Once you get to know the rules of the game, cricket can be lots of fun!
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20:17
Phun
» Kikuyumoja's realm
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15:18
Mysterious Leaflets Warning About Power Sharing Sent To All MPs
» You Missed This The latest in the high drama linked to the introduction of the Prime Minister’s office unfolded in parliament this afternoon after all legislators received in their pigeon holes a leaflet warning them of the consequences of creating two centres of power.
The same leaflets also criticized ODM leader Raila Odinga for wanting to divide the civil service along tribal lines.
Interestingly Juja legislator George Thuo admitted that the leaflets originated from his office but said he had no idea where they had come from. He promised to investigate the matter.
House speaker Kenneth Marende directed that in future anything to be distributed to members should pass through the clerk of the national assembly before distribution.
Meanwhile the bill to create the office of the Prime Minister passed through its’ first reading. The second reading will happen tomorrow when parliament resumes seating at 2:30 pm.
Kenyans need to be on very high alert as it is clear that there are certain mysterious forces behind the scenes that are very unhappy about the passing of the bills associated with the Anan peace talks. Especially the one creating the office of the Prime Minister. This is rather strange as some of those against the passing of the bill have said in public that the office of Prime Minister is third in command. Why then should they worry so much about it? Why should its’ coming strike so much terror in some quarters?
Many confusing theories have been brought forward as to what may be going on behind the scenes and keen analysts have even linked it to desperate hardliners who seem to be in a panic after being taken by surprise by recent political developments in the country.
P.S. Local government minister Uhuru Kenyatta who has never used a matatu in his lifetime announced today that matatus will from tomorrow (Thursday) morning be banned from entering the CBD. This means that those working in the city will have to walk long distances to get to their offices, not to mention the fact that the annual long rains are due to begin at any time.
Interestingly Citi Hoppa mini buses will NOT be affected by the ban and will be allowed into the CBD as usual. Some commuters will be delighted at this news while matatu owners are bound to be livid, more so because most of them know who owns Citi Hoppa. Majority shareholders are George Thuo in partnership with a son of John “Standard Raid” Michuki.
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14:27
Pothole Theory, Lost Fingers, Caring and Crisis
» White African [I’ve started, stopped and re-written this post 3 times since January as I’ve been struggling to come to terms with my thoughts on Ushahidi and what I should be doing. It’s long, be forewarned.]
The Kenyan post-election fiasco had a rather jarring effect on me. Why? After all, I grew up in war-torn Southern Sudan, lived through disruptions prior to the Kenyan elections in 1993, and have seen the repercussions of these actions first-hand.
I subscribe to the train of thought that you can’t care for everything. There is always a crisis happening in some part of the world, and no one is capable of caring about them all, much less doing something about each of them.
It turns out that I’m not alone.
A couple of years ago I read an article by someone who was discussing some of the points around what Oxford philosopher John Mackie calls self-referential altruism in a collection of his papers titled Persons and Values. The basic idea is that we find it easier to care about those closer to us. Adam Smith talked about it in his Theory of Moral Sentiments, on how it would be more troubling for a European to lose his little finger than to hear of the destruction of all of China (full quote here).
Steven Berlin Johnson, co-founder of Outside.In, calls this the “Pothole Paradox” and brings it to life in my digital world-view. He describes it like this:
“Say you’ve got a particularly nasty pothole on your street that you’ve been scraping the undercarriage of your car against for a year. When the town or city finally decides to fix the pothole, that event is genuinely news in your world. And it is news that you’ll never get from your local paper, or TV affiliate, or radio station…
…News about a pothole repair just five blocks from your street is the least interesting thing you could possibly imagine.”
So, What’s Important?
What I’m getting at is this: While people are being oppressed, fighting and dying in some foreign country what do you do? What about if it happens in your country? When does it become important enough to use your talents to make a difference?
Typically, it takes an event that directly affects you to make you go beyond thinking and to act. That’s why things that are happening in places like Sudan and Zimbabwe are on people’s radar, but so few are doing anything about it. You can only have so many things on your radar that you actually care about and fewer still that you do something about.
In the case of Kenya, it spurred me on to create Ushahidi, in the hopes that I could do something from my vantage point so far removed from the events taking place. Other Kenyans abroad worked on different, but equally important digital initiatives.
A digital world helps us to do that. Just decades ago those who were not in close enough proximity to an event were unable to do much, if anything about it. Today, we can successfully effect change through digital tools and be thousands of miles away.
That’s an encouraging and scary thought. Global tools that have real time read/write access are extremely powerful. Depending on ones motives, your impact can be good or bad. Even if your motives are good, your tool can be used for bad. How’s that for a quandry?
What does this all mean?
Quite frankly, I’m not sure yet. That’s part of the reason I’ve delayed posting this article for so long. I thought it would be helpful (to me at least) getting out some of my thoughts and theories on crisis, caring, action and the digital world.I’d appreciate any thoughts and comments that you have on this too.
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13:44 My Hero: Kirk Franklin
» The Displaced African Enclosure: [download]
Part 6 of the 10 things I wish I knew before I left Africa
My second of seven heroes is the man, the myth and the legend of the gospel music industry, Kirk Franklin.
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10:25
The Other Woman
» Kenya Imagine It’s been a good day, well spent.. a huge dent in the wallet but what the heck.. it was a day well spent. You decide to take a walk back home, a smile on your face, a certain irritating song that won’t leave your mind but you whistle along nonetheless and have a slight spring in your step. Then it happens. Your heart misses a beat. Not the way it does when you see him but in a way that leaves you feeling nauseous, like you just got punched in the stomach. For a split second you wonder if this is how a heart attack begins. With a missing heartbeat, then two and after a while no heartbeat at all.
Read more from Joyce Köster here.
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Recollection: Unnecessary Semantics?
» You Missed This Latest article by Phil: Stopping the political tsunami that is Raila
Using Security To Play Deadly Political Chess Games
The year 2006 was an year that saw the conspicuous emergence of hate words being bandied about between Kenyans and Tanzanians especially online. Blogs were the ever ready wind that fanned the flame into a roaring fire.
Both these peoples haughtily flaunted their strong points. They also levelled scathing criticism against each other. Strings of expletives were added to the whole mix, to add colour!
Kenyans paraded their ‘mastery’ of the Queen’s language as their first strong point against their Tanzanian counterparts.
“Tanzanians don’t know English!” was the snap retort of many a Kenyan.
Tanzanians responded by explaining how Kenyans didn’t have any idea what was meant by ‘good’ Kiswahili.
“Nyie wala Kiswahili hamkijui. Mnajifanya na Kiingereza chenu hicho. Lugha ya kikoloni, haifai chochote!” was the snap rejoinder from many a Tanzanian
Kenyans relished every detail of how Tanzanians were deemed lazy. This was not taken kindly. Tempers flared; ‘war cries’ were uttered; disdain and condescension took centre stage in the whole shebang.
But that’s besides my point today.
There’s a time, in the same year, when the President of Tanzania Jakaya Kikwete was caught in the crossfire. This was after his reported discussion of the ‘political instability’ of Kenya with President George Bush.
Tempers flared within and without the Kenyan borders. To many, this seemed to be the height of contempt. The government of Kenya was not left out in the rhetoric that ensued.
I remember that around the same time Jakaya Kikwete was quizzed by a Tanzanian journalist about the Bush – Kikwete discussion that had opened the floodgates of mistrust. He brushed it aside by saying: “Tusifike huko, Tuyaache hayo mambo yalivyo.”
Many questions were asked by all and sundry. I also asked a question that received an answer from New York trying to explain what had happened.
Kumekucha asked his own questions in the form of an amusing tongue-in-cheek post .
What I found ironic about the whole thing, recently, was when Jakaya Kikwete was called upon to help in the mediation process after Kenya had suffered a nasty political and socio-economic blow.
He was very instrumental in the signing of the peace accord that would see the end to the then prevailing “political instability”. Did the “political instability” discussion that he had had with George Bush two years ago come to his mind?
Have a smashing day, dear brethren
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8:35
Give Kenya parallel stock market
» KA-INVESTOR Written by James Shikwati in the Business Daily
I joined Kenyans in celebrating our new found power of the ballot in December 30 2002; the surging crowds exhibited decades of energy that had been held hostage by the Moi regime. We put faith in individuals and were disappointed in 2007.
In 2006, hundreds of Kenyans queued outside stock brokerage houses to partake of shares in the country’s biggest Initial Public Offering. Bottled investment thirst by Kenyans was exhibited with little time invested in evaluating the existing capital markets institutions. Again, investors are getting disappointed by the day.
The Capital Markets Authority (CMA), the sector regulator, has joined the political elites in giving Kenyans a blank cheque. Reports that individuals at the Nairobi Stock Exchange (NSE) had sought to hush up the weak financial position of the Nyaga Stock Brokers, and that the NSE went ahead to advance Sh100 million only for the CMA to later declare the broker was under receivership must be condemned.
The collapse of Francis Thuo and Partners was yet to clear the doubts on the suspicion that Kenya’s stock market is a preserve of 18 brokers who seem keen to stifle competition at all costs.
According to the Kenyan Capital Markets Eligibility requirements, for a company to be listed at the NSE, it must, among other factors, have net assets immediately before public offer of not less than Sh20 million.
The minimum authorised, issued and fully paid capital should be Sh20 million. These, of course, are regulations that were put in place to ensure that the bourse meets international standards while securing the investments of individual shareholders. The requirements seem to be silent on medium sized or small businesses.
Studies show that the majority of Kenyan entrepreneurs are locked up in the micro and small enterprises partly due to the inability to mobilise financial capital.
Can the policy makers reform the law to permit parallel stock markets that target such groups? It will be easier for the public to invest in such groups as long as they meet the other non-monetary requirements.
Stock brokers could engage in over the counter trading, mobilise stocks for medium-sized businesses and assist entrepreneurs to clear cash-flow headache.
Kenya should develop three levels of stock markets; the existing stock market, for big companies, medium level market, and low level market complete with graduation eligibility to the next level.
The same can be said for the rest of Africa to allow majority to trade in stocks in whichever country. There are many positive side effects of such a venture. For instance, land grabbing, hurried buildings that do not meet architectural standards will reduce because many people will find other ways to invest their money.
Businesses will be assured of capital and the resultant investment diversification will promote efficiency, competitiveness and sustainability of businesses.
It is very clear, therefore, that to get ordinary Kenyans graduating into engaging in big business, the law must be reformed to fit into their pocket, that is, parallel stock markets must be allowed to thrive to enable all to enjoy the benefits of the stock market.
By so doing, the ordinary citizens will also get economically empowered to enjoy the benefits of privatisation and to put in check the argument that privatisation will only benefit the politically connected.
The CMA must save Kenyans from being held hostage by one investment club. We have seen the weakness of this approach in political leadership; we should be the last in the business sector to mirror politics in the financial markets. Let us liberalize the stock market and get capital for local entrepreneurs.James Shikwati is director, Inter Region Economic Network and was recently named one of the 245 2008 young Global leaders by the World Economic Forum
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7:52
Bank Wars: Pepea
» bankelele Barclays is really going after small accounts holders and low savers such as students. The latest account is called Pepea (implies lightness) which is an ATM-based account with a flat fee of just 100 shillings ($1.5) and 20/= per ATM withdrawal – putting it in the range of Equity’s 50/= fees. This extends Barclays aggressive growth to counter Equity Bank – to an extent that it seems they are subsiding services in order to gain deposits and accounts.
With Pepea, you actually get penalized if you have more than 30,000 shillings ($425) in your account. -
Rogue brokers?
» bankelele A somewhat irresponsible article in the wake of the collapse of Nyaga Stockbrokers last week – fingers four more brokers that the (now awake) regulator has issues with. An article of this magnitude about a bank could cause a run on deposits or worse.
But the firms - Solid Securities, Reliable, Crossfield and Discount Securities appear not to have been affected, and a causal visit to their offices shows they are are devoid of crowds of panicked investors as seen on TV last week. These are not ‘rogue’ brokers robbing their clients, just some brokers who have other regulatory issues to sort out.
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Stopping the Political Tsunami that is Raila
» You Missed This 
Raila and Kibaki seen here chatting heartily in the VIP tent at the Speaker's garden tea after the official state opening of parliament.
It is now emerging that unfortunate utterances attributed to Head of Civil Service Francis Muthaura are seriously threatening the very survival of the recently signed peace agreement between President Kibaki and ODM Captain Raila Odinga. Although the principals have not commented publicly on the controversial Muthaura statement, many insiders are clearly upset by the comments. As of Tuesday morning, Kofi Annan is said to have spent some time on phone talking to ODM Vice Captain and lead negotiator Musalia Mudavadi in what could have been an attempt to quel any statements that may derail the peace deal that took Annan more than a month to achieve. It is unclear if Kofi spoke to anyone on the PNU side.
On the same day Annan was talking to Musalia, ODM spokesman Salim Lone is quoted in the Financial Times as saying: "The whole world, from President [George W.] Bush downwards, was engaged in trying to strike a power-sharing deal. If that power-sharing deal made Odinga number three, we'd have never accepted it."
In other words; if the 'government' maintains its position and supports Muthaura's statement that the Vice President ranks above the ODM Captain, then folks, we are back to square one.
Another intriguing point that tells Kenyans that Muthaura is a puppet of the athuri group is the allegation that PNU is not obligated to share state appointments with ODM on a 50/50 basis. The question is: Why would the president be obligated to consult the PM in the sacking/hiring of ministers including the VP if the PM is not only No. 3 but also himself an appointee of the president?
Even before Prime Minister designate Raila Odinga has been sworn in, the drastic change in his relationship with the president appears to have ruffled sensitive feathers who have made it their business for as long as we can remember to ensure that Raila does not come anywhere near power in Kenya.
Perhaps more significantly, some elements in government are already showing symptoms of Railaphobia for reason this blogger attributes to the electric excitement Raila elicits wherever he goes. Whats must be a headache for them is that Raila appears to already have hit a silent but very effective campaign trail in what is slowly unfolding to be a no-holds-barred Kibaki succession battle. It leaves many a politician green with envy that any function that Raila attends, even if it is just a church service or even a funeral, immediately transforms into a political campaign rally. Martha Karua attempted to do the same in her Gichugu constituency bus park last weekend with mixed results. What she fails to understand is that, although Raila does not have PPS or VPPS assigned to him, he has for the last 10 years captured the psyche of the entire Kenyan nation. For instance, whenever Raila’s image appears on TV screens in a noisy joint, a hushed silence automatically falls over the premises.
Not to be left behind rather than for commercial interests, mainstream media in Kenya and the region have now attached permanent staff to Raila’s entourage that follows him wherever he goes. Wow!
Fellow pentagon member Najib Balala could not have captured it more aptly. He said that whenever Raila enters a room or appears to the public even before he says a word, people go crazy.
This sort of image, rightly or wrongly, will be impossible for the likes of Muthaura to subdue whether the PMs office is 5th or 10th in the pecking order. After all they say, power comes from the people (as opposed to secret swearing-in ceremonies).
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5:56
Now that I’m done gagging…
» Kenyan Pundit …I think some kind of active follow up with the Standard is necessary. I have no problems with tabloid newspapers. In fact I regularly read them when I’m in Nairobi. I do have problems with a supposedly serious newspaper that has “tabloidish” tendencies - and I don’t think it’s not [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Now that I’m done gagging…", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/?p=471" });
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