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21:20
1 Wii, 2 Wiis And No More Wiis
» For Love and Money 1 Wii, 2 Wiis And No More Wiis
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14:12
Charity porn
» Black Looks Just when I thought it was safe to go outside I discover that a Japanese porn company is making “charity porn. I don’t want to subject readers to my raving rant on NGOs and charities so I’ll just quote the blogger at Wronging rights They’ve sent some porn actresses to Kenya, and filmed them having sex with [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Charity porn", url: "http://www.blacklooks.org/2008/12/charity_porn.html" });
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8:08
Cabinet: Finance Docket is Reserved!
» You Missed This 
PIC: Will see you soon; Kimunya, Mbaru, Kibaki and Nganga
Let’s face it. The country is being held hostage by vested interests in the Kibaki succession. In failing to fill vacant cabinet posts, the very reasons attributed to the post election violence by Kriegler and Waki are being put into play!
Long after the Bomet and Sotik by-elections, and Kimunya’s ouster, the ODM was ready to refill its dockets soon after the Mps-elect were sworn in, but the cabinet reshuffle is being held back by fierce infighting in the PNU camp. The heat arising out of the secret envelope of the Waki report is not relenting and the President’s indecisiveness is not helping matters either.
The country continues to go without a sworn-in Finance Minister who holds the constitutional mandate to sign certain bills, bilateral agreements and gazette notices. The current holder of the post, John Michuki, also doubling as Environment Minister, is only acting capacity and therefore unqualified to discharge duties of a finance minister effectively.
Reports are emerging that John Michuki has declined an offer to permanently take up the Finance position because the former holder Amos Kimunya has been declared innocent by the Commission of Enquiry set up by the president to investigate him. Never mind that, unlike other commission reports so far compiled this year, the Kimunya dossier is known only to the President, the commissioners themselves and a few individuals around state house, plus of course friendly pressmen at Royal Media and Nation Media. Never mind also that a parliamentary committee has already declared Kimunya as unfit to hold a cabinet position.
Perhaps most worrying, is that it is apparent that the Finance docket has been reserved and will only go to individual(s) whose origins are not just PNU coalition but also from a certain part of Kenya. Did the president not pledge to heed the advise in the Waki and Kriegler reports? The names being dropped by PNU-friendly media have mentioned MPs sharing more than one commonality with the President. Even during Moi’s dictatorial regime, there was never a finance minister who hailed from Moi’s backyard for a whole 24 years, 10 of those in multi-party politics. Phew!
Although there are numerous individuals within the currently full-capacity National Assembly who are more than qualified and can be appointed Finance Minister, it is obvious that they are technically disqualified because they do not share any commonality with the president and are therefore are unfit to hold the finance docket.
Meanwhile, the country continues to be served by acting ministers, contrary to the constitution and contrary to the NARA accord. All because, the kitchen cabinet is working on a Kimunya rehabilitation plan and the president is seemingly not in full control of an increasingly hostile parliament.
Another spanner has been thrown into the succession works by a stubborn Martha Karua. Being the person who single-handedly saved the PNU coalition during the inauguration of the tenth parliament, she is herself pushing for an end to what she calls politics of anointment and has challenged those interested in the presidency to face her in the field, instead of running to Kibaki because they hope to be declared his successor.
Further to this is that the fiercely independent Justice minister is edging closer to ODM this is causing panic within the PNU wing of government given that most of the reform agenda lies in her docket. The only solution it would appear is to transfer her to another less glamorous ministry or sack her altogether but, just like in the finance docket, PNU are desperately short of qualified individuals to take up this critical docket. Quite surprising considering it is now a grand coalition with a full parliament to choose from.
My suggestion: Appoint Prof. Anyang Nyongo as Finance Minister, transfer Prof. Ongeri to the health docket and promote Dr. Mwiria as Education minister. Kazi kwisha.
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7:04
Private prosecution instituted against ECK Commissions
» Kenyan Pundit Private criminal proceedings have been instituted before the Chief Magistrate’s Court in Nairobi against the ECK Commissioners by a KPTJ member Julius Melli as the complainant on behalf of the Republic. Case is Private Prosecution No 7 of 2008 Republic through Julius Melli versus Samuel Mutua Kivuitu & 21 others before Nairobi Chief Magistrate Gilbert Mutembei. The Chief Magistrate has admitted the 16 charges against the 22 ECK Commissioners related to the management and control of the 2007 General Elections and also issued summons for the 22 accused persons (now suspects) to appear before him for the taking of plea on Wednesday 17th of December 2008. On that 17th of December, the Magistrate will further hear the complainant’s application to be allowed to proceed with the intended prosecution on behalf of the Republic.
Civil society networks are planning to appear in court on that day - please lend your support (and blog about the hearing) if possible.
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4:44 Paraffin Lamps and the Informal Recycling Industry
» AfriGadget Franco Mithika works in Gikomba, an industrial area in greater Nairobi. His job is to take scrap metal tin cans and a soldering iron to fabricate paraffin lamps. Paraffin lamps are used by millions of Kenyans, especially those who cannot afford or get electricity into their home for lighting.
It costs about 110/= Kenyan shillings to make, and it sells for around 150/= ($1.90). You can buy them wholesale for 1550/= ($20) for 24 pieces. It takes about a minute to make one (less for the truly gifted fabricators).
Here is a video of him making one:
Thinking about the unofficial recycling industry
What’s particularly interesting here, is that this scrapes the surface of a rather larger recycling industry that hums beneath the surface of the city. How it works is this. The youngest and poorest go around the city and collect scrap metal of all types. These are then taken to a buyer who sorts them into their different types. This is who people like Franco then buy from and create their wares.
The scrap metal picked up gets sold for just a few shillings per kilo. When sorted, the tin cans that Franco buys, are sold for 300/= ($4) per kilo.
So, there’s a rather efficient system at work. It’s run by entrepreneurs who figure out a way to make things work. A byproduct is that everything (metal) is used, and much less waste than there would be otherwise.
Gathering and transporting the scraps:
The scrap sorting place (Kawangware):
The cans for the paraffin lamps sorted:
Other “sorted” scrap metal items:
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4:15
Is the Boycott On?
» Kenya Imagine If you live in Nairobi , yesterday you must have noticed the Government of Kenya display across the city sky two big banner with the inscription "45th year of Independence " dragged by 2 military fuel guzzling hardwares (helicopters). As you are aware the climax will be on 12th December 2008 when military fighter jets will burn thousands of litres of fuel thundering across our sky to amuse the State officials at Uhuru park or Nyayo stadium. One wonders, at a time when millions of Kenyans are bewildered from dangers of food insecurity, who are they displaying mlitary power for? Rwanda ? Burundi ? Uganda ? Sudan ? or Ethiopia ? Perhaps the pirates who are effectively curtailing Kenya 's tourism industry from their little vessels off Kenya 's coast?
Read more for reasons to protest! even from the comfort of your home! -
Jamhuri Day is meaningless: Kenyans are not yet free
» Kenya Imagine In 1888 the Imperial British East Africa Company (IBEA) was granted a royal charter to administer and commercially exploit British territory in East Africa on behalf of the British monarch. The company was eventually responsible for managing the production and exportation of raw materials; (a substantial chunk of) its sphere of influence was renamed the Kenya Protectorate in 1895, and Kenya Colony in 1920. The construction of the Kenya-Uganda Railway, to facilitate the trade that would turn Kenya into a paying colony, had followed the cession of the IBEA's mandate to the Foreign Office; the declaration of the protectorate over Kenya was followed, in turn, by the systematic alienation of large tracts of land.
Another article from kI on the history of Kenya.
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2:24
President -Elect, Barack Obama promises Jazz, Classical music and Poetry readings in the white house.
» Kenyanpoet The new president- elect of The United States, Barack Obama, on Monday night(8th Dec),during a Meet the Press interview at the NBC newsroom, announced that he plans to open up the white house to the people by having Jazz, classical musicians as well as poets perform there regularly.
He explained: "Part of what we want to do is to open up the White House and remind people this is the people's house."
Obama plans to invite artists and scientists on a regular basis, in an attempt to inspire national character.
He further explained; “Thinking about the diversity of our culture and inviting jazz musicians, and classical musicians, and poetry readings in the White House so that once again we appreciate this incredible tapestry that’s America, you know, that, I think, is going to be incredibly important, particularly because we’re going through hard times,”
Whether or not poetry readings will happen in the White House remains to be seen, but this inclusion of the arts alongside science certainly is encouraging. Of course while in college, Obama entertained the idea of being a writer, and indeed his two memoirs has both garnered critical acclaim and topped bestsellers lists. (I have not read either, but Dreams from My Father is on my reading list.) A literary president! Who would have thought?
This also makes me wonder if the Obama White House will have some influence over the selection of the next Poet Laureate. Traditionally, the Poet Laureate is appointed by the Librarian of Congress (currently James H. Billington for you trivia types) but this is one instance where I wouldn't mind an expansion of Executive power.
The United States is noted for it contribution to poetry development since the days of slavery. Indeed poets like Maya Angelou, Langston Hughes, Nikki Giovanni, Robert Frost, Gwendolyn Brooks, E.E Cummings and many more have constantly redefined poetry.
Hip Hop Mogul, Russel Simmons produced a poetry show dubbed 'Def Poetry Jam' that brings together the diverse poets of various origins living in the US. The full 6 seasons was aired on Prime time on HBO.
There is already a debate online as to who should be the inaugural poet for President-elect Obama.
Barack Obama is a poet himself, an inspiring and eloquent public speaker, and poetry is sure to be a part of his Presidential inauguration ceremony. Robert Frost recited a poem at John F. Kennedy’s inauguration, Maya Angelou read for Bill Clinton’s, and folks are already speculating on who will be Obama’s poet:
It is however good to note that Barack Obama is not the first American Poet-President. The Atlantic magazine published a poem penned by that other President from Illinois, Abraham Lincoln, a “rollicking ballad” called “The Bear Hunt”:
I think that this is the kind of support that the Arts need most locally. If only we had a poetic president in Kenya, then poets would also be appreciated more to even appear during public functions like the upcoming Jamhuri day.
Don't you just pray for that day.
