Whoever said if you want to hide anything from an African put it in a book has got another thing coming to them. For a long time Kenyans were thought to be afraid of what lies between book covers. However a recent survey published in a local daily reveals we are fearless readers not afraid of consuming but of acquiring knowledge.Kenya National Libraries may do well to increase the number of local libraries but kudos to kenyans for embracing reading culture outside formal education
A person who never went to school has innate natural intelligence and though books can be expensive there's more than one way to skin a cat.Our newspapers are just as good a place to start and widespread distribution of national publications ensures everybody is on the same page. As for our newspapers never mind propaganda wars labelling certain media houses sensationalist and others ethnically biased. The fact is no longer dealing with an illiterate population makes it harder for governments to pull the wool over people's eyes.the level of public awareness is increasing and has never been higher.
The average mwananchi is miles ahead of extinct dinosaurual leadership and this situation is troubling for woolly leadership continuosly incensed by the sharp awakening of a public which no longer accepts to be thought or spoken for.readers are indeed leaders and soon reading Kenyans will be firmly leading this country for themselves the way its supposed to be
niaje luka,
ReplyDeleteebu add that to the fact that we in the information age and the 'heaven' that the internet brings with it. no more twisting of information to satisfy selfish needs and goals. it will be all in the net for you to read (or watch) and do your own research.
again with a reading populace, we get to have a writing populace ... and there comes a part of citizen journalism ... and then a higher chance of educating the citizens ... leading to having them elect good leaders.
eheheh,
ReplyDeleteReading is not sufficient.
What matters is what people are reading. If u wanna see what we mean, can u tell us why this is happening in the USA of all places today with all the "readers"?
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXlxBeAvsB8
- http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/29127316/the_great_american_bubble_machine/1.
Luke
ReplyDeleteThis is good news and we need to stretch the advantages of the resources available for the common good of all
The average kenyan has always been smarter than they get credit for.Our biggest challenge now is to rid ourselves of these incompetent and self-centered leaders.We are a proud nation with tones to offer our people and the world.Maybe this will serve as an inspiration for a revolution.
ReplyDeleteMwarang'ethe has nailed it. The key word is sufficient. Then you might ask sufficient to what purpose? Defining that purpose for which we must increase knowledge is the ultimate challenge.
ReplyDeleteKibaki names ANOTHER commission of enquiry
ReplyDeleteKweli Kenya is a failed state
With Bush, this could have washed. But with Obama who is the big hand pushing the ICC force on Kenya, Pray for the inevitable in Kenya.
We see the International advisors on this commission-ODM hand in it- but be asured that Kifaki has been cornered by ODM on this one-yes, they are advisors with good Cv's, but "advisors". They have no major say in this commission- we fail in the "international standards" as required by ICC. Kifaki thinks he has it. For now before 30th Sept
With or without Raila-and Raila is with Obama. Raila is just acting- Kibaki is a Mpumbavu sana.
God help Kenya
The sooner ICC get their act together the better
Akamba people are the only ones who are capable of taking Kenya into her promised land!
ReplyDeleteMwarang'ethe has go it!
ReplyDeleteYou cannot let hungry wild cats take care of the chicken house! You cannot trust any words spoken or written by the same wild cats. Foreign advisors,donors,Kofi Annan, Ocampo, Kenyan ruling elites are all wild cats who are not interested in the well being of average powerless Kenyans who are worried about taking care of their families.
Should Kenyans make another mistake of trusting these people again, we may end up with Paul Kagame and his buddy Yoweri Kaguta Museveni as proxies, rulling on behalf of foreign interests in East Africa.
There is a very dangerous re-organization at East African Community level which seem to indicate that Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi are going to be governed under a new system. Open your eyes folks, do not allow yourselves to outsmarted again! Kenyans have been plagued by tribalism. Imagine how combinining all tribes in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania Rwanda and Burundi under one proxy dictator like Paul Kagame will feel like! Militarization Africa under AFRICOM is an indication of who the rulers are going to be.
Luka,
ReplyDeleteYou are spot on. But kusoma sio shida wala quality of what you read. You can superlative entertainment from 1m headlined tabloids whose scream is justified by one irrelevant paragraph. Amounts to reading John Speke as the first person to see L. Victoria.
BTW what is the past tense of PIGS FLY (pandemic???). Na hiyo ni kusoma.
Yeah reading isnt the problem,but the content in what you're reading.Just one example is enough,of what value is the stuff Taabu writes?COMING UP NEXT,TAABU ON JIMMY!
ReplyDeletekenyans are readers?of what?
ReplyDelete10 bob gutter press, kumekucha tribal spews, newspapers on raila demanding toilets?
how many Kenyans have a library at home? if you think reading is enough, just see the trash taabu spews here at KK after 'reading' for over 50 years.
Unlike many other posts and I know cos am tracking this blog rather keenly, this is actually about the best I have seen here. Nicely presented, without the usual tribal stuf, and on a tremendously important topic that should have prompted some heated, rational debate. But, there you go, no sir, no such luck! Not in Kumekucha.
ReplyDeleteThe idea has been mocked and contorted into things unimaginable. I thought I saw Kofi Annan, Raila and others mentioned somewere and it had nothing to do with their liking to read or anything....I also saw tribalism mentioned, but didnt understand whether its because some tribes keep others from reading or what. And someone else said failed state.....%$#@!!
Anyway, its unfortunate that rather than build (by agreeing/ refuting and offering thoughts) we are quick to dismiss. Look at Mwarangethe for example, who is he assigning this task:
"can u tell us why this is happening in the USA of all places today with all the "readers"?"
Bure kabisa!
How about this one:
"Then you might ask sufficient to what purpose? Defining that purpose for which we must increase knowledge is the ultimate challenge."
Even kindergarten kids in the one acre rock (migingo) can give a reasonable definition of purpose. There is nothing puzzling about that for Kenya in the short, medium and longer term. There's vision something or other, and all those other planning documents.
Are there gray cells in that cranium?
Bure!
Oh well, I tend to agree that literacy is insufficient. I think enlightened participation in the political process requires a mind that is continuously critical of what it hears and reads (esp from politicians, their media side-kicks and their 'evil' society colluders), and is deployed towards creative problem solving. Perhaps that's where we should focus--on building, training,nurturing minds that will question and dig deeper for answers and for solutions.
OBAMA AND JIGGERS!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/22/obama-on-skip-gates-arres_n_243250.html
Anonymous wrote that:
ReplyDeleteLook at Mwarangethe for example, who is he assigning this task:
"can u tell us why this is happening in the USA of all places today with all the "readers"?"
Our response:
You are a confused fellow. First, u dismiss our point.
Later. without shame, u repeat the same argument in these words "Oh well, I tend to agree that literacy is insufficient."
All we meant is simple. It is not enough to read. The question is, what do you read? To illustrate our point, we gave the example of USA where there are many readers, but, what is happening there is just too much.
Thus, what you determines your ability to appreciate what is really going on and do something about it. In fact, u ended up saying the same thing we said:
"I think enlightened participation in the political process requires a mind that is continuously critical of what it hears and reads (esp from politicians, their media side-kicks and their 'evil' society colluders), and is deployed towards creative problem solving. Perhaps that's where we should focus--on building, training,nurturing minds that will question and dig deeper for answers and for solutions."
For instance, we are always told by Forbes and other propaganda machinery that, Bill Gates is the Richest man in the world, and many people believe such trash.
However, if you look beyond these useless propaganda materials and their talking heads, u will discover shocking details that no one talks about. For instance, how many people know that:
(a) Queen Elizabeth II, is the legal owner of about 6,600 million acres of land, i.e. one sixth of the earth's non ocean surface. This makes her the richest person on earth worthy about £17, 6000, 000, 000, 000 at about $ 5000 per acre.
(b)In Europe, the landowners get 60% of the EU Agricultural subsidy of Euro 48, 000 million.
These guys own 60% of Europe, however, the constitute only 0.2% of European population.
For instance, in the UK, these people, get an average of £ 27, 000free money from UK and EU citizens per annum.
The question is, who is working, or slaving to pay these idle people? It is the common person.
The quuestion is, with all the literacy in the Europe, why are people still waking up every morning to slave to keep a few guys rich while doing nothing?
Simply, it is a question of what people read, and not just reading. If they were reading correct/right materials, they would ask the RIGHT QUESTIONS so as to GET RIGHT ANSWERS.
Instead, for instance, in the UK the materials they read, tell that, oh, oh it is Labour which is the problem, oh, oh it is Conservatives which is the problem. Thus, being totally ignorant while "reading" they continue to exist in feudalism which they call democracy. Ole wenu.
We may add, even in Kenya, we are told, oh, oh it is PNU which is the problem. Oh, oh, it is ODM which is the problem. These are mere descriptions, but, what is the CAUSE?
ReplyDeleteJust to give an example. In 2009 up to May, the inflation rate on average was 24%.
Has any Kenyan asked even here at KK or any other blog, why is this? And, more importantly, since inflation is a hidden tax, is this constitutional?
Furthermore, since it affects the poor more, what is the effect of this inflation in wealth distribution between the rich and the poor in a country which has such a wide gap?
One may even ask, is this inflation legal in the context of CBK Act s.4?
Verily, verily, we say unto you, fools die for lack of wisdom.
Mwarang'ethe,
ReplyDeleteYou write very good points and then you conclude by saying: "Verily, verily, we say unto you, fools die for lack of wisdom."
By calling fools, "fools," openly you make the fools close their minds and shut out your ideas. I don't think you want to labour in vain, do you?
Its funny how you appropriate my thinking. We are saying two separate things. You are saying it's CONTENT that matters. I am saying it is HOW people read whatever they read that matters. And we both agree that just reading on its own is insufficient. Think about that!
ReplyDeleteNow, when you assign someone to look through a boring you tube rendition of some congressional hearing or other, it would be most helpful to provide some interpretation of what you hope they'll get out of it. I wasnt quite sure what to think of those links, I must admit. But I like the examples in the second part of your second post.
Luke,
ReplyDeleteThanks for giving us something worthywhile to chew on; something distincly diferrent from the Taabu-drumbeat of Jimmy Kibaki this and Lucy Kibaki that.
I can attest to this public reading (or more precisely, use of library space) attitude. Last year I went to visit my sister in Mombasa and ended going with my nephew to the Kenya National Libraries branch in town. We could not get a place to seat. We ended at the British Council and the young boy begged me to buy him a Shs 3000 membership which I happily did.
Again, I was recently in Thika doing some research on some Kikuyu stuff in the local KNL and I was again surprised to see parents dropping off youngsters. It was a busy place. Whether they were being dropped to cram for exams or not, it was joyful to see their faces burried in books or magazines.
Hopefully, these isolated oasies in our desert of political cacophony and social madness will mushroom into orchards.
Anonymous wrote:
ReplyDeleteBy calling fools, "fools," openly you make the fools close their minds and shut out your ideas. I don't think you want to labour in vain, do you?
Our response:
We use the word fool, as used in the Good Book called Bible. U can see this in Proverbs 1:22, Proverbs 18:2, Ecclesiastes 5:1, Proverbs 12:15, etc etc.
About the Congressional link, the point is this. You can see Americans, and to an extent the whole world being fooled by a few men and women despite the increased literacy in the USA. So, we ought not to celebrate just literacy.
We can give another American example to illustrate why literacy alone will not save Kenya and the world.
For close to 100 years, California had land tax, while exempting labour and capital from taxation. As a result, Californian economy became one of the most dynamic in the world.
However, sometimes back, there was a referendum that capped land value tax. In this case, a lot of educated people did take part in this referendum. Talk of democracy at its best.
Consequently, California increased labour, consumption tax as well as capital tax. The result of this experiment is that, California is bankrupt and increased labour and capital taxation will not do.
Instead of the Californians seeing the mess they have brought upon themselves, they retort to mass sackings etc. But, does this solve their problems? No. It will only confound their economic, political and social mess. Now, the only thing you read is blame game between Republicans and Democrats. How silly. That is not the point, but, Californians cannot see this.
So, u can see in the case of California, which has one of the most well stocked library we know of, has done something so stupid because, the few who control land, conned the many (who are very literate) to vote in a measure that, has come to haunt them.
Lets face it. Kenya, and the world is facing a decisive crisis like never seen before in the history of humanity. Many are yet to grasp the magnitude of what lies ahead of us.
We have 4 major crisis at the same time:
(a) Economic/financial crisis
(b) Ecological crisis.
(c) Energy crisis.
(d) Inequality crisis.
Let the ugly truth be told. What is taught today in our schools, and what you find in most book shelves, will not help in solving our problems.
For instance, the classical economists included land question very prominently. However, a few rich guys have been funding economic department and professors who have removed this issue from the syllabus. Humanity will regret bitterly (in the Biblical words, will gnash their teeth) the omission of land question in our political economy for the last 100 years or so.
For instance, sample this:
(a) A Kibera guy walks to work cos he cannot afford bus fare.
(b)A factory owner dumps toxic chemicals in Nairobi river for FREE which makes it a dead river. His activities are called GDP by modern economists armed with a calculator because he wants to be seen as a scientist like an engineer.
Guess, who does the economists tell us we tax? The Kibera poor guy walking to work is taxed simply for WORKING and creating WEALTH.
On the other hand, the rich factory owner, pays no tax for destroying our environment. That is the wisdom of modern economist.
As a result of this dumping of waste in Nairobi river, we are now in the process of BORROWING 2 billion KES to clean this river.
Can someone see the stupidity of these arrangements? Now, we ask the Kibera guy, who we taxed when he walked to work to pay more tax to pay for clean up of Nai river. As if that is not stupid enough, the activities that, led to dumping of these toxic in this river, were classified as GDP growth by Kibaki when he was the Minister of Finance.
And, the Kenyan propaganda machines will never tire of reminding Kenyans that, he was the best minister of finance. How laughable because, many believe these nonsense pumped into their heads.
If you are not Kamba or Kikuyu, please kindly leave this blog.
ReplyDeleteThat survey was definitely flawed and not worth the paper it was written on. My community was not involved at all to establish their well known love of books. The survey was rigged and funded by my political enemies who want to "finish" me because I have been calling for reforms and end to impunity. I totally reject the findings of the survey and want it repeated! Otherwise, it was just an exercise in futility. Money has been poured by dark forces to "eliminate" my community from such projects since we voted overwhelmingly against the govt! Hio ichunguzwe!
ReplyDeleteThe biggest point about reading is the content and how and what you discern from what you read.
ReplyDeleteThe ability to do the above, will make one have the capacity to reason, think abstractly, solve problems, and be able to learn. Using the above as a backdrop, maybe it goes to explain why many of our so-called leaders are unable to comprehend ideas.
As for the rest of us, if only we could use the wisdom we garner from reading to evaluate our leaders better, we might shift to a more issue based society and politics.
Anon 1:45 AM,
ReplyDeleteYou say:
"If you are not Kamba or Kikuyu, please kindly leave this blog."
PUMBAVU WEWE!! Go and FART your tribal bigotry elsewhere. We have a very nice post over here - "Reading Kenyans Soon Leading Themselves" - and we also have very informative and wise flows of comments from Mwarang'ethe and Co.
We do not need your tribal nonsense over here. Go FART it elsewhere.
more sober analysis here:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/8ce374c8-7700-11de-b23c-00144feabdc0.html?nclick_check=1
Anonymous said...
ReplyDeletemore sober analysis here:
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/8ce374c8-7700-11de-b23c-00144feabdc0.html?nclick_check=1
Our views:
Very nice link. Unfortunately, as usual, it is mere description. What would be of interests is:
(a) What is the exact role of our present land tenure in all this poverty and slums? We will be expoloring this question in detail in the near future.
(a) What role does our centralised monetary system play in all this poverty and marginalisation?
For instance, in 2009, up to May, 2009, we had an average iflation of 24%. If we take an average inflation of 15% since 2003 (which is even below real average), it means that, Kenyan labour has lost its purchasing power by about 100%.
How many Kenyans have seen their income increase by over 50% in the last 6 years? Very few.
So, when they talk of economic growth, what do they really mean? And, what do as Kenyans understand economic growth to be?
(c) What is the role of our present tax system in all this poverty? A tax system that, stifles production and consumption, while shielding UNEARNED INCOME or RENT and POLLUTION from taxation.
The truth is this. Newspapers like FT, World Bank, IMF, and even our schools are very good in describing problems, or noting EFFECTS. But, when it comes to the question of CAUSE or CAUSES, they are dead silent. Why?
If ones wants to appreciate why Kenya and many nations are in trouble, some real world examples would suffice.
ReplyDeleteLets us look at the car industry in Kenya. As we all know, we import Mitumba cars which are not more than 7 years old. Thats all we know.
But, let us ask:
(a) What is the FUEL EFFICIENCY of a 6 year old Nissan Matatu?
(b) What is the FUEL EFFICIENCY of a NEW Nissan Matatu?
If we assume that, a new Nissan would consume let us say 2 litres of diesel for every 10 km, and a 5 year old one consumes 2 litres per every 5 km, is it:
(a) possible that, by virtue of buying mitumba cars that, of all the diesel we buy, perhaps a half of it is wasted due to inefficient cars?
(b) And, if, we spend let us say 40 billion on Matatu diesel, and waste half of it,
(i) is it possible to ask Nissan manufacturer, to set a new Nissan manufacturing plant in Kenya,
(ii) and on top of any profit he will make, we will give the owner of this firm FREE 5 billion KES, since we would be saving may be another 10 billion, which we are losing under the current thinking while creating thousands of jobs?
Has any of our universities conducted a research along the above lines? If no, why?
And, who benefits by this importation of diesel to waste?
These are some of the issues, Kenya, and many nations must face. Otherwise, hii maneno ya PNU is the problem, oh, oh, it is ODM is just utter rubbish.
We may run like headless chicken talking about Kales, Kikuyu, Luo, ODM, PNU, sijui ingine gani, but, those who understand the game, are just laughing. But, who are these who understand the game?
Hehehe just wait and see Kenyans comments at election time. Then you will understand, that whether they are reading or not, they are easily swayed.
ReplyDeleteWe all have common sense in varying degrees. That is fundamental to even understanding what you are reading, how many Kenyans believe only what one newspaper says, or one politician says?
They do no comparison, no research into what is being told to them, and then they complain. We are learning, but we still dont understand how much of a grip propaganda has on us.
Lets see in 2012 whether all these readers will actually filter out constructive argument from destructive ambitions.
Mwarang'ethe,
ReplyDeleteI must say that I am very impressed with your incisive and informative comments.
Your last comment at 4:00 ended with this paragraph:
"We may run like headless chicken talking about Kales, Kikuyu, Luo, ODM, PNU, sijui ingine gani, but, those who understand the game, are just laughing. But, who are these who understand the game?"
I agree with you that most of us Kenyans are running around like headless chickens, but please do enlighten us a bit about who are these people who "are laughing and understand the game" are. You will help in "curing" a lot of ignorance.
Anonymous wrote:
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that most of us Kenyans are running around like headless chickens, but please do enlighten us a bit about who are these people who "are laughing and understand the game" are. You will help in "curing" a lot of ignorance.
Our response:
It is very unfortunate and tragic that:
- a Luo sees an enemy in a Kikuyu.
- a Kale sees an in Kikuyu.
- Kikuyu sees an enemy in Kales and Luos etc etc.
All this is propaganda meant to keep you bubbling like drug induced fools.
We shall answer your question by asking this:
When you press your car for 10 km, and u burn 5 litres, instead of 2 litres, u are losing 3 litres unnecessarily, i.e. your wealth, but, someone is gaining. Who is gaining at your expense?
In the market, we have three lighting systems:
(a) Incandescent/Edison bulbs.
(b) Compact fluorescent bulbs/lighting
(c) LED light
20 watts CFL can replace a 100 W Edison bulb. Even better, 15 watts LED light/bulb can replace the 20 watts CFL.
This means that, LED lights use 85%less energy as compared to the Edison light and 50% less than a CFL.
Simply, by installing LED lights (which do not contain mercury like CFL) in all public places and private places, we could be saving 85% energy that is consumed in lighting today.
Since we know the amount of lighting energy consumed in lighting in Kenya:
- how much is 85% of that?
- How much money could we be saving per day, per month, per year?
- Crucially, how much wealth have we lost for instance in the last 10 years alone?
And, since we use IMPORTED DIESEL to some extent, if all the energy we produce from this diesel, when it is used for lighting, we waste 85%, are we not getting poorer?
But, who is getting rich? Are these projects not backed by World Bank and others who DESCRIBE our slums which they visit as tourist attractions?
And, even better, are the TRANSACTIONS involving this diesel not part of our ECONOMIC GROWTH talking heads tell you about? How can, burning diesel to waste be classified as economic growth?
We can describe very many issues this way, but, we hope from this, you can see who is the faceless enemy and that, a peasant Kikuyu, or a Luo is not your enemy.
The Seven Sisters: The great oil companies & the world they shaped
We forgot to mention that, this book is a good starting point:
ReplyDeleteThe Seven Sisters: The great oil companies & the world they shaped
Aiiiii... Mwarang'ethe, chill bwana, it's just a blog not some research paper compe. Relax and watch something interesting on TV to cool dem nerves. By the way, do they still show Eastenders on BBC 1?
ReplyDeleteMwarang'ethe,
ReplyDeleteThis is Anon 4:25 AM,
Thank you for your answer to my question about "who are these people who are laughing and understand the game are." I am more enlightened now.
We Kenyans have been "attacking" the wrong enemies while the real enemies are laughing at us very loudly.
Anon 5:00 AM (above) symbolizes this very ignorant, foolish and "headless chicken" Kenyan. Or, just wondering, could he/she be one of these people who are "playing the game" and who has been offended by the TRUTHS that you have written.
M-Pesa said...
ReplyDeleteAiiiii... Mwarang'ethe, chill bwana, it's just a blog not some research paper compe. Relax and watch something interesting on TV to cool dem nerves. By the way, do they still show Eastenders on BBC 1?
Our response:
What do understand to be the meaning of a blog?
Sorry. We do not watch TV. Simply, TV is the opium of modern man.
Sorry. We do not watch TV. Simply, TV is the opium of modern man.
ReplyDeleteYou don't watch TV, even news? Lol! Blaming a box for ruining "modernity".. Good for you but very unusual, odd and WEIRD indeed trying to escape from reality..."escapism"..
Good afternoon gentlemen.
Mwarang'ethe,
ReplyDeleteThanks for bringing to our attention the California property case study. I am familiar with it because I once wrote a paper on the role of taxation on housing affordability in a number of countries.
It was a constitutional amendment called California Proposition 13 (1978). It was a very copmlex political and economic initiative with a multiplicity of issues with regard to its origin and, perhaps more importantly, with regard to the effects it brought to the socio-economic fablic of California. So I am surprised that you are comfortable with such an easy summary as you put forward. I think, besides the usual use of political propaganda in such an initiative, it succeded not because people were not educated, but because they were motivated by self interest. The population that own their own homes is substantial in California and they were just eager to put a cap on property taxes that affected them directly.
Sample some of the effects (negative and positive):
# Negative effects on the housing market - ie market distortions.
# It has introduced major problems of equity and efficiency into the state's tax structure.
# It disproportionately affects coastal areas, such as Los Angeles and the Bay Area, where housing prices are higher, relative to inland communities with lower housing prices.
# It has partly caused the 2008-2009 Budget Crisis.[This is the one you have over-highlited. BTW the state is not having mass lay-offs, but furloughs].
# It has provided predictability for property owners, and increased community stability.
# Its passage had the immediate impact of bringing the state out of stagflation, with California outperforming the national economy.
Its constitutionality was challenged all the way to the United States Supreme Court. The U.S. Supreme Court declared in Nordlinger v. Hahn that it was constitutional. Justice Harry Blackmun, writing the majority opinion, noted that the state had a "legitimate interest in local neighborhood preservation, continuity, and stability", and that it was acceptable to treat owners who have invested for some time in property differently than new owners. If one objected to the rules, they could choose not to buy.
Perhaps the biggest lesson Kenya should take away from Proposition 13 is the great imperfection of using the general public as a legislature through referenda.
M-Pesa said...
ReplyDeleteSorry. We do not watch TV. Simply, TV is the opium of modern man.
You don't watch TV, even news? Lol! Blaming a box for ruining "modernity".. Good for you but very unusual, odd and WEIRD indeed trying to escape from reality..."escapism"..
Good afternoon gentlemen.
Our response:
What news?
Who defines reality?
Anonymous said...
ReplyDeleteMwarang'ethe,
Thanks for bringing to our attention the California property case study. I am familiar with it because I once wrote a paper on the role of taxation on housing affordability in a number of countries.
Our response:
Thanks for the insight.
We have not explored all issues in this matter (as u are aware, Mpesa tells us that,we need to watch TV more, and be content with the "reality" as the propoganda machines see it) and we are more than happy to read more informed analysis.
Mwarangethe,
ReplyDeleteFor once you have educated me and made this blog real - and graduate from deceit and deception as propagated by Taabu and team. Your arguments have been sober. The bug that messed you this morning - Naomba iendelee. Otherwise your comments are unrivalled today.
Kila la heri
Mzee wa Kijiji
Ngai Fafa! Jaruos on Carnival mood as they celebrate HE President Kibaki coming to Nyanza!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.nation.co.ke/News/regional/-/1070/629016/-/7kk7qy/-/index.html
Ruto wins Round 1
ReplyDeleteAnnan seeks world support for Kenya truth team
By CHURCHILL OTIENOPosted Friday, July 24 2009 at 13:16
In Summary
•Annan seeks support for TJRC
•Commission was created to help heal social injustices that lead to last year's post-election violence.
Kenya's peace negotiator Kofi Annan has called for a broad support for the truth commission appointed this week in an effort to heal division in the country.
Related Stories
Forgive and forget, but face truth first
The man with the hardest job in Kenya
Mr Annan said his Panel of Eminent African Personalities were happy with Kenya coalition government's move to set up the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC).
"The Panel is of the view that, for the Commission to achieve its objectives, it will require the sustained engagement and full cooperation of a broad cross-section of Kenyan society, including civil society, political and religious leaders, the private sector, the media and other key stakeholders," said Mr Annan.
President Kibaki on Wednesday appointed a long standing diplomat and peace crusader Bethuel Kiplagat to head the TJRC.
In a statement issued on Friday, the former UN secretary general said his panel "hopes that the early operationalisation of the TJRC will help promote peace, justice, national unity, healing and reconciliation among the people of Kenya".
He said the the international community should support the TJRC since it was a key component of the reform agenda agreed on during the Kenya National Dialogue and Reconciliation (KNDR) talks.
The commission includes six Kenyans and three foreigners. Its other members are Betty Murungi (vice chairman), Margaret Shava, Tom Ojienda, Ahmed Sheikh Farah and Tecla Namachanja. The foreign appointees are Judge Getrude Chawatama from Zambia, Mr Berhanu Dinka from Ethiopia and Prof Ronald Slye from the US.
Mr Kiplagat is a former permanent secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and also served as the special envoy to the Somalia Peace Talks. He has been Kenya’s envoy in France and the UK and was deputy General Secretary of the National Council of Churches in Kenya.
The TJRC team will identify people whose rights were abused and decide how they are to be compensated. It will also investigate economic crimes and provide redress in respect of crimes of a sexual nature against female victims.
The commission will recommend prosecution of persons responsible for or involved in human rights and economic rights violations and abuses.
Mr Kiplagat has an international profile and is respected for his work in both the Sudan and Somalia peace processes.
Mwarang'ethe; I must say I like your vision in this discussion and would like to add the following:-
ReplyDeleteThe people laughing at poor Kenyans are (a) elites who accept and control foreign aids and donations paid under terms that are not explained to ordinary Kenyan citizens. Few Kenyans have clue as to how these donations are used or what is promised to these donors in return! Donations have been pouring in Kenya since 1963, yet the only changing variables are massive slums like Kibera that is visible from the Moon! (b) Powers who have over-burdened Kenyans with IMF and World Bank debts for fake projects. It is possible Kenya’s resources are attached to pay the debts. Recently, there have been secret handout of parcels of land in Kenya to foreign interests. Could these land grabs be settlements for the massive unexplained debts? If not, why are hard working Kenyans rotting in slums while the land is given out to foreigners to farm and feed their own foreign population while Kenyans are starving?
http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=47526
From Ethiopia-Sudan (remember Darfur)- Kenya-Uganda-Democratic Republic of Congo; from Tanzania to South Africa, Africans are being packed in filthy slums or refugee camps where they are fed with agricultural products from western farmers. The western powers, the Chinese and Indians are now using corrupt officials to grab Africa farming lands!
http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=47599
(c) The people who own pristine vacation spots in Kenya and Africa at large! These spots are out of reach for many black Africans. So, who are the beneficiaries of the income?
http://www.e-gnu.com/african-safari-accommodation/
(d) The African elites who have claimed eminency by calling themselves “Eminent African Elders”. Nobody knows who elected these African elites or who are paying their salaries to promote and broker deals on behalf of poor Africans who have no voice in their selection or accomplishments. Kofi Annan, in particular, has been very prominent in the forming of Coalition Government in Kenya and very pushy in coercing the elites in the coalition government, threatening to hand them over to the hangmen at The Hague. Yet, this is the same Annan who, as an African head of UN Peace Keeping Forces, stood by while the 1994 Rwanda genocide was destroying the lives of about one million poor Africans in Rwanda. The power brokers currently paying his salary to broker deals in Kenya were able to send planes to evacuate their citizens out of Rwanda just as the slaughter began.
http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/Lobby/4621/rwanda1.html
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/ghosts/interviews/annan.html
(e)The people who until 2008 blacklisted Nelson Mandela as a terrorist in their secret books while erecting the same Mandela’s stature at London’s Trafalgar Square. The same year (2008), a gigantic 90th birthday celebration was held on Mandela’s behalf in London! What is the meaning of this bloody double talk?
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2008-04-30-watchlist_N.htm
http://sweetness-light.com/archive/mandela-removed-from-terrorism-watch-list
(f)The elected people who occupy seats in Kenyan Parliament doing absolutely nothing to bring development to the constituencies they claim to represent. Yet, they will shamelessly show up during election time to drop some money obtained through corruption for the wanainchi to buy one-week worth of some salt for triggering diabetes and high blood presure! During that period, the promotion of tribalism is a method they use to deflect attention away from their ineptitudes.
Kwani the whole of Kumekucha and ODM brigade has absconded duty and left for the lakeside city of Kisumu. Otherwise how do you explain - 4 days of the same thing. Taabu, Chris, Phil and the crowd- we now demand a new post. On this one we have run out of ideas - Yet TJRC iko. By the way on TJRC WHO WILL BE THE VICTIM and the opressor ( thought it was clear in RSA but Kenya Ngonja uone). This is key to maridhiano.
ReplyDeleteMzee wa Kijiji
Shocked,
ReplyDeleteYour questions are very relevant and thought-provocking. But there ends the easy part and the hard reflective part starts. Annan and his ilk may be in somebody's paycheck but imagine a scenario without him. There would be no Kenya to speak of. We are self-destructing and until we sort ourselves out, we give the global inc excuse to save us from ourselves, ama?
As concerns Kofi Annan as the Secretary General of the UN at the time of Rwanda genocide, it is very convinient for the powers that be, to blame Kofi as an African for refusing to prevent this genocide.
ReplyDeleteHowever, the question is, what are the REAL powers of the SG versus the Security Council which is charged with the responsibility for ensuring peace?
In accordance with Chapter XV, Article 99:
"The Secretary-General may bring to the attention of the Security Council any matter which in his opinion may threaten the maintenance of international peace and security."
Is there evidence that, he did not bring to the attention the SC of what was happening in Rwanda? And, since we know he did, what else could he have done that, was within his powers as the SG of the UN?
As concerns the Security Council, Chapter V is very clear that Article 24 (1) provides:
In order to ensure prompt and effective action by the United Nations, its Members confer on the Security Council primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, and agree that in carrying out its duties under this responsibility the Security Council acts on their behalf.
So as to fulfill the above mandate, the SC has the powers conferred by Chapter VII which allows it to use force or authorise any other means to safeguards international peace.
The truth is that, the SG of the UN has no powers. However, since those who have the powers failed, they must look for a scapegoat. And, with an African as the SG, it is very easy to blame him.
In any case, even if it were that, Kofi had the all the powers, our premise remains. The idea of a Hutu seeing an enemy in a Tutsi, is the same as a Kikuyu seeing an enemy in a Kalenjin. We need to know who our true and real enemies are.
For instance, today, Kenyans of all tribes are running helter skelter cos there is no energy. Can't someone see the irony of this?
How can a nation with so much sun, be without power? It is not difficult to see why. If you look at all ROOFS in Kenya, they are either shiny aluminium mabati, or tiles. And, Kenyans are very proud of this. How foolish.
But, let us ask, what if we had a policy of building and roofing/covering ALL our houses with materials that can absorb sun power and convert it into energy? Simple. Every house should be a power station and there would be no need to import diesel to make power.
More over, we would not have invested billions of dollars (which we have borrowed) in long distance transmission power systems we have today, cos every house would be a power station.
Furthermore, instead of using AC, which is wasteful, we woould have used DC system which Edison used. This would have saved us the national debt which is about to hit a trillion shillings.
However, instead of us thinking along these lines, the first thing we did was to institute a department of electrical engineering at the UON. Obviously, this was meant to serve interests of others, but, not ours. We assert that, the first task after independence would have been a department of renewable energy.
Now, having set ourselves on foolish paths which are making us very poor, we start seeing each other as enemies in the life and death cock fight for the shrinking cake.
I wonder, why was Bhoutros Ghali kicked out? Might it be because he took a stand and made it clear regardless of his career? Is that not what many here subscribe to? Why would it be different for Koffi Anan?
ReplyDelete