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Friends, fellow Kenyans it is with tears in my eyes that I write this post today and I take no pride in having been proved 100% correct in my repeated warnings about a very violent general elections. I would rather that this post were an apology to you all for being a war monger.
What pride do I have in being proved right when scores of innocent Kenyans lie dead in the city mortuary having died for absolutely nothing. Or what was the reason they died? General elections? The presidency of Kenya? Are these things that are more precious than one human life? Tell me today that the killings will stop and I will do anything, including support the thieves and murderers who call themselves politicians and are no doubt responsible for all this chaos in our beloved country. That is how precious human life is. More so, innocent poor people who have suffered all their lives only because they were not born by a Kenyan in a position to make wealth overnight through corrupt means.
Last night four innocent, poverty-stricken Kenyans lost their lives in the sprawling Kibera slums in the hands of persons believed to be Mungiki adherents.
Even more interesting is the fact that the incident took place shortly after warnings had been issued through some leaflets circulated in the area. Eyewitnesses add that the gunmen were being directed to shoot by a smartly-dresses man carrying a briefcase.
When you read Phil's comment left here earlier today, a pattern begins to appear. It is clear that that Mr Police commissioner Ali and company are anxious to keep as much news from us as possible. But thank God for the Internet and citizen journalism. We now know that more people died in Kibera than has been reported in the news. Please read Phil's post below;
Phil has left a new comment on your post "Why Hon Michuki And Police Commissioner Ali Must R...":
Just a day before you published a story calling on Michuki and Brg. Ali to resign, I have a story that will reinforce your concerns about insecurity Chris. Unless you fall victim yourself, you will never empathise with victims of violence and insecurity in Kenya.
I received a call at about 9pm on Wednesday from Kibera (Langata Constituency) informing me that a friend of mine had been shot dead outside his house in Fort Jesus estate. Being fired at several times (actually five bullets hit him) at point blank range, the fellow died instantly. As he lies dead at City mortuary, he leaves behind six school-going children and a young jobless wife. While going to bed with a heavy heart, I was again woken up past midnight by yet another call informing me that three more individuals had been shot dead in different places in Langata constituency . Bloggers may ask why the calls; it is because I have been a long time resident of Langata, and I retain friends there, as well as being a community/social worker in the slums.
Eye witnesses said that the killers were four individuals, they all wore ski-masks (what we call monkey-hats)/heavy jackets, they carried 3 pistols and their ringleader, described as a tall slender man with a rough voice and heavy Kikuyu acccent, carried the dreaded AK-47 assault rifle. They operated on foot and worked on victims slowly and methodically, taking away wallets, cellphones and other valluables as they empty cash boxes of small businesses like butchers, bars, paraffin vendors, etc. Whoever refused to lie down when the armed robbers were operating was shot several times without second thought. A kibera shopkeeper, frozen with fright, raised his hands as if to surrender, but was hit hard on the face by the rifle butt to force him to lie face down. He lost a lot of blood and is today recovering at home nursing twelve stitches on his forehead. He was relieved of his days' sale of Kshs. 2500/-!! Infact, the said ringleader was heard boasting that this was just the beginning and more was to come in the coming days. Six hours after the raid, the deceased cell phones which were still ON, and after persistent calling the thugs actually answered and arrogantly told 'wacha kusumbua wazee'. Chilling, isnt it?
While petty crime like mugging or pick-pocketing (kupigwa tero) is common place in Kibera, like in every other slum, something is seriously wrong when four gun-totting thugs can roam casually in a densely populated estate killing and terrorising citizens as early as 8pm - when most households are have hardly retired for the night and candle lit shops are still open.
Coming at a time when Raila's rating is climbing steadily in opinion polls, while he is himself poised to launch one of the strongest presidential campaigns in multi-party Kenya and the controversy sorrounding the ODM nominations, these killings, Chris, are clearly an act of a strong warning to the area residents that not even the Kenya Police can protect them or their property unless they toe the line. (By the way Chris, why do the likes of Kalonzo and Uhuru demand for establishment of elections board in ODM if they know they will eventually settle for concensus?) Innocent citizens have been executed in Kibera in isolated cases in the last few months, but yesterday's operation means this country is headed for big trouble and it reminds me of your numerous posts of fears of a violent 2007 election.
In the rural areas, for example Mt Elgon, victims must have been terrified in their night raid experiences considering the environment they live in and the fact that people retire early in rural Kenya due to lack of electricity. If these killings in Kibera are anything to go by, then we must ask hard questions about the state of affairs in government. Police have been combing the area from early this morning but residents are afraid that this is too little, too late.
Most Kenyans fail to fully grasp the fact that Mwai Kibaki is the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces and that he personally took an oath of office to defend the constitution and protect the lives of all Kenyans. Do we really know what this means? I think the buck stops at his door step!
Chris, you recently talked of launching a campaign to get MPs to accept a paycut in the 10th parliament. It is my considered opinion that the campaign should instead be to increase awareness and highlight the plight of victims of violence and insecurity in Kenya!!
Father and son seduced by the same woman called "death."
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Very true, you don't take pride in accurately predicticting mass murder. The present Kenyan case is symptomatic of everything going wrong save for shameless apologists who are still enslaved in the dark past.
ReplyDeleteEngaging in reverse logic (bring one down to your level instead of measuring up to his stds) and kettle-pot comparison-like dialogue is the epitome of cheap reasoning at best and psychophancy at worst. It pains me to see intelligent Kenyans reduce themselves to elite Ndiles of this world.
Make no mistake in apologizing by replacing wisdom with cognitive skill. The present world has no place for leaders incapable of grasping life and policies in their abstract before breaking them to small implimentable pieces.
But I digrace (excuse my emotions). Insecurity in Kenya has reached unforgivable proportions. Politics is behind all this blood letting and no amount of pretence will wash. The Luhya adage of the hyena telling the rocj 'you have heart even if you keep quiet' couldn't be more apt.
My brothers Phil and Derek are passionate about their respective bull but please gentlemen take a minute off your hearts and reminisce with your hearts with those fighting to see the next sun rise. Derek, with DUE RESPECT, do all in your powers to back your man but please remain senstive to the mama mbogas who don't know cannot even the word blog leave alone mouthing it. Moderated and practical elitism is a must, ama?
Posts on this blog take preditable leave when Mungiki is featured and you don't need to be a NASA scientist to decifer why. We are at crossroads and have reduced authenticity to mere names which are nothing but a cluster of letter for simple identity. Johnstone Kamau hijacked the Kenyan dream with a mere change of name just like Kamuzu Banda (a Ghananian) was given a royal payback to lead Malawi (he couln't speak Chewa).
Is short Mungiki and all its derivatives will continue roaming the streets and slums serving political interest till the objective is met. But not for llong becasue I can assure you they maybe armed but they have stroked fire by holding onto a live wire. Kibera is no Mathere. This is no war mongering and I pray that I am dreaming and wrong but I fear I am right.
Taabu, thanx for that. Somebody wrote, I think three days ago that there are alot of right predictions in this blog. They are indeed.
ReplyDeleteFor my spat with Phil, we only differ politically not at a national level where my patriotism, pride and love for Kenya is unswerving.
Politically, I am only against someone using a whole community as a bargaining chip and at a price that he dictates in the kenyan political market. Period.
Today, I said that resignation will not be the solution. Taabu and Chris, with all the respect I can offer you, think of Kenya Railways that was shanted into history just less than a year ago.
How many regime changes took place there. Several. One day, I remember an MP from Nyanza saying that one has no business being a cabinet minister if the Railway line is not operational. Did it change anything. NO. Kenya was one of teh few countries in the world that did not operate a passenger railway enterprise. It was that shameful.
How many times did we hear that KP&TC were going down and the best the government could offer, was to replace one tribesman with another.
So many times, the police commissioners have been involved in various acts of crime. Solution? Replace Kiruki after the Ocalan thing, Replace so and so after policemen are caught reciving a bribe, replace so and so after others are caught reciving bribes on Langata road. The cycle continues.
My point is let us as Kenya tackle Mungiki. NSIS, Police, The Community, let us stand up and fight them. Take an example of Egypt. when Gamaliya Islamia hoodlums killed some Japanese tourists in the mid 1990s, it took the personal effort of Hosni Mubarak to visit the Nile region and the community living around that area to even point the tearways and yobs in that region.
To this moment, Egyptian tourists (apart from the recent Al Qaeda efforts) enjoy peace. Look at Uganda when some 'nationalists' (not different from Mungiki) killed some Western tourists visiting Bwindi, it took the personal effort of Yoweri Museveni to visit the region in a space of hours and the outcome, cannot be described by the journalists who visited the region the next day. Bloodbath is a soft word!
Okay, Shifta, for how long were they wrecking havoc in North Eastern. Despite being a high risk region, there is not much that we hear about them nowadays.
The thing is let the community rise up and tackle the Mungiki thing.
Correction first Derek. The Bwindi Massacre had nothing to do with 'some nationalist' brother. this were the interhamwe (killing together) seeking publicity. The price for that misadventure is Kabuga's head. I jjust pray that you were not using that (mis)information to sanitize anything. I will never cast aspersion nor insinuate anything and you better clear the air bro.
ReplyDeleteNow to your well documented litany of trouble spots and how they were promptly nibbed in the bud. Is it only me not seeing your shyness to point the clear PARALLEL to Mubarak and Museveni actions.
Again no aspersions and over to you Derek.
The community will only rise up once they know they have the law enforces (read poltical will) on their side. Telling them to rise up in the present faul environment is a task akin to selling icecream to an Eskimo, they won't risk.
Sorry Taabu, my comparison of the Interahamwe and Bwindi thing is that they have the same community (in this case) emotions that having boiling over time. Is Mungiki similar to that? I stand to be corrected. Taabu thanx for that correction. But look at the people who did it. I read in Time Magazine about the same some years back, but their's like Mungiki's is for publicity.
ReplyDeleteIn one of my posts, I said that like all terrorists, Mungiki are getting publicity. When they act in Kibera, an area represented by Raila Odinga (sorry, I belong in that constituency)they get the publicity they want.
I said Margaret Thatcher compained about giving IRA publicity and the ramifications are still being felt at the BBC. The point is, when they hit in Nyeri, Mwai Kibaki's consituency, they show you their might. They cross over to Michuki's Muranga and make it louder that they have arrived.
That was my point. For the Bwindi one, I hope the Time writer never had it right.
Taabu, what is the difference between killiong together and seeking publicity. I think that is what Derek said. Again, all terrorists do it for publicity and that is what that man has said.
ReplyDeletei think the point he was making and never came out loudly was, that the governmemnt and the president should show his concern and be there to be seen to encourage confidence in the poeople
I have to put an end to my self imposed abstenance from making my contributions in this blog. I had decided to be a keen reader of others' contributions but due to the little time that I have relegate my posting to the back seat. That may go to hell. I gotta voice my concerns.
ReplyDeleteFirst, Mwai Kibaki and his entire government must quit tommorrow morning. We cannot keep losing our loved ones when we voted for people into power and their most primary duty should be to protect the citizenry. When the president keeps mum and the numbers of those dying in the hands of these crooks called mungiki, what business does he have getting a 2 Million shillings cheque every month end? There are some injustices vested on kenyans that we cannot and should never compromise on. In my opinion we can blame the "politicians" the much we please but the fact is that the government should be held accountable for every death coming as a result as this beheading outbreak. When Kibaki and his people fail to guarantee us security, with all the security apparatus at their disposal then what else can they achieve? Would you rather read every day about some imaginary economic growth and spend the rest of your time mourning the death of your relatives and neighbours? This government has lost the moral authority to govern to say the least. It is time they quit and and went to court answer charges for overseeing official massacre of the people of Kenya.
Those talking about Kibera and Raila Odinga may continue with that pettiness but the fact is that Kibera, Mathare, Kangema, Othaya, Dandora..you name it have equal share of Kenya and deserve a life free from this uncalled for violence. I really do not give a fuck who the mp for Kibera is, but one naked truth is that those residents of Kibera, just like all the otyher kenyans voted for a president who is now on oath to reasonably ensure their security.
Calling for the resignation of Brig Ali and Njoroge Michuki is another manifestation of how hopeless we are. These two share the responsibility of ensuring the security of Kenyans but in my opinion the entire government should, now surrender the instruments of power. I am not so naive as to believe that some of those shouting loudest have a better 'violence free record' and I know they are an alternative yes, but a worse alternative. It is time Kenyans re-examined their priorities and redefined the parameters for gauging good leadership. Has anyone noticed that the only time Mwai Kibaki talked about mungiki is when they stroke Othaya. Are some kenyans more equal than others? Who funds the government? It is the people of kenya and if the money these bastards are collecting in form taxes cannot buy security for them, then the government needs to say that today and we resort to jungle law where everybody is for himself and God is for us all.
No matter how sweet power is, we should not strive to preserve it by officiating massacre. We, on the same breath should not attempt to win power by inflicting fear on the citizens. That, in very plain language is called stupidity.
Tell me something Kumekucha, have you ever heard Mungiki killing people in Kileleshwa,Kitisuru, Muthaiga or Karen for that matter? Its just Mathare and the likes of Kibera.
ReplyDeleteWhat message is this government passing? That there is Kenya for the Rich and Kenya for the rest????
First I feel sorry for my brothers and sisters in Kibera, I hope next time the guys appear they manage lynch them with tyres and kerosene (Ukiona wao weka tyre) their usual style of dealing with such people though kerosene is now cost nearly like petrol (with the improved economy).
ReplyDeleteWe will sing Michuki and Ali must go until our voices get hoarse and nothing will happen unless they decide to leave on their own which I doubt, we will just get used to the bad smell and hope it goes away if the occupant of the White house on the hill changes, its only a few months to go.
Political leaders should push the government to stop this nonsense to prove that they dont only know how to fight to keep their jobs with fat salaries (the way Kihara can call an opponent "Shetani") and the government should prove that they are capable of dealing this atrocious crime
Otherwise tunavumilia kuwa wakenya.
Folks,
ReplyDeleteI am afraid these problems are with us for the long haul. That is, until we do something about it. My opinion is, all or most of the problems in Kenya can be traced to one group of people. POLITICIANS. Its only after we put our politics right that we will get somewhere. We can shut vision 2030 until we turn blue, but we are not getting anywhere until we fix our politics.
Luckily, this is an election year, and that is where our opportunity to do something lies. I remember seeing in the papers a plan for aspirants to sign a charter of sorts with the electorate.
Is this initiative still on course? Can't we agree to back such an initiative? Can we make sure that the media support such an idea?
Lets discuss how viable this is.. The alternative is to sit back and keep complainig, until someone cuts our head. Personally, i feel i have been taken for a ride by politicians for too long.
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ReplyDelete