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125 items tagged "kenyaelection07"
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2:50
From: Kenyan Pundit
Read This Entry & More At Kenyan Pundit
Just released paper by Juliana Rotich and Josh Goldstein.
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13:21
From: Kenyan Pundit
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7:31
From: Kenyan Pundit
Read This Entry & More At Kenyan Pundit
This is the most detailed document I’ve seen so far. The press has been dancing around the names probably because of the fear of libel suits.
Hat tip Steve! (and y’all please keep the leaks coming).
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10:21
From: Kenyan Pundit
Read This Entry & More At Kenyan Pundit
For those who are looking, more details/names can be found in the latest Africa Confidential…click on the link below (hat tip B!).
ac-22aug08
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3:55
From: Kenyan Pundit
Read This Entry & More At Kenyan Pundit
We are all Commission of Inquiry weary, but this piece gives some good insight on the ongoings at Kriegler and on why the stakes are too high for the real truth to be revealed.
Also worth a read, this article in the Christian Science Monitor.
kptj-truth-digest-bulletin
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10:53
From: Kenyan Pundit
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The full report is available here. Unfortunately, no politicians are actually named for reasons given here.
EDIT: Link to the report fixed - sorry about that. Also apparently the politicians were named in last Saturday’s Nairobi Star…anyone have the names (God I miss blogging from Nairobi)?
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7:17
From: Kenyan Pundit
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Interesting series that will be looking at the role of African elders in resolving the Kenyan post-election crisis. Part I is here.
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8:18
From: Kenyan Pundit
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Independent Electoral Review Commission(IREC) shall be holding its sittings in Nairobi from June 25 - 27, 2008 at the KICC from 9.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. Any bloggers who are free at the time…would be great if you could cover it.
SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Electoral Review Commission hearings", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/2008/06/24/electoral-review-commission-hearings/" });
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6:33
From: Kenyan Pundit
Read This Entry & More At Kenyan Pundit
Full details of the chronology of events can be found on Shailja’s blog.
Kudos to her for her persistence and showing fellow Kenyans why it is important to keep up the fight to hold leaders accountable in whatever way we can…it should not just be business as normal!
After reading Kivuitu’s response, let me know your [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Kivuitu Responds", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/2008/05/29/kivuitu-responds/" });
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7:30
From: Kenyan Pundit
Read This Entry & More At Kenyan Pundit
CP meeting notes
Mathare:
- Mwangi Kihara, the Chairman of the Mathare United Landlord organization (MALUO) reported that negotiation between Landlords and illegal occupants of houses in Mathare ongoing. So far at least 111 illegal tenants have agreed to leave the houses. KVP (Kenya Veterans for Peace) has been facilitating this process.
- It was reported that [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "CCP Update May 9", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/2008/05/19/ccp-update-may-9/" });
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6:52
From: Kenyan Pundit
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IDP’s
* There are 250 camps still existing countrywide. Little concrete solution for them and we don’t want them to become a forgotten species. Need symbolic gesture to remind govt and public about this situation – a group from CCP to spend night in the camps. Through this, they can strengthen the call for political [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Concerned Citizens for Peace Meeting Apr 18", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/2008/04/23/concerned-citizens-for-peace-meeting-apr-18/" });
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16:55
From: Kenyan Pundit
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[I'm in Uppsala, Sweden speaking at a conference so posting will be light]
I’ve been spending the last week or two trying to revisit Kenya’s political history from an academic perspective (and trying to get back in to the habit of reading voraciously) with the help of a bunch of mailing lists that I subscribe to. [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Mungiki", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/2008/04/15/mungiki/" });
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4:51
From: Kenyan Pundit
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The Multi-Sectoral Task Force on Truth Justice and Reconciliation Commission and Kenyans for Peace with Truth and Justice (KPTJ) invites you to a public forum to be held on Wednesday, April 16, 2008 at Norfolk Hotel Nairobi. Time 830 a.m – 12.30 p.m
The Government has now drafted a Truth Justice and Reconciliation Commission Bill [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Forum on Truth Justice and Reconciliation Commission", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/2008/04/15/forum-on-truth-justice-and-reconciliation-commission/" });
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3:33
From: Kenyan Pundit
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ECK is basically absolving itself of any wrongdoing as far as the presidential vote tallying. The full report is here.
A summary of the disparities in the report (in comparison to what observers reported) can be found here.
SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "ECK Internal Report on 2007 Election", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/2008/04/01/eck-internal-report-on-2007-election/" });
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11:00
From: Kenyan Pundit
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…vote for Ushahidi at Netsquared website. Last day to vote is Friday 21st March 5:00 pm Pacific US Time
For those of you who have already voted, please note that this is different from the number of stars that we have already picked up (thanks y’all).
Hash, has a very detailed explanation of the process. [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "One more time, pretty please…", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/2008/03/20/one-more-time-pretty-please/" });
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4:55
From: Kenyan Pundit
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What: Report release on organized political violence and the crisis of
governance in Kenya
Who: Ben Rawlence, Human Rights Watch Africa researcher
When: Monday, March 17, 2008 at 10:00 a.m.
Where: Stanley Hotel, Nairobi
SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Human Rights Watch Press Conference", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/?p=473" });
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5:56
From: Kenyan Pundit
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…I think some kind of active follow up with the Standard is necessary.
I have no problems with tabloid newspapers. In fact I regularly read them when I’m in Nairobi. I do have problems with a supposedly serious newspaper that has “tabloidish” tendencies - and I don’t think it’s not [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Now that I’m done gagging…", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/?p=471" });
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9:55
From: Kenyan Pundit
Read This Entry & More At Kenyan Pundit
I have yet another post cooking, but I need to go and grapple with dinner for a one-year old who will chew only certain foods, depending on her mood. So I’ll just put up these links and wonder how Kenyan newspapers are managing to outdo themselves when it comes to crappy, and yes, irresponsible [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Excuse me while I gag…", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/?p=470" });
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9:17
From: Kenyan Pundit
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I know there are readers who have issues with my posting of “humanitarian” efforts, and who doubt the efficacy of these efforts, and who feel that what is needed is more “political” ways to engage the “people/masses.” I have a response cooking in my mind. In the meantime, I will keep the info. [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Peace Messages on Easy FM", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/?p=469" });
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12:31
From: Kenyan Pundit
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On International Women’s Day
Saturday, 8 March 2008
WOMEN FOR KENYA
Invite All Kenyan Women to Join Together in a Peaceful March
As mothers, wives and daughters, Kenyan women have endured tragedy in the past two months. Too many of us have lost family members and homes. Others of us have done what we can to help them. Regardless [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Women’s March for Peace - March 8th", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/?p=468" });
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4:44
From: Kenyan Pundit
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NOTES BY LINDA
The meeting began by recognising the historical moment arrived at yesterday with the signing of the mediated peace deal through the assistance of the Kenya National Dialogue and reconciliation Team headed by H.E. Koffi Annan.
The meeting focused on the views of the Members towards the peace deal, urging them to discuss [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "CCP Meeting Update Feb 29", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/?p=466" });
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1:57
From: Kenyan Pundit
Read This Entry & More At Kenyan Pundit
We are working on developing Ushahidi into a tool that can be applied to other crises and on improving its applicability in the Kenyan situation even after the power-sharing agreement. We’ve entered the Netsquared Mashup Challenge where we can stand to win up $20,000 for development. Show your support by voting [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Further development for Ushahidi", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/?p=465" });
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10:14
From: Kenyan Pundit
Read This Entry & More At Kenyan Pundit
Details here.
Of course, there’s a lot of negatives like the effective absence of an opposition. But it gives the country some much-needed breathing space and I sincerely hope an opportunity for the hard work of rebuilding, healing, and creating a new political space to begin.
SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "There’s a deal!", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/?p=464" });
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8:51
From: Kenyan Pundit
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It is increasingly seeming like my worst fears will be confirmed, and the Annan mediation talks will become a long road to nowhere.
Frustrated as we are, I think it is important for us as Kenyans to keep trying to find ways to wrest the fate of our country from these two power-hungry individuals. [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Ways to help keep the peace in Kenya", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/?p=463" });
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1:43
From: Kenyan Pundit
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The CCP Technical team had a meeting yesterday, 21st February 2008 discussing whether CCP should continue to exist (unanimous agreement on this) and if so how it should do so.
Various decisions were reached in the meeting including:
o Morning forum- meetings will now be held once a week on Friday’s from [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "CCP Update Feb 22nd", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/?p=461" });
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7:49
From: bankelele
Read This Entry & More At bankelele
Jeff Koinange has been running a show called Capital Talk on the new K-24 channel in Nairobi. It’s a 1-on-1 interview session, usually with politicians, but occasionally with business leaders. He seems more comfortable hosting these show than he did from say from upriver Nigeria with the rebels on CNN. Last night he had Maina Mwangi, the CEO of Renaissance Capital, to talk about the future of investment banking in Kenya, impact that the political stalemate is having on the economy, and other issues Some of Mr. Mwangi’s comments - Renaissance is different from other investment banks such as Morgan Stanley (who are doing the Safaricom IPO) because they are here to stay. They have offices here; will have 50 staff, all East African, no expatriates here. - The Politics must be fixed; we can’t be having upheavals every five years where lives are lost and property destroyed unnecessarily - Impact on the economy is serious (i) tourism collapsed, at least for the next three years (ii) impact on transport sector has not been fully appreciated (ii) banks not hit yet, but will take a few months (iv) NSE is a sensitive indicator of the economy (There are about 1m shareholders and the market was down 15% in 3 weeks) as people buy shares as they are future profits of a company (v) forget about 8% growth this year - Investors are worried, which is ok, but if the politics is not fixed, then they’ll be panic, which is bad - Solutions for this year : (i) one was the Safaricom IPO which still can happen, and will give the government some breathing space and enable the budget deficit to remain manageable (ii) but forget about the sovereign bond - as the spreads are too wide now (iii) tax collection will have suffered, but no one knows how much yet (iv) new budget is needed for the country to factor in new spending for towns & businesses to be re-built, resettlement of people. - Interest rates: The government will have to control borrowing otherwise that will hit interest rates which is critical; if they go up significantly, that will put the brakes on economic growth - as they make everything more expensive and reduce purchasing ability for housing, credit cards, personal loans, etc. - Time: How much time do we have to sort out economic problems? more time than some pessimistic i-banks think,but less time than some government advisers think - Renaissance will focus on the wholesale end of (i) consumer spending areas – this will show growth (ii) real estate. They are big in Africa and the Nairobi office runs a region from S. Sudan to Angola - Kenya is a buying opportunity, if you think long term i.e. 10 – 15 years. Kenyans firms understand they have to go regional – and they have a head start - Best case scenario: political solution found and hope & confidence can be restored among investors (including kiosk owners); Kenyans are successful business people as long as politics doesn’t interfere. - Worst case scenario: no political solution; and economy goes into stagflation – nothing happened e.g. the NSE started 2007 at 5,000 and ended at 5,000. He said investment bankers can make money if and economy is going up, or going down, but not where it is stuck/going sideways Related post: From January, some Renaissance earlier comments on the economy.
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6:39
From: Kenyan Pundit
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(Notes were taken by Shalini, I’ve taken the liberty of categorizing them).
THE BAD NEWS
* Rain means the situation in the camps has badly deteriorated. Flooding leads to disease, there is nowhere to sleep, kids having to scoop water out of tents. Standards truly appalling. Who’s responsibility is the camps? Govt is standing [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Concerned Citizens for Peace Update Feb 11", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/?p=458" });
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1:42
From: Kenyan Pundit
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BY STEPHEN PARTINGTON
Some friends say ‘Let us blog,
we’ll call it Kenyablog.’
They blog and blog and blog.
A member posts
‘This blog is tedious,
I’m gonna form a blog,
a blog called Lakeyblog
where Lakey types can blog.’
The rump of Kenyablog
rename themselves TheHighlandblog
and blog about the soil,
quite unaware that other Forestbloggers
formed another blog in which
the self-same soil is blogged about.
Now [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Diary 26 - Pearshaped Blogosphere", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/?p=456" });
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11:49
From: Kenyan Pundit
Read This Entry & More At Kenyan Pundit
I had a uuum, visa mishap.
Relied on online site for visa information and didn’t notice that only “official” passport holders from Kenya as opposed to “ordinary” passport holders didn’t require a visa. I’ve been to Turkey several times when no visa was required so there was also a bit of ujuaji on [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Not off to Istanbul", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/?p=454" });
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8:57
From: Kenyan Pundit
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[I’m off to Istanbul for a digital activism conference, will probably be offline till Friday. The post below has lots of opportunities where people can help, please contact those listed directly or send me an email - kenyanpundit-at-gmail if you want to help]
BY SHALINI
* A Kenya map, littered with [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Concerned Citizens for Peace Update Feb 6", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/?p=453" });
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0:59
From: Kenyan Pundit
Read This Entry & More At Kenyan Pundit
- The ban on live media broadcasts has been lifted. I’m really finding hard to see what it achieved….wouldn’t it just have been easier to go after individual broadcasters who were inciting violence if that was the main concern?
- Haiya, I thought this story was just another nai-rumor when it was doing [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Quick Hits Feb 5", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/?p=452" });
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3:52
From: Kenyan Pundit
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DIARY BY SIMIYU BARASA
When you find yourself talking with several guests of the morbid situation of your country during the wedding of one of your friends, you quickly realize there is something wrong with your country. When your National broadcasters show men being dragged out of public service vehicles and hacked to death by [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Diary 25 - The obituary of Simiyu Barasa, written by himself", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/?p=451" });
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15:10
From: Kenyan Pundit
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- Some vivid on the ground reporting and pictures on the situation in Kenya.
- The humor might not work for everyone but I like this guy’s perspective on what’s going on in Kenya.
SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Quick hits - Jan 30", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/?p=450" });
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5:24
From: Kenyan Pundit
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VUMA KENYA! Initiative is a new and exciting non-profit initiative that is the brain-child of a group of talented, resourceful and socially connected young professional Kenyans based in the US who have decided to pool their resources together in response to the recent post-election violence following the disputed December 27th Kenyan General Elections, to rally [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Support Vuma Kenya", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/?p=449" });
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8:15
From: Mentalacrobatics
Read This Entry & More At Mentalacrobatics
Once again the whole country has stopped as people gather around TV screens and radios. The last time this happened we were engrossed in the first session of the 10th parliament. This time we all waiting to see a press conference called by Kofi Annan’s mediation team at which both Raila Odinga and Mwai Kibaki are expected to attend. (Thankfully the Official Government Spokesman and his police counterpart, those two reliable beacons of information to some - misinformation to the rest of us, are not scheduled to make an appearance.)
I am watching this from a building which (illegally) overlooks the Department of Defence headquarters on one side and overlooks Nairobi Hospital on another side. It feels right, therefore, to comment on Kenya’s former dictator, Commander –In-Chief of the Armed Forces and President Daniel arap Moi who is lying in one of the beds in the private VIP wing of Nairobi hospital with a needle sticking out of his hand admitted, we were reliably informed by his personal physician yesterday, because of lower back pain.
The chaos that has erupted in Kenya in the past four weeks has some misguided souls crying out for a return to the dark days of Moi’s rule. This would have never happened under Moi, they say, things would have been better under Moi, they cry, Moi should save us, they plead. What nonsense!
Are these the only two options available to Kenyans today? To live under a dictator or, on the other hand, to live in fear as the country burns under an illegitimate president? Are these the only two options? Was this the choice presented to us when we stood for hours to vote in December? NO. Sometimes I wish we had a team of rugby props who could go around the country grab people by the shoulders and shake some sense into them! One of the great victories of the 2007 Kenyan election was the complete and total rejection by the electorate in Rift Valley of Moi’s plans to build a dynasty as each one of his three sons who vied for a parliamentary seat was defeated at the polls. Going back to the dark days of the Moi dictatorship is not an option that should even be entertained. What is wrong with people? This is almost as bad as those crazy (and thankful increasingly isolated) black voices in South Africa who yearn for a return to apartheid. How we as Kenyans used to laugh at that logic, well look who is laughing now.
To be fair it has become increasingly clear that Moi had a much stronger grip on the country than Kibaki ever did. Kibaki’s cheerleaders praised this as part of their boss’ “hands off” style of government. The only problem is that it did not end at hands off, if anything Kibaki’s style of government should be called a “Brain Off” style of government.
The current chaos in Kenya was not triggered because of a failure of democracy; it was triggered by a selfish bunch of arrogant politicians who feel that they have the divine right to rule at any cost and thus trample all over our democracy. If democracy had been respected we would not be where we are now. Do NOT blame democracy for our troubles, blame those who are trying to trample it and thus follow in the footsteps of the lonely and frail man who lies in a hospital not far away from here.
That sad and increasingly pathetic man is not our saviour.
 kenyaelection07
© Mentalacrobatics for Mentalacrobatics, 2008. |
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5:32
From: Kenyan Pundit
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I’M POSTING THIS SUMMARY WRITTEN BY SHALINI - THINKS IT GIVES A GOOD SENSE OF INITIATIVES BEING UNDERTAKEN BY THOSE LOOKING FOR A THIRD WAY AS WELL AS DISTURBING REPORTS FROM THE GROUND E.G. OF PATIENTS BEING DISCRIMINATED AGAINST.
General update
* The night vigil went off successfully. About 250 people attended, [...]
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5:22
From: Kenyan Pundit
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I’ve deleted a comment made by someone about the hate speech on Mashada, not because I disagree with the concerns raised but because I know the links included would have been bait for guys to respond with their own hateful comments.
I have recently had a conversation with David about the kinds of inciteful and [...]
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9:39
From: Mentalacrobatics
Read This Entry & More At Mentalacrobatics
Sometimes it feels sweet to be right. Other times it sucks to be right.
In June last year I was heavily criticised for writing a blog post with the title “Suicide Bomber Hits Nairobi” when downtown Nairobi was rocked by an explosion. I had sourced that information from a Reuters report which quoted a policeman saying that the explosion looked like the work of a suicide bomber.
The criticism I received focused on my use of the words “suicide bomber” and centred on the argument that it was irresponsible for me to report the explosion as a bombing until the police had released a statement. I wrote a post titled, “In Defence of Bloggers” in which I argued that in Kenya currently it is COMPLETELY RIDICULOUS to sit around and wait for a statement from the police or indeed from the government. Where was the official police statement on the Mount Elgon clashes and where was the official police statement on the Mungiki beheadings I wondered at the time? I argued that the Official Government Spokesman and Official Police Spokesman are not reliable sources of information. This was obvious to me then, it is obvious to all now.
Kenyan TV has shown clips of young men being gunned down by police and the police spokesman states that he believes the clips have been manipulated to look like something out of “Rambo”. The country is burning and the official Government spokesman went on TV to say that there are a “few skirmishes here and there.”
I am attending a media conference on Wednesday where I will speak on behalf on bloggers and believe me I will repeat that bloggers are the ultimate source of primary information in Kenya today.
And despite my argument being proved right by time (after all those who led the criticism against me then are now leading the insults against the official spokesmen) I wish that we had a mature political system where at least the police would realise that they work not for a single political party or regime. But that they work for the country.
Sometimes it sucks to be right.
kenyaelection07
© Mentalacrobatics for Mentalacrobatics, 2008. |
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8:40
From: Mentalacrobatics
Read This Entry & More At Mentalacrobatics
Carrot and stick is an idiom used to refer to the act of rewarding good behavior and punishing bad behavior. The carrot represents the edible reward, while the stick refers to a punishing switch.
Since the crisis in Kenya exploded a steady stream of prominent Africans has flown into town to try and help kick start talks between the Odinga and Kibaki camps and to help the peace efforts.
My favourite Nobel laureate, Desmond Tutu, arrived and tried to use his considerable moral authority with not much success.
Four retired African Heads of State Former Mozambican President Joachim Chissano, former Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda, former Tanzania President Benjamin Mkapa and former Botwana president Ketimire Masire came to “stand with Kenyan people in times of need” but they too did not have much success and were snubbed by Kibaki.
Up next was a serving head of state. President Kuffor of Ghana arrived in his capacity as head of the African Union to have a go and was instead insulted when the Kibaki’s official spokesman announced that Kuffor had come just to drink a cup of tea with his age mate Kibaki and two ministers, Internal Security Minister Saitoti and Transport Minister Michuki, announced at a press conference that they felt his trip was a waste of time.
Then came former United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, Kuffor’s fellow country man from Ghana. Suddenly things started moving. Kibaki and Raila meet face to face for the first time since the election, and shook hands in public promising to sit down and talk. Negotiation teams have been announced and perhaps most remarkably considering the treatment his predecessors have had in the past few weeks, Annan has complete access to Kibaki seeing him whenever he needs to.
So what does Annan have that Tutu, Chissano, Kaunda, Mkapa, Masire and Kuffor did not have? Why does Kibaki have to listen to Annan when he ignored the rest and even let his team insult them? Why does Kibaki have to even meet Annan? Simply because he has too, he does not have a choice.
This is why. Having seen Tutu, Chissano, Kanuda, Mkapa, Masire and Kuffor fail Annan did not want to suffer the same fate. He certainly would not stand for being insulted in public like his president was. Annan was already on his way to Kenya when news of Kuffor shabby treatment at the hands of Kibaki’s team came out and he quickly developed a very convenient “flu” which allowed him to postpone his trip to Kenya.
Annan learnt from the rest how entrenched in their relative positions the political camps in Kenya were and how difficult it was to see Kibaki. Annan learnt quickly that there was no point in travelling to Kenya unless he carried with him the threat of sanctions. To put it simply he had to be able to force Kibaki and Raila to meet and talk, he had to have complete access to both Kibaki and Raila and he had to ensure that whatever he said they took very seriously. They would have no option but to talk to him and Kibaki especially would have to realise that this was not business as usual.
In the last 15 - 20 years ever since the environment became sexy and climate change and global warming shot up to the top of the political agenda there has been a concentrated effort to move the United Nations Environmental Programme and United Nations Habitat headquarters from Nairobi. Many European countries want it, the BRIC countries all want it, and many believe that if it was moved to the UN headquarters in New York the environment would feature prominently in international policy. Basically it is all about money. Successive Kenyan governments have always argued that as UNEP is the only UN agency headquartered in a developing country it would send a negative signal to move it from Nairobi. Successive Kenyan governments have also argued that Kenya is an oasis of peace in a troubled region and it was important for the UN to have an international headquarters here.
One major sanction that Kofi Annan brought with him was the threat to move UNEP and UN Habitat headquarters out of Nairobi, within THE NEXT SIX MONTHS! Not next year, not in the distance future, but by July! Non essential UN staff in Nairobi (as well as many diplomatic staff) have not reported back to work and have in effect been on holiday since the week before Christmas. All agencies have contingency plans to evacuate their offices and to make moves permanent. This was not an empty threat from Annan and I bet it is the number one reason Kibaki agreed to meet Raila.
They would not take the carrot offered by Tutu and Kuffor, so Annan swung a stick.
kenyaelection07
© Mentalacrobatics for Mentalacrobatics, 2008. |
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13:44
From: Kenyan Pundit
Read This Entry & More At Kenyan Pundit
First, a couple of people responded to my rant on the coverage by Kenyan journalists by making a point that I should have acknowledged - beyond the government clamp down, the journalists are also inhibited by the positions taken by whoever owns the media houses, there are reports of journalists already being fired for taking [...]
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3:34
From: Kenyan Pundit
Read This Entry & More At Kenyan Pundit
DIARY WRITTEN BY A MUDACHI
Part of the Kenya I want is a Kenya where politicians will
not run rough shod over the law & the will of the people to serve
their own ends. Part of the Kenya I want is a Kenya where my
consititutional RIGHT to elect my representatives in the Government is
not stolen away from [...]
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3:30
From: Kenyan Pundit
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DIARY WRITTEN BY RAY N.
I refuse to fight for so-called leaders who clearly care nothing about me, the common mwananchi. As we speak, they’ve already been sworn into parliament, which guarantees that they are on their way to becoming Kenyan millionaires (at our expense). In effect, we the voters, put them in [...]
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8:14
From: Kenyan Pundit
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One thing that has really been bothering me is lately is how the Kenyan media has just rolled over and played dead during this whole crisis. No contextual reporting, no investigative journalism, not even daring to reprint the chronicle of events that has been compiled by Kenyan election observers…or is my perspective very [...]
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4:51
From: Kenyan Pundit
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Ushahidi now has a local number where you can SMS incidents of violence or report on peace efforts. The number is 6007 (normal SMS costs apply).
Please help us publicize this number locally - it’s part of our effort to make sure that we are reaching as many people as possible on the [...]
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15:30
From: Kenyan Pundit
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BY Kenyans for Peace with Truth and Justice (KPTJ)
Kenyan Elections Observers’ Log: December 29-30, 2007
The following account is drawn from the statements of four of the five domestic election observers1 allowed into the verification process the Electoral Commission of Kenya (ECK) afforded political party representatives the night before the announcement of the supposed results [...]
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15:26
From: Kenyan Pundit
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BY KENYANS FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE
Friday January 18, 2007
Nairobi, Kenya
Kenya is today on the brink of disintegration. At least 500 people have been killed, 6,100 have fled into exile in Uganda and another 250,000 plus are living as internally displaced persons in their own country.
This is not the end of this sad chapter [...]
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15:16
From: Kenyan Pundit
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DIARY BY MX
1. i have been in kenya since early september 2007. i am finding it a tad bit intellectually dishonest when people here express shock at the aftermath of saturday bloody saturday (december 29th, 2007). i find their expressions a bit rich in that the one thing i quickly realized when i [...]
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15:10
From: Kenyan Pundit
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BY DAUD
The more things change, the more the stay the same.
My take on the situation will be short.I found this interesting video on you tube. It was on Tom Mboya’s death. I am struck by the differences
and the similarities to the situation today.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NghXDf2tZo
Most striking, is the much bandied about and simplistic ‘Luo vs Kikuyu’ Kenyan [...]
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16:51
From: Mentalacrobatics
Read This Entry & More At Mentalacrobatics
Every cloud has a silver lining, the saying goes. Tuesday afternoon the dark cloud of an illegitimate presidency in Kenya revealed its silver lining. Democracy hit back hard as Kenya’s 10th parliament convened for the first time. As a proud Kenyan patriot I was pleased that there were no punches thrown in parliament, no unseeingly scenes of honourable members doing what some call pulling a South Korea. It was all very civilised, everybody addressing each other as honourable member this, honourable member that. As a political scientist it was the most drama I have watch in a long time, so many issues to discuss. Rather than deliver a blow by blow account let me highlight a couple of issues I felt were important.
The situation we have in Kenya as it stands is that we have a president who does not have control of parliament. This would not be a big problem if we had a presidential style of government as in the United States where the president and congress regularly come from different parties and those institutions are designed to work separately. However, what we have in Kenya is a ridiculous deformed hybrid of a presidential and parliamentary style of government, where we have an executive president, who is also a member of the legislature and has the right to vote in the legislature and is dependant on it for his agenda to go through, yet sits separate from other members of parliament and is treated as an respected outsider from most proceedings, does not have to justify his actions to parliament and can largely ignore it or bend it to his will as a rubber stamp.
This deformed hybrid of government worked perfectly (from a presidential point of view) up to now as the president has always had control of parliament through his political party. In 2008 we have a situation where the strongest political force in the country, ODM, is not only completely opposed to the president but also considers him illegitimate.
This is not news, ever since Kibaki claimed the presidency he knew that he had fewer members of parliament that those opposed to him. What has been extraordinary to observe in the days since Kibaki rushed to his swearing in ceremony, is that Kibaki has acted like he can simply ignore ODM. Isolated in StateHouse he has acted | |
