Many have written about www.ushahidi.com which is a project by Hash & friends...
I am no "web" expert but I will try and get the link on my blog... In the meantime, if you come across violence being perpetrated by anyone be they PNU, Police, Army, Ugandan Army, ODM-K, ODM, goons, crooks, etc... please try and post it to [www.ushahidi.com]
A commendable effort by Hash & friends.
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23:00
Ushahidi.com
» Rants, Raves & Reviews -
Kenya vs S.Korea (just for laughs)
» Rants, Raves & Reviews Kenya vs S.Korea
Round 1
Land & Water Mass: 582,650 sq km vs 98,480 sq km
Irrigated Land: 1,030 sq km vs 8,780 sq km
Population: 37mn vs 49mn
Literacy: 85% vs 99%
Round 2
GDP (PPP basis 2007 est): $58bn vs 1,206bn {This is NOT a typo!!!)
GDP (official exchange rate 2007 est): $19bn vs $824bn {This is NOT a typo!!!)
GDP per capita (PPP basis 2007 est): $1,600 vs $24,600
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.
And Kenyans are upset at Dr. James Watson, a Nobel Prize winner, for making comments that... dare I say it...
Many of my readers know I wish we had a Lee Kuan Yew instead of jomo "I love grabbing land" kenyatta as a leader at independence.
Back to the cabinets. S. Korea has an economy almost 44x than Kenya's yet practices more fiscal restraint. Sigh...
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19:27 AfriGadget Gets a New Look!
» AfriGadget We’re proud to announce a brand new design for AfriGadget! The old design was rather old and ugly, so thanks for putting up with it for the last 20 months. Actually, I think the reason that there are so many more RSS subscribers to AfriGadget than daily visitors can be attributed to how it looked…
2 New Things:
You’ll notice two buttons just beneath the header. We’re working on a number of items, two of which we’re ready to unveil.
The AfriGadget Grassroots Reporting Project
We’re intent on getting more AfriGadget contributors from all over Africa. Part of that plan is to find potential editors and set them up with a mobile phone with which to take pictures and do interviews. If you know someone that would make a good fit, let me know.The AfriGadget Store (phase 1)
The first phase of the store is making some AfriGadget gear (t-shirts and mugs) available to everyone (hint: you can customize any design and select any type of shirt/color to put it on). The next step is to create a full-featured store with some of the items that are made by the entrepreneurs shown on AfriGadget. This would include products, as well as plans.One of the big goals here is to create a service that doesn’t just publish interesting stories about African micro-entrepreneurs, though we do plan on continuing that, but to also explore ways that we can be a conduit back to those very same people. This redesign already has our future plans for dealing with entrepreneurs built into it. Part of that is the future phases of the AfriGadget store, but we’re also looking at ways to partner with others and encourage direct investment into worthy entrepreneurs businesses.
Look for more on that in a future update. Until then, we’re just happy we have some new stuff to show you!
If you find any errors, which I’m sure there will be some, please leave a comment or shoot me an email.
Lastly, a special thanks goes out to Jared for making this site look so good.
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19:07
Githogo Blames Expediency and Inequality
» You Missed This Strong case for a new Mumbi republic
John Githogo last night literally measured to HARD TALK's billing when he traced the genesis of Kenya's present turmoil to two vices of INEQUALITY and EXPEDIENCY. And I couldn't agree more when he added the optimistic line that all is not lost and Kenya can pull herself out of this hole.
Talking straight unlike majority of us who often prefer baptizing Lucifer as God's disgraced angel, JG made it clear that the buck stops with Kibaki who STOLE elections from Kenyans. To him the protests is a commitment to democracy which Kenyans are ready to die defending.
Looking at he bully ex-graft czar one cannot fail to read the pain on his face. While trying TOO hard not to disappoint the BBC Hard Talk host, he appeared to be keenly aware of the sharks lurking in the waters for is blood. You cannot blame him knowing that nobody exiles himself and remains happy. In JG's mind the present violence is traceable to his pet subject of corruption by our political top dogs which they dole by whipping ethnic tensions and rivalry for expediency.
Unsung heroes
Githongo's parting shot is that unless the present obscene inequality among Kenyans s addressed expeditiously, then all the efforts at seeking lasting peace will be nothing but coloured charades. And I would hasten to add that unless we get a new political order (CHANGE) ready to strip Kenya of the imperial presidency, the ethnic tensions will boil over and end up consuming all of us.
Kenya's only salvation lies in a new constitution that makes the presidency UNATTRACTIVE and corruption VERY EXPENSIVE. But who will bell the cat, any takers?
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18:54
AfriGadget Redesigned! (finally)
» White African 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)
2 New Things:
The AfriGadget Grassroots Reporting Project
We’re intent on getting more AfriGadget contributors from all over Africa. Part of that plan is to find potential editors and set them up with a mobile phone with which to take pictures and do interviews. If you know someone that would make a good fit, let me know.The AfriGadget Store (phase 1)
The first phase of the store is making some AfriGadget gear (t-shirts and mugs) available to everyone (hint: you can customize any design and select any type of shirt/color to put it on). The next step is to create a full-featured store with some of the items that are made by the entrepreneurs shown on AfriGadget. This would include products, as well as plans.If you find any errors, which I’m sure there will be some, please leave a comment or shoot me an email. Thanks!
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Paka Imenyeshwa Sasa Ni Simba
» You Missed This "Listen here Government, if you don't lift the ban on live broadcasts by tomorrow, we will do something about it because we are not afraid of you now that Michuki is no longer internal security minister i am lion hear me roar........."
Please do not adjust your computer monitor-there is nothing wrong with it. What you've read is the response of our local mass radio, newspaper and televison media finally appearing to get their act together and warning the government that unless they withdraw their 3 week-long ban on live broadcasts, they can expect consequences ala ODM albeit silent instead of "peaceful" demonstrations.
Unlike ODM, the media feel that if they go to courts in this case, they will see justice served-what exactly would justice be in their case? Its not just the lifting of the media ban that is the solution to the problem, its the basic question of just how much "freedom" is in the "freedom of press" which our (in) dependent media is supposed to have? Now there is a something to scratch your heads over
The press can practise freedom akin to Government spokesperson Mutua which amounts to mounting attacks always on the offensive in defense of the state and its machinery, or the press can practise freedom similar to blogs and websites and just run with whatever they get afterall what makes their sources more credible than mine? or they can turn a blind eye
It will be intersting to see which "freedom" the press enjoys in Kibaki's second term of office-maybe just maybe the cat will evolve into a lion
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15:46
Habari ya leo - Today’s news from Kenya 01/23/2008
» Eyes on Kenya While Annan, Benjamin Mkapa and Graca Machel arrive in Nairobi, the killing continues. 7 people died in Nandi, Rift Valley region. At least this time it seems that none of the mediators got insulted by Mr Mutua.We appreciate the presents of Mrs Graca Machel. Finally the UN resolution 1325 on women, peace and security is being taken seriously.
Graca Machel
We do not appreciate the Presence of Ugandan President Museveni. Not only that rumours about Ugandan military operating on in Kenya are so hard to kill, that the Uganda army now mad newspaper advertisements in Kenya to say they are not in the country (We still have not found any proof that they have been in the country, but the advertisement almost leads to the question: What do they have to hide?). Looking on the number of Ugandan opposition leaders in exile, his presence during the mediation does not seem to be positively influential. We will take a closer look at how Museveni won his last election in Part 4 of the analysis: “Eyes on the International Community concerning elections in Africa.”
MuseveniGood news is that both sides said they want the International Criminal Court to investigate the killings. Hopefully actions will follow words.
The Orange Democratic Movement has announced it will file a case against the Government at the International Criminal Court (ICC). In their case, the party announced that they had named President Kibaki and his Cabinet, Roads minister John Michuki, Police Commissioner Hussein Ali, AP commandant Kinuthia Mbugua and his GSU commandant Mathew Iteere as the people they want investigated and tried. Prof Nyong’o said about 3,000 guns and uniforms had disappeared from the GSU camp in Nairobi and were being used by gangs masquerading as police officers, but could not give any evidence.
African women thought she saw a change in the police tactic in the area between Kibera and Ligi Ndogo grounds where ODM prayers were held. It looked like the police forces would manage to keep it peaceful. Unfortunately her hopes were too optimistic, police lobbed teargas into the Ligi Ndogo grounds and a mob tried to burn down the Telkom Posta building on Ngong Road. The pictures of the mob hit the international news,
the mourning and grief at the funerals did not.
John Barbieri from the US Coalition for Peace with Truth and Justice in Kenya published the interesting article “The poverty of international journalism” in which he analyses the role of the US state department in East Africa and also criticises the role of international media. He quotes from Rebecca Wanjiku’s blog:
“…the mainstream U.S. media appears to send the following double message: we are not interested in Africans or African politics, that is unless there is a full out Rwanda-like bloodbath (with pictures of gruesome machete attacks and all, of course) so we can stereotype all Africans as the savages we think they are.”
The well read blog from Joseph Karoki raises the question whether ODM could have done more to prevent the ethnic clashes especially in Rift valley and states that Raila could have done more. He posted a BBC interview of Raila Odinga, in which he denies that ODM could have done more. We also recommend Wandia Njoya’s post “Maybe Kibaki and Raila Are Powerless To Stop the Senseless Slaughter (But Reconciling Them Is Still Worth A Try)” in which she compares the situation in Rwanda with Kenya, coming to the conclusion that “maybe we would have avoided this tragedy if Kenyans had not deluded themselves that we are not like other African countries.” We do not necessarily agree with all her points, since there are many differences between the history of African nations, but read it for yourself.
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Kenya: Unique Land of Miracles
» You Missed This Kenya may be known for many positive things including world-class athletes but the DEEP HOLE we find ourselves in following last year’s stolen elections makes it a first in many realms. Many things happening right now defy any trace of logic or acceptance and must be uniquely Kenyan.
Kenya is indeed a very special and unique country bereft of humanity. Many things that happen in Kenya have never been witnessed anywhere else in the world. Only in Kenya do you get a police force so determined to crash demonstration that they won’t mind lobbing teargas at coffins bearing remains of what they had earlier killed. The sight of frail old mothers choking under the fumes is no reason enough to be human. Kenyans can kill a body twice if only to prove a point.
Kenya is the only country which can insist on being called a DEMO(N)CRACY under the rule of the barrel of the gun. Add to this the fact that in the whole wide world only in Kenyan do you find an Electoral Commission boss who declares that he doesn't know who won a presidential poll he was tasked and paid to run. The icing on the cake lies in the fact that statehouse continues to be occupied nonetheless.
Lose to win
Only in Kenya do you win elections by losing it. Truly prophetic because the first shall be last. Besides Kenyans have their own sense of basic counting (NOT BASE 10) where two is LARGER than six. If doubt please sue your kindergarten maths teacher for intellectual damages to your person. Ours must be the only country exclusively populated by geniuses, ehe?
Kenya’s transport and communication network puts Japan’s slavery to punctuality to shame. Sample this: electoral officials in far-flung areas like Wajir, Funyula, Budalangi, Isiolo, and Lodwar relay their results to KICC overnight yet results from Kiambaa (just past Muthaiga estate in Nairobi) take more than 70 hours (three days) to ‘reach’ Nairobi.
Kenya’s sense of political humour is unparalleled. Consider this: only in Kenya do you count 95,000 votes from a constituency with 70,000 registered voters. Numbers surely don’t lie but we can COOK them into a delicious meal albeit poisonous.
Still on the electoral front, only in Kenya do you find a presidential candidate’s name missing in the Voters register in his own constituency on polling day. Derivatives of selective amnesia can be stretched into other facets of life with a little bit of political entrepreneurship.
Reversed popularity must have been invented by ingenious Kenyans. Only here do we the most "popular" party SCOOPING 35 MPs while the "unpopular" hides in shame with a paltry 100 parliamentary seats.
MOU my foot!
Trust Kenyan voters to pay their politicians with their own coin. These scoundrels can form all GRAND COALITIONS they can dream of but lofty tags like PARTY CHAIRMAN means absolutely nothing to the Kenyan voter. How else do you explain the political Tsunami that swept Kombos, Nyachaes, Tujus, Muites, Ndiles and Koigis of this country?
Finally, who said history repeats itself? For who, by whom and for what? Learning from previous mistakes is an alien concept to us Kenyans. Ati the KANU-LDP MOU was dishonoured by Moi. So what? And then the NAK-LDP MOU was trashed by Kibaki. Common, take a walk and smell the coffee. We live miracles and don’t dream them. ODM-KENYA/PNU is union made in heaven and meant for eternal bliss. Naivety is for the politically faint hearted. Kazi iendelee.
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12:53
Mach Dich geraadeeehh, Du Klappstuhl!
» Kikuyumoja's realm Weil mir Ole am Sonntag abend Rocker gezeigt hatte - einen ganz wunderbaren Film aus Hamburg von 1971:
AOB: Interview mit Gladwell Otieno von TI im SPON über die angespannte Lage in Kenia.
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9:34
Another Wednesday
» My part of the world.......
I'm sure you have all seen the video above. Frankly words can hardly express what I think of Kenyan law enforcement. In this case instead of working towards containment of the demonstrators, the aim seemed to be to terminate them. I don't care what our Baghdad Bob aka Alfred Mutua says about video tampering, the video speaks for itself. Another thing that I have wondered why is it that the most lethal force is being used in Kisumu yet people have been demonstrating in Nairobi too and we aren't hearing of as many fatalities and incidences of brutality. Is it me or is a quiet but not so subtle point being made?
Someone told me a sad story the other day, we all know how the current situation in Kenya has taken an ethnic dimensions by virtue of the two prominent figures behind matters. Any Kenyan abroad knows that there are large numbers of Kenyans out here who have overstayed their visas and are here illegally. So what happened is that with all the bile and anger in the air, one large group from one tribe got together exchanged information and called the Immigration Authorities on a large number of people from their "nemesis" tribe they knew were in the country illegally. I hear that group has been arrested and is awaiting repatriation to Kenya.
I have never claimed to be the nicest person in the World but that is grade A malice. How messing up someone's life here in the States will help matters back home I have no idea.
I was talking to a friend on the phone today about how some unresolved issues like the Land Question contributed to the chaos we are experiencing today. She made this statement, " Those people sold their land 40 years ago and now they want to fight for it and chase people away, that isn't right."
I had my issues with her broad generalization of the matter, the issue is not that simple. It goes as far back as Kenya's Independence and the way land that was taken from the natives by the Europeans and then redistributed after Independence and the bumbling attempts at consequent governments to paper over the issue.
Another jewel I heard was, "There was nothing they were doing with that land, so it was given to us to farm and trade on; we shouldn't be persecuted for that.."
First things first, even if the people living in that area originally were doing nothing with their land, it still remains there land to gaze at with reckless abandon then to be taken under the pretext of eminent domain. But I'm not saying the government grabbed peoples' land nor am I supporting the forced evictions, but like I said it goes much further and much more detailed than that.
My point is that people have tried to break down the drama to its' simplest elements and in that way turned it into something else. This whole issues is more than just Luos and Kikuyus, ODM vs PNU, poor vs rich, hardworking vs lazy; it is all those things and alot more. So picking one those small elements and using it as a platform to spread half truths and bile in person, in the media or on your blog is just an indication of how some people despite their denials are part of the problem and not the solution. This writer has made an attempt to look out how these issues are being discussed online but they fall short in my opinion, the main reason being bias.
I read somewhere else online that 500,000 jobs have been lost after all the fracas that has gone down. Let's see 500,000 jobs created in Kibaki's first term, 500,000 lost at the beginning of his second term. I guess he has indeed started with a clean slate. I wonder if he can come up with a million jobs with his maf dream team behind
Wonder of wonders, our MPs are getting a full month's pay even though they have only convened once this month. Working to serve the people, you've got to love it! No wonder everyone wants to be an MP. I too want to be an MP, the work hours, benefits and the pay are great.
I for one also think that the Kenyan media has done a pathetic job of reporting during this whole drama. They dragged their feet after the election and woke up to give a half hearted effort when things had already gone down the drain. I took a look at this article, It is obvious that if you read in between the lines; the assailants came from one tribe and the victim another. Do you think that the Kenyan media should mention tribe when reporting some of these incidents or not? Just want to get people's opinions.
Anyway that's my $0.02 for today.......
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8:19
Quote of the Crisis
» What An African Woman Thinks Pastor M over at his blog has spoken great wisdom:
"Humility earns us the right to speak and be heard in turn."
That isn't directed at our leaders. It's directed at all of us wherever we might stand, whatever we might hold to be true.
Hear hear.It's my window, but I don't own the view.
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8:05
Kenyans will not lose their country!
» Kenya Imagine Last evening, I was informed that my colleagues for the firm I work with that our UK office had dressed down last Friday for Charity, and that the benefitting charity was the Kenya Red Cross Society.
This is a regular custom at their office every Friday, althought most of the beneficiary charities are UK-based. On the odd occasion, I have managed to get donations for African calamities such as the suffering in Sierra Leone or the famine in Mali some time back. The rule for the dress-down is simple, you donate £2 and get as a result to wear jeans and sneakers to work. They raised a sum of £200 which I topped up with my small donation of £50. The cheque will be handed to the Kenya Red Cross tomorrow.
Read more from Kamale T here. -
Promoting hatred and violence, even now
» Kenya Imagine The ODM leader Raila Odinga is a famous man for his many talents. Foremost among these are his organising and rousing skills. It is true that few politicians in the history of Kenya have had as much ability to provoke their followers to action as has the ODM's captain. So it is that many Kenyans hoped in earnest that he would be able to quell the violent passion in his supporters, that he would be able to save Kenyan lives by asking that his people restrain themselves, take to the courts and settle disputes particularly those over land in a civilised and non-violent manner. He has pointedly refused to do that, famously insisting to the foreign media that he would not anaesthetize the Kenyan people as they were being raped, and then also shocking the international media by crudely comparing the post-election tragedy with mere post-match skirmishes between the supporters of rival football clubs.
Read more from Peter Ndiangui here.
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Too Optimistic By A Mile
» What An African Woman Thinks Apparently, I called it too early.
Peaceful? In my dreams.
I'm receiving reports that a mob has gone and partially burnt down part of the Posta building on Ngong Road, adjacent to the Ligi Ndogo grounds. That part of Ngong Road was a no-go zone about half an hour ago.
Now why? What happened?
Trying to figure out what happened is like trying to milk a stone.
A source within one of the media houses tells me chaos erupted when Raila Odinga concluded his speech.
All I can glean from the BBC is that at one point, a Police car arrived at the grounds and 'youth' began to stone it.
On Radio, I hear the GSU are trying to contain the situation with what appears to be a fair amount of difficulty.
This yoyoing between hope and despair is not good for the soul, I can tell you that. More, when I have it. If I have it.
*UPDATE
The 4.00 pm news on Easy FM confirmed that indeed a mob had surrounded the Telkom Posta building on Ngong Road, stoned it, and set it alight with people still inside. Fifteen people escaped alive from the burning building. There's no indication yet that there have been any deaths.
According to the Easy FM report, the chaos broke out when police lobbed teargas into the Ligi Ndogo grounds. Not yet a clue why. The GSU seem to have contained the situation now. I hope 'containing the situation' doesn't translate into more deaths.
For more news, check out this M and G article. And the online versions of Kenyan newspapers should really get their act together. Why does their online news have to remain static all day? Who will throttle their goat if they update their online news at least twice a day? Why do I have to forage foreign parts for local news?It's my window, but I don't own the view.
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5:40
Racked in Fits & I May Have Joined a Cult…
» Me, Life & Everything Rendezvous: 1440hrs Prolixity: Short Mood: Happy Whereabouts: Office Track: Sitting up in my Room, Brandy Norwood My colleagues are convinced i lost my precious marbles **not thooose ones, Modo** a few centuries ago, an elite have assured my that perhaps i never had them in the very first place. In defence of my laughing fits thanks to hilarious strips like [...]
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Security Forces Changing Tactics, Wow
» What An African Woman Thinks Security Forces Changing Tactics, Wow -
Take Up The Mantle of Leadership And Lead
» What An African Woman Thinks Take Up The Mantle of Leadership And Lead -
Let the Talks Begin
» What An African Woman Thinks Let the Talks Begin
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Strong Case For A New Republic Of Mount Kenya
» You Missed This Proof of America’s role in fanning current chaos and their solid support for Kibaki
Proof that the civil war may have already started as security forces from different tribes defy orders from their superiors
I can’t remember when it first started but recently it has become clear that it is difficult to have a discussion on the situation in Kenya with my Kikuyu beauty without one of us getting emotional and even losing their temper. (For those who are new to this blog, this blogger is the product of a mixed marriage between a Kamba father and a Bukusu mother and has been happily married to a Kikuyu beauty for over 22 years now)
This state of affairs in my house has really surprised me because going into the elections Mrs Kumekucha was a staunch Raila supporter. This is even stranger because she has no relatives in the Rift Valley and has therefore NOT been affected by any of the killings. In fact she was as puzzled as I was at the wild celebrations my in-laws were involved in after Mwai Kibaki was announced winner (despite the tension in the country and the fact that even a young child could see that the elections were stolen).
My 17 year old son has been a great help in sorting out that problem. All he has had to do is ask which side of the divide he should support and that ends the heated argument right on its’ tracks.
But I have been thinking deeply about this shift in emotions and have done my own research and I have realized that Kenya is in much bigger trouble than most people realize.
Ever since this blog was launched in May 2005, our main theme has been the tribal tensions in Kenya which started during the Jomo Kenyatta administration. We have also talked at length about the widening gap between the rich and the poor and how it has always been a time bomb waiting to explode. Few Kenyans have taken us seriously until December 30th.
The strong feeling amongst supporters of President Kibaki is that the crisis...
Read more
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Listen
» Kenya Imagine The time has come, in my view, for Kenyans to stop and take stock. Many of us are angry at some of the accusations and counter-accusations that are flowing back and forth in our country, in our media, and in many other fora. But the time has come for us to stop and take stock.
An analogy comes to mind. Imagine two men charged with carrying a precious glass case containing a valuable crown across a large valley. They have no cars, no bicycles; the only way they can get from point A to point B is to hoist the rather heavy glass case, mounted on two sticks, onto their shoulders. About half way there, the two men enter into an argument and the first man shoots his compatriot in the knee. The man at the back is equally angry and somehow manages to shoot his friend in the knee as well. Both of them are lying on the floor, writhing in pain but still strong enough to trade accusations and counter accusations. They fail to notice one thing. The case is broken and the crown is lost.
Read more from Nanjala Nyabola here. -
John Githongo on the BBC, partisanship in Kenya's civil society
» Kenya Imagine Former anti-corruption czar John Githongo just appeared on a BBC HardTalk special with Stephen Sackur. In the programme, Githongo looked to take a neutral stance on the election imbroglio but came off, perhaps predictably looking more than a little biased. Sackur seemed much more informed and neutral than the exiled Kenyan anti-graft crusader, asking Githongo pointedly whether as has been severally reported -and affirmed by the likes of Jendayi Frazer and Muthoni Wanyeki- there were massive irregularities on both sides. Even as his interlocutor asked Githongo about the violence across the country, Githongo seemed still to pretend that this was about election anger, and that both sides were equally culpable.
Read more from John Victor Ogot here. -
Political tribalism, moral ethnicity
» Kenya Imagine Unlike, apparently, rather a lot of the people I like and respect, I think that the boycotts strategy announced by the ODM is a disastrous move, one that can only lead to greater pain. Let me explain. John Lonsdale somewhere distinguishes between political tribalism and moral ethnicity. (Never mind that I've always thought it a slightly tenuous distinction - everybody thinks the same of most distinctions they didn't first think of themselves.) Political tribalism is the constitution of an ethnicity by competition for state power and largesse against other, similarly constituted, ethnicities. Moral ethnicity on the other hand is a set of assumptions about public virtue for people like us. Political tribalism is inevitably adversarial; moral ethnicity inward-looking.
Read more from Daniel Waweru here.
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