Kumekucha’s stand on violence and muzzling of the press in Kenya
Quote of the week from comments made in this blog;
Anonymous said...
To all KIBAKI SPIES;
This website is not anti-PNU or pro-ODM.
IT IS PRO-DEMOCRACY!!!
The fact is simple and any pinhead can understand it.
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Update: President of Ghana and current AU chair John Kufuor is expected in Nairobi this week to lead Intenational mediation efforts. Strangely, foreign affairs assitant minister Moses Wetangula was hurriedly flown to Ghana to brief him of the situation in Kenya before he arrives.
At the same time the latest strategy of the govenmnt is to seek support from other African countries other than Uganda (which so far is the only country on the planet that has congratulated Kibaki on his "re-election." Tanzania's President Jakaya Kikwete who has his own massive domestic problems and has lost a lot of popularity in recent times with accusations of grand corruption, is being courted.
ODM presidential candidate Raila Odinga has called for meetings countrywide including 5 in Nairobi set for Tuesday.
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Am I my brother’s keeper?
A few days ago, I had a discussion with a friend who works for a well known media house. Since I would not whole heartedly agree with his view that the current situation pertaining in the country was attributable specifically to one side of the political divide, I was left in no doubt that I should be considered a traitor to my own. That’s ethnic, not, political persuasion.
And that’s the rub. How do we even begin to bridge the ethnic divide, because it does exist, when to reach out to the other side may well lead to alienation from your own ethnic community?
Is this situation unique to myself? I think not.
Kenya is walking wounded. The 2007 general election has exposed the deep ethnic hatred that has simmered for many years in this country. Kenyans, in their own unique way, have perfected the art of doublespeak. That we are a united nation, and proud of our patriotism yet we remain deeply divided along ethnic lines as the outcome of this election has clearly shown.
Isn’t it time that as Kenyans we come out once and for all and admit that all is not well in ‘our house’? What are we so afraid of, that we would rather find a quick solution to the current crisis and return to our ‘fake’ lives only to wait for the next implosion of ethnic killing.
In todays nation, Gitau Warigi said, ‘Yet the mere resolution of the presidential election dispute is not going to erase the ugly ethnic hatred that has finally been exposed. Dialogue is the first step but, inevitably, some lasting constitutional or other pact must be worked out to ensure everybody will forever feel safe. And, ‘the facade of a peaceful Kenya has always been intended to obscure from view the deep fissures in the country’.
It’s clear that many of us recognize the deception we are living. More so, another opinion article in the same paper today notes, ‘It gets even more tragic for Kenya that in this day and age, corruption and ethnic chauvinism remain the biggest challenges’.
So its clear to all who want to see. Tribalism or ethnic chauvinism to a large extent is the driving force behind our politics and hence the flawed elections and its aftermath.
It is clear to me that corruption and tribalism go hand in hand. There is a viscous circle containing in it, tribalism, corruption and politics. The three combining in various lethal doses to fuel the next.
In my own sphere of influence I have often argued that the first in line in this sad mix is tribalism which then fuels political interests to convert Kenyans to support and vote one of their own ethnic community or a friendly ‘one’ to get as close to executive power as possible. Hence if ones ethnic group have a candidate for the presidency then the obligation is to support him or her regardless of their capacity, reputation, or leadership qualities. In addition, the community should then support as many next tier candidates as possible so as to attain the largest spread of ethnic command of Government.
So the prize then is Government and the Executive power that goes with it.
Why? This is where the corruption element rears its ugly head. So that the community may firstly protect itself (read those who have already been implicated in past corruption related offences) and then go on to acquire more wealth through manipulation of selected Government processes. Those not directly in the ethnic political elite then strive to acquire ‘Godfathers’ who will facilitate the same. The rationale being, ‘it’s our turn now’, and ‘if we don’t do it someone else will’.
This unfortunately unravels back to the Kikuyu elite of the 1960’s when the first post independence government was formed. Kenyans have thus adopted the misguided notion that the best way to negate the corrupt gains made by this community is to get one of their own into power and reverse the trend to their own favour.
Despite our claim to being a mostly Christian and for that matter Muslim nation, the concept of forgiveness is surprisingly absent.
Yet as we become more sophisticated as a nation we must cloak our raw unbridled greed, tribalism, in ever more sophisticated camouflage. Hence, NARC and now ODM and PNU. At the heart of each you will find the same principle at work.
Its either direct, as in, we need power to sort out our issues and redistribute income or the previous Government neglected (or threatened) us so we will join with another power seeking group to remedy the situation and punish them in the same vein. This would explain the coming together of Luo, Kalenjin and other tribal groups against the Kikuyu under the guise of democracy. The majority of Kikuyu for one do not believe this.
Please do not (deliberately) or otherwise misinterpret this as an attempt to justify tribal/ethnic groupings or any one communities desire for political power including my own.
I have always seen myself as a Kenyan first and a Luo second and in that sense I believe it is easier for me to temper my own tribal inclinations (which exist).
Indeed I see that we have far more to gain by seeing ourselves as one, as Kenyans than letting our ethnic order get the better of us.
Further, there is absolutely NO WAY that a division of Kenya along those lines into separate states will make life any better for even the most economically endowed ethnic group. So what’s the point of thinking in that way in the first place?
Our strength as Kenya and our future is in us setting aside those tribal passions and working together to make Kenya what is should be. This will require forgiveness, understanding, compromise and humility. There is no other way and what we have witnessed in the last 10 days is not an option.
A ‘Truth and Justice Commission’ is a priority. Those old wounds have not healed no matter how much we pretend they have. We have to deal with our past to ensure our future and the sooner the better. Otherwise Kenya will continue to exist as the dysfunctional house it is where, gains today can be reduced to nothing in hours, each time ethnicity takes centre stage.
If combined with genuine patriotism, wealth and power will improve the lot of the common man as those who have attained them will understand that fate plays just as much a role in their lives as their own strivings.
There is something that I have thought of often but have never been able to find the correct words to express. I found the words almost exactly as I had envisioned my thoughts in today’s nation editorial.
‘Kenya practices a brutal, inhuman brand of capitalism which encourages fierce competition for survival, wealth and power. Those who can’t compete successfully are allowed to live like animals in slums. The country is choking with millions of young, able-bodied people who haven’t a hope of amounting to anything and who are susceptible to the seduction of false promises’.
To this group the Political class plays master puppeteer with the consequences we have already seen.
I put it to you that the solution to Kenya’s problems 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 where does this leave us?
Am I my brother’s keeper? Yes. Yes I am. I must be.
Guest post by Lucas Mboya.
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16:58
Update Jan 7
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12:45
Stop Press: Eton-educated PR Consultant May Have Been Behind Hate-Pamphlets
» You Missed This Kumekucha’s stand on violence and muzzling of the press in Kenya
The influential Times Online has just reported that a PR Consultant Marcus Courage masterminded the re-election campaign of Mwai Kibaki. Courage previously promoted Bob Geldof’s Live 8 campaign to tackle poverty in Kenya.
The Times says that Kibaki now faces possible EU sanctions for alleged vote rigging.
As head of Kibaki’s communication team it is believed that Courage may have been directly responsible of hate pamphlets against Raila Odinga that were widely distributed in the Rift Valley but seem to have had no effect.
Courage has also been accused of accepting corrupt funds as payment for his work in Kenya. A recent United Nations sponsored report has said that at least 25 % of Kibaki’s estimated 4.8 million sterling pounds campaign kitty was funded from monies siphoned from the State.
Read full Times article -
Kumekucha's Stand On Violence And Other Urgent TRUTHS
» You Missed This 1. Here is Kumekucha's stand on the violence and killings.
2. I urge all Kumekucha readers and Kenyans of goodwill to take note of the comment made in this blog by a foreign journalist recently to the effect that "HE KNOWS" Kenyan security personnel usually keep very close tabs on blogs like this one. I have plenty of evidence to support that allegation.
3. I appeal to all persons leaving comments here, in the spirit of truth and justice which most of us agree is the only way Kenya will get out of it's current mess to desist from trying to use this forum to spin their crazy ideas to the International community.
I am aware that some people's jobs are on the line because Kibaki has badly lost the propaganda war with the International press and that's why Kimunya and company have been desperately feeding news outlets like Sky with bizzarre "angles" of the situation in Kenya. I am also aware that these government "PR people" blame Kumekucha for playing a part in their loss. While I am flattered (I didn't know I was that powerful) the truth is that the Kibaki team lost it when they shot themselves in the foot by gagging the media. Of course it all started with the rigging done right infront of the eyes of International observers. You can't spin the unspinable.
So I ask you to kindly leave Kumekucha alone and practice your spin ideas in other more popular and "like minded" sites, some of which have announced here that they have taken a lead in peace and seeking solutions to the Kenyan problem in contrast to the "negativity-sells-approach of kumekucha."
Be informed that I will now be actively deleting comments that I feel fall under this category. If this does not work, I will start moderating all comments again.
4. I have also noted that most of these "spin doctors" usually "attack" this blog at the same time at around the time when Kenyan commentators have called it a day and just before those in the US wake up (does this give a hint to the market they are targetting for the spin ideas)? This is the time I will be most alert from now on.
There are of course many genuine PNU supporters who are regular commentators here. Please note I AM NOT referring to you, so please do not make any comments here proclaiming your innocence, I know exactly who I am referring to and they also know themselves. I urge you my genuine PNU brothers and sisters to resist the usual Kenyan "disease" of wanting to comment on issues they do not quite understand too well.
5. Let me also take this opportunity to state clearly that in my view the idea of censoring news and keeping information from the people under the pretext of avoiding provocation/incitement is quite ridiculous for many reasons, the most obvious being that the vast majority of the main combatants on the ground do not read newspapers, let alone blogs like this one. In Rwanda a radio station broadcasting in vernacular was used to incite people. The situation in Rwanda for those who will bother to study it, was VERY different from what is happening in Kenya.
In my view too many people are barking up the wrong tree even as real danger lingers on the ground. Nobody for instance is doing anything about bracing for the second wave of violence (mainly for revenge reasons) that is bound to sweep across the country if the people responsible are not alert. If it happens, it will make what has already happen look like kindergarten stuff.
God have mercy on Kenya. God save Kenya.
P.S. I was in church today. The feeling amongst many praying Kenyans is that what is happening in Kenya now is judgement against the people of Kenya for past sins including political assassinations, arrogance and injustice against the common man e.g. land grabbing, stealing life-saving medicine from public hospitals causing the deaths of thousands of poor people etc. The feeling is that unless Kenyans repent their sins, the worst is yet to come. Every stiff neck (arrogant unrepentant Kenyans) will be cut down by the judgement of the LORD before peace returns to Kenya. So my advice is that as you pray you focus on repentance and also ask the LORD to remember mercy for Kenya.
P.S. 2 Some people believe that this is the "earthquake of judgement" that Dr Awuor was talking about only that it has come in a differet and more devastating form.
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9:46
Further violence
» Eyes on Kenya According to the German Spiegel Online, Lynn Muthoni Wanyeri from the Kenyan Human Rights Commission stated that she has knowledge about militias arming themselves in at least three regions: in Nyanza Province, the Mungiki group in Nairobi and in the area around Eldoret.
It is difficult to tell how much influence the Mungikis still have in Nairobi. During the riots in the slums, they might have lost some of their controlled ground. Nevertheless, they most likely have a substantial amount of money and weapons. There were ties between Mungiki and some KANU and NARC politicians in the past. But after the governments war against Mungiki in 2007, with at least 500 people killed by the police (some sources even go as far as 8000), it is not very likely that Mungiki is fighting for any other interest besides its own.
Continuing violence in Nyanza and Eldoret could harm ODM. Kibaki’s government could try to blame it on their unwillingness to join a government of national unity. They would have the chance to keep up the police forces all over the country and they could keep up the pressure on the media. Peaceful protest marches are basically all ODM can try at this moment, but the margin of peaceful protests is thin, with tensions all over the country. And the economic crisis is working against ODM as well: With food supplies running short, people have to set priorities and it will become more difficult to organize mass demonstrations.
Kibaki made clear that he will not give in easily. If violence erupts once again, the international community will raise the pressure also on Odinga to end atrocities with a government of national unity.
There are few choices for ODM. With Kibaki hanging on to power, it is crucial to reorganize and strengthen the party structure of ODM all over Kenya. So far in many places ODM has been more an alliance for the election campaign. ODM’s MPs and leading politicians should start to organize the protest in their constituencies and recruit more party members. Only with a local structure strong enough to convince people in Eldoret, Nyanza and elsewhere, that every person killed in “ethnic clashes” makes Kibaki only stronger, ODM can keep up its pressure on the government with the support of the international community.
ODM can win on the streets of Nairobi, but can also lose its struggle in the Rift valley.
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Diary 1
» Kenyan Pundit By Paul. [As KP I have asked readers to submit their own perspectives on the unfolding events. This is their voice.] I love you Kenya why are we breaking up? I have lived in naivasha, nakuru also schooled in different parts of the country and never gave a damn about realistic lines at all, [...]
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0:04
Death of international journalism
» REBECCA WANJIKU'S BLOG There is no doubt that CNN has been lopsided in its coverage of Africa, giving prominence to stories of hopelessness and desperation. Such stories have been devoid of depth, often said to be because of lack of time and the number of stories they have to cover in the world news segment.But I have never felt that CNN needs to tell a balanced story like I did during the current unrest. I needed Paula Newton, reporting from Nairobi, to interview and bring stories from both sides of the political divide.
The election was 50-50 and CNN had a duty to interview the people who voted Raila Odinga, those who feel he should be president as well as the other half who feel that Mwai Kibaki should continue.
For the three stories I watched on CNN, they were a disgrace to international reporting. They only interviewed those opposing peace and willing to perpetrate the violence. I believe we needed to hear the voices of the people not willing to fight, willing to bring dialogue into the mix.
I believe that not all people in the opposition were killing their neighbors. Therefore, the story did not need to interview Kibaki’s supporters, but should have gotten at least one person willing to say, there are other ways other than killing each other.
The international media claims to be taking international angles to stories but all CNN did was to show Kenya as a desperate and hostile country and visitors should not come. I am not saying it was better, but a balanced story would have done us proud.
Understanding the local language is important. For instance there was this injured guy who was brought on air, and the guys carrying him asked in Swahili “unampeleka hospitali” (are you taking him to hospital?)
But the journalist said that the guys were asking in Swahili “are you shot or cut?” apparently, the injured guy is supposed to have answered that he was shot.
That was wrong translation. But I understand the journalist, the local language was a challenge and for the international audience, they may not care much what the injured guy said.
Because we have faith that people will heal and embrace each other again, I hope CNN will be around to cover that and will not rush to the next big story.
By the way, how comes CNN does not cover American soldiers or civilians bleeding and writhing in pain, yet they show such images from other places??
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