Kenyan Gold Rush in Beijing!

Kenyan runners have won two more gold medals at the Beijing Olympics in the mens 800 meters and women's 1500 meters.

It all started with Wilfred Bungei winning the men's 800 meters in a race in which Sudan's Ismail Ahmed Ismail of Sudan came second followed by Alfred Yego of Kenya who got the bronze.

A few minutes later Nancy Jebet Langat of Kenya won the women's 1500 meters in what is being reported as an upset.

More later. Enjoy the photos

Wilfred Bungei of Kenya (2246) crosses the finish line first to win the men's 800m final of the athletics competition in the National Stadium at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 23, 2008. The other competitors are Nabil Madi of Algeria (1007), Alfred Kirwa Yego of Kenya (2251), who finished third, Gary Reed of Canada (1295), Ismail Ahmed Ismail of Sudan (2914), who finished second, Yeimer Lopez of Cuba (partially obscured), Nadjim Manseur of Algeria (1008) and Yusuf Saad Kamel of Bahrain.

Gold medallist Wilfred Bungei of Kenya and bronze medallist Alfred Kirwa Yego of Kenya celebrate after competing in the men's 800m final of the athletics competition in the National Stadium at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 23, 2008.

Men's 800m winner Wilfred Bungei of Kenya (L) celebrates with compatriot Alfred Kirwa Yego, classified in second position, after the final of the athletics competition in the National Stadium at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 23, 2008.

Kenya's Nancy Jebel Langat crosses the finish line to win the gold in the women's 1500-meter final during the athletics competitions in the National Stadium at the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Saturday, Aug. 23, 2008.


Kenya's Nancy Jebel Langat, right, crosses the finish line to win the gold in the women's 1500-meter final during the athletics competitions in the National Stadium at the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Saturday, Aug. 23, 2008.

Read BBC Reports Here:

Bungei battles hard to 800m glory

Langat takes 1500m gold for Kenya

UPDATE FROM BEIJING

Ethiopia's Kenenisa Bekele has survived a strong Kenyan challenge to win gold in the men's 5000 meters where Kenyan's Eliud Kipchoge and Edwin Cheruiyot Soi won the silver and bronze respectively.

This is now shaping up to be the best performance by Kenya at any Olympic games where the country is presently ranked at position 16 overall with a total of 13 medals; 4 gold, 5 silver and 4 bronze.

Kumekucha Weekend Special: Who Is Afraid Of John Githongo?

Former ethics PS jetted into the country just last Tuesday night. And yet just too much has happened behind the scenes and in the open since then to suggest that as predicted various characters right across the political divide are extremely jittery.

The latest move is that disgraced former powerful internal security minister Chris Murungaru has desperately been trying to serve Githongo court summons for defamation through his lawyers. This is an old suit first filed in 2006 which failed to go anywhere because all attempts to serve Githongo have always failed.

But what is the fuss all about? After all if the massive anti-Githongo campaign that is going on all over the web right now (that is keeping some people extremely busy) were to be believed then Githongo is a non-entity who should not attract the kind of attention that he has attracted so far. And as we have been reminded countless times, he was not even the real whistle blower of the Anglo Leasing scandal and such credit has to go elsewhere. Maoka Maere, is the one who credit must go to for that, some people are saying.

So why should John Githongo ruffle so many feathers right across the political divide? Why is it that some individuals are burning the midnight oil to get as much so-called Githongo dirt onto the web and mainstream media as possible? Why is it that the 2012 presidential campaign which had swung into full gear has suddenly gone quiet? Why is it that even those within ODM are uncomfortable? What is the problem?

The crux of the problem is that although Mr Githongo has not made any indication that he is interested in politics and participating in the 2012 general elections in any way, all in the political class view him as a serious threat to their political ambitions. You see as much as Kenyans dislike the political class for what they are, one thing they are not is stupid. They have correctly read the mood of the electorate. Kenyans are sick and tired of corruption and they are determined to elect a clean government and clearly that is topmost on their minds and will be the undisputed number one agenda in the forthcoming general elections.

Now whatever anybody says about John Githongo, he is the only Kenyan (and I am deeply ashamed as a Kenyan to say this) who has said no to tempting corruption money at the highest level. I would like to believe that there are others who have done the same, but Githongo’s case stands out. A friend reminded me two days ago about what Kiraitu Murungi represented in the 1990s. The lawyer was a firebrand second liberation campaigner. However when he got close to the cookie jar we all know what happened. Martha Karua also has admirable credentials in the fight for the second liberation however we all know the key role she played in the presidential elections mess of last year. My friend emphasized that they have given up on Kenya and that ushering in a new generation of younger leaders will not make any difference.

There is no doubt that many long suffering Kenyans feel exactly the same and they are probably right in throwing in the towel.

However Githongo represents the only exception thus far and is surely a ray of hope. His name has come to mean integrity tried and tested. And those who have been out to tarnish his name have clearly been grasping at straws digging back to his schooldays and planting all sorts of nonsense and untruths amongst the facts (the classic method of spreading propaganda). The bare facts are simple. Githongo was there and he had a chance to simply look the other way and he would never have had to worry about money again in his life. But he chose to say NO. No other Kenyan has those credentials to date, at least not at the national level.

This blog has earned a reputation for being a great Githongo admirer and indeed this writer may look like a seer seeing many years ahead. However I have no time to gloat. I love my country and we must change direction and change direction now. The change we seek is bigger than Githongo or any other individual. However fate and destiny have thrust this Kenyan in a position where he must help to take the lead to a new Kenya. I am persuaded that he is up to it.

Expect high drama like never before over the next few days.

Kenyatta’s Legacy Examined 30 Years After

Kenyans have just marked 30 years since the death of our nation’s founding president Jomo Kenyatta. With a whole generation gone by since his death, what can be branded as the legacy of Uhuru’s dad? Well, Kenyatta’s legacy (or lack thereof) will be obviously viewed with the present partisan lenses.

To his admirers he founded a nation and premised her prosperity on fighting poverty disease and ignorance. Whether he made efforts to deliver on these pillars is a different matter subject to personal judgement. Some of Jomo’s disciples even go further to see a re-incarnation of his ‘prosperous’ reign in the present regime.

Enter Johnstone Kamau’s detractors and all they see in the late president is the planter of the seed of IMPUNITY and FRAUD whose long term effects continue to tear the Kenyan fabric apart. Such people will readily blame Kenyatta for the present land mess owing to his failure to comprehensively address the emotive and cultural issue which was the cause of struggle for independence in the first place. While at it they will bandy criminal statistics that the Kenyatta family own land equivalent to a province thanks to Jomo’s insatiable appetite to grab what he used to fondly refer to as SHAMBA YENYE ROTUBA NYINGI.

So what is the true legacy of Kenya’s founding president who many adore and idolize with his body interred at the heart of the city while others see as synonymous with DECEPTION and FRAUD. Well, there may be no one single answer to that same question as raises more questions than answers. But one thing can be said for certain: Kenyatta RULED and reigned in his twilight years that may have denied Kenya the benefit of a dynamic leader capable of formulating a roadmap to found a nation.

Deceptive legacy
Bishop David Kamau’s sermon commemorating Kenyatta’s death leaves one wondering aloud to whom his message was directed. Urging our politicians to unite Kenyans may be akin to playing a sonorous tune to a goat who cannot appreciate the same. Trust fractious Kenya to subjectively interpret the message of carrying on the dreams of the founding father of the nation by ensuring all Kenyans were served equally.

Bishop Kamau reminded the congregation of Kenyatta’s vision for a united Kenya, free from poverty, tribalism and discrimination. He added that we should make a new commitment that we will lead a country free of corruption, poverty, hunger and favouritism. Well, maybe the late Jomo stood for all these grandiose values or the good man of God was just being good to the dead as is the African/human tradition and trend. At the risk of being seen to be flogging the dead, the jury is still out and only time will tell.

Kibaki is not Mugabe, So Tsvangirai Move on

Zimbabwe’s opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai may have meant well calling on Kenya to seek first hand experience in Grand Coalition Government negotiations and formation. However, the MDC leader would be better advised that the dynamics in the two countries are very different. The similarities and differences almost balance each other albeit on grand different premises.

For starters, Tsvangirai must accept the fact that Mugabe exhibited utmost civility in ALLOWING win the first round of Zimbabwe election in March. But he must not have been naive to imagine that Bob would just sit back and wish him well like that with so much at stake. Mugabe only did the most logical thing in bettering Kibaki’s script by mating MAXIMUM and unrestrained IMPUNITY that automatically pushed poor out of the run off in June.

You see Kibaki is not Mugabe. Here in Kenya we tally votes in advance and swear in pronto unlike coward Bob who made history with his patience by counting votes for a whole month. Poor Tsvangirai also appears ignorant to the fact that Mbeki is not Annan save for the striking physical resemblance. He lost the plot by playing by the rules which allowed Mugabe to assume the reigns of power and hence negotiate from unequal premise. But again may be MDC would have better imported ODM gang if only for Zanu-PF’s bludgeoning.

Grand impunity perfected
That said, similarities galore between the Zimbabwe and Kenya political predicaments. Already Mugabe is destined to convene parliament in breach of SADC’s MOU. That must make our rush to name half the cabinet familiar. Add that to the fact that Arthur Mutambara of the breakaway MDC is waiting on the wings salivating to fill the void should Morgan continue to play hard ball. And for the records Simba Makoni is still around for Bob's attention.

Poor Tsvangirai is in very unenviable position. He is sandwiched between the political hell and the dark blue sea. He must be alive to the fact that the executive power he is demanding remains a very emotive and hot issue even in our six-month old GCG. Meanwhile Bob must be laughing all the way to Grace’s belly secure in the knowledge that he is in good company within our continent. Surely we are mere tenants on these geographical entities we can our countries. Our countries have their owners lest we forget.

PNU Now Walking Same Doomed Path KANU Walked in 2002

Uhuru handed PNU ticket as Kalonzo retreats to ODM-K!

In 2002 KANU was a powerful political machine but the disgraceful management of the Moi succession ended its 40 year grip on power. We are now in 2008, KANU is virtually dead and signs are that we shall be going to an all important constitutional referendum in 2009 and possibly a general election shortly thereafter followed by Kibaki’s retirement.

Recent reports indicate that the PNU succession structure has been finalized and not so surprisingly, the so called president’s principal assistant, Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka has been upstaged by KANU Chairman Uhuru Kenyatta as the preferred torch bearer of post Kibaki PNU. Not totally unexpected, but ever since Kalonzo was persuaded to pressure the ECK into announcing controversial presidential results on the premise that he would be given the Vice President’s docket plus several cabinet positions for his party ODM-K, he has fallen over himself wooing the GEMA voters. He has visited Central and Upper Eastern provinces at any given opportunity in the mistaken belief that the rich GEMA vote basket would be his for the taking following Kibaki’s retirement. It brings back memories of 2007 when Kalonzo persistently and unsuccessfully attempt to court the Rift Valley vote through the AIC church.

The last time I checked, Kalonzo was playing amateurish politics assembling Dubai bound councillors and telling that he had no qualms with them undertaking the Harun Mwau sponsored trip as if he has any powers to stop them in the first place. Kalonzo further assured councillors that ODM-K would sponsor a motion in parliament proposing a salary raise for civic leaders, forgetting that only a few months ago, millions of Kenyan workers were denied their annual salary increase during Labour Day celebrations by none other than President Kibaki! Many political observers believe Kalonzo and Uhuru’s moves to dissolve ODM-K and KANU is being driven the fear that these two parties cannot pass the acid test that is the Political Parties Act 2007 The two politicians have been singing the unity song since the formation of the grand coalition.

Now it emerges that the blessed PNU succession line-up features Uhuru as 1st Vice Chairman (read presidential torch bearer), a very reluctant Moses Wetangula as 2nd Vice Chairman (read running mate – words that have no meaning in Kenya’s volatile politics), Mutula Kilonzo as Secretary General and George Nyamweya as Organizing Secretary. The Treasurers position is being reserved for rebels and all of the top PNU positions are to have two deputies.

With a retirement bound Kibaki being given the Chairman’s post, Kalonzo’s name had initially been proposed for the high sounding Deputy Party Leader post, but events on the ground became too hot forcing PNU to abandon the Party Leader post and in the process left Kalonzo without any significant party position. Clearly, the PNU structure has been crafted with Kibaki succession / general elections in mind and with the political parties act hovering above their heads, there is no other option but to call for the dreaded grassroot elections.

Interestingly, the PNU top line-up does not feature FORD-K, FORD-P, SHIRIKISHO, SAFINA or any of the other numerous parties that supported Kibaki’s bid for the presidency in 2007.

To complicate the PNU succession equation even further, KANU ‘owners’ led by ex-President Moi have disowned Uhuru’s move to dissolve the independence party by flatly refusing to join the PNU bandwagon.

Even more significantly, Mzee Moi is said to have finally accepted that Agriculture minister and ODM pentagon member William Ruto is now politically superior to himself and his favourite son Gideon Moi in so far as Rift Valley is concerned. In other words, Moi is using the elders to send an olive branch to the ODM, especially Raila Odinga who many observers opine will be the man to beat in the next general elections.

Mzee Moi is keen on rehabilitating his son Gideon back into the national political platform through KANU, a party that has been lying on its death bed since the December 2007 general elections. Given Moi’s strong emotional attachment to KANU, rather than have the independence party dissolved like Chairman Uhuru Kenyatta appears to have decided, the senior Moi recently invited Kalenjin elders to his palatial Kabarak home to apologise for his mistakes in 2002 (read backing Uhuru) and 2007 (read backing Kibaki).

In the meantime, George Saitoti and Martha Karua are watching events in PNU with a keen eye. Saitoti is planning to use his massive wealth to sponsor candidates in the PNU grassroots polls so as to have an upper hand when the PNU National Delegates Congress is called to choose national officials and the party torch bearer. Saitoti is banking on Kibaki to endorse him as successor due to their closeness and also by virtue of being the senior most of all PNU presidential contenders.

Martha Karua, whose popularity in Central Province is worrying Uhuru Kenyatta, has declared that her interest for the presidency is real and that NARC-K will not be dissolved for the sake of PNU unity. Karua’s chances of mounting a serious presidential bid is largely influenced by her long time association with the civil society and if James Orengo’s experience is anything to go by, then Karua will be in for the shock of her life when election results are announced. As it is, she lacks the prerequisite resources in terms of finance and the vital grassroot representation at the district and locational levels. Her defence of ECK and PNU earlier in the year makes her an instant enemy in most parts of Kenya and she would require to shelter under the massive political umbrella of Raila Odinga’s ODM to be gradually accepted nationally.

The game is on, will PNU survive or will it go the KANU way?

Unmasking Githongo's Blunt Warning on Growth Weaned on Corruption

Judging from the confidence and the salvos he fired during his first press conference, John Githongo appears to be privy to some form of protection we don’t know. Given the fact that the powerful political elite he brought down as still alive and with their connections intact, the former PS cannot afford the luxury of being naive to expose himself to these sharks who will not waste a second to wring his neck literally.

Granted, Githongo is many things to many people. To many he epitomizes selflessness judging from his readiness to bell the marauding big wild cats roaming our political lives. The guy is no typical Kenyan will readily turn the other way provided his comfort is guaranteed and the pocket taken care of. And to his detractors he is just but a simple headline seeker blowing his trumpet from the hilltops. Whatever you take, give it to the chap for the extraordinary courage to look at scoundrels right into the eye and calling their bluff. Kenya’s political landscape is still reverberating from his actions to stand for the truth more than 1000 days ago.

Without mincing words, Githongo has busted the myth that corruption does not really matter so long as the economy was growing. With DECEPTION and FRAUD as unique factors defining our political leadership, Githongo’s twinning of corruption and poor governance is going to generate predictable political heat. The script is so predictable so much so that in a matter of days the heat will be chocking the GCG. And there lies the political catch too.

Hunting dragon corruption
In his press release last week, Githongo initially indicated he was on a brief visit home as a KNHRC guest speaker. Now that has changed and JG has hinted he is here to stay for the long haul to continue doing what he knows best from within-hunting the corruption DRAGON. Come to think of it. The advertisements of senior positions at the PM’s office a few weeks back may not be mere coincidence.

It demands no fertile imagination to picture the political fireworks ahead were the present developments to prove more than a coincidence. Only time will tell but one thing is for sure; the political landscape is destined for vigorous tremors. What next then? Your guess is as good as mine on political grand scheming. Something is definitely cooking and soon the guns will be out blazing. Keep your eyes WIDE open.

8 Million Dollar Corrupt China Guns Deal

It appears that our extremely expensive grand coalition government is shaping up to also be a government of grand corruption even as we witness a 10^th parliament that is proving to be the most effective watch dog the country has ever had in its’ parliamentary history.

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See also: Ingenious way to sell that lifted small business to big success

Relationships: Romance without finance?

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Kumekucha has unearthed a fascinating deal that seems to be unfolding at the moment involving the department of defense.

The government of Kenya needs to import 10,000 rifles for the department of defense. The US government has offered the required rifles for free but in circumstances still shrouded by mystery the government seems to be already taking steps to purchase the said rifles from China at a cost $800 per unit. Incidentally the rifles being purchased are relatively new in the market. This is in sharp contrast to the American rifles which are not only being offered for free, but we are talking about the tried and tested M16 assault weapon which was severely tested in the jungles of Vietnam against the renowned AK-47s that were being used against them in that horrible war. The M16 has over the years been modified and improved to the standard where it can measure up against the very best. Little wonder that the military chiefs have advised that they prefer this particular weapon and have said that this is what should be purchased. It seems that they are unaware of the free offer.

The Chinese Norinco QBZ

However the government seems to have turned down the free offer and has instead opted to purchase those 10,000 rifles from China at a cost of $800 per unit. The rifles from China are the Norinco QBZ-97. This the export version of the brand new Chinese QBZ-95 regulation rifle. Which means that it is yet to be tried and tested.

However the news gets worse. The real cost for each rifle is $500. But the Kenya government is paying $800 per rifle.

One loophole that has consistently been used to fleece money off the public over the years is this excuse about defense and security related purchases being too sensitive for any close scrutiny. Accordingly the names that end up being involved with such deals are always extremely high profile. The names behind this China rifle deal are no exception.

Kenya Wins Two Olympic Gold Medals

Kenya’s athletes have this afternoon set the Olympic athletic stadium in Beijing alight by winning two gold medals, one silver and one bronze.

First it was Brimin Kiprop Kipruto who won the men’s 3000 meters steeple-chase event while Richard Mateelong of Kenya grabbed the bronze after failing to catch-up with Frenchman Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad who won the silver.

Olympic champion in Athens four years ago Ezekiel Kemboi faded to finish in seventh place.

A few moments later, the ‘Nandi Express’ Pamela Jelimo led her compatriot ‘Eldoret Express’ Janeth Jepkosgei Busienei in a one-two finish of the women’s 800 meters final winning the gold and silver medals respectively.

Kenya has won seven straight medals in the men's 3,000-meters steeple chase since the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, while this is the first time Kenyans are participating in the women’s 800 metres event final.

The win catapults Kenya to the highest ranking African nation position 17th on the medals standings with a total of seven medals two gold, three silver and two bronze.

Kenya's Brimin Kiprop Kipruto celebrates after winning the men's 3000-meter steeplechase final during the athletics competitions in the National Stadium at the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

Kenya's gold medalist Brimin Kiprop Kipruto, left, silver medal winner Richard Kipkemboi Mateelong, right, and Ezekiel Kemboi run with Kenya's national flag after the men's 3000-meter steeplechase final in the National Stadium at the Beijing 2008

Kenya's Pamela Jelimo celebrates winning the gold in the women's 800-meter final during the athletics competitions in the National Stadium at the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

Second-placed Janeth Jepkosgei Busienei (L) of Kenya celebrates with team-mate and winner Pamela Jelimo after their women's 800m final of the athletics competition in the National Stadium at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 18, 2008.

To Cut Or Not To Cut, That Is The Question

AIDS. AIDS. AIDS.

We don't think about this scourge very much anymore because it's been with us for years, right? But for nearly thirty years the world's leading scientists have struggled to come up with a cure or a form of antidote that would slow down its devastating symptoms. The good news is, there has been a measure of success on the latter front. In most developed nations, AIDS is no longer an automatic kiss of death. In swaths of Africa, however, the march has been slower.

Yesterday I watched as Prime Minister, Raila Odinga, called upon the nation to embrace the cut. I have to assume his comments were directed at a certain group of people from the Lake Victoria region who still flee when they are confronted with the possibility of a knife kissing the tip of their.......fill in the blank. What was striking about his comments was the fact that he called for an act that was a radical departure from years of cultural practice. Was the Prime Minister saying that the scourge has been so devastating that a fundamental rethink of culture is called for? Was he bravely stating that radically new approaches needed to be part of the overall effort to combat the continuing scorched-earth effects of AIDS?

I come to this matter with the humility of a man who realizes that thousands of Kenyans have lost their lives, and many others, like me, have lost relatives and friends to this debilitating disease. Because of the horrendous effects of AIDS, and the impact it has on the nation's vibrancy, I agree with the Prime Minister that whatever can be done must be done to slow down this disease. We must also thank the hundreds of NGOs, churches, government entities and private citizens who have worked tirelessly to slow down the determined encroachment of this scourge.

But you'll have noticed that the Prime Minister went out in broad strokes. He said let's do the cut. I agree with him. But who should do the cut? The kids in standard one? Form One? College freshmen? Should a husband do it? How about a priest?

And by the way, do all Kenyan communities do the cut except those people from the lake who run away at the sight of a knife? In case you didn't know it, the Luos had their own form of a cut, only it took the six lower teeth of our forefathers. It was a measure put in place to fight what was called lockjaw disease. The premise was simple. If one was inflicted with the disease and their jaws locked, they could still be fed through that hole created by pulling down the six teeth. Wasn't that smart? That was Luo ingenuity.

So why did certain communities cut the foreskin?

Fellow countrymen, what the Prime Minister called on Kenyans to do must be seen in the context of his willingness to be pragmatic about the issues facing Kenya. New approaches must be embraced in order to fight diseases and other ills. Where tradition and culture stands in the way of saving lives and moving the nation forward, those traditions must be discarded for the good of everyone.

Lastly, I hope we are all smart enough today to ask the person we plan to marry to take a test. Don't walk that man or woman down the aisle until he/she slaps a medical record on the table that clears him/her of the disease. And for those who are in relationships, there is only one sure way to keep safe...integrity. Respect yourself enough to wait until you are married to take that beautiful woman/handsome man to bed. Is that easy to do? No, but you have years of togetherness after getting married, what would a little wait hurt?

So my friends who run away at the sight of a knife, take courage, look the knife in the eye and tell it you are ready to tango. Once that piece is sliced off, run with it to the lake and watch as the waves sail away with it. Or you may ask our friends from Sotik and Bungoma and Voi and Nyeri and Kangundo what they did with theirs.

Kumekucha Weekend Special: Why Kibaki Is The Best President Kenya Never Had

There is mounting evidence that had President’s Kibaki’s health been better, then the tragedy of post election violence would probably never have happened.

It is a fact that those who know the president well will tell you that right from the referendum of 2005 the decisions made by the Kibaki they have known for years is just not him. In a long career in public service, this is a man who has always come across as a very sober political player with a sharp mind and sharp wit to go with it. Hardly the president who blundered his way through his first term so much so that there was a time most Kenyans did not believe that he would complete his first term. He actually limped along and even had to ask for the help of retired president Moi to steady things along.

And this is one of the reasons why when well known political analyst Mutahi Ngunyi predicted as early as 2003 that there was no way that Kibaki would have over power peacefully if he were defeated, he caused an uproar and even many die hard ODM supporters at the time found this assertion ridiculous.

Kibaki admirers insist that all this is clear evidence that he never really recovered from that horrible accident of late 2002 that almost took his life. There are those who strongly believe that that road accident denied Kenya an excellent president who would have had a very different term of office indeed and Kenya would have been a different country.

Instead, president Kibaki will not only go down in history as the president who has overseen the most massive tribalization of the Kenyan people in the history of the country, but he will also be remembered as the president who insisted on going for a second term when clearly he had not even been physically fit to handle his stormy first term.

His two terms will also be viewed as a stormy period in the history of the country when may things went wrong because there was no clear leadership at a time when the country needed it badly.

Sadly there are many politicians and Kenyans who think that the office of the president is one comfortable office of honour and glory. They refuse to see the pressures of the office that made Moi age so fast in the years after the re-introduction of multi-partyism. The same office has taken it’s toll on president Kibaki who was already weak and on a wheel chair.

In conclusion it is rather obvious that the president is not healthy or fit enough to handle the demanding pressures so rather than continue to tarnish his image built of many years, the most honorable things and continue to carry out OR gimmicks to hoodwink Kenyans, the most honorable thing for his to do would be to resign now. He would be able to prove his critics wrong, who aver that he has never done a single courageous thing in his long political career.

In my latest Kumekucha Confidential issue I give a sneak preview of some of the detailed inside information on the man who could easily rise to the presidency as per the constitution if president Kibaki was declared unfit to handle the office. Most of this information will leave you numb with shock and it is free. Subscribe now by Sending me a blank Email right away

Catherine 'The Great' Ndereba Wins Kenya's First Medal

August 17, 2008

38- Year old Romanian mother - Constantina Tomescu-Dita - has a few moments ago won the Olympics women's marathon gold medal in 2 hours 26 minutes 44 seconds, 22 seconds ahead of silver medalist, world champion, Catherine ' The Great' Ndereba of Kenya.

Ndereba outsprinted China's Zhou Chunxiu at the end even as the crowd stood and chanted Zhou's name. It chanted again when bronze medalist Zhou grabbed a Chinese flag and held it for her countrywoman, fourth-place finisher Zhu Xiaolin.....

Catherine Ndereba of Kenya (front) gestures as she crosses the finish line ahead of Zhou Chunxiu of China in the women's marathon of the athletics competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in the National Stadium August 17, 2008.

Catherine Ndereba of Kenya (R) approaches the finish line ahead of Zhou Chunxiu of China during the women's marathon of the athletics competition of the Beijing 2008 Olmypic Games in the National Stadium August 17, 2008.

Catherine Ndereba of Kenya (R) runs ahead of Zhou Chunxiu of China during the women's marathon of the athletics competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in the National Stadium August 17, 2008.

Catherine Ndereba of Kenya gestures after the women's marathon of the athletics competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in the National Stadium August 17, 2008.

Catherine Ndereba of Kenya crosses the finish line in the women's marathon at the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Sunday, Aug. 17, 2008. At left is third placed Zhou Chunxiu of China.

Catherine Ndereba of Kenya celebrates after winning the silver medal in the women's marathon at the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Sunday, Aug. 17, 2008.

My Evasive Nyama Choma

Published earlier today: Kumekucha weekend special, secrets about Kibaki's health

News that at least four abattoirs had been closed down in Nairobi sometime this week hit me hard. In fact it was a slap across my broad face. Nyama choma (roasted meat) and my mouth are sworn blood brothers. Yeah, and literally so.

So, news that some principal slaughter houses in Nairobi had been closed down really jolted me. I started asking myself how I would get by the week with the thought that come weekend there might not be enough meat to serve the city thus I would end up not tasting my delicacy.

My employer might have noticed my disenchantment with life itself for he called me the other day asking what was “eating” me. He also pointed out that my work output was lackluster (to use his word). He said this was unlike me.

If only he knew what was bugging me, he might have sent me packing. Thank God he couldn’t read the thoughts that were doing their rounds in my head!

The authorities say that these abattoirs are in a sorry state sanitation-wise. They are very dirty and pose health risks to the “nyama choma” patrons (like yours truly).

But, seriously speaking, I thought fire can kill all manner of germs, worms and other such health risks that can “append their poison” in the meat I love so much. Roasted meat goes through fire, doesn’t it?

Can someone please, puliiiiz, do something about this state of affairs. I, like so many other Nairobians, need to get back to work with all the energy I can and could muster. This is energy that I can only get from my favourite delicacy “Nyam Chom”.

You slaughter house guys, clean up your act and make sure there is enough Nyama Choma to drown the city the moment I step out of the house this weekend. Somebody reading this?

Kumekucha Weekend Special: Secrets About Kibaki’s Health

Based on the information that I have received, it is now clear that the country has entered a very dangerous phase indeed.

President Kibaki in recent times has displayed behaviour even in public which most Kenyans have missed. Few have been aware that they were witnessing subtle clues that clearly tell us that the country is in very dangerous waters indeed. However any trained medical eye will tell you a lot of things, mostly things no Kenyan would like to hear. Least of all now, when the country is desperately trying to recover from the mishaps of last December and January.

But in private within the precincts of State House Nairobi, which the president has made his home, things are even more worrying.

The president has problems waking up in the morning. No big deal about that, you may think. But when you compare him to former president Moi, you begin to understand the possible repercussions. Moi was always up at 4 am in the morning and would start by going through all the newspapers of the day. By 5 am when those Kenyans going to work early are beginning to stir, he would have already made lots of notes to act upon. This was around the time Moi would usually have his breakfast, if he did not have a breakfast meeting later that morning. On most mornings what would follow would be a briefing from the intelligence. Little wonder that as corrupt as he was, he always seemed to be on top of things.

Several sources have also told this blogger that the president has serious problems these days remembering stuff. On several occasions he has even forgotten the names of his own children during introductions. Now, pray tell me, how does a person govern when they cannot remember things. How on earth do they even make decisions, let alone quality decisions?

Another even more worrying symptom is the fact that the president repeats himself a lot when talking. Incidentally this has also come out in the public most notably when he addressed parliament during the historic debate on the Anan-peace bills that created the current grand coalition government power sharing deal.

In private he mutters things to himself a lot as he hobbles around State House. Interestingly this habit emerged in public shortly before last years’ general elections in a most fascinating incident. A BBC journalist asked the then incumbent presidential candidate about his options should he lose the elections. Kibaki muttered almost under his breath in Kiswahili something to the effect that he wondered whether the journalist had a brain. Several journalists present heard and understood what the president had muttered almost to himself. None dared report it. Only the Standard carried a description of the incident tacked away in a small paragraph deep inside the newspaper. In the excitement of the general elections then many missed it.

So what do the doctors say about the president’s condition? Indeed because of the lack of information, all sorts of rumours have been flying all over the place. Still one doctor told this blogger that the symptoms described are what one would expect as the aftermath of a stroke. The doctors confirms that in that kind of condition one is clearly not capable of executing the duties of a president let alone handle the pressures of the office.

Analysts paint a very grim picture of the possible repercussions and they do so by taking us back to the events of last December. Decisions were made then that led to the blood bath we saw in January this year. Even when the crisis began there are many decisions that were not made which would have saved numerous Kenyan lives.

You see under the current constitution the presidency in Kenya is all powerful and whatever decisions are made or not made at State House, they impact on almost every Kenyan irrespective of their political affiliation.

The president’s handlers knowing very well what is happening have instead chosen to carry out several PR antics to fool Kenyans about the president’s true health status. One such gimmick is the recent decision to have the president honour many of engagements at his Harambee house office. Another one is the purported inside story leaked to a daily newspaper that suggested the president is very good friends with the PM Raila Odinga and is voluntarily ceding and delegating a lot of things to him. The truth is that increasingly the president is not fit to govern and is only too happy to get all the help he can from the energetic Raila Odinga.

However this has led to what is shaping up to be a fierce power struggle within the top echelons of Kenyan leadership where VP Kalonzo Musyoka is now fighting with everything he has to hold onto the presidency even as a looming cabinet re-shuffle places his fate on the balance. The truth is that Kalonzo’s political usefulness to Kibaki and PNU ended with the formation of the grand coalition government and now more pressing political considerations, like the Kibaki succession have made their way to the top of the agenda, leaving the VP very exposed indeed. We will discuss that in more detail in my explosive post tomorrow.

In my latest Kumekucha Confidential issue I give a sneak preview of some of the detailed inside information on the man who could easily rise to the presidency as per the constitution id president Kibaki was declared unfit to handle the office. Most of this information will leave you numb with shock and it is free. Subscribe now by Sending me a blank Email right away

Is Kenya Ready For A Woman President?

You've heard it said that any Kenyan above thirty five and with certain attainments is capable and free to run for President of East Africa's most strategic nation, and no doubt the region's strongest economy. In the books, and thank God it is so, that's indeed the case. But in life things never fall neatly in place like water down a predictable line of weak resistance. On the contrary, the laws we place in our books are merely a road-map to what's possible if goodwill were brought to bear. In that respect, our constitution has paved the way for the eventual realization of a dream. A dream to elect the first female president in Kenya. But will it ever happen? And just how soon?

When you slap a map of the world on the table and start pinpointing the nations that have been brave enough to experiment with the leadership female chief executives, you'll be stunned by just how few they are. In Africa, we have Ellen Sirleaf-Johnson in Liberia. After years of men running that nation down, spilling blood and plundering the nation's resources, this

Harvard-educated lady took over and brought back sanity into the affairs of government. I've watched her at rallies in her devastated nation and seen how the adoring people of Liberia look up to her. I've seen children reach out to hold her hand, and I've seen her lean in to plant that cherished kiss on a child with dirt on their cheek. It's just lovely to watch.

In neighbouring Uganda, Strongman Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, had the foresight to bring in East Africa's first female vice president. You may argue that her powers were only limited, but you can't argue with the symbolic importance of being the second most powerful person in that landlocked nation. What it did was to shatter a glass ceiling, as Hillary Clinton would say. It made the girls in Uganda realize that a woman could do anything men could do...and do it even better.

We've all heard about Britain's Margaret Thatcher. This iron lady led her nation through the war with Argentina and actually won. Can you see in the eye of your mind Maggie sitting in that meeting, directing her commanders to draw a war plan, to present to her a plan of attack within days? Can you see her addressing the British people, telling them that the nation had to go to war over the Falk Islands? And finally watch as the British war planes drop bombs and subdue the Argentinians...all in the name of Margaret Thatcher. And lest you forget, the neat thing about a war planned by a lady is that care is taken to minimize collateral damage, which is another term for civilians caught up in the crossfire.

Back to Kenya. Are we ready for a woman president? When I look around, only two women at present seem like they could mount credible presidential campaigns. There's Martha Karua and Charity Ngilu. Are they qualified? Yes, they are. But if we were to seriously assess their chances, what would Kenyans be looking for in order to feel comfortable with female leadership?

Here is what I'd be looking for.

1. Beauty. Hold on, hold on. Before you call me fickle, let me ask you this question. How would you like to watch the face of a woman who is not pretty for the next five years? Personally I'd like to watch on TV a pretty woman. It just makes it a lot easier when a hot mama is the chief executive, especially when she has to persuade the nation to do something drastic like budget cuts or go to war. So is Charity cute? Just look at her, man. She's cute. How about Martha? Me thinks she's another cutie. If Phil and Chris don't think those two are beauties, tell me who is, guys.

2. Grit. What I mean here is toughness. In most traditional societies, men have always been wary of strong women. Women have always been cast as the fairer sex, people who were supposed to smile and look sweet. But you all know that Martha and Charity don't play that game. Those women are tough. Just think back to the days of the grand bargain that gave us the coalition government. Do you remember how Martha was out there telling off foreign envoys? Do you remember how she took on Orengo and Ruto and all the big boys? How about Charity? Weren't you impressed when she took on the Kalonzo wave in Ukambani and won? How about that day at the airport when she caught the VP trying to catch a government plane for a non official event? Didn't you like it when she called him up on it and forced him to issue a statement? Yes, those two women are tough and ready to lead.

3. Sober and Pragmatic. Can a woman be tough and sober at the same time? Of course a woman can. I take it you've been impressed by the juggling act in Liberia, where Madam Sirleaf has synchronously shown her tough side by taking on male-dominated institutions and making them work for Liberia and at the same time presenting a softer, sweeter side to her burdened people. Okay, has Martha ever shown a sweeter side? Sure, haven't you seen her smile? Haven't you caught her dancing with the folks, her eyes sparkling with childlike joy? And lately haven't you seen her try to get into alliances that are in sync with her presidential aspirations? How about Charity? What I've seen in her is a calculating, sober assessor of situations. I saw her walk out of Afya House on her terms. Saw her join the ODM Pentagon on her terms. And now she's running her ministry with pragmatism and efficiency. So again, can these two women lead?

4. Communication. One of the areas where our leaders have fallen short is in communicating their policies and intentions to the people. President Kenyatta was a master of intrigue. He never let Kenyans know what he was up to. In fact, even when he died we couldn't be told straight out that the president was dead. Moi was no better. To know what was on Moi's mind, Kenyans had to listen to the pronouncements of people like Shariff Nassir, Mulu Mutisya and Kariuki Chotara. What a way to communicate! Now there's Kibaki. Who the hell speaks for this President? Is it the perpetually hilarious Dr. Mutua or the super-secretive and assertive Muthaura? Whoever it is, they have done a lousy job. Now, has Martha communicated her intentions to the folks? Here is what she has said. I'm running for president in 2012. How clearer can a girl be? Charity has been equally succinct. Watch her as she talks to her teary-eyed staff on her last day at Afya. I will be back! again, how clearer can a girl be?

5. Faith. A president who doesn't pray for his nation and for wisdom from God has no business leading a nation. It's always nice watch a president pray. I liked it when Kenyatta was in a house of worship. I was moved whenever I saw Moi with a hymn book in hand, singing praises to the Lord. And I set my disagreements with Kibaki aside whenever he is before the throne of grace. Prayer is power. So do the two women I've been talking about pray? Yes, they do. But just imagine what it would mean for Kenyans to watch on Sunday TV as the president, a sweet motherly figure, kneels down in plea with God to bless Kenya. Don't you long to see that day come?

I do.

But 2012 is years away. We have a chance to evaluate all our presidential candidates. I'd love to see Martha Karua give the boys a run for their money, become Kenya's first female president. I'd love to see Charity Ngilu go all out to capture the presidency of Kenya and help us make positive history. That said, Kenyans are not going to elect somebody just because we yearn for female leadership. We are going to elect the best candidate out there.

Ladies, make 2012 your time to shine. If you don't become president, you'll have paved the way for the brave Kenyan girls who will come after you.

For Love of Country,

Guest post by Sam Okello

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In your Kumekucha Weekend Special tomorrow:

The Truth About Kibaki's health and the serious danger for Kenya

Using sources deep inside State House we have unearthed the terrible truth...
you will go numb with shock. Wherever you will be make a date with Chris this weekend.

Of Schools' Unrest and Playing Dice with God

Whoever said religion is opium of the people won’t be more right. Only that in Kenya we have taken to smoking religion literally. So Kibaki is urging our ETHNIC-based church to help stem the unrest in our secondary schools. Given the sectarian nature of the present church, such a paradoxical request amounts to entrusting a flock to the care of marauding wolves.

The Catholic church has a reputation of sponsoring and founding top performing schools nationwide that were hitherto unique for their sense of unrivalled discipline. But not anymore if the recent spate of violence is anything to go by. All the catholic parishes are headed by locals who have fallen to such low levels so much so that they would as well double us village councillors. You can bet you lunch that just like Kibaki is only comfortable touring Central and Eastern provinces, Cardinal Njue would find it very difficult to preach objectively in Mogotio.

Mocking God
Kenyan politicians have serially abused the pulpit as a launching pad for politics. Add to that their penchant to prey into our collective insecurity while sacrilegiously invoking the name of God in vein and you get a nation knocking incessantly at the door of hell. We better stick to our two traits of deception and fraud and localize it all the much we care. Extrapolating to the high heaven may just earn us God’s singular wrath.

Religion has been used the world over to unify people for its selflessness. But in our shores the tribal cancer has gnawed the fabric leaving our clergy shameless political cheerleaders bereft of any moral upper pedestal on which to offer hope and guidance. By challenging the church to review its role as sponsors of learning institutions, Kibaki is being typical Kenyan leader who is uniquely defined by our immaculately he clothes deception disguised as offering leadership. Well, lies never hurt but self-deception can be morally very fatal.

Githongo Releases Statement

NEWS RELEASE



Thursday 14 August 2008 - For immediate release





Githongo to return to Kenya




John Githongo, former Permanent Secretary for Governance and Ethics in the Kenya Government, is to return to Kenya after an absence of over three years. He is currently Senior Associate Member of St Antony's College, Oxford, and Vice-President, Policy and Advocacy, of the relief, development and advocacy agency World Vision.

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Also published in Kumekucha today: Passionate mistakes in relationships
Small Business Kenya: Secret of success that should not be secret
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Mr Githongo has been invited to address a meeting of the Kenya Human Rights Commission in Nairobi on 20 August.

In a statement issued in London today, Mr Githongo said that he had been invited back by Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Vice President Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka.


"I have been greatly encouraged by both the Prime Minister and the Vice President," he said, "and now believe that it is time to return home and make any contribution I can to the future of my country. Kenya has faced severe problems in recent months, and some of these remain. But I have complete confidence in the ability of Kenyans, at all levels, to confront and surmount them.


"I intend to speak my mind on what I feel needs to be done. I have no political affiliations. My obligations are solely to the people of Kenya – particularly the poor, the dispossessed and those in need."

Probes that Enquire Loudly into the Obvious

The three commission set up to enquire on DECEPTION and FRAUD are measuring up to the written script. From Cockar to Waki, the commissioners are attempting to justify their pay by revisiting the very old and tired lines albeit with a sprinkling of legal lingo. It is typical Kenyan way to buying time secure in the knowledge that Kenyans have perishable memories.

While Majid Cockar and his team are getting superlative entertainment from legal busybodies who are synonymous of fraudulent regimes, Waki is apologizing to bullet and rape victims promising them no repeat of their traumatic and shattered lives. The Cockar-led commission is another window to showcase Kenyans professionals hawking their expertise to the most fraudulent power brokers. In their twisted minds, the Masikas of this world shamelessly feign ignorance when their services were sourced by the best scheming fraudsters hell-bent on milking cow Kenya to the last drop of blood.

Judge Kriegler must be enjoying every act of the show from his VIP seat as the cast from besmirched ECK outdo themselves in sanitizing the stench they invited upon themselves. You read about former PPO Matagaro wax lyrical in his defending the indefensible and wonder whether he is reading straight from comments in Kumekucha. The besieged ECK have fallen to such predictable lines that one is left wondering where the thin line between them and propaganda-laden politicians lie.

Calling thieves' bluff
The common thread running through the duplicitous Waki-Kriegler and Cockar commission is the intention to sanitize DECEPTION and FRAUD. Only in Kenya do scoundrels have the luxury to constitute probes to investigate themselves with predictable reports that will never see the light of the day. Meanwhile the poor IDPs remain the collateral of the whole scheme of deception personified.

But just wait a minute! Imagine the consequences of Judge Kriegler muddying the waters by calling the scoundrel’s bluff. Caging the ECK for bungling the polls would definitely lead to some form of fall out and the attendant bean spilling from one Sam Kivuitu and his bunch of incompetents. That may be a wild thought but were it to happen Kimunya’s script of resorting to drumming tribal support will reach a crescendo. We surely live in interesting political times. Na bado.

Breaking News: Githongo Expected In Nairobi

According to information that I have just received, exiled former Ethics PS John Githongo is expected in Nairobi in the next few days.

Apparently he is not returning from exile but will merely be in Kenya for "a short visit." All efforts to get an idea of his itinerary by our people on the ground failed only for us to later learn that his handlers are talking to the mainstream media and giving out a lot of information. It is expected that they will break the news in tomorrow mornings newspapers or later in the day in the electronic press.

However the news has already reached various political factions in the country and my information is that there is a lot of anxiety all round. There is no doubt that the visit will cause plenty of ripples right across the political divide.

This piece of news creates many more questions than answers. There is for instance the question of security. Little has changed since Githongo fled the country in 2003 and the threats to his life are no doubt still intact.

Then the question that must be bothering many in political circles is what the real reason for his visit might be. And why now?

Githongo will arrive in the country when political temperatures are way too high considering that it is barely 7 months since the last general elections.

More to follow as I get it.

Raila Steps On Dangerous Snakes At The Mombasa Port

I love the city of Mombasa. Many people do because of the numerous wonderful things that this coastal city has going for it. Crime is low, plenty of beach to enjoy and the place is extremely romantic. Some people even call it the city of love. Kenyans have moved there and loved it, saying that they never suffer the stresses that are common in Nairobi. The pace is slow and yet business wise things still get done.

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But all this is a façade. The truth is that Mombasa can be deadly to the naïve. There is a saying in the town that Mombasa iko na wenyewe which loosely translated it means that Mombasa has its’ owners.

Kenyans will remember the case of the policeman who was sent to investigate some missing containers at the port but was shot dead in circumstances that are yet to be explained. A few arrests were made but the case has now gone cold and will in all likelihood never be revived. That is Mombasa for you.

This is the kind of background that makes developments related to the port over the last few days very interesting indeed.

The coalition government has moved fast and in a well co-ordinated move both the Prime Minister and the president himself have issued statements concerning changes that that the government wants to see, including the reduction of roadblocks on the road leading from the port to Nairobi and beyond. The government has also given port authorities one week to transform operations so that cargo can be cleared 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Predictably this initiative has rubbed the powerful coastal town barons up the wrong way. MPs from Mombasa (obviously speaking on behalf of the “real owners” of Mombasa have come out both barrels firing. They have accused the PM of meddling in port affairs and have asked him to keep off and leave the responsibility to the minister of transport Ali Mwakwere.

Speaking during a harambee in Kaloleni District yesterday, four MPs accused Mr Odinga of undermining Mr Mwakwere and portraying him as a non-performer. The four MPs were Danson Mungatana (Garsen, Narc Kenya), Gideon Mung’aro (Malindi, ODM), Ali Hassan Joho (Kisauni, ODM) and Samuel Kazungu (Kaloleni, PNU). The fascinating thing here is that even ODM MPs are lashing out at their party boss.

Many Kenyans do not realize the real impact of rampant corruption and delayed cargo at the port has on the economy. Sadly the powerful cartels that control the port will not just pack their bags and go. In fact there are those who believe that to clean up the Mombasa port and uproot the cartels will take a full scale massive military-like operation like the one carried out in Colombia a number of years ago to deal with major drug barons.

There is no denying that the Prime Minister is a very brave man to have decided to take on the powerful Mombasa cartels some of whom supported his presidential campaign last December but bravery will certainly not be enough because these “stones are way too heavy to turn."

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Of Village Coaching and Communal Vices

It came as no surprise when secondary school pupils justified their present destructive streak to learning from politicians by example. Students in Naivasha stunned MPs by claiming that they learnt first hand that in Kenya one is only listened to via violence. It seems learning vices and perfecting them has been elevated to new heights in our moral and national psyche. Call it what you may but the students’ take is nothing but DECEPTION disguised as inference.

We have made deception a defining trait as a nation. The kids are simply taking it a new level in the delusion their sentiments sounds intellectual. If copy-pasting sins was such a virtue, why don’t these smart students burn their homes in protest when their parents deny them what they want. Well, these genius Kenyans may have just read comments from Kumekucha. Buck passing is our middle name.

Communal vices
Long gone are the days when we used to debate in primary school about the merits of being a doctor above an engineer. Such debates must be very primitive I the eyes of present students who have proved no different from their mentors. If these students are genuinely looking for mentors or hungry for positive influence why have don’t they aspire to be space scientists or to emulate ultimate political trophy be ministers or ultimately scandal-free president?

Granted, the escapist sentiments by the secondary school students will be cheaply hailed as representative on national youth psyche oblivious of their predictability given where they were mouthed. Thee truth is these students had been couched on what to say to reflect the feeling of their parents and villages. Pretending otherwise is to engage in a long ego trip. Bottom line is as a nation, we are critically allergic to taking hard decision that won’t bring speedy monetary returns.

Secret Agenda For Uhuru Succession Team?

In the wake of the raging Kibaki succession, whatever one Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta says is important. Whether Kenyans like it or not all the old money in Kenya is on Uhuru becoming the fourth president of the republic of Kenya. I know it is unfair but then money makes the world go round does it not?

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But don’t panic folks, especially if you are not a Uhuru supporter, you just need to remember what happened last December to realize that although money is important, it will certainly not be the only deciding factor on who the next occupant of State house will be.

Now the main thrust of this post are the remarks that I am told Uhuru made earlier today in Tigania Meru. The deputy prime minister said that a review of constituency boundaries was of utmost importance and should be made top priority.

Well, well. Sounds familiar? Of course it does. In the run up to the general elections of last year the government sponsored a bill that would have seen a review of constituency boundaries increasing them in number just before the elections. The bill was resoundingly defeated despite the clever strategy of trying to sugar-coat it with a clause that would have ensured that dozens of women legislators would now be seating in the 10^th parliament.

The next question we need to ask ourselves is why was the government in such a hurry to pass such critical bills when the general elections were only a few months away? The answer to that question will also give you the answer to the question why Uhuru and his cronies are bringing it up now, even as the momentum of the Kibaki succession race continues to pick up speed.

Folks, even if the topic of constituency boundaries bores you to tears you had better sit up and pay attention because this is an issue that will certainly not go away. And it is one that will greatly affect the future of Kenya.

For a long time now, leading central province politicians have strongly felt that there is urgent need for the number of constituencies to be increased on the basis of looking at numbers rather than just geography. If this plan were to be followed the immediate result would be more power to the big communities and in the current set up, it would give PNU strongholds many more parliamentary seats than they have at the moment.

In other words somebody somewhere is already casting his eyes into the post-Kibaki era where there will be no coalition government and they want to ensure that their principal has the teeth in parliament to be able to govern.

In any case, the Bomas draft (which we have been told is the basis of the new initiative for a new constitution) is essentially a parliamentary democracy meaning that the leader of government will emerge from the party that produces the majority MPs. So number of MPs one who wants to govern has, is very critical.

But Kenyans must not lose the downside of this push for more constituencies. The most obvious disadvantages have to do with budgetary constraints. At a time when the country is reeling from the burden of the huge coalition government cabinet, what we are saying here is that we want to further increase the costs of government even more steeply with the 11^th parliament set to have well over 300 members. It also means that smaller communities and minority interests will most probably be drowned by the sheer numbers of those communities with very high populations.

Is this what we want?

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The Rise And Rise Of Citizen TV

Amazingly Citizen TV was nothing more than a joke not too long ago. All of a sudden it is the TV station that everybody is talking about. It was here in Kumekucha that we discussed last year the move to Citizen of one of the longest serving news anchors Katherine Kasavuli whom they poached from KTN. Another big name that moved from KTN to Citizen media at the time was Louis Otieno.

Now, even as you read this Citizen TV has attracted scores of other big names like Alex Chamadwa also formerly of KTN.

But the rising popularity of Citizen cannot be attributed to presenters alone indeed a lot of credit has to go the management team led by one Wachira Waruru (formerly of KTN and KBC). Waruru has an amazing knack for finding the right people to do the right jobs and the results speak for themselves. For example everybody these days is talking about the high quality drama shows produced on Citizen including Tahidi High and comedies like Inspector Mwala and Papa Shirandula have taken Kenyans by storm. Waruru is the man who came up with the brilliant idea of financing comedians by advertising shows in various popular restuants countrywide, for them on KBC TV in a highly creative barter deal that has seen artists receive the kind of money that just a few months ago they could only dream about.

Of course politics has a different story to tell about why Citizen TV is suddenly the TV station to watch. Everybody knows that the owner is well connected with the corridors of power and is said to be a close ally of the president. About two years ago, Citizen harassed another popular local radio station, Kiss FM by literally hijacking their frequencies and playing havoc. This is of course a very serious thing, but Citizen got away with it without even as much as a slap on the wrist.

It has not escaped the attention of analysts that building up the popularity of Citizen media products is creating a powerful broadcast tool that will come in very handy in 2012.

Incidentally this is the same TV channel that recently featured a captivating series titled Kenya’s secret history where former Nyandura North MP’s JM Kariuki’s murder in 1975 was analyzed in great details with lots of new information coming out.

Politics not withstanding, credit has to be given where it is due and there is little doubt that Citizen is the TV channel to watch in the coming months.

P.S. Meanwhile changes going on behind the scenes at the Standard media group are worth noting. As has been reported in my raw notes, after a meeting in former president Moi’s Kabarak home some time back, a decision was made for former aide Joshua Kulei to transfer back all commercial interests that he was holding on behalf of the family. One of thos interests is of course the Standard which is now formly in the hands of Gideon Moi who is known to be a Kanu man who fully backs the current PNU administration. It will therefore be fascinating to see what happens at both the Standard newspaper and KTN in the next few weeks and months. For those who do not know, Kulei is a well known supporter of Raila Odinga’s ODM

The Kumekucha Weekend Special series resumes next weekend.

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A Regime Oozing Corruption From All Orifices

One may be forgiven for imagining that Kibaki’s administration is jinxed to serial economic frauds. In the last three months, fraudulent deals hitherto cemented before last year’s elections are continuously being exposed. From the bar-talk-never-sold-actually-sold-above-board Grand Regency to the stinking Rift Valley Railways. The RVR is promising to be GRANDER than Goldenberg and Anglo Leasing before it. Leaves you wondering whether any asset sitting on asset Kenya will be left standing by 2012.

With enterprising Libyans shamelessly reading riot act at DULY ELECTED in his own backyard, we may as well consider ourselves collective squatters in our own country. The breakneck speed at which everything Kenyan is being nationalized (nay auctioned) smells everything except honest privatization. The players are so smart in taking advantage of the imperial presidency and state law offices such that no legal lose end is left. Any administration in the future trying to recover or retrace any of these mega scams will be permanently entangled in legal webs with all manner of serial constitutional references.

The rate at which fraud is popping at every crevice in Kibaki’s administration is proof enough of how elaborate the scheme to auction Kenya has been. But trust fraud and deception to hit back in vengeance as evident in the turmoil in Safaricom shares. While pedestrian economists gloated about their acumen to make a killing during the IPO, they will remain blind to the dead end of the path they chose. But again those asking pesky question in a room full of the smell of money have been derided as the epitome of lazy bones. Let industrious Kenyans reap the maggots hatching from the eggs they zealously bought and protected.

Wages of economic sin
So how many fires can a regime start and fan in a single term of office? It appears while Moi was ruining Kenya, the present vultures were salivating, scheming and bidding their time. It took Moi more than two decades to bring us to our knees. Contrast that with the monstrous looting in less than six years and you get DECEPTIVE INDUSTRY redefined. The Grand Coalition must be the Achilles heels to the smooth looting highway that has seen elite looters cruising at formula one speed in the last five years.

The present power elite have economics as their stock in trade and Kenya as the collateral. But despite this mad rush to primitive wealth accumulation at the expense of the rest of Kenyans, the evil schemes will come back to haunt their perpetrators. They may rape Kenya to her bare bones but the sins will definitely catch up with them in the long run. They will be made to pay for the numerous crimes they committed as collateral in pursuit of economic might. This may take time in years but as sure as the sun rises in the east these scoundrels will pay big time in the fullness of time.

The Nairobi Bomb Blast Ten Years On: A Subtle Lesson

Yesterday Kenyans and Tanzanians marked ten years to the day the dastardly bombing of the American Embassies in these towns rocked our lives – and completely changed many lives.

But, even as we mourn our departed heroes, we ought to rectify ourselves on a number of issues.

Kenyans, we are very slow to learn some things and our leaders are equally “inept” when it comes to some things. They have not been providing the necessary leadership to help build us a bastion against a recrudescence of social ills that have been threatening to split us into two equal halves.

Even as you read this, the monster that we created by our sheer ignorance and ineptness in dealing with “our issues” head-on is wreaking havoc in this country – so much has gone up in smoke and we pretend not to know the reasons why.

Early this year we saw, experienced and tasted the flip side of our ignorance – the monster growled out loud and the country shook!

Hypocrisy reigns supreme in this country. The people we expect to light our path as a nation so that we don’t fall into pits (some of which we, sadly, helped create!) rarely rise to the occasion. Here I am talking about our politicians, our religious leaders, our schools (the teachers and the whole school system) and the media.

Most of the time, these groups of people and institutions fail to bring us together. They, instead, fight to drive wedges between us. We fail to see them guiding us to celebrate the beauty of unity and being one. Being our examples, we fail to see them working as one (remember, example is better than precept).

We fail to see them taking the opportunities that present themselves and turning them to gold – especially opportunities that would help foster nationhood.

What is the use of ranting about how different we are and laying our weaknesses (most of which are mere stereotypes) bare at the expense of national unity?

What has all this got to do with the Nairobi bomb blast ten years ago?

The answer is simple: the solidarity and empathy exhibited by Kenyans of all walks of life when the tragedy struck.

The story of one woman’s struggle for her life under the massive rubble is worth mentioning here. This is the story of Rose Wanjiku Mwangi – newspapers called her ‘A Candle in the Wind’.

She was buried under the rubble when the American Embassy and other buildings around it came tumbling down due to the impact of the bomb. She was alive for around four days under the rubble; and she was all the while communicating with the rescuers. This spurred them to work even harder in order to save her life.

Her voice fell silent on Sunday, August 9, 1998, but on the next day, Monday, the rescue was spurred on when tapping was heard from where she was thought to be buried.

The whole nation was hoping and praying that she would be rescued. Her determination to live – the massive rubble on top of her notwithstanding – touched many people.

No one asked what tribe Rose was or, even, from which part of Kenya she came from. If any one did, then it was for a different reason. A reason far from the one some people would have today asking the very same questions.

She died less than 24hours before her body was recovered at 0300 local time on the Wednesday of that week. Millions of people in Kenya and other countries around the world mourned her death and that of others who lost their lives during the American Embassy bombing.

Rose’s spirit to live against all the odds, encapsulates the spirit that we should have as a nation. A spirit to rise above our lot; a spirit to rise above ethnic differences; a spirit to celebrate nationhood (and not just mouth the fleshless “Najivunia kuwa Mkenya”).

This is a spirit that our leaders (political, religious and school leaders) and the fourth estate (the media) can help us realize. We are tired of just existing. Can we begin living as Kenyans?

We must stir the fighting spirit within us to life and fight on till we reach the acme we aspire. As bothers and sisters; as Kenyans, we can make it!

Beijing Olympics Starts in Style

Today is 8/8/8, a very lucky day for believers in cosmos. What is more, the spectacular opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic has just began. While many Kenyans will only sample the extravaganza on the screens, our politicians have opted to empty the public till as they book the next available flight to Beijing at our expense. Old habits die heard so they say. Our politicians have shamelessly adjourned parliamentary business to embark on expensive trip to China under the excuse of following tradition. Shame on all these scoundrels.

Beijing here we come
Despite all the political selfishness, we can at least take pride in our athletes who are guaranteed to have the Kenyan national anthem played severally as they sprint their way to Gold. If only we would have our priorities right and expand the disciplines in which we compete and capitalize on our strengths. Just imagine if the money wasted by the politicians would be channelled to the right sports and athletes. But trust our so-called leaders to feather their nests in exclusion to what is good for Kenya.

Meanwhile let the fireworks begin in Beijing and let us enjoy the spectacle as men and women sweat their way to glory. Only stringent vetting in modern sports provide no room for deception.

Selling Kenya to Terrorists for 9 Pieces of Silver

It is 10 years since that dark Friday when death and destruction landed on Kenya. Kenya was devastated by terrorists who brought their trail of destruction to our shores. Since then Kenya has never been the same again. But what have we learned as a country since that fateful Friday?
What a paradox that while many maimed Kenyans are still trying to come to terms with their shuttered lives, the mastermind of that heinous act one Fazul Mohamed from Comoros is right within our borders possibly planning an anniversary to obliterate Kenya. Fazul is around shopping for a doctor at the right price to attend to his ailing kidneys. And for the fifth time in as many years he has escaped the police dragnet.

Fazul’s operation since 1998 has proved that in Kenya everything has a price and nothing is sacrosanct. Forget about the hollow chorus of najivunia kuwa Mkenya which was a visionary slogan manufactured by sightless scoundrels principally for political expediency. Here we have one fugitive with the police force at his beck and call and at the right price he is tipped off of an impending raid leaving all his belongings but escaping with his most murderous soul.

Deception and fraud is our forte both at individual and institution level. The corrupt policeman doesn’t a care in the wilderness what is actions in tipping Fazul portents for a whole country. By the way, why would he care when doing so would make him rich and respectable Kenyan? It has been said that eradicating corruption starts with taking personal responsibility towards the same. But where would one get the motivation in matters he has no control over and will the potential to decimate him and others around him?

Damn the consequences
Two wrong never made a right and past ruinous governments is no justification to outdo those grand frauds. While Kibaki regime is having auctioning Kenya though a myriad cleverly crafted avenues like government-to-government Grand Regency sale, individual Kenyans will do anything within their powers to pursue our national pastime of primitive wealth accumulation. The ingenious fraudsters seldom fail to craft high-sounding programs like v2030 which are designed to keep Kenyans busy mauling over abstracts as the looting spree acquires breakneck speed.

Our is a culture singularly defined by the vices of deception and fraud only succeeds in mutating to a monster that ends up eating herself. By working hard, we are unwittingly nourishing terrorists who will help us achieve the ultimate objective of obliteration faster. Here have Fazul from Comoros possessing two Kenyan passports with the new one acquired in February 2008 at the height of near-meltdown in the post-election violence. No wonder we lost the UK visa privilege in 1997 when we chose to sell our birthright to Somalis at the right price. Well, we have been propping skunks under the guise of fraudulent industriousness and we have to live with the resulting stench. No amount of deodorizing will ameliorate sickening smell as we steadily and surely hurtle towards self-destruction on our own and aiding others to accelerate it.