Kibaki, Annan and Raila seen here observing a minute of silence in honour of those Kenyans who have needlessly died since Kivuitu declared Kibaki as the winner of the presidential polls. The call to stand-up was aptly made by none other than Raila Odinga.Kenyan problem will be half-solved the moment we treat each other as equals
Even before the nominated teams begin negotiations, signs are already emerging that the Annan led mediation talks are doomed to fail. Yesterday, the talks were nearly sabotaged by Office of the President protocol officers who were insisting that Kibaki sits alone on the ‘high table’ because he is the ‘supreme presidential authority’. The ODM and Mr. Annan on the other hand, would hear none of it and in the end, Raila and Kibaki occupied the same ‘high table’ flanking Annan on both sides as equals. This was after Annan and the Speaker of the National Assembly as the convener of the meeting over-ruled the OP protocol officials. Such pettiness, emanating from the PNU side, clearly shows that they are treating their political adversaries as junior partners. Protocol officials who do not appreciate that it is the very presidency that is in contention nearly exchanged blows with ODM officials prior to Annan/Marende's intevention!
The PNU had already started showing bad faith by nominating ODM-K members who have unashamedly already endorsed the legitimacy of the presidency as their representatives in the mediation process. The ODM has been clear in its demands that it does not recognize the 'government' and will only negotiate with the other side as PNU.
Even worse, on the same day talks were due to begin, PNU government insiders were desperately trying to hide from accusations of complicity in the assassination of Embakasi ODM MP Mugabe Were. Similarly, Kenya police were groping around for excuses after tear-gassing innocent mourners at the late MP’s residence. The mourners included the widows and infant children!
Barren Foreign Affairs Policy
Thanks to Kenya's barren foreign affairs policy and scant respect for global affairs, the Annan talks will, in all probability, not see the light of day.
As it is, although the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has been in the region in recent days and is due to attend the African Union summit in Ethiopia later this week, he has given Kenya a wide-berth. Ban Ki-moon has been heavily criticised by human rights group for ignoring the Kenyan crisis. The UN-SG seems caught in a serious dilemma because he does not want to be seen upstaging the African Union under whose umbrella the Annan team is operating.
As if to add insult to injury, the all powerful UN Security Council has been quick to wash its hands off the Kenyan crisis ostensibly because the crisis does not meet its rules and regulations governing its response to issues of peace and security.
Back to the Addis Ababa AU summit, PNU’s Kibaki has ignored official requests to stay away and is insisting he will attend the meeting as Kenya’s duly elected head of state. This obviously will adversely affect the direction of the mediation talks back in Kenya.
Although the Kenyan deaths and displacements are painful to most people, international sympathy is not too much as to warrant an UN peace keeping intervention. Moreover, the Annan team lacks real powers to enforce some of the pre-conditions it has listed on the MOU that was signed last evening. It is apparent even to Mr. Annan himself that this will not be the first MOU for PNU to disregard MOUs. President Kuffuor (Chairman AU) and President Museveni (Chairman Commonwealth & EAC) have both been in Nairobi to try and resolve this crisis, but both have been largely unsuccessful. Several former African heads of state plus Nobel Peace Prize Laureates Desmond Tutu and our own Wangari Maathai have also been given a cold shoulder by PNU.
What options does this leave the ODM?
- Resign to fate and accept that it is the official opposition and continue its mandate? Obviously NO!
- Revert to its mass action and economic boycott calls? Maybe, YES!
- Hope that someone somewhere has the absolute power to force Kibaki/PNU out of statehouse and organise presidential re-elections in the shortest time possible. Hopefully, YES!
What options does this leave the PNU?
- Continue to bury its head in the sand, assume that it is rightfully in power and proceed with discharging its mandate? Pray, NO!
- Accept that the presidential vote tallying was deeply flawed and Kibaki’s purported swearing-in highly irregular? Of course, YES!
- That both a vote-recount and a legal process are not viable options because the votes are already interfered with and that the judiciary in Kenya is impartial? Please, YES!
- Accept to form a transitional government with ODM with the sole purpose of re-constituting the ECK and re-organising fresh elections? Hell YEAH!
Let the people decide.
Every right-thinking Kenyan must not allow for the Annan-led peace talks to fail at all in any way shape or form. PNU and ODM must display a great sense of urgency in co-operating with all the big&small efforts being made by the Annan and his team to resolve this crisis. Both teams must put aside PETTINESS (which is hard for Kenyans surprisingly) and get down to work - salvage this nation you have burnt down to the ground!
ReplyDeleteTo the PNU side-the character of a man must be bigger than the office he holds-let Mr. Kibaki come to the negotiating table on his own he has to speak for himself he is not a ventriloquists dummy. As "duly elected president" his magnanimity at such a time should show forth clearly and know no bounds, he must even be ready to admit a defeat humiliating as it may be and he must make a concession for the sake of Kenyans lives
To ODM: advise Raila to also be willing to compromise even if it means putting off hopes of his presidential ambitions- he may have won but if the time bomb ticking explodes he won't have any country to rule over-thats no threat its truth
make no mistakes-i know the election was flawed and even stolen but due to POOR leadership handling of post-election events on both sides since one month ago we are now ALL IN THE SAME BOAT and anyone who thinks we're not must be living in diaspora comfortably drinking opium. Especially those two party leaders-if they want to know the truth its that they have lost all AUTHORITY to claim any high moral ground or victory in this matter-all they have left now is TIME TICKING that is not on their side and in any case time waits for no man-what will they rule over if this fighting continues, another somali or sudan?(petty thinking will say we're not there yet-yeah right and Kivuitu "does not know" who won the presidency-so who's signing his cheques and why doesn't he resign? Kenyans why do we willingly play chumps to all sorts of elites and foreigners-when will we get some dignity back and unite?)
inevitably i remain horseless and greatly aggrieved-the mayhem and anarchy has finally touched upon my life via a kyuk friend of mine whose family now has nowhere to live in Nakuru anymore hence i am beyond throwing stones but bring it on nevertheless
Opposition has to do the integrity thing. By the way, the Anan efforts must include an inquiry into the last general election. As a PNU supporter, I will have none of re-run, coalition govt pending fresh elections, Kibaki resign etc unless there is substantial proof(and hard facts) that the election was stolen. The current claim only remind me of the DOMO word we were using before the election. I will have none of ODM coming to power through violence and intimidation. Phil, the thing is that Raila is lying to his followers when he says that he will leave no stone unturned, since he does not have the power. Kibaki has. Being the official opposition leader is not that bad after all. There is still 2012. This is the reality that Raila and his followers must warm up to. Cheers.
ReplyDeleteTimely advise Luke.
ReplyDeleteBut I am afraid, it will be ignored. As we debate here, PNU are obtaining court orders through proxies to outlaw the Annan peace mission. They are also sponsoring violence against unarmed civilians. There's obviously no chance that they will honour any agreement with ODM. You can see them chest thumping even as innocent civilians die!
Regarding ODM, I say this: The people spoke through votes but unfortunately their votes were trashed. Although that may be water under the bridge, JUSTICE is what Raila has been talking about. Without justice, no peace will be forthcoming.
Meanwhile we must stop peddling the lie that Kenya has been peaceful. We all know people were dying in their thousands in Mt. Elgon, Kuresoi, Molo and elsewhere before the elections. Many others were displaced and killed in 1992. many more continue to die because of lack of government services delivery. A whole generation has been practically wasted since independence because some people want to monopolise political and economic power. Enough is enough. We all know this has been a time-bomb. It is impossible to 'love your neighbour' when you are jobless, landless, homeless, powerless, etc. Inequality must be addressed through a devolved system of government. A TRC may also help Kenya bury ghosts from the past.
In other words, Kenya can grab this chance, with Kofi still in town, to agree to implement a new constitution then hold general elections. In the end, there will be something for everybody.
Well Luka and Phil we can only cross our fingers and hope for the best while witnessing the worst. Our scoundrels never dissapoint and the evidence is tehre for all to see.
ReplyDeleteWe are simply paying for our accumulated sins due to LACK OF LEEDERSHIP. Kenya has had 3 rulers since 1963 and no leader. All of them only succeeded in replasing white imperialism with local/black version. The colonialist' divide and rule mutated into present day tribalism. None of these leaders had what it takes to think outside the box and lead from the front by example.
The present turmoil would have been a wake up call to make Kenya what we want it to be. Lakini wapi! All the call for peace, healing etc are nothing but firefighting. Yes we are in for rude shock. Inequality and injustice breeds mistrust and violence.
We are masters of deception who con neighbours as a region hub. The budbble has busted and no more pretence. All our prosperity was built on deceptive quick sand. We shamelessly disguise mercultile-type economic mercenary as industry. That HELL-FOR-LEATHER mentality for development.
The wages of SIN is death and that is no sermon. Maybe just as a seed has to die to germinate we have to witness the horrific bloodbath to rejuvinate. All said and done, we are singing melodious tunes to goats. Can they appreciate? Your guess is as good as mine.
Why are you so pessimistic about the peace efforts in Kenya? Its like you are happy with whats happening. You are one of those hardliners we keep hearing about...you simply dont want peace and keep washing down any efforts made to make peace.
ReplyDeleteYou and your inciting pieces are what we are calling electronic incitements....you should pray that the Annan mediation works...sorry to say this but that Kibaki is staying for another 5 years and not because i support him but thats reality.
So for starters stop blaming this on the election and being an ODM mouthpiece. We voted for change and not war.
ODM has cancelled mass action calls. It has appealed to supporters to stop acts of violence. In any case, many of them have been forced to defend themselves because the police cannot defend them.
ReplyDeleteWhat has the PNU done? Sample this; Banned public rallies, banned live broadcasts, issued shoot-to-kill orders to the police, formed a cabinet when they know the appointing authority was not elected president. Dare I add, killed an opposition MP.
PNU has never reversed any of its conditions whatsoever.
Who is fooling who?
My prayer is that this talks will bear fruit....Much fruit...Though with the inclusion of Martha Karua i am now pessimistic that nothing good will come out of it...ODM for once i must say chose a good team..people who are sober so i hope Koffi Annan will be able to calm the edgy and outrageous Karua and Mutula.
ReplyDeleteI promise you Phil if these talks fail...We will stone these politician they can no longer afford to play with the lives of Kenyans anymore....NO WAY!!!!
The other alternative though it will be painful for all of us....is the military rule but when things get tougher then we all must be tough...Coz i mean the five provinces have refused to acknowledge Kibaki as the president and the 2 provinces will never have Raila as their president....So the violence will continue unless we choose to make some hard choices and that is have the military take over on an interim basis and put in place structures and then let us have elections where Kibaki, Raila and Kalonzo's name will not appear on any of the ballot papers!!!
You know as much as some people might be saying kazi iendelee ..let us face it hakuna kazi inaendelea and if things go on like these very soon we will have Kenya auctioned or anothet thing maybe we should call the britons to come and colonise again...I mean i would prefer to be colonized by a white rather than a stupid arrogant african in the name of Michuki
The greatest danger is if matters of land,poverty,inequity,tribalism and devolution are not addressed....
ReplyDeleteA lot has been said about the Rwanda Genocide but nobody ever talks about what caused it.
Kagame speaking today clearly said Kenyans "need to look back and see what has made the country go down the drain"
Interesting read... don't agree with most of it though. There was never gonna be peace in Kenya whether Kibaki won or not... there's one conspicuous ODM leader who would have seen to that and Raila would have supported him as he is doing now. SPONTANEOUS VIOLENCE MY ASS!That's what we have to deal with... not anger over rigged elections but anger over percieved success of Kikuyu. The one funny thing though is that most street children seem to be Kikuyu... what success I ask? Think about it.
ReplyDeleteSince I do not see Kibaki stepping down, I envisage that this time next year either of these three scenarios may unfold.
ReplyDeleteFirst, Kibaki may become the absolute and heedless dictator. He shall surround himself with a cabal Kikuyu hardliners, tribalists and political and economic mercenaries. He shall have scuttled ODM by buying some of its members, killing others, nullifying the election of others through the electoral court, and killing others. He shall have managed to keep the masses off the streets by sheer force and completely marginalised any moderates in his party. Any dissent shall be silenced by the gun and then disappeared.
OR, there will be a shaky government of national unity where the head does not know what the hand is doing. Kibaki will remain in state house and wait for his five years to elapse, while ODM will continue with its bickering. The violence will continue albeit intermittently, nobody will resettle anybody, crime will soar and vigilantes will replace the police. Mungiki will remain Lord of the slums in Nairobi, while Baghdad, Angola Msumbiji and the rest will curve out respective fiefdoms. It will be a free for all.
OR, there will be a military takeover, and you can figure out the rest.
This is why I am scared.
ODM MP's salaries to be withheld
ReplyDeleteFrom KBC website: http://www.kbc.co.ke/story.asp?ID=47891
Meanwhile, Justice Joseph Nyamu on Wednesday ordered Edward Onyancha to serve the PS treasury with an application which sought to stop salaries of ODM MPs over allegations that they participated in post election violence that has rocked the country.
The judge made the order after Onyancha, who is the applicant in the case, told him that he has been unable to serve the Paymaster General with the suit papers.
The case comes up for interparties hearing on February 13.
Paul Kagame of Rwanda calls on the Kenyan military to take over.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L30119639.htm
anon @4:46
ReplyDeleteKagame also mentioned the fact that the army should take over the running of the country for a short time while we go back to the drawing board.
Paul Kagame of Rwanda calls on the Kenyan military to take over.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L30119639.htm
However, VOA said yesterday that the Kibaki regime was against that option for now because it is the Kalenjins who dominate the Military despite the fact that the top echelon of the military is filled by Kikuyus and one Kamba (CGS). Well, lets watch where we go from here.
PROUDLY KENYAN!
ReplyDeleteA talk by Eric Kimani to the Final 2007 Nairobi Marketers Night on 7th December 2007
Distinguished guests, ladies & gentlemen,
Thank you for inviting me to come and speak at the Marketers Night Out dinner. Your publication “Marketing Africa” is known for its high standards and it is an honor for me to be here tonight.
I am told that all good speeches begin with a light moment and I will keep to this tradition and tell you a true story…about Mr. Smith, Kamau and Mr. Patel!
The choice of a topic for you was complicated by the diverse nature of your audience- some are pure marketers, some are sales people some are in advertising while some are in pure branding. I believe everyone though is a marketer of some sort. The one thing you have in common that made me choose a topic is your influence on society. I don’t think there is any other professional group that influences the social economic and political fabric of our society more than you marketers. You even shape public opinion.
I am known for my talking about the soft issues in life rather than technical one and I have today chosen to talk to you on being Proudly Kenyan.
The first time I moved out of the confines of my constituency to experience the greater Kenya was when I joined form 5 in Meru School in 1977. There I met people from all over Kenya . My best friend was Omondi Oloo. We talked and shared our common aspirations as young Kenyans. As we approached the end of 1978 amid calls of “The cock is too old” our then president Mzee Jomo Kenyatta passed away. There was unease, fear and anxiety. Many said Kenya would disintegrate into civil war! This quickly passed away. The immediate past president Moi took Power and ruled for 24 years. An attempted but failed coup in 1982 almost interrupted Moi’s rule spreading further fear among all and sundry. At every election time during Moi’s 24-year rule, there was unease, anxiety and fear. It reached its height in 1992 with the politically instigated tribal clashes appearing in the Rift Valley and the Coast. Again many predicted this was the beginning of the end and Kenya stood at the brink of civil war! In 2002 as we approached another change of guard, there was fear and unease again and amid calls “Moi must go and Kibaki Tosha” president Moi gave way to HE Mwai Kibaki. In my humble view, this is the first time during elections in the history of independent Kenya that I sense that the unease, anxiety and fear level is lower than it has ever been which in a sense is political maturity. But before I digress too much into politics let me come back to the point I wanted to make.
After school I began work. I worked under the late Mohamed Akram Bhatti, an Asian of Pakistan origin who was the then chairman of the Young Muslim Association. When I decided to get married in 1983, he among others wearing the customary uniform suits and standing nearly seven foot tall, was one of the groomsmen in my wedding- himself a Muslim leader. My parents are deeply religious and anchored on Christianity. Akram’s family, which was deeply Islamic severally visited the village and enjoyed our company. Indeed we started a partnership to rear chicken with him and my father but the venture failed!
What am I driving at? I am driving at the point that Omondi Oloo, Akram Bhatti and Eric Kimani were, besides being Luo, Pakistani and Kikuyu, proudly Kenyan! Our diversity was our strength. It gave us color! Why has it become so pronounced that we are of this and that tribe and not Kenyan? How deep is your love for Kenya ? Are you proud to be Kenyan?
What do I want to tell you tonight? I want to tell you to be proudly Kenyan; I want to remind you that you have no choice; I want to remind you that Kenya is all there is for us all; I want to remind us that being Proudly Kenyan must begin by marketing this agenda in our minds!
I would like to begin by describing why in my view we have failed the test of being Proudly Kenyan.
1. Tribalism- We wrongfully accept that our tribal differences is our greatest weakness. In my view this should be a strength and not a weakness as I will allude to later. Some of our politicians and outsiders have made this worse by using it for their own selfish ends. As I speak there is heightened tribal animosity in some places where it was planted in 1992! Ethnic and tribal discrimination and identification is based on perceived insecurity. Indeed, I accept an argument by Pastor Oginde who recently argued that were it not for our strong religious grounding, tribalism would by now have torn Kenya apart! Kenyans have exercised restraint in the face of great provocation as history has shown. My prayer tonight is that we will continue to exercise this restraint while at the same time building a national identity that is truly Kenyan!
When is the last time you got out of your way to help one who is not from your own tribe? This weekend we had the mentoring session for about 100 Palmhouse Secondary school kids- It was so fulfilling for me to see the Muslim girls and boys spread out their mats on the open grass to pray! It was exciting to see Terry Davidson and his wife among others spend time mentoring Kenyan kids; it was exciting to see Michael Owuor from Nyanza mentoring Josephine Kamene from Kitui; while Jane was mentoring Fatuma! Serving your own does not bring the Kenyan message home- even thieves watch over their own. You must begin where you are- invite the diversity on your board of directors on your management team. How you behave speaks louder than what you say
2. We are not patriotic enough to be proudly Kenyan. We have agreed to be influenced by some outsiders and selfish leaders to hate our own country. Who can hate his/her own mother? Have you observed the patriotism of Americans, Japanese, British, Indians, Chinese, and French etc? It always amazes me when I visit America - Many Americans will tell you what a great country America is: how lucky they are; how blessed they are and then proceed to give you their political opinion which may be as harsh as any. Ask a Kenyan his view of our country and he/she will start mourning the troubles of Kenya and the government. Recently a well educated Kenyan lady came seeking my assistance to go to America . She began telling me how life in Kenya is hell! How there is no hope in this country. How she must get herself and her family to America . I go to America relatively quite often in the last few years. I have two sisters and other relatives. While admittedly life in the short run is better in the US , nothing in my view beats Kenya . If those in America were to tell you frankly, many would love to come back home if there were opportunities! Why do we speak so ill of our country? President George W. Bush this year issued an official proclamation of May 1st 2007 as Loyalty Day- This is a now a legal holiday (not federal) in the US whose purpose is quote “a day for the affirmation of loyalty to the United States and for the recognition of the heritage of American Freedom” end of quote. We are not short of examples to follow.
3. We have failed the proudly Kenyan test because we are unable to separate Kenya from the political leadership. Kenya is not made up of politicians. The president is not Kenya . Parliament is not Kenya . Kenya is bigger than the sum total of all! I like the way for example Americans and Canadians are proud of being such- in many American homes they fly their flag; the Canadians wear lapel pins of their flag. If you did it in Kenya people might mistake you for a member of KANU. We must change this. We must treat our flag with pride and no political party should be allowed our national colors!
4. We have failed the Proudly Kenyan test because of a deeply colonized mind- I once observed the behavior of a particular African head of state at a dinner function. When a person of any other shade except black went to whisper/exchange niceties he would straighten up and put on a wide smile. When an African approached him his demeanor would completely change to one of “what do you want”? We are our worst enemies! We still do not believe enough in ourselves; we still largely think we do not measure up!
5. We have failed the proudly Kenyan test because of a poor work ethic - I am finally persuaded to agree with a theory that perhaps due to long and undue colonization, we Africans came to believe that work is to be avoided. I once received a call from London in the early nineties from an investor in a tea plantation who left Kenya in the late sixties. He could not understand that workers had gone on strike and his question was why we could not get the DC to whip the natives back to work! In Africa unlike in the west and the east work is not treated as godly or duty or something that must be done. Indeed if you can get paid to do the least, you consider yourself as doing well! This must change if we are to get anywhere! Work is no longer punishment! We must treat work as a duty and a godly thing to do to be proudly Kenyan.
6. We have often failed the Proudly Kenyan test because we believe and think small of ourselves - as a family we own and run a micro-dairy processing plant where we have packaged milk for over a decade. It never ceases to amaze me that often when we tell people we sell milk to Serena hotel or Nairobi Hospital among others, their first reaction is “do you supply raw milk in big containers”! We think small!
7. We have failed the Proudly Kenyan test because of what I refer to as a PHD - a “Pull Him Down” mentality! We seem to pursue a line of thinking in a scarcity paradigm that if we are all doing badly it is okay but it is not okay that some do so well and better than us! I once had an employee walk into my office and argue that we should not give a pay rise to another employee on promotion because he would get better paid than him and he considered himself senior but grossly underpaid. I agreed that he is underpaid but pulling his colleague down was scarcity approach. He should have supported his pay rise and use it to argue for an even bigger pay rise himself instead of wearing a PHD hat!
What must we do to get better at being Proudly Kenyan?
1. We must lead the way and begin by marketing Kenya in our own minds. We must begin to walk the talk and talk positively of Kenya .
I have resolved never to take part in a conversation to demean my country. We must stop confusing Kenya with some of our poor leaders. Very often some foreigners will start a conversation on how corrupt Kenya is! I refuse to accept this line of argument. Kenya is not corrupt but a very small number in leadership often working in cohort with foreigners are corrupt! Being Proudly Kenyan calls for us to live it and show it! I once sent an exchange student back to America before his time for among other things his stand on Kenya- he persistently talked ill of the country and our leaders!
2. Being Proudly Kenyan calls on us to begin to take responsibility. You must begin to be the one who gives way in traffic; the one who refuses to cut others in traffic: the one who refuses to drive on the pavement and break the kerb. Do you know that in the USA and other western cities for example, there are no lights or policemen to control inter-sections and motorists just control themselves? Common courtesy is lacking for us to be proudly Kenyan. Stop talking and shifting blame on government- you are the government. Do something! Half of the traffic jams in Nairobi are caused by lack of common courtesy- let us resolve to lead the way.
3. Being proudly Kenya calls for Buy Kenyan Build Kenya - Buy Tusker, Yana etc. attend local theatre; attend local restaurants; retain local talent; get services like medical, etc from Kenyans! Stories are told of people who bought suits made in Kenya from some western cities for three times the price on Biashara Street in Nairobi ! The Export Processing Zone at Sameer is one of the largest manufacturing facility for jeans for one of America ’s largest clothing company but I wonder how many would buy them in Nairobi and feel proudly Kenyan? I have an America friend who is so proudly American that he persistently asks if I could supply him with Goodyear tyres!
4. To be proudly Kenyan calls for us to support the less endowed in our society. A society with too large a group that is poor is difficult to cohere together. Those of us who have must attempt to bring up those who don’t. It is amazing how poor we are at giving which in my view leads us to fail to appreciate the bigger picture in life. I have travelled to many cities in the West particularly the USA , and it amazed me that the local hospitals, the local theatre, the school, and other utilities in many towns in the USA and much of Europe were largely built by the donations of those who are more endowed in those societies. What legacy do we see of our Kenyan rich and able? How many would build a facility like the Jaffrey club and give it to the public to use like Mr. Merali has done? To be proudly Kenyan we must begin to support our own causes.
5. Being Proudly Kenyan calls for us to have more Kenyan innovators and entrepreneurs. These will be the true and sustainable drivers of a proudly Kenyan economy. We need to empower our people- I give the example of Palmhouse Dairies our decade old micro-dairy processing again. When we set up we began to give farmers feeds and extension services on credit. We then stopped in order to allow budding small entrepreneurs to do it. We now have 5 suppliers from whom they can pick feeds and other necessities and we deduct from their milk deliveries at the end of the month. When the government extension services collapsed we bought containers for semen, employed inseminators and clinical officers. We have in the 10 years employed and fired 5 clinical cum insemination officers but the interesting phenomena is that none has left the vicinity of our dairy - they are private practitioners serving our farmers and beyond - we no longer need to offer such services ourselves! Being proudly Kenyan calls for creating more Kenyan entrepreneurs!
Where can we begin the journey to being more proudly Kenyan? I suggest we make little step that will soon lead to giant strides;
1. I suggest we go back to our National Anthem and rekindle what it sought to achieve. I was reading through some material and I learnt that the commission that was set to create the Kenyan National Anthem had as its object, quote “…to express the deepest convictions and the highest aspirations of the people of Kenya as a whole. Words have immense power to unite and divide, and great care had to be taken to choose the right words to ensure that the anthem would become an indisputable unifying factor in the life of the nation”. Unquote. I suggest we start here - for both the young and the old. I suggest the National anthem be re-introduced as a daily routine in all primary and high schools. Employers may also be encouraged to sing/use it. I am told in Japan , companies developed their own anthems to build loyalty. I have attended many informal functions in the US and the loyalty pledge is almost a must do at every occasion.
2. I suggest that we affirm Kenya at every opportunity - I meet many successful business men who are always mourning how bad Kenya is yet they continue doing business and flourishing; they spread fear and anxiety. When people ask me about Kenya I tell them it is a great Country: that I could never trade Kenya for any other country. Those who have taken my word and visited prove that for themselves and often return or recommend to others!
3. We must stop telling discriminatory jokes and myths about each other- that Luos don’t circumcise; that Kikuyu are thieves; that Kambas are sexy… etc! Next time you want to do it - stop yourself and think Kenyan! Slowly it will die. In some western countries it has been outlawed to tell discriminatory jokes because it fuels sectionalism.
4. We must begin to stand up for Kenya . Kenya is bigger than any single tribe or leader. We must begin to teach our children to respect and love our country. We must stop the negative attitude about our beautiful country. Our diversity must become our strength. When it comes to Kenya , let us hang our tribal and religious labels and be Proudly Kenyan. When we are out and inside Kenya let us sell Kenya as a great brand. Great brands possess great attributes. Such great attributes must be communicated positively, both verbally and by our actions/behaviour.
Will you join me and many others on this journey of making us proudly Kenyan?
May I ask you to kindly stand up and re-affirm with me that we will be proudly Kenyan by singing the National Anthem that is before us…
O God of all creation,
Bless this our land and nation.
Justice be our shield and defender,
May we dwell in unity,
Peace and liberty.
Plenty be found within our borders.
Let one and all arise
With hearts both strong and true.
Service be our earnest endeavour,
And our Homeland of Kenya ,
Heritage of splendour,
Firm may we stand to defend.
Let all with one accord
In common bond united,
Build this our nation together,
And the glory of Kenya ,
The fruit of our labour
Fill every heart with thanksgiving.
Tonight I challenge us all to start the small steps towards being Proudly Kenyan.
Thank you and God bless you.
I'm really concerned about some of the rhetoric that's going on here. There's so much speculation without facts. Case in point: The UN security council IS discussing Kenya as I type this, for the first time in its history--from a UN worker and I'm sure if you check their schedule, you'll see this as well. Those who work for the UN esp. in NYC will tell you they've been working long hours for the Kenya situation. Things are never what they seem on the surface.
ReplyDeletePeople are anxious to see peace return--and I'm sure if you ask your brothers and sisters, very few are interested in voting any time soon. Let's preach peace people, and fight for justice in nonviolent ways. The way some of you sound, Raila and Kibaki will resolve their issues and you'll still be spewing venom without moving on.
Anon @ 6.46 a.m. I too had thought about the military option i.e. having them run govt. for a couple of months since PNU appears to be determined to sit pretty.
ReplyDeleteThe violence is sad but we really ought not to waste the blood that has already been shed; anything short of a new constitution (Draft as at October 2002) will be pity.
ReplyDeletePaul Kagame's solution radical as it is may just be the way out of the current impasse.
ReplyDeleteAnon @ 6.46 yes, we do need to go back to the drawing board but it is not a daunting journey - we already have a PROPSED CONSTITUTION that originally addressed the key conflict areas:
ReplyDeletea)Devolution of power.
b)Diluting the excessive powers of the executive.
C)Addressing land issues in certain areas e.g. Rift Valley and Coast Province.
If Kibaki had enacted the const. in his first 100 days of office (2003) we would not be where we are now.
I agree with Kagame's sentiments. We do need to have the army come in and Raila, Kibaki and Kalonzo need to take a back burner. But the question is, who else will lead Kenya? We do not have any true leaders who are fair, non-tribalistic, without selfish interests and motivations. Kenya is in trouble.
ReplyDeleteAs regards to the MPs' salaries, none of them should be paid a damn cent. Why only restrict it to ODM? None of those MPs have done anything to deserve a salary. They're not sitting in Parliament, nor are they in their constituencies preaching peace and tolerance.
Annan didnt say that all the problems will be solved now. The problem is people have a really abd attitude to this situation, but fail to realise the consequences. Failing should not even be an option for any Kenyan so if Annan cant we we'll just have to do it ourselves. Its like Kenyan's are the least optimistic group, yet they have the most to lose
ReplyDeletephil...payuka asmuch as you can.....peace is on the way either you like it or not....i told you utameza wembe and now ha! you are really mezaring it. lol!
ReplyDeleteThe Office of the President protocol officers are probably the same people who though that only 3% of the country was affected.
ReplyDeleteI fear that the two sides are too far apart and that the issues are too deep to resolve without continued intervention. Beyond any immediate compromises, the key question is whether the negotiations will *really* put into effect the mechanisms to bring about fundamental change in the institutions.
I would like to be hopeful, but realistically speaking, I doubt if Central will give back the gains over the last 40 years. The military option cannot be ruled out.
BTW, looking at the pic of the swearing-in, I can't help but think that the CJ was complicit in this fiasco. If you don't have confidence in the Judiciary, what's left?? Think about it.
ReplyDeleteNow more than ever I would agree with President Ex-General Kagame, as Kibaki plays games and Raila is blinded by DECEIT, it is time to clean up the country, Military rule is an option that I think should be on the table... and the military leader should be from the north eastern region.
ReplyDeleteTHE PEOPLE OF CENTRAL are not interested in KENYA.
ReplyDeleteHear what their Cardinal said: Kibaki take charge meaning shoot to kill (other Kenyans).
Kibaki and that province will not let power go somewhere else. Never!! Even in 2012!! Even 2017, etc.
The only option is to fight. Revolution supported by all Kenyans from Mombasa to Busia to Namanga is the only way to liberate Kenya and reinstall democracy.
@7:28
ReplyDeleteKenyans are all proud to be Kenyans. Kenyans are not tribalists. NO.
A proof: "Kibaki Tosha" was shouted by a Luo. 100% of Luo votes went to Kibaki. Kisumu has elected an Asian as their MP.
Would a Kikuyu say "Omondi Tosha", can Nyeri elect an Arab MP or Mayor?
There is only ONE community in Kenya which is not patriotic and I mean very tribalistic. No any other Kenyan apart from a Kikuyu can do business in Nyeri. Please Mr Kimani teach Kikuyus how to be patriotic like the few they have: Githongo, Maathai, Kaia. I cant remember any other Kikuyu who is patriotic, even the cardinal is NOT.
All the commentators on the subject are failing on one standard issue. Kenya is an artificial construct. Why don't we divorce peacefully? I mean why should the a government enforce itself on the population? Kibaki can be president of places where he is wanted and ODM can lead in places where they are wanted. Peace, negotiations and all the bull crap going on won't solve anything. We will be back to fighting sooner rather than later.
ReplyDeleteSecondly, how come the tragic events of Eldoret (Church burning) were harped on as ODM mediated violence and yet Naivasha and Nakuru are not seen as PNU mediated violence? Even the burnings? Trust me if police wanted to prevent any of the latter clashes they could have. Even some Naivasha kikuyus have already stated that the police and Mungiki worked hand in hand? and forced people to fight the western kenya natives. Additionally, Most of the deaths in the country have been in the hands of the police? When dealing with Luo, Luhya or Kalenjin protesters, police have used live bullets, while the only victims of Nakuru and Naivasha were those killed by police-mungiki?
Other communities (read ODM) need to learn and have their own militia. You can only negotiate from a position of equality (tell ODM and everybody that) If one person has bullets and you have stones guess who wins.
Finally, please do not kill he innocent just as you do not want your loved ones killed do not kill other people loved ones. Let there be peace as we await divorce.
No one gives a position of advantage easily the overseas colonialist did not neither will our local colonialists. The constitutional clause that people can own property anywhere was just a land grab cover. It is unraveling whether the mafia like it or not. 700 million that Kibaki intents to build colonial outposts (Police stations) will come to naught. It is not Raila, neither Ruto or Musalia not even Kibaki it is just that a time has come, a time for change and equality.
Last week, I suggested in this forum that the Kenyan Military should take out power from Kibaki, reorganize Kenya and get an independent election observer to overlook a fair and just election. People didn’t take heed. Kagame seems to be thinking my way.
ReplyDeleteI also said that it seems Annan chose the wrong job this time. Kibaki is in his meeting to promote peace but not to tackle up the problem of realizing that Raila too has over 4 million Kenyans in his shoulders. Kibaki is in the meeting not for power sharing but for peace and to look like a good leader to the west and the Europeans.
So again, in this forum we can suggest a thousand and some ideas but so long as Kibaki is not even reading scripts written in Kenyan assassinated blood, what surely are we suggesting? He will never listen.
Phil! Chris! Somebody better address the military. They need ideas. They have families and relatives too and I bet they wouldn’t wish to loose them. I think they can think better than just their checks from Kibaki. Remind them to help our nation.
The question about WHO will rule Kenya in the future will not matter as long as we have a GOOD CONSTITUTION.
ReplyDeleteWe really do need to have the original draft passed.
Good democratic institutions will keep leaders in check and ensure that all Kenyans matter.
We the Kenyans, the true blood of this soil, are in much haste, 40 days and 40 nights or as the Waswahili say ... Siku za mwizi ni Arubaini. Those who are wise may count, those who have eyes will not.
ReplyDeleteOur military is best known for peace-keeping initiatives. The failure of the military to adapt their plans to the brutual situation in Kenya may be traced to the habit of mind formed in peace training.
The need for adaptation has to be forseen, the power of adjustment has to be developed. The armed forces have been brought up on a diet of theory, I respect their ideals, but they too must come forth and take an TRUE oath to the Nation itself rather than to an individual, a concubine of selfish politicians or too failed institutions.
Kagame is not a fool, he is not speaking out of fiction, he probably saw things first hand that NEITHER Kibaki Nor Raila will see from their safe FOREIGN nests.
I am disgusted, we need to be given access to the armoury if some people are scared.
I do not believe it is possible to envisage a 'General' action with the whole of our forces. But I CONSIDER that the cooperation of some 'WILLING FRIENDS' in the defence of this beautiful land is the only course that can give us an advantageous result, no wonder they were so EASILY expelled.
Freedom from external interference is too commonly obscured.
Guys, lets give the Kiuks a break! They are here to stay. And even if the country was to be divided, they would still be a neighboring country.
ReplyDeleteIt will be superflous to say that we were at anytime peaceful, no, but just calm. In addressing the injustices that are making the conflict spiral out of control a few hard facts will need to be told. Raila won the election and anybody you meet out of Kenya tends to agree that fact so easily (I live in Kabul!!)
ReplyDeleteThat Kibaki stole the elction is matter-of-fact and one reinforced by Government Comedian aka Spokesman commedian Mutua, PhD. That the Kambas are now synonymous with comics can't be imagination: ODMK's wiper slogan (childish?), Kivuitu's and now Mutua (PhD!!) But then they are choirboys.
The hatred seen in Kenya has been there, and to assert that if Raila had won there would be chaos is below-par thinking (PNU?) In 2002 the Kalenjin lost an election and never killed no Kiuk. Why should they do it in 2008? Becoz only "Kenyans" from Central Province believe Kibaki won, but the bulk of Kenyans know Raila won.
Will Kibaki last? No. Zimbabwe is in free-fall because it has no strategic importance to China, US, EU and its neighbours as South Africa is the engine of the region. But Kenya is the opposite and it will be foolhardy to iamgine the world powers will sit and let Kenya slip towards a failed state! Nope. We are of strategic importance and hence need for external intervention.
This is a fight Kibaki will not win. Atameza wembe. The looser in this episode will be Kibaki and the Kikuyus...hear this: an evicted shopkeeper (Kiuk) in Kakamega told Luhyas that they have no sense of biashara as they can only sell "tsiswa"...meaning termites. I took like a compliment. The bottom line she will never need to sell her "fenjo(pencil)" to "tsiswa" traders. That is Kenya.