NO WE CAN’T
This Piece I did it to all the Kenyans and the Kenyan youth who were Celebrating the President Elect of United States, Sen. Barrack Obama’s Victory. It was a reminder that we can not conduct business as usual and expect different results. The piece borrows and negates Obama’s line “Yes we can” and lay bare how Kenyan youth need an urgent change in thoughts and action to bear the audacity to Utter Obama’s words. ( Dated 5/11/2008)
This is to all Kenyans youth.
Today marks a historical moment in man’s existence. The victory of Barrack Obama in the USA polls has proved to us that never before, have we as a people dedicated our lives and pursuit on anything and went unsuccessful. That when we are determined we will succeed. That positive thinking alone will not take us there unless we spice it up with enthusiasm.
But this very day is of no importance, if the Kenyan youth will not go beyond the limits of celebration. We are almost forgetting the moment, and head back to our usual places of comfort. Yet we want the world to believe that “Yes. We Can! “ . I say no, unless we change right now, right here we remain “No. We can’t”.
Today we are silent like graves, quite like tombs on Waki’s report.
Today we have allowed Raila and Kibaki combined to take us for a ride
Today we have allowed our government to kill and maim her people in Mandera.
Today we watch us Ministry of health services officials feasts on our Ksh. 13 billions
Today we are forgetting to ask who Mobiltelea was.
Today we refuse to remember the NSSF saga.
Today we don’t know who the Artur brothers were.
Today we are not interested in constitution anymore
Today we are not keen on Grand Regency
Today we don’t care about who killed Pinto, Mboya and JM
Today we don’t want to know who killed over 500 young people in Ngong Forest, Mt
Elgon and many parts of this country; we refuse to condemn the police brutality.
Today we don’t care to ask why Kenyans are squatters in their own land
Today we are accepting the fact that Ndung’u report on land still lies unimplemented.
This is why I believe that unless I see more from you and me, you are wasting your time by celebrating Obama’s victory. No. We can’t. He did not just wish or celebrate others victory, he pursued it; dedicated and willing to go as far as he believed he may go. Have you ever asked yourselves why Mungiki make sense to young people? It is because it identifies itself with a common man. It makes sense to the youth. It knows what it wants, and it would be willing to go for it no matter what. It pays all prices to get wherever it wants to be. Mungiki never rest, they never despair. This is the kind of determination we need. Young people can borrow the determination and say’ to hell’ to tokens from this government and organize themselves and say we want it now. Yes this way change may come our way.
This country problem is leadership. From the residence of the president to palatial homes of our ministers, from the comfort zones of our MPs to the corners of civil servants and religious men, we remain led by blind, selfish and rotten leaders. Most of them have blood on their hands, some corrupt, others just sleep and for some is just to grab. What a shame! And you as a young person, you are silent and hoping things to change. Then you cheat yourself with Obama’s Slogan that yes you can. No. You Can’t.
Obama has won. He has sent me and you to a soul search mission among ourselves, to believe that we can, and to act as we can. This calls for us to find one another and organize ourselves. Young people you can’t afford to sit down there. Wishes will take you no where.
Let us agree that on this and that day, that on this and that place, we will meet and start a campaign of joining the Obama “ movement” that will declare that we must “CAN” before the year 2012.
Let us say that we will not go anymore to Uhuru Park to clap for these political thugs who have brainwashed us for years and years.
We must rise fast and draw our charter of operation. We don’t need so academic wording; all we need is the power to mobilize our communities and let them know that our war in 2012 will be generational. That the old if they wish, will elect their fellow old and selfish lot but for us we are going for nothing less than our fellow youth.
That is the spirit. Obama is not a president for Africa, not even America. He is a worldwide movement that we must embrace to make a new world order possible. If we fail to take this root, then we may as well go to hell if not Hague.
I hope someone will hear me. As for me I remain
Yours Trully Ever Ready
OULU GPO
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
NO WE CAN’T
This Piece was done and dedicated for the Youth of Kenya. Those who attended the National Youth Convention and made clear Resolution on where they would like to see Kenya ( Dated 3-11-2008)
Dear Heroes and Patriots of this great nation.
I hope this mail finds you well.
I call you heroes and patriots because I believe in the strength that lies in us. I believe in the wisdom and courage that we all hold. And I know that this nation can be better and will be better at any moment that we decide to make it so. We have spoken at times when many fear to do so. We have offered hope to this nation when the old hyenas are busy tearing it apart. In our great numbers we have defended the independence of this nation; in most times, armed with nothing beyond our bare chest. We have paid the ultimate price, to the extent of exchange with our own lives. That is the courage that has kept this nation moving; the courage that dwells in our voice when we speak and our actions when we act.
I have been keen on the opinions and comments that are being made since the launch of Waki Report. The political class as usual has made itself busy, making false statements with no directions, opening their mouth without caution; practicing their usual culture of impunity. And we have yet allowed it to happen under our watch. What a shame!
Raila and Kibaki have failed this nation. I may forgive Kibaki because I gave up on him several years ago when he failed to curb Anglo-leasing, failed to give us a new constitution, and failed to appreciate our democracy through clean election and respect of the power of our vote. But am shocked with Raila. Is this what small power can do by making him to forget so soon of the wishes of Kenyans?
Raila has shown us that he can not take a national stand and is now reduced into prisoner of his political party. His interest has shifted from nation to individual. His focus has changed from justice now to politics 2012. So he has chosen to listen to a gang of some narrow minded MPs who thinks that they control our vote and voice by the virtue of their regional belonging.
So those who were orphaned widowed, raped, hacked to death; the children that were burnt alive, the innocent Kenyans whose heads and torsos formed a human road block along our highway can still not access justice. Burnt houses, bleeding nation and down trodden internally displaced persons are not symbolic enough to silence the interest of our political class. Today, the Collusion Government has shown us that the poor lot can never enjoy justice in this nation. They are shocked and disappointed with Waki, because they believe that he is a liar. They believe that he never did his job well by protecting to protect them most.
And now that the political class have colluded to silence our voice, what do we intend to do? We are known to forget so fast and sometimes not interested in matters that do not concern us as long as we have bread on our tables and a pay cheque at the end of the month. Is this the road we intend to take? I hope not.
The nation is at crossroads, and it needs leadership so urgently like now. In all of us lies a leader. In all of us there is a voice that convinces us that we can do something. There is a voice in you and me and there is a conscience too. We have spoken on the internet, written and read in papers, but now is the time that we must act. We must save our generation and generations to come from the exploits of the political class.
We must strive to ensure that justice is availed to all. And we must stand up to show our leaders that this nation belongs to all of us all. Where are the Pio Gama Pintos’,the Dedan Kimathis’, the Mwalimu Matis’, the JM Kariukis’,Wambui Otienos the Martin Luthers’, the Mahatma Gandhis,’ Patrice Lumumbas,’ the Steve Bikos and the Nelson Mandelas’ among us must stand now for this nation.
We must start a national campaign against the interference on Waki Report by our political class. We must show dedication and will to sacrifice with all our best for this nation to sprout and spring with plenty and abundance of justice.
Waki Report provides us with the best opportunity to make change a reality in our nation. We must corner the deceits and lies of our political class and demand truth, justice and permanent end to the culture of impunity.
I therefore submit this mail to you with a request that if you feel and convinced that you can be that change that can stand and be counted, then get back to me. Let us plan to offer leadership to this nation, by taking a step to push for implementation of Waki Report.
Let us reach as many people as possible. And let us be convinced that when we are right, we have nothing to fear. Wangari Maathai stood up for the trees and land grabbing, so we can stand for the people of this nation.
As young people who attended the Fourth National Youth Convention, I feel that it is a high time we organize ourselves into a force of change and show our leadership through expressing our disappointment with this government by getting involved in Active Non- Violent Activities, protests and engagements.
Let us do it!
From
OULU GPO
+254 722 214 869
www.oulugpo.blogspot.com
Dear Heroes and Patriots of this great nation.
I hope this mail finds you well.
I call you heroes and patriots because I believe in the strength that lies in us. I believe in the wisdom and courage that we all hold. And I know that this nation can be better and will be better at any moment that we decide to make it so. We have spoken at times when many fear to do so. We have offered hope to this nation when the old hyenas are busy tearing it apart. In our great numbers we have defended the independence of this nation; in most times, armed with nothing beyond our bare chest. We have paid the ultimate price, to the extent of exchange with our own lives. That is the courage that has kept this nation moving; the courage that dwells in our voice when we speak and our actions when we act.
I have been keen on the opinions and comments that are being made since the launch of Waki Report. The political class as usual has made itself busy, making false statements with no directions, opening their mouth without caution; practicing their usual culture of impunity. And we have yet allowed it to happen under our watch. What a shame!
Raila and Kibaki have failed this nation. I may forgive Kibaki because I gave up on him several years ago when he failed to curb Anglo-leasing, failed to give us a new constitution, and failed to appreciate our democracy through clean election and respect of the power of our vote. But am shocked with Raila. Is this what small power can do by making him to forget so soon of the wishes of Kenyans?
Raila has shown us that he can not take a national stand and is now reduced into prisoner of his political party. His interest has shifted from nation to individual. His focus has changed from justice now to politics 2012. So he has chosen to listen to a gang of some narrow minded MPs who thinks that they control our vote and voice by the virtue of their regional belonging.
So those who were orphaned widowed, raped, hacked to death; the children that were burnt alive, the innocent Kenyans whose heads and torsos formed a human road block along our highway can still not access justice. Burnt houses, bleeding nation and down trodden internally displaced persons are not symbolic enough to silence the interest of our political class. Today, the Collusion Government has shown us that the poor lot can never enjoy justice in this nation. They are shocked and disappointed with Waki, because they believe that he is a liar. They believe that he never did his job well by protecting to protect them most.
And now that the political class have colluded to silence our voice, what do we intend to do? We are known to forget so fast and sometimes not interested in matters that do not concern us as long as we have bread on our tables and a pay cheque at the end of the month. Is this the road we intend to take? I hope not.
The nation is at crossroads, and it needs leadership so urgently like now. In all of us lies a leader. In all of us there is a voice that convinces us that we can do something. There is a voice in you and me and there is a conscience too. We have spoken on the internet, written and read in papers, but now is the time that we must act. We must save our generation and generations to come from the exploits of the political class.
We must strive to ensure that justice is availed to all. And we must stand up to show our leaders that this nation belongs to all of us all. Where are the Pio Gama Pintos’,the Dedan Kimathis’, the Mwalimu Matis’, the JM Kariukis’,Wambui Otienos the Martin Luthers’, the Mahatma Gandhis,’ Patrice Lumumbas,’ the Steve Bikos and the Nelson Mandelas’ among us must stand now for this nation.
We must start a national campaign against the interference on Waki Report by our political class. We must show dedication and will to sacrifice with all our best for this nation to sprout and spring with plenty and abundance of justice.
Waki Report provides us with the best opportunity to make change a reality in our nation. We must corner the deceits and lies of our political class and demand truth, justice and permanent end to the culture of impunity.
I therefore submit this mail to you with a request that if you feel and convinced that you can be that change that can stand and be counted, then get back to me. Let us plan to offer leadership to this nation, by taking a step to push for implementation of Waki Report.
Let us reach as many people as possible. And let us be convinced that when we are right, we have nothing to fear. Wangari Maathai stood up for the trees and land grabbing, so we can stand for the people of this nation.
As young people who attended the Fourth National Youth Convention, I feel that it is a high time we organize ourselves into a force of change and show our leadership through expressing our disappointment with this government by getting involved in Active Non- Violent Activities, protests and engagements.
Let us do it!
From
OULU GPO
+254 722 214 869
www.oulugpo.blogspot.com
Monday, October 27, 2008
WAKI REPORT MAY NOT SURVIVE THE POLITICS OF INTERFERANCE, DENIAL AND DIVERSION
WAKI REPORT MAY NOT SURVIVE THE POLITICS OF INTERFERANCE, DENIAL AND DIVERSION
The greatest threat to Waki report is not where and when it would be implemented. It is not even whether an action will be taken on it or not. The greatest threat is that the people we expect to expedite the implementation of this report seem to be smeared with blood and some of them have their names contained and sealed in that little envelope that Kofi Annan handed to the UN headquarters. A section of our leaders have made statements amounting to denial or indicating that they are ready to face the law. Some have rubbished the report terming it shoddy. And this is exactly what Kenyans should weary about.
Signs are all over that we are not headed for better days ahead. Names of the mentioned are yet to be made available and known to the public, but the uproar that the report has created can tell the extent it is likely to be deformed and distorted by the interested groups. The approach and responses that our leaders have given on this report, falls short of the glory of spirit of nationalism and patriotism and like any other commissions findings, implementation of or acting on Waki report may not see the light of day.
The President is still quite about the report and the Prime minister’s position is still shaky at the face value. But our common fear is that these men who hold the highest position in the governance of this land may not have the sufficient courage to take a nationalist stand and stance. After all Kibaki and Raila are the people whose names and contest brewed and sparked the violence that rocked this nation. And none of them is courageous enough to put this country first without fearing future repercussions on their political career from their tribal, regional or parties support.
Worse still the greatest threat to Waki report lies in the nature and culture of our political class. History has taught us that the political class has creative ways of diverting the attention of Kenyans from the issues of national importance. Today we seem to have forgotten about Kriegler report, the IDP issue, the Grand Regency fraud, the Artur brothers’ saga, and many other more. If this is what to go by, then soon or later, the political class will come up with another agenda that will confuse or divert the attention of this country.
It is now upon Kenyans to decide what kind of the future they want. They will have to take it upon themselves to ensure that justice is done for Waki report grants Kenya an opportunity in which it can bring to a permanent end, the culture of impunity and set free the wheels of justice. It is the bridge that can lead this nation to true reconciliation and restoration of the power and order of rule of law. But to the contrary, if nothing is done now, then we can as well forget about the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Sad enough, if we opt to bring our tribal lies, selfish interest and political interference on Waki report, we may as well embrace to prepare and be ready for worse impunities and political disturbances in the coming future. That is the kind of test that our country will have to pass in order to reclaim its place in the eyes of the citizen of this nation.
So the question remains; will Waki report survive the turmoil? Time will tell. But Kenyans must remember that no matter how much we may bury our heads in the sand, the pains of those who perished, those who were displaced, and those who burnt alive to death, those orphaned, and those who lives with the scars will remain a permanent wound in the conscience of our minds, life, posterity, and duty bearers.
Justice is demanded now and Kenya urgently requires a leader who will resist and desist from politics of diversion, confusion and denial and move this nation to hope, equality and equity. Kibaki and Raila are you ready for the challenge? That is the question of a common hapless man.
Yours faithfully,
Signed
OULU GPO
P.O Box 4598-00200
Tel 0722 214 869
Nairobi
The greatest threat to Waki report is not where and when it would be implemented. It is not even whether an action will be taken on it or not. The greatest threat is that the people we expect to expedite the implementation of this report seem to be smeared with blood and some of them have their names contained and sealed in that little envelope that Kofi Annan handed to the UN headquarters. A section of our leaders have made statements amounting to denial or indicating that they are ready to face the law. Some have rubbished the report terming it shoddy. And this is exactly what Kenyans should weary about.
Signs are all over that we are not headed for better days ahead. Names of the mentioned are yet to be made available and known to the public, but the uproar that the report has created can tell the extent it is likely to be deformed and distorted by the interested groups. The approach and responses that our leaders have given on this report, falls short of the glory of spirit of nationalism and patriotism and like any other commissions findings, implementation of or acting on Waki report may not see the light of day.
The President is still quite about the report and the Prime minister’s position is still shaky at the face value. But our common fear is that these men who hold the highest position in the governance of this land may not have the sufficient courage to take a nationalist stand and stance. After all Kibaki and Raila are the people whose names and contest brewed and sparked the violence that rocked this nation. And none of them is courageous enough to put this country first without fearing future repercussions on their political career from their tribal, regional or parties support.
Worse still the greatest threat to Waki report lies in the nature and culture of our political class. History has taught us that the political class has creative ways of diverting the attention of Kenyans from the issues of national importance. Today we seem to have forgotten about Kriegler report, the IDP issue, the Grand Regency fraud, the Artur brothers’ saga, and many other more. If this is what to go by, then soon or later, the political class will come up with another agenda that will confuse or divert the attention of this country.
It is now upon Kenyans to decide what kind of the future they want. They will have to take it upon themselves to ensure that justice is done for Waki report grants Kenya an opportunity in which it can bring to a permanent end, the culture of impunity and set free the wheels of justice. It is the bridge that can lead this nation to true reconciliation and restoration of the power and order of rule of law. But to the contrary, if nothing is done now, then we can as well forget about the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Sad enough, if we opt to bring our tribal lies, selfish interest and political interference on Waki report, we may as well embrace to prepare and be ready for worse impunities and political disturbances in the coming future. That is the kind of test that our country will have to pass in order to reclaim its place in the eyes of the citizen of this nation.
So the question remains; will Waki report survive the turmoil? Time will tell. But Kenyans must remember that no matter how much we may bury our heads in the sand, the pains of those who perished, those who were displaced, and those who burnt alive to death, those orphaned, and those who lives with the scars will remain a permanent wound in the conscience of our minds, life, posterity, and duty bearers.
Justice is demanded now and Kenya urgently requires a leader who will resist and desist from politics of diversion, confusion and denial and move this nation to hope, equality and equity. Kibaki and Raila are you ready for the challenge? That is the question of a common hapless man.
Yours faithfully,
Signed
OULU GPO
P.O Box 4598-00200
Tel 0722 214 869
Nairobi
Sunday, August 17, 2008
What Kenya must do to attain the Vision 2030 growth goal
What Kenya must do to attain the Vision 2030 growth goal
Posted Friday, August 15 2008 at 19:04
After launching Vision 2030, many Kenyans have started making it a reality through various initiatives and personal involvement. And analysts are either supporting or criticising the Government’s socio-economic development blueprint.
But what is encouraging is that it has generated interest among almost every Kenyan, and the nation is talking about or taking stock of the much-touted strategy.
But reading through the medium-term plan and the popular version of its policy paper, it is clear that realising the objectives will need the support of all the interested parties and the public in general.
However, Kenya has a negative history, grounded on the culture of impunity that must first be addressed to psyche the entire populace to work together along the slippery road to Vision 2030.
To achieve the vision, Kenya will need to expand its democratic space and guarantee legal fairness for all. Grand corruption must be punished as severely as petty corruption. There should also be a wage policy for a fair rewarding system that will narrow down the gaping income gap.
Historical injustices must be addressed, so must the land issue so that the landless are settled. People who gained from the past disorderly regimes must be willing to own up to their actions and surrender the loot.
Young people must be put in the central knob that will twist open the door of the engine running the vision’s vehicle. Without meaningful involvement of young people the vision is doomed to failure. For as it stands now, a large percentage of youths has been pushed to the periphery of development and condemned to the dustbin of despair and hopelessness.
The political leadership must begin to do what they preach. For instance, it annoys one to hear them condemn the mayhem in secondary schools when they have been the cause of negative modelling of the youth. Politicians must declare their wealth and stop using young people as a shield as they quench their political thirst.
In the past, they have fronted the youth to fight their battles, only to dump them at the table of sharing power and the benefits.
The recommendations of various probe committees instituted by the President and Parliament to address past and present injustices must be enacted. And the Ndung’u land report and the others must be made public to renew our faith in governance and the power of transparency.
We need motivation and inspiration to feel equal and harness our doubts and fears. Kenya is not growing economically as fast as is expected not because the people are lazy. It is the state of disorder that has demoralised them. Kenyans need a natural respect founded on the understanding that any of them is equal to and as important as the other.
OULU GPO, Nairobi.
Friday, June 13, 2008
POST ELECTION VIOLENCE: THE YOUTH ARE VICTIMS OF POLITICAL SHENANIGANS
POST ELECTION VIOLENCE: THE YOUTH ARE VICTIMS OF POLITICAL SHENANIGANS
The politics that has manned the “Amnesty for the youth” debate is getting nasty on a daily basis and the momentum it has gained clearly reveals the nature and the nurture of our political class. One wonders whether both parties from the political divide: PNU and ODM have a genuine concern about these youths or whether their portrayed positions are formed and informed by their respective hidden political mission and vision.
To the extreme, this debate seemed to have posed a brittle fodder for departure and delinquent breakdown of the much touted Grand Coalition. Thanks to the Budget reading, the plane crash that claimed our two law makers, the by- election and the launch of the vision 2030 by the president; for they temporarily shifted the nations focus away from the much heated Amnesty debate.
As it was, it seemed that there had been no genuine concern to push for or against the amnesty for these youths. The initial signs have shown that the political class is concerned at the moment about 2012 more than any other thing. And as much they may deny this, they know well that the fate of those youth and the position they take now upon it may be of benefit or detriment to them come next general election.
The other day, the debate took a literary angle, when the Prime Minister, His Excellency Raila Amolo Odinga wrote an article in the same page with the Constitutional Affairs Minister Hon. Martha Karua in one of our local dailies on the topic of the amnesty for the Youths. Reading both articles, it was crystal clear that the two are actually reading from a different script. The latter took a legal angle, while the former opted to what may be classified under a moral angle. Surprisingly, all the arguments they put forward makes sense to Kenyans but derive a divided support depending on the political ridge upon which you lean.
The truth is that there more to what our eyes can see and ears can hear. Each group seems to be out to impress certain quarters of their communities or core supporters, a ceiling whose limits equates to an act of trade where the medium of exchange in this case remain the very youth whose fate not only hung unknown behind the bars but also thorny beyond entrustment unto the hands and terrain of our judicial system.
Awkwardly, Kenyans on the other hand have been dragged into this debate via a wrong route of perception and worse still drugged to believe that it is the youth who needs the amnesty more than any other person in this country. The gullible citizen have been made to believe that the youth who brought "sorrow" to this nation must be punished and that once this is done we, as a nation would have exercised justice. For those who take this deep debate on this shallow face value should note that this is a serious misgiving that should not blindfold our eyes as a nation. The political class has used such kind of tricks for so long to absolve themselves from all forms of accountabilities. In fact, at minimum, the sole intention of any political class in directing and distorting such contentious national debate is to end up hiding their own role.
The Youth are alleged to have committed a rainbow of crimes including but not limited to rape, destruction of properties, burnings, killings and looting. This clusters them as perpetrators but leaves vacant the names and whereabouts of the real architectures, facilitators, financers, planners and beneficiaries of such crime.
A report by Kenya National Human Rights Commission, A government’s own agency indicates that the violence were planned long time ago even before the Election. An equal report done by The Youth Agenda and named “Who Is Guilty?” launched late last month on Pre- Election violence has equal verdict; that the youth were just but the tail and not the head in the violence. The financiers were the old, those in leadership or a combination of both.
Unconfirmed reports also indicates that young men were being trained for war, in preparedness for the second phase of serious battle, were the Kofi Annan led talks hit a deadlock or fails. Further allegation has it that the young people who caused mayhem in Nakuru and Naivasha were transported there from Nairobi and other parts of the country. If this is what to go by, then it is a common knowledge that these young men were acting on behalf and for the benefit of the big and the mighty.
Rwanda case is a good example, while the people who caused mayhem or perpetrated the crimes against humanity, were hunted and apprehended those who are thought to have planned or financed the genocide are still being sought; a good example is one Felicen Kabuga who is still on the run over the genocide. Our own post election violence in Kenya may not compare to the Rwandan genocide but where are our Kabuga’s? And why are they still free if they are not on the run?
Kenyans need to be told why some of our legislators and prominent persons were issued with a visa ban by some western countries on the cases and at the epic of the Election violence? Could the ban have been related to their role in the violence?
The Amnesty Debate has been squeezed to sound as a favor for the youth but the reality is that those in power today, those sharing the same power and those in PNU and ODM today, deserve the Amnesty more than the youth. And if they are above it, so why not the youth?
The other side of the coin may display the accused youth as someone who need a payback more than the amnesty, deserving a reward and not a condemnation. After all, it can be argued that they protected our national democracy when those who are less interested about it wanted to deform it with impunity. They gave hope to the power of our vote. And they stood firm to say that we cannot lose our democratic gains that we painfully earned as a nation for the greed of the power hungry leaders. The youth and fear of their actions produced the grand coalition and brought the two leaders namely Raila and Kibaki to a serious negotiating table.
Amnesty or no amnesty, the following must prevail: fairness and justice must and should not only be spoken to or applied in favor of the few select or to the detriment of many arrested; The hand of law should not only be long when it comes to the arrest and accountability of the weak and the least and finally we have to learn to rise above our national crises devoid of political inclination.
Yours faithfully
Signed
OULU GPO
P.O Box 4598-00200
NAIROBI
The politics that has manned the “Amnesty for the youth” debate is getting nasty on a daily basis and the momentum it has gained clearly reveals the nature and the nurture of our political class. One wonders whether both parties from the political divide: PNU and ODM have a genuine concern about these youths or whether their portrayed positions are formed and informed by their respective hidden political mission and vision.
To the extreme, this debate seemed to have posed a brittle fodder for departure and delinquent breakdown of the much touted Grand Coalition. Thanks to the Budget reading, the plane crash that claimed our two law makers, the by- election and the launch of the vision 2030 by the president; for they temporarily shifted the nations focus away from the much heated Amnesty debate.
As it was, it seemed that there had been no genuine concern to push for or against the amnesty for these youths. The initial signs have shown that the political class is concerned at the moment about 2012 more than any other thing. And as much they may deny this, they know well that the fate of those youth and the position they take now upon it may be of benefit or detriment to them come next general election.
The other day, the debate took a literary angle, when the Prime Minister, His Excellency Raila Amolo Odinga wrote an article in the same page with the Constitutional Affairs Minister Hon. Martha Karua in one of our local dailies on the topic of the amnesty for the Youths. Reading both articles, it was crystal clear that the two are actually reading from a different script. The latter took a legal angle, while the former opted to what may be classified under a moral angle. Surprisingly, all the arguments they put forward makes sense to Kenyans but derive a divided support depending on the political ridge upon which you lean.
The truth is that there more to what our eyes can see and ears can hear. Each group seems to be out to impress certain quarters of their communities or core supporters, a ceiling whose limits equates to an act of trade where the medium of exchange in this case remain the very youth whose fate not only hung unknown behind the bars but also thorny beyond entrustment unto the hands and terrain of our judicial system.
Awkwardly, Kenyans on the other hand have been dragged into this debate via a wrong route of perception and worse still drugged to believe that it is the youth who needs the amnesty more than any other person in this country. The gullible citizen have been made to believe that the youth who brought "sorrow" to this nation must be punished and that once this is done we, as a nation would have exercised justice. For those who take this deep debate on this shallow face value should note that this is a serious misgiving that should not blindfold our eyes as a nation. The political class has used such kind of tricks for so long to absolve themselves from all forms of accountabilities. In fact, at minimum, the sole intention of any political class in directing and distorting such contentious national debate is to end up hiding their own role.
The Youth are alleged to have committed a rainbow of crimes including but not limited to rape, destruction of properties, burnings, killings and looting. This clusters them as perpetrators but leaves vacant the names and whereabouts of the real architectures, facilitators, financers, planners and beneficiaries of such crime.
A report by Kenya National Human Rights Commission, A government’s own agency indicates that the violence were planned long time ago even before the Election. An equal report done by The Youth Agenda and named “Who Is Guilty?” launched late last month on Pre- Election violence has equal verdict; that the youth were just but the tail and not the head in the violence. The financiers were the old, those in leadership or a combination of both.
Unconfirmed reports also indicates that young men were being trained for war, in preparedness for the second phase of serious battle, were the Kofi Annan led talks hit a deadlock or fails. Further allegation has it that the young people who caused mayhem in Nakuru and Naivasha were transported there from Nairobi and other parts of the country. If this is what to go by, then it is a common knowledge that these young men were acting on behalf and for the benefit of the big and the mighty.
Rwanda case is a good example, while the people who caused mayhem or perpetrated the crimes against humanity, were hunted and apprehended those who are thought to have planned or financed the genocide are still being sought; a good example is one Felicen Kabuga who is still on the run over the genocide. Our own post election violence in Kenya may not compare to the Rwandan genocide but where are our Kabuga’s? And why are they still free if they are not on the run?
Kenyans need to be told why some of our legislators and prominent persons were issued with a visa ban by some western countries on the cases and at the epic of the Election violence? Could the ban have been related to their role in the violence?
The Amnesty Debate has been squeezed to sound as a favor for the youth but the reality is that those in power today, those sharing the same power and those in PNU and ODM today, deserve the Amnesty more than the youth. And if they are above it, so why not the youth?
The other side of the coin may display the accused youth as someone who need a payback more than the amnesty, deserving a reward and not a condemnation. After all, it can be argued that they protected our national democracy when those who are less interested about it wanted to deform it with impunity. They gave hope to the power of our vote. And they stood firm to say that we cannot lose our democratic gains that we painfully earned as a nation for the greed of the power hungry leaders. The youth and fear of their actions produced the grand coalition and brought the two leaders namely Raila and Kibaki to a serious negotiating table.
Amnesty or no amnesty, the following must prevail: fairness and justice must and should not only be spoken to or applied in favor of the few select or to the detriment of many arrested; The hand of law should not only be long when it comes to the arrest and accountability of the weak and the least and finally we have to learn to rise above our national crises devoid of political inclination.
Yours faithfully
Signed
OULU GPO
P.O Box 4598-00200
NAIROBI
Monday, June 9, 2008
Obama’s victory reflects the power of diversity
Obama’s victory reflects the power of diversity
Published on June 8, 2008, 12:00 am
Barack Obama is the world-man of the moment. His win as Democratic Party nominee has been splashed widely in the world news headlines as the maker of a world history, especially in US.
His victory is being celebrated all over. Indeed he has become more than a Democrat candidate but the world candidate of the year.
He is a true testimony of the Martin Luther King’s dream and a perfect heir of Malcolm X struggle of an American society void of racism.
His primaries campaigns showed that politics need not be marketed by politicians, packaged by pollsters and pundits and that politics can be a moral arena where people come together to find common ground. His candidature has expanded, unified, directed, and inspired the entire world towards the noble mission of identity with the mission to teach the illiterate; to provide jobs for the jobless; and to choose the human race over the nuclear race.
It holds a greater lesson; that we need not to talk tough, wage war on nations and play race or tribal cards on humanity to gain our political aspiration. It shows that we can stand on truth and be different if need be as long as we can do that, based on our inner believe for the common good of all.
We have watched of a good mind fast at work, with steel nerves, guiding his campaign out of the competitive and financially challenging field without appeal to the worst in us. We have seen his toughness and tenacity.
He has set a lasting tower of hope as a testament to the struggles of those who have gone before him; those to come after him; as a tribute to the endurance, the patience, the courage of the world forefathers and mothers especially from the black community; as an assurance that their prayers are being answered, their work, wish and suffering has not been in vain, and, that hope is eternal.
Obama’s win reveals of a leader who acknowledges that a generation may not choose the age or circumstance in which it is born, but through leadership it can choose to make the age in which it is born.
But above all, it shows that this leadership must be that of intangible combination of gifts, the discipline, information, circumstance, courage, timing, will and divine inspiration.
This is the kind of leadership that Obama has offered and believes in to mitigate the misery of America and that of the world.
Obama took into greater consideration that America is not like a blanket; of one piece of unbroken cloth, the same colour, the same texture, and the same size. America, and by extension the world, is more like a quilt: many patches, many pieces, many colours, many sizes, all woven and held together by a common thread – the true picture of the beauty of diversity.
The white, the Hispanic, the black, the Arab, the Jew, the woman, the native American, the small farmer, the businessperson, the environmentalist, the peace activist, the young, the old, the lesbian, the gay, and the disabled make up the American quilt and so is the world. He has proved that he talked and appealed to all these groups and he stands to be their voice.
So the groups have spoken back, the delegates made their decision and the dice is now cast in favour of the son of African father and American mother. The American society has come forward to reconcile with the world that as much as they have been preaching democracy, a time has come for them to put it into practice. They have spoken and acted in the will and creed of their constitution.
Soon he (Obama) would travel the second tavern of journey — that of ensuring that he takes head on and brings into the rubble the fame and frame of the republican candidate, Senator John McCain.
The world now holds its breath with hope that the end will tally with the beginning. Obama’s candidature will go beyond the nomination but through to election. The wind of change is blowing and if the time has come, so be it. No one will stop this positive menace from clinching the coveted White House prize – that of presidency.
The campaigns were great; full of speeches and wisdom, energy and optimism and the world must learn that change lies in diversity. Time will tell, but the battle ahead is now between those for change and those against it.
The battle of course has surpassed the walls of blacks and whites – it is now at the level of the young and the old.
Oulu GPO,
Nairobi.
Published on June 8, 2008, 12:00 am
Barack Obama is the world-man of the moment. His win as Democratic Party nominee has been splashed widely in the world news headlines as the maker of a world history, especially in US.
His victory is being celebrated all over. Indeed he has become more than a Democrat candidate but the world candidate of the year.
He is a true testimony of the Martin Luther King’s dream and a perfect heir of Malcolm X struggle of an American society void of racism.
His primaries campaigns showed that politics need not be marketed by politicians, packaged by pollsters and pundits and that politics can be a moral arena where people come together to find common ground. His candidature has expanded, unified, directed, and inspired the entire world towards the noble mission of identity with the mission to teach the illiterate; to provide jobs for the jobless; and to choose the human race over the nuclear race.
It holds a greater lesson; that we need not to talk tough, wage war on nations and play race or tribal cards on humanity to gain our political aspiration. It shows that we can stand on truth and be different if need be as long as we can do that, based on our inner believe for the common good of all.
We have watched of a good mind fast at work, with steel nerves, guiding his campaign out of the competitive and financially challenging field without appeal to the worst in us. We have seen his toughness and tenacity.
He has set a lasting tower of hope as a testament to the struggles of those who have gone before him; those to come after him; as a tribute to the endurance, the patience, the courage of the world forefathers and mothers especially from the black community; as an assurance that their prayers are being answered, their work, wish and suffering has not been in vain, and, that hope is eternal.
Obama’s win reveals of a leader who acknowledges that a generation may not choose the age or circumstance in which it is born, but through leadership it can choose to make the age in which it is born.
But above all, it shows that this leadership must be that of intangible combination of gifts, the discipline, information, circumstance, courage, timing, will and divine inspiration.
This is the kind of leadership that Obama has offered and believes in to mitigate the misery of America and that of the world.
Obama took into greater consideration that America is not like a blanket; of one piece of unbroken cloth, the same colour, the same texture, and the same size. America, and by extension the world, is more like a quilt: many patches, many pieces, many colours, many sizes, all woven and held together by a common thread – the true picture of the beauty of diversity.
The white, the Hispanic, the black, the Arab, the Jew, the woman, the native American, the small farmer, the businessperson, the environmentalist, the peace activist, the young, the old, the lesbian, the gay, and the disabled make up the American quilt and so is the world. He has proved that he talked and appealed to all these groups and he stands to be their voice.
So the groups have spoken back, the delegates made their decision and the dice is now cast in favour of the son of African father and American mother. The American society has come forward to reconcile with the world that as much as they have been preaching democracy, a time has come for them to put it into practice. They have spoken and acted in the will and creed of their constitution.
Soon he (Obama) would travel the second tavern of journey — that of ensuring that he takes head on and brings into the rubble the fame and frame of the republican candidate, Senator John McCain.
The world now holds its breath with hope that the end will tally with the beginning. Obama’s candidature will go beyond the nomination but through to election. The wind of change is blowing and if the time has come, so be it. No one will stop this positive menace from clinching the coveted White House prize – that of presidency.
The campaigns were great; full of speeches and wisdom, energy and optimism and the world must learn that change lies in diversity. Time will tell, but the battle ahead is now between those for change and those against it.
The battle of course has surpassed the walls of blacks and whites – it is now at the level of the young and the old.
Oulu GPO,
Nairobi.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
KRIEGLER TEAM IS A NOBLE IDEA, BUT IT LACKS INITIAL
KRIEGLER TEAM IS A NOBLE IDEA, BUT IT LACKS INITIAL
INDEPENDENCE AND AN ULTIMATE PURPOSE
The Kriegler Commission which was formed to investigate the alleged irregularities that marred last year General Elections looks so flourishing at the face value. It ekes hopes and lots of faith in Kenyans heart; that the truth will finally come out and Kenyans may be able to know who really won the December polls.
But with all due respect we need to read suspect in this Commission. While it looks like and indeed should be a noble idea, the commission first and foremost is not independent as it has been regularly referred to. It is not independent in both the way it is constituted and mandated. Apart from the chairman of this commission, other members were nominated by and drawn from the two wrangling parties; ODM and PNU. This makes it lacks independency in the sense that these are people with key and specific interests to achieve and positions to defend. Besides the commission chairperson, did make it clear at the beginning of their task that their mandate does not include determining who exactly won the election and if they were to do so then it means they would be acting ultra vires.
The commission is time barred -by the fact that a coalition government has been formed and put in place following the mediated talks, agreement and signing up of the National Reconciliation Accord by the two principals and passing it into law. This serves as self evidence that the principals have gone beyond the poll wrangles and now would wish to move forward by sharing power and governance. The grand coalition is on its feet and both the president and the prime minister are showing immense commitment to make it remain united.
Kriegler Commission may therefore turn out to be another public relation exercise after all. But worse still, if its report was to be made public and be reflective of what exactly happened, then it may act as the departing and crumbling point of the grand coalition government. This is a road that may take this nation several steps backward contrary to our desire to move forward.
The Electoral irregularities that were witnessed in the December Polls were so obvious and all its cause pointers are titled towards the direction of Electoral Commission of Kenya as an institution in terms of the strength of its structure, financing, composition control and degree of its independency. Thus, as much as the Kriegler commission may be operating on the right mission, it is racing on the wrong track. ECK as institution should be the issue and not who was declared winner or rather who won and who never won the December polls.
Once the two Principals chose to sacrifice the truth about the polls and the people’s democratic decision at the altar of saving this nation, it is assumed that the issue of winner and loser was forgotten, nullified and buried to rest. Kenyans should be well informed that their expectations are too high for nothing and that what they expect out of Kriegler Commission may totally be different from what the political class are intending to achieve out of this conspicuous commission.
As a matter of fact the commission may not be able to be of any good for Kenyans. For instance, its first seating was marred with abuses, counter accusations and wrangles by both its own members, legislators and members of public, changing bitter words and acclaiming blames against one another on who won or stole the elections. Thus the genuine commission report and actions, may as well derail the spirit of reconciliation since it may act as a permanent reminder to Kenyans of an ugly and emotional past; enabling us to continue fueling the poll debate in a negative way and tattooing one another with negative adjectives like “thieves of election.”
As long as this commission lacks a clear mandate, this country may find itself divided further worse than it was in January. But this will collaterally and heavily depend on the hidden intention that the political class may harbor beyond their smiles, hopes and expectation on the commission that they have generally displayed before the beaming Media cameras and Newspapers.
Appearing in this commission is therefore a waste of time and legitimizing of irregularities committed by our political class against the spirit, purpose and composition in forming of any commission that is intended to reflect the people’s will, desires and aspiration for a forward moving nation.
It is at this point where our nation needs true leadership, patriotism and honesty. We need to hear the voice and the position of the civil society and other defenders of this country’s democratic gains on this hot debate about the Kriegler Commission.
The media has played a pivotal role to inform, update and educate the mass on the hurdles that are likely to face this commission. This can act as a turning point, platform and form the basis in which this nation may find space to pause and pay some attention and constructive conscience questions on this commission.
Unlike other former commissions, whose reports and findings has never seen the light of the day and instead gathers dust in safe locks, Kriegler Commission is like a volcano, which may trigger political turmoil at any slightest and careless comments or utterances by our political class.
The likelihood that the report may not be made public is so high and as such it poses a threat of being used as a political and hidden tool for breaking the grand coalition or dividing this nation in the middle again along tribal lines for political gain or loss before or by 2012. Under the circumstances and environment in which this commission is founded, it paints a picture of postponement of the root cause of a crisis and a deliberate construction a political landmine that may bring down the tower of our hope as a nation.
As for now, all what the Kenyans can read from the face and the packet of Kriegler commission is “good and timely intention.” But aware of the strides that we have taken to make or fake the return of the state of normalcy to this nation after 2 months or so of street battles, displacements of people, destructions of properties, devastation of the economy, mass killings and tribal cleansing one another, following the disputed December General Elections, time is the only measure that will tell whether the commission will have been outstanding, different or of meaning to this nation and its citizens. But before that, all may look good for now but might the final situation may turn out to be neither the gold nor the goldmine.
Yours faithfully
Signed
OULU GPO
P.O Box 4598-00200
Nairobi.
INDEPENDENCE AND AN ULTIMATE PURPOSE
The Kriegler Commission which was formed to investigate the alleged irregularities that marred last year General Elections looks so flourishing at the face value. It ekes hopes and lots of faith in Kenyans heart; that the truth will finally come out and Kenyans may be able to know who really won the December polls.
But with all due respect we need to read suspect in this Commission. While it looks like and indeed should be a noble idea, the commission first and foremost is not independent as it has been regularly referred to. It is not independent in both the way it is constituted and mandated. Apart from the chairman of this commission, other members were nominated by and drawn from the two wrangling parties; ODM and PNU. This makes it lacks independency in the sense that these are people with key and specific interests to achieve and positions to defend. Besides the commission chairperson, did make it clear at the beginning of their task that their mandate does not include determining who exactly won the election and if they were to do so then it means they would be acting ultra vires.
The commission is time barred -by the fact that a coalition government has been formed and put in place following the mediated talks, agreement and signing up of the National Reconciliation Accord by the two principals and passing it into law. This serves as self evidence that the principals have gone beyond the poll wrangles and now would wish to move forward by sharing power and governance. The grand coalition is on its feet and both the president and the prime minister are showing immense commitment to make it remain united.
Kriegler Commission may therefore turn out to be another public relation exercise after all. But worse still, if its report was to be made public and be reflective of what exactly happened, then it may act as the departing and crumbling point of the grand coalition government. This is a road that may take this nation several steps backward contrary to our desire to move forward.
The Electoral irregularities that were witnessed in the December Polls were so obvious and all its cause pointers are titled towards the direction of Electoral Commission of Kenya as an institution in terms of the strength of its structure, financing, composition control and degree of its independency. Thus, as much as the Kriegler commission may be operating on the right mission, it is racing on the wrong track. ECK as institution should be the issue and not who was declared winner or rather who won and who never won the December polls.
Once the two Principals chose to sacrifice the truth about the polls and the people’s democratic decision at the altar of saving this nation, it is assumed that the issue of winner and loser was forgotten, nullified and buried to rest. Kenyans should be well informed that their expectations are too high for nothing and that what they expect out of Kriegler Commission may totally be different from what the political class are intending to achieve out of this conspicuous commission.
As a matter of fact the commission may not be able to be of any good for Kenyans. For instance, its first seating was marred with abuses, counter accusations and wrangles by both its own members, legislators and members of public, changing bitter words and acclaiming blames against one another on who won or stole the elections. Thus the genuine commission report and actions, may as well derail the spirit of reconciliation since it may act as a permanent reminder to Kenyans of an ugly and emotional past; enabling us to continue fueling the poll debate in a negative way and tattooing one another with negative adjectives like “thieves of election.”
As long as this commission lacks a clear mandate, this country may find itself divided further worse than it was in January. But this will collaterally and heavily depend on the hidden intention that the political class may harbor beyond their smiles, hopes and expectation on the commission that they have generally displayed before the beaming Media cameras and Newspapers.
Appearing in this commission is therefore a waste of time and legitimizing of irregularities committed by our political class against the spirit, purpose and composition in forming of any commission that is intended to reflect the people’s will, desires and aspiration for a forward moving nation.
It is at this point where our nation needs true leadership, patriotism and honesty. We need to hear the voice and the position of the civil society and other defenders of this country’s democratic gains on this hot debate about the Kriegler Commission.
The media has played a pivotal role to inform, update and educate the mass on the hurdles that are likely to face this commission. This can act as a turning point, platform and form the basis in which this nation may find space to pause and pay some attention and constructive conscience questions on this commission.
Unlike other former commissions, whose reports and findings has never seen the light of the day and instead gathers dust in safe locks, Kriegler Commission is like a volcano, which may trigger political turmoil at any slightest and careless comments or utterances by our political class.
The likelihood that the report may not be made public is so high and as such it poses a threat of being used as a political and hidden tool for breaking the grand coalition or dividing this nation in the middle again along tribal lines for political gain or loss before or by 2012. Under the circumstances and environment in which this commission is founded, it paints a picture of postponement of the root cause of a crisis and a deliberate construction a political landmine that may bring down the tower of our hope as a nation.
As for now, all what the Kenyans can read from the face and the packet of Kriegler commission is “good and timely intention.” But aware of the strides that we have taken to make or fake the return of the state of normalcy to this nation after 2 months or so of street battles, displacements of people, destructions of properties, devastation of the economy, mass killings and tribal cleansing one another, following the disputed December General Elections, time is the only measure that will tell whether the commission will have been outstanding, different or of meaning to this nation and its citizens. But before that, all may look good for now but might the final situation may turn out to be neither the gold nor the goldmine.
Yours faithfully
Signed
OULU GPO
P.O Box 4598-00200
Nairobi.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
IS IT NOT THE TIME FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE TO ARISE FOR THEMSELVES?
IS IT NOT THE TIME FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE TO ARISE FOR THEMSELVES?
When all of us were, young and growing, we were told that we are the leaders of tomorrow. This we faithfully believed and we all worked hard to see that someday, we shall rise to the leadership role. Surprisingly, the years have rolled forth but the so called leadership of tomorrow for the young people has remained so elusive more than even when we first heard of it. We instead have been ousted from heirs of leadership to hearers of leadership.
The young people in this country have faithfully continued to play a critical role in ensuring that the nation makes a forward stride in her democratic struggle and gains. We have written a magnificent history in our own accord. We have ascended the troubled times and we have done our best to safeguard splendor and values of this nation. During the dark days of Moi regime, young people lost their lives in political elimination and were also detained whenever they arose against the bad and the oppressive yet authoritative system of that moment. Names like James Orengo, Njonjo Mue, Wafula Buke, JM Kariuki, and Koigi WA Wamwere among others ring an automatic bell of a brigade of young but great leaders who were so willing to donate their own lives for the sake of this nation and who have remained and will remain a fountain of inspiration to many more in our current time and in times to come.
Student leadership and student community in the institutions of higher learning in conjunction with the vibrant civil societies of that time offered a permanent and a constant opposition to the awkward Moi regime. These youngsters faced the highest level of brutality for the love of this nation. They offered direction and remained a tower of hope for the hopeless.
In 2002, in our great numbers, the young people redefined the path of democracy of this nation. Firm we stood and in block we voted to bring to abrupt and what seems to be a permanent end of dictatorial KANU regime. This saw an exit of Moi regime and final defeat of his preferred predecessor, Hon. Uhuru Kenyatta. The story is the same in 2007 general election; we turned in big numbers in peace and braved the long cues to express our democratic will through our vote.
But, when the democracy of this nation was at a threat, and the will of the people was being tampered with by Electoral Commission of Kenya, it is the young people who went to the streets to defend it. We lost our lives, made to conflict among ourselves and received mass demonisation but kept on the spirit to defend what we believed is right. Through our agitation, the nation was held at ransom and the Principals had no choice but to sit and negotiate. In one voice we made it clear that our nation would not move on unless certain issues were ironed out. The political class derived their strength to negotiate and make statements based on the support they knew they would draw from our struggle. Indeed, if we didn’t go to the streets, caused havoc and made noise, then all we see today would be just but a dream. Kibaki would have been the president and Raila official opposition leader. But our struggle, our blood and our bruises produced a grand coalition government, a peace deal and ultimate normalcy to this nation.
Unfortunately, having struggled and battled this far, we will still find ourselves languishing in poverty, embattled by lack of employment and swimming in the sea of neglect. The cost of living is rising, taxes are increasing and our political class seems to give us no priority.
This is the time when we need, ever than before to unite among ourselves and clearly redefine who we are. We need to rise and claim back our nation. We need to stand up and say that we can. Our demographic strength must now be reflected in our national priorities, employment opportunities and in distribution of resources. A nation can not hold together, if her young people are neglected and forgotten.
Is it not the time where we should rise and claim our historical place in this nation and occupy our leadership mansion? Is it not the time when, we need to show this nation what we can do in terms of leadership if given a chance?
Our sacrifice must not to benefit few and aged but it should be for all and for young people. We must not crawl if we can run. Our unity will be the beginning point. And the knowledge of how historically, we have been fought and sidelined will also help us to pursue our resolve to be great.
Yours truly,
Signed
OULU GPO
P.O Box 4598-00200
Nairobi.
When all of us were, young and growing, we were told that we are the leaders of tomorrow. This we faithfully believed and we all worked hard to see that someday, we shall rise to the leadership role. Surprisingly, the years have rolled forth but the so called leadership of tomorrow for the young people has remained so elusive more than even when we first heard of it. We instead have been ousted from heirs of leadership to hearers of leadership.
The young people in this country have faithfully continued to play a critical role in ensuring that the nation makes a forward stride in her democratic struggle and gains. We have written a magnificent history in our own accord. We have ascended the troubled times and we have done our best to safeguard splendor and values of this nation. During the dark days of Moi regime, young people lost their lives in political elimination and were also detained whenever they arose against the bad and the oppressive yet authoritative system of that moment. Names like James Orengo, Njonjo Mue, Wafula Buke, JM Kariuki, and Koigi WA Wamwere among others ring an automatic bell of a brigade of young but great leaders who were so willing to donate their own lives for the sake of this nation and who have remained and will remain a fountain of inspiration to many more in our current time and in times to come.
Student leadership and student community in the institutions of higher learning in conjunction with the vibrant civil societies of that time offered a permanent and a constant opposition to the awkward Moi regime. These youngsters faced the highest level of brutality for the love of this nation. They offered direction and remained a tower of hope for the hopeless.
In 2002, in our great numbers, the young people redefined the path of democracy of this nation. Firm we stood and in block we voted to bring to abrupt and what seems to be a permanent end of dictatorial KANU regime. This saw an exit of Moi regime and final defeat of his preferred predecessor, Hon. Uhuru Kenyatta. The story is the same in 2007 general election; we turned in big numbers in peace and braved the long cues to express our democratic will through our vote.
But, when the democracy of this nation was at a threat, and the will of the people was being tampered with by Electoral Commission of Kenya, it is the young people who went to the streets to defend it. We lost our lives, made to conflict among ourselves and received mass demonisation but kept on the spirit to defend what we believed is right. Through our agitation, the nation was held at ransom and the Principals had no choice but to sit and negotiate. In one voice we made it clear that our nation would not move on unless certain issues were ironed out. The political class derived their strength to negotiate and make statements based on the support they knew they would draw from our struggle. Indeed, if we didn’t go to the streets, caused havoc and made noise, then all we see today would be just but a dream. Kibaki would have been the president and Raila official opposition leader. But our struggle, our blood and our bruises produced a grand coalition government, a peace deal and ultimate normalcy to this nation.
Unfortunately, having struggled and battled this far, we will still find ourselves languishing in poverty, embattled by lack of employment and swimming in the sea of neglect. The cost of living is rising, taxes are increasing and our political class seems to give us no priority.
This is the time when we need, ever than before to unite among ourselves and clearly redefine who we are. We need to rise and claim back our nation. We need to stand up and say that we can. Our demographic strength must now be reflected in our national priorities, employment opportunities and in distribution of resources. A nation can not hold together, if her young people are neglected and forgotten.
Is it not the time where we should rise and claim our historical place in this nation and occupy our leadership mansion? Is it not the time when, we need to show this nation what we can do in terms of leadership if given a chance?
Our sacrifice must not to benefit few and aged but it should be for all and for young people. We must not crawl if we can run. Our unity will be the beginning point. And the knowledge of how historically, we have been fought and sidelined will also help us to pursue our resolve to be great.
Yours truly,
Signed
OULU GPO
P.O Box 4598-00200
Nairobi.
WHO WILL SAVE THE UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI?
WHO WILL SAVE THE UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI?
The mention of University of Nairobi elicits and depicts memories of an institution of higher learning that has produced a bulk of elite leadership of this nation. It is an institution where great ideas and minds have been produced. From political figures, to managers, to thinkers, to philosophers to distinguished and respected scholars.
Most of our legislators, ambassadors, chief executive officers of leading companies just but to mention a few, are products of this great institution.
Today, unfortunately, this university that was once a tower and a fountain of knowledge is degrading and bleeding from within at a worrying and silent rate. Apart from the buildings that are looking sharp, painted and expanded, the institution is a home of untold magnitude of corruption like activities, manipulation of its own statutes and interference with democratic space of both the academic staff and the students. The institution is in dire need of management uplifting. While the nation expands in its democratic borders, the University has been busy constricting this space. For the last 3 years, it has turned itself into a haven of repression where all whistleblowers are seen and perceived by the system as the enemies of development and are met with maximum cruelty which include termination of service, suspension and expulsion. Indeed, both students and the academic staffs have been pushed to the periphery of fear and weakened by unimagined consequences to the extent that they find it hard to bring to light some of the dark and dirty blankets that filth this institution. The cost of talking about the ills is so expensive that the informed yet grumbling students and the general staff finds it cheaper to learn the unbearable skills that enables them to co-exist with these ills.
To begin these highlights is the issue of the supportive facilities at this institution. They are so limited and those in existence are so out dated. While times demand for technological advancement, the institution still holds faithfully to old chairs, chalks, libraries and academic facilities. Both Parallel and regular students are severely affected, as they are always forced to fight for space in the lecture theaters. The student – lecturer ratio is overwhelming and as such the academic staff finds themselves overburdened to the extent that they can not carry an effective research as desired and defined by the University statutes.
The academic staffs are also lowly paid and this is evident in the fact that most of them would have additional business or classes in commercial colleges in town in order to support their families. Worse still, they find themselves unable to educate their own kids in this University where they offer their services. In fact some students lead a better life than their own lecturers.
“But what are the short term causes of these problems and where is the student Union to bring to light this historical tragedy?” The truth is that the current administration is so dictatorial and do not believe in diversified opinions. As such it has ensured that it determines and control the student union through bribery, threats and favoritism and the same is done to a section of the academic staff. Internal spies that supports this ill system and its ilk is well planted in every campus. And any form of disgruntlement leads to an automatic repression
Despite such challenge, some bold students have taken a risk to write some articles to “letters to editors” column of the mainstream newspaper about this state of affairs, but it seems that our country men have not found it wise to instigate this institution to save our future. The media have done a bit of their work and highlighted some of sad and degrading moments in this institution including a case in which a daughter of one of the deputy vice-chancellor was admitted at the medical school with a lower grade as required by the senate, courtesy of favoritism, but yet no one seem to be interested to give a listening ear.
The students are disillusioned especially by both the student union, student leadership and the ill abetting systems in the Administration. SONU has been turned into a cash crop and a stepping stone. Student leaders do anything to appease the Administration in order to gain cheap cash, employment after their academic terms and scholarship among other undisclosed yet undisputed self gains.
SONU election has never been fair or reflective of the student wishes. The students vote, but administration with the help of some outgoing SONU officials will always award themselves maximum veto power to decide who the SONU leaders become. This is the kind of geography that has been manicured at this Institution.
The forthcoming SONU elections are not expected to be different. And as a result we shall still end up with officials who will pledge loyalty to Administration at all cost. The SONU accounts are never audited yet every year, the students are forced to pump in more than 30 million Kenyan shillings. This is the only place, where you can access cash as a cooperating student leader without being asked to account for it. And despite the existence of the Student parliament, which should offer among other things, checks and safeguard to student finance through approving expenditures, the fictitious expenditure are a proved by ficticious parliamentary minutes With this privilege, no one seems to have interest to be go against the system.
But all is not lost. There still exist great and unsung but a large numbers of students and academic staffs who have remained faithful to their work and proved un-incorruptible at any cost. A random interview in this institution will reveal how much this community is burdened and in desperate need for someone who could stand up for them. However, the main worry lies in the fact that, the leaders who should nurture our future are the one who are busy corrupting and distorting it. Punishing those who are good and rewarding those who are bad.
But for how long can a generation keep quite? If we can not stand up for what is right in a small way, how then can we expect to change the destination of this nation? We can not appreciate the word patriotism if we can not stand up when times are tough and harsh. The situation in this institution of higher learning challenges the role of education. As per now it seems that the vibrancy of student fraternity in the early eighties and nineties, have been substituted by the education for survival rather than that of protecting and defining our future. So in writing in this forum, I strongly believe that someone out there will hear me and another will concur with me and may be the Ministry of Education or the media fraternity will be able to step in and save this great institution through a constructive intervention.
History is full of people who chose to speak when all were afraid to do so. And the time is ripe. Is there a voice out here that will save this institution? Great men and women, this is a humble appeal and call that will repeal the frustrations in this great institution. Saving UON is saving our future. I strongly believe that this will set the first step of a great beginning.
Yours faithfully,
Signed
OULU GPO
P.O Box 4598-00200
Nairobi
Tel 0722 214 869
NB. I am currently a 4th year Student at the University of Nairobi. I served in SONU as the Vice- Chair Chairman, was suspended for whistle blowing and have a first hand experience on how the system suppress and violate the rights of the Students and that of academic staff. I have more that I can offer to support the above article and its contents. I am concerned about the future of this University and I remain available for comments, interview or any other work that may help achieve this mission. My contacts are as above
The mention of University of Nairobi elicits and depicts memories of an institution of higher learning that has produced a bulk of elite leadership of this nation. It is an institution where great ideas and minds have been produced. From political figures, to managers, to thinkers, to philosophers to distinguished and respected scholars.
Most of our legislators, ambassadors, chief executive officers of leading companies just but to mention a few, are products of this great institution.
Today, unfortunately, this university that was once a tower and a fountain of knowledge is degrading and bleeding from within at a worrying and silent rate. Apart from the buildings that are looking sharp, painted and expanded, the institution is a home of untold magnitude of corruption like activities, manipulation of its own statutes and interference with democratic space of both the academic staff and the students. The institution is in dire need of management uplifting. While the nation expands in its democratic borders, the University has been busy constricting this space. For the last 3 years, it has turned itself into a haven of repression where all whistleblowers are seen and perceived by the system as the enemies of development and are met with maximum cruelty which include termination of service, suspension and expulsion. Indeed, both students and the academic staffs have been pushed to the periphery of fear and weakened by unimagined consequences to the extent that they find it hard to bring to light some of the dark and dirty blankets that filth this institution. The cost of talking about the ills is so expensive that the informed yet grumbling students and the general staff finds it cheaper to learn the unbearable skills that enables them to co-exist with these ills.
To begin these highlights is the issue of the supportive facilities at this institution. They are so limited and those in existence are so out dated. While times demand for technological advancement, the institution still holds faithfully to old chairs, chalks, libraries and academic facilities. Both Parallel and regular students are severely affected, as they are always forced to fight for space in the lecture theaters. The student – lecturer ratio is overwhelming and as such the academic staff finds themselves overburdened to the extent that they can not carry an effective research as desired and defined by the University statutes.
The academic staffs are also lowly paid and this is evident in the fact that most of them would have additional business or classes in commercial colleges in town in order to support their families. Worse still, they find themselves unable to educate their own kids in this University where they offer their services. In fact some students lead a better life than their own lecturers.
“But what are the short term causes of these problems and where is the student Union to bring to light this historical tragedy?” The truth is that the current administration is so dictatorial and do not believe in diversified opinions. As such it has ensured that it determines and control the student union through bribery, threats and favoritism and the same is done to a section of the academic staff. Internal spies that supports this ill system and its ilk is well planted in every campus. And any form of disgruntlement leads to an automatic repression
Despite such challenge, some bold students have taken a risk to write some articles to “letters to editors” column of the mainstream newspaper about this state of affairs, but it seems that our country men have not found it wise to instigate this institution to save our future. The media have done a bit of their work and highlighted some of sad and degrading moments in this institution including a case in which a daughter of one of the deputy vice-chancellor was admitted at the medical school with a lower grade as required by the senate, courtesy of favoritism, but yet no one seem to be interested to give a listening ear.
The students are disillusioned especially by both the student union, student leadership and the ill abetting systems in the Administration. SONU has been turned into a cash crop and a stepping stone. Student leaders do anything to appease the Administration in order to gain cheap cash, employment after their academic terms and scholarship among other undisclosed yet undisputed self gains.
SONU election has never been fair or reflective of the student wishes. The students vote, but administration with the help of some outgoing SONU officials will always award themselves maximum veto power to decide who the SONU leaders become. This is the kind of geography that has been manicured at this Institution.
The forthcoming SONU elections are not expected to be different. And as a result we shall still end up with officials who will pledge loyalty to Administration at all cost. The SONU accounts are never audited yet every year, the students are forced to pump in more than 30 million Kenyan shillings. This is the only place, where you can access cash as a cooperating student leader without being asked to account for it. And despite the existence of the Student parliament, which should offer among other things, checks and safeguard to student finance through approving expenditures, the fictitious expenditure are a proved by ficticious parliamentary minutes With this privilege, no one seems to have interest to be go against the system.
But all is not lost. There still exist great and unsung but a large numbers of students and academic staffs who have remained faithful to their work and proved un-incorruptible at any cost. A random interview in this institution will reveal how much this community is burdened and in desperate need for someone who could stand up for them. However, the main worry lies in the fact that, the leaders who should nurture our future are the one who are busy corrupting and distorting it. Punishing those who are good and rewarding those who are bad.
But for how long can a generation keep quite? If we can not stand up for what is right in a small way, how then can we expect to change the destination of this nation? We can not appreciate the word patriotism if we can not stand up when times are tough and harsh. The situation in this institution of higher learning challenges the role of education. As per now it seems that the vibrancy of student fraternity in the early eighties and nineties, have been substituted by the education for survival rather than that of protecting and defining our future. So in writing in this forum, I strongly believe that someone out there will hear me and another will concur with me and may be the Ministry of Education or the media fraternity will be able to step in and save this great institution through a constructive intervention.
History is full of people who chose to speak when all were afraid to do so. And the time is ripe. Is there a voice out here that will save this institution? Great men and women, this is a humble appeal and call that will repeal the frustrations in this great institution. Saving UON is saving our future. I strongly believe that this will set the first step of a great beginning.
Yours faithfully,
Signed
OULU GPO
P.O Box 4598-00200
Nairobi
Tel 0722 214 869
NB. I am currently a 4th year Student at the University of Nairobi. I served in SONU as the Vice- Chair Chairman, was suspended for whistle blowing and have a first hand experience on how the system suppress and violate the rights of the Students and that of academic staff. I have more that I can offer to support the above article and its contents. I am concerned about the future of this University and I remain available for comments, interview or any other work that may help achieve this mission. My contacts are as above
Monday, May 12, 2008
THE KENYAN LAND ISSUE IS FAR FROM ENDING
THE KENYAN LAND ISSUE IS FAR FROM ENDING
The great Afro- American human right defender and leader, Mr. Malcolm X once, in his speech “the message from grassroots” described land as the basis of all freedoms. In so saying he meant that no nation could survive if her people had no place to call their own land.
In his analysis, he cited that all revolutions across the world including the Mau Mau was based, informed and founded on the issue and basis of land. The fight for freedom was for re-ownership of land and other desires by the natives.
This is the point that the so-called founding fathers of this nation failed to see, realize and adequately address.
Wananchi, especially those whose land had earlier been forcefully taken by the white settlers, thought that the achievement of this nation’s independence would mark a beginning of their decent life and repossession of their own land.
Unfortunately, while the white settlers were exiting, in were coming the black native colonialists. The independence government officials instead diverted the people’s land to themselves and to the ownership of their cronies who were equally favored by this selfish act of that government.
Those who fought in the forest to get their land back still found themselves landless, poor and pushed to the periphery. Those who were lucky enough among them got resettled in some parts of this country without any care of the danger that this would have posed for the future. This situation was also worsened by mass grabbing of fertile land from the citizens by the black leadership, forceful evictions and subsequent resettlement of the affected people.
The political turmoil experienced in Kenya, just after the 2007 Election is a true testimony on how land issue has evolved into a dragonish and complicated foe able to consume the entire nation under a coil of political, economical or social front. During the Post election violence in2007/2008, displacements of people were done on the basis of land, where others were considered “outsiders” to and of a certain area. And as a result, properties worth billions of Kenyan shillings were destroyed, lives were equally lost and the economy devastated. The land question has since brought hate of greatest magnitude among the communities. On and off, communities has found themselves wrangling among themselves for quest of land ownership.
But to the national amazement, the political class and the governments that have been in existence since independence have not paid much attention to out root this cancer that pose a latent threat to the existence of this nation. While the land issue has been a real problem, it has received less attention. And every regime unfortunately has swept this issue under a carpet and instead preferred to address the symptoms of this problem instead of the real issues.
So, as much we would like to currently address the issue of internally displaced people, it would be wise for us to revisit the historical facts about land. Some of the displaced people have made it clear that they would not want to go back to their farms. These groups have a genuine concern; they are tired of being displaced and they know that their fate is far from the end. They want total freedom; once and for all.
So Kenya must use this crisis to seek truth about land issue must. Kenyans should demand to know who took away the lands that were once owned by the white settlers, the mode of which they were acquired and why it did not go back to the rightful owners.
We must also audit and question how some prominent people came to have big chunks of land they have today and also put to public knowledge how the entire land in this nation is distributed. This will help us to confirm or demystify the validity of some theories and myths surrounding the land debate.
It is said that there exist absentee landlords in this country, while at the same time, it a common knowledge that there are squatters. Audit on land ownership may help us to re-distribute such kind of lands to end some of this paradox of our time.
While a recent statement by the land Minister Hon. James Orengo proposing that some internally displaced people be resettled elsewhere in the country, was met by maximum rebellion from a section of legislators, leaders and Ministers, it would have been wise perhaps to have it as a beginning point of resolving the land issue. We need to give the Minister a chance to picture what he has in his mind. I believe that he may have come across some key information about land recovery or availability that could have been vital to end the endless nightmare of displacement based on the land feuds.
Maina Njenga, the jailed and alleged Mungiki Spiritual leader, makes it clear that they are the forgotten children of Mau Mau leaders, who are demanding back their land and share of the national cake. His position makes sense; that people cannot stay in poverty and inequality while they bear the full knowledge that somehow and somewhere they were shortchanged of their aspiration at independence time.
Land issue is a thorny adventure, but the only solution to it will be founded at that moment when this nation shall face the truth and be honest to herself. Justice cannot operate in vacuum; it must occupy a space in which the historical injustices must stand addressed with restitution and equal distribution of resources.
Yours faithfully,
Signed
OULU GPO
P.O Box 4598-00200
Nairobi
The great Afro- American human right defender and leader, Mr. Malcolm X once, in his speech “the message from grassroots” described land as the basis of all freedoms. In so saying he meant that no nation could survive if her people had no place to call their own land.
In his analysis, he cited that all revolutions across the world including the Mau Mau was based, informed and founded on the issue and basis of land. The fight for freedom was for re-ownership of land and other desires by the natives.
This is the point that the so-called founding fathers of this nation failed to see, realize and adequately address.
Wananchi, especially those whose land had earlier been forcefully taken by the white settlers, thought that the achievement of this nation’s independence would mark a beginning of their decent life and repossession of their own land.
Unfortunately, while the white settlers were exiting, in were coming the black native colonialists. The independence government officials instead diverted the people’s land to themselves and to the ownership of their cronies who were equally favored by this selfish act of that government.
Those who fought in the forest to get their land back still found themselves landless, poor and pushed to the periphery. Those who were lucky enough among them got resettled in some parts of this country without any care of the danger that this would have posed for the future. This situation was also worsened by mass grabbing of fertile land from the citizens by the black leadership, forceful evictions and subsequent resettlement of the affected people.
The political turmoil experienced in Kenya, just after the 2007 Election is a true testimony on how land issue has evolved into a dragonish and complicated foe able to consume the entire nation under a coil of political, economical or social front. During the Post election violence in2007/2008, displacements of people were done on the basis of land, where others were considered “outsiders” to and of a certain area. And as a result, properties worth billions of Kenyan shillings were destroyed, lives were equally lost and the economy devastated. The land question has since brought hate of greatest magnitude among the communities. On and off, communities has found themselves wrangling among themselves for quest of land ownership.
But to the national amazement, the political class and the governments that have been in existence since independence have not paid much attention to out root this cancer that pose a latent threat to the existence of this nation. While the land issue has been a real problem, it has received less attention. And every regime unfortunately has swept this issue under a carpet and instead preferred to address the symptoms of this problem instead of the real issues.
So, as much we would like to currently address the issue of internally displaced people, it would be wise for us to revisit the historical facts about land. Some of the displaced people have made it clear that they would not want to go back to their farms. These groups have a genuine concern; they are tired of being displaced and they know that their fate is far from the end. They want total freedom; once and for all.
So Kenya must use this crisis to seek truth about land issue must. Kenyans should demand to know who took away the lands that were once owned by the white settlers, the mode of which they were acquired and why it did not go back to the rightful owners.
We must also audit and question how some prominent people came to have big chunks of land they have today and also put to public knowledge how the entire land in this nation is distributed. This will help us to confirm or demystify the validity of some theories and myths surrounding the land debate.
It is said that there exist absentee landlords in this country, while at the same time, it a common knowledge that there are squatters. Audit on land ownership may help us to re-distribute such kind of lands to end some of this paradox of our time.
While a recent statement by the land Minister Hon. James Orengo proposing that some internally displaced people be resettled elsewhere in the country, was met by maximum rebellion from a section of legislators, leaders and Ministers, it would have been wise perhaps to have it as a beginning point of resolving the land issue. We need to give the Minister a chance to picture what he has in his mind. I believe that he may have come across some key information about land recovery or availability that could have been vital to end the endless nightmare of displacement based on the land feuds.
Maina Njenga, the jailed and alleged Mungiki Spiritual leader, makes it clear that they are the forgotten children of Mau Mau leaders, who are demanding back their land and share of the national cake. His position makes sense; that people cannot stay in poverty and inequality while they bear the full knowledge that somehow and somewhere they were shortchanged of their aspiration at independence time.
Land issue is a thorny adventure, but the only solution to it will be founded at that moment when this nation shall face the truth and be honest to herself. Justice cannot operate in vacuum; it must occupy a space in which the historical injustices must stand addressed with restitution and equal distribution of resources.
Yours faithfully,
Signed
OULU GPO
P.O Box 4598-00200
Nairobi
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