Reader's comments on Kumekucha
Meanwhile for your launch I suggest you include something about a new Consciousness emerging among Kenyans who have become fed up with their nation being relegated to the status of a banana republic due to an ethos of tribal politics of survival as opposed to politics of development, leadership that manipulates the masses for their individual selfish gain as opposed to serve the masses for the welfare of all and the capitalistic ethic that embraces and praises the accumulation of wealth without considering the means.
In Kenya's case it seems we have set an enviable precedent that encourages accumulation of wealth through political leadership positions.
Otherwise why would a parliamentary candidate spend 33 million Kenya shillings to fight for a parliamentary seat where he will only earn shs 0.5 million per month???
On Lucy Kibaki's antics at Nation Media House
Tash Kamau said...
All the significant progress the Kenyan woman has made, at a very high price have been wiped out by Lucy Kibaki. I can already hear Kenyan men quiping, 'you see what happens when you get a woman into State House?"
This is a national tragedy.
As early as May 2005 people were already warning this blogger about being bought...
Anonymous said...
Make sure you guys are never bought. cash is very tempting you know?
Edward Mahesa, Dar
4:51 AM
chris said...
That's the magic of blogging. You can't bribe every single Kenyan. As long as comments can be published here by anybody, I think this blog has a good chance of remaining free. The first real free press in the history of Kenya where you can say anything without fear and be heard. Please tell other Kenyans about this.
On increased enthusiasm of KRA to collect taxes from the small man;
Justin said...
This is exactly what the Narc government has reduced us to. They get rich and we get taxed. I never thought I would ever miss Moi.
3:27 AM
Anonymous said...
Where's Moi anyway, currently. He should be saying something. Or are all these guys in the same mix? Probably are. U know the deal of watch my back and I watch yours.
Sili - Msa.
4:47 AM
On the plush MP's offices at Continental House
richard said...
Life is but a journey, and Kenyans would like to know the past before they move ahead-otherwise the same mistakes will be repeated.
What are the chances of a poor child born deep in ‘shags’ or in a slum surviving- so as to pursue education- then struggle to succeed in life? Let’s be realistic?
1. They can’t access healthcare-the rural medical centers have no drugs/equipment/qualified personnel.
2. They can’t access quality education-the schools lack basic facilities/are understaffed, etc.
3. Adequate food is not guaranteed-at least some districts have school feeding programmes.
An MP in Kenya today earns about 700,000/- monthly, gets a grant of 3.6m to buy a duty-free car, 9.5m mortgage to buy a house, is in control of C.D.F.(Constituency Development Fund),Constituency Aids Fund,etc
I visited the MP’s offices at Continental House recently and shed tears. I saw wananchi queuing outside and being asked to call their MP’s who will then inform the main gate sentries to allow them in. Meanwhile the waheshimiwa are discussing politics in groups, or basking in the health club. The constituent has not eaten for days-where will he get money to make a call? These plush offices were built by the taxpayer and yet they can’t help him.
Is this the price of capitalism/democracy? If so, I would prefer a military junta-everybody for himself and GOD for us all. Somali and Sudan have not had democracies for decades yet their nationals are living in luxury in African capitals and overseas!
Richard on the referendum results;
1 Comments:
R said...
It's true, Kikuyus voted for their man, but they weren't the only ones, so did Luo Nyanza which voted against the draft by over 90%. The only thing that mitigated the Nyanza result was the result in Kisii.
I'm proud of the rest of Kenya, though. But looking back, I see that they've probably always been ahead of the Kikuyus and Luos.
On the effectriveness of myjobseye in job seeking;
6 Comments:
JOHN KARIUKI said...
I think it also depends on the job. If you are looking for secretaries or receptionists, then you will probably get females. I have used www.myjobseye.com to hire for 7 positions - 2 sales reps, 1 accountant, an accounts assistant, 1 IT manager, a driver, and an operations manager. Only 3 of the 7 are females.
7:38 AM
Anonymous said...
Perhaps someone form myjobseye.com can comment?
7:39 AM
chris said...
Thanx for your insightful comments, John. I've contacted somebody at Myjobseye to give us some feedback incase they all missed this post.
Still, the jobs on your list have all been traditionally in the male domain so 3 out of 7 is not bad. Our ladies have sure come a long way and deserve all the encouragement we can give them.
They are also more honest. I would certainly feel more comfortable with a lady heading my cash office or entire accounts department.
9:15 AM
Neil Ribeiro said...
OK. Here are the official stats. There are 24,933 female, and 32,583 male job seekers registered on www.myJobsEye.com.
Neil Ribeiro
General Manager
myJobsEye.com
12:39 AM
chris said...
My apologies. I seem to have been wrong.
Yet I distinctly remember doing the interviews personally over a period of six months (2 years ago) and the results were always frustratingly the same - many more females than males). There were 30 positions to be filled for technical sales representatives for the leading solar and alternative energy company In East And Central Africa.
Have things changed so much or can somebody explain this mystery to me?
BTW Myjobseye are giving us an interview which will hopefully be published here, Next week.
3:10 AM
Jane said...
I graduated form USIU in 2002. In 2003 I got my 1st job with ICEA as a management trainee through myjobseye.com. I have recently gotten my second job through the site too. In fact, for my 2nd job I only used the site and within a month of updating my CV and applying, I was interviewing!
1:03 AM
On A Raila Presidency
16 Comments:
Anonymous said...
You are wrong. Raila will be president.
7:57 PM
Anonymous said...
raila will be president one day 1
8:39 AM
Anonymous said...
Raila, the true patriot kenyans miunerstand. the only sage politician, always consistent with his vision for kenya. always open to dynamism as posed by the world.
1:31 PM
Anonymous said...
Raila will never be Kenyan President NEVER
1:43 AM
Anonymous said...
LETS WAIT FOR THE ELECTIONS
JUST LIKE THE 3 TIME LOOSER THE SLEEPER IN CHIEF WON THEN ANYONE CAN WIN
5:35 AM
Anonymous said...
W e kenyans abroad have an upto date informed view of the kenyan situation,i speak for many of my friends acros many ethnic lines including Kamba,Kisii,Luhya,coastal,Kikuyu and the populous Kalenjin who are firmly behind Raila,that we are going to do everything possible on this earth,to put that Raila odinga into state house come next elections due in Dec 2007.
11:58 AM
Anonymous said...
his going to be the next president,kenyans have woken up just in time not to miss the Raila presidency.
12:00 PM
Anonymous said...
Raila is an activist best suited to what he is now. becoming a president will deny kenyans a fighter, the immense powers the president enjoys will turn him into a dictator once he bocomes a president since history has proven Raila is a schemer and an opportunist driven by selfish ambitions in the guise of fighting for the common man...who once becomes president will never relinquish that office till death.. sad but true. Will always be a brilliant politician and an enigma to all.
4:42 PM
Anonymous said...
Raila should beginning by apologizing to Kenyans for trying to topple a legitimately elected government in 1982. After that, i think he has a very good chance of ruling Kenya and revolutionizing the wonderful East African state.
1:47 AM
Anonymous said...
Raila, Sadly, WILL NOT be the president of Kenya come 2007. Why sadly?... Sadly because Raila Odinga is the only Kenyan politician with what it will take to snatch this country from the dogs! But, I'd rather put my vote on Raila knowing he's not winning than to give my vote to people who do not realise just how much this country has suffered because they cant make up their minds on what to do with the situations in the country!
7:52 AM
Edwin said...
Well..well..well, this is what they have to say... selfish!!!! who amongst the two will look selfish... one who has tasted and feels you dont deserve the seat or the position... secondly one who has been put on the seat and thrown out who helped placed them there... please please let us be sober with our debate.. constructively. not these hatred we hear or read.. if someone is good you can never change this.. we have dirty charactered persons currently in leadership but these same people(calling themselves true kenyans and patriots) will never touch them even if they surely know how coward and skin hiding they have been in the kenyan political arena gaining from slips of true fighters!"!! i rest my case but with genuinity lets look at his history soberly and advise our plain minds openly and truthfully.
6:34 AM
Jamwa said...
Hon Raila Amolo Odinga, the Mp for Kibera, nay, Langata, is considered a Kingmaker in Kenyan politics. According to the late Hon Michael Kijana Wamalwa, he inspires both Railamania and Railaphobia while the latest biography aptly describes him as an enigma in Kenyan politics. In Luo Nyanza Raila has cultivated a cult of personality that is the envy of many a politician. This cult has spawned myths that elevates Raila almost to the level of luo legends like Gor Mahia and Lwanda Magere. Infact, professors of Political Science bow in awe and sing praises to Agwambo, owad gi Akinyi
Raila straddles the Kenyan political landscape like the proverbial colossus. Whenever, he is out of the country, his absence speaks even louder. He has the knack of setting the political agenda by just calling a prèss conference; and even if you are dyed-in-the-wool critique of this guy, you must appreciate one fact: he is a force that cannot be wished away.
Despite all this accolades as a politician, Raila fails miserable as a leader. This is manifested by the increasing socio-economic misery that he has brought to members of the luo community. No wonder, the word luo Nyanza evokes negative feelings of poverty disease and immaturity. This is not to say that Raila is wholly responsible for the woes facing the luo community, members of this community are equally culpable.
To begin with, Raila enjoys unbridled power as leaders of the luo community- forget the fact that he is a Nairobi MP. This has come about due to the fact that the luos suffered immensely under Kenyatta and Moi to the point where they were desperate for leaders who will fearless fight for them. The late Jaramogi Odinga, one of the most principled and honest politicians this country has ever had - took up this mantle but fate was not kind to him. His son ascended to this throne with the promise to deliver the luo from socio-political wilderness. Unbeknown to the luo community, he subtly changed course and is now leading them deeper and deeper into the hot desert while he is covered with a human umbrella and has fresh water at his disposal. He has even taken all the manna that dropped from heaven so that his people can remain hungry and beg from him.
Many sons and daughters of the luo community have died in this circus of the so called political and economic liberation while his closest relatives live in luxury. When its is appropriate, Raila sheds crocodile tears knowing well aware that these suffering and death only serves to reinforce the persecution complex within the community that ensures his political survival.
It is instructive to note that the sugar and fish sector remain the mainstay of luo economy. However, no single day – not one I know of – has Raila ever employed his mobilization skill and rhetoric to fight for the farmers and the fisherfolk. For along time, before Kibaki came to power, sugar framer went for years without being paid for their produce. Meanwhile, tones of sugar were being imported into the country compounding further the woes further. All this time, Agwambo never raised a finger – or was he part of the cartel that was importing sugar. In the fish sector, it is ironical that people in Nyanza are contended with fish skeletons popularly known as mgongowazi due to high levels of poverty while hoping against hope that all will be well when Raila becomes president – Never!
Some will argue that Raila is the MP for Kibera and is not responsible for the woes affecting the people of Nyanza. Nothing could be further from the truth. Raila is covertly and overtly at the centre of all the major political events taking place in the region including who becomes MP, if in doubt, just ask Raphael Tuju, the MP for Rarieda. However, this is not to say that Tuju should provide the much needed alternative centre of power, given that he cannot be come an MP if left to his own devices.
One would ask: what do you want Raila to do? Before I answer the question, I would say that Raila has remained the undisputed (mis)leader of the luo community for very long time. If he was wise and had the interest of the luo people, he would use this privileged position to help his people economically and not to pursue his own selfish political interests at the expense of his community. He should do this by using his influence among the luo as a political bargaining chip to force the government acquiesce to the urgent needs of his people in whatever way possible in return for political support. Politics for its own sake will not help the luo people.
At this point, I want to challenge Raila to tell the public any substantial contribution in terms of economic development that he has made to his community.
In conclusion, its time for the luo to take a hard look at themselves in the social-economic mirror and see the bruises and wounds in their faces caused by a leader whom they ‘worship’ more than Nyasaye.
Yours Faithfully
Alfred Oduor
AOduor
4:19 AM
Ochieng said...
Raila has the power and the will to push for a better Kenya, as political fate may have it, luo president is generally feared in Kenya.... reason beats me, infact with Raila on top i see better things a head, sucess is all about institutions and not persons... he is for good governance and hence the future... we have the resources but poor distribution and decisions..
10:07 PM
Thomas said...
Consistency is a mean virtue but some people prize it highly and go to remeakarble lenghts to show others and themselves that they posses it,we are proud of you Hon. Raila.
7:22 AM
Kimani J. said...
I would like to thank you all for the comments.I want to say strongly that HE would be the best president if elected.I come from central province but we view this man as impecable,fearless,diplomatic leader.His leadership is beyond tribal boundaries and that is why he is feared by most of his opponents.About developments,Raila has not been given an opportunity
but wait you will see what he is doing to this country.It is high time for Kenyans to think beyond their tribal lines and I want to assure you that we must put this great leader to STATE HOUSE.RAILA MUST WIN.All my former collegues in USA,UK and Canada are spending sleepless nights for Agwambo to win.
This man has to win,he enjoys gold support from all parts of the this nation.
My fellow Kenyans lets give Raila our votes
4:45 AM
Anonymous said...
If only Raila could know that we are never babies any more then he should go back and make his own kenya.Look his team mates aslo know his character;akina Kalonzo, Ruto and Uhuru.He should be ashamed and know he will never be a president in Kenya.He has no vision just like his father.And goes the saying,like father like son.I feel sorry for him coz he will end up just like his father.And i wonder if he planned to overthrow the gover at one time, caused so many people to die and can go to press about; then what a big animal is he and what would became of Kenya if he ever become a preso.He needs to be shown the Nyayo House, Until he's sorry.
On Kibaki's daughter being caught in an intimate pose with Artur boyfriend
4 Comments:
Oloo said...
I saw the photographs you are talking about. You don't put your hands all over a woman like that if you're not sleeping with her. So what are we saying here? Was the whole Armenian hullabaloo was about sex with a Nyeri beauty who happens to be the president's daughter? Unbelievable!!!
7:41 AM
Wishi said...
I don't blame the Armenians. I've dated ladies from Nyeri. They're Hot with capital "H". I also notice that Artur's head is shaped like that of a typical Kikuyu called Mwangi or something. Can't blame the lady for instinctively falling for him.
I say forgive the Armenians especially lover boy Artur Margaryan and let's have a royal wedding in Kenya to take our minds off all the stress.
7:45 AM
Sila said...
Hot? You must be plain out of your mind. The girl has a gap between her front teeth. That means she's sizzling, mwoto ya kuotea mbali sana, sana, sana, sana.
Poor Artur Margaryan.
7:51 AM
Ritch said...
For a time now the Kenyan media has been replete with the Artur saga: Artur this…Artur that…Artur here…Artur there.
These brothers clearly got themselves a following. What with the media and ‘celebs’ alike giving them celeb status that they did not deserve{or did they?}
I am made to understand that one of them, Artur Margaryan, was an arrogant type.
He was given to shooting off his mouth at every possible chance and delivering a cocktail of ‘blue blistering barnacles!’.
He was an amorous type too. His fling with Winnie generated heated public debate. We are told that he had a way with ‘them’ ladies. Anyway, I wouldn’t blame them for falling for his money {first thing} and then his looks {second thing}. And with some of us in financial and pecuniary handicaps who wouldn’t anyway.
Then followed their ‘abracadabra’ stunt at the airport {JKIA} that really made us doubt the security even at our very door steps. They had the effrontery to brandish a gun {or how many guns had they?} at one of the presumably well secured areas in our Kenya.
What security, therefore, do you expect at Kayole or Mathare, for instance?
But still they got state security and some top guys in the Kibaki government threw their weight round about them. One of them was Michuki {the guy with rattle snakes in his pockets} who said they were ‘genuine businessmen’. What mid summer madness!!
This guy said ‘…rattling a rattle snake’ after the Standard raid which left many a Kenyan crawling and slithering and steaming and breathless and…hissing!
He came up with a new one ‘genuine businessmen’. Maybe that’s how he viewed them {Arturs} but whom should we blame for his hindsight?
Anyway, all said and done, they were deported. But you and I know it only too well: this was a belated action…belated deportation…belated everything.
Good riddance to the Arturs and we hope this is the last we hear and/or see them. We are already tired of our ‘indigenous’ Arturs. There is no need for ‘expatriate’ ones. But that’s a story for another day.
Winnie, please don’t knife me for making such scathing remarks about your guy, Margaryan. Suffer me this once.
Comment On Kibaki's Security as he visits Mombasa
10 Comments:
Anonymous said...
Chris, you certainly have no idea of security arrangements for both H.E. Mwai Kibaki & retired president H.E. Daniel Moi. You speak out of ignorance and hearsay. If you want to challenge my point of view you are welcomed aboard.
5:47 AM
chris said...
Hi annonymous,
Am always ready to learn and am listening up.
-kumekucha-
7:41 AM
chris said...
By the way I consulted other security experts for the info that I have already produced here. Including the simple experiment that I carried out (carrying a large paperbag to within metres of the president's slow moving motorcade. But experts are wrong all the time. Eager to hear your point of view.
Kumekucha.
7:44 AM
Anonymous said...
We are talking about demistfying the presidency. U and company are rooting for someone who will be inaccessible. He is a dictator who will be sorrounded by 20 huge jaluo body guards.
Kibaki is not under any security threat and if he is so are many other kenyans.
U dont manufacture stories,u just have wild dreams.
8:38 AM
Anonymous said...
As they say, ignorance is no defense! Chris, Chris, Chris, please keep-off from writing on issues you have no clue about. Of late some of your articles are sounding more dim & plain ludicrous!
Please don’t let fame get into your head... I would advise you to stick to subjects you’re somewhat familiar with.
8:38 AM
Taabu said...
Chris, there is no need to either justify or aplogize for what you write lest readers start forming opinions. The truis that facts are sacred and opions are free remain true today as they were in the dinosaur age. So do your part, write and leave the reading and synthesis to us and thanks for the good work meanwhile.
As for Kibaki, he finds himself a stribe the dark blue sea and the rock. We are hosting a world championship where he has to lead by example in demonstrating confidence in our security. On the other hand, the guy propensity to delegate even weighty obligations is legendary and unparralled. If he had his way Moody would set the Kenyan mood right at the coast. But the chap must also campaign and be visible. The some total, security can be comprimised provided political objectives are fully met.
Once a politician always one, the shade of brilliiance and charisma notwithstanding. Behind all their lofty talk and statements of plastic roadmap lurk shrewdness that will see one sell his mother for votes. Our politics is just not upto scratch. So dude, unless something drastic and revolutionary happens we are stuck with these colourless chaps.
8:39 AM
Deroo said...
Chris
You are Very wrong about this. There is no confidence in the security system than when a national leader goes anywhere despite any percieved threat.
In 2000 George Bush was at the Twin Towers the next morning, Tony Blair was in London in 2005 minutes after London was bombed and Daniel Arap Moi was at the America Embassy hours after it was bombed.
Kibaki is right and right and right. He is the symbol of Kenya's nationhood, whether people like it or not. He is the picture of our soveriegnity. He is like the Queen of England, who shows to millions of her subjects, the true meaning of the flag, nationality and pride. Kibaki being in Mombasa is not ill-advised and never will it be. At all!
Kenya are the world champions for the last 22 years in-a-row and Kibaki being in Mombasa shows what the win means to Kenya.
You are ill-advised in you comments.
2:28 PM
Anonymous said...
Hi Chris!
My apologies for not responding to your reply. I was away. Anyway, If you have a look at the motorcade, you will realize that there almost three - five rings of security before you get to the car itself. The security personnel are not only trained in VIP protection, they are are also bomb experts having undergone extensive training in Israel. Their first responsibility is the Head of State, then any other person. (First Lady included) Well thats just but tit bits of the whole picture. If you want to test your theory, then it would be prudent for you to carry out your stunts. For your information, the team that did or does Moi's security is the same team that does Kibaki's. Either way as someone said, the President is a symbol of National Unity, by acting coward and boycotting the event would mean moral victory to the terrorist elements. The President is also in Mombasa to officiate the opening of the Kibarani KMC.
5:02 PM
Anonymous said...
Phil says,
I dont think Chris has any apologies to make in this matter as he has raised very real points. If recent events in Somalia are anything to go by, then you must surely know that there are elements in that country who are NOT happy with Kenya's role in the ouster of the Islamic Courts leadership in Somalia. To make matters worse, it has been reported in some quarters that Kenya assisted the US with intelligence information that led to the bombing of villages in Somalia. That makes our country and leaders automatic terrorist targets. Egytian Presidents Hosni Mubarak escaped an assassination attempt a few years ago in Addis Ababa while attending an OAU meeting. That attack led to deterioration of relationship between the two countries although the attack itself was attributed to Muslim fundamentalists in Egypt!
It is a fact that nearly all recent major terrorist attacks around the world, suicide bombing is now the preferred weapon of choice for the terrorists.
A suicide bomber does not need to go past the 1st, 2nd or 3rd security ring so as to trigger the blast. They can do it from a proximity of tens of meters away from the actual target.
As for Kibaki's trip to Mombasa (we know he loves that town & its beaches having confessed himself!), he has skipped many other important state functions in the past and I wonder whether the KMC factory re-opening was worth the trip. For example, today is 24th March 2007, and it also happens to be World TB day. TB is a disease hitting AIDS patients the most and killing thousands of Kenyans each year. AIDS itself has been declared a national disaster in Kenya. The GoK has announced TB patients will be given free treatment henceforth.
If you were the President; which function would you preside over? And which function would you delegate to your ministers?
12:26 AM
Anonymous said...
If I were the President I would definitely attend the Mombasa events (Cross Country and KMC) I mean, Cross country is going home for the first time ever surely there is no argument there. KMC collapsed 20 years ago, its reopening is another milestone in his administration. The Minister can deal with the TB functions. I believe the handlers of his diary have done a fantastic job, only that Cross country beats KMC to the headlines. oh I forgot Kibaki has never been a populist president.
5:37 AM
On the Two Problem Tribes In Kenyan politics;
25 Comments:
Mimmz said...
Quit sugar coating tribalism! Both of you. Anyone that thinks the tribe of a president will affect leadership just isn't with the program. hawaelewi our real issues!
9:24 AM
obamab said...
Tribalism is much deeper than what the Digo woman has suggested, The 2 tribes story is really touching but does not tell the whole deal about the political and social/economic problems that we have in Kenya. By just summarizing it to be caused by the tribes we are being to simplistic and may be doing a disservice to the poor Digo woman. Faulting her would not have been the best thing by point here in the right direction, point out other factors that could have caused the political issues, but alas we will never get to see her or hear about her again.
12:28 PM
Ms K said...
Well, I'm going to stay away from your "two tribes should be kept out of Kenyan politics" drift and comment instead on the issue of tribalism.
I was talking about this with my boyfriend who happens to be from one of those two tribes you've mentioned and I'm from the other.
Our conclusion was that as far as killing tribalism in Kenya, our generation, 18-45, has already failed. I have friends my age who are pathologically tribal. To hear them talk just saddens me.
What I know and have experienced is that it goes beyond the two tribes you've mentioned, and actually encompasses all other tribes.
I don't agree with you that Luos and Kikuyus are holding Kenya back. But I do believe tribalism is.
2:46 AM
chris said...
I'm willing to bet you my lunch for a week that everybody who has commented so far hails from the two problems tribes of Kenya.
I have a story for Ms K. First I want you to know that I really wish you the best in your relationship and if you made me President in 2007, the first thing I would do is ensure that marriage across tribes is encouraged (officially). I'm willing not only to give 100% tax waiver but to also give cash grants (instead of spending it on corruption and Anglo Leasing-type projects) to couples who marry across tribal boundaries. This is one powerful way of dealing with tribalism.
Actually I should be an authority in this matter because my mum was a Luhya and my dad is A Kamba (East and Western Kenya tribes).
My story for Ms K is about the best friend I ever had who did more for me than any man will ever do. He was a Luo man married to a Kikuyu lady. They started off well but when they reached that point where every relationship gets tested, the family (especially on the Kikuyu side) hounded the relationship to it's death. Actually it all ended with the tragic shooting of my friend in what was clearly a hit.
So I agree with you Ms K when you say that this generation has failed to overcome tribalism. The problem is that we think we have. The truth is that we haven't. Look at marriages (I don't beleive that folks in Nairobi just happen to fall in love with girls from their own tribes), listen to people talk and then put everybody in a situation where push comes to shove and their true colors emerge.
A good example was last year's referendum, which the country is yet to recover from. The wounds will take a very long time to heal.
God help Kenyans fight this brute of a monster.
6:17 AM
Ms K said...
Pole sana about your friend.
Chris, remember when Kalembe Ndile said that the government should start a programme to encourage people to marry from other tribes. People laughed him off, but I think it was a moment of genius!
Luckily for me, and I hope this doesn't change, my family doesn't meddle much in my life, and my extended family only features during weddings and funerals.
As for the mister, all his brothers have married outside the "tribe" and his father really wants him to marry from the "tribe". I'm told it wouldn't be a problem but still I wonder.
You're so right. The trouble is we think we have overcome tribalism, when really it just seems to have gotten worse.
During the referendum, I was shocked when someone very close to me shouted "These [insert my tribe here] are not getting it again" to my face. I was shocked, saddened, appalled and ashamed.
God help us indeed!
Ps/ Chris for president!!!
3:15 AM
cliff said...
It is sickening to see educated poeple(coz you know how to use a computer) blaming tribalism for Kenyas woes. Just in case you forgot those 2 tribes have not been in power or in a position to influence government policies for the last 18 years. Kenyas real Our problem is short sitedness and illitracy.
3:36 AM
chris said...
Ms K, Kenya is relying on you. Follow your heart to the ends of the earth. True love knows no boundaries, least of all tribal ones.
I have a dream...
that one day, from the shores of Lake Victoria to the beaches of Mombasa and from the heights of Mount Kenya to the remote Nothern frontier, Kenyans will be one tribe, one people and that Luos and Kikuyus will walk together hand in hand and their relatives will not notice that they have married from the "other tribe."
I have a dream...
Maybe somebody should start an anti-tribalism movement and finance candidates whom we are sure are non-tribal and understand the damage tribalism has done in Kenya (is your boyfriend interested in politics?).
P.S. Looking forward to meeting you at my swearing in ceremony (where I will announce the tribalism incentives). Dec 30th 2007, Uhuru Park. Pls don't be late.
3:45 AM
Anonymous said...
Chris,Adolph Hitler also had a final solution to o you have one for the two problem tribes as you call them.....Stop showing your Myopia The trouble with democracy is that even Idiots like Chris have to be heard.
Kikuyu
6:18 AM
chris said...
I have published this abusive comment so that readers will be able to make up their own minds about the sort of person who wrote it. And the sort of thinking we have in Kenya today.
Would a non-tribalist publish a comment hiding their real name behind some anonymous tag and then call me by name?
I have realized that the other really big problem with tribalism in Kenya today is the fact that everybody is in denial.
At no time did I suggest an Adolf Hitler solution to the problem, sir.
6:55 AM
chris said...
Then the guy signs his letter 'Kikuyu'. Is it possible that he could be Luo? When people hide behind masks they could be anything.
You've gotten democracy all wrong, buddy, it's not about abusing the other person, it is about debate and articulating your point of view.
6:58 AM
Vee said...
I am a Kikuyu after being a Kenyan after being a human. YES! Truth be told we are a very tribalistic people. Our pattern of voting is a clear indication of that... can everyone stop pretending and taking offence about the suggestion that we are a problem to the whole national development and instead analyze it and find ways to sort stuff out...
5:44 AM
chris said...
Will somebody give this Kenyan a medal, QUICK!!! If I knew your physical address I would try and scramble together some shilingis to send you some flowers draped in the national flag colours, of course.
This is further proof that inspite of everything it is wrong to judge a tribe by the actions of the majority (that is also tribalism) because there will always be a level-headed Kenyan somewhere prepared to face the problem with the intention of tackling it.
Once again kudos Vee... if only there were a few more like you, we would change Kenya.
6:05 AM
just little me!!! said...
KIBAKI ABAKI!!!!
11:39 PM
Anonymous said...
Kweli Kibaki Abaki na sisi tuendelee mbele.
5:46 PM
Kongo said...
the one on Voting pattern is correct.i think we kkikuyus have a phobia for losing what 'WE' have and 'not getting what we aspire to have'
Luos may vote for a Kikuyu candidate( all that is required is Raila to say my vote is for Kamau) but kikuyus will never vote for a luo even if Karume votes a hundred times for a Luo candidate.
Cris....hope you become a president cause the moment you declare your 'inter tribe marraiges package' my brothers will flock the Lakeside town.....not just for the incentives but also to do some business and uplift econimic stds of the Lake side town.
3:45 AM
bomseh said...
when it comes to tribal identity, i'm left wallowing in an identity crisis. i've commented this before on someone else's post. i am a mixture of four different tribes. mom is half kyuk half kamba. dad is half turkana half luhya. i know of at least 6 of my friends who are also quarter tribes and i'm sure there are many out there. so tribalism is caused by the older generation who like geroge bush want to continue where their fathers left. let's all be united and do away with the discrimination.
on the other hand, i've learnt to use my situation to my advantage. i have a kyuk name and a luhya name and another one that i think is turu. so when i know i'm going to be judged according to origin i can always choose the appropriate name and get the favour i need. athawais i'm kenyan and not really proud to be one though i cannot imagine myself being a citizen of any other nation.
12:55 PM
gj said...
This is the most myopic treatise that I have ever read. It tries to demystify the whole rubric of tribalism but ends up being very tribal. I went to school where there were Luos and Luhyas and Kikuyus and Giriamas and many other tribes including the Digo but we were brought up in an atmosphere of being Kenyans. I never thought of myself as a Luo. I ended up marrying a Maragoli and my best man was a Kikuyu! Tribalism only exists among the political class who are presently clamoring for leadership or trying, albeit unsuccessfully to retain power. This class hammers into the minds of the illiterate and uninformed vitriol of tribalism. This happens only in politics. It does not happen in NGOs or Churches or even Schools
gj
9:43 AM
Anonymous said...
Voting pattern would have been a thing of past if the the referendum elections did not come up. We all voted in 2002 as Kenyans against bad policies and government until the MOU and referendum became an issue and the tribalism ghost has come back haunting.
How about bringing up kids who only speak English and Swa? Am one of them I cant speak my mother tongue and its hard to identify with my tribe except for my name. And I have no intentions of teaching my kids any mother tongue. That way I think we shall be one and tribalism curbed.
Hello can I have a support on this?
Oxy.
6:35 AM
Anonymous said...
I being a Kikuyu knows that most Kikuyus are a real problem in this country because of the overambition,gluttony for power,money and property.These attributes are vividly manifested in Kenyan politics, social life, economic and cultural lifestyles of the Kikuyus.
11:19 AM
just little me!!! said...
The perceived greed and over ambition for money power and property is the energy that drives this economy of ours. Those who feel it is not should go to Tanzania and see how people who have no ambition have 'laliad masikio'. Ambition is the gear wheel that propels economic growth-unless we want to live in a socialist state. Just because someone has exploited resources that were lying bare before you and you lacked the will or desire to use them you now label him a glutton or a thief!!! WACHENI WIVU!!!
7:09 AM
Anonymous said...
Luos are not the problem, it is the Kikuyu. Ask a Kalenjin and they will tell you it is the pride of the Kikuyu which is fanning Hatred. It is not even the killing of Tom Mboya alone, but the way resources were sharred after Independence which is fanning the Hatred.
The Kikuyus are using short cuts to achieve thier goals which is even worsening the situation. Look at the way Kibaki is using the Steadmann research (polls) to cheat Kenyan that he is popular, the way he wants to appoint Electrol commisioners, the way he is driving away the Maasai from Laikipia and very many other crazy things that we are seeing.
Kikuyu Shorts cut are brooding something very bad which if nothing is done all the tribes of Kenya may avenge against them one day
11:27 PM
Anonymous said...
ROBERT OUKO CULTURAL CENTRE
The modern Luo man is a hard worker,proud,rich and intelligent.This is also true of any tribe in Kenya.
The luo man remarkably unlike others though has an acute if not impeccable sense of integrity, which distinguishes them from the rest of the pack.
It is ingrained in his dna, and together with personal virtue, his zealous ambition for personal wealth,makes up what people have come to characterise as ja-luo.
The kikuyu tribe can never be a luo mans enemy. That is why they voted for one- Kibaki.
Circumcised or not a luo man from childhood whether living in the slums or in a palace is taught at home that he is superior to any kikuyu, whether they happen to be the president of Kenya, or a matatu tout.
This is the reason why it is only the luo who have stoned two presidents of kenya with rotten eggs. It is not the presidency or a kikuyu/kalenjin they were flogging , but the putrid lack of intergrity and low human virtue that characterise a class of human being that to a luo is unnaceptable.
2:28 PM
Anonymous said...
ROBERT OUKO CULTURAL CENTRE
The modern Luo man is a hard worker,proud,rich and intelligent.This is also true of any tribe in Kenya.
The luo man remarkably unlike others though has an acute if not impeccable sense of integrity, which distinguishes them from the rest of the pack.
It is ingrained in his dna, and together with personal virtue, his zealous ambition for personal wealth,makes up what people have come to characterise as ja-luo.
The kikuyu tribe can never be a luo mans enemy. That is why they voted for one- Kibaki.
Circumcised or not a luo man from childhood whether living in the slums or in a palace is taught at home that he is superior to any kikuyu, whether they happen to be the president of Kenya, or a matatu tout.
This is the reason why it is only the luo who have stoned two presidents of kenya with rotten eggs. It is not the presidency or a kikuyu/kalenjin they were flogging , but the putrid lack of intergrity and low human virtue that characterise a class of human being that to a luo is unnaceptable.
2:29 PM
Anonymous said...
hey all i know is Luos tell the kikuyus how it is yaani kama wajaluo did not do tht then we would all be suffering under the hands of kyuks. I am not saying i gotts a problem with kyuks its wengine wao wana bore.
10:36 AM
Anonymous said...
It is interesting that in this day and age we are still thinking along tribal lines. I thought the blog was trying to show us the errors of thimentality but on reading the posts in reply to it I find that all of them are pretty much propagating the very thing that we are trying to stomp out. How can a whole tribe be blamed for the actions of one man or a few men? How can animosity towards this tribe or the next be a thing to be proud of? If Kenya is ever to progress people WILL have to GROW UP and think independently. If you see a man stealing (Kamau though he may be) does that mean that all Kyks are thugs? If you see a man fising (Ondiek though he may be) does that mean that all Jang'os are fisermen? Guys, if WE (the youth) think along those lines then our country is doomed to repeat the mistakes that happened in the late 60's and early 90's.
I'm a Kyuk and proud of it AND I have no dramas with any Kyuk or Jang'o until they mess with me or my country's welfare. THAT should be the stance we adopts type of , not hating tribes. Wake up and see what you are saying people.
On Tanzanian President Kikwete deporting Kenyans en masse but quietly in 2006
7 Comments:
Anonymous said...
This is a dangerous President who seems to be vengeful unlike Mkapa who forgave his unfaithful wife. Although you claim all foreigners are affected, I suspect that this thing with Kenyans is a personal thing. Have you heard of the babu Seya/kikwete saga that happened long before he became president? Investigate and tell your readers the truth.
4:20 AM
chris said...
Let's be careful here that we do not look too vengeful in this blog ourselves and also that we do not turn this blog On Kenya into a Tanzanian blog (I'll lose thousands of my readers based in many other parts of the world if that happens).
Having said that let me say I perfectly understand the emotions involved here and Kenyans based in Tanzania being upset about these latest developoments.
I already had the information that you mention but I was more interested in writing a balanced factual report.
President Mkapa is said to have forgiven his wife who had not only left him for another man but, had also sired a child with the man. Mkapa had no problems appointed that same man to his cabinet. This is the heart of reconcialition that you are saying is important for a true leader to have. On that point I agree with yo. There is even the example of Nelson Mandela.
However I do not think this applies to our case here.
The Babu Seya saga you mention keeps on cropping up in the media in Tanzania (according to my sources) and this is probably instigated by President Kikwete's political enemies. Babu Seya was a Congolese Musician who was based in Tanzania that got jailed for life on tramped up charges of sexually abusing minors. He was charged and jailed together with his three sons. People say that the man behind Babu Seya's woes was President Kikwete who had a bone to pick with him and decided to "fix him" in this way. In Tanzanian law, sexually abusing a minor attracts a life sentence.
One of the things about Tanzania is that there are no secrets and anything that is done in the darklest corner usually ends up in the often reliable rumour mills in that country.
In my opinion, this single incident cannot prove the President's alleged vengeful character.
My personal belief is that (to his credit) he is simply out to keep his election campaign promise and create job opportunities for Tanzanians, the problem with his approach is that at this rate he may find that he has less jobs to offer Tanzanians as investors leave and the rate of new ones coming, reduces. I would think that a campaign to transfer skills to Tanzanians would have yieleded more fruit in the long term.
However this guy seems to be in a terrible hurry. Let's just wait and see what happens, shall we?
6:45 AM
Anonymous said...
Frank
I have read the article but the writer to a greater extent rush into conclusions that employ wrongly footed logical analysis instead of analytical approach.
Economic Recession
It goes without saying that the price of oil has tremendously gone up, this means that all transportations of people and goods are bound to be negatively affected with the rise in gasoline prices.
The drought that has gripped many parts of Tanzania also have a share of problems in this area.
Change of the system in Tanzania seeks to address problems which could not be addressed in the previous settings and the reporting relationships. But as a child grows up from infancy, it will take sometime to realise teh benefits of this change. Even when President Mkapa came in power, it took sometime for results of his efforts to be felt or realised.
Let's Give President Kikwete and his Government sometime to serve Tanzanians.
Foreigners
The wellbeing of its citizens is a paramount agenda of any nation in this earth.
It cannot cross anybody's mind that A foreigner (sometimes even coming as far as from far east Asia), comes to Africa just to sell Ice Creams, electrical appliances, flowers, become a bar-maid at a hotel, hairdresser at a salon or even become a messenger. This is what was the situation in Tanzania. While foreigners, particularly in rare professions and investments frontiers are welcome, it's being unjust to simply allow the influx of imported messengers and merchants in the name of investors.
Let's come to a point to reach a consenus that it is practically unjust to God and citizens of any nation to entertain importation of labour in non-productive sectors, non-rare profession jobs.
Investors moving away
There was a comment in the article about SAA pulling out from ATCL. The writer reversed the face of the coin. It was the Government of Tanzania that sought to terminate strategic partnership with SAA for the best interest of Tanzanians.
This also happens in matrimonial ceremonies. People get happily married, but when the fact unveils that they cannot get along well, clinging to unworkable matrimonial relationship is indeed the gravest mistake.
President Kikwete has served as the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Relations for ten years, he is a seasoned Politician, economist and an experienced leader. He does not work alone, he works with the team of his assistants and advisors. Tanzanians are happy with the changes he is instituting, particularly those pertaining to immigration procedures. Let's give his Government sometime instead of judging it negatively by wave of ill feelings.
3:09 AM
John Msafiri said...
Whoever wrote the comment above must be a senior person in the Tanzanian government.
It is evident that Tanzania is getting into a game that it is very new in, the world of skeptical international investors. This is very unfamiliar ground for a country that was previously socialist experimenting at all sorts of things, including ideology (Ujamaa) and language. Tanzanians have always been very sheltered, hence the current animosity towards foreign investors. The real world of business and investments is a tough unforgiving place.
I would like to highlight two things.
1) It is not humanly possible to persue a populist policy of the magnitude President Kikwete is persuing and continue to attract foreign investors. One will have to suffer and currently it is foreign investment. Just talk to the South Africans and other nationals who have invesed heavily in hunting and tourism in Tanzania.
Investors want to be able to run their businesses with high quality labor. The bitter truth is that Tanzanian locals are not yet ready to supply this at acceptable levels. English is a problem, nobody is in a hurry to get anything done and paper qualifications mean nothing if people cannot perform, this is the reality of business and this is what the immigration department in Tanzania will never understand in 100 years. Little wonder that the biggest problem facing foreign investors in Tanzania today is staffing. It is getting increasingly difficult for many investors to import the key staff they require to enable their businesses run smoothly and efficiently. Sooner or later something will have to give.
Maybe the country will be better off working more closely with the Chinese and forgetting this foreign investors thing, as this will allow them to do what they want, maintain their culture and way of doing things and keep Kiswahili as the main launguage without bothering too much about what foreigners or the international market reaaly wants.
2) The Tanzanian government should seriously think of hiring an international PR company to assist in its' communication strategy. Mark my words it will need these services in a big way very soon.
Lastly the Air Tanzania saga is a classic case of a foreign investor who got frustrated (My inside information on this is accurate). Just do a little research and you will find out the truth for yourself.
My main point is this, the time has come for Tanzania to decide what it wants. Foreign investors or local populist policies. Sorry, you can't have both.
6:40 AM
Ken said...
Sorry I got this one pretty late but allow me to leave my 10cents worth of info.
I think both Kumekucha and some of the commenters here have things wrong. I hope to just provoke you to further thought on the idea, coz it is something that has been troubling me for a while yet very few people have come out to speak on the same, (Congratulations Kumekucha for taking the initiative).
First on the SAA saga. -There is more than meets the eye on the whole privatisation issue that took place during the time of Mkapa and whether or not Kikwete was satisfied with the proceedings is a whole debate on it's own. My take: Tanzanians got a raw deal, like they did on all institutions they chose to privatise. I worked for a firm that provided services to the Air Tanzania and I have seen it reduced from the national airline to the status of a branch office, of an airline headquatered in Jo'burg. And that includes any simple decision one can make.
This management style has cost them the airline which I believe is breathing it's last.
On the otherhand, The airline market has been unforgiving with Kenya Airways growing to dominate the East African routes plus the EA to Europe routes and the prescence of a local competitor (Precision airways) has seen it left out in the scramble for market share even for local routes.
Kikwete has every reason to be angry with the previous regime's handling of the airline.
On the issue of the economy and what is really going on. My take:
Tanzania despite what many may wishfully state, is still deeply entrenched in their socialist ways and Mkapa did very little to create an environment for free markets to thrive. A simple and straight frorward example is the public transport market in Dar es Salaam. The bus fare is currently fixed by SUMATRA and it had been pegged at 150Tshs for over 3 years despite the high inflation, increase in population and rising cost of fuel. Last year they raised it to 200 and I am yet to figure out what trick investors in this markets use to make profits, Clearly they should have let the elementary principles of demand and supply dictate the fare price and ensure they can tax the investors in the market. But the government in it's socialist mentality keeps intefering, This has made it hard for the local investor to start a business (Govt interference means lower profits and higher capex)that is why any shop you walk into in Dar sells Brookside milk from cows in Kenya, Confectioneries made in Kenya, Sweets and Biscuits and cakes baked and imported from South africa, Kenya or Asia. Kariakoo is full of Chinese small business men selling anything including pens and cutlery.
Latelly the dollar has depreciated against all currencies in the Africa except Tanzania and Zimbabwe. Why ?
Because the money supply in Tanzania is pegged against the dollar and the basket used to measure inflation in Tanzania is full of imports. Blame the Prado riding staff at BOT for cheap Latin American economic ideologies and the IMF for this. One has to wonder why this country with all it's natural resources cannot sustain itself.
My take on education:
The current breed of graduates leave ALOT to be desired. It is a wonder to find someone who can compose a formal letter in english on his/her graduation day, yet it is the business language in Tanzania. The education system needs reform and it doesnt take a rocket scientist to see that Tanzania will not be thinking of exporting any skilled labour in the next 10 years. Currently the local population risk being considered lazy but it is actually the high cost of living coupled with the high level of poverty and education that is to blame for their state. It is common to find an Indian immigrant who will work for 500 dollars in a professional position while a local will demand the same yet the employer will have to incur a high cost of retraining the local and getting him to adjust to the competitiveness that a capitalist society demands.
Kikwete has every reason to be frustrated but we all know he was a disciple of Nyerere, just hope and pray he doesnt go full blown with his protectionist ideologies as they could sink the country further.
1:50 AM
Ken said...
Anonymous says:
I have read the article but the writer to a greater extent rush into conclusions that employ wrongly footed logical analysis instead of analytical approach.
Economic Recession
Not exactly economic recession, but I will asssert what has been said in regard to capital outflow.
The monthly report from the Bank of Tanzania (http://www.bot-tz.org/Publications/publications_and_statistics.asp) states:
In March 2006, the total volume traded in the Inter-bank
Foreign Exchange Market (IFEM) increased substantially
to USD 87.4 million, from USD 35.5 million recorded in the
previous month. The development was partly on account
of the rise in corporate demand on foreign exchange.
On net basis, the Bank of Tanzania and non-banks sold
USD 64.3 million and USD 3.46 million, respectively, while
commercial banks purchased USD 67.76 million.
Clearly lots of cash leaving bank deposits and heading to the corporates, but you would expect the dollars to trickle down to the man on the street but they dont make it to the forex bureaus as demand for forex in the bureaus declines
During the month under review, the volume of foreign
exchange transactions conducted by Bureau de Change
system declined by 12.8 percent to USD 59.4 million from
the level transacted in the previous month, largely on
account of the decline in both sales and purchases. Sales
went down by 14.3 percent to USD 29.5 million, due to fall
in foreign exchange payments for education and medical
expenses, while purchases declined by 11.4 percent to
USD 29.9 million mainly on account of the decrease in
foreign exchange receipts from tourism.
The report is also insightful on matters regarding the current account deficit, international trade and the general sickness of the economy.
3:22 AM
chris said...
Ken, Thank you so much for some amazing info that I'm sure our readers will find very useful. Please get in touch with me via email: strongwallafrica at yahoo.com as soon as possible.
8:33 AM
On Raila's New Hummer
15 Comments:
Anonymous said...
I dont think you should question the source of this car when Raila himself has said it is a donation from supporters of his presidential bid in the US. There is nothing irregular in that. Unless you have proof, that is just speculation. And knowing what Kenyan political arena is, I think it wont be the last hummer you will see before end of 2007. Mind you Chris, there are Kenyan MPs who own helicopters and yachts, and possess wealth that does not match their income and/or business activity. It is a problem brought about by corruption.
2:20 AM
Anonymous said...
It is not easy to defend Raila on this. If the friends actually gave him the car, then it must be to buy future loyalty - read corruption!
He either thinks Kenyans in the Diaspora are stupid or the locals are fools. The Kenyans in diaspora who support ODM must surely know the problems facing Kenyans. Imagine the dilapidated schools in some of the ODM areas or even the problem of toilets in Raila's own constituency? I am certain right thinking Kenyans would have given Raila the money for such interventions and not a HUMMER!!!
Can Raila stand up and accuse this government of Kibaki of extravagance when he shows off such opulence?
3:57 AM
Anonymous said...
Now this is Stupid Chris! I mean the guy is an MP he earns 800,000 atleast every month the car costs ksh 5 million! The question is, is it hard for Raila to buy a car worth 5 million? I wouldn't be suprised if someone owned a Rolls Royce bently!
4:11 AM
Anonymous said...
Chris let me give you my honest opinion about this blog. When I first read knew about it, I loved it and thought alas! someone is doing us some good. However, of late, I have realised that this blog has become a place where we get to throw insults at each other, and discredit some people. It has been used to spread all sorts of propaganda and some words used by persons here are not worth reading.
Tell me, what is wrong with Raila owning a Hummer? Is he not a human being, a Kenyan? Even before Raila bought his, there were 3 already in the country. Why didn't it raise so much fuss!! The comments I read recently about Raila and Luo's in general left a very bad taste in my mouth. I still can't comprehend why you accepted to publish them when you knew they were recipes of chaos and tribal hatred. Chris you have to understand that freedom is governed by law. And there is always a limit. I am a loyal reader of this blog and I have been in communication with you (Via email-away from this blog) and I am still waiting for your explanation as to why you could accept to publish those comments. I'll be writing you a mail next week and if possible, please dedicate a small section here and publish my mail in full. I will not use any abuses I promise.
Daniel
4:31 AM
Anonymous said...
Dr. J says:
This all boils down to electoral politics, and to a further extent it's all tribal. How many people would raise a finger if say Murungaru, or whoever bought the Humvee instead? These people are just jealous. Raila has the dough, let him drive whatever he wants. It's part of his culture to enjoy the finer things in life. In any case he has said that it's a donation from his supporters. Are the haters afraid that their candidate cannot muster such expensive support? And the issue of Presidential motorcades does not arise. What dou they say of the current sitiation? Stop hating. Find your own Humvees!
5:28 AM
Anonymous said...
Simon Says,
Come on Daniel, Chris is doing a wonderful job here and it would be ridiculous of you to think otherwise. I think this issue of Luo's being bashed is your creation and is non existence. By the way, which tribe in kenya will be bashed a part from the Luo and the kyuks? And .......... they do it to themselves.
On R's Hummer, the only people who who should have a problem with it are the environmentalists like wangaari and the tom Dick and Harry (like you especially if its for the sole reason of environment)who sees foul play in everything R.
Whether R does it for the good or the bad reason is up to an individual to decide.
The issue of every time R's critiques equates his possession to the number of school or desks missing in his constituencies is neither here nor there. Why? It is a government policy to ensure that schools form Turkana area to magadi soda, and those from kisumu to mombasa are well taken care of and not an MPs job to ensure that every parent assumes his/her parental responsibility.
5:43 AM
Anonymous said...
first of all...point of correction for anonymous (1) a hummer costs approximately 30 million and not 5 million.secondly, GM Kenya recently started marketing Hammers in Kenya. I have a friend who actually gave me a ride in one of them the other day...Those causing to Raila should know GM's intention is to market these cars to humans like Raila...if Raila sees a hummer will see him through the campaign without him having to incur expensive chopper costs, i think that's brilliant...He will have saved a little bit more...my 2 cents
6:11 AM
Taabu said...
Woe unto you mere mortals. The hour of showbiz and political brinkmanship is here with us and the faint hearted have no trace of chance. High stake politics has just began and the accessories you see are just but symptoms before the whole plague crawls out of the wood work.
Chris is right to offer his 2-penny advice to Raila. In politics, as they wont to say, perception is everything. So when Raila appears to be in cloud 10 with opulence while more than 60%of Kenyans and almost 90% of his constituents go with a shaped meal, you definitely smell and see shameless insensitivity.
That said, it is no crime owing a Sh. 5M SUV. A sober reflection and observation will reveal that there are car models on Kenyan roads that would make Raila's hummer look like a wheelbarrow. But if you don't want to meet flies, don't take the very road they patronize. Raila must therefore be ready to pay the price of being a public figure, adored and hated/dreaed in equal measure.
As basic human behaviourists would say, there are trendsetters and followers. this being an election year, we hhaven't seen anything yet. Woe unto our skys and environment for they will have to bear with sustained disturbance from choppers and all forms of pollutants.
I can bet with my last breathe that 2007 elections will be like no other. Besides church, politics remain the singular growing business in Kenya where all you need is the incision below your nose and above the chin to spew balderdash for fact at the sight of a crowd. The expensive previews are sure indications of the extravaganza royale. Welcome ladies and gentlemen to Kenyan premier league of politics.
6:30 AM
mulwaa said...
First of all the anonymous correcting anonymous 1. Ur friend gave u a ride in a Hummer costing 30 m and not 5m. That doesnt mean all Hummers cost 30m. I have a relative whose Hummer cost her 13.5 million. That is not worth debating about anyway.
About raila and his car,I think it is time Kenyans understood that Raila is employed by parliamentary service commission and they pay him over 800,000 in salary and allowances. On top of that he is a shrewd business person (Like all other rich men). Owning a 20 million car is like u guys owning a shs 300,000 second hand car. This stupid notion that our mps should live like paupers to show how "poor" they are should stop. There are better things to discuss and one of them should not be an individual's car. If the Nyachaes, Kabogos,Mutulas, karumes decided to put their monies in vehicles u guys will be treated to scenes u only see in hip hop clips. these are people who will have top of the range jets delivered to them by just dialling a number.
About people financing other peopl's bids,I think we have come to think that a presidential candidate has to be extremely wealthy. Nyerere was known to be a poor man. In fact the army had to build his family a house when he passed away. Mandela was not that wealthy in 1994. barrack obama and hillary clinton are not the richest americans alive. i have read a lot of crap about how some presidential candidates are too poor to run a successful campaign ( I am writing this as a response to all that shit about some people buying raila cars). First ,I can tell u guys for sure that the richest politicians like it when people consider them poor. Do not be suprised to find out that Mudavadi and Kalonzo are just as wealthy as every one else.
Kibaki has all along been an extremely wealthy man. BUT he put very little of his money into his campaigns. When u have a realisttic chance of winning an election funders will always be knocking on your door. The popular a candidate is the more moneyed their campaigns will be.You know who the popular candidares are. Just check it out.
7:54 AM
Anonymous said...
Simon says,
Why on earth has R gone into our brains shaking it like "shake before use". This is a bad psyche. KM receives receives 2 comments, the sloth receives none.
This isn't a very good business idea.
9:06 AM
Anonymous said...
So there are more kenyan's with hummer's?? Kool!! Then why would R's worry us? Is it because he is the people's servant. Am sure if he eats some shit in public the same critiques will go up in arms?
Then he must be in a very bad position.
Remember when we criticised the MP's fuel gazzling toys some time ago? Trust me kenyan's have forgotten all that. How sad
9:19 AM
Anonymous said...
Is R playing with our psyche or is he positioning? Or is it all crap???
Positioning
Simply, positioning is how your target market defines you in relation to your competitors.
A good position is:
1. What makes you unique
2. This is considered a benefit by your target market
Both of these conditions are necessary for a good positioning. So what if you are the only red-haired singer who only knows how to play a G minor chord? Does your target market consider this a good thing?
Positioning is important because you are competing with all the noise out there competing for your potential fans attention. If you can stand out with a unique benefit, you have a chance at getting their attention.
It is important to understand your product from the customers point of view relative to the competition.
Environment
In order to begin positioning a product, two questions need to be answered:
1.What is our marketing environment?
2.What is our competitive advantage?
The marketing environment is the external environment. Some things to consider:
* How is the market now satisfying the need your software satisfies?
* What are the switching costs for potential users for your market?
* What are the positions of the competition?
The competitive advantage is an internal question. What do you have that gives you advantage over your competitors. Some things to consider:
* Is your company small and flexibility?
* Do you offer low cost and high quality?
* Does your product offer unique benefits?
* Are you the first on the market with this product (First mover advantage)?
Positioning Strategies
There are seven positioning strategies that can be pursued:
Product Attributes: What are the specific product attributes?
Benefits: What are the benefits to the customers?
Usage Occasions: When / how can the product be used?
Users: Identify a class of users.
Against a Competitor: Positioned directly against a competitor.
Away from a Competitor: Positioned away from competitor.
Product Classes: Compared to different classes of products.
Segmentation
There are three types of segmentation:
Mass Marketing or Undifferentiated Marketing: Go after the whole market with one offer and focus on common needs rather than differences
Product-variety Marketing or Differentiated Marketing: target several market segments and design separate offers for each
Target Marketing or Concentrated Marketing: Large share of one or a few sub-markets. Good when company’s resources are limited
To identify a niche market, a series of 2 by 2 matrixes can be used to identify an area that is being overlooked by larger competitors. The competitors are mapped on this matrix and you can see where there may be some opportunities.
Positioning Differences
The differences that are promoted for a product must be:
Important: The difference delivers a highly valued benefit to the target buyers
Distinctive: Competitors do not offer the difference, or the company can offer it in a more distinctive way
Superior: The difference is superior to other ways that the customer might obtain the same benefit
Communicable: The difference can be explained and communicated to the target buyers
Preemptive: Competitors cannot easily copy the difference
Affordable: Buyers can afford to pay the difference
Profitable: Company can introduce the difference profitably
9:26 AM
mutuku said...
Mutuku says:Kenyans never cease to amaze me.Raila is not a pauper - we all know that.If we were to argue on the case of priorities to constituents then no MP in Kenya should own a car.Even in Othaya constituency there are people who starve to death.This is a capitalist society(man-eat-man society).
What you should ask is:
what is the source of his money?Is it ill gotten wealth from public coffers?Is it inherited wealth from a corrupt parent?
I can assure you that in a few months time,Nairobi will be "littered" with not less than 50 Hummers.
Let the guy enjoy his money-after all how many Kenyans feed their dogs on bone meat as their workers go home carrying "sukuma wiki" to feed malnourished families?
But the only person laughing to the bank is the local franchise holder-he doesn't need to touch his advertising budget.
5:58 AM
Anonymous said...
The car was hired ..simple publicity stunt that has worked ..it now has us talking about R
6:49 AM
MOS MOS said...
Hey y'all...Hummer costs just a little over Ksh. 3m....thats less money. It is only that the H is rare in Kenya and if Kenya would reduce all them taxes they levy on imported vehicles, I would bring my H home....I own one but in the U.S ....so yea, I guess Imma bring mine too!
On Mass Exodus of KTN anchors headed for Citizen;
Anonymous said...
Dude,
whats with the bile for Kibaki?
Its obvious he is the only man running who actually wants to make a difference and has made a diff.He is not perfect and people should stop expecting miracles after Moi fucked up this country good. All his messs cant be cleared up in 5 years. Moi ruled for over 20 years so expect that it would take the same amount of time to fix this place up.
The rest of the politicians, more specifically Raila and all his buddies who are also running (in the same political party-clearly showing that they themselves don't believe that their colleagues can run the country)are obviously in it for their own very selfish interests. I fear for us should any of them actually win the elections. This place will be more fucked up than ever, for shizzle.
Give credit where its due. Kibaki has tried. Don't hate, congratulate.
And another thing,If Catherine was poached for a better salo then hooray for her. Where citizen get the money to pay her is their business. You make it sound like its a bad thing that they took up an offer that would greatly improve their lives. I say Kudos. Lucky them. I should be so lucky.
Be a little more objective in future cause I am a fan of your blog.
Oh yah, The 2nd last paragraph says nothing...its kinda pointless.
Fix it.
3:54 AM
Anonymous said...
The best part I like on responder coming in aid of the sloth is this:
Quote and I quote
"He is not perfect and people should stop expecting"
4:12 AM
Anonymous said...
Yes indeed Chris, whatever is happening at Citizen has got all the signs of setting up an election campaign propaganda machinery. That also comes with lucrative advertising deals and corporate feature programming. Mind you these stations can also be used to rig elections.
It beats me how Citizen, a private company, continues to behave like a state broadcaster. Have you not seen them airing live Narc Kenya functions? If you happen to attend any of their famous road shows all over the country then you will understand what I mean.
We can only hope that the mwananchi will not be incited against each other or deceived into voting for wayward regimes using tv/radio stations.
And in case you have not noticed, KBC has recruited young new anchors for their english & swahili bulletins, and I think they are cool and full of prospects. This is what Citizen ought to do. No one will miss the likes of Kasavuli and Otieno. They certainly know which side of the bread is buttered.
About the Kibaki re-election plan, I wonder how he can even have guts to ask for my vote. I have in my possession a list of pledges he specifically asked me to keep and use on his government as a test for the next elections. I am not only disappointed by his failure to fulfill the pledges, but also the fact that he betrayed our dreams and installed a government we did not vote for in 2002. To make matters worse; he has repeatedly called us pumbavus, shenzis and even questioned our intelligence when it suited him. Now that its election time, it appears he needs as many friends as he can make. Let him carry his own cross. Sorry.
4:23 AM
Taabu said...
I hold no brief for Chris. With that refrain out of the way, I and we may disagree with him but I will defend his right to go ballistic with his opinions. Lynching the messenger is the cheap option while we conviniently evade the message.
Kibaki has his critics and admirers and both sets of Kenyans must exercise their right to associate and speak freely. However, the price of this endevour is responsibility which is irreplaceable.
The bile from Chris may have been prompted by his propable ability to read malice when he sees one. Ignoring scandalous schemes like those at Citizen is to latently culture the virulent virus of meg corruption. Macharia is no saint and given his past business dealing, we have all the reasons to worry when he turns a private broadcasting station into the governement's (read Narc-K) mouthpiece.
As for the mass exodus, the news anchors are just being typical Kenyans ready to sell pursue hell for leather. Justifying their shift to dynamics of demand and supply if the height of economic naivity. The adage every Kenyan has a price couldn't be aptin capturing our mad rush to join the club of the haves.
Election rigging comes in numerous shades and the planning well in advance. We only burry our heads in the sand if we are complacent with the unwitty untics of aping the ostrich. We must redeem our motherland from fraudsters masquarading as investors and leaders.
4:46 AM
Ngunyi Ngunjiri said...
Hehehe... Taabu, you make it sound like it is immoral to go to citizen simply because they have offered a better salary. I think its a non-issue whether anchors are poached or not.
On the issue of Narc-K using Citizen, I am actually relieved. Now KBC can afford to be objective as it will not be under pressure to deliver Government friendly news. The use of private media as a propaganda machine is, in my opinion, the way politicians should do it. It is way better than using tax payers money through a state corporation to propagate party politics and propaganda.
Ati the poaching of anchors to citizen is a ploy to rig the elections?? Taabu, that's fallacy, to say the least. Kwani KTN and NTV will close up? Hehehe...
I must agree with Anonymous that this issue is bile for Kibaki masquarading as something else. Next time, just approach the issue head-on, not loading genuine issues with personal undercurrents.
5:31 AM
Anonymous said...
Ngunyi,
I think just like Kasavuli as alleged by Chris, he is suffering from a problem of lack of objectivity. For instance he has alleged that the supporters of the president are awash with anglo leasing cash. Surely he must know when he is peddling a lie.
He claims his is a fearless blog, so why would it be difficult to name these friends and the ACTUAL ANGLO LEASING DEAL RELEASED MONEY TO THESE FRIENDS.
I do not think Chris is endearing himself with his readers when he joins the ranks of liars!
Can you imagine that now Kasavuli is going to citizen she is struggling to read the news.......give us a break!!
6:29 AM
Mastersaulk said...
We all know that what is happening is not that Citizen are strenthening their team but setting up a proper machinery to campaign and help Kibaki get back to state house. If this isn't so,would you expalin why Citizen would give abnormal offers to the best news anchors around?
The gorverment has been fighting the press, targeting those media houses that are out to speak the truth. We saw this when Kass Fm was temporarily shut down and Standard group raided and vandalised on undisclosed allegations (that the goverment is yet is to tell the public). Worse still why would they start with KTN?
The goverment is even using Postal Corporation of Kenya to spread their propaganda! I went to check my box for mails and what I found was unbelievable, a booklet titled "Ukweli wa mambo". Dont tell me they paid for that, it was not stamped!If they(goverment) has perfomed they need not to worry, we are going to decide their fate.
We should be careful with media houses that are out to preach propaganda. It happened in Rwanda and we dont want to see that happen here in Kenya. Got it dude! How can a media house tranverse the country spreading propaganda like they(citizen) did during the referendum? The president should realise that this old methods cant work for him. We shall vote in the best.
Fredyombo
6:32 AM
Anonymous said...
Its not bile for Kibaki. We have every reason to eye developments at Citizen warily. We remember (with regret) S.K. Macharia declararing Citizen Media and all its workers Banana supporters during referendum political rallies. He even paraded his news anchors at these rallies. (Am not sure if he breached CCK licencing rules when he did this). During the referendum campaigns, all the Citizen stations had tribal commentaries that left a lot to be desired. One Waweru Mburu is very notorious for this. And if we may ask, why is Citizen media the only station with national FM signals for all its vernacular FM stations? Is this not irregular? Especially when one considers we have had tribal clashes in Kenya before. Are they the only applicants for these licences? Citizen's media broadcasting reach is far better than KBC, Nation and KTN. I consider KBC a state broadcaster and therefore does not pay any licence fees for FM signals. Why do we still find KBC radio on MW and AM bands in some remote regions while citizen is on FM. Whats going on at CCK? Is it a mere coincidence that Wachira Waruru (former MD KBC) now at the helm of Citizen Media?
6:46 AM
Taabu said...
Some food for thought here guys. Granted, KTN has been Kenyan's premier TV station with unrivalled news quality, sometimes even more accurate and updated than the print media. At the risk of being seen to read malice in every move, I smell a rat in a cleverly hatched plan to rob KTN of its popular faces (news casters) whose loyal viewers are calculated to defect with them.
The result? The wind taken off KTN's sail and a diping viewership creating fertile ground for propaganda. The government spin doctors are not fools neither are they sleeping on the wheel. I see a wider scheme to weaken the media so as to leave Kenyans vulrenable to all the impending lies of 'Ukweli wa Mambo' type.
While still on the same risk isle, I dare ask dear Kenyans and readers why we seem content with tokenism for progress. We sem to cheaply fall for the low standards set by politicians in using Moi's destructive rule as a benchmark. With due respect, this is akin to a pack of fools debating who amongst them is the brightest (I beg you not to take offence fellow countrymen).
We don't need 60 months to pick ourselves up from the ruins and become a rising star given the natural and human resources we have at our disposal. All that we need is to have them distributed and utilized optimally and equitably. No rocket science here. We must measure up to a fast-paced approach to development and stop enaging in reverse logic by praising tokenism lest we continnue going around in circles of infinite circumferences.
7:00 AM
Vee said...
Seeing what happened in Rwanda I do hope Kenyans will not be taken by the propaganda pushed in any media. That's my honest prayer.
My question to this mass exodus is what happens after elections? We know fully well that election year is awash with money but what after that?
I agree with Taabu that we should stop using Moi's terrible 24yr rule as a benchmark for our wayforward, because that way the likes of Kibaki can get away with murder while we are still there saying, "Oh but Moi did much worse." Let's be sensible enough to set a higher benchmark.
Having said that, I congratulate Kibs for the stuff he has set in place/done/achieved etc. And since there is no one else worth electing in we'll give him another five years. But he and his government has to learn to put in long term plans so that when it comes to handing over power the next regime won't have a difficult time and therefore Kenyans can continue to live in a conducive living and working environment.
7:25 AM
Ngunyi Ngunjiri said...
Taabu,
"I smell a rat in a cleverly hatched plan to rob KTN of its popular faces (news casters) whose loyal viewers are calculated to defect with them.
The result? The wind taken off KTN's sail and a diping viewership creating fertile ground for propaganda."
Firstly, I must concede that Citizen media is highly likely to be used as propaganda machinery. However, i view the poaching of anchors as more of a business decision than a political decision. Why? As you aptly put it, there is a high possibility that viewers will move with popular and credible anchors. As a result, adverts on citizen media will cost more due to the increased viewership.
Secondly, I do agree that we should set higher benchmarks than the previous regime. However, some political tactics will NEVER, and i repeat, NEVER change. Use of propaganda machinery happens everywhere, even in developed democracies. The evangelicals in the US have consistently propagated the Bush agenda. Even leaders as 'great' as Nyerere had to use, to some extent, propaganda machinery. I propose that we should view them as tools of the trade, just as a carpenter needs a saw. It is the height of political naivety or ignorance to imagine that propaganda machinery do not exist.
Finally, I truly believe that propaganda can be a good tool for any person with a political agenda. Furthermore, although the ethnic tensions in Kenya are high, the main cause of clashes is political support i.e. funding and incitement of the masses by tribal chiefs. The move by the political elite to use propaganda as a political tool signifies that the politics of using clashes has come to an end. We, the kenyan people, should view this as a necessary step of progression towards an era of 'cleaner' politics.
10:59 PM
vikii said...
Guys sobre up. For the first time I can smell people who have read through the cable of Chrissm and Taabusm. These are individuals who use a lot of pomposity to deliver a very small message not worth the words.
I have never been a Kibaki supporter but the arguments put forward by these characters are ridiculous. Instead of u guys questioning the role of KBC in political propaganda airing u are here trying to lecture to a private business how they should run their enterprises. I mean for heavens sake u guys pay taxes to the government hence the need for u to lobby for proper utilisation of ur hard earned income. u choose not to do that but come up with some laughable allegations that a news anchor of admirable repute has lost her eye sight coz she is no longer going to play a part in "covering" a particular presidential candidate.
Every average kenyan knows that citizen is a gutter press house. they are kibaki's propaganda machine and this was manifested very loudly in the banana campaigns but I do not think that is a matter of national debate as u guys want us to believe.The press all over the world have favourite political groups. Even KTN with all due respect for them are the same company with "The Standard" and Chris and Taabu do not have to be geniuses to see how skewed standard's coverage of kenyan politics has been. They are competing with the other gutter press series in trying to air political propaganda in favour of a certain presidential candidate. I hate citizen with a passion and everybody in our household knows it. BUT for heavens sake these "Intelligent" brothers of ours also have an obligation to blog about the standard unless they are just showcasing how narrow their interest in these respects have been.
Macharia should go hang but it is not for me to dictate to him who to hire or what presidential candidate to support. I gotta take the remote and do the necessary.
On Kenyans being duped again in 2007 as they were in 2002;
14 Comments:
mwanainchi said...
It seems you you have left ODM-K without quite leaving, or leaving it alone.
Then why do you feel better or holier than the politicians?
These politician do not have to love each to work together!
ODM unitiy is not over until its over...before for announce its demise wait until the fat lady sings
5:20 AM
mulwaa said...
And why do u always forget to point out the public property called Mollasses now in the hands of an individual? That is fraud and to me as much as Ruto,Musalia should be in jail, Raila should also be there giving them football commentry coz as a victim I can tell u that place can be very boring without a rumour monger like him
7:21 AM
Anonymous said...
It is true Chris that the best candidate has not declared his/her candidature. Of all those running no one qualifies to hold the office but we must have a new tenant in state house come January '08. Are we gonna stay away from the elections like Ken Matiba once proposed. This will make a criminal crawl into state house and announce tax rates in the tune of 70%. I mean we have to choose who is less evil. In my opinion Ki8baki,Kalonzo,Uhuru,Dr.Ojiambo,Nazlin Umar,Balala,Joe Nyaga,Kombo Kombo and Charity Ngilu are the candidates who can make that shortlist. My opinion would be let us choose one of them in december at the same time making sure we are not throwing away our votes coz some of them can NEVER win and trhey are only there for cosmetic reasons. I think Kibaki,Kalonzo and Uhuru are the people we should consider coz one of them will surely be in state house come January hence the need to ride the winning horse
7:33 AM
Anonymous said...
What a load of crap Mulwaa. You should know that Kisumu Molasses Plant was a project that has been frustrated right from inception to the time it was sold by the government in a public auction. No wonder you served time in there.
I believe Raila is the best candidate; He is bold, he is a team player, he is a pan africanist, an international democracy award winner, a nationalist, a freedom fighter and what it takes to deliver Kenya a new constitution. Please bloggers, join us in supporting this true Kenyan hero!
8:08 AM
Taabu said...
Blogers and their readers are not left behind in the typical Kenyan political race. Everybody is backing and routing for somebody so who will support the yet-to-be cleared snow-white candidate? Your guess is as good as mine. Kenyans are real intellectuals full of theory but unfortunately bereft of objectivity in the long run.
We reserve out most vile and stereotypical insults for the fisrt lap only to run out of steam and go (stupidly) trivial with tribal gabbage in drawling paragraphs. Chose whoever you fancy but remember provided your choice is anchored on tribal alliagiance then good luck and good riddence in constructing a magnificient manssionatte on quicksand.
9:26 AM
vikii said...
I have read all the above posts and I have not come across a single tribal comment.What is so tribal in saying that people should not read too much in the alleged Deya's association with the odm leadership? This taabu guy always likes pointing out the "intellect" in his write-ups that is only visible to him. All these guys have come up with very objective counter write-ups to the implied message by Chris that Raila should not have owned up to having a relationship with deya. Julie was just asking about this as a by the way coz it holds no water, I mean this is just a non issue. We are not talking about presidential candidates here Mr. Intelligent taabu neither are we talking about mansions built with strong foundations.
1:57 PM
Anonymous said...
To Anonymous replying Mulwaa, I think you need to think about what u are referring to. Che Guevara is internationally acclaimed, Xanana Gusmao is, and so is Fidel Castro. can you compare the the economy on Cuba to Botswana? No. What makes a good character then, is not public looting of Molasses Plant in Kisumu, commentating football or winning awards.
How many awards did Moi win. A university in Japan even gave him a doctarate in whatever it was. Did he not run the Kenyan economy down. Looted it, only to have it rectifide by the Narch regime.
It would be shameless that Raila talks about corruption and governance and he was one time defending Moi in 2001 of being the best leader and focussed. Raila is crap, Rutto is corrupt, Musalia Mudavadi is corrupt, a coward and a nonentity in the fight for State House and better the Devil we know in Kibaki who has made great changes in kenya, that the angel in Raila, Kalonzo, Muiru, Balala (a have heard rumours of his sexuality). Please weigh the leaders you want to vote.
4:01 PM
Anonymous said...
Actually, I have deeply thought about my reply to Mulwaa. I also deeply thought about my support for Agwambo. I still stand by what I said. Why must it take a foreigner to come and fete your own hero?
Which democracy award has Kibaki, Kalonzo or even Moi won despite their many years involvement in public affairs? We know Moi himself was involved in the Sudan peace talks since as early as 1963 when he was then Minister for Home Affairs in Kenyatta Government. He was also involved in the peace talks that brought peace in Uganda and Mozambique in the 1980s.... Sadly, after more than 50 years of public service to date, no one has deemed it fit to nominate Moi for the Nobel Peace Price??? It has something to do with his domestic record, ie Detaining people without trial, dictatorship, political tribal clashes, etc, etc.
I heard Kalonzo brag about how he - as Kenya's Foreign Affairs Minister- brought about peace in Somalia and Sudan. Just like Moi, what has he to show for it? We know Rwandan dissident Felicien Kabuga established his Kenya base during Kalonzo's tenure. This was after the infamous genocide in Rwanda. During Kalonzo's tenure at Foreign Affairs Ministry, another dissident Abdulla Ocalan who was leader of the Turkish Kurds was captured in Kenya after having been in the country for several years. Ocalan remains a terrorist to the Turkish state but a hero for Kurds. These were, and still remain, very serious diplomatic goofs by Kenya - and by extension foreign affairs Ministry that Kalonzo has been purporting to have "headed".
We also know Kenya's foreign affairs policy has been virtually non-existent since the brutal murder of Minister Robert Ouko.. Thats why the Al-Qaida have bases in this country. Am kindly asking Kalonzo to stop chest thumping about the achievements of the late Dr. Ouko., and be very honest about his own achievements / blunders.
And now you have one Mr. Tuju heading the same ministry and carrying forward where our Kalonzo left - what is happening? You have recently seen Kenyan muslim citizens being deported to Somalia as refugees. Somalia is still classified a war zone by the UN and one cannot be deported to a war zone. You have seen Ethiopian military (not rebels) invading Kenya and killing Kenyan villagers in Mandera, and not a word of protest from our government. The same is happening in Pokot where Ugandan Defence Force soldiers (not LRA rebels) have on several occassions come into Kenya territory to kill and maim our Pokot brothers, and Kenya Government does nothing. Foreign Affairs achievements my foot!!
In Kibaki, you have an individual who has been in public service since the late 1960's and yet again, nothing to show for it. When JM Kariuki was murdered in 1973, Kibaki made a pledge to leave no stone unturned till murderers are brought ot book. Now that he is in his fifth year as the CEO of Kenya and 33 years afte he made the pledge publicly, what has he done in turning stones to get the murders of the late JM Kariuki?
Looking at the personalities in the present national assembly, Give me Agwambo, anytime. Thanks
11:21 PM
chris said...
Thank you guys.
I think generally the comments here have stuck to issues, esecially when compared to those I have seen in the past.
I find myself agreeing a lot with what Taabu has to say he obviously puts a lot of thought into issues and it is only natural for him to get irritated when others trivialize things.
On that note I would like to apologise for the comment about Raila defending Deya. Although it was written by my staff writer, I appoved it for publication and I therefore take responsibilty. I agree that it is wrong to judge Raila based on his association with Deya, after all known drug dealers are financing Narc-Kenya and the bisho is yet to be convicted by any court.
MY brothers and sisters forgive me on that one, I was wrong. But my intentions were not to be malicious.
Taabu, I can assure you that I have never waivered in being objective and please keep on pointing specific examples where you feel that I have wandered off the straight and narrow.
To the rest of you fellow Kenyans, I urge you to cast aside tribal sentiments and let's be objective with the best interests of our beloved country at heart. In case you have not noticed, we are at a very serious cross roads and one wrong move could spell doom for Kenya.
-Kumekucha-
4:30 AM
vikii said...
Mr. anonymous u seem to have a dossier of all the misdeeds of everybody except Raila. As the other annonymous tries to give u very vivid examples of internationally acclaimed looters and dictators, I will take u through a series of facts hoping for the first time u see sense. If Moi was involved in the sudanese peace what makes u think Kalonzo's involvement was aided by there being a one time foreign affairs called Ouko? Were u not born in 2001 when Raila odinga together with Crisanthus Okemo went to Ugunja and use GSU officers to beat up Orengo in the name of harambee? Is this the person u would call a democrat who uses taxpayers money to go fight his very useless village battles? Someone ferrying youths from Kibera (Whom he has misrepresented for the last 15 years) to Uhuru park to try and intimidate other presidential candidates to declare him tosha? Raila Odinga was beaten hands down by Michael wamalwa in Thika and he resorted to violence coz that's what he knows best. This was in the full glare of the world press and then here u are telling us of some awards. Dont u even think Abdoulaye Wade has done a better job in Senegal than Kuffour has done for Gahana? U seem to place some value in these awards but they are just that awards. I am even surprised u consider Moi a candidate for Nobel peace prize (I wont laugh ,I am serious). I have told those who care to listen that you can spend 62 years in the opposition but be worse than those in government. I gave examples of major Madoka and Godana vs Kajwang and Odinga, Can u compare known thieves like Ruto and Musalia to Kilemi Mwiria and Kyalo Kaindi in govt. Guys Raila Odinga has stayed in opposition but that doesnt make him someone to look up to for a presidential candidate. Look at the kasarani chaos in 2001. An election was turned into a selection just coz they feared Kamotho unleashing an upset.
Oh man u tell us to give u Raila and u know what, he is all yours.
6:57 AM
Anonymous said...
Guys we must admit we do not have good enough presidential candidates but we must work with what we have. We should look for integrity in leadership and in my very humle opinion, only Kalonzo and Kibaki come close to that. Uhuru Kenyatta should actually top that list but I know people will not give him a chance coz of his ethnicity and Kenyatta blood. WE also have some very good fringe candidates like Ojiambo and Balala but i think they a big enough task of getting to parliament.
Lets stick with the big five:
1. William Ruto: Shoul i say anything? This guy typifies a candidate who was brought in the picture to block another from Rift valley and get some big post in the government of the executioner of the plot. The reception in his Riftvalley base was so loud that he even changed his plan and he is giving the presidency an actual shot. Most importantly he is not considered anywhere nationally coz of his tainted character. He was in Moi's kitchen cabinet and I am glad everyone knows hat is associated with him.
2.Uhuru Kenyatta: Uhuru epitomises the modern day politician. Vijana Tugutuke should actually consider him as our candidate coz he is not tainted, has refused to be reduced to a tribal chielf and above all is very intelligent. People will always try to point out Kenyatta snr's misrule but for heavens sake this was a 15 year old boy when the old man was dying. A man shoud be held responsible for his own deeds and so Uhuru has nothing to do with that past. He has demonstrated that he is above parochial politics and is actually what Kenyans need(Not want). Uhuru's biggest undoing is his ethnicity coz the incumbent comes from the same province (Read tribe)with him. However if by some stroke of luck he clinches the odm ticket then that's good news for Kenya.
3.Raila Odinga--His supporters say he fought for the second liberation. That cannot be disputed but as Michael Wamalwa once said of the now famous mania and phobia,he excites such feelings that those who love him love him unto death and those who hate him are suspicious of his motives. The debate weather Raila can actually lead (In the true meaning of the word) will go on forever. People see a lot of immaturity in his activism and even though he is a better political mobiliser than everyone else those outside Nyanza want to hold him at an arms length. It is good to have him in your camp as a footsoldier than a torch bearer. Again the issue of ethnicity comes to his disadvantage coz weather we like it or not most people abhor the luo. His abraisive nature does not help redeem the situation coz when he makes enemies most of them are permanent enemies.He showed traces of abuse of power for the two years he was Moi's minister In my opinion he has an outside chance.
4.Kalonzo Musyoka--This is possibly the most talked about personality in Kenyan politics now. In therecent past his odm colleagues seized every opportunity to villify him hoping that he will feel beaten and possibly step down in favour of the other main candidate in the odm. He stood his ground and even engaged the "Head On" gear. He sent a strong message that he was not about to become a door mat and they are slowly backing off. Those who want to hear none of a Kalonzo presidency accuse him of being in Kanu for "too long" but what surprises me is that nobody points out the same case for Musalia and even Raila Who was party secretary general. Being in Kanu in my opinion is not a crime and he should be judged as a minister in the Kanu govt and not the head of govt. His supporters point out that he was the only minister whos served KANU for that long and he doesnt have a scandal. That is something that rarely happens in Kenyan poolitics and will surely work in his favour. HE also represents the soft face of politics just like Kibaki. If he clinches the ODM ticket then odm can be assured of victory. He is electable across tribes and also is a very intelligent person. This is someone who will give Kibaki a run for his money.
5.Mwai ibaki----As much as "Political analysts " do not like him I think we should give credit where it is due. This dude has managed to some how avoid being discussed. a lot of time a nd energy is used in discussingRaila and Kalonzo but that doesnt make them any stronger candidates. I am in odm and my prayer is that they remain united coz he will vanguish their individual bids any time. On the development front we will admit the dude has achieved much and this may work into his favour. He comes from the largest tribe and they accord him fanatical support.. The steadman group has received alot of bad press but we know we cant lie to ourselves. I agree with the poll even upto the percentages coz these guys employed the weighting method where areas with more registered voters were accorded a larger nomber of respondents. Those of us who hate him are convinced he should go home and look after Mwai Jr. He is a bit too old and we need an energetic individual. He is akso a boring leader and is comically refered to as commander-in-sleep. He should leave state house like yesterday coz we need an energetic,enthusiastic and hands-on leader.
I have analysed them using a parameter called the "Truth" parameter. I will receive bashing from one quarter but I dont care. I better tell u the way it is to spare you from the shock coming out of Kivuitu's mouth in typically very flat and bullish style.
If ODm unite under KAlonzo or Uhuru then that will be good news.
7:55 AM
Anonymous said...
Chris, My friend, you have lost it. Big time! You were right in what you said about Deya. I support you on those lines.
The man, who was a shoe cobllers, selling sweets and now preaching the word of God is unclean. Period. Not to win any favour from me. If he is innocent, why is he hiding away in London. Let him come home and the country will prove that a woman can have three kids in one year. Even Mary the monther of Jesus never had three children in one calendar year.
The Odinga family are known to use people all their life. Oginga Odinga himself, Raila, and even Oburu. Apart from what the government built when Oginga was VP in Bondo, what else is there? Even the road to that place was done after Raila used the Luo and Moi, as one package to the Molasses Plant to have it re-done.
Raila is obviuolsy trying to milk some dough out of Deya this time and round.
That is the truth. All Luo MPs pay for their seats to have Raila endorse them. (Which normal man or community can vote in Archbishop Ondiek and leave out Jim Orengo, or vote in Ochoro Ayoki and leave Prof Anyang Nyongo (Kisumu-rural-1997).
Use, Use, Use and Used. Poor community. No wonder we are the last among the Kenyan communities, even Pokomos are ahead of us!!!!!
11:50 AM
Anonymous said...
I think of all the hopefuls Kalonzo is the most selfish!!! Raila;I believe we can accomodate his lies tho sometimes they become outright foolish!! Kibaki shld retire n give smbody young to do the work!! I voted Uhuru in 2002 n opes he clinches the ODM ticket!! musalia,Ruto,Balala jst 4get it!!! bt ol said n done better Raila than Kalonzo anytym!! am a kyuk bt do I say
12:46 AM
DM said...
Gentlemen, and ladies if any, I see that Kenya certainly has a leadership crisis.
All the candidates that have been discussed here are the children of a system that has kept ordinary Kenyans poverty stricken for the last 44 years, and a system that has glorified the corrupt and continues to protect them (shame on you Kibaki).
I think we should all wake up and stop bickering on who the lesser devil is. We've actually been reduced to arguing on who the better thug is!
What a shame that our standards have fallen so low that we cannot demand the highest standards from our Presidential candidates.
There is a great opportunity here for Kenyans born after Independence, with proven integrity and leadership qualities, to step forward with a programme of wresting power from all these thugs...yes, and that includes Kibaki himself!
You've all fallen into the trap they've set for you...that there are no alternative untainted leaders in Kenya. They are there...but not in politics.
Just look around you...from the villages right into our urban centres. We all know individuals that have the heart for fellow Kenyans...they participate in vital communal activities, selfless individuals who are well regarded in their communities...and they would never stab their neighbours in the back...these are true leaders of Kenya.
They may be teachers, professionals in various industries or ethical business men....ordinary Kenyans...and we all know one or two.
These are the Kenyans who now need to shed their aversion for politics, roll up their sleeves and prepare to take back their country from these robber barons.
Chris, I'm still waiting for you to unveil your presidential candidate who has never been in politics. I suspect he may have the qualities I've mentioned above.
Otherwise, am not going to fall into the trap that you fine kenyans have fallen into. I refuse to choose from amongst thugs.
I'll therefore abstain when it comes to the Presidential vote until such a time the true impeccable leaders of this Nation will
emerge.
And guess what, these leaders are you and me!
July 5th Special on the anivversary of Tom Mboya's assassination commemorated at this blog every year since we launched.
These were the comments 5th July 2006
Shiroh said...
I am sorry but i think you are a true Jeng.You never know what Tom Mboya would have become. All the same Great post
7:24 AM
RITCH said...
Chris, you may be treading on very slimy, shaky ground by taking this one on..But then as a Kenyan, having read about this illustrious young man,whose life was cruelly nipped in the bud, in the history annals of Kenya, I laud you for being so timely. Kenyans need to know the truth about the what, and why of this young man's life and 'untimely' death.What Kenyans need is the truth. Though bitter and sour it may be. Open Pandora's box and bare the brass tacks of this rather evasive and touchy subject matter. Adios.
8:14 AM
Anonymous said...
Is it my imagination or do you always seem to send an anti kikuyu undertone? Change your ways. Abolish tribalism.
Ohhh and with Mboya, inner circle stories indicate that the gun that shot him was the one he bought and gave to the man that would have been Kenyatta's assasin. And the reason why not enough is known about it is because it (whatever the act might have been) was within one of the Mau Mau pacts. If you know anything about these, you know amongst those is they killed their traitors, decapitated them and hang their heads on the gates of their compounds.
I'm not saying this is teh true story. I'm just saying that anyone of them is as believeable as the next. If you're going to give information such as this, be sure not to force your ideas as the truth!
1:29 PM
POTASH said...
You know I didn't even know that today was the anniversary of Mboya's death. thanks for that.
On the other hand I cannot laud this as a great post, just good writing, seeing that it is purely based on conjecture.
For one, there is no new information here, It would have been easy to blame the government fo Mboya's death, and that is what Kenyans did.
Yet it is clear that Mboya's arch enemy was Jaramogi. They had differences beyond tribal supremacy in Nyanza into the geo-political ideology of the time such that they stood strongly on opposite sides of the cold war divide.
As things stand, Jaramogi and the Russians had a bigger motive for assassinating TJ. if what you wanted was to give us a good conspiracy theory, then alleging that communist interests killed TJ, would have been the way to go. But this, it is not refreshing at all, it is what as you say, the luo riots tell us...that there was a kikuyu conspiracy.
3:02 AM
Omar Basawad said...
Interesting reading! Very interesting indeed!
3:57 AM
chris said...
Anonymous said...
Is it my imagination or do you always seem to send an anti kikuyu undertone? Change your ways. Abolish tribalism.
Bwana Anonymous,
Let me reassure you that even if I was a tribalist (which I am not) it is impossible for me to "hate" the Kikuyus.
My friend, my dear wife of 20 years whom I love very much is a Kikuyu (from Kiambu). My 23 year old daughter identifies more with the Kikuyus and speaks the language fluently because she spent such a long time at her grandmother's while her mother and I were trying to make things happen, early in our relationship.
Probably what all this does is put me in a very unqiue position to understand the Kikuyu. They get things done and their entrepreneurial spirit (which is second to none) must have been transfered to me by osmosis from my wife. But like any other community in Kenya, the Kikuyu have a weakness, especially the current generation. They are tribalists without knowing it. That's why they are quick to sense any would be "undertones" imagined and otherwise.
David Goldsworthy, (an Australian) in his landmark biographical work on Mboya Tom Mboya: The Man Kenya Wanted To Forget leaves no doubt as to who assasinated Mboya. Luo riots or no Luo riots it was Kikuyu insiders in Kenyatta's tribal inner circle.
Let me however quickly add that these genetlemen were not acting on behalf of their community, they were acting on behalf of their own stomachs and were above all else defending the ill gotten wealth they were accumulating.
To heal the wounds of Kenya we need a truth and reconciliation commission to discuss these issues openly and to gather evidence for posterity and also to prosecute those who refuse to co-operate.
8:44 AM
Anonymous said...
Chris this is a good attempt at acknowledging the unsung hero. However you are basically rehashing facts that already reside in the public domain. Do you have specific links of motives from specific people or groups? As you very well know JM's assasination was operationally finalised in Kingsway House. Do you know the significance of this building during that era. Was TJ's death formulated here and by whom? Who were the operational cog wheels? If you want to present a balanced thesis on TJ please fully contextualise the Jaramogi/Kenyatta interests at that time vis a vis the assasination. Who were the security apparatchiks at that time and what role did they play? This is an area no one has yet fully articulated.
Credit for mentioning that Jaramogi stood to benefit from TJ's death. Finally you made an ineffectual attempt at exploring the extent TJ's ambition would have impacted on Kenyatta's presidency ie the threat he posed. Please peel this aspect further. Can't wait for more posts...
10:56 AM
Muthima Wanjohi, USA said...
I wish to make two comments about the the TJ issue. First the writer in this blog who said that Mboya had "almost single-handedly engineered independence for Kenya" is exagerating the truth.
While it is true that TJ made enormous contributions to our freedom it is my feeling that no single person- not even Kenyatta,Jaramogi,Kimathi or any other could do much by himself or herself. When you flatter TJ with such an inaccuracy you tempt your readers to think that even the good points in your paragraphs are not accurate.
Secondly, I think it is wrong for some people who are participating in these discussions to condemn an entire tribe for any of the assassinations that have occured in our country.
This is because this kind of thinking does not heal the wounds that resulted from these evil acts. It just creates further rifts between different communities.
Additionaly, it does not seem to make sense!As observed fron these pages, the victims of the assassin's bullet came from various tribes/races.Let the killers be called by their names and not by names of tribes.
2:20 AM
chris said...
Dear Mr Muthima Wanjohi, USA
Thank you for your wonderful comment. I totally agree with you concerning the tribal comments being made. Mercifully, there are recent signs in our country that Kenyans are finally bring themselves to face this monster (tribalism), especially if you consider the heat and outrage that Mr Ole Ntimama’s recent tribal remarks have caused in the country.
People should be judged as individuals. Murderers are just that and it has nothing to do with their tribes.
However on TJ I think you should consider that when I say that “he ALMOST single-handedly engineered independence,” I am referring to the actual final stages, especially bringing the reluctant colonialist to the negotiating table to discuss independence.
This happened, not because he was the only guy around but because he had an opportunity when the colonial government had effectively shut down any political activities in the then Kenya colony. Mboya got involved in the trade union movement and quickly climbed the ranks by a stroke of luck stepping into the shoes of a senior trade unionist whom it had been established was corrupt.
It was from his trade union base that he was able to get his political grounding and base. So the fact that he did so much had a lot to do with the inability of other Kenyans at the time, due to the prevailing circumstances and especially the legal status where politicking by Africans was essentially banned after the Mau Mau uprising and subsequent state of emergency of 1952. By the time the first 8 African leaders were elected into Legco, young Mboya was already a seasoned operator.
Judging by events of the time, had it not been for Mboya’s call for unity amongst the African elected members (despite the fact that he had enemies within the first elected 8), and his clever tactics of negotiating for a smaller concessions only to promptly call the colonialist back to the negotiating table to ask for more when the ink had hardly dried on the previous agreement, independence in Kenya would have been delayed for many years. Kenya would have been another Zimbabwe at best or a South Africa at worst – indeed many settlers at the time moved to South Africa and settled there.
Mboya’s calls for “Uhuru Sasa” had an impact on both the colonial administration and Kenyans who suddenly woke up to the realization that Uhuru could be closer than they had ever thought it was in their wildest dreams.
But it is also true that others gave even bigger sacrifices for many small gains along the way that opened the door later for Mboya’s negotiation skills to win the day. Some gave their lives, like Dedan Kimathi and others. People like the JM Kariuki went through terrible suffering in concentration-like detention camps run by the colonial administration.
I am looking forward to your next informed comment, even where you may not entirely agree with what I am saying here.
5:17 AM
chris said...
I have just posted more Mboya posts and you start with this one here (use link below);
http://kumekucha.blogspot.com/2006/07/kingsway-house-building-in-nairobi.html
On horrifying hijacking of Coastbus at Emali (near Kibwezi);
5 Comments:
Taabu said...
We have become a country of beast with no morals, period. Chris, you have no apoligies nor justification to make for those doubting these horrific tales. Kenya is awash with all shades of sin some of which would make rapes look like a baptsmal ceremony.
The police force is in a state of denial with the false belief that information bottled is information killed. How wrong they are because form one physics would inform them that like sound, information has defraction and interference characteristics that make it seep through all obstacles.
All those doubting the authenticity of these rape odeals are no better than the Kenyan police and are equally guilty by commission. We need a reality check and confron our jungle mentality of going for leather at hell price - wealth at any price.
Tru, SA may be violent but it has working institutions unlike ours where everything is personalized if not regionalized. We must have a break from the past and business-as-usual approach to life lest we spiral into abyss which we are unwittingly inviting in our midst.
Quality leadership is the key. An independent police force that doesn't operate in fear of arrogant and colonially-weaned politicians. I know this sounds more like a cliche but until we open our eyes, we remain groping in the dark and m,ust be ready to entertain all the unpleasantries lurking there.
11:06 AM
Princess said...
This is so perturbing!! The security in Kenya has just seriously taken a turn for the worse and it just infuriates me that women end up being raped all the time!!!
The police need to start notifying the public about these incidents rather than try to cover them up!!
1:25 PM
Vee said...
Christ don't apologize for someone's disbelief as to what is really happening in our country. I've heard similar stories. I am torn between entering public transportation with the fear of such a horrendous occurrence happening or using private means and being shot dead just cause I reached over to remove my safety belt. My friend's dad was shot dead last week as he went to buy meat for the family. Some young people had tried to hijack another car but that didn't go well. So they needed a get away car... such is fate in this country.
There is currently a discussion on the possibility of finally exploring a shoot-to-kill policy in Kenya. Join it on http://alkags.wordpress.com/2007/03/12/shoot-to-kill-i-vote/
11:34 PM
Odegle said...
I think as Kenyans, we also need to take responsibility for our security. once the bus leaves nairobi going to mombasa and after being inspected at central police station, why do passengers allow the driver to stop and pick more people on the way? one time when i was going to kisumu, the akamba bus i was in stopped on moi avenue and picked almost 20 more passengers, we then proceeded to uthiru and the guys picked more pple. all these passengers were standing in total disregard of michuki rules. i tried in vain to protest. the driver and his conductor refused to listen to me. what was worse was that those passengers dared me to alight if i was not happy. but more suprising was that my fellow passengers who had already been frisked and had paid premium did not support me. my calls to akamba offices went un answered. now with this kind of apathy, why would we be suprised when thugs ran amok this way? there was no telling which of those passengers could have been a thug armed with a kalashnikov!
12:22 AM
Anonymous said...
The moment the thugs shot and killed someone is the moment they should never have been allowed to walk away alive. Let alone actually going around raping women in full view of everybody else.
Sick.
Even sicker: 63 out of 70 people (not counting the dead driver and the 6 thugs) are out-manoeuvred and traumatised by only 6 men.
No wonder we all all such lame bastards full of so much bullshit we have began to like the taste of it. We don't deserve to be called Men if this is how we act when push comes to shove. Imagine if this had happened in Eastleigh to the Somalis there? What do you think would have happened to the thugs?
This all just sickens my heart.
On Sumbeiywo Biography: Good Soldier, Dangerous Book;
7 Comments:
alexcia said...
Kumekucha,
what you are saying is true (only)if we have external enemies (that we can do anything militarily about). We all know we really don't.
11:19 AM
chris said...
You never know my dear. Even in real life, you do not wait until your enemy is at the door before preparing your defence.
It is alo a fact of life that those closest to you and your perceived friends will suddenly turn into enemies and attack when they see the opportunity.
Inspite of our many problems, Kenya remains a growing economic super power in the region. Do you think everybody is happy and delighted about that?
1:42 AM
Anonymous said...
my dear chris i honestly think u r being naive about kenya's so called military secrets. In this day and age of the internet only a country with no military capabilty e.g. Tonga, ice-land, Acension Islands etc can hope to have "secrests" why dont u do this google Kenyan navy and see how many hits you come up with. I can have a fairly accurate view of kenyas military condition and capabilites within one hour on the internet. What Sumbeiyo is telling us is nthing new. As for british soldiers training us... that is common practice the world over. Kenyan military personnel train officers from all over the world at a military college in karen called the National Defence College that is senior military officers frm as far as China, USA and yes England, SA etc. Why u might ask us being poor and third world, coz believe it or not we are some of the best peacekeepers in the world our officer class is ranked one of the best if not the best in Africa. So there you have it get ur head out of the paranoid 70's and 80's and into present day.
PK (nairobi)
7:13 AM
chris said...
Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment, PK.
I am afraid I do not agree with you. It is true that the issue of military hardware is info that you can get on the net. In fact this info was widely available long before the net through mags like Jane's Defence Weekly.
However even with hardware and new technology the weakest link in warfare remains the human resources. The general's book I am afraid exposes too much of the sort of info you will not find anywhere else.
You will be aware of recent developments in Somalia. As you know Somalia has always been a threat to Kenya (in the 60s Kenyatta appealed for British military help to counter this threat) and although they do not have a stable government in place yet, most of the guns that kill and maime Kenyans can be traced back to that crazy country.
Making it so easy for them to access the sensitive info in the general's book is not a good idea. Notice I said that the book was published 5 years too early. I still hold onto my position.
But I still encourage you to keep making posts here, especially critical ones. That's the only way to keep me in the 21st centuiry and on my toes... and hopefully away from the 70s and 80s thinking. LOL
10:36 AM
Anonymous said...
Ya i get what ur saying. But in an emerging democracy the transparency of institutions is paramount. Yes even security institutions. The moral, training, rediness of our military forces can be easily determined by any layman with a little time to spend on the internet. have u read the bolgs posted by british soldiers who have been stationed in Kenya??? and oh yes also kenyan soldiers???. If i can know these things this easily can u imagine an experianced and trained intelligence operative. Wht i am saying is this Gen. Sumbeiyo and co should go on shedding light to those institutions that have always been shrouded in secrecy such as the military. Right now in Israel the goverment has been brought to account about the bungled war with Hezbullah how??? by the glaring inadequacies that were brought to light by ordinary Israeli soldiers and officers. Kenya recently signed what is suspected to be another Anglo-Leasing type of contract worth 12 billion to supply the army with state of the art communications. That money would have been enough to bring our airforce back into fighting stength. By the way we technically no longer have an airforce or at least one that is capapable of defending Nairobi. Secuirity questions have to be brought to the public domain so that the goverment can account for its close to 300 million dollars anual defence budget. With that sort of money we should be in possesion of one of Africas's best defence forces.
P.K.
3:56 AM
chris said...
Thanks P.K. I have learnt a lot from what you are saying. I really appreciate it.
How about a post in this blog on the danger Kenyans are in withoout an adequate airforce and air cover to defend the country. Was the 82 airforce-led attempted coup a contributing factor to this? How do we compare with our neighbours?
9:03 AM
Anonymous said...
I think when Chris talks about how the Nyayo regime used to run affairs in the country using the ethnic card, he is spot on. But you see, the book on Sumbeiywo, like any other biography, was written with an express purpose of celebrating what the author thought was unsung exemplary performance by a general who helped bring war to a halt, if not an end. The author's celebration is born out by the fact that all through the negotiations, Sumbeiywo's visits to the southern sudan welcomed a rousing, hero's ( nay, saviour's) welcome. I do not know whether chris has any idea what it is for innocent peasants who have problems even feeding themselves to be caught up in war. Can you imagine the joy when one man's efforts brings a ray of hope where doom and gloom reigned, before you drag issues of Luo people or any othe community into a matter that was begging for publication and exposition. Let's not be a whining people, always thinking that our people must be seen to be thieves, corrupt, tribalists and crap! The fact is there is a positive side to everything, including the efforts of some in our midst. As much as we should highliht and fight whatever is bad amongst ourselves, we have to realise that if we do not celebrate our own,a no one will. And whenever we open our loud mouths to badmouth our own, we are exposing lines of weaknesses through which others colonise, enslave and dominateus so much that we end up falling for the prejudicial sophistry that we can never do anything for ourselves.
HM (Nairobi)
On Radio Tanzania asking public to help weed out foreigners;
3 Comments:
Anonymous said...
My sincere commendations for this superb coverage of Tanzania's woes. There were prior signs, just the way the air changes and distant thunder is heard before a storm.
These Tz fellows are quite ridiculous. It would be satisfying to see them wade on rudderless but pragmatism dictates that we don't need another neighbour who can't flush his toilet. Imagine the stench that will filter into Kenya? We should shock them back into reality. Why not start with a partial suspension of trade? Initial casualties will be Serena etc but what to do?
I am sure Mwalimu Nyerere is turning in his grave.
Please keep on updating us on these shenanigans Chris.
10:51 AM
Anonymous said...
Hi Kumekucha,
I thought you would credit my comment under your post last week "Kenyans Blocked From Entering Tanzania" about this radio broadcast thing, Bwana?
Anyways Just kidding. Am a blogger like you but my blog has my full names, and am too well known so I cant say it here.
Keep up the good work. Maybe one day BBC swahili will interview you on saturday morning. :)
10:16 PM
chris said...
I have this very strange feeling that we have met elsewhere other than cyberspace.
Anyway, thank you very much for taking the time to read this blog and also to write your comments. Most of all thank you (from the bottom of my heart) for appointing yourself an unpaid reporter and giving us a "real scoop" on the radio thing which as you quite rightly point out I used here without crediting you (tabia mbaya sana and I apologise).
By the way as you may know, this was not the first instance that our Bongo neighbors have issued such threats in the media.
Once again Thank you for your participation, it really means a lot to me.
I'd love to be interviewed by BBC swahili service (not to become famous, but to continue in my mission to expose the Kenyan leadership and politics for what it is - a train headed for a place called nowhere.)
Most of all it is good to know that there are other Kenyans out there who see beyond ODM Kenya... or shall I say right through it?
On rumours of threats to shut down this blog by authorities;
7 Comments:
Anonymous said...
Thanx Chris. We appreciate your efforts and there is already a lot of noise from the Nation Centre about the same. Hopefully, I can say it here that the hackers will not succeed. The IT guys should be working round the cluck to do what they are best at but rest assuured. Tuko Mapambano!! We know and it has been mentioned once or twice that you are part of the group out to create the downfall of the people there. You have my support and others. Forget about the Kalonzos, they wont do it and the rest.
I am waiting for Tuesday noon. Is it not Tuesday that you are going to unleash another big one!!
7:10 AM
kenyaonly said...
Hapo ni kweli Chris!!! you never know what will happen was just thinking about that after noticing unusual traffic on my blog from a specific ip address and i thought of my favourite kumekucha....so you all people that have not yet registered hebu do that you don't want to miss a thing
7:22 PM
Charlie said...
Hey Chris, its monday 5th March 2007 already! 1252 East African Time! where is the post? Ama my browser has a problem!
1:52 AM
Anonymous said...
Charlie,
If you cant see the post, then rest assured that the hackers have succeeded at manipulating Chris.
2:14 AM
Anonymous said...
No, it is not that way. I think Chris is independent minded and would not stoop to the level of the newspapers in Kenya that blocked the KUJ story. Masada Complex. They all live and eat together and prepared to die together. Chris take it easy. No chance for the manipulators. Gitahi, Wanmgethi Odindo. Your time is up!!!
2:35 AM
chris said...
Thanx for your support.
Bribing me will be impossible.
I have made a lot of sacrifices publishing this blog and am prepared to make more.
Those Kenyans cheating themselves that they don't care about the Kenya of tomorrow because they will not be around should take a look at their children and grand children. Can you look at them straight in the face and tell them sincerely that you care about them and then at the same time be a tribalist or support an aging president for a second term because he is from your tribe? Or take or give a bribe because of your short term greed? Think again, my dear fellow Kenyan.
Every time I get a little discouraged, I go and play with my children. I look into their eyes a lot and I see all that raw ambition and hope for tomorrow (one of them wants to be a professional football player for Arsenal when they grow up). I immediately get re-energised.
I will be forvever grateful for all those patriotic Kenyans who have steadfastly kept on supporting this site (even when they do not entirely agree with my views every time). Ahsante sana.
Together we can make a huge difference this time round.
-Kumekucha-
6:20 AM
Anonymous said...
Chris, you made me get emotional with the above statement. I have just thought of the photograph that was on this blog about two weeks ago of some malnourished children.
I think we have alot in common. I do not share the thought of tribalism at all, and I will not at any given time wish that you would bend towards such inclinations.
Chris, the other day, sorry to say I am Luo, I dont know your tribe, on my son's birthday, he told me he wanted a cake, which I bought and he took it to school with him.
Asking him whom he shared it with, he said "Dad, I gave one piece to Mike Karanja, John Musyoka, Frederick Njuguna, Veronica Wamuyu, etc, complete rainbow pattern, if colours could determine our existence. A week later, you had this torrid picture on the blog, I was really touched that my son could ask for a cake and leave another piece in the fridge for tomorrow, yet one individual, or a cretorie of people close to powers had done utter harm to other people's children.
Chris, the above shows my conviction that you mean good for my country, my generation and at least, my son, will live a better life and if I grow old to see the generation of my grandchildren, I will be proud that I made a change. Please remain steadfast, I support you in many ways. Across the UK and the US, I always tell people to read about your blog.
Last week, I told an editor at the Standard about your blog and within minutes, there were more than eight emails asking how long it has been operational. Some truth touched them on Anglo-Leasing and that is what I will support you for.
All the best. To write a private one through your email!!!
On Bunga la mwananchi and escalating prices of basic food items...
6 Comments:
Anonymous said...
What we need in kenya is to create a welfare system.Welfare will make wonders in kenya especially if the funds are targeting area's where people are in critical conditions.CDF do not keep people out of poverty but help construct roads etc.Kenyans need a system that will help them put food on the table and that system is welfare.It will also save kenya lots of money cause it wont have to borrow from foreign countries.
3:06 PM
Vee said...
A welfare system will create laziness & dependency. I know Kenyans are hardworking individuals, therefore, by making things things affordable enough for people to work towards is the best way to go. Let that man work for that 100/= and afford to do more with that per day, rather than him queuing/waiting for that same 100/=.
11:31 PM
Ngunyi Ngunjiri said...
I must agree that the food prices have dramatically shot up since 2003. However, i believe we must resist the urge to always blame the government of the day. We should endeavour to view issues as objectively as possible. I concede that it is increasingly becomin difficult to be objective when faced with issues such as hunger.
It is in my opinion that the dramatic rise in food stuff prices and paraffin can be attributed to the 'War in Iraq' and the opportunity it presented to OPEC to engage in subversive activities of price fixing. The average oil prices have increased by almost 50% hence causing inflation in Kenya due to our heavy reliance of oil imports. However, i support the call for zero rating of necesary food items such as unga.
1:26 AM
chris said...
The effect of oil prices on increased food prices is minimal, if any.
Ask yourself the following question; why is it that despite the ever strengthening Kenya shilling, the benefits are not being felt locally i.e. in lower food prices and lower prices across the board?
If anything it seems that as the Kenyan shillimg strengthens, so do prices increase instead of decreasing.
I have the answer, but let me hear what other noble Kenyans have to say.
-Kumekucha-
1:52 AM
PETER said...
[i]In only 1 year the Narc government had increased the price of Unga by Kshs. 27, more than Moi's government had increased in 24 years[/i]
Now thats a lame comment.
Show me HOW the government has increased the price of Unga in a logical and a systematic way.
Wheat/Unga is grown by private companies, transporation by private companies as is the processors like Unga and Chania feeds. VAT is 16% if I may recall clearly.
2:09 AM
Ngunyi Ngunjiri said...
Chris,
The cost of transportation is a major factor in the food prices. Due to the increase in oil prices, transportation costs have hit the roof. Also, do not forget that the cost of power has also gone up. Consequently, farm inputs(factory produced) have generally costed higher than they did pre 2003. With all these factors in mind, we can deduce that the cost of food will increase.
How Nation Columnist Gitau Warigi describes you...
7 Comments:
coldtusker said...
Without voting rights i.e. overseas voting... who cares?
UNLESS Kenyans come to Kenya to vote & influence others to vote in the "good" candidates... she is right!
5:42 PM
Half 'n' half said...
whatever else I think about that guy (and once in a while I do get violent thoughts about his opinions), this time I will agree with him. what we express are opinions based on what we see out here/there. Our way of thinking is informed by the life we are living and would like kenyans to live. But who actually thinks the opinions matter? we have not reached a stage in Kenya where the opinions of those in the Disapora matters. It would be good if we did get there, but we are not there yet. They/we dont/cant vote, not enough people who vote read anything that we write. And those who read believe we gave up our right to talk about events in kenya when we left.I do think I agree with him
12:48 AM
Kagz said...
1st...thanks for all the political info.
2nd...why have you enabled comment moderation on this blog?
Its more fun commenting once i know what other have said.
3rd...I live in the US and i must add that Gitau Warigi is sooooooo RIGHT!
Kenyans here think they know everything about Kenya & yet they have never been home in 5+ years
6:22 PM
chris said...
Enabling comment moderation does not stop you viewing the other comments. And I publish all comments especially the critical ones, if you've noticed. The moderation is to avoid comment spam which if allowed could flood this blog so much that you'll hardly be able to read anything on it.
High traffic blogs are sitting ducks for massive spam comments about irrelevant stuff. Even enemies of Kenya within can't be trusted. It pays to be careful where you can.
8:48 AM
Kagz said...
Thanks for the reply BUT i disagree!
Ati..."Enabling comment moderation does not stop you viewing the other comments"
It does! If someone posts on this blog, i will only read their comment if you have enabled it i.e we have to wait for you to release people's comments.
Example;When i was typing out my comment yesterday i did not see any comment under "7 Things That Will Happen To Kenya If Kibaki Is Re-elected"
Today there are 5 comments!!!
These people did not all comment at the same time. Hence if i commented i would have thought i was the 1st one.
This can cause unnecessary repetition and its good to know what s'one else has said inorder to agree/disagree.
The best way to avoid spam comments is through WORD VERIFICATION which you have already activated...and that should be enough.
I have a blog so i know what i'm saying.
All in all...nice blog!
9:24 AM
chris said...
Okay have disabled comment moderation. Let's see what happens shall we? Hope that I'm proved wrong, it is a fun thing to reply to comments in real time.
1:42 AM
Luke said...
I don't think Gitau Warigi is right
This is my own opinion-in my experience, 'something' happens to kenyans in the diaspora once they return home-their ability to freely express their opinion, make comments, and speak out (either critically or truthfully) is lost-or at least severely curtailed
all of a sudden they begin to say "things here are not as bad as we thought out there" Could it be we become comfortable cloisterd in the cocoon of familiarity-our tribes, our languages, our country with same old 'kawa' problems-we even justify problems saying "ahh bana,this is what makes home home"
Mr Warigi sir, kenyans in the diaspora simply amplify the voice of those back home that feel threatened to speak out-i wonder why they feel that way?(sic)
we shall continue to be noisy and opinionated.
---
---
I later dug this out of the Kumekucha archives
How could she…?? That girl was yours, or so you thought. How could she fall for a player and a man who is NOT nice to women like that guy I can't stand?? What happened?
---
Judy (not her real name) is still serving time but is optimistic that one day she will be free. Her son who saved her life is now about 7 years old.
(From Kumekucha archives. First published WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2, 2008. This story-part of it- hit newspaper headlines in Kenya that year.) Forward this true story and share widely if you have a sister, daughter or some woman you care about who may fall in love tomorrow and throw caution to the wind with dire consequences.
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