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Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Nyanza To Be Double Taxed Under The New Constitution

By Mwarang'ethe

On 27th August, 2010, the day Kenyans promulgated a “new constitution,” the Kenyan Prime Minister, Raila Odinga told us that, in accordance with the best constitutional experts, we are “Free at last, from the tyranny of the State,” as we read here. On his part, the President, Mwai Kibaki told us that, “It’s a new dawn for Kenya, and we deserve to celebrate,” as we read here:

To reinforce this wonderful message, Julius Kipng’etich, he of the KWS, told us jubilantly this: “Ready for takeoff: Finally, Kenya has a blueprint to be an economic powerhouse,” like Singapore, Honk Kong and Botswana as we read here:

On our part, we declare that, to rely on so called constitutional law experts to draft a constitution was a terrible mistake. What we needed are men and women well versed with Ancient, Middle Ages and Modern history (history of rise and decay of civilizations), economics (history of economic ideas), philosophy (moral philosophy) and sociology. With such people, we would only need a single lawyer, who need not call himself pompous names such a constitutional law expert, for his job will be that of a mere draftsman. This is a heavy charge against eminent lawyers like Ghai and Nzamba Kitonga. However, we shall support it by demonstrating how Nyanza, a region that has suffered terrible economic injustice in the past will now be double taxed under this wonderful “new constitution ” of theirs.

On 31st May, 2010, the DN reported this: “Fishermen on Lake Victoria to pay fee.” See here . Among other stuff, we read this: Fishermen on Lake Victoria will soon start paying fees to be allowed to ply their trade on the water body. This is one of the ways that a joint fisheries ministers meeting between the three countries using the lake came up with as a source of funding. It is among a raft of measures aimed at raising money to run affairs of the sector. Also, “All countries must ensure that the landing site user fee is legislated as a funding mechanism for Beach Management Unit.”

By introducing land rent on the Nyanza fishermen, the Kenyan government is telling them this. No other Kenyan will pay taxes to maintain the lake. All the revenue to maintain the lake must therefore, come from those who benefit from resources provided by Nature. This is the way forward, and we fully support this proposal. Our proposal along these lines can be read under “Proposed Constitution: Land Question Mishandled ". However, note this very carefully. In addition to this land rent, the poor Nyanza fishermen will also pay other taxes such as VAT when they buy necessities of life like salt and sugar.

If the poor fishermen from Nyanza must exclusively pay to maintain “their” lake, how do we propose to treat those others who “fish” in waters called Nairobi, Thika road or Machakos etc? The answer is here. On 7th July, 2010, inquiring mind read this in the Standard: “Speculators anxious over Machakos land”.

Among other stuff, inquiring minds read this. A certain bare land in Machakos “turned into a fruitful vine overnight after the State made its intentions public on the development akin to California’s Silicon Valley.” In other words, when the State, whose tyranny we are told is over by Raila Odinga announced the INTENTION to build some infrastructure funded by the VAT paid by the poor fisherman from Nyanza, a lot of “investors” rushed to buy land to “secure vantage positions ahead of the technopolis."

Why are they doing this? Simple, "People who bought an acre at Sh300, 000 and less five months ago sold it at Sh800, 000 within a month." Simply, within a month, these so called investors pocketed Sh500, 000 while doing ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. So, who has made these millionaires and billionaire? The poor fishermen in Nyanza who must pay VAT, income tax to the Kenyan government so as to build the infrastructure which raises the value of the land for the FEW who are strategically placed. If you do not call this tyranny and ROBERY, then, we would like hear what you call it. Simply, ROBBERY just like that of a common thug with an AK 47, but, this time without guilt feelings because you can hide behind a fiction called State.

There have been endless talks about wealth gap between the Nyanza fishermen and “investors” such as the ones we read about here. Herein, we demonstrate the SOURCE. So, how do solve the problem? Extremely simple. Require those who “fish” in Nairobi, Machakos, Thika road etc to EXCLUSIVELY pay for the privilege of “fishing” in such rich waters. In other words, STOP ROBBING the poor Nyanza fishermen via VAT etc, and require those who occupy Muthaiga, Karen, Thika road, Kiambu, Machakos to pay for the police, roads, and sewage.

Where will they get the money from? Only a constitutional lawyer cannot see what a fool can see. Take the sh500, 000 as an example for all the land surrounding the technopolis and fund the common infrastructure therein. If these so called “investors” (gamblers) want to get rich, we are very happy with that, but, let them develop the land and build factories so as to create real wealth if they are men and women of substance. Even better, we will leave them to pocket all the gains once they pay land values.

There are those like Phil, Chris, and Philip who have asserted that, we are utopian. Fine. We ask why is it utopian when we demand that, those who occupy land in Nairobi be treated in the same manner as we propose to treat the poor fishermen in Nyanza? In all honesty, we have demanded what is just in law and equity. This is so because; we have demanded what is right before God and Man.

Let the useless land speculators who unlike the Nyanza fishermen who give us food relinquish land values created by poor fishermen from Nyanza so as to fund the necessary infrastructure. So, implemented, we would relieve the long suffering fishermen from this state sanctioned tyranny and robbery? This is the SIMPLE formula for liberty and wealth creation.

However, instead of such a simple formula, Kenyans have come up with complicated nonsense to hide their naked formulas of oppression. We denounce these complicated formulas for what they are. The shameless shifting of the man’s curse that; he shall eat bread from the sweat of his brow, to the shoulders of his helpless brother. We therefore, violate both Divine and Natural laws for we build a nation in total disregard of true nature of both physical and moral nature of man. Nothing built upon such rotten foundation can stand. A heavy price shall be paid for this attempted impunity.

Many conclusions flow from above observations. Firstly, the failure to adhere to what we have said has brought about so called welfare state. However, anyone versed with the history of this stupidity from the Roman times, knows where all is going to end up. Even worse, when we refuse to take what is social wealth by privatising it, we drive the land prices up through speculation which eats all our bank credit as they try to grab a piece of the free lunch instead of funding real wealth creation.

The consequences for this are very grave for we squeeze industrial capitalist’s profits and thereby, wages for the labour. How we intend to industrialise a nation of low profits and low wages is unknown to us. In other words, we have squandered the greatest opportunity to lay a firm and just foundation for industrializing our nation so as to remove want among our people.

Some will tell us about the land commission that is forthcoming. Well, our answer is that, we have seen this movie many times in history and we are pretty sure what is going to happen. For instance, the “new constitution” talks about limiting the size of land. As the Machakos story educates us, it is not size that matters, it is three things. Location, location and location.

Monday, August 30, 2010

How your county government will transform Kenyan politics

I missed the Katiba celebrations because I came down with something quite serious on Friday night. Am still resting but mercifully the worst is now over. I guess we shall have to continue my weekend special on the Kamba people next weekend.

There are many things in Kenya which are going to change enormously after the events of last Friday. In fact right now my big worry is if Kenyans can handle change on such a massive scale and at such speed. The human mind and body is designed to take in change much more gradually. But alas this is what tends to happen when a people get so totally fed up with the old order of things. They reach a place where they just want out and have no time to stop and ask themselves if they can handle the change they seek.
Many political commentators agree that they have never seen the president so passionate about something (like he has been about the new constitution) and they have never seen him so happy about something (like he was in the picture after signing the new constitution into law). The fact that Kibaki delivered the new constitution has rescued his legacy rather dramatically. Lucky man!!

But for the purposes of this post let me focus on the change in our politics that the new constitution will usher in. Do you know the most powerful political seat, indeed more powerful than the presidency in our new constitution? I am of course talking about the Governor of a county. For instance the president’s appointments will have to be approved by parliament but the governors will NOT. I mean this man or woman will have such power in the county that even retired President Moi who was a god in his time, will envy.

What all this means is that the public will lose interest in National politics. It will all be happening in the counties where decisions will be made every day that will impact very dramatically and quickly on the people’s lives.

I keep wondering about how the media will adjust. The media in Kenya has gone through many changes in the recent past and now comes this most dramatic and far-reaching one of a new constitution with new demands. I see media houses like Royal Media services having a head start over other media houses since they have such a large stable of FM radio stations covering many different regions of the country. There will be great need for media at the counties and I would expect the FM stations to be the initial major form of communication at this level. There will also be opportunities for quick thinking entrepreneurs to find a way to make low circulating newspapers work. Some prosperous counties may even be able to sustain their own TV stations. Indeed even Kumekucha has to re-invent itself to fit snugly into the new Kenya and I am still thinking about that very deeply and will appreciate suggestions from my usually quick-witted readers here.

There have been fears amongst some old school Kenyans who will always want to believe that nothing but the old systems can work in Kenya, to the effect that counties will promote tribalism. Admittedly a few short-sighted governors may want to promote negative ethnicity at the beginning but they will soon find that their counties are lagging behind. The bottom line will be to promote the prosperity of one’s county at all costs and the way to do this is to co-operate with other counties while encouraging a rapid influx of investors from other counties. Smart governors will seek to find what resources and talents their areas of jurisdiction can best exploit because the truth is that nobody can be good at everything. So it is unlikely that any county will be self sufficient in everything.

True entrepreneurs should now be rubbing their hands in glee waiting for the full implementation of the new constitution. This is because there will be massive new opportunities at the county level for all kinds of things. For starters basic essential services like water and electricity are going to be in very high demand and so companies that deal in solar energy, water tanks and other basics should be positioning themselves to sell proposals to respective counties. Entrepreneurs prosper while solving people’s problems and so enterprising companies will now have to take a serious look at the problems in counties and how their products and services can help solve them.

And that brings me to the most important change in politics that counties will bring. The focus will shift from individuals to issues. Until now our politics has always been about personalities whilst real issues have mostly been ignored.

I dare say that what I love most about this new order of things is that silly tribal comments like Kikuyu this and Raila that will lose all meaning even in a blog like this one. That will be the day!!!

Friday, August 27, 2010

This is it!!

New constitution signed into law. Gloomy weather ushers in new dawn but Kenyans still very excited



Contrary to what some people may want to think weather is significant and has many times through history signified the times and what is about to come.

On this day August the 27th the year of our Lord two thousand and ten the day of the birth of the new republic of Kenya in many parts of the country it is raining, including around the largest gateway into the republic of Kenya, Mombasa port. That is a sure sign of blessing according to the African culture. Indeed many times when important historical events that have brought about great positive changes have happened, the weather has been cloudy, almost gloomy, just the way it is right now in Nairobi where it is all happening. For instance July 4, 1776 the day the American declaration of independence was ratified the weather was cloudy and deteriorated into dark and gloomy by afternoon. What happened on that day was not normal by any means. It shook, and still shakes the world today!

The mammoth crowd at Uhuru Park are in very high spirits and are completely unfazed by the weather knowing fully well the significance of the day that they are witnessing. How many Americans witnessed July 4th 1776 and how many other times will it happen in history again?

I was moved to tears by the first song the Kenya Army played as President Kibaki inspected a guard of honour on arrival at Uhuru Park a few moments ago. It is an old song first released by the Kenya police band shortly after independence. It is a Swahili song and I will translate some of the words in the song that moved me to tears;

“Walk on the ground that is your country with pride and without fear. That is the assurance that we have received from the president. After the exit of the colonialist happy times are here.”

Kenyans quickly realized that it was all a mirage. Thye had simply exchanged colonial masters from a white man (who was in many ways fairer) to a small clique of Africans who ruled ruthlessly and with an iron hand. Anybody who tried to resist or challenge the authority of the new masters was put to death. Indeed even those whom it was suspected may want to resist in the near future lost their lives. Pio Gama Pinto, Tom Mboya, JM Kariuki, Kungu Karumba and many others fell. May their sould rest in peace.

And so finally 46 years later, Kenyans are now ushering in what they thought they had in 1963.

So the choice of song was extremely appropriate.

I am staying online and live and will post regular updates either as comments or complete posts.

It is raining cats and dogs in the part of Kenya where I am right now. Wonderful!!! I have a very good feeling about this new constitution and what it will help us to do for our beloved motherland.

As I post this the President has just signed the new constitution!!! 6 copies in all!!!

WOW!!!!

Update
Kenya's new constitution is written with the blood of these brave Kenyans who dared to dream of a better tomorrow for the motherland;

Josiah Mwangi Kariuki (March 21, 1929–March 2, 1975) was a Kenyan socialist politician during the administration of the Jomo Kenyatta government. He held different government positions from 1963, when Kenya became an independent country, to 1975, when he was assassinated. He left behind three wives and many children. He is the Kenyan who famously quipped "I don't want to be in a Kenya with 10 millionaires and 10 million beggars." A remark that greatly irked the Kneyatta administration. JM was so brutually murdered that parts of his body were dismemembered including his private parts. Nobody has ever been convicted for this heinous crime. JM Kariuki is amongst the Kenyans whose blood went into writing our new constitution.

I will highlight other great Kenyans in this series in the days to come.

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Amkeni, Kumekucha

I have to pinch myself now and then to make sure that I am not dreaming and that all this is for real. That our beloved motherland Kenya is actually about to get a new constitution that will usher in the most sweeping changes ever. Changes that will impact the long suffering ordinary folks.

There are many times in the past when I have been ashamed of being a Kenyan. This is definitely NOT one of those times. I am so proud for our country and the new beginning that will commence in just a matter of hours.

But once again I would like to remind all my fellow Kenyan brothers and sisters that after tomorrow we will have some very heavy responsibility on our shoulders. We must try very hard NOT to let the motherland and future generations down.

You see contrary to 1963 when power was handed over to Jomo Kenyatta, tomorrow when president Kibaki signs the new constitution into law, he will be handing over power to the people of Kenya. Folks we will need to make some very important decisions over the next few months and years. I am sure we are up to it, contrary to what Moi and company may think.

But even as we celebrate let us spare a moment to think of all those Kenyans who never made it thus far. Those who died in sheer frustration and hopelessness not believing that it was possible to birth a new Kenya. Guys this document like all other great constitutions is written in blood. Never forget that!!

I also take this opportunity to thank all you Kenyans who contributed in one way or another in pushing for changes through this small humble blog. We played our small part and it was a team effort all the way because what would I have done alone? KUDOS.

Amkeni KUMEKUCHA…

…But even as we celebrate this new day remember that it is only the beginning of the day and we have long hours of hard work ahead of us. But I am confident that together we shall conquer, we shall make good, we shall create a new nation that we can all be very proud of.

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Terrible crab mentality that rules the Kamba people

If there is one single thing that rules the Kamba most and everything they do including in politics, then it has to be the crab mentality. What is the crab mentality?

If you have caught crabs then you know that once you have caught at least two then you needn’t worry about them escaping. This is because they will always prevent each other from getting out first. Wikipedia puts it very well thus;

“Crab mentality, sometimes referred to as crabs in the bucket, describes a way of thinking best described by the phrase "if I can't have it, neither should you." The metaphor refers to a pot of crabs. Singly, the crabs could easily escape from the pot, but instead, they grab at each other in a useless "king of the hill" competition which prevents any from escaping and ensures their collective demise. The analogy in human behavior is that of a group that will attempt to "pull down" (negate or diminish the importance of) any member who achieves success beyond the others, out of jealousy or competitive feelings.
This term is broadly associated with short-sighted, non-constructive thinking rather than a unified, long-term, constructive mentality. It is also often used colloquially in reference to individuals or communities attempting to "escape" a so-called "underprivileged life", but kept from doing so by others attempting to ride upon their coat-tails or those who simply resent their success…”

Historically Kamba leaders have always been extremely jealous of each other and have gone to great lengths to finish each other, using all kinds of ploys and even witchcraft. Any half intelligent observer would wonder why the community has never realized that supporting each other would be much more beneficial to all.

Paul Ngei a prominent politician from Ukambani in his day was arch rivals with Mulu Mutisya another prominent politician in the area at around the same time. The differences between the two got so serious that they physically fought on several occasions. Today the rivalry between Charity Ngilu and Kalonzo Musyoka is legendary and all efforts to unite the two have come to naught. Interestingly both were in the YES camp in the recently concluded referendum and yet clearly the two were extremely uncomfortable in each others company during the major rallies and meetings where they had to share the same platform. I am willing to bet you any amount that the two never share a seat close to each other during cabinet meetings.

This inexplicable rivalry and crab mentality spreads well beyond politics into the business world. I have been in numerous situations where things have changed dramatically with another Kamba immediately they realize that I too have some Kamba blood in me.

Indeed this is one of the reasons why Machakos town (the first inland capital of the British protectorate that became Kenya) has remained very much behind in development. Kambas would rather an outsider comes into the city and prospers in business rather than one of their own. In fact there are numerous cases where many have gone to great lengths to ensure that one of their own does not prosper.

This is very sad and something that the Kamba community needs to find a way of facing and eradicting if they are to benefit from the coming political dispensdation and the numerous opportunities that will come with it.

Read this bizarre Kumekucha post about Witchcraft and C-files episode In Kenyan President's Office that further illustrates the Kamba way of doing things.

This Weekend special continues next weekend. Until then I will welcome ideas, suggestions criticisms etc. anything to improve my earth-shattering conclusion of this series.

Previous articles in this series:

Part 1: What future for sleepy Kenyan community?

Part 2: What is the true origin of all the suffering?

Part 3: Dangerous votes from Ukambani

Part 4: Terrible crab mentality that rules the Kamba

Part 5: Kamba athleticism and other deadly talents

Part 6: Kamba constituency that is very different from the rest

Part 7: Predictions of a coming Kamba president?

Kamba athletism and other deadly talents

Kamba women have a hell of a reputation in bed. And so do the men. Queens and kings of the bedroom.

I can already hear some of my more conservative readers asking what sex has to do with politics. Actually being sex athletes has a lot to do with siasa because students of history will tell you that sex has changed the course of history too many times for anybody to keep count.

Some people believe that this reputation is overblown beyond all proportions. However the reality is that there are many brothels where regulars specifically ask for Kamba women and will settle for nothing less. Any survey will quickly reveal that this is a reputation that will not fade anytime soon amongst most Kenyans from diverse communities.

Sadly there are a lot of things I cannot say even in this blog, but let me just mention in passing that some Kamba women legislators have left their unforgettable mark in the beds and minds of some major male political players in the country after a brief roll in the hay.
Even without make-up and city sophistication, Kamba women are obviously very beautiful.

Let me also admit that for years I have tried in vain to get to the bottom of what is behind this Kamba prowess in bed. I have heard many ridiculous theories but I have never come across any concrete-sounding reason why members of this tribe are without doubt such talented naturals between the sheets. One such ridiculous theory is based on the fact that the Kamba are one of the very few communities that were led successfully by women in the days of old. (One such famed woman leader of the community was Syokimau who was also a powerful medicinewoman who predicted many things.) The absurd theory claims that since women were the leaders and Kings with powers to put men to death if they did not please them in bed, Kamba men had to learn the art of pleasing a woman for their very survival.

But there is something else about the Kamba women that nobody talks about. Woe unto you if a fair Kamba lass spots you and realizes that you are wealthy (according to her standards) and it does not matter whether you are already married or not. What they will do next is to rush to a witchdoctor to cast a spell on you so that you find her irresistible. Be very wary if your new Kamba girlfriend wants to take too many photographs of you. I know of one case where the impoverished parents of this beautiful Kamba lass instructed her to send them the photograph of any rich man she came across and fancied (preferably a mzungu because they are supposedly the wealthiest) and they would do the rest to make sure that the man was his. And this is not an exceptional case. Many families in this region have used charms rather than genuine bedroom skills to get their families out of poverty. Many poeople don't believe that you can cast a spell on somebody so what has happened is the Kamba reputation in the bedroom has continued to grow in leaps and bounds, even where charms have been used.

Some men from this community have also used the same methods to ensure that they get the woman that they want. Many times a simple handshake shortly after some visit to some Juju-man is enough to make a respectable level-headed woman start constantly following a man like some dog on heat.

Indeed for this community sex and witchcraft is difficult to separate. There have even been countless cases where men have “protected” their wives from having extra-marital affairs by casting a spell on them so that if they sleep with any other man they will get stuck and will be inseparable in the act until the man returns and is appeased enough "to separate" them.

In a recent famous case that happened in the Muthurwa area in Nairobi, a junior Kamba police officer acted on rumours that finally reached his ears about his wife and his boss. Read the entire sordid tale HERE. Cases like this have been countless over the years.

I have no doubt that many will read this post and get very angry which is hardly surprising because the truth can sometimes hurt very badly. It is a clear sign that it is the truth. Most humans find it very difficult to face the truth, let alone handle it.

P.S. Safaricom has quietly started responding to the biggest threat ever to its’ dominance of the Kenyan mobile telephony industry. And the approach is rather uncharacteristically meek. Subscribers yet to register for Mpesa are quietly being urged via SMS to do so before the end of the month and they will have a chance to win upto Kshs 250 in air time. About Kshs 10 million in free airtime is up for grabs, the SMS advertisement from Safaricom says.

It seems that Michael Joseph’s strategy for now is to lie low and make his moves quietly while avoiding the limelight at all costs. Clearly the last thing he wants is to be drawn into a fierce price war he knows will be difficult for him to win considering the setup at Safaricom with shareholders expecting bigger dividends all the time. The move to maintain and increase Mpesa subscribers is smart because clearly there is still a lot of room for increased revenues and profits in this innovative service. Besides Mpesa subscribers usually have to make a call at some point to confirm receipt of funds or to inform that funds have been sent.

Meanwhile I have received information from my informants countrywide to the effect that Zain sim cards are selling feverishly in many parts of the country, a sharp contrast from the indifference many Kenyans have been showing Kenya’s second largest mobile phone operator only recently. Clearly Safaricom are in serious trouble and it is unlikely that they will be able to maintain the complete dominance they have enjoyed in the Kenyan market for so long.

Kamba Secrets Part 1

Kamba Secrets Part 2

Kamba Secrets Part 3

Kamba Secrets Part 4

Saturday, August 21, 2010

Dangerous votes from Ukambani

There is a man based in one of the constituencies close to Machakos whom I know very well. He is in his late 50s and has earned a living from politics all his life. Currently he has two children in high school and things have really been tough for him since the exit of Kanu from power in 2002 despite the fact that his children go to the relatively cheap rural area high schools. He has survived by holding regular fundraising drives in his home where he has desperately called in his favours from his long years in politics.

However he has recently hit the jackpot. At around the time the referendum campaigns started, all his financial problems vanished very suddenly. It goes without saying that he was a firm campaigner for the No side.

Ukambani is filled with such characters. People who earn a living from political handouts. And for anybody who doubted that there was a lot of money in the NO camp, then Ukambani is the evidence for you that there was indeed a fortune floating around to convince Kenyans to vote against the very document that offers them the best chance for a brand new beginning. Incidentally what happened is that retired President Moi simply revived his old Kanu network and the campaign was ready to roll. Moi of course was well aware that the network is powerful and works wonders but has to be constantly oiled with hard cash.

For the majority of Kamba voters thinking for themselves seems to be very hard work. It is like they feel pain in the brain whenever an effort is made to reason. And so they rely on characters like the councilor guy I introduced this post with, to do all their thinking and reasoning for them complete with the conclusion and course of action. They will then steadfastly stick to what they have been told, no matter what. Indeed parliamentary seats are won or lost in Ukambani depending on which campaigners a candidate gets to represent him to the people. They then just have to ensure that they feed with them with some cash on a regular basis. Thus the more money you have for politics the more successful you will be. There are exceptions of course as Harun Mwau found out a few years back. Generally if people believe that you have sacrificed human life in return for your wealth too recently, then and only then will cash fail to work for you.

This tradition of earning from politics without being an MP has been in Ukambani for a long time. For instance illiterate Kamba politician and the man who made Kalonzo Musyoka politically, the late Mulu Mutisya used to get paid Kshs 100,000 every month by president Moi “to keep the troops in line” in Ukambani.

While it is true that things may not be very different in other parts of the world, the referendum vote clearly proved that Ukambani has been left behind even as the rest of the country has moved on. Many politicians (including Moi) have discovered that these days the foolish-looking voters in many rural areas outside Ukambani will eagerly take your money and nod their heads in agreement with whatever you have to say and will leave with a funny smile on their faces. However come polling day, they will vote different from what the cash handouts were persuading them. Fascinatingly some of them will spend the cash that you have given them to travel to poling stations to vote for your opponent. This is what is terrifying so many old school politicians. If only it was possible to win a national election by getting substantial Kamba votes. Clearly cash was not effective with the Masai or even with the Turukana, communities that the Akamba feel are less developed than they are. No matter what those jeering my posts say, the truth of the matter is that Moi, Ruto and company got real value for the cash they poured in Ukambani.

There are those arm chair analysts seated behind their computers farting Nyama choma in some rooms that are fortunately air-conditioned and fantasizing that the Kamba voted against the constitution because of the great work the church has done in the mostly dry and arid Ukambani. And to make matters worse, they are passing off this as fact at every opportunity. Such a suggestion is laughable for a community where the vast majority of church goers still carry witchcraft charms into the holy sanctuary of their church as a second line of defense incase their church god fails them. Admittedly people who are still learning about the community will easily be fooled by their constant mention of the creator and the love they have for singing gospel music.

Although I was delighted by the substantial votes in favour of the new constitution that still came out of the Kamba people, the worry is that this is a place that is still way too vulnerable to cash handouts and there should be plenty of that in 2012 as the political class make one last ditch effort to hang on to power. The real danger here is that although the votes we are talking about may not be enough to win an election, they could dramatically alter things in the wrong direction in a close race. Most analysts agree that the dynamics suggest that the presidential race will be pretty close in the next general elections.

Kamba Secrets Part 1

Kamba Secrets Part 2

Kamba Secrets Part 3

Kamba Secrets Part 4

Friday, August 20, 2010

Kamba secrets: What is the true origin of all the suffering?

I have been fortunate enough to do a little traveling here and there in my time, but for me the most beautiful place in the world still remains high up in the Iveti hills where my dad was born. Without being biased it is absolutely breathtaking up there (approximately 6,000 feet above sea level).

A little difficult to describe in mere words but I can see it all when I close my eyes, even now seated in front of this computer in a dark room bang in the middle of some concrete jungle. I see the rolling red soiled hills with vegetation and jutting rocks. The grass thatched roofs and the mabati ones (some rusty and some still shiny) spread over the hills as far as the eye can see. I can even smell the fresh air undiluted by modern civilization and the constant stench that comes with it. Little wonder that I always do my best thinking up there.

I miss the place terribly more so because I haven’t been there for quite a while.

Section of the Iveti Hills in Kathiani constituency Machakos, Ukambani.

But there is another side to this beautiful picture perfect terrain that should be a tourist attraction one day. There is the extreme poverty and hopelessness. There is a lot of idleness in Ukambani but then the truth is that there are few communities that love to farm more than the Kamba people. Before the advent of the mobile phone many a true Mkamba would anxiously wait for somebody arriving in the city from home and the first question would be if it rained, not even the progress of an ailing relative would take the place of that standard first question. And everybody in Ukambani grows maize.

You see there are plenty of contradictions in this Eastern Kenya community, I guess that confirms how terribly complex these people really are. Still with their blood flowing through my veins, I guess I am pretty qualified to write about them and I will try very hard to make some sense out of the paradox.

But for now in this background-building post I will focus on something about the Akamba that has always made me very uncomfortable and at the same time puzzled. Few communities have been used, misused and dumped as much as the Kamba. Slave traders in the 18th century loved them because they easily betrayed their own to the ruthless Arabs and didn’t seem to mind seeing close relatives carried off towards the Coast never to be seen again. Sometimes the cunning Arab slave traders would return and turn round and betray their informants, capturing them as they worked towards meeting the every increasingly high targets for slave shipments. The colonialists found the Kamba very loyal and filled the army and police forces with them. The community received no special rewards for helping the white man in his wars or in keeping law and order.

The Kenyatta dictatorship took over where the White man left off and it is no accident that the first and second head of the military under Kenyatta were both Kambas. First there was Major General JM Ndolo who was followed by General Jackson Kimeu Mulinge. And even then Ukambani did not receive any really special treatment when it came to famine relief and other emergencies that arose in the area. President Moi continued where Kenyatta left off. And even as the community failed to reap any rewards for their many years of loyalty and support they steadfastly continued to support the dictatorial regimes of both Kenyatta and Moi. Things came to a head after the 1997 General elections that saw Moi win yet again. Angry Kenyans from other communities are reported to have harassed Kambas and even burned some of their commercial vehicles at the famous Machakos bus stop in Nairobi.

Even randy Asian housewives in Nairobi whose husbands are too busy thinking about money making schemes to satisfy them in bed seem to have found good use for Kamba houseboys satisfying their personal needs. And without any salary increments or special rewards.

The list of how Kambas have been used and misused by others is way too long and so I will have to stop there and move onto the simple question that arises from all this. And that is WHY? Why has this community ended up suffering so much?

Some spiritual experts from the church say it is because they killed a man of God namely Dr Ludwig Kraph a missionary who was found dead kneeling by his bedside, but it is claimed he was actually murdered by the Akamba. They add that since it is impossible to mock God the creator, the curse of mockery has fallen back on the community as a result of this.

Whatever the reason, it is important to take careful note of the great suffering that has been going on in Ukambani for many decades despite the special advantages the community has which given to another would have produced very different results. In many ways this will help any observer understand the complex and yet simple nature of Kamba politics.

More on the Kamba people, history culture etc.

Kamba Secrets Part 1

Kamba Secrets Part 2

Kamba Secrets Part 3

Kamba Secrets Part 4

Kamba Secrets: What future for sleepy Kenyan community?

The controversial weekend special is back with a bang, starting from tonight.

No other community in the country rejected the draft constitution in such large numbers. So why did the Kamba reject what will turn out to be the best thing that ever happened to them? Why did Ruto and Moi find a community ready to welcome them and their message of lies with such open arms?

Apart from Coastal towns like Mombasa, Machakos, the Ukambani capital is the oldest inland town in Kenya and was the first capital of the British protectorate that is now Kenya. What happened? How did it get bypassed in favour of Nairobi? Why has it remained so under-developed all these years? Why have the Kamba people remained backward and poor despite being exposed very early on as traders?

A famous Kamba medicine woman predicted that the fourth president of Kenya would hail from Ukambani but does the community have any chance in the high stakes political wars of 2012? The answer will shock you to your bones.

Read the startling answers to all your questions about the Kamba and more in your weekend special this weekend. The real Kumekucha is back with a vengeance and is holding nothing back. Cancel all your dates this weekend or keep them and stick close to a computer with an internet connection. One guarantee Kumekucha gives you. You will emerge from this weekend with very different thinking in regards to the community that has played the biggest role in sustaining evil dictatorships in Kenya.

Useful reader information on Kenya from Kumekucha: Where to get the best priced air tickets from Mombasa Kenya

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Goodbye Safaricom?

Major battle for Kenyan cell phone subscribers shapes up
Even as the great battle for Kenyan voters begins to take shape, another phenomenal war albeit this time on the business front was launched yesterday by Kenya’s previously sleepy mobile phone services provider Zain Kenya.

In a shock move, the company reduced call tariffs to Kshs 3 per minute across all networks and Kshs 1 for SMS messages across all networks.

Safaricom’s Michael Joseph tried hard to look composed but there was no doubt that he was badly shaken even as he assured the press that such low rates were unsustainable. But when pushed by shrewd and alert business journalists, he admitted that the move by Zain was headed in precisely the right direction for any company looking to win market share in the Kenyan situation.

To a casual observer who is unaware of the latest developments at Zain the latest move may look like more confusion at Zain. More so when one considers that only last year, the company registered a loss, largely attributed to its low cross-network tariff campaign, Vuka. The campaign pulled its average revenue per user (ARPU) to record lows of $6 (Sh462) down from $7 (Sh539) in 2007 but failed to bring in a significant amount of new subscribers or increased use and thus revenues. Net losses increased to Sh6.9 billion from Sh1.67 billion in 2007 on lower revenues and increased administrative costs mainly due to costs related to network expansion

However a closer examination reveals that the main hand behind the latest dramatic price reductions at Zain is the new Indian owner Bharti Airtel. Those who have visited India or understand how business is done in that country will quickly realize that Safaricom has a lot to worry about this time round. India is the only country I know in the world where numerous enterprises thrive on margins of 5 per cent or less. I kid you not. Indian entrepreneurs have learnt how to make their profits by going for extremely high volumes. Contrast that to the Kenyan situation where no serious business person wants to consider profit margins below 200 per cent or thereabouts.

There is no doubt that the words of Zain CEO Rene Meza yesterday must have sent a chill down several spines at Safaricom headquarters in Westalnds. He said; "The tariff is not an offer, but a value proposition, which will make mobile services affordable."

This blog has been accused of giving too much credit to Safaricom’s Michael Jospeph and making him look like a business genius of sorts and in a way Mr Joseph has had it very easy thus far. He arrived in Kenya to find an aging Kencell (previous name for Zain) managing director whose understanding of competitive marketing was wanting. Joseph proceeded to take over the market with a clever per second billing campaign that gave the illusion of reduced call charges just because he was billing per second. Kencell stuck to their per minute billing system and only changed when it was too late and the damage had been done. In this way Joseph was able to charge higher and still take over the market from his hapless competitors. What this meant is that he was also able to quickly build a war chest for marketing while stealing market share at the same time and the rest as they say is history. It was a fascinating albeit one-sided battle. At one point the then sleepy Kencell managing director Philipe Vandebrouck told Kenyans that his call rates were akin to buying a whole bottle of wine at a restaurant which is always cheaper than being charged per glassful (which is what Safaricom were doing). He was telling this to the vast majority of Kenyans who have never been to a smart restaurant let alone ordered a bottle of wine. Wananchi accustomed to dirty dingy kiosks wondered what the old mzungu was talking about and continued to troop in large numbers to Safaricom.

Now in Bharti Airtel, Safaricom have for the first time a serious competitor to match their wits with. Sadly Michael Joseph has already announced his exit later this year as Managing director at Safaricom although he will continue to sit on the board and play a crucial advisory role. Just as well because I see a serious exodus of subscribers to Zain in the coming weeks. The only question is if the company has the infrastructure in place to sustain reasonable service in the wake of a sudden surge in the use of its’ network. Whatever happens the next few months should be very interesting and a great time for budding entrepreneurs to watch and learn.

For those ineterested in entrepreneurship this discussion on Entrepreneurship in India reveals some of the problems and helps foster a deeper understanding of the current situation on the ground.

Monday, August 16, 2010

Key indicators about 2012 from the referendum vote

Referendum vote brought us closer to the fourth president of the republic of Kenya. He'll be a lot younger than most analysts want to believe.

The referendum had some fascinating pointers to help observant Kenyans look into the future and spot trends and other things that we are likely to see in the 2012 elections. Already we know that the next general elections in Kenya will be held under a brand new constitution but the referendum also clearly told us that we have some brand new voters and voting patterns that will NOT produce the kind of results we have come to expect from the Kenyan electorate for many years now.

Let me just list some of these key pointers here for your quick perusal

i) Era of Moi politics is well and truly over
For me the most delightful thing about the referendum was that it proved beyond any doubt that the era of Moi-style politics is truly over. There is no doubt that president Moi was the leader of the No camp and the tactics used by this group are the kind that would have assured them victory just a few years ago. The Uhuru park bombing was supposed to swing the public mood in the opposite direction so that Kenyans should have quickly lost all appetite for a new constitution if it meant regular blood-shed of this kind. Instead the bomb which killed at least half a dozen Kenyans only increased the resolve of most Kenyans to get a new constitution. And after all as John Githongo quite rightly points out, constitutions are usually written in blood.

Secondly Moi has always thrived on spreading lies and using scare tactics on unsuspecting ignorant Kenyans and during the referendum both Moi and Ruto used lies to turn some Kenyans against the proposed constitution. Moi has repeatedly told Kenyans that the new constitution allows Military personnel to picket and go on strike (what constitution in the world can allow that?). William Ruto’s most effective lie was the one where he convinced many Rift Valley farmers that the new constitution would limit land ownership to only 10 acres per person. While it is true that many votes were gained in this way, in the end the vast majority of Kenyan voters saw through the lies and scare tactics and firmly rallied behind a document that will change Kenya forever. This is very scary to those politicians who have always thrived on the ignorance of voters. And quite rightly so because we are going to see some shocking results in 2012 (or sooner).

ii) Referendum confirmed reality of young restless voters
For better or for worse the baton has been passed on to the younger generation of Kenyans. These voters will quickly abandon party lines if there is the slightest reason for them to do so. We saw this happen in the Matuga by-election with devastating consequences. Matuga is an interesting constituency because it has a voter profile that is very different from the rest of the country in that the majority of registered voters are senior citizens. These people firmly rallied behind the incumbent Ali Mwakwere. The vast majority of the young people were solidly behind the ODM challenge to Mwakwere. However at the very last minute they abandoned their candidate and voted for Mwakwere. The reason was that their candidate was boring, had zero charisma and hardly gave voters any reason to vote for him apart from the fact that he was an ODM candidate. We saw the same devastating trend played out right across the country during the referendum. Many conservative older Kenyans voted against the draft but the youngsters of Kenya had no doubt on their minds what they wanted. Interestingly even youths from many churches across the country defied their church leadership and voted YES. Woe unto you if you are an old boring candidate in 2012. Woe unto any candidate in 2012 who will quickly find out how unpredictable the young and restless can be.

iii) Vote confirmed Ruto’s reduced influence in the Kalenjin Rift Valley
Clearly a lot has changed in the Rift Valley since 2007 and William Ruto’s influence has reduced considerably. Hardly surprising for thpose who understand the Kalenjin community. These guys have historically been known to very quickly and emotionally shift their stance. This is the community that put its’ own leader to death for making a prediction that they would be defeated by the coming race of the White man. The name of that leader was Kimnyole the Nandi leader (Orkoiyot) who is best remembered for the amazingly acurate prophecies that he made one of which he died for. He clearly predicted the coming of the “devils” who would subdue the Nandi community and rule them. The Nandis recognized the British as the “devils” that Kimnyole predicted would rule them and fought them vigorously in a vain effort to ensure that the prophecy would not come to pass. Kimnyole was stoned to death on suspicions that he had caused famine in the land. However the real reason was that his prophecy on the Nandi being subdued upset powerful tribal elders. But before he was executed he summoned his sons and made them promise him that they would never accept any positions of leadership amongst this crazy community. One of his sons, Koitalel Samoei, did not keep that promise and is today considered the greatest leader and Orkoiyot that the Nandi ever had. One of his achievements is that his military genius enabled the community to resist the well armed Colonialists for 11 long years which has to be a record unmatched in the entire British empire of the time.

But back to my main point here. The significant thing here is that prospective MPs, Senators and governors will not need to get a Ruto nod to win elections in the region. The situation could of course dramatically change if Ruto stands trial at the Hague.

iv) Referendum proved that it will be very difficult to rig an election in Kenya in future.
Not many people came across some leaked confidential projections produced by retired president Moi at the No secretariat that showed the No side would win by a very slim margin of about 3,839,877 votes to the Yes camp’s 3,753,994. The breakdown is fascinating and brings out Moi’s specialty in rigging elections that saw him easily rig both the 1992 and the 1997 general elections in his favour. The idea is to come a close second in some areas whiole accumulating votes in other regions where you are not popular. But these extra votes tend to add up. In the Moi projections for the referendum the No side won ONLY in Eastern and Rift Valley while the Yes team won everywhere else and yet the No side still emerged victorious. With the new system of transmitting results directly from the 27,000 polling stations countrywide, rigging elections in Kenya will not be so easy in 2012. A great relief to most Kenyans.

v) Voting patterns excited Raila Odinga handlers BUT…
Raild Odinga handlers would like to think that the person who should get most credit for the YES win is their man. A neutral young prospective presidential candidate for 2012 recently told me that the vote proved that Raila would be the man to beat. I disagree. In my view things were a lot more complex than that and there were numerous different reasons why people voted YES as is the case with the NO votes. Even in Luo Nyanza there were many different reasons why people voted YES and not simply because Raila said so, as many would like to think. Folks I keep saying that era is well and truly over and those who doubt will be shocked in 2012. What the referendum voting patterns told me is that a young charismatic Kenyan with no clear relation to any particular tribe in Kenya will have a great chance to win the presidency in 2012 against all odds.

Even those who consider themselves superior to "stupid" Africans learnt a lot from Kenyan referedum vote

Deadly Daniel Mirrors Terrible Taylor

President Kibaki, please detain Moi, Kumekucha begs

If we were operating in the old days, now would be a very good time to detain one Daniel arap Moi (without trial or due process) for being a serious threat to peace in Kenya, let alone the security of the state. That is one detention order I would sign for President Kibaki with great pleasure and never lose any sleep over it. But alas lucky Daniel after 24 years of misrule, the dirtiest Machiavellian tricks, and detaining people endlessly for the flimsiest reasons, now has the audacity to use the expanded democratic space to ensure that Kenya fails to move on to the new Canaan.
Dirty Daniel: "New constitution Itachoma nyinyi."

Sample the following. The day after Kenyans firmly voted in favour of the new constitution all was quiet and peaceful in the land until Moi released a statement urging the clergy not to apologise and NOT to give up on their fight against the “contentious issues”. Being the experienced politician he is, he naturally send feelers to all the relevant clergy and people involved and the next day a fresh row over the new constitution was brewing that rages on as you read this post. It mainly revolves around the No camp staying together to force changes on the constitution even before it is implemented.

…And that is just the beginning. This old man will do EVERYTHING AND ANYTHING to ensure that somehow the new constitution is diluted, side-tracked or prevented from being fully and properly implemented. His entire future and that of his family depends on it.

Without a doubt, most political analysts now agree, the biggest stumbling block now to a peaceful Kenya as we shift to a new constitutional dispensation is former dictator president of Kenya, Daniel Toroitich arap Moi. And what a dangerous foe the man is as he has already proved. Let us not talk about the tell-tale similarities of the Uhuru Park bombings to bombings that happened during the Moi watch and earlier during the Kenyatta days. (Incidentally this was a tactic that failed badly but you can be sure that those behind it will not be deterred from trying other things, even violent stuff). But clearly it is difficult to fight against the former owner of a house on the premises because he still knows where all the hidden trap doors and potholes are.

Those who may still doubt Moi’s commitment to derailing real change in Kenya just need to take a closer look at what the old man spent on the No campaign. One estimate puts the figure at a whooping Kshs one billion. Even the most conservative estimates say that the former president spent NOT less than Kshs 5 million per day. Now those who know Moi well are well aware of the fact that he can hardly be described as a generous man. While it is true he loved to dish out money when he was president the truth is that he had dozens of ways to “create cash” at short notice for his endless political “projects.” In other words it was NOPT his money he was being generous with. Now that he is no longer in power, his true colours have come out. And that is why the kind of spending Moi did to stop the new constitution from happening should and must cause all the warning bells to ring loudly in alarm because here is a man who is extremely desperate to stop something from happening. And desperate people usually do desperately dangerous things.

An interesting aside here is some of the recipients of Moi’s cash. It seems that we now have a new breed of “politicians for hire” who are ready to sing any tune for cash. Top on that list are former legislators Kalembe Ndile and Koigi Wamwere. Wamwere’s case is the saddest. After years of fighting for change in Kenya, risking his life several times, the man is now ending his political career meekly accepting the man who detained and harassed him to make jokes about why he detained him at public rallies, as long as he can receive handouts to keep his expensive habits happening as he waits to find a way back to parliament. How sad because Wamwere is the kind of guy who would have deserved to be buried in the hero’s corner when he finally departs from this earth. Now he will be a mere footnote whom history will treat rather harshly. While cowards during the Moi era like President Kibaki will be hailed as heroes of the struggle for his big push to deliver a new constitution to Kenya as president. Life is really unfair, is it not?

In my next post I will reveal some of things to expect from Moi’s rather bulky bag of tricks which he is set to unleash on unsuspecting Kenyans in the weeks and months to come.

P.S. I agree with Nzamba Gitonga, chair of the COE, when he says there are NO contentious issues in the new constitution and if they were any, they were resolved by the referendum. I would add that what some people are saying are contentious issues are concerns from landgrabbers and some church leader's dissapointment that the constitution will not help them in doing their job of fighting sin in the world.

Friday, August 13, 2010

Here Comes Constitution Mirage and/or Oasis

By KK Pundit

New Kenya constitution Chapter one, Section (1): “All sovereign power belongs to the people of Kenya, and shall be exercised only in accordance with this Constitution.”

It is one week since Kenyans voted for a new constitution but reading newspapers and watching news one would be tempted to imagine that last Wednesday's was a mock exercise. The so-called Kenyan church is up in arms demanding amendments to what is not promulgated yet.

Reading blogs with Kenyan political content leaves you wondering whether we falsely accuse out leaders of politicking 24/7. Bloggers will never cease drawing and craving political blood no matter the serenity of the occasion. Well, I guess it all boils down to the basic fundamentals: YOU CANNOT LEGISLATE VALUES, it is in the genes, LOL.

No wonder the Pokots have killed all their cats and dogs following advice by Minister Samuel Poghisio and PS Lonyangapuo that they would be taxed for keeping them under the new Constitution.

Are we there yet? Or are we heading nowhere?

There is a question being asked over and over by voices from the legal chambers of concerned experts, social gatherings, frothing waterholes, meat roasting dens, dispirited religious circles, sardine parked matatus, death-wish buses and regional political grapevines, which is:

What name will Kenyans christen the so called newly delivered Baby Constitution?

Will it be Dilemma, Quagmire, Quandary, Limbo, Mystery, Business As Usual, Kenya Ina Wenyewe (Shakers and Movers)?

Or will it be Hope (For the Better), Freedom (At Last), Change (We Fought For), Kick Them All Out If They Don't Deliver (Come 2012), Let's Wait And See (It Will Take Time Kenyan Style).

An ancient echo from a distant first cousin of KereNyanga named KereNjaro who lives in the neighbouring clouds of Eastern African may remind us of what is yet to come.

"Fifty years later and none of my six children have yet to resemble me in any way, shape or form, nor do they resemble their immediate grandparents, five paternal uncles, three aunts or any one of their paternal eighteen nephews and sixteen nieces. What's going on? Should I keep hoping for the better, ignore the matter all together or have a DNA test done asap?

I fear the worst if I opt for the last alternative. The truth may be a bitter pill to swallow if the results confirm my simmering decade old suspicion. The mother of my children is very uncomfortable with us being seen in public as a family.

Our close friends, family, colleagues, associates, relatives, complete strangers, former school mates, and neighbours have never ceased to ask whether all of our children are from their mother's previous relationship, marriage or were adopted by us given our very busy sociopolitical engineered projects for the last five decades."
~ KereNyanga.


Majority of Kenyans gave birth to a new constitution, but will it translate into what they had hoped for or will they end up without an inclusive political DNA that will transform the lives of many Kenyans all over the country?

Should Kenyans demand an immediate constitutional DNA test in order to figure out the real devil that is hidden in the details before it's too late, or should they wait and see what becomes of the baby's true political, social and economic identity in the next ten to fifteen years?

BTW, how does a country like Kenya finds the means and ways to perform a national DNA on the newly delivered baby christened by the majority as "Consti Tution wa Kenya"?

Monday, August 09, 2010

New Oath of Office Will Be High Crime for Anti-Constitution Ministers

Kenyans are heading back to Uhuru Park to be part of celebrations of the new dispensation. They will witness leaders pledge loyaltly to the country and the cameras will be rolling later this month when cabinet ministers are sworn-in afresh. But for some leaders oath of office will be something akin to treason.

As public officials, how will Ruto, Shabaan, Porghisio and other NO ministers be expected to Obey, Serve, Uphold, Respect or Defend the new constitution? Are these individuals truly fit to continue holding public offices?

After having vehemently opposed the new constitution under false pretence and that which thankfully Kenyans refused to listen to, cabinet ministers who ardently served on the NO side during the campaign find themselves in serious catch-22 situation.

The new constitution transitional clause requires that ......”On the effective date, the President and any State officer or other person who had, before the effective date, taken and subscribed an oath or affirmation of office under the former Constitution, or who is required to take and subscribe an oath or affirmation of office under this Constitution,204 shall take and subscribe the appropriate oath or affirmation under this Constitution........"

Unless the principals exercise their powers and replace them, or unless they resign on their own volition, cabinet ministers who had vehemently opposed the proposed constitution will be required to partake this new oath of office that they ......”do swear/solemnly affirm that I will at all times be faithful to the Republic of Kenya; that I will obey, respect and uphold this Constitution of Kenya and all other laws of the Republic; that I will well and truly serve the people and the Republic of Kenya.......”.

The president and prime minister will certainly enjoy watching the same opposition swear to obey and defend what they opposed. Of course 2,795,059 Kenyans who voted NO will also be watching in amazement as the leaders who asked them to oppose now pledge to defend, obey and respect the same document. Will these so called leaders have any credibility left thereafter? Actually, there is no need to sack them, let them do what is ethically the right thing to do. Those who do not agree with government that they serve, what business do they have continuing sitting in it?

Without batting and eyelid and quite shamelessly, Ruto’s concession speech was more of a threat than an admission of a crushing defeat. As one who aspires to be president, I expected Ruto to take personal responsibility for that failure as defacto leader of the NO side. Ruto ought to have apologised for misleading 2,795,059 of cast ballots astray. Instead, the fellow was chest-thumping about non-cast ballots and calling on the two sides to negotiate amendments on the new constitution. This is an affront to democracy and an insult to the intelligence of Kenya voters.

The new constitution seeks to bring magnanimity in our national politics, but listening to Ruto, one wonders why he just does not get it. In established democracies, a defeat such us one experienced by the NO side warrants resignation of presidents and their ministers. Actually, if the NARC government could have resigned and called for fresh elections after the 2005 referendum defeat, then certainly the 2007/8 post elections violence could not have happened. In 2010, the NO ministers still have the audacity to demand for negotiations after having been humiliated at the ballot box already adjudged to be free and fair. It is as if the referendum was a mere tea-party and nothing of significance. Am I the only one seeing this hypocrisy and disrespect for democracy?

If we continue to allow the elected officials in our government to violate their solemn oath of office, we disregard accountability and enhance impunity and grand corruption. By letting these scoundrels get away with this high crime, we ultimately contribute to the destruction and elimination of our supreme law, the constitution.

Given Ruto’s well publicized opposition to this very constitution, would it be morally correct for him to partake the new oath on the same constitution? Are Kenyans prepared to see the same ministers abandon their responsibilities on the front bench during the crucial implementation of the constitution and legislation of related laws?

The honourable and respectable ministers should do the right thing and voluntarily resign. It is the correct thing to do at this point.

Friday, August 06, 2010

Goodbye Kalonzo Musyoka and many others

See also Phil's Tit bits on referendum results

If you can read and understand English just try and read Kenya’s new constitution again. This time carefully and then when you are done, tell me if Kenyan politics can remain the same—whatever crafty thing the political class tries to do next.

Indeed the mystery deeply bothering me just now is how the highly intelligent political class rallied behind this very constitution that will for sure come back to haunt and destroy them. Were they drunk for all those months that they traveled country-wide drumming up support for the document? Did they not read carefully what they were supporting?

Even more interesting is how Kenyan politics has changed so quickly over the last few months (even before the new constitution is implemented) as so dramatically illustrated by the voting patterns countrywide for the proposed document.

Many analysts have argued that the reason why Ukambani stood so firmly against the proposed constitution had to do with them listening to the church. I come from the area and I can tell you that is NOT true. The truth is much more complicated than that. For starters there has been a backlash brewing against Vice president Kalonzo Musyoka in Ukambani for a very long time now. (Interestingly in Kalonzo’s own constituency of Mwingi North Yes won unconvincingly with 24,489 votes against 14,780 for “No”).

I happened to be in Machakos town in 2008 when Kalonzo made the ill-advised decision to celebrate his Silver Jubilee in politics and his being appointed vice president in the town. It is instructive that he did not hold these celebrations in his constituency or even in Mwingi or Kitiu but in Machakos which is very far from his constituency. Even then, the way locals in Machakos were talking you would have been convinced that they were preparing to stone the man to death. The main cause of all these anti-Kalonzo emotions had something to do with the fact that in his long political career he has done nothing for his people on the ground. Something that nobody would dare point out in the Kanu days.

Another factor that influenced voting patterns amongst the Akamba people is a factor that applied right across the country and is a pointer to what we should expect in 2012. More so under the new constitution. It seems that the era of Kenyan voters voting as a block and without thinking very much has ended. Slowly but surely the days of tribal chiefs are on their way out of Kenyan politics. We saw the same thing in Eldoret North where the area MP William Ruto used every trick in the book (including a lot of white lies) to get the voters to turn against the new constitution. Well a sizeable amount of his constituents voted yes. Almost half of them. That is very telling indeed.

What should make politicians really scared is the fact that the new Kenyan voter is young restless and very unpredictable. But they will mostly base their final decision on merit.

But even before Kenyans voted in the historic referendum on Wednesday the signs were already clearly emerging that Kenyan politics would never be the same again.

Let’s revisit the last YES rally at Uhuru park last weekend. Two prospective presidential candidates to me looked like they were really struggling with Kenya’s new politics. The first was ODM’s Musalia Mudavadi. He gave what appeared to be a good speech and quoted the founding father of the Tanzanian nation the late Mwalimu Julius Nyerere. To be honest I enjoyed his speech myself in comparison to some of the other crazy remarks some politicians were making. But the crowd at Uhuru park yawned and fidgeted. It was an excellent speech BUT to the wrong audience. The Kenyan voter is today extremely young and restless and has little time for intellectual discourses or ancient history, even if they are well read (haven’t I learnt that lesson the hard way right here in Kumekucha with my love for Kenyan history? These days I have to carefully package history into current affairs.)

The other politician who was clearly struggling was Kalonzo Musyoka. He learnt from his mistake of last time and tried very hard to use Raila to ride on the mood of the rowdy youths at Uhuru park. The effort fell flat on its’ face and made him look weak. Too little too late. The voting patterns amongst Kalonzo’s own Akamba people and even right in his own constituency a few days later just went on to confirm what everybody saw at Uhuru Park.

It is instructive that the two politicians I have mentioned from both sides of the political divide are former KANU diehards. It seems that those who thrived on Kanu’s rubber-stamp-and-kneel-down-before-the-king politics are going to have no place in the new Kenya. Thus it is hardly surprising that whispers within ODM have it that Musalia greatly disappointed and failed completely to step into the Captain’s shoes when he was incapacitated recently. A growing number of supporters of the party are now of the view that he should be replaced and the party should get another “stronger” character to the position.

In the same breath if PNU are interested in making an impact in the next general elections then Kalonzo Musyoka should not feature anywhere in the 2012 line up. Get me very right here because I am NOT being personal. Just ask yourself the simple question; what does he have to offer? What will he bring to the table?

So the new politician in Kenya has got to package their message just right for young voters who are now the majority and who quickly and easily get bored. At the same Uhuru Park rally one politician despite his advanced age managed to do just that. Prime Minister Raila Odinga used his infamous soccer analogy and almost brought the house down. Some silly visitors to this blog continue to insist on painting me as a Raila sympathizer and supporter which is just not true (ask Phil and he will tell you how often he gets upset about what I frequently write about his beloved captain here. Still you have to give it to our Phil for always being consistent about his political leanings right from the time I first met him in 2005 when this blog started.)

Hate him or like him, the truth of the matter is that Raila’s speech at Uhuru Park was highly entertaining while beautifully driving the political message home. I myself rolled on the floor in laughter when he reached the part where the ball was passed to Bishop Wanjiru and then she slipped and fell and got injured so seriously that she had to be carried off the pitch. He was of course referring to the recent misfortunes of the Bishop where she lost her parliamentary seat in a court petition.

To some folks who think that they have gone to school, the whole charade looks childish and unbecoming for a whole principal and member of the executive of the republic of Kenya. To the voters it was hilarious and no doubt many who may not have made up their mind about the draft constitution at that point were influenced to vote in a manner that pleased the entertaining PM a few days later. For instance in the PM’s home province of Nyanza the support for a new constitution was overwhelming. 1,174, 033 people voted YES which represented a total of 91 per cent of the votes cast. Only a paltry 101, 491 representing 8 per cent said NO to the new constitution. You really can’t argue with those figures can you?

Good people, whatever the flaws and shortcomings of the new constitution, you can be sure of one thing. Kenyan politics has dramatically changed forever. Prepare yourself for the entry of some very new kids on the block.

P.S. My estimates of the win that the YES side would get turned out to be off the mark. I had said 85% having adjusted it from my earlier 75% of the total votes cast. Other pollsters put the figure at around 60% and they too were wrong. It turned out that the correct figure was somewhere in the middle at about 70%. But then polls are not always accurate to the exact percentage. Not only that, politics is usually very fluid and many politicians facing certain defeat have won elections just because something changed on the ground just before voters went to the polls. It happens all the time and it happens all over the world. I know for a fact that there were a lot of dirty things that went on in the Rift Valley in the last few days (remember the man who said on TV that he was voting against the new constitution because it limited land ownership to 10 acres and he had more than that and didn’t want to lose his land?)

Anyway, I know I have many enemies here insistent on splitting hairs because for some reason they see me as a threat (my advice to them is to concentrate on the more serious threat to their game at the moment—namely our new constitution). However the point to be noted is that despite the noise NO fellows were making about “rigged” polls, Kumekucha and the other pollsters were absolutely correct about the sentiments of the people on the ground. I am delighted that once again my faithful readers have been able to prove that I indeed have my fingers constantly on the pulse of the Kenyan nation and the people on the ground and that is one of the reasons why some important people I know always take notes when reading my posts here.

Tit Bits on Referendum Results

  • Ministry of Lands banking hall was surprisingly empty this morning. A first time occurrence since 1963. No more brokers and no more grabbers of public land crowding the corridors in Ardhi House. One rumour had it that squatters (read human shields) are being invited to settle for free at one expansive farm in Laikipia.
  • Eldoret North constituency will be electing a new MP come 2012. The incumbent is busy auctioning the Kalenjin vote to the highest bidder for purposes of landing the Deputy State Presidency in the new dispensation.
  • As we auction ethnic votes and rent crowds, since when were uncast votes counted in elections? Can we be clear what democracy means. And in this case two thirds voted yes.
  • Mwingi North constituency now joins Othaya constituency as the other constituency whose long serving member of parliament is soon to become a pensioner. Thanks to recent upward review of the V-P’s rosy retirement benefits.
  • There's one Mkamba who has christened himself Obama Wa Wakamba. Green was too much for him. Cloning the son of Ko'Ogelo is no easy task, especially his vote winning ways.
  • KADDU is now shopping for a new Party Leader following the dismal performance of the current Party Leader in his own constituency and in the larger land of Masinde Muliro.
  • Cherangany constituency while voting strongly for YES, also wishes to have the recall clause fast-tracked, 2012 is too far. They have been assured of support from the nearby Lugari constituency.
  • Imported voters from the other side still managed to sneak into the Langata constituency voter roll despite the recent fresh registration by the IIEC. Back to the drawing board, how can the incumbent be unseated?
  • Green Alliance, comprising youthful YES MPs, is now a fully fledged political party in Kenya after was issued registeration certificate by the registrar of political parties this morning. This heralds the death of KANU, the independence party. They hope to replicate the abortive Orange revolution of 05-07 riding on the back of 2010 referendum victory. Easier said than done, especially if there is no one to do football commentaries for them at Uhuru Park.
  • Chief Justice and a substantial number of judges in the judiciary have quietly moved their personal belongings from offices and sent their government staff on leave. There is NO chance in any of them ever working in the judiciary again.
  • Party Leader TIP TIP has more than a dozen missed calls from a mobile phone number calling from Kabarak base station. It is not known why these elements want to make this political marriage of convenience permanent. The said party leader was seen nursing a warm tusker at a pub in Mlolongo very early today.
  • Those who took illegal oath of office in 2007 are required to take lawful oath of office again.....this time in broad daylight through due process. YES, they know themselves.
  • And YES, the railway is still intact in Kibera while Kivuitu remains a Kenya citizen, at least he has been given a leston at managing elections.

More tit bits to follow; but you can post yours at the comments section of this post

Have a comprehensively reformist weekend folks!!!!

Breaking: IIEC Final Referendum Tally Announced

The official IIEC final tally has just been announced:

YES: 6,092,583 (67%)
NO: 2,795,059 (30%)

This includes the constituencies which were not included in yesterday's announcement at Bomas of Kenya.

New Constitution: An Oasis or Mirage?

So Kenya is basking in the limelight as among the few countries who can overhaul their constitution in peace time. Well, it has been along journey for both proponents and critics of the new constitution. First a deserved congratulations to all Kenyans for showing maturity and disabusing the doomsayers who never expected an African country to release poll results in REAL TIME just like any other developed country out there.

We are a lucky lot to be witnesses to a rebirth of a country. True, it is not perfect but what is? We have a plebiscite and it is upto us to better the template. At least we have the pride of place and mind to claim it as our own unlike the tattered Lancaster document that was thrust at us and then mutilated by our won for selfish reasons. And there comes the BIG catch.

It may be premature to pop the champagne just yet. We have NEW wine in old wineskin's. Implementation of the new constitution is left at the hands/mercy of the OLD POLITICAL guard. Can they make a clean break from their selfish and destructive past to do what is right? Well, the jury is already out roamimg and your guess is as good as mine.

Without abstracting the obvious, the new constitution provides a very radical road map on how to governance and other matters thereof. You can bet you next lunch that OWNERS of Kenya will not go down ushering in new FAIR ways of doing things that will jeopardize the leash and 'illegal' advantages they enjoy over the majority. They may not come out fighting but the RESISTANCE will definitely be massive.

The most difficult part begins NOW

The new constitution is no panacea to our myriad national maladies. We missed the opportunity to shape Kenya after independence and again after 2002 when we were the most optimistic nation on the planet. Will we squander this opportunity for the third time running? One only hopes and prays against all odds that we will not have the next two years of fiver pitch campaigns for 2012. How about putting a smile on the IDPs by resettling them to set the pace? Wishes!!

This new constitution provides the best rallying document to galvanize us as a country and NOT a mere sum of 42+ tribes. The ordinary voters have led the way, will we follow and take it to the next level? We MUST REBOOT of our national culture and lay out clear objectives with time lines on what we need as a country. A constitution in nothing without people respecting and living its ideals. You cannot legislate values, they must be nurtured by design.

We may be oblivious of the historic opportunity dangling before our eyes. Can we rise to the occasion and measure up? It may all sound evangelical but it is TRUE and DOABLE. Yes we can but can we seize the moment? Well, change starts from the individual before acquiring critical mass. It is incumbent upon each Kenya to start that change in his or her small way.

Welcome to NEW KENYA. Congratulations Kenyans. One people, one Nation, one Kenya.