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.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
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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