Every publisher and media person knows that sex sells. It moves newspapers like crazy and that is exactly how one Rupert Murdoch made his fortune mainly publishing the notorious UK tabloids, The Sun and News of The World. But can sex start a revolution and save Kenya? Or rather the lack of it.
That is the question that has to be asked after women under the banner of Gender 10, a group of 10 civil societies called for a sex boycott by all Kenyan women of goodwill. The women have called for a seven-day abstention to pressurize President Kibaki and the Prime Minister Raila Odinga into ending coalition wrangles.
Because of the unusual nature of this protest and also because their timing was perfect G10 got front page treatment in media most notably the Daily Nation, but one still has to ask the question, will the sex boycott work? What impact can it possibly have in a country that has already gone to the dogs so to speak?
---------------------------Quick tip
Avoid the heavy traffic coming into Nairobi from the airport. Brand new budget hotel 15 minutes from Nairobi City Centre at Mlolongo.
00000000000000000000000000
Not to mention the fact that some women feel insulted by this latest move because it portrays them only as sex objects whose only weapon of protest or blackmail is what they have to offer between the sheets.
There is little doubt that this Gender 10 move will be discussed on offices, bars and homes across the country and beyond over this long weekend. But sadly it is unlikely to achieve very much in terms of the results.
Still the pressure is mounting.
It is like cutting a Mugumo tree. The many small blows you land on the tree may look insignificant but collectively they will all contribute to the felling of the tree.
Incidentally I am informed that both ODM and PNU are at this moment very busy strategizing and preparing for elections.
P.S. Besides our leaders (including both principals) are so old that sex is no longer what it used to be. So even if their wives (and girlfriends) were to join in the boycott, it will have little effect if any in pressurizing anybody.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Why Speaker Marende Has Booked A Place In the History Books
Also published in the last few hours: Speaker Marende's smart parliamentary coup
I do not mind admitting stuff. I wrote a post but liked this comment from one of our readers much better and it is my conviction that it deserves wider distribution and thus readership. And that is the reason I have upgraded it to a main post. ENJOY!!
-------------------------------
This Speaker is a silent genius. Marende's was more than a parliamentary ruling.
In his hour-long ruling, he adeptly and preemptively made his own interpretation of the constitution vis a vis NARA Accord probably well aware that PNU were soon going to be rushing to courts seeking constitutional interpretation of the same.
Marende's ruling was of superior legal and political quality - very comprehensive and incorporating the realities of the day in Kenya. A classic ruling that has so far received accolades from top constitutional experts besides widespread public support.
Now challenge that!!!!!
This was the greatest move in public relations and advance persuation that I've seen in such a long time in Kenya.
Marende was giving all and sundry his own top notch constitutional interpretation of the very question Kalonzo Musyoka has announced PNU will be rushing to courts to seek an answer.
Marende tayari amelijibu hilo swala.
And in doing so, he has already convinced many that the constitution cannot be read in isolation from NARA. the good 'ol constitution is no more. The days of absolute Imperial Presidency are basically history.
It's an era of consultations and power sharing - at least in the life of this coalition. Marende amesema, waKenya wamekubali.
Marende was thrice clever just for the record and precedent - he has explicitly addressed the question of what happens when there's inconsistency between the constitution and NARA - and that is - NARA supersedes.
People like Michuki and Kalonzo who are blind on NARA need to listen to that wise counsel- all Kalonzo and Michuki see is an imperial presidency which they die to preserve and the old constitution that Kenyans die to reform...these PNU sycophants never see NARA as part of the constitution.
Then few other interesting observations.
Karua has welcomed Marende's ruling and she will be sitting in the HBC. Yaani, she doesn't insist that Kalonzo must be the HBC Chair/LGB. Tells me she doesn't really regard Kalonzo worthy of leading her. Haya! remember the reformers vs anti-reformers debate?
Did anyone read what PNU's Saitoti said? He actually welcomed Marende's ruling! unlike his PNU-mates Kalonzo and few others. Of course Saitoti also bubbled a few other words to the effect that whoever appoints the LGB still needs to be resolved. But at the moment - he's game with Marende, essentially telling Kalonzo to chill out and keep off the HBC Chair/LGB seat.
Aint that some doggonit something!!!!!
Someone tells me George Saitoti was seen yesterday at Lunch time with none other than PM Raila Odinga munching steak and ugali at Serena Hotel - this was reported in the papers too. haya!
Did someone swallow a tinga tinga like KANU jogoo did?
It is clear Kalonzo is being elbowed by Saitoti and Karua already even as Kibaki continues using him (Kalonzo) as toilet paper to wipe the big 'ol doggonit.
Let Kalonzo keep making a fool of himself...wiping Kibaki's mess...the same script followed by wakina Nyachae, Kombo, Awori, Mukhisa and other Kibaki sycophants of yesterday.
By the time they came back to voters, they were stinking nasty..and people were running away from them.
If you choose to be Kibaki's snake oil salesman, beware Kenyans pay back on you fast and furious.
I'm also reading today that ODM's Andrew Ligale has been appointed the new boss of the Boundaries Review Commission.
Anyway back to the crucial issue left pending by Marende.
He asked the two principals to consult.
Here is the interesting thing.
That consultation this time can NEVER EVER AGAIN be at a closed door room in Sagana between two individuals called Raila and Kibaki.
This time it will be a broad daylight PNU-ODM consultation through the CMC (Coalition Management Committee)....each and everytime any consultation is required.
Kibaki had better be ready to get busy working and consulting and not just sleeping and eating mutura and slaps at State House.
We shall only deal with Kibaki this time formally - with a pole called CMC.
No more informal agreements to be soon discarded by the perennial conman and thief. This belligerent half incapacitated man has held the country hostage for so long. Ashindwe kabisa!
ODM has already learnt the hard way talking to Kibaki who then orders Muthaura and Kalonzo to contradict the PM. Can the nation go through such nonsense anymore? They have said NO. ENOUGH!
and the PM himself has said so - no more talk with Kibaki informally, only formal consultations through the CMC.
And many things will soon be consulted about. Everything literally will be consulted. This is what Kibaki wanted when he trashed goodwill, let the formal consultations now take root.
I hope Muthaura and Mutua are reading these developments keenly.
It is not business as usual tena.
Haya twende!
I close with these remarks below quoted from a wise unassuming man currently Speaker of Kenya's National Assembly - whom I've previously shared a bite of mbuzi and kanywaji with here in Washington DC.
“An accord was painstakingly negotiated as the country waited with bated breath… these words were uttered before the whole world. Do they mean anything? Do the signatories to them intend them to mean anything?”
Kenneth Otiato Marende
With that I say - adios for now!
I do not mind admitting stuff. I wrote a post but liked this comment from one of our readers much better and it is my conviction that it deserves wider distribution and thus readership. And that is the reason I have upgraded it to a main post. ENJOY!!
-------------------------------
This Speaker is a silent genius. Marende's was more than a parliamentary ruling.
In his hour-long ruling, he adeptly and preemptively made his own interpretation of the constitution vis a vis NARA Accord probably well aware that PNU were soon going to be rushing to courts seeking constitutional interpretation of the same.
Marende's ruling was of superior legal and political quality - very comprehensive and incorporating the realities of the day in Kenya. A classic ruling that has so far received accolades from top constitutional experts besides widespread public support.
Now challenge that!!!!!
This was the greatest move in public relations and advance persuation that I've seen in such a long time in Kenya.
Marende was giving all and sundry his own top notch constitutional interpretation of the very question Kalonzo Musyoka has announced PNU will be rushing to courts to seek an answer.
Marende tayari amelijibu hilo swala.
And in doing so, he has already convinced many that the constitution cannot be read in isolation from NARA. the good 'ol constitution is no more. The days of absolute Imperial Presidency are basically history.
It's an era of consultations and power sharing - at least in the life of this coalition. Marende amesema, waKenya wamekubali.
Marende was thrice clever just for the record and precedent - he has explicitly addressed the question of what happens when there's inconsistency between the constitution and NARA - and that is - NARA supersedes.
People like Michuki and Kalonzo who are blind on NARA need to listen to that wise counsel- all Kalonzo and Michuki see is an imperial presidency which they die to preserve and the old constitution that Kenyans die to reform...these PNU sycophants never see NARA as part of the constitution.
Then few other interesting observations.
Karua has welcomed Marende's ruling and she will be sitting in the HBC. Yaani, she doesn't insist that Kalonzo must be the HBC Chair/LGB. Tells me she doesn't really regard Kalonzo worthy of leading her. Haya! remember the reformers vs anti-reformers debate?
Did anyone read what PNU's Saitoti said? He actually welcomed Marende's ruling! unlike his PNU-mates Kalonzo and few others. Of course Saitoti also bubbled a few other words to the effect that whoever appoints the LGB still needs to be resolved. But at the moment - he's game with Marende, essentially telling Kalonzo to chill out and keep off the HBC Chair/LGB seat.
Aint that some doggonit something!!!!!
Someone tells me George Saitoti was seen yesterday at Lunch time with none other than PM Raila Odinga munching steak and ugali at Serena Hotel - this was reported in the papers too. haya!
Did someone swallow a tinga tinga like KANU jogoo did?
It is clear Kalonzo is being elbowed by Saitoti and Karua already even as Kibaki continues using him (Kalonzo) as toilet paper to wipe the big 'ol doggonit.
Let Kalonzo keep making a fool of himself...wiping Kibaki's mess...the same script followed by wakina Nyachae, Kombo, Awori, Mukhisa and other Kibaki sycophants of yesterday.
By the time they came back to voters, they were stinking nasty..and people were running away from them.
If you choose to be Kibaki's snake oil salesman, beware Kenyans pay back on you fast and furious.
I'm also reading today that ODM's Andrew Ligale has been appointed the new boss of the Boundaries Review Commission.
Anyway back to the crucial issue left pending by Marende.
He asked the two principals to consult.
Here is the interesting thing.
That consultation this time can NEVER EVER AGAIN be at a closed door room in Sagana between two individuals called Raila and Kibaki.
This time it will be a broad daylight PNU-ODM consultation through the CMC (Coalition Management Committee)....each and everytime any consultation is required.
Kibaki had better be ready to get busy working and consulting and not just sleeping and eating mutura and slaps at State House.
We shall only deal with Kibaki this time formally - with a pole called CMC.
No more informal agreements to be soon discarded by the perennial conman and thief. This belligerent half incapacitated man has held the country hostage for so long. Ashindwe kabisa!
ODM has already learnt the hard way talking to Kibaki who then orders Muthaura and Kalonzo to contradict the PM. Can the nation go through such nonsense anymore? They have said NO. ENOUGH!
and the PM himself has said so - no more talk with Kibaki informally, only formal consultations through the CMC.
And many things will soon be consulted about. Everything literally will be consulted. This is what Kibaki wanted when he trashed goodwill, let the formal consultations now take root.
I hope Muthaura and Mutua are reading these developments keenly.
It is not business as usual tena.
Haya twende!
I close with these remarks below quoted from a wise unassuming man currently Speaker of Kenya's National Assembly - whom I've previously shared a bite of mbuzi and kanywaji with here in Washington DC.
“An accord was painstakingly negotiated as the country waited with bated breath… these words were uttered before the whole world. Do they mean anything? Do the signatories to them intend them to mean anything?”
Kenneth Otiato Marende
With that I say - adios for now!
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