Is This The Change Kenyans Can Believe In?

I have admitted here on numerous occasions how boring history can be for most people. And yet it is impossible to discuss serious politics without a firm grasp on the relevant historical background. Indeed it is possible for Kenyans to get themselves out of the mess the successive presidencies of Jomo Kenyatta, Daniel Moi and Mwai Kibaki have landed them into without understanding the history of this country.

I love history, as boring as some people think it is, because it has always been one of this blog’s top secret weapons. I mean I have been made to really look good, even a prophet of sorts by simply analyzing politics in Kenya while keeping my history books very close by. For instance we were the first to recognize (right from the onset of this blog) that only brand new leadership can save this country, something that is now rapidly gaining currency in the country.

For years during colonial days, Kenya was always a playground for the rich and powerful where the majority were mere irrelevant pawns at best and playthings at worse. Take the case of the young Kenyan who lost his life for throwing a stone at a mzungu dog through a fence in 1960 (the stone did not even hit the dog but the poor man lost his life for it.) Read my post on the incident. The interesting thing here is that many other mzungus (and maybe the particular one involved in the incident a Mr Poole) had gotten away with such heinous acts before and this time the only problem was that the times were changing the way they are now.

Well this week there was a serious road accident involving kids of the rich and powerful having fun. Actually a member of the Kenyatta family and of the Odinga family were hurt. Both young men had apparently been drinking. Read the full report of that incident here.

The interesting thing here is that impeccable sources have informed me that “powerful people” killed the story by intimidating the radio station that first reported the incident into shutting up about it. Indeed details of the story were deliberately scanty even from others who reported it and the police received firm orders from above to stay mum to the press. To the extent where the registration number plates were deliberately removed from the wrecked vehicles at a Nairobi police station (to prevent nosy journalists finding out who the car owners were.)

Now the trail of this cover up leads to a place where most of you my dear readers will not want to believe. Actually it is the Prime Minister’s office that made efforts to have the story killed.

Well maybe there is nothing wrong with that really. You see this man Raila Odinga is the candidate who will be almost 70 (actually he will be exactly 67 on January 7th 2012) by the time the next general elections are scheduled who we are all banking on to bring change. What does some minor road accident have to do with it? In fact this man wants change so much that we have so far seen from his performance as Prime Minister that that change is coming. After all you can teach old dogs new tricks can’t you?

Oh please……

Dream Beach holidays on exclusive private island in East Africa at affordable rates this Christmas. Avoid crowded Mombasa.

Who hang up on President-elect Barack Obama this past week? And WHY???

Chapwani Island: My dream holiday

Kumekucha holiday special

Kumekucha sent one of his top reporters for a day in an island that everybody is talking about. The guy almost did not come back. Find out why from his report and photographs. He claims that it is a brilliant alternative to the usually crowded beaches this time of the year and all year round. And what’s more it is extremely affordable. I had to heavily edit his article to stop it looking like an advertisement. The man seems to have been badly smitten by the island…

My first glimpse of Chapwani from the boat that brought us to the island. I was still not prepared for the sheer magic in this dream island off the coast of Zanzibar.

It is the holiday season again and the end of perhaps the most difficult year in the history of Kenya. It is around that time of the year when there is a mad rush to Mombasa to crowded beaches and fully booked hotels.

Kenyans are determined to have fun this holiday season because many say they did not have any holiday last year with the general elections and the mishaps that followed them.

Strange that everybody should just think of Mombasa when there is such a wonderful alternative not too far off in an island resort I fell head over heels in love with, called Chapwani. Chapwani is one of the islands surrounding the famous Zanzibar.

I had read up a lot on this holiday spot whose fame is rapidly spreading, but none of it prepared me for the serene beauty and unique aspect of Chapwani. I am lost for words to describe what it felt like being away from it all listening to the waves quietly lap up at the shore of my bungalow while I watched the sun set in the horizon.

No chance of crowded beaches here because the island has a maximum capacity of 20 visitors only at a time or rather 10 couples housed in some beautiful bungalows overlooking the beach. Definitely the place for those looking for a little privacy in this holiday season. And yet there was no shortage of activities. I explored the island and picked up shells and swam close to the shores of the dream island wondering where it had been all my life.

Inside one of the rooms in Chapwani: Romantic and unforgettable

I am always accused of being an exaggerator but this has got to be the most romantic place on earth. Ideal for honeymoons I must say. Just imagine for a minute a candle-lit dinner right on the beach with the one you love seated across the table enjoying a sumptuous dinner made by the kind of chef you would never dream would be marooned in this dream island.

Interestingly the weather is a wee bit cooler here for those who find Mombasa’s heat unbearable.

I made a promise to myself that I must go back some day… very soon.

More details can be obtained and bookings made by directly emailing the friendly staff at the island NOW at:- chapwani@zitec.org. Tel:- +255 77 743 3102

Amazing Contrasts

accident victims - reckless abandon vs reckless abandonment

This Nation article is of two accidents, in the first reported accident, the victims are relatives of high profile personalities. Even as I wish them recovery from their injuries I am unable to turn away from the fact that that these young fellows are quite friendly with one another, and were injured coming from one party in all probability headed to another driving some fairly decent vehicles. Luckily the victims managed to get assistance and access to medical facilities rather quickly and hopefully they are on the way to a quick recovery.

This is quite in sharp contrast to the fierce relationship or rather acrimony of the political supporters of their relatives playing political power games who even today are ready to kill each other at the drop of a hat. The supporters are hard working citizens barely able to put food on their table let alone own a luxury car to flash from "partey to partey"

Which brings me to the second accident mentioned rather low key in the second part of the article, this involved some IDPs (ah yes the very same political supporters or victims of the senior relatives mentioned earlier). These were a group of people bunched or huddled together into a probably not so luxury government vehicle, ostensibly headed to inspect a possible new area to relocate and resettle. Note that these IDPs have been living in deplorable conditions with poor basic hygiene.

In this accident one of the IDPs tragically lost their life. We neither know his/her name but we (thanks to the media) can probably list all three names, dates of birth, favorite pets, etc of the first set of victims.

I Owe You vs Let me Awe You

In this other Standard article we get a chance to look at understanding that if MPs were to pay their taxes, they should remit 200,000 a month instead of 60,000 a month. Kudos to the MP for demonstrating steadfastness.

In contrast lets break this down by comparing to another well known but largely inconspicuous group. Teachers. After agitating for a 200% increase almost 10 years ago in 1998 (yes during Moi time and probably long overdue) which was agreed to be implemented over a 10 year period the current total wage bill is about 75b a year. There is about 500,000 teachers. Therefore on average each of these educators interacting ¾ of the year with, and shaping the minds of the future (sometimes called leaders) of Kenya earn about 150,000 a year. Yes people, these teachers earn in a whole year far much less than what an MP should remit in taxes for a month. In fact to be exact, the balance of tax due from the MPs (140,000) per month, which they are refusing with, is the amount a teacher earns a year. And there is 200+ MPs

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The contrasts or ironies are many and these are but a few examples. These contrasts would in all fairness be understandable in free enterprise where professionals, entrepreneurs and businesss compete and prosper. However, a significant number of these actors are perhaps suspiciously fairly close to the (offices, corridors, kitchens, etc of ) public coffers.

Let us pay more attention, to how over the years, we have let way too many issues, slowly get uncontrollably out of hand and lets begin, difficult as it may be, to work collectively towards fixing what we can. Let us properly honor and recognize the trades and skills that will steadily help build this nation, return integrity into the institutions meant to serve us, and restore pride in the many skills, talents, trades and professions so widely prevalent in Kenyans, while at the same time work to curb the fiduciary / pecuniary excesses of public officers/figures and institutions. ..... just a thought .....