseverance.
- Ex Hindu turned Christian lay preacher and committed material scientist Dr Kamau Gachigi will tell us why and how technology and spirituality match, and what this may have to do with solar powered cars.
- Fred Onesmo Okidi turns to the very practical nature of providing goodwill teaching in his corner of Mathare. With no government support, the committed team at MYTO of which he is part have found ways to harness Kenyan entrepreneurial spirit to foster education and to encourage peaceful interaction in their area.
- Molo based Samuel Muhunyu, who’s school’s garden initiative has been nominated for an Ashoka Changemakers award. He plans to talk to us about the importance of reconnecting to Mother Nature.
- Jessica Colaco will present her ideas on mobile technology Kenyan style, showing how she came to be listed as one of the of top 40 businesswomen under 40.
- Activist poet Jacob Oketch, who’s debut poetry CD is due out shortly, and who is interested on the impact of local languages on the spoken word performs from his latest work
For additional information contact: info@revisioningkenya.com or +254 721 465 858
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Supplementary Budget Scandal
» Kenyan Pundit The supplementary budget scandal continues with reports from Marsgroup (who broke the initial scandal) that the even the “revised” budget numbers don’t add up. Meanwhile, the House Committee has given the revised numbers a clean bill, Uhuru has taken to cracking jokes about the issue, and the usual suspects are looking for the bogeyman (read people who are out to finish Uhuru).
So in my two days in Nairobi I managed to score some good background gossip/story-behind-the-story info. I love the stuff just falls into my lap there
Apparently, this is a scam that has been going on for years by a cabal at Treasury in collusion with accounting officers at various Ministries and has little to do with Uhuru (hopefully the forensic audit that’s been ordered by the Parliament Committee will reveal that). Basically the civil servants, many of whom have been in their positions for years, would inflate budget numbers quietly and then generate fake invoices later on to cover their tracks. Biggest culprits are the Office of the President (according to my sources corruption central in govt) and the Ministry of Education.
The story only broke because someone at Treasury is leaking this information in terms of the raw numbers and the cooking to Mwalimu Mati. The reason for the leaks is unclear, although local papers & gossip rags point to frustration among junior budget officials as a result of the re-appointment of the Director of Budget, David Ngugi after he had reached retirement age. According to the tabloid Weekly Citizen, Ngugi boasts of being close to Kibaki ever since Kibaki’s days at Minister of Finance (I can’t even find a bio or pic of the guy!).
And for those wondering why MPs lack the capacity to do math, my source tells me that the budget MPs see did not contain the raw details that enabled Mars to break the story - what they see is a cooked version (not sure how true this is).
In any event, I hope the story continues to grow legs and doesn’t fade into the infamous siasi ya kumalizana.
It does point to a really huge challenge for trying to address corruption in Kenya. We often focus on the political leaders as the root of all evil, but as someone pointed out to me the other day in the last few years we have had a change of leaders but not a change of government - the well-oiled corruption machinery at below the PS level is still very much intact from Moi days and any new leader who really wants to address corruption in Kenya will have to tackle this monster. Does anyone have the courage to do so?
In the meantime, please lend Marsgroup Kenya your support - at the risk of being hyperbolic - I think they are really fighting a lonely fight out there and doing the hard work that many Kenyans don’t want to do.
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A Better Life Beckons In Africa
» Kenyan Pundit Story in the Washington Post about African immigrants moving back home after basically getting tired of the 24-7 hustle of life in the West and tired of worrying about the recession.
I’m definitely seeing this a lot with my friends / peers - you do give up luxuries and there are frustrations but you get to the opportunity to re-center, rest, and even have time to pursue things you are passionate about.
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Have Your Say…
» Kenyan Pundit In an ideal world, if Kenyan MPs were to embrace the use of technology, what kinds of things would you like to see?
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Quick Hits (easy on a Sunday morning edition)
» Kenyan Pundit - Rafiki Kenya’s superb review on places to eat, chill, and general ku-jienjoy in Nairobi. I wish more bloggers would write positively about Nairobi - so much good there, still.
- New blogs I’ve discovered/I like:
Musings of an Alien
The Gay Kenyan- For the mamas, especially new mamas (who Google everything tehehe), this is a great resource.
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KARA Bi-monthly talk series
» Kenyan Pundit Dear KP readers, I have neglected my blog lately. Sorry! Combination of kids, crazy travel schedule, getting back into the thick of work, training new nanny, and yes the fact that twitter is easier
I need a clone…Just came across this announcement in my in-box. Might be of interest. KARA stands for the Kenya Alliance of Residents Association - their website is quite informative.
Date: Monday, 18th May 2009
Time: 2.00 pm – 5.00 pm
Venue: Sarova Panafric Hotel (Simba Room)
Theme: Role of Civil Society in Realizing “Agenda 4”
Guests: Mr. Okong’o Omogeni, Chairman, Law Society of Kenya and Mr. Hassan Omar, Vice Chairman, Kenya National Commission on Human Rights. H.E Mr. Rob Macaire, British High Commissioner to Kenya will give opening remarks.
Entry : Members and Partners (Ksh. 100); Others (Ksh. 200)
Meal : Refreshments shall be served
Moderator : Dr. PLO Lumumba, Advocate of the High Courts of Kenya and Tanzania -
Feed & spam issues fixed
» Kenyan Pundit My feed issues should be resolved and you shouldn’t see any spam now on your mobile browser.
The blog had been hacked by spammers.
Thank you everyone who pointed out the errors.
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It’s Our Turn to Eat available as an e-book
» Kenyan Pundit From Michaela Wrong:
Harper Collins have finally come up with an e-book of “It’s Our Turn to Eat”. So Kenyans can buy the PDF file, and there’s no excuse for any further piracy or bootlegging. Please pass this around on your mailing lists and post it on your websites. We’ve tried to keep the price as low as possible - you’ll see that it is a lot cheaper than the hard copy.
We’re also hoping to make this something Kenyans who don’t own credit cards can buy on M-Pesa, but at the moment that’s proving a logistical nightmare.
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On Martha Karua
» Kenyan Pundit I’m in Nairobi for a bit and the hottest news at the moment is Karua’s resignation.
I have no doubt (and I have it on good authority) that she was indeed being frustrated in her role as Minister of Justice - apparently Gicheru has way more sway than she did with the ‘baks, however, lets be clear that this is also about positioning for the next election or any possible fallout of the coalition government. And its not about her being scared of the censure vote, she was going to win that one hands down with ODM’s support. In any event, I have to give her props for at least not complaining about the govt while drawing a fat salary and doing deals. That’s one reason why Kibaki can’t take Raila’s hissy fits seriously, he’s like “dude, can we revisit the maize and your son’s scandals first?”
I had the opportunity to chat with Karua one on one when I was in Geneva last week (I actually had a post on that pending oh well). I have to say that I was impressed with her despite myself and my preconceptions of her. She is brilliant, articulate, on point, ambitious and a straight shooter. Unlike most politicians I’ve met who thrive in trivialities when I tried to talk to them, she was engaging and seemed to enjoy the fact that I wasn’t brown-nosing her. Do I disagree with a lot of things she has said and done? Hell yes (and I’m not like totally gaga about her). But shock on me, I kinda liked her.
[An aside, has she ever been linked to a corruption scandal?]
One of the things we discussed was the issue of old fogies dominating Kenyan politics. I argued that this was one of the biggest problems with Kenyan politics. Karua shot back that this Parliament was the youngest we have ever had in Kenya, but the most corrupt by far with some of the young MPs leading the way (in her words the biggest auction house in Africa). In her view, the current Parliament was even worse then when she entered into a 1992 Parliament full of octogenarians and Moi hands. She also felt that everybody (including civil society) should drop their partisan issues, come together and push for reforms and then guys can go their merry way to fight it out for the next elections. We then discussed her website (which had been hacked a while back), mzalendo, facebook and her online strategy in general - she admitted she was clueless when it came to using the internet to campaign but that she was very aware that it was a powerful medium and that she needed to be on point.
I wish her well in her run for office, like her or not, she has the potential to be a gamechanger.
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Workshop on the Truth Commission
» Kenyan Pundit I am currently attending a workshop on lessons Kenya can learn from the South African Truth and Reconciliation process. I’m here wearing my concerned Kenyan citizen hat (otherwise my Saturday mornings are precious family time) and my Ushahidi hat…focusing mainly on the process of documentation and on how we can help ensure that information collected through the process is easily accessible. The following are quick notes I’m taking as the workshop proceeds:
- Civil society needs to start simplifying the process of Agenda 4 and of the TRJC to the ordinary mwananchi e.g. explaining the open forums and how they would work to the people, articulating the agenda to the people.
-There is a big danger that Kenyans (and not the govt) are in the its time to move on mode, growing sense that Kenyans feel agenda 4 items are pointless, the crisis is over and Annan needs to butt out. If this sentiment was from govt, that’s expected but from citizens that’s a big problem.
- Agenda 4 items really depend on a new constitution (whether we will have one is another question altogether)
- Active engagement with the media is required as the process unfolds.
- One needs to remember that the TJRC was part of a political settlement so politicians / partisan interests are necessarily part of the process and have to be managed.
- Important to remember that once the work has started, it must be finished otherwise the work of the TRC would have failed. -
Update 4 from Geneva- Waki Speaks
» Kenyan Pundit 
[I really should have been done now, but my in box is a mess, fired the nanny on my return and dealing with a semi-sick Gabi...did I say I have 10,000 things on my plate? I need a clone. STAT!]
The Geneva conference marked the first time that Waki has spoken publicly on the CIPEV (Waki) report. He was understandably measured, given the controversy surrounding his report - or as he corrected us - the Commission’s report. He reminded the audience that many recommendations were made by the Commission beyond the local tribunal that could be acted upon NOW and was disappointed that these are being ignorede.g.
- recommendations on issues around IDPs
- recommendations on addressing the sexual and gender based violence
- recommendations on police reformHe noted that the fact that they recommended a local tribunal that by-passed the criminal justice system, does not mean that the Commission had zero confidence in the judiciary as some claim…they just felt that a tribunal would be the most expedient way to deliver justice.
He said that they were deliberately bold as a Commission because they wanted to be unlike other Commissions whose recommedations disappeared into thin air. He also said that they had a responsiblity to deliver because they had reassured Kenyans who were reluctant to testify before them that something would come out of the Commission.
[A bit of goss - the Commission's secretary, George Kegoro, did an outstanding job as far as marshalling the testimony and keeping things on track]. -
Update 3 from Geneva Conference
» Kenyan Pundit [Back home in Joburg, and playing catch-up]
Orengo speaks:
People must remember that the accord was a ceasefire document.
- At the time the State and its organs were unable to control the situation and were also engaged in the violence. The lack of confidence in the judiciary also eliminated it was an option.
- The problem has always been the State and its nature and this still remains the same.
- They tackled the composition of Cabinet but not of government and this is problematic.
- Issue of corruption / impunity the biggest challenge
- The principles are too far removed from the process
- He urged the media to take advantage of a more open parliament to really highlight the performance/non-performance of MPsSally Kosgei made a brief / interesting comment on how they - a group of 6 individuals including head of National Intelligence, Army Chief - managed the transition in 2002. Apparently they had been working on Moi to prepare him psychologically to hand over power since October. In her view Kibaki/PNU were never prepared to leave no matter what the results were and the “kitchen” Cabinet reinforced this.
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Update 2 from Annan conference in Geneva
» Kenyan Pundit Following points were raised about the ICC:
- It takes long - Cambodia process started way back in 2002, that’s six years.
- The court can only handle a few perpetrators so it needs to be reserved for the big fry…what happens to middle/lower level guys?
- For many reasons (including above) it is important not to lose sight of the national process…the ICC will always be there.
- Someone made the point that the ICC process will be too detached from the average Kenya, importance of process being local with cameras in court etc. should not be underestimated.
- Someone from the ICC should speak to Kenyans about the process, they don’t want to hear from pundits (hehehe).
-Someone suggested that they should announce investigations just to make the threat real.
- Annan thinks its critical for justice to be done.
- There should be a sense of balance - not just about Eldoret, but also Kisumu, Nakuru, Naivasha, Mombasa - one side should not feel victimized.
What the ICC is saying:
- They are monitoring Kenya, O’Campo has a special adviser- Most effective as a stick e.g. in Columbia where the threat has been used to push for local prosecutions (takes time though)
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Update 1 from Geneva - KNDR (Annan) Conference
» Kenyan Pundit I’m tired and sleepy, but the show must go on.
I arrived in Geneva for the Annan conference on Kenya this morning and haven’t had a chance to rest…too much going on.
I’ve been invited specifically because of my role as a blogger during the post election violence - which is huge - because it means that the Kenyan blogging scene is being taken seriously as an area of influence and a source of information (yeah for bloggers!). Unfortunately, the Chatham House Rules apply to most of the sessions, so I can’t be too detailed.
I’m sure there will still be lots to report about given my peskiness. So what’s happened so far..
- Shared a cab ride with Judge Kriegler from the Kriegler Commission. Cab ride chit chat led to breakfast. Unfortunately, the Judge was tight as a clam…he must have sensed my blogging radar…hehehe. I will say he seemed super-aware of his role as a foreigner when he did his work and maybe that’s why he stopped short of doing his job kabisa, unlike Waki. Anyway, he was quite friendly, a bit condescending, and apparently very unpopular with Kenyan civil society .
- At breakfast, sighted Karua, Wangari Maathai and Wako having breakfast together. Talk about strange bedfellows.
- Ran into a number of civil society friends including Maina Kiai, who had interesting stories about interviewing for the IEC gig…his interview lasted all of six minutes and he apparently was told by a source that he’d never get the gig because he had pissed on Kikuyus while he was at KNCHR. Frontrunner is Kaparo. Seeing the civil society guys lead to me being invited to sit in on a meeting with Annan and civil society reps to hear their views on where things are one year later.
- General prognosis, things are grim. Political space is diminishing, ethnic based militias are rearming (this time with AK-47s not machetes), the people are angry and disillusioned. Several references to Madagascar and the fact that the fire next time will be class based and not ethnic based.
- Potential flashpoints: census later this year; military given what happened in Molo/El Wak can’t be presumed to be professional any more…also suspension of the Tonje rules is formenting disquiet; a police force that’s running amok.
- There’s is a sense that the political class is numb, yet there can be no movement without them because they still hold enormous sway in Kenya e.g. forests are burning on the instructions of politicians; youth in Rift Valley were ready to cause havoc if the Ruto censure had gone down.
- Quote of the morning: “Kenya does not need reform, it needs an overhaul.”
OK, gotta run and clean up and get ready for the afternoon session…next post will be on the ICC option.
Comments open for the duration of the conference…please keep it civil!
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Kenyan Pundit on Twitter
» Kenyan Pundit After months (years actually) of fighting it, I’ve succumbed and become an active tweep, twitterer, twit?.
It’s sort of like blogging in the early days. When it was simple and you didn’t have to over think it and worry about making your blog pretty etc.
If all goes well, I’ll be in Geneva next week for the meeting to assess the status of the coalition government. The principles have refused to attend so it will be interesting to see how things pan out.
Stay tuned for updates.
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Nominate Champions of Quality Education in Africa
» Kenyan Pundit Winners get a cash prize of $5,000, lots of exposure and other support.
Via the website:
We are building a network of innovative education entrepreneurs who are focused on improving the learning of African students. We are looking for entrepreneurial African educators and organizations who are working to ensure that pupils in Africa are learning the reading, writing, math, and critical thinking skills that they need to succeed. If you are a successful and innovative teacher, administrator, or education organization, we invite you to apply.
We are focused on learning and effectiveness. We are also looking for models that can help improve national educational systems. If you use unique instructional methods, materials, or curricula, we want to know about it. And we will encourage you to take your work to the next level, to reach more students with your innovative methods.
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Public Forum on Contemporary Nairobi
» Kenyan Pundit Date: 27 March 2009
Venue: 680
Time: 9:00 - 4:00 (lunch served) -
More shocking evidence of police death squads
» Kenyan Pundit Bernard Kiirinya was a former driver with the Special Crimes Unit of the Kenya Police. He came forward with evidence of extra-judicial killings to the Kenya National Human Rights Commission. His act of whistle blowing cost him his life. Let us hope it was not in vain (although this is Kenya, where heroism is pointless).
Please read his full disturbing statement here.
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Alston statement on extra-judicial killings
» Kenyan Pundit 
Police Viol
KP readers, this statement by Philip Alston, the UN’s Special Rappoteur on Extra-Judicial Killings is a MUST READ.
Alston has just wrapped up his fact finding mission in Kenya.
Of course, the KNCHR has been on this issue for a while.
But it is still startling to see how pervasive the problem is ranging from killings because you pissed a cop in a bar to executions during the post-election violence.
Other key points:
- Wako being the epitome of impunity in Kenya
- The lack of an internal affairs unit in the Kenyan Police, so police who are culpable are expected to investigate themselves
- The shameless don’t care attitude of Ali
- The fact that the police have detailed reports of what was looted in Nyanza during the PEV but nothing on the 82 people who were killed by police bullets.Why should you care?
Because these are the very people who are supposed to protect us. Next time the violence flares up, and at the rate Kenya is going, possibilities are it will. Will these people still be in charge?
Because these tactics are now being used to suppress peaceful protests (see my earlier posts this week).
Because, at the very least because the very next time you unknowingly pick a fight with a cop you stand a high chance of being “Mungiki’d”. -
Anti-Bono
» Kenyan Pundit Dambisa Moyo, author of “Dead Aid” is featured in the New York Times Magazine. I’m feeling her riff on celebrities and Africa (add Nicholas Kristoff to the gag list), though I must say we as Africans are not exactly helping our cause when we do things like steal maize meant for famine relief and have Cabinets with 40 ministers funded by KENYANS.
Sigh.
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New reports of police harassment of activists
» Kenyan Pundit Below is a report I have just read by a Bunge la Mwananchi activist. We have been urging the activists who are being harassed to document their experiences as best as they can. I have promised to make sure that what is going on in Kenya right now gets a wider audience. The report is disturbing to say the very least, not just because it shows you just how paranoid and oppressive this government is becoming, but also because it gives some insight into how the extra-judicial killings that have been in the news start off and how easy it is to be “disappeared” if you don’t have good contacts and with a Mungiki label slapped on you. Please note that it quite lengthy and very unedited.
By Gacheche Gachiki
Dear Comrades, Friends and Allies.
We take this opportunity to thank you all for your great concern and follows-ups to our illegal arrests and detention .
Yesterday morning at 9.00 am I had just been invited by my friend Ibra…as we call him for a cup of coffee in Kiamaiko , within few minutes we were joined by Ruth mumbi of Kiamaiko young women resource centre , She had a article of association for their small organisation and objectives that she needed me to read before they register , In kimaiko the biggest goat market in Nairobi there is a abundant of life with many people coming to buy goats , A friend of mine who I had helped to follow a case of his brother of extra judicial killing joined us , He had a apron coat that is uniform for workers in the slaughter houses, he informed me he had started a small joint business inside one slaughter house with four goats I encouraged him for that ,We were still with Mumbi taking coffee My comrade Ibrahim paid for the coffee and he left to collect his shoes, Another friend came his Nick name Sapare , He is great supporter of Bunge La Mwananchi debates mostly conducted at Kwa Rasta, café with a Mug of tea a place mostly Visited by members of Bunge la Mwananchi either to take a cheap meal of Madodochapati (beans served with chapatti) for Ksh30 or mug of tea that goes for ksh 5 bob last time that we were visitors to kwa Rasta was last Sunday with Keli , Mulialia odipo and Mumbi as we were visiting ongaza njia community centre in the same area for our community organizing activities and we engaged in a good debates and discussion that we had plans to improve the the Bunge La mwananchi debates in an open space within the slums , It is my friend Sapare. Who invited me in Kwa Rasta Where mostly I spend by early Sunday Morning reading the articles in Sunday Nation.
I was the first to enter as I left Sapare with Mumbi, where we were taking coffee, the two police officer were seated down like other customers, I looked for a place to seat and I ordered for a mug of tea before one officer who gave in a space for me to seat at this time I didn’t know him .Before he called the other two officers outside..in the next I minutes that place looked like hell the plastic jugs that are used to serve water to customers without any resist of arrests or provocation both water and breakings jugs were breakings in our heads with beatings and shouts of orders for us to knell down under the tables the experience we went through was very horrible and indeed cruel and I expected death to surprises as any time in that moment before the journey through Kimaiko , Ghetto slum , Huruma Mathare North Via Nairobi river bank, With beatings and torture and abuses and demands of money to buy our freedom Ksh 200,000,, The movement of young people from this informal settlement, 20 in number and those who were arrested along the route was in form of a human train. Handcuffed with Chains that have trade mark HIATTS MADE IN ENGLAND, along the route we were buddle together in a makeshift kiosk where, near St Martin Deplores church, that border Nairobi River and Mathare North Estate, to wait for any relative who might have some money to buy our freedom from the human chain train
AS we negotiated the Nairobi river banks behind Madoya slum near the river where there are big bushes and small well cultivated farms of Vegetable. We were order to stop for inspections of any illegal substance like bhang, Snuff, tobacco, or mobile phone without a receipt,
This inspection is what become our hope when it came to my turn, my Nokia 5000 cell phone was taken away and wallent Which they saw Business cards of Hon Farah Maalim , Paul Muite And Dr. willy Mutunga, Firoze Manji and Calvin Mbugua of Ongaza njia Community centre.
After Scrolling, my phone book immediately it was switched off, and they beckoned each other for a small meeting behind a concrete slab in the river bank.
After coming back to the scene of our inspection, I was separated from 12 members who we were arrested together at Kwa Rasta Café in Kiamaiko. And this time I was chained together with one young man his name Charles Macharia , who was bleeding all over his face and at first time I received an individual threat of death if I don’t cooperate to be released alone, and leave the others because of Contacts in my phone book and the business cards.But the other eleven young people demaded that I was arrested together with them and no way I can be separated from them unless death , With their demands they received serious beatings but at the end we were separated. Near a small bridge that unite Madoya slum and Mathare.
From that point my comrade was Charles Macharia and another young man who was arrested in Madoya slum him his hands were tied with cooper wires after the HIATTS chains became scarce, Macharia who we started our journey together at Kwa Rasta had received serious beating his crime is that he keep on saying he will report his matter to Human rights people about his many illegal arrests, and beatings on his hand he had a cash bail bond issued by Makadara law courts of Ksh 5000. And he could not accept to back to another police station. In his hands he had bag carrying Topex bleach detergent and Vasseline. That he hawk in small shop in Huruma Kiamaiko mostly manufactured in Light industries, along Juja road that Border Huruma and Kariobangi Noth estate
The bag was a bit heavy so I had to assist him while he was wiping blood on his face his plea to wash his blood soaked face in the Nairobi River as it was drying on his face were answered with more beatings…and more humiliation, He did request me we escape with the handcuffs but I sensed danger on that suggestion., he had plan on how to cut the England made chains in the slum called Ghetto.
From this the Bridge that join Madoya slum Mathare North , Myself and Charles Macharia and the young man tied with copper wire we walked together cursing the system and the police who had arrested as in silent…as we were taken to another direction by one police officer.
The fate of other eleven arrested kwa Rasta remained unknown to me but near the stage of route No 29/30 for Mathare north we were packed in another makeshift kiosk, for more observation, whether we can accept to buy our freedom, after one hour the next group that was separated from as was escorted to the new holding base., together with two women an and another young man by more ruthless officers.
From here Ruth mumbi using contacts of the women who was arrested trying to follow his sons she was able to trace our where about and contacted Keli Muysoka of Bunge la Mwanachi , Who then contacted Calvin and of Ongaza njia community and Hon . Paul muite and at 2pm the police could not stay longer with us in the Bush they had to take us to the nearest police station a number of people from huruma community and members of Bunge La Mwanachi had already reached at Muthaiga police station and they had started to demands our production to the nearest legal police station.live or dead.
At Muthaiga police station we were taken there by a private vechicle a Nissan from Mathare North there was more beatings again to confess we are members of Mungiki and at that time of arrests were conducting oaths, our belts shoes and valuables, were booked and were put in custody.
At around 4 pm we were called again for our details to be taken, within few minutes at Divisional criminal investigations office, is when Paul muite arrived and together with Members of Bunge La Mwanachi Geroge Nyongesa Fwaba and Calvin Mbugua with local media.
Hon. Paul Muite did request for our release with police bond, and we report to Muthaiga police station tomorrow at on 24/02/09 8 am our bonds that we are compelled to report to Muthaiga police station under section 22 of the police act Cap84. For the inspector of police to make inquiries into an alleged offence of being members of outlawed sect (Mungiki). As serious tag for exte-judicial execution…at this hour.
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Quick Hits
» Kenyan Pundit - Wherecamp Africa being held in Nairobi on April 4th.
- Kenyan religious leaders get their act together and tell it like it is. This is not an insignificant move, given how much influence religion/ religious leaders carry in Kenyan society. One only wishes they (the leaders) could have shown such sense in the run-up to the election.
- My new favorite Kenyan blogger.
- A report by American University on Public media 2.0 -
The Kenya I Cannot Stand
» Kenyan Pundit Unedited note from Philo, one of the activists arrested yesterday.
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Action alert update
» Kenyan Pundit Colleagues eventually traced the three Kenyan civil society activists arrested and beaten outside Parliament buildings yesterday after a nighttime search.
Philo Ikonya was released from Gigiri Police Station last night at
about 11 pm to appear in court this morning. Fwamba N.C Fwamba spent the night in custody at Gigiri Police Station,
while Patrick Kamotho was held overnight at the Central Police
Station. All three were beaten up while in custody.They were charged this morning at the Chief Magistrates Court
(High Court buildings Nairobi), Thursday February 19th 2009, with taking part in an unlawful assembly. The court released them of a cash bail of Ksh Ten Thousand each, which their colleagues are making arrangements to pay to facilitate their release. -
Action alert! Press for activists release
» Kenyan Pundit KP readers, please lend your support to these brave souls who are doing the hard and important work that needs to be done to change Kenya. We might not all be able to march in the streets in protest of the numerous scandals bedeviling the country, so lets take action in other ways.
Note: The importance of logging a critical volume of messages, through multiple channels, especially internationally, cannot be underestimated. They may not result in immediate release, but they will influence the response to the habeas corpus filing tomorrow
morning. And may make all the difference to the level of physical abuse that Philo, Fwamba and Patrick suffer - or are saved from - at the hands of the police while in custody.
WHAT YOU CAN DO RIGHT NOW(1) Send a text message NOW, to Kenya’s President, Prime Minister, and Attorney General. Use the one below, or craft your own.
Mr. Kibaki / Mr. Odinga - we hold u accountable 4 police violence and illegal arrests against Philo Ikonya n other civil society activists. Release them NOW and fire Police Commissioner Ali.To President Mwai Kibaki (via his spokesperson, Alfred Mutua):
Cellphone number + 254 721 240 443To Prime Minister Raila Odinga
Cellphone + 254 733 620 736Attorney General:
Amos Wako + 254 722 772 4532) Send an email
To President Mwai Kibaki
presid…@statehousekenya.go.keTo Prime Minister Raila Odinga
railaodi…@yahoo.comSuggested Message:
Mr Kibaki / Mr. Odinga, I urge you to act immediately to release Philo Ikonya, Fwamba Chrispus, and Patrick Kamotho from illegal police custody. Police Commissioner Ali must be fired for presiding over
escalating police violations of civil and human rights in Kenya.Signed: Name, Organization / Affiliation (if any), City, Country
3) If you are a Kenyan repeat steps 1) and 2) with your own MP andother parliamentarians. Contact details for Kenyan MPs at Mzalendo.
4) If you live outside Kenya, repeat steps 1) and 2), directing the texts and emails to the Kenyan Ambassador or High Commissioner in your
country. Contact details on this link:5) If you are a foreign national living in Kenya, repeat steps 1) and 2) with the Ambassador or High Commissioner of your country in Kenya.
6) Copy to the Feedback Form on the site of the Kenyan Police Force: http://www.kenyapolice.go.ke/contactus.asp
7) Copy to Kofi Annan, in his capacity as the head of the Kenya
National Dialogue and Reconciliation Process, through his spokesman: Nasser Ega-Musa Nasser.Ega-M…@unon.org -
Activists arrested outside parliament
» Kenyan Pundit Philo Ikonya, Fwamba FC Fwamba, and Patrick Kamotho have been beaten and arrested by police while demonstrating against lack of unga, and corruption in government at Parliament Buildings. The protests were planned to coincide with Ruto’s censure motion scheduled for today. Philo Ikonya and Fwamba FC Fwamba are currently being held at Central Police Station. The whereabouts of Patrick Kamotho are still unknown.
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Report on implementation of coalition govt
» Kenyan Pundit A report prepared by South Consulting on the implementation of the agreements from the Kenya National Dialogue and Reconciliation (KNDR) is now available on the KNDR website.
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Kenyan MP’s Version of the National Anthem
» Kenyan Pundit Author Unknown
Politicians of all persuasions
Strip this our land and nation.
Fortunes motivate us and keep us.
May we steal with impunity
Dodge taxes in unity;
Plenty be sourced within our dockets.Let all politicians arise
With scams both wily and foolproof.
Eating be our earnest endeavour,
And our cake-stand of Kenya,
Heritage of plunder,
May we fight forever to perpetuate.Let parties with one accord,
In common greed united,
Bankrupt our nation together.
May the agony of Kenya,
The fruit of our behaviour,
Remain hidden from our 2012 voters -
LA Times on the late Father Kaiser
» Kenyan Pundit While the absurdity of a former dictator (Moi) and two corrupt incompetents (Raila & Kibaki) helping us figure out the “Kenya We Want” in an expensive conference sinks in, lets take a moment to remind ourselves just how bad things were during the Moi years (hat tip DW!).
EDIT: Part 3 of the series is here.
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Quick Hits: Feb 5
» Kenyan Pundit - For those who took pictures with the ubiquitous Obama cutout, notice his hands were white?
- Interesting NYTimes look at Google’s venture into internet infrastructure in Kenya/Africa.
- Google local search for Nairobi launched.
- Macharia Gaitho’s op-ed on the Molo tragedy is a MUST read. Money quote: Whether super-rich or dirt-poor, Kenyans will forever be in scramble to get something for nothing…
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On the teachers’ strike
» Kenyan Pundit So I have been following the news about the teachers’ strike because it is an interesting (and rare) test of the coalition government as far as a section of Kenyans saying enough is enough and demanding their dues. The government’s initial knee-jerk reaction and tear gassing of peaceful protestors suggested that it is business as usual.
The eventual deal that’s been agreed to is suspect…as usual the hardest worker gets shafted…The new salary for the lowest paid teacher will rise from Sh10,185 in July to Sh13,750 in July 2011. That of the highest paid teacher will go up from Sh44,990 to Sh120,270 in the same period. WTF?
Although the strike initally had the makings of a revival perhaps of a strong labour movement, in the end it unfortunately degenerated into a reminder on just how much damage the Moi years did to the labour movement, the squabbling between KUPPET and KNUT is just one example. There have been ramblings in some quarters about calling a general strike to express just how displeased Kenyans are with their leaders, but from where I’m sitting a general strike in Kenya is a pipe dream…the only thing that seems to extract a concerted +united effort from us nowadays is the celebration of various things - our runners, Obama, December holidays…
For a revealing and insightful analysis of the strike, this is a good read.
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Kenyan activists in action
» Kenyan Pundit In a few days maybe I’ll be able to stop frothing at the mouth at the barrage of terrible headlines coming from Kenya.
Until then, something positive.
I constantly complain about the penchant for Kenyans to be permanently outraged about the state of their affairs, but then be unable to act upon their outrage with persistence and with a determination to change things and then leave it to “those people” to do the dirty work of protesting for them (the very same “those people” who we revile for being easily fooled by politicians) while they pray for things to get back to “normal.”
The folks at Bunge la Mwananchi are different. They are persistent, dogged, and speak to the core issues that the average Kenyan cares about, often with minimal resources and with constant harassment from the government.
I hope that they will one day see the fruit of their labours, and that the rest of us take a cue for them and ask ourselves what we are doing to improve the status quo of our country.
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Raila and the maize scandal
» Kenyan Pundit So I came across this memo to Raila today that was supposedly leaked by one of Anyang Nyong’os disgruntled juniors. The memo links Raila’s son Fidel to the missing maize. The reference to Denis is to the ODM PR guy Denis Onyango. Can’t vouch for the memo’s veracity though…it doesn’t seem like Anyang’s memo to put such incriminating stuff on paper and the typos are rather amateurish. Even if it’s fake the whispers I’ve been hearing say that it’s not far from the truth.
Courtesy of Demosh (Flickr)
And then there was this “coincidental” firing of an unnamed Raila aide today for links to the maize scandal.Anyone have any more enlightening info.?
EDIT: This blogger has more names. -
Cannibalistic Nation
» Kenyan Pundit A nation of cannibals.
That is what we have become.
Experts at finishing ours and our own.
While immortalizing Obama on the other hand.
Although if Obama’s life path would have led him to Kenya, we would have finished him too.
Like we did his father.These thoughts are inspired by the tragic death of Dr. Muiruri. Also known as Ngethu Star . A young man who had transformed his life, had worked hard to excel, made the “jump” as I often ask people to do, and was just about to enjoy the fruits of his labour.
It’s true that the he is just one of the many senseless lives that are lost in Kenya (especially of young men) on a daily basis. But his story has resonated so deeply with me and many others. Why? Maybe because I’ve done that celebratory jaunt back home , and can picture me or someone I’m with getting into a silly fight at the heng and just like that it’s over.
A confession that’s relevant.
The longest I’ve ever been away from Kenya is two years and three months. It was painful. I was notorious for finding ways to go back home right from when I left (and have the grant applications to prove it!). I’ve worked in Nairobi every year since 1998, with the exception of that long stay.
So why did I stay away for so long? Because, after I found out I’d been accepted to HLS I had this morbid fear that if I went home something bad would happen to me. Specifically, some random tragic “killed by a speeding matatu while she was on the verge of going to Harvard Law” type storo. Of course, remaining in the U.S. did guarantee my mortality but you could not convince me to go home until I at least experienced a year at HLS…so great was my fear of being cannibalized by my country. It all sounds a bit silly in retrospect, but I was determined to do what I could to ensure that a could at least taste the fruits of my hard work…and I suspect it’s a fear shared by many in the diaspora (at least we have the luxury of staying away).
Anyway, I rambling now so I’ll let the words of someone more eloquent that I am convey my thoughts.
By JUDY KIBINGE
THE SHOOTING DOWN OF A RISING STARL
ife has never been as cheap in Kenya as it is now.
On Friday September 12th 2008, James Muiruri Nganga wrote the following words in his blog:“With my thesis already submitted and in the hands of my examiners, I can feel that I deserve more from life. Therefore, destined for great heights and bigger things, I am now knocking on the doors of success and satisfaction . The world is now mine.”
Barely four months later, on Saturday morning, a car carrying police officers followed 29 year old Dr. James Muiruri Nganga headed home from a long night out in Crooked Q, a club in Westlands. I wonder what he and his brother might have been talking about as they headed home and as the sunlight hit their faces. Maybe they were wondering about the argument that had had them all thrown out of the club was all about. Some guy had picked a fight with James over a woman and the bouncers sensing trouble had thrown them all out. Or maybe, as the sun rose over the city, warming them, he felt just as described in his blog on November 4th 2008:
“Since being awarded the doctorate, every moment has felt like a quiet afternoon with the fresh air forming some summer saxophone note, rising and falling on a warm breeze. With jewels in my heart, it is heaven here and the light that glows inside my heart feels like the salvation that will hopefully free my soul and brighten many others.”
The drunken police inspector might have been the furthest thing from James mind as a moved to block the one James rode in. A few heated words were exchanged before the trigger happy policemen whipped out his gun, firing bullets into his head, shoulder and heart – a further two through his mouth for good measure after he collapsed onto the tarmac. Their vicious , drunken mission accomplished, the police officers sped off to report the killing of a “a mungiki bank robber” at Buru Buru police station. According to the Daily Nation, his father, Former Gatundu North MP, one of the first to arrive at MP Shah Hospital to receive the news was ” devastated by the death of his second-born son and said: “He was my life and my everything.”"
Dr. James Muiruri Nganga isn’t the first to die this way. He isn’t the first hope of the family to be cut down in a hail of police bullets. His father, harsh as this may sound, is one of maybe even hundreds right now lamenting that their child, their life, their everything was slain.
If the stories I have heard in recent times are anything to go by, this extrajudicial killing of young men is a national crisis. James may well be one of hundreds of young men who have been killed by police all over the country in recent times. In every slum and every lower income neighborhood in this city, many youth claim – should you ask - that their peers have being slain by police every day in unprecedented numbers,. Its not uncommon for a young man from the slums to tell you that all his friends are dead. If you don’t believe me, you go ask yourself. Pick a youth, any youth in Kibera, Mathare, Huruma… and ask him what he believes the biggest cause of death for young men in the slums today is, and you’ll hear it for yourselves, with your own ears. And, like James, these kids are being classified in death as criminals or mungiki’s– or both. We have to be honest with ourselves and ask: if James’ father wasn’t an ex MP, or if he wasn’t a brilliant young man with a PhD before 30 and with his whole life ahead of him, would be forgotten just as the hundreds of other bullet riddled corpses that precede him have been?
In December 2008, just a month or two after James took his PhD Viva across the ocean in Sheffield, unaware that all his dreams were soon to end, I was speaking to a Nderitu, a 32 year old youth leader in MYSA, Mathare Youth Soccer Association, whose membership extends to 18,000 youth across all of Nairobis slums. Of all his concerns about all the terrible things going on in Mathare - the drugs, the disease, the unemployment – Nderitus greatest worry was what he called the loss of a generation, and he expressed this fear with clarity and anger:
“saa hi kukienda mathare mi huona watu wanafanya campaign za Aids mingi sana but watu wa young wana die karibu kila day juu ya kushootiwa saa nashindwa tunafaa tuonge juu ya Aids ama tuongee juu ya watu kushootiwa ? maybe saa hii haituaffect lakini niko sure another ten years ndio watu wata realize weeh,kuna generation iljkikuwa wiped out.” (”if you go to Mathare right now, you’ll see people doing AIDS campaigns, but young people are dying almost everyday, being shot by the police, and I wonder, should we be talking about HIV while people are being shot? Maybe at this moment we aren’t affected, but I’m sure that in another 10 years, people will realize a whole generation was wiped out”.)
It’s true: There’s a killing spree going on. And we can only hope that James’ death will do something to stem the tide. At the top of his eloquent, passionate , honest, highly intelligent and expressive blog NGETHU STAR (http://ngethustar.blogspot.com/ ) – he being the star friom Ngethu Village - he writes: NG’ETHU STAR: From that Destined Child beneath the Stars that light the African Village along the valleys of River Chania, to the Road to Doctorate and Beyond the eagle’s heights…
Today, I feel compelled to complete that header for him as the three dots he placed after the sentence seem to demand the completion of the premature obituary he unknowingly penned. I hope he would approve of it:
NG’ETHU STAR: From that Destined Child beneath the Stars that light the African Village along the valleys of River Chania, to the Road to Doctorate and Beyond the eagle’s heights… came the brutal slaying of a dream, bringing Ngethu Star spiraling back down to earth to die in a pool of his own blood, slain by those who swore to protect him in the country he loved so much. But through his death, he has allowed others to rise and soar to eagles heights, to be saved. To live. Indeed this brilliant young man shed his blood so that others like him may live on. -
Our country is turning into shit…
» Kenyan Pundit That line always cracked me up in the Blazing Saddles.
Not so funny when it is your country. All indications from everyone I’m talking to is that corruption is back to Moi’s brazen levels - KPC/Triton is just the tip of the iceberg.
And what in the crazy hell is Kimunya doing back in government?
It gets worse. Julius (Baba Denis) Sunkuli is the new ambassador to China.
An aside…I’m really tempted to support the Media Bill when I read our terrible newspapers. This gem from the Standard:
Konoin MP Julius Kones says the elevation of Uhuru, who holds a degree in economics and political science from Umhurst University, US, to the Finance portfolio could trigger major realignments in PNU.
Umhurst? What exactly do newspaper editors do in Kenya.
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Writing Queer Kenya
» Kenyan Pundit On behalf of:
Editors: Keguro Macharia and Angus Parkinson
We lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex individuals, in a word, queers, have had the distinct un-pleasure of being told we don’t exist—in official government statements, historical documents, and contemporary statements. Well, we do.
We want Kenyan stories by Kenya-based and Kenya-born queers. About everything. We want writing about the dailyness of our lives, the good, the bad, the weird, the indifferent. If you have lived it, we want to hear about it. We especially want to reach beyond Nairobi, Mombasa, and other cities to all corners of the country. And we know the rest of Kenya, Africa, and the world wants to hear these stories as well.
Formats
We have three distinct formats. Choose what appeals to you.
1. Interviews: Tell us your story. Get in touch with us and we’ll arrange an interview. We value your time and your confidentiality. Not sure you want to meet us directly? We have phones and email and all manner of ways to make this happen.
2. Letters to Kenya: Write (or unearth) a 500-1,000-word letter. To whom? Parents, pastors, the government, best friends, former friends, present lovers, former lovers, the person you really want to tune. Get personal, get intimate. Say what you really want to say!
3. Personal narratives: Write (or unearth) a 2,500-3,000-word narrative about the dailyness of being queer. The high points, low points, the endless plateaus, the quick glances, indrawn breaths of desire, domestic thrills, sexual boredom, beginnings and endings. If you write it, we’ll consider it.All submissions should be typed, double-spaced, and submitted electronically to queerkenya@gmail.com. If you can’t type, don’t want to, or can’t get hold of an email program that functions, get in touch with us. We can help.
How You Can Contribute
1. Get the word out. Convince your friends with hidden manuscripts or stories that must be shared to un-closet them.
2. Send us encouraging emails. We need your good wishes, your fabulously good wishes.
3. Volunteer time! We need all the help we can get.
4. Take ownership. We’re editing, sure, but these are our collective stories.Important Dates
April 30, 2009: Deadline to Receive Submissions
June 30, 2009: Selected Contributors Contacted
Publication: December 2009.Questions? We’re glad to answer. Please contact us at queerkenya@gmail.com
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Quick Hits Jan 21
» Kenyan Pundit I’ve lots of blog posts churning in my brain - the media law, one year since the election/Ushahidi, the shameless coalition “eating” (yes Raila is behind the disappearing maize), Obama’s inauguration (yeah!)…just have to find the time to write them. In the meantime, I’ll start my foray back to blogging with light posts. On the personal front, still firmly in sleepless nights zone but thankfully Gabi has adjusted very well to being a big sister. She’s started play school this week though (which she’s enjoying) and has already picked up the art of dramatic tantrums from (dare I say mannerless) playmates. Sigh.
- Obama’s Indonesian lookalike.
- Be nice to your classmates, they just might become President.
- Clay Shirky on why you shouldn’t worry about information overload.
- Mapping Kogelo. LOL at having to get permission from the chief.
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Baby Nia
» Kenyan Pundit Born on 29/12/08. Hefty 3.52 kgs.
We’re all well and thankful for a wonderful start to 2009. Thanks everyone for your messages. Back to sleepless nights for me (however, nice to be a relaxed mama second time around).
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