Vision 2099: Occupy State House and Bunge

Having learnt first hand from our in-house resident KK economist it is clear that the writing is on the wall: - time has come for Kenyans en masse to become part of the spreading global revolution. You have to hand it to the Arab world and their spring movement for inspiring a worldwide rebellion against economic injustice. True to form the North Americans never fail to miss a beat when it comes to organizing vocal protest groups to vent their frustrations against the imperialist son of Kogelo seated in the WhiteHouse.

Make no mistake: the present worldwide economic meltdown is SOLELY to blame for the economic hardships besotting Kenyans. No single individual in Kenya is wealthy enough to hoard dollars in any commercial bank that can cause an entire economy to devalue its currency. Whining Kenyans have no reason to complain about forfeiting luxury items like sugar and bread. But it is another matter all together when the cost of living touches on the most basic survival staple food UNGA. Matters are only made worse when the teachers and doctors the foundation of any society are forced to take matters into their own hands in the name of seeking commensurate remuneration

Yes the squeeze is undeniably evident amongst wanaNICHI as all sectors of life and economy experience prices shooting through the roof but only self-denial can make anybody divorce Kenyans current predicament from bad governance and LACK OF LEADERSHIP by example and from in front.The economists do not lack necessary credentials it takes to see the economy grow from outside your window but they never fail to miss an opportunity to address issues critical to Kenyans. But before you judge the ruling elite harshly remember they are only playing to the gallery by keeping the country in a permanent election mood with hardly a year left to the next polls.

The voting public must now be ready to hold peaceful elections this very minute and occupy state house for the sake of reigning in economic SHEEPLE. Any other attempts to discuss politics in the face of a financial crisis is mere window dressing as the ruling class have perfected their skills at stealing, misallocating resources all the while snarling at international Kangaroo courts of justice attempts to encroach on our very Kenyan turf. Well sorry we have a mind of our own as Kenyans and will not easily be taken in by western propaganda. NA BADO

Smiling Wako: Face and Lips of Retarded Kenya

He is the wearer of that poisonous smile. Wait a minute, his must be a case of mistaking short lips and long teeth for a permanent grin. Amos Wako is one lawyer who epitomizes everything rotten about Kenya. Perfecting typical Kenyan deception, Wako crafted an impressive CV abroad in the UN circles as a champion of human rights. Well back home, the less said about the longest serving Kenya’s AG the better.

Now Wako has granted fraudulent MPs a lifeline to wax sensitive and patriotic by refusing pay hike for so-called constitutional office bearers. The whole charade leaves you wondering whether anybody holding office unconstitutionally should not be arrested. But again this is Kenya where anything goes.

All that facade about generous pay for constitutional office holders to stop them from corruption temptation is one kite that cannot take flight no matter the intensity of the wind. Look no further, just ask one Aaron Ringera to justify his pay check besides the penchant to serially quote Shakespearean.

In seeking obscene pay rise for judicial officials, Wako has unwittingly handed the scoundrels masquerading as leaders the plastic moral torch which they have seized with glee as a convenient cover for their hitherto selfishness.

Wako is the singular face that captures everything wrong with Kenya. He waxes lyrical and legalistic all loaded with no sensitivity nor relevance to the Kenyan people. And the gatekeepers know him better in partnering with him to defraud us more drawing from his vast expertise in LEGAL FLEECING.

No enemy can be ever as devastating as him who operates from within armed with all the experience to cheat any right cause. It must be the curse of a fake smile.

Which Way Kenya?

Danger Ahead for Kenya: The People To Watch

It is now exactly two months since Kenyans enthusiastically came out in their masses to cast ballots in favour of their preferred political leaders. What should have been a straight forward electoral process has turned out to be our worst nightmare. The general elections have polarised the country ethnically.

After wasting more than 1500 lives and displacing nearly half a million others, the general elections have left many a Kenyan with deep regret as to why they even bothered to vote in the first place and many others are frustrated to the point of vowing never ever to vote again.

Nairobi has now become a global VIP destination with visitors including nobel price winners, presidents, diplomats, peace-makers, etc. The Kenya crisis has also been in the headlines since December. This just goes to say how high the stakes are. Interestingly, few of these high-profile visitors have made it to State House – Mwai Kibaki’s preferred work station. Most have met Kibaki at the official Harambee House offices.

On the other hand, the current political impasse shows just how powerful the so-called old order forces are in this country that claims to have been independent for nearly half a century and that which, as we have always been reminded, is a sovereign state. Threats of visa ban and asset freeze do not seem to be producing any results towards a resolution of the elections impasse.

Whereas the Orange Democratic Movement led by Raila Odinga have made significant concessions in the crisis arising out of the disputed elections, the Party of National Unity led by Mwai KIbaki have made none at all - in terms of acknowledging the concerns of their rivals or even ceding executive powers. Instead, PNU has been changing positions each time they are requested to show commitment on agreed issues and in the process playing deadly political gambling with the very livelihoods of the people of Kenya – all in the name of retaining political power.

Ever since the crisis started, the ODM have played their political cards much better than the PNU. To begin with, PNU forget that this crisis is all about politics and NOT about what the constitutional law says. In any case, everyone is in agreement, it is this very constitution that has led us to this hole we find ourselves in. Secondly, it is clear to all that PNU’s line-up on the mediation table is not what one would call negotiators but ‘defenders’ – no wonder they have failed to reach a compromise! Thirdly, it is PNU that is in control of state instruments and it is them who will ultimately determine whether the crisis will degenerate into anarchy or peace. Perhaps it is this state power that has made PNU become too reckless in its pronouncements and so amateurish in its dealings with people who matter in global affairs.

Whether rightly or wrongly, ODM have managed to depict themselves as the victims and it appears the civil society, the press, the international community and even the majority of the Kenyan population agree that power-sharing as opposed to an MOU-type of arrangement. As a matter of fact, Kofi Annan was taken aback by PNU hardliners who accused him of siding with killers (ODM) something which clearly shocked him and that which prompted him to suspend the Serena talks and opt to engage directly with the principals.

The big question is: After hastily taking oath of office on 30th December, is Mwai Kibaki truly in charge of this country or are there some unseen forces that are actually ruling this country by proxy? Who is holding our leaders hostage? Looking at the history of both ODM and PNU leaders, and the backers they had during their intensive campaign periods; it is easy to tell who between the two is lying in bed with the OLD ORDER and who has been out there advocating for CHANGE. It is also easy to tell who is sweeping historical injustices under the carpet.

Although the country has returned to an uneasy calm in recent weeks, many observers opine that this has only given private militias the opportunity to re-arm because PNU and ODM are unlikely to reach an agreement and therefore matters will have to be sorted out physically.

Sources now say, as a last resort, Kenya’s military is on high alert awaiting orders of deployment to contain civil strife that is sure to follow the failure of Annan’s mediation mission. A strong pointer to this was the unusual attendance of the Chief of General Staff, General Kianga, at yesterday’s meeting between Kibaki together with his PNU team and Kofi Annan with his eminent persons team. In other words, Gen. Kianga was part of the PNU team that met with Kofi Annan who is on a AU sanctioned mission to Kenya.

Related:

Kibaki's Game Plane: Is a Major Purge Ahead?

Selective Justice: Stolen Elections and Visa Bans

When the US government announced that it had slapped a visa ban on a group of 50 Kenyans suspected to have instigated post-election violence, it also effectively turned 10% of Kenya’s national assembly into ‘genocide suspects’. It will be a big shame and embarrassing to these foreign governments if no arrests are made soon.

Government spin-doctor Alfred Mutua could not hide his glee and has already posted a statement at his official website ‘welcoming’ this visa ban. Mutua went as far as urging the US and Canadian governments to name these suspects so as end speculation. In his excitement, Mutua went further to encourage other global powers to emulate the USA and Canada.

It seems Mutua is making an assumption that the action by US and Canadian embassies hurts the ODM more than the government. Mutua conveniently forgets that nearly all vernacular FM stations are pro-government and as well as the PNU pre-election rallies were the main channels of hate speech that, other than the stolen presidential vote, have been the single most contributor of the sad state of affaris in Kenya right now!

However, speaking at Hon. David Too’s memorial church service earlier today, ODM supremo Raila Odinga said: “The only crime ODM has committed was to win a general election”.

Not to be left behind, the Kenya Police Commissioner has also enticed the public with monetary rewards if they could come forward with information that will lead to the arrest and successful prosecution of the instigators of post election violence. One wonders if TV footage that captured young men armed with crude weapons attacking their neighbours right in front of the eyes of Ali’s police officers were Tom & Jerry cartoon shows.

Why should our ‘duly elected’ government and police who retain the power to investigate, arrest and prosecute the so-called suspects sit on their laurels and wait for foreign governments to mete out punishment to these criminals?

Observers find it strange that those who are suspected of having instigated 1992 and 1997 tribal clashes that killed an estimated 3000 people and displaced nearly a million are roaming freely while also dining and wining with Kenya's spoilt cabinet ministers. These are the same characters who have milked the public coffers dry through Goldenberg and Anglo leasing scams!

Is it not government-sponsored Mungiki adherents who beheaded tens civilians including children just a few months ago? No one has ever been charged with these heinous crimes to this day. The fact of the matter is that the (former?) Mungiki National Chairman is an avowed political supporter of the PNU side! Mungiki itself has claimed responsibility of killing an MP and they stand accused of murdering tens of civilians in Nakuru and Naivasha areas. Individuals who should otherwise be locked inside a maximum security prison are now privileged to grace PNU high tables at presidential functions and lead demonstrations in down-town Nairobi in support of an illegitimate government!

It is certainly not lost on observers that the culprits of ethnic clashes are strongly against ODM lawfully assuming power and are firmly on the side of PNU government! This is not to say that those responsible for instigating the current clashes (if at all they did) should be let scot-free!

Infact, it seems justice is going to be selectively applied because it has already been forgotten there exists a group known as Sabaot Land Defense Force and those who they have been killing in Mt. Elgon are not human beings and their case does not deserve to be discussed at the UN Security Council. Even as the mediation efforts go on, people are dying in Mt. Elgon without anyone raising a finger!

The so-called ethnic cleansing is an agenda that PNU are pushing forward so as to sabotage the Annan peace process and divert the attention of the international community from their own serious crime of stealing an election and killing innocent MPs.

This is a serious issue that requires to be analysed and resolved from a historical, social, political and economic point of view. Perhaps if PNU would pay attention to what Njoki Ndungu had to submit to the US congress then we could begin to move forward as a united and peaceful nation.

Kenya Will Never Be The Same Again, Never

First things first. You don't have to be a doomsayer to see the deep hole Kenya has plunged herself into thanks to our politics. The hitherto island of peace in a sea of chaos has been shattered into smithereens. The fragile peace that defined the geographical accident called Kenya has been exposed for what it truly was.

The last general elections has left in its wake a disturbing face of Kenya and Kenyans. Even Kumekucha has been subjected to unprecedented volumes of traffic courtesy of raised political heat. The only minus to all this marvelous development is the heat generated to replace the shunned light.

Trust Kenyans to shamelessly see and smell evil even among saints. The SOUR taste that the flawed elections left is conveniently swept under the carpet with hollow justification of 'LET US MOVE ON'. What an obtuse escapism? Well, the latent message of glossing over outright theft deserves no gainsaying.

Ultimate national price
One thing is for sure: KENYA WILL NEVER BE THE SAME AGAIN, NEVER. The reverse bigotry dressed in the gab of raw rage and empty justification for status quo are smart sideshows that will only help in postponing the Armageddon.

This is not to be sensational nor insensitive. A time comes when mouthing the mantra ENOUGH IS ENOUGH only comes out in jest as we inadvertently leave mother nature to take her nasty cause with all the attendant grim consequences.

Please apologists, spare me lectures of pursuing the wider good. No trace of good is ever derived from a dishonest premise. We have seen it before here at Kumekucha. We were warned (and hence armed) that Major (Rtd) Waweru was an ex-logistic officer on a mission that came to pass.

Kumekucha blog has recorded historic hits in the last two weeks. You don't need to be a NASA scientist to discern the laced vitriol. The daggers are all drawn and their blades weilded menacingly ready to kiss our throats. The hollow justification is to rubbish all the gains and positives from 'unwanted/desirable' quarters.

Slavery and tribal chiefs
Kenyans are a unique political breed. Apologists hide under pseudo facts that are nothing but rebranded stereotypes. Genocide and Rwanda have never been abused. Enjoy the warmth of the liquid you are swimming in provided it is not made up of the contents expelled from your guts.

The unpleasant truth remains the fact that we Kenyans have been transformed into collective pawns in the political game among our respective tribal elites. Another ugly truth is that these same tribal chiefs are held hostages to vested interest of close advisers and hundreds of influential individuals fighting over the spoils of State. We the hollo polloi have no stake in this high-octane charade.

No viable solution lies in any of the cheap condemnation of one another that is often driven by enlightened self-interest. My heart bleeds for Kenya. No amount of brinkmanship and grandstanding can save us from the present political embers. Our predicament is founded on deception and contempt built of collective prejudice albeit clothed as wider good.

After Charles Taylor, Mwai Kibaki Next?

The trial of former Liberian President Charles Ghankay Taylor in The Hague marks another milestone in the international democratization process and respect of human rights especially in the third world countries of Africa. One certainly hopes that Kenyan leaders are following events at the Hague!

Ex-President Taylor faces 11 charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. He is accused of funding Sierra Leone's former rebels, the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) by selling diamonds on their behalf and buying weapons for them. RUF fighters were notorious for hacking off the arms and legs of the civilian population with machetes, as well as killing, raping and robbing them.

Charles Taylor, born 59 year ago, is the first African leader to face a criminal trial internationally and is charged with having command responsibility for the rebels' atrocities. He has pleaded not guilty.

It would seem obvious to the world that Taylor will not be the last ex-African president to face similar charges.

If what Kenyan civilians are experiencing in Nyanza, Western, Nairobi, Rift Valley and Coast Provinces, then it would not be too far-fetched to imagine Mwai Kibaki in a similar ICC trial facing charges that would make RUF crimes look like child's play.

The Kenya Red Cross and the Kenya Human Rights Commission, the Nairobi Womens Hospital have all been reporting horrendous cases of police executions, gang rape of women and children, burning of buildings with people locked inside, machete hacking of unarmed civilians. Incidentally, a majority of these crimes against humanity are undoubtedly committed by police and paramilitary forces. Mwai Kibaki, through his Internal Security minister, has the sole command responsibility for the atrocities by the security forces.



These images, captured by an AP photographer shows harmless babies and other dead bodies of civilians in a Kenyan morgue last week. The other shows a group of armed police assaulting an unarmed civilian during the riots.

Interestingly, it remains the sole responsibility of the government of Kenya to investigate, arrest and institute charges against any other person who is found guilty of having committed any crimes against humanity, something they have completely failed to do, instead only selectively arresting disenfranchised ODM demonstrators on flimsy charges like arson, unlawful assembly, robbery with violence, etc etc. How dreadful considering the more than 1000 people dead and still counting.

It has not been lost to observers that residents of Mt. Elgon, Kuresoi, Molo and even in Mathare slums of Nairobi have not known peace for the entire period of Kibaki's first term and before ODM came into existence. Cases of beheadings and armed raiders were all too common in the Kenyan press for the period 2003-2007, culminating into a damning report by the KNCHR to the effect that up to 8000 civilians - mainly from Central Province - were killed by police in the year 2007 alone!

Meanwhile, this blogger is encouraged by President Kibaki's visit to Burnt Forest yesterday. The president and his entourage were escorted by more than eight land rovers full of armed GSU paramilitary personnel whom the residents have accused of harming them. One also hopes that those other Kenyan refugees camping at Jamhuri Park, Kisumu Airport and Malaba on Uganda side will not be forgotten during these presidential tours.

Breaking News: First Lady Attacks MC at State Function

This afternoon shocking news is emanating from State House Nairobi that first Lady Lucy Kibaki assaulted the Master of Ceremony at presidential award ceremony held at State House Gardens after the State Luncheon following the Jamhuri Day celebrations at Nyayo Stadium.

Helpless dignitaries sitting at the presidential dais were shocked by the actions of the First Lady who slapped the MC several times and calmly walked back to her seat infront of dignitaries, school children and press cameras. She was apparently reacting to a misrepresentation by the MC who referred to her as the Honourable Mrs Lucy 'Wambui', an obviously regrettable slip of the tongue. President Kibaki did not move from his seat and the function was said to have proceeded after the MC was led away by security agents. Infact the President and a smiling First Lady were shown on prime news making the traditional lap of honour within the state house gardens immediately after the function.

Nation Media, which was reportedly the only independent media group at the function, had their camera man summoned to a private room within the state house grounds and the footage of the incident erased from the tapes in their presence. Still photos were also reportedly destroyed.

This is not the first time reports of personalities being slapped at state house. Exactly a month ago, on 12th November 2007, this blogger had posted a story on an alleged assault within state house precincts.

This blogger will attempt to get more information (read footage) of this unfortunate incident and report back as the story develops.

The 3 Opiums Of Kenyan Voters

Tribalism. Corruption. Short-term memory. These are the three opium’s we must exhale out of our body system before you go vote on the 27^th

No time for preaching sermons here. It is better to greet an angry mother bear unjustly robbed of her new cubs than to extend the friendly hand of warm welcome to a Kenyan doped up on tribalism opium-is this the worst type of Kenyan there is?The jury is still out. Definition of a tribalist is also known as home-grown terrorist

Like a bad toothache that just won’t go away, corruption opium has refused to give Justice Ringera reason to show us the back of his post-molars in genuine laughter. Hear the Kenyan doped up on corruption speak “nobody can remove corruption from Kenya.” This monster slayed all three Presidents Kenyatta, Moi and Kibaki. Whoever dares this ogre will be Kenya’s hero forever

Short-term memory loss. We remember what we ate for breakfast yesterday but can’t remember why we got independence 44 years ago. Then we let dishonourables walk right back into Parliament so we can complain in Kumekucha for another 5 years

Now you know-beware, smoking opium maybe harmful to health and kill

Stop Press, Avoid HIV/AIDS

The heightening political heat may have obscured an important day in our calender. Tomorrow is world's AIDS day dedicated by the UN to reflect on the impacts of this scourge on both the affected and infected.

HIV and AIDS probably remain the most misunderstood human conditions despite being with us for more than three decades. The stigma and trivialization of this crave danger to mankind cannot be gainsaid.

But in the din of all this dark cloud lies a silver lining. Knowledge can help emancipate ourselves from social and emotional bondage occasioned by AIDS. The hard facts must be faced squared in effort to curb this menace. Almost every Kenyan knows about the dangers and facts about AIDS. We all sing about behavioural change except our efforts often end at the parroting.

We must seize our own destiny in our hands and measure up to the challenge of fighting AIDS lest we be condemned as the lost generation that yapped and yapped some more with no tangible effort to stop an epidemic taking residence amidst us.

Cultural slavery
Kenyans must not remain slaves to cultures laced with death. This is not to uncritically demonise any culture instead we must be alive to the fact that culture is dynamic and you only hide behind a retrogressive culture at the peril of going extinct. This is no excuse to shout demeaning and stereotypical thinking about any traditional practices.

There is more to cultural dynamism than simply being the opposite of static. We must embrace any practice that can help minimize our demise without subtracting any substantive facets of our existence and tradition. For example circumcision among heterosexual men for example is now known to significantly reduce AIDS prevalence.

None other than the respected Lancet medical journal reported in February 2007 findings of three major trials conducted in Kenya, South Africa and Uganda which indicated that circumcision can significantly reduce men's chances of contracting the virus that causes AIDS.

It is medically proven that the fragile tissue on the inside of the foreskin is vulnerable to minor tears or abrasions during sex. It is through these tears that HIV can get into the blood. If not for anything the practice promotes human hygiene.

Athletic around the waist
Make no mistake. This is no fodder for ethnic purists who will predictable and uncritically steal the sails and cloth this scientific fact in their bigotry gab and run with it. AIDS is real and it has nothing to do with tribes but EVERYTHING to do with our individual behaviors.

For the infected and affected they all need us. HIV/AIDS is no longer the death sentence it used to be. Know your status, count your blessings, stay and live positively.

We must collectively fight this monster. Because even circumcision does not provide immunity to the AIDS virus. the era of emotional machoism is long gone and the present world has no room for plural marriages nor partners.

Be athletic with your waist if you must. But also be aware that in so doing you are unwittingly and terminally signing your death warrant in golden letters. No amount of preaching can save us from this hell. Abstinence is easier preached than practiced.

Circumcision may offers only partial protection but the small reduction in risk of infection may be the demarcation between life and death. If you must indulge then use condoms and avoid multiple sexual partners. There are no two ways about it, no ifs no buts.

Kenya's Legal Killing Fields

Oscar Foundation Free Legal Aid Clinic-Kenya has confronted the Government with researched and gory detail on the massacre of 8040 Kenyans during the operation to wipe out Mungiki. And to make matters worse, the group adds that a further 4,070 people had gone missing as security forces tried to wipe out the Mungiki sect.

Whatever the case, killing that many Kenyans for whatever reason is a massacre by any other name. And given the explosive emotions accompanying such events one can safely bet that our Government is deluding herself in bottling a time bomb waiting to explode.

No form of extrajudicial killing is warranted in any civilized society. The Mungiki menace is one thing fertilized by our scoundrel es for politicians. Add to this the fuel of corruption in the police force and inept judicial system then you get a lethal recipe for chaos.

The next 3+ weeks will see the demand of these gangs skyrocket as politician seek to sort their opponents out. And such is the unwitting watering of the cancer that will outgrow its funders and take us hostage to their murderous ways thereafter. Speak of sharpening the spear only to end up having its nice sharp blades kissing your skull. Are we steadily grinding into a country at war with itself?