Rebecca Wanjiku
Stories
March 27th, 2008
Kenya Back to Normal
· 11:04 · Sub-Saharan AfricaIt is funny how life can turn around. A country that was tilting on the edge and threatening to follow the legacy of Africa's failed states, is now back to full life and life is back to normal.
Residents of Nairobi, who were adversaries and concerned about their ethnic background, are now united in attacking the local government minister for changing the public transport routes and forcing people to walk long distances. Hawkers and small scale traders are now united in calling for an expanded market and proper lighting for them to do business at night. The ethnic hatred seems to have been pushed aside and now people are pushing a common agenda and pursuing economic survival.
Online discussions also reflect the diversity, bloggers are concerned about the Initial Public Offer (IPO) of East Africa's largest and most successful Mobile phone company- Safaricom. In the political front, the discussions are more balanced and sober compared to discussions two months ago.
The sale of Safaricom serves as a huge sign that the government is united because before the elections, the opposition was against the sale of the shares. Now, they are all backing Kenya's richest company.
Kumekucha was surprised that opposition leader Raila Odinga had turned around and supported the IPO yet he spoke aganist it during campaigns:
Raila met yesterday with Finance Minister Amos Kimunya and even the finance minister who barely 4 months ago said that the
Nairobi stock exchange was not a fish market in a thinly veiled personal attack targeting Hon Raila Odinga is now all of a sudden talking very respectfully about Raila. He referred to Raila and President Kibaki as “our two leaders” in a press conference where he appeared to be in a jovial mood, yesterday.
This is hardly the time for hero worship, but it is important that Hon Raila Odinga explains to the public what has brought about this change of heart. Don’t get me wrong, I am happy about the new found unity and co-operation between these two leaders who broughtKenya to it’s worst crisis yet and to the brink of civil war. Under these circumstances peace is very desirable above anything else, and I mean anything.
……Still my final word on this issue is that whatever the price, I am sure it is worth it. Better peace and let us pay it. After all one can never compare human life (which is priceless) to anything else under the sun. Still, I just thought that Kenyans should be informed.
One comment on the Kumekucha blog sums up the issue of politics, business and politicking in Kenya and their relationship with the poor (majority):
Like i have stated before, politics in Kenya is about class interests. You can now see which class the MPs will work for, with all of them targeting to be multi-millionaires within 5 years. Come 2010 and the succession battle begins proper they will start opposing everything the government does…and we will be ready to applaud them as our heroes, leaders, martyrs, etc.
Kenyanentrepreneur wonders whether people care about the IPO:
Having said that, the LSE needs to mobilise ordinary Kenyans in the rural areas to buy shares during the IPOs and also participate in the stock exchange in general. And I mean in real rural places such as Githunguri, Bondo, Matuu, Kabartonjo, Mumias, Wajir, Mwatate, Mazeras, Lodwar etc etc etc.
Kenyans need to become more sophisticated in their investment options. They will then stop fighting each other in medieval style with bows and arrows over scraps of land.
Kenyans need to realise that they can invest in the New York Stock Exchange even though they are based in their villages.
Businessinfocus questions the moral and ethical issues behind the offer, wondering whether the shares should have been issued later in the year:
…..hence the aura of urgency he brought in the matter citing a wide range of fiscal and monetary commitments that would not be met if Safaricom was not sold. These have since come to naught many months after the December sale failed to materialise. Mr Kimunya’s silence over these commitments while he speeds on with the sale is informed by the reality on the ground. He can no longer tell Kenyans for certain that programmes or projects will fail to materialize this financial year if Safaricom is not immediately sold because he knows that Treasury cannot have the proceeds in its coffers any time before July when the new fiscal year begins.
…Then there is the moral question of the authority of what is basically a transition government under which Mr Kimunya is serving as Finance minister to undertake such an important exercise only a few days before a new government is formed. Indications that President Kibaki may form a new government before the end of this week after Parliament passes the necessary Bills only leave the grim prospect that the minister’s action is driven by personal and sectarian interests.
For a sneak preview of the hawkers' and public transport crisis that is looming, Tengeza has uploaded a Googlemap of the chaotic scene that demonstrates the poor planning that is Kenya's public infrastructure.
3 comments · »»February 29th, 2008
Kenya: Thank you Annan and team
· 14:40 · Sub-Saharan AfricaAfter the deal was announced, a caller to a local radio station was ecstatic and invited Kofi Annan and team to “nyama choma” (barbeque), another caller offered him two beers and another pronounced that Annan was the best angel God had sent to the people of Kenya.
The level of excitement in the streets of Nairobi and Kisumu demonstrated that the worst is over, and that Kenya will possibly not tilt over the edge like it did in the last two months.
The deal was finally brokered, it will force constitutional amendments but in the end, Kenyans knew that their fate is in their hands. It is a new begining for a nation that has been saved from following the legacy of failed states in Africa.
The details of the deal and the “behind the scenes” details are being discussed in the major towns. The Kenyan blogosphere also paints a similiar picture.
When the news broke, Lovely money wrote a “thank you” note to Kofi Annan and his team:
On behalf of hopeful Kenyans, I would sincerely like to thank you for your hard efforts and patience that you have demonstrated.
Last but not least, the sustained efforts of Graca Michel and Benjamin Mkapa cannot be ignored. Asanteni sana.
LostwhiteKenyan felt the political development was like a new year's gift and decided to showcase the happiness and the dance moves online:
In order to celebrate this fabulous day when our leaders finally made a decision to bring peace back to Kenya, I am extremely excited to be able to bring you a full programme of entertainment for your viewing pleasure to help you all join in our merriment ………
We shall start with a little dance from yours truly….
Political articles witnessed the jubilations in Kenya:
Kenyans cheered and danced as they witnessed the opposition leader Raila Odinga and President Mwai Kibaki signing a power-sharing agreement in Nairobi.
Supporters of Mr. Odinga’s party, the Orange Democratic Movement, celebrated in Kisumu, Kenya, after the signing. The agreement was reached only after Kofi Annan, the former United Nations secretary general, negotiated directly with Mr. Kibaki and Mr. Odinga.
The post by Kumekucha gives an idea of how people's lives had come to ”almost” a halt as a result of the violence and subsequesnt slow pace of the talks:
It is like the whole country has been holding it’s breath since December 30th 2007 and everybody started breathing again a few hours ago when a breakthrough in the the Anan peace talks was finally announced.
“We have a deal,” Anan said capturing the drama and suspense of the moment.Wild celebrations were noted in many parts of the country including areas like Migori where or man on the ground reports, Kenyans went crazy with jubilation. As I wrote his, I still don’t have a reaction from the Rift Valley. No reports of celebrations there, at least not yet.
For Wheremadnessresides it was time to wish each other a “happy new year” because it will be time to proceed with normal business for many Kenyans:
Everybody in my parts is wishing everybody a Happy New Year.
Happy New Year. Today is when 2008 begins for us.I read from Oyunga Pala that Dr Frank Njenga, probably Kenya's most reknown pyschiatrist, had listed ‘not being able to stop talking about politics' as one of the symptoms of post-election trauma in Kenya.
One Nairobian witnessed the jubilation and has a request to the international media- to extend their coverage:
An almost euphoric celebration greeted the wider Kenya due to this recent development that will bring to an end two months of tension and violence.
It is my sincere hope that the International press the likes of Al Jazeera, CNN, BBC, SKY News will now feature this joyous news on a 15 minute basis to highlight that Kenyans are not just about machettes but co-existence , perseverance, resilience, agreement, peace, love and unity. Dont just sell the negative!
With the deal reached, it will now be time to heal the wounds and start the reconstruction process.
5 comments · »»
February 28th, 2008
Kenya: Dear Kofi Annan…
· 09:33 · Sub-Saharan AfricaKofi Annan is an undisputed mediator and a peace maker. When the party leaders in Kenya started hiding behind the constitution to derail the talks, Annan declared that the constititution will not be used to deny Kenyans peace.
Yes, the contentious post of Prime Minister was agreed on, but the hardliners have taken their positions and none wants to compromise. Annan has threatened to quit, and has suspended talks until President Mwai Kibaki and his rival Raila Odinga meet and soften the positions.
Upon receiving the quit threats, wheremadnessresides decided to write a letter to Annan:
“Dear Kofi Annan:
There's a rumour that you're thinking of leaving Kenya. That you're fed up with our leaders and their madness. That you're up to here and beyond with all this nonsense.
I can certainly understand why you would be sorely tempted. But please please please don't. Leave Kenya that is. You can't anyway. You promised, remember?
Last Friday but one you looked straight through the camera and right at me and said you weren't going to go anywhere until a comprehensive solution had been arrived at. You said that anyone who thought they could frustrate you into leaving was deluded.
Remember that?”
Kumekucha thinks Kenya's solution lies in power sharing:
In order to achieve normalcy in Kenya, Annan and the international community are in agreement with the ODM in its quest for an immediate political settlement arising out of the disputed December 2007 election before deeper negotiations and agreements can be reached on the issue of constitution review. That immediate political settlement is: POWER SHARING.
…..A power-sharing deal has been imminent for the last two weeks but it appears the antagonist cannot reach an agreement on the extent of powers of the proposed office of the Prime Minister. ODM has announced it will accept nothing short of an executive prime minister and that whatever deal is agreed upon, it must be entrenched into the constitution.
Kenya Imagine has published a lengthy post, giving the recipe for constitutional change and power sharing. The article goes into great detail, giving historical perspectives and comparing with American politics and how they have handled such issues:
The threat of violence works in strange ways, its wonders to perform. Assuming that the ODM is not going to wear a balaclava and walk into the boardroom of government with a shotgun, I propose that certain exceptions be made for them, as follows: First, the president should allow the ODM to nominate their own people to the government. If they want to nominate Raila Odinga, William Ole Ntimama, or William Ruto, that is fine. Ministers appointed should be subject to some kind of enforceable doctrine of collective responsibility to forestall the impunity witnessed when some the ODM members were incorporated in the last government.
While they should not condone illegalities, they should be supportive of the government in a functional, visible way. They should also be subject to the performance contracts like everyone else. Given that some cabinet positions have already been taken, the ODM should be allowed to nominate CEOs and Chairmen for some state corporations, subject to qualifications of said applicants. Once appointed, they should be subject to the performance contracts already in place. The ODM has complained of marginalization. Appointing CEOs is spreading the bread, distribution of resources, and is in the national interest.
Kenyan Pundit had predicted that the current sent up of talks is not meant to go far and that Kenyans had a choice of wrestling their fate from the two leaders:
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. You can play your part by doing what you can to support the peace building initiatives and aid effortsthat I have listed below. These efforts are more tangible than signing petitions, wearing bands, etc.
Lets demonstrate that there is a better way to do things and that unlike our leaders, we as Kenyans are ready to do the HARD work necessary to rebuild our country…talk is cheap. I also encourage you to circulate this list widely, especially to people in Kenya who are in position to do something but might not necessarily access my blog…some of these initiatives just need a show of support.
Mwananchi Mkenya has taken issues seriously and is now evaluating the concept of democracy within the party and wondering whether democracy is being undercut:
While PNU never, and ODM-K now offers me no hope, I continue to wrestle with my relationship to ODM. On one hand they are making amazing contributions to democracy in the country. PNU needs strong opponents and to be challenged on their crap. They have shown remarkable resolve in standing up to PNU oligarchs, have built a truly impressive national machinery, and provided Kenyans with a much needed space to articulate the need for true democracy.
But on the other hand ODM is seriously undercutting the future of democracy in the country. My frustrations with them are in not working hard enough to avoid targeting one ethnic group. In my view ODM has been too comfortable framing the issues plaguing the country as those of ethnicity and not those of class.
While considering the happenings in Kenya, Ken Opalo feels that the political class has let Africa down:
The political class has failed Africa. The political class has failed Kenya. The political class has failed me, personally. Why haven’t we produced more Mandelas and less Mobutus? Why do we keep churning out leaders who do not have any sense of what true leadership is about? Leaders who are willing to do whatever they can to improve the situation of Africans? When will they know that politics should never be an end in itself? That political competition is a means to an end and that politics should be used to serve the interest of the African people and not to enrich a few people?
As Achebe put it in the early 1980s, [replacing Nigeria with Africa] The trouble with Africa is simply and squarely a failure of leadership. There is nothing basically wrong with the African character. There is nothing wrong with the African land or climate or water or air or anything else. The African problem is the unwillingness or inability of its leaders to rise to the responsibility, to the challenge of personal example which are the hallmarks of true leadership.
Regarding the regional and international influence, Morgan writes about the threat by the US to intevene as well as actions taken by regional leaders' whose countries depend partly on Kenya for economic prospertity:
2 comments · »»The Longer the situation is in flux then the problems could not only escalate but even spread. There have been persistent reports of Ugandan Troops along the border with Kenya and keeping a wary eye on its Neighbor. 25% of Uganda’s GDP moves through Kenya. Rwanda has about the same number and for Burundi it rises to 33%. So its not only Kenyans that are suffering.
For Several Years the US has Praised Kenya for being a beacon of Stability in a region where Fighting seems to be a daily norm. Tensions in the Horn of Africa are rising again. Somalia still remains in a perpetual state of anarchy as well. So there was considerable pleasure when Kenya had a Peaceful Change of Government several years ago.
February 21st, 2008
Kenyan Bloggers Outline Political Solutions
· 12:28 · Sub-Saharan AfricaAs the dust blown by fleeing residents of Kenya's violence prone areas settles, the fires of political hatred are finally subsiding and leaders are coming to their senses.
From the high street cafes to the dark alleys in Nairobi's river road (down town), Kenyans can be heard discussing what former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan should prescribe as the compromise. There are voices of hope and optimism as well as prophets of doom who see the current exercise as mere puppetry. The role of the international community has also been discussed accross the divide.
This situation is also reflected in the blogosphere.
Kenyan Entreprenuer gives their take on news about what the opposition wants from the talks and sums up that President Kibaki will not agree to the demands:
Finally, some news is beginning to trickle out about what ODM is looking for in it’s talks with the government. There’s no way in hell Kibaki is going to agree to these stipulations, which are:
An Executive Prime Minister who’d be the head of government and share power with the president
-A two-year period to review the constitution before a re-run of the election
-Half of all the cabinet positions should go to ODM
-Civil service jobs should also be distributed proportionally (which really means “ethnically”)I don’t think Koffi Annan fully grasps the historical roots of Kenya’s current crisis. I don’t think he understands the players involved (both on the government side and on the opposition side) and at this point, Kibaki needs to find a way to spare Annan the public embarrassment and allow him to leave the country gracefully (I have no idea what Graça Machel and Mkapa are doing or why they were even invited).
Power sharing is the biggest stumbling block to the peace deal. Kumekucha feels that power sharing is not coming soon:
Sharing power is fraught with its own unique dynamics. Things can be so unpredictable once the interim administration acquires a life of its own. Imagining such a development must be scaring the octogenarians who detest anything seen to upset their glittering status quo. They are home with life as defined in their secluded comfort far away from the average Kenyans.
Kenya remains a bleeding hostage to tribal elite whose only common ideology is nationalized BIGOTRY. In the eyes of these owners of Kenya any attempt to empower the hollo polloi would be akin to sharpening the very knife whose blades they will be forced to kiss. In the eye of their twisted minds they must keep any trace and smell of blood from the sharks’ path.
Eyes on Kenya feels that the optimism is contageous and soon peace will prevail:
This optimism is contagious and is slowly affecting me. However, I still retain that a lot has to be considered and changed within the political environment between those involved and Kenyans in general. This is based on an analysis of the facts surrounding the nature and evolution of political parties in post-independence Kenya.
After a detailed analysis of the political crisis, the post concludes:
Kenya needs a fresh start in conceiving, feeding and maturing political parties that differentiated from each other in terms of ideology, a critical fact that would take them away from the current ethno-based party quagmire they are entrenched into. We need political parties not ethno-representatives.
The role of the international community has equally been controversial.wherethemadwomanresides opines about where/why the International Community comes in:
I’m very cross with Mwai Kibaki, Raila Odinga and their respective hardline surrogates today, for putting us in this position where the “International Community” have all the excuse they need to swagger into our sovereignty and order us around.
Because Condi, Milliband, and that tall German whatsisname guy with an unkempt moustache would not be all up in our faces being patronizing if Kenya's erstwhile leaders just left their mountain-sized egos outside the negotiating room and got their acts together already. We want back our country and our pride. Give us back our country and our pride.
Kenya Imagine sees USA's involvement as motivated by the global war on terror:
The State Department at first congratulated President Mwai Kibaki on his re-election but later rescinded as European Union and other observers reported irregularities in the vote-count. Since then, the Bush administration has been trying not to take sides in the election dispute and his Ambassador taken unofficial role as the Spokesperson for the entire International community pressuring Kenya's political elite to come to a compromise. To America, it is unfathomable that one of its most reliable and crucial partners in the “war against terror” was going to crumble in its lap.
The US is concerned about the security ramifications in the Greater Horn of Africa which it has been trying to hold together. A quick look at the map of Eastern Africa gives America little solace. Somalia is in anarchy with a multitude of warlords and radical Islamists, Sudan is involved in the Darfur war and Ethiopia is near war with Eritrea, which the US accuses of sponsoring terrorism. Between the grim sketches is Kenya, America's hope in the region which is now teetering on the verge of instability.
Kenya's political situation unravels at a time when the 2008 US defence budget has substantially increased reinforcing the Bush administration's persistence that its long “war on terror” will remain at the centre of its security strategy. The core budget for 2008 is expected to be $481.4 billion, compared with $441.5 billion for 2006. In raw terms, the US defence budget is now at similar levels to those during the height of the cold war in the mid-1980s.
Sir Ken wonders whether Annan should have integrated some known Kenyan mediators into his peace team:
He failed to search and incorporate ‘eminent' Kenyans in his team and assumed that no Kenyan could have helped resolve the impasse. The truth of the matter is that the resolution lies with Kenyans and a spice of Kenyan mediation leadership could have helped. A good starting point would have been Ambassador Bethuel Kiplagat, Rtd General Lazarus Sumbeiywo, Washington Okumu and representatives from religious, legal, business and civil society. If the two sides could not have greed on common Kenyan mediation leaders they would have been allowed to nominate their own. Such leaders would have provided good background of the crisis and co-chaired/moderated the sessions to lead to a Kenyan solution that would most likely be accepted by a majority of Kenyans.
The constitutional review in Kenya has been pending since 1992. There has been many midwives to a new constitutional regime but nothing yet. This constitutional complications are threatening to derail the peace process.
There has been debate whether there is a constitutional crisis in Kenya that allows for the current constitution to be altogether suspended or selectively applied as some have been advocating. It is true that Kenyans have always wanted a new constitution dispensation. The assumption has always been that the current constitution be in place fully until the new one is enacted. At no one time have Kenyans envisaged a transition period where there is no constitution, new or old. The question is, should at that point, the military be allowed to take over?
Kenyan Jurist gives an opinion about the constitutional issues:
3 comments · »»The reason there is negotiation or mediation to resolve the current political crisis is because the constitution and the present institutions have failed us. To adopt a purely legalistic stance, that all negotiation must take place within the confines of the current constitution is to negotiate without negotiating. As I have always argued in this blog, the current crisis facing Kenya is not a legal problem but a political one. Once a political settlement of all issues is reached, the necessary legal instruments including the constitution can be enacted and given legal force. What we must not do or what we must avoid is use the law or place legal impediments in seeking solutions.
February 11th, 2008
Kenya: Bloggers hopeful of Kofi Annan mediation
· 22:51 · Sub-Saharan AfricaWhen Ghana's President John Kuffour handed the peace batton to former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, few people in Kenya had hope that there would be breakthrough in the negotiations. That was a month ago, when the political temparatures were so high and threatening to boil over to a full blown civil war. Kenyans were scared and at the same time continued with the violence. It was a contradiction.
But with a month of continued engagement, there is renewed confidence that there will be a lasting peace deal. This confidence in the streets of Nairobi is also reflected in the blogosphere.
Where Madness Resides sums up what many people are feeling about the soft spoken Annan:
Right now, I'm loving Annan so much that it's threatening to become a cult. I love his grit and determination, his “I'm not ready to contemplate failure. I'm not ready to give up now.”
Of all the people involved in this process, he's the only one I've been able to trust as not having come laden with a basketful of hidden agendas or worse still, having been lowered as a puppet into our circumstances by “vested interests.”
I'm the people, and I feel as though Annan is looking beyond the shenanigans of both sides of the political divide, that he sees me, and that he is using me as a true north, to navigate his way to the Kenya That Ought To Be from this desolate place called Kenya Today.
Kumekucha talks about the new foundation that the negotiations are laying:
Kenyans are far ahead of their leaders and we must seize this opportunity to shape our country into what we want. That is no premature celebration for the far sighted by any means. It is time to lay the foundation for corporate leadership and banish deceptive and selfish rulership – the NARC dream reincarnated.
KenyaImagine reported the breakthrough:
6 comments · »»In a press conference Annan has said that warring parties have agreed to come to a political solution to end the current crisis in Kenya. Annan continued to say that the details of this agreement will be made public next week. Annan has also advised President Kibaki to convene parliament as soon as possible.
Former Tanzanian president, Benjamin Mkapa, who is part of the mediation team headed by Annan, has called onto members of parliament to meet with members of the mediation team on both sides.
February 8th, 2008
Kenya: Bloggers rooting for peace and reconcilliation
· 18:04 · Sub-Saharan AfricaAfter many days of hatred and acrimony, Kenyans are now rooting for peace and reconciliation. While blogs and other online forums had become new avenues of channelling tribal prejudices, bloggers are now using the same avenues to express the need for peace and justice.
The major highlight has been the starting of the website, I have No Tribe, where all traffic at Mashada forum is being directed to. Most blogs are now exploring peace initiatives and avenues.
Kikuyumoja gives his opinion about the site:
No matter how you feel on tribalism in Kenya, pls check out this nice new website and see what KENYANS ONLINE have to say about tribalism and nationalism.
Walking the walk explains why we should forgive but not forget the evils:
This morning I woke up and realized how much i hate ODM and now the tribes associated with it .As I took a showers the battle in my mind went from one way to the other .In the end I said a silent prayer that while I should hate Evil. I should not use broad swipes to classify people . Many in Kenya have died while many have gloated over those deaths some even justifying the killing of innocent Kikuyu Men Women and Children .How sad and how evil .Then as I sat down for breakfast my daily morning devotional had the following reading from Matthew 18:23-35
23″Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. 25Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.
More to life wonders whether he is a patriot:
For as long as patriotism is being what Kenyans are making news over these days, then I am proud to say that I for sure, I'm not a patriot.
If I had to choose where to be, I'd choose to be where I felt safe, was able to go about my own business, develop myself and make and work towards my own personal growth. I would never declare some space, that in actuality belongs to God, seemingly because I was born in it. No. If my neighbors proved to be capable of murder, based on our birth distributed differences, then I would not want to be anywhere near them. I would opt to leave. I have no desire to change people or no great hope in that people change that much either. Borders are man made. And were it not for modern day border policies, human nature would have had many people move around a whole lot more, as was common before formal rule took over the world.
And what does a patriot do?
I have potential to be a patriot. If I could choose citizenship. Citizenship based on character and nobility, not birth places, color, accents or tribes.
I could very easily belong to a citizens group of intelligent thinkers, fair and balanced persons, people who understand self responsibility and overall responsibility to the world around you. I could be a citizen of people who are more interested in humanity, the things that havent changed since before Christ, the real things of the human nature. And in this realm of citizenship, I could be a patriot.
But patriotism, lover of a country filled with kinsmen that march around with machetes against their own kind over subtle differences? No, not for me. Actually I want to be far removed. From all types of people that have the potential to sink this low. I want no association.
Kumekucha has published an article from the Citizens Pathway Group urging all kenyans to join in the quest for peace:
The Citizens’ Pathway Group (CPG) is a multi-ethnic and independent group of Kenyans united in our hopes and future aspirations for Kenya. As Kenyans, we view ourselves as a people that are able to earn and uphold our pride of place among nations as a sovereign and remarkable country of outstanding people enjoying a high quality of life.
Don’t our leaders live in this country? Do they watch television and read newspapers? Are they immune to the sight of mobs hacking their fellow citizens to death? Are they not moved by mothers and children being burnt to death in the places they went to seek refuge? Don’t they lose sleep at night over this calamity?
What is wrong with our leaders? Why do they continue to speak so insensitively and arrogantly? Is it because they remain unaffected by the chaos? Is it because their children don’t sleep hungry and are still able to go to school while those of many citizens are caught up in camps unsure where the next meal will come from or whether they will ever go to school again? Whether they will be alive tomorrow? Do our leaders believe that their status protects them from a further breakdown of law and order? Do they think that they are safe? Do they believe that their wealth or the money stashed away in some foreign country will save them? If this is what they believe, then they do not really understand the level that the current crisis could escalate to if not decisively dealt with.
Kumekucha who has been critical of the whole government process is optimistic about the negotiations:
5 comments · »»The crux of the matter lies in the next tackling the POLITICAL DIMENSION to the crisis. And that will definitely mark the point of departures among the hitherto agreeing negotiators from both camps. The naked and unpleasant truth is that Kibaki is simply buying time and fooling the world with motions bereft of no meaningful movement politically or otherwise.
Let us be REAL for once and accept the bitter truth that nobody risks his/her reputation by sacrificing hundreds of lives only to STEAL an election and give the voters back their rights. More so if the thief holds the monopoly of force. Add this to the tribal cabal waiting in the wings for any trace of opportunity to strike Kenya dead so as to scavenge on the resulting carcass disguised as INDUSTRY.
February 4th, 2008
Kenya: Tribal hatred claims its first online casualty
· 13:52 · Sub-Saharan AfricaWhen conflicts erupted in Kenya after the elections, many fingers pointed at the newspapers and radio as the sources of hatred and fanning the fires of tribal hatred that have been lit over time. None focussed much on blogs and online forums. But it has proved that even online forums have been breeding grounds for war mongers.
Mashada forum, Kenya's first online chat room was forced to close after discussions got out of control. White Africa reports about his shock:
As you may already know, I’ve been having quite a problem regulating Mashada.com, despite having recently hired people to moderate the forums. It is starting to become a reflection of what is going on on the ground in Kenya. I’d hate for it to hinder our current efforts since I’m directly connected to it, therefore I’m having to shut down the forums until further notice. Facilitating civil discussions and debates has become virtually impossible.
White African further notes that:
The post-election violence in Kenya is horrible. Most of the people who use Mashada are part of the Kenyan diaspora based in the US and Europe, but also a healthy amount from Kenya. So, the vast majority of people using it are seeing and hearing about the atrocities happening to their friends and family and are rightfully upset.
The situation has been so bad that some comments have had to be deleted by the moderators. Kenyan Pundits gives an example:
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 hateful speech that people are putting up on Mashada, and what he was doing about it - beyond my disgust with what people are putting up there… I was/am concerned that it would undermine the wonderful work that he is doing with Ushahidi. David says he’s swamped and the moderators are burning out fast. He tried to shut down the website for a week, but that didn’t help. He is considering paying moderators, but is also welcoming ideas from others (any willing to help him with moderating).
During the times of heightened animosity, bloggers virtually took sides. Recently, Kumekucha wrote “the truth about the Kikuyus” and noted:
There cannot be and should not be any attempt to negotiate an obvious violation and abuse of office. Doing so will only further worsen an already deeply troubling situation. None of the so called high profile mediators currently in Kenya, voted in the general election of 27th December 2007, and their presence is of no value whatsoever to the masses who voted for the “de facto” President of Kenya Raila Amolo Odinga and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM). The continued presence of these impostors on Kenyan soil and their empty attempts at purported mediation,only serves to further infuriate and insult the overwhelming majority that voted for Raila Odinga and ODM.
On the other hand, Kenyan enterprenuer writes about Raila as an evil man hell bent on capturing power:
This idea by Raila that Kibaki is trying to kill his way to a majority in parliament is crazy and it is where Raila’s evil treachery comes into play. He is using these deaths to score political points and to spur continued violence (he knows these deaths are not connected to Kibaki!!).
Look at his speech right after Were’s death:
**Raila’s Hyperbole: “An emotional Raila eulogised the slain MP, saying his life and blood would not go in vain. “His blood will water the tree of liberation… we will walk tall and stronger, we shall plant a flag on top of the mountain to remember him … Were shall be remembered … we will remember you brother.” Please Negroe , please.
Raila and Ruto have decided that if they don’t get power, they are going to plunge the country into chaos (but of course, they will not do the fighting; they’ll get others to do it for them). I believe Kibaki is being told to forget about negotiating with these two thugs. They must fight them to the end and bring them down (with the ultimate knockdown reserved for William Ruto).
Siasa duni offers to demonstrate how President Kibaki stole the election and draws a parallel between Kibaki and the Bush administration:
16 comments · »»The events also have deeply unsettled the Bush administration, which has relied on Kenya as an ally in the war on terror and a bulwark of stability in East Africa. Official results gave Kibaki an edge of 231,728 votes, or 2 percent, out of about 10 million cast. Initial results of an exit poll by the U.S.-funded International Republican Institute found that Raila Odinga had won by an 8 percent margin. Election officials allowed five accredited Kenyan observers into the tallying centre only in the final phase of vote-counting, and three of them shared their accounts: all said that the gravest cheating occurred in that room, where commissioners—all appointed by Kibaki— compiled returns before announcing them to the public.
January 24th, 2008
Kenyan Bloggers back to “almost” normal life
· 15:51 · Sub-Saharan AfricaAfter many days of agony and political uncertainty, Kenyan bloggers have gone back to “almost normal” life. Bloggers can even afford to make witty comparison between Kenya and other countries.
Rants, Raves and reviews compares Kenya to South Korea:
So… why the above info? Well, it turns out that President Lee of S.Korea plans to cut down the ministries from 18 to 13 to “slimline” his government. And our “brilliant” maybe he is(not) prez-in-residence, the Hon. Mwai Kibaki, has named 50% of his cabinet. This 50% amounts to 17 posts. So there are another 17 posts waiting to be filled.
Even with the political leaders pushing and shoving, many people blamed international media for the grim pictures circulated
Kenya Imagine has done a media round up of most international commentators and their views about post-election violence:
In his column, Richard Prince, opines on the concept of tribes. “If It's Africa, It Must Be a Tribe.” He argues, citing international media houses, that “ethnic” describes the Kikuyu, Luo and Kalenjin best.
In her op-ed in the Washington Post, Anne Applebaum compares Kenya, not to “the rest of Africa”, but to South Korea and Ukraine, where she makes a case for Kenya's political turmoil and not ethnic hatred. Another comparison is drawn by Uzi Silber here: In Kenya Spare Iraq .
Huffington Post's John Ridley on why Kenya matters: he cites Kenya's political and economic stabilty.
Ali Mazrui suggests solutions to Kenya's post election crisis, while a Nigerian commentator, Ladipo Adamolekun, finds lessons for Nigeria in Kenya's crisis.
Edward M. Gomez wonders about Kenya's future should Kofi Annan fail to resolve the country's crisis.
Despite its social upheaval, breathtaking Kenya needs tourists , says Mary Ann Anderson from the McClatchy-Tribune News Service.
In technology, White African writes about the redesign of Afrigadget:
I’m proud to announce a brand new design for AfriGadget!
The old design was rather… old and ugly. I mocked up some ideas, and one of my friends was kind enough to take my amateur work and put a truly professional touch on it. (thanks Jared)
One blogger is certainly tired of political discussions and wants to talk about the economy:
I’m trying to move away from these political discussions, but people here don’t seem to want to do that. I suppose I’ve just come to the conclusion that Kibaki is not going to resign, they will be no coalition government (can anyone honestly see Kibaki and Raila working together?) and Raila is just going to have to fight it out in parliament. ( I understand politics does affect the economy and the two are inter-connected, but at this point, I think the private sector in Kenya is just going to have to find a way to ignore these politicians and try to sort out their own problems). The only good thing here is that Kibaki does not interfere with the private sector ala Moi. If he did, it would really create a disaster.
And guess what? Neither Kibaki nor Raila has to work (they are both indepenedently wealthy and maybe people should start ignoring both of these men). The blogger coldtusker had a nice summary on the economic problems that the country may face in the coming five years, but I want to open up this space to you (especially if you are based in Kenya).
Eyes on Kenya discusses the economic implications of the sanctions the donor community threatened to impose on Kenya:
With a review of the post-election situation and the loss of revenue that Kenya has undergone and is continuing to undergo, a retardation and even decline of economic growth, one can see an eventuality of a total collapse of the budget. Point five above would even bite more if the sanctions threatened by the EU are carried out. The government is heavily reliant on the world bank and its projects/ programmes. We do not know how far the World Bank would go to carry out these sanctions in review of their seeming tolerance of the government.
The fear that China would fill the gap without preliminary conditions is in our view over-rated. China’s interest in Africa so far has been hunger for natural resources. Looking again into the CIA Fact Book Kenya’s lack of natural resources stand out. And the little that Kenya has, seems to be already under China’s control: In what the East African called cynically a “an unprecedented act of generosity”, the government of Kenya gave the state-owned National Oil Corporation of China - CNOOC - exclusive rights to its hotly contested areas where oil might be found.
If a co-ordinated freeze aid to Kenya campaign is carried out by all donors in the face of the turmoil and violence, I believe the government and opposition will shape up and sit with the mediators to bring an end to the stale-mate that has cost many a Kenyan lives. It is the most effective way and we urge a consideration of this.
Despite the political crisis in the country, Nairobi theatres are busy. Bomseh blogs about the latest in Kenyan theatres:
9 comments · »»Heartstrings Kenya opens 2008 theater calendar with an extremely outrageous blockbuster comedy “IDENTICAL TWINS” that is set to inject some joy at this low time of our country.
This will be with the efforts of the cast and the theater gurus Samwel Mwangi and Victor Ber directing it.
Hilariously, we will realize that you can get an African out of Africa but you cannot get Africa out of an African.
When: Friday 31st Jan., Saturday 2nd & Sunday 3rd Feb.
Times: 6.30pm weekday, 3.00pm & 6.30pm weekend
Venue: Alliance Française auditorium;
Tickets: 300/-
January 11th, 2008
Kenya: Bloggers seek to heal a wounded nation
· 14:27 · Sub-Saharan AfricaAfter a week of killings, looting and the political madness witnessed in Kenya after last month’s general elections, Kenyan Bloggers are at the forefront of reconciliation, urging people to reach out, regardless of their ethnic background.
Kenyan Pundit chronicles the feelings of all Kenyan and how they were affected by the violence. In the post; Diary 12 - Reach Out, she urges people to make deliberate efforts to reach out to others:
“However, if there is a silver lining from this, at least from a
personal perspective, it is that I will make deliberate effort to
reach out to people from more different communities and my hope is
that if we all did a little of reaching out, those preconceived
notions and stereotypes will be dispelled and may be, just may be,
we’ll know better next time some politician tries to exploit our
diversity. That’s not to say that the authorities don’t need to
address the underlying socio-economic issues.”
Kenya imagine looks into tribal issues and wonders whether we are our brothers’ keeper:
Our strength as Kenya and our united future lies in our setting aside those tribal passions and working together to make Kenya what we dream it could be. This will require forgiveness, empathy, compromise and humility. There is no other way and a perpetuation of what we have witnessed in the last 10 days is not an option……
To this group the political class plays master puppeteer with the consequences visible in the tears and the ashes around us. It is this that our challenge presents itself. The solution to Kenya's troubles lie in a quiet and distinct revolution in the minds of the middle class who may not control the wealth but are most certainly the only real buffer this country has to true and bloody revolution. So beyond the bonds of tribe, am I my brother's keeper? Yes. Yes I am. I must be.
Kenya Hapa gives the history of Kenyan politics and predicts that Kalonzo’s miracle is yet to come:
When the new cabinet was announced, there was a new vice president in town.
The vice president elect- Kalonzo Musyoka, was third in the presidential elections and was fond of telling people to expect miracles.
Kenya Imagine predicts the future…:
Here is what will pan out over the next five years, as the images in my crystal ball now relay to me.
Kalonzo Musyoka will continue as Vice President but with an increasing tension between him, Kalonzo, Uhuru Kenyatta and George Saitoti as the Kibaki succession battle warms up. The former Vice President will soon fall by the way side, however.
A view from the diaspora by Project sunshine:
Being so removed from the country, it was hard to gauge the severity of the situation. Were those numbers real? Was there something that even the ubiquitous observers had missed? With Safaricom jammed on new years’ day, I went to the net…
My write-up comes a little late in the game, but I hope that we can learn from our neighbors conflict and find peace. The real problem is how to remove this cancer called counter-democracy, when the politicians decide that what they want is to stay in power at all costs. Today, I heard that Kibaki went to see the humanitarian areas. The date is the ninth of January; we are only just getting back to some sanity. Thanks for stopping by, you are days and days late.
What about our passion? An African woman gives her thoughts:
However passionate we might be, one way or the other, if we have committed ourselves to a one man one vote system, then we must respect its fair result, even if that fair result is not according to our preference.
So when our candidates of choice loose, we expect them to accept such loss with dignity in the public space, retreat to the private place to lick their wounds, and begin to come to terms with what happened, and why it happened. See Uhuru Kenyatta 2002 for further informationWe cannot afford to indulge the haughty clique that mocked us and disrespected us by hijacking the ballot box. We cannot afford to tolerate those who have ridiculed this symbol of our nationhood. What they have attempted to steal from us is something fundamental to our self-understanding as a Kenyan people in the early 21st century.
The Cellar Group, a professional network, developed a framework to be used by Kenyan politicians:
6 comments · »»It is hoped that the framework would be widely discussed and guide the path to reconciliation and healing from the present circumstances. We remain positive and hopeful that Kenya has the wherewithal to competently manage the present crisis and emerge a stronger nation.
About Rebecca Wanjiku
I am a journalist and blogger (beckyit.blogspot.com). I believe in using technology and information to develop our society. Advocacy
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