-
23:53
Happy birthday, Bob!
» Black Looks “Robert ‘Bob’ Nesta Marley OM (February 6, 1945 – May 11, 1981) was a Jamaican singer, songwriter, guitarist, and activist. He is the most widely known performer of reggae music. Marley is regarded by many as a prophet of the Rastafari movement. Marley is best known for his reggae songs, which include the hits ‘I Shot [...]
-
20:43
State of Kenya: The economic impact
» Kenya Imagine Former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan met with chief executive officers of the of Kenya's largest corporations and other members of the Kenyan business community in Nairobi Tuesday.
The CEOs forum was organized by the Kenya Private Sector Alliance and is expected to draft a presentation on a working solution to end the political and economic crisis in Kenya.
Read more here.
-
15:46
Kibaki and Lucy are Masters of Serial Vices
» You Missed This 
Watch out what comes out of your mouth or acts lest you meet the full wrath of one Lucy Muthoni. With Imanyara cheeks still smarting from Lucy’s blow, it is in every State House guest’s interest to pad his or her cheeks.
You are defined by the character of the company you keep. Lucy’s serial slapping antics loops us into the quality of leadership emanating from that big house. She started small time with the photo journalist Derrick and in no time her palms have graduated to MPs. One wonders what harm she inflicts on those she stays with.
Intoxicating power
Troubles come surely comes in doubles. While Kibaki is scrambling in search of a more lethal force to silence Kenyans or make them speedily forget that he STOLE ELECTIONS, Lucy’s bad manners even muddies the the evil scene further. And she dutifully completes the picture with characteristic white lies escaping through her her teeth and dolled as shameless denials. Shaggy’s song it wasn’t me couldn’t have been more aptly in capturing theatre of the absurd.
Serial vices must be truly infectious. Serial vices must be truly infectious. Listening to Gitobu Imanyara recounting his ordeal at the hands of merciless mama Jimmy leaves you torn between sympathizing or laughing at the lanky lawyer. Between Imanyara and Lucy Kenyans can only trust one person who unfortunately cannot be the later. Power surely intoxicates till you are ready to sniff life out of your own blood.
The gem in Lucy’s rants lies in her insensitive and belligerent remarks. She reckons Imanyara is a friend to the Luos (must be animals!) and even goes further to deride the legislator’s ‘STUPID’ Merus voters. Poor Lucy! She is so consumed by contempt to an extent that she unwittingly insults and harms the very hands feeding her political ‘might’
God before man
Deception and contempt are two vices that Kibaki’s regime has perfected to new levels. And the engine driving them is singularly fuelled and oiled by TRIBALISM. And X-ray into Lucy’s mind produces a photocopy of stereotypes and bigotry that populate this blog in plenty.
But as Kanye West sings NOTHING LASTS FOREVER and the time of reckoning is nigh. Only unbriddled arrogance makes fools believe that they came before God. No single soul can be a parasitic gift to his country, none. Kenya is too bing for all of us but too small for some of us. No more cheap tribal bad-mouthing. No more Kenyan backs to ride and break.
-
A History of Violence
» Kenya Imagine In African folklore, there is a character that looms large for its polished deception, which guile often results in sizzling dramatic irony. The story usually culminates in a situation where the devious, meek-looking carnivore is entrusted with the care of the docile herbivores, often depicted as sheep.
There is likelihood that lore might imitate life in the on-going dialogue over the Kenyan crisis, particularly given the appointment of people linked to tribal violence as negotiators and engineers of peace.
Read more from Muciimi Mbatia here. -
Discovering Majimboism
» Kenya Imagine In Banyala, a major dialect of Luhya, we have a saying ifula yabola ingeke which translates to "the tilapia warned the Nile perch". The general sentiment of this proverb is that even the little people can teach something to their elders. This little tilapia has been utterly confused by some of the terminology and violent opposition to seemingly harmless ideas expressed in articles here on kenyaImagine. So like any good little fish, I had to do some digging. I wanted to uncover the truth about Majimboism and why some Kenyans were for it while others were against it. Hopefully, by informing myself I can inform others in the same position who want to participate in the debates but find some of the history difficult to follow.
Read more from Nanjala Nyabola here. -
A History of Violence
» Kenya Imagine In African folklore, there is a character that looms large for its polished deception, which guile often results in sizzling dramatic irony. The story usually culminates in a situation where the devious, meek-looking carnivore is entrusted with the care of the docile herbivores, often depicted as sheep.
There is likelihood that lore might imitate life in the on-going dialogue over the Kenyan crisis, particularly given the appointment of people linked to tribal violence as negotiators and engineers of peace.
Read more from Muciimi Mbatia here.
-
11:57 Political Assassinations
» Kenyanentrepreneur.com The death of these two MP’s has once again brought up this issue of political assassinations. While the death of Mellitsus Were remains a mystery, the circumstances surrounding the murder of David Kimutai appear to be related to a love triangle gone bad. People like Moi and Kenyatta were able to carry out their assassinations, without [...]
-
11:22
What Does Investigative Journalism Look Like?
» What An African Woman Thinks Just so that on the rare occasion when I happen to run into it, I can, you know, salute it or something.
I’m out and about once again, singing for my supper and looking for a patch where my goat can graze. So I’m reading all about Cyril Ramaphosa’s potential entry into the Kenyan mediation equation from a frustrating distance. And I’m asking myself what seem to be pretty obvious questions.Like:
Does the PNU mediation team have any proof that Cyril Ramaphosa and Raila Odinga did any business together?
If it does, what business? When?
If it doesn't, what could PNU be up to?
Why are they intent on blocking the participation of a person of his impressive qualifications?
Basic questions such as these which you'd think any newspaper intent on covering the ongoings in Kenya would assign a journalist to find reasonable answers to.
But, all that the media, both local and international, can come up with is that PNU allege it and Cyril and Raila deny it.
Well, alright then, moving right along. Not.
Opinion journalism seems to be all the rave:
i) pick a few random facts from a bowl of information;
ii) sprinkle them generously with personal opinion;
iii) add 3 ounces of preconceived notion;
iv) bake until it appears cooked (never mind that it is not cooked, it is the appearance that matters)
v) serve hurriedly and move on to the next thing.
It's my window, but I don't own the view.
Next we'll be wondering what we need newspapers for when we have blogs that run the gamut from well-researched reporting to delicately balanced opinion to unapologetically slanted propaganda.
So, why do we, anyway?
-
Another Political Showdown Looming in the Horizon
» You Missed This New ODM Civic Leaders Expected to overhaul local government service delivery in major towns
Past Nairobi Mayor's elections; Kama mbaya, ikue mbaya!
Former Mayor Joe Aketch gets one on his head!
In the not so distant future, the Orange Democratic Movement will flex its political muscles yet again when the local government elections are held for mayors, their deputies and chairmen of county councils. Local Government minister Uhuru Kenyatta is expected to announce election dates anytime before the end of next week and then political parties will be expected to nominate additional councilors and thereafter hold elections of mayors and chairmen of councils.
For many years (actually since multi-party politics returned to Kenya in 1992), Kenyans have watched with bitterness as their local authorities are rundown by inefficient councillors who are better at grabbing plots than working for the public. Most of our civic 'leaders' have been semi illiterate, corrupt and uncivilized. They are known to openly resolve differences through fistcuffs and bickering , chair fighting, name calling and all sorts of drama during official council meetings.
Councillors preside over huge budgets and make decisions that impact directly on local city/town residents when it comes to provision of water and sewerage, roads and infrastructure, primary education, health clinics and many other social institutions like markets, social halls and play grounds. For instance, during the eighties, any city resident could use their water bill to obtain a new aluminum dust-bin from Nairobi City Council. NCC run clinics were the best in the city. Sadly, these are no more. Corruption is openly conducted at city hall when contractors 'send' councillors for all-expenses paid weekend 'retreats' in coastal hotels before important council decisions or mayoral elections.
Thank God, due to their strong showing in the December 2007 elections ODM managed to get a majority in the country’s top civic bodies. Not just that. The majority means the party gets greater nomination slots which it can then use to nominate additional individuals who possess the necessary skills and experience for management of public affairs, that is just in case none of the party's own elected councillors meet the qualification criteria. It is refreshing to learn that not any other Tom, Dick, John or Harry will be sitting at the mayor’s parlour.
ODM intends to change the negative perception of Kenya’s civic bodies and has made no secret of the fact that it is targeting control of the major cities the country (Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Eldoret, Nakuru) through election of professional, experienced and dynamic mayors. ODM wants to replicate the high standards of service delivery that Kisumu residents enjoyed during the reign of former Mayor Shakeel Shabir (now MP). Not only was Kisumu roads repaired, but the town was cleaned and basic services like water and garbage collection restored. During that time, Kisumu was elected the cleanest Kenyan town and it went further and achieved ‘city status’. Shabbir had been nominated and then elected Mayor through the National Development Party (NDP).
The current civic elections also give the ODM an opportunity to implement its pre-elections affirmative action proposals in that women, youth and other disadvantaged groups can be elected into positions of leadership not because of they belong to any dominant party or tribe.
Thank God Kivuitu will not be announcing these results and lets hope this time PNU will not manipulate votes in favour of its candidates.
-
Lewis Hamilton
» Black Looks Once again Spanish sports fans have lived up to their nasty reputation of being a bunch of racist imbeciles. This time its not football but Formula 1. Yesterday fans blacked up their faces and donned black wigs with the words “hamilton’s family” written on their white t-shirts. According to the reports [...]
-
6:37
What You Know
» Cock And Bull If you are put in a metal institution and the only other sane person refuses to tell you that you are not insane, what will you think? Will you think that you are insane because he did not say that you are sane…or will you believe in what you know?
-
6:12
Umbrella…
» Me, Life & Everything 1512 | short | misunderstood | work | irreplaceable - beyonce Google Alerts referred me to this site linking to this post and the message may have been steeply misinterpreted to the point politicians made the scene. I was only reporting on their presence and i do not have the authority to install or in any [...]
-
I said the pledge today
» Kenya Imagine I said the pledge. Two days a week I said the pledge, and later, in a different time and place, I taught the pledge. Right hand on my breast, my heart, face lifted in a pose of perfect patriotism and inside, intensely glowing with the demonstration of national pride, I said the pledge.
Read more from L. Akitelek Papakemus here.
-
Western Cape 07-07-07 Campaign launch
» Black Looks The 07-07-07-Campaign to end hate against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered and Intersexed (LGBTI) persons was launched at the Saartjie Baartman Centre, Heideveld in Cape Town on the 2nd anniversary commemorating the violent and brutal death of 19 year old Zoliswa Nkonyana (04/02/06). The provincial campaign is being spearheaded by Cape Town’s Triangle Project, the oldest [...]
-
0:59
Quick Hits Feb 5
» Kenyan Pundit - The ban on live media broadcasts has been lifted. I’m really finding hard to see what it achieved….wouldn’t it just have been easier to go after individual broadcasters who were inciting violence if that was the main concern? - Haiya, I thought this story was just another nai-rumor when it was doing [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Quick Hits Feb 5", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/?p=452" });
-
Civic Response Required To End The Violence Now!
» You Missed This These is one of the articles the Citizens' Pathway Group (CPG) have developed and shared with the politicians and the (Kofi Annan) negotiatiotion teams. Any Kenyan can join CPG. The middle class in Kenya have been accused of sitting on the fence. Please make a contribution. 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.Since 29th December 2007, we have seen our hopes and aspirations dwindle by the day as our leaders appear completely inured to the death, disruption and suffering that has engulfed our country. We have pleaded with them to put aside their self-interests and focus on the greater good - our welfare – the citizens of Kenya, the welfare of their supporters. Those pleas have fallen on deaf ears. As a result, we are now in a crisis that threatens to completely breakup the Kenya we know today as violence escalates and the State seemingly incapable of protecting its citizens. We still have leaders who will not heed the calls to end this violence and we continue to wonder why?
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. They need to revisit the scenarios published by the Institute of Economic Affairs in 2000 titled, Kenya at the crossroads: Scenarios for our future at www.kenyascenarios.org/stories/stories.html. The Maendeleo-turned-El Nino Scenario will bring home to our leaders the reality of the situation we are in.
As Citizens, we must take the responsibility to end the violence now. And why is this civic response best placed to end the violence? Because the police cannot cover every nook and cranny of the country where the violence is occurring. Because we are the ones who are suffering and in turn causing others even greater pain through our acts of revenge and counter violence. We are the ones who pick up a rungu, a stone, a panga, bows and arrows and other weapons against our fellow citizens. Parents have shamed themselves in the eyes of their children as they financed and encouraged the violence, set upon their neighbours, killing them, chasing them away and destroying that which they have worked for all their lives. Children have shamed themselves in the eyes of their parents and the entire community through the barbaric acts committed in the streets, on road-blocks, in the slums, major urban areas, and in far flung villages! We have shamed ourselves in the eyes of our neighbours and the entire world by failing to rise against these injustices in righteous indignition as a citizenry and bring the mayhem to an immediate end. None of us can hold our heads up high anymore, we are disgraced as a people, now being referred to as examples of what should not happen to other parts of the continent.
We must bring all this to a stop and restore our pride of place as a country, as a people! The violence must end now before it takes all of us down! For it does have the potential to get far worse and take us to a point that would take generations to address let alone recover. That is why all of us must be united in our civic duty to end the anarchy now!
Let us take the lead as citizens to bring an end to this violence. Let us determine today that no other person will be injured, killed or displaced from their home. Let us determine today that there will be no further destruction of property, no further burning of houses, farms and business premises! Let us determine today that we, as individuals, will not cause another person to suffer any loss, of life or property. Let us determine today that the only images that will appear on TV screens and in newspapers are those of reconciliation, healing and hope! Inside each one of us is the power to do right. The power to overcome evil with virtue, morality and justice. We all know it is within us, we just need to be honest to ourselves and heed our conscience. Let each one of us make a commitment today to make our own small contribution to end this violence and participate in efforts to establish a lasting peace and human dignity in our country. In the end, you will find that, what you considered to be a small contribution will make the difference as to what kind of future you and I are able to enjoy.
We still believe that that future will be bright. We still believe that we will be able to live in a secure, democratic, prosperous and just society FOR ALL. Not just some, but all Kenyans. But the violence must stop.
Our leaders have so far failed us in safeguarding this vision. They have failed in the primary duty of any leader worth the name – that of promoting the welfare of their supporters, of every citizen in our land. Instead, they continue to be insensitive in their speech and omissions. They continue to put conditions before ending the violence even as more lives are lost or disrupted and properties destroyed. But all is not lost: our leaders still have an opportunity to redeem themselves. They too can decide today to end the violence. They too can decide that this is not the time for political games which are costing peoples lives. They too can decide to go out and reach out to their supporters and genuinely urge them to end the violence. They too can contribute to an early political settlement that will create the environment for addressing the deep-rooted issues that have led us to this tragedy. This is not the time for double speak and duplicity, it is the time for a true commitment to put our differences aside and confront the monster of violence that has reared its head across the country. Our leaders must determine to demonstrate a new level of integrity as they call for an end to the violence. They must say it and mean it, in all languages!
Whether our politicians heed our call or not, we as citizens must decide to BE THE LEADERS in ending the violence and contributing to lasting peace. Let us demonstrate that we are not pawns to be manipulated at every turn. As we wait for the truth to be established and justice to be done, let us seek forgiveness from those we have offended, those who we have deeply hurt and denied the opportunity to lead a dignified life. Let us also forgive those who have offended us, hurt us, killed those who are dear to us and destroyed our entire life’s work. Let each one of us determine that we shall not spread another hate message and instead embrace each other with love, irrespective of our ethnicity or political persuasion. Let us restore calm so that we can have an environment that can enable us to address the constitutional framework, poverty and inequality, distribution of national resources, poor leadership, weak institutions, corruption and impunity, the very deep-rooted land question, and a deliberate process to gain a deep understanding of our history and the injustices that remain unresolved. Ending the violence does not mean we ignore these fundamental issues. It means we create conditions that unite us and bring our collective abilities and energies together to comprehensively deal with these issues and hold those we have put in positions of responsibility to account.
But for now, let us all focus on ending the violence. Let it stop. For our sake and that of our children, let it stop.
Send an e-mail to The Citizens Pathway Group: citizensolution(at)gmail.com
Related Articles:
Supporting The Peace Agenda: A Citizens Pathway