...
written by Purity , February 01, 2008

We have swept so much stuff under the carpet such that we didnt realise that there was no more space under there and then it has become a mountain that just exploded on our face. I hold that our leaders thought that the uproar would sort itself after a while. Now they realize that they need to take responsibility for once.
We all finally agree that the elections outcome was just the spark the tribal tension and perennial injustices needed to blow into a flame. we therefore as Kenyans must realize that we are the only ones who can put a stop to this nonsense-I wish we could forget the so called leaders and see Kenya as us, ours and see the brotherhood, the sisterhood, the love, the joy we shared, and want it so badly as to turn and heal each other.

re:
written by Roni , February 01, 2008

ECK agreed and said there was some irregularities but they had no capacity to solve them, very true. Why? Because our so called leaders were so busy hiking their salaries and allowances they forgot they had institutions that had rules and laws that were flimsy and people could twist to their advantage. With the likes of Karua, Kilonzo and Kiraitu who are brilliant and calculating lawyers, ODM didnt stand a chance. Kivuitu was pushed by PNU and ODM-K to announce the results yet he knew something was a miss.
It took 5 mins to change the face of Kenya. The pain and hatered will be felt for very very many years.

And he refused to listen to the voice of Maina Kiai, EU observers and that of Mutahi Ngunyi. What mutahi Ngunyi warned will happen if the results were announced before clarifying the anomalies is exactly what took place. And to be exact the government expected chaos but not of a huge magnitude. That is why the Police Commissioner on a national TV said that the rioting will take two to three days and evething will return to normal. How I wish ECK boss and the rest of Kenyans listened to those voices of reason, especially Mutahi Ngunyi who was on KTN on 29th December, 2007.

...
written by Nyabs , February 01, 2008

Thank you Nancy. A well thought out article.

Our first priority should be do deal with negative ethnicity. I don't see this nation moving forward if we remain slaves of where we were born and the mother tongues we speak. We need, a priori, to criminalize campaigning on ethnic platforms. We need to consciously and deliberately create a nation, not mini-nations pretending to be a nation.

We have, unfortunately, deliberately put structures in place that promote divisionism and negative ethnicity. Our young people, except in urban centers don't mix, and it is possible for a young person to grow up having never mixed with members of a different ethnic community, save for the odd teacher or trader.

And we must have a generational change in politics. The generation of Raila, Kibaki, Michuki is too tribalized to see Kenya through any other lenses except the ethnic ones. We need leadership that has forged ties and friendships across the ethnic divide and sees other Kenyans not as Kikuyus. Kisiis, Luos etc but as Kenyans.

We urgently need to review our systems of resource allocation and granting of opportunities. As it is, it is skewed and largely slanted towards whoever is president and his/her cronies. We need to adress poverty and ensure that everyone who is of age is gainfully employed, thereby starving our politicians of a huge recruitment pool of youth who can kill and maim at will, because they have nothing to lose.

And lastly, we need to reaffirm and reinforce the right of Kenyans to own property anywhere in the republic. The government should, as matter of urgency, resettle those displaced from their lands since the infamous clashes of the 90s and provide them with adequate security to enable them continue with economic activities.

And lastly lastly, which should have been first, the leaders and financiers of the violence, together with their men of hands, should be brought to justice and if found guilty, hanged by the neck until certified dead. We cannot continue with this impunity any longer.

Labels, Tags & Handles
written by jayawardene , February 01, 2008

An great post, Nancy. You have certainly hit the nail on the had. I like Purity's comment that we continued to push stuff under the carpet until now it has grown into a mountain....How true!

So what is it that ails most of us humans...I have found that we do ourselves no favours by pointing fingers at other countries and their misfortunes..

My good Rwandan friend tells me that his life was spared when he produced a friend's id card. It was dark that evening and the Hutu militiaman at the roadblock did not scrutinise the photo. He was satisfied that the man was a fellow Hutu and allowed him to go.

Like Nyabs I say the time has come to de-tribalise Kenya, once and for all. Why don't we start with scrapping the requirement to state one's tribe and place of birth on our 'national' id cards and numerous other official documents?

...
written by Raphael Musau , February 01, 2008

I do agree with the author that the leaders feel nothing about what's happening as each of them have a PERSONAL INTEREST and it's definitely not Kenya. One thing I would like to point out is that hatred in this country has taken a whole new level and to bring it down in a short time will be next to impossible.
I know a friend who cant sit next to or be near a Kalenjin after seeing his family killed in Molo. He was spared as he was the youngest to go and tell people what happened. More Kenyans have gone through that this time also and many will bear the scares for life.
These elections were run purely on tribal ground and whoever thinks otherwise is living in a fantasy Kenya, wake up and come back to the real Kenya. It is very sad to see things going back after we covered so much ground after 2002 when the country was united. Power is a drug and if not used carefully it will intoxicate. Museveni and Mugabe stand as true testaments. Why some of our leaders want to go that way, I don't know.
ECK agreed and said there was some irregularities but they had no capacity to solve them, very true. Why? Because our so called leaders were so busy hiking their salaries and allowances they forgot they had institutions that had rules and laws that were flimsy and people could twist to their advantage. Why cry when you did nothing to solve the problem in the first place. With the likes of Karua, Kilonzo and Kiraitu who are brilliant and calculating lawyers, ODM didn't stand a chance. Kivuitu was pushed by PNU and ODM-K to announce the results yet he knew something was a miss. As the chairman, he should have put his foot down and clear the mess before announcing the official result.
It took 5 minutes to change the face of Kenya. The pain and hatred will be felt for very very many years.

ODM
written by James , February 01, 2008

The problem our country faces is/ was deeply instigated by ODM. The reaction to the loss by ODM in the election is a frustration to the evil scheme that ODM had used to woe voters. ODM engaged in a hate campaign.

The Kikuyu community in Kenya has since independence been ahead of other communities through largely hard work.
The Kikuyu are Kenyans. They are no more corrupt than the other Kenyans are. They have however a knack to turn the shilling around and make it grow, even in difficult circumstances. They have permeated all areas of the republic & fairly competed with the rest & many times been a subject of envy. The fact that Kenya has been led for some time by a Kikuyu president gives the impression that the presidency has something to do with their success.
This is not true. Kibaki has only been president for 5 years. Before that Moi was president for 24 years. Moi was largely an anti-Gikuyu president. This not with standing the Kikuyu survived his reign and still prospered. In terms of business, 24 years is a long time for businesses to have resilience. This is meant to say the people who may have benefited from the Kenyatta era, required so much resilience (24 years) as to live to see the light of day during the Kibaki era. By all standards & measures, I guess those who have survived this deserve what they have.

Probably the ODM leadership is envious of the wealth of the so called Mt. Kenya Mafia. Who represent a drop in the Indian ocean in the population of Kikuyus. However to close the gap and to seek to gain as much wealth as the Mt. Kenya mafia, the ODM leadership organised a hate campaign against the Kikuyu so as to ascend to the high office, from where they would now take advantage and close this individual wealth gaps. Notice the self-centred desires here.
Please note that the ordinary Kikuyu does not care as it were for the Mt. Kenya Mafia either, nor does the so called Mafia get out of its way to assist the ordinary Kikuyu. It always in the course of business... no strings attached. Such is the arrogance / independence of the Kikuyu.
To get to the high office, ODM preached Majimbo, which would have an appeal to the non-Gikuyu populace. The appeal was lined using the understanding that if Majimbo was implemented, all rights to outsiders of a Jimbo would be stripped. This would include the right to own property, the right to vote, any right to basic fundamental issues. The ideas was to compel through coercion, by use of violent means, the constitution or otherwise, for the minority persons from the Kikuyu tribe spread all over Kenya, to retreat to their home base. The non-Kikuyu identified with the possible gain, as they were made to believe that the Kikuyu are/ were the reason for all their problems. In their laziness/small mindedness this was an excellent excuse.

The failure of a 'super-power' is always an attraction to the hopeless. The Kikuyu may have been arrogant,especially so due to their dedication and hard work and this did not attract affection. The arrogance is enhanced by the Kikuyu's business acumen and the laid-back attitude of the population in areas where the Kikuyu has permeated and with time come to dominate. Like the other persons may have offended the Kikuyu, the Kikuyu too may have offended the other persons in a situation of persons of non-similar cultures. This too was a reason for harsh reactions, which ODM leadership capitalised on to make the rest of Kenya anti-Kikuyu.

Kibaki's reign considered a lot of status quo and focussed on economic liberation & empowerment. It assumed that legal systems would always function. It did not foresee any sabotage.(perhaps not as soon) It did not therefore prepare for this. For example, the engagements in the police force did not have patterns that favoured the Kikuyu; it was not seen as a necessity. During Moi's era, there was a conscious anti-Kikuyu recruitment... & a conscious pro-Moi effort; not to mention that like Kikuyu are good at business, the Rift Valley people make for excellent police, sleuths and soldiers. Consequently, in the case of chaos taking a tribal wave, the law enforcement was likely to bring a Kikuyu administration to its knees.

When the election results were announced, the clashes that flared were an expression of frustration at failure of implementation of Majimbo-ism among other promises, all coated by the excuse that the elections were flawed or that ODM actually won. There was even an attempt to enforce some of the Majimbo expectations, thus the violence.
Had you been a Kikuyu president or intelligent force, in the wake of the planned scheme, would you have given up office? Would you have given up Government? (whether you won an election or not?) Kibaki may be unpopular for whatever reason, but ODM Leadership was not and is not the team to relinquish power to. Never! It really has shown that Kikuyu are unlikely to be safe under it.

For Kenya to fairly prosper, alternative leadership must urgently be sought. I think that there are positive strategies & negative strategies. The ODM approach is indeed a very negative & backward strategy that must be shunned. It can easily achieve presidency but like Moi has said in the past, it would plunge the country into hatred and great suffering.
The ODM have loud mouths and are full of falsehoods. Notice their reaction to the killing of the MP for Ainamoi, who was killed by a fellow tribesman, because of a love affair! 'Honourable' men still have the desire, even in these fraught times to call it a political assassination... a scheme to reduce their majority lead in parliament.... (Professor Anyang Nyongo!.... in the presence of Raila Odinga).... Shame on Them! Look at the current political temperature (extremely tense moment) and see the effect of the allegations made.

Look at the ODM's leadership reaction to the deaths caused during the violence. They loudly mourned the relatively few deaths suffered by Kenyans who supported them, but publicly and completely ignored the greater number of Kenyans killed by their supporters due to their incitement! Are they worthy being leaders? They did not utter a word when it mattered about the hundreds of homes that were burned down and property and livelihoods destroyed, shops looted and families rendered destitute. They ignored the thousands who have been spending nights in camps...and who when it rains... have no beds; they sleep in a field... at most they have a tent to cover them. What did they do to deserve this treatment?

Again the ODM have such convincing arguments about how they have been aggrieved. You should listen to their leaders and supporters talk to the press sighting police use of brutal force. Was it possible to flash back you would find the same injured culprits in the heart of property destruction. What measures would they have expected be taken to contain such property destruction? Why do they want to continue meting mayhem to all and sundry. I insist, they are but a very poor example of a leadership.

They need to moderate & accommodate that we need to seek positive strategies for leadership. Let us win votes and support due to our positive solutions to problems. Kenya has constrained resources, which should be wisely and economically applied to make the best of the situation. This type of approach will obtain support across the board.

Comments referring to an ethnicity in a negative light excised, in view of the times, Eds.

continued..
written by a guest , February 01, 2008

Tribalism is a weapon used by politicians for their own personal gain.
We fail when we fall into the hands of tribalism. If the populace would play out of tribalism, among other changes, some politicians would be instantly politically bankrupt and we would see the emergence of the Kenya society which the current clashes are eroding.

We would see more equity and justice as we would all have one identity - Kenyan.
But for this to happen, we must individually and consciously leave tribalism and let the politicians remain therein, harping on this negative tunes and dancing to them, until they discover they are alone. In short it starts with me and you.

ODM??
written by mzalendo1 , February 01, 2008

The problem our country faces is deeply instigated by ODM.
The reaction to the loss by ODM in the election is a frustration to the evil scheme that ODM had used to woo voters.
ODM engaged in a hate campaign.

Never fight with a pig, it will enjoy the mud and you will be rebuked for your stink. "It is us vs THEM!" is the crux of your story. But who is "us" and who is "them?" The Luo, the Kalenjin, male Luo between 12 and 50? all Luo?
I am a Kikuyu. Born in Nairobi with Luo and Luhya neighbours somewhere in Eastlands. I never knew their tribe at all. I knew that if you went to Omosh's house on Wednesday, you would get a lovely pan fried tilapia, ditto for Wafula's house on Saturday, the chicken was out of this world. I don't want to tell you about our place....everyone knows that the only Kikuyu delicacy is not exactly a kid's delight. (My mum will kill me) We all supported Gor Mahia. A club that had REAL heroes (to a 8-12 yr old boy). Chege Ouma, Hesbone Omollo, Abdalla Shebe, Oduor Cobra........These guys were real magicians on the pitch and could score goals at will. I digress....but only because I can tell with certainty that James has never been to a football stadium).

The references made here were excised from preceding comment for being of an incendiary nature, apologies for the inconvenience. Moderated, Eds.

My friends and I spoke Sheng before we spoke mother-tongues; we all thought that Esther Kanini was the most fantastic woman God had created; we all hated CRE in class but found something arousing in the way that Mrs Kamau the CRE teacher's bottom jiggled when she wrote on the black-board.
The two guys left the country a while ago to go to the States but they remain my true brothers to this day. Luckily none of them blogs like me or is as idle as I am so they wont get to see this.
My point is; how are these guys now supposed to be my enemies? Because Agwambo said so? because a few criminals killed my kin? Why oh why are we letting the politicos kill our dreams and lifelong relationships?
I will NOT believe that the Luo are "primitive". I will not believe that I now have a preordained duty to now despise everything Luo.
The fallacious logic is as follows
I hate Raila;
Raila is Luo;
therefore I hate Luos.

Is that logical? Would we not be closer home if we argued,
I hate Raila;
Raila is a politician;
therefore I hate politicians.

Kenyans please let us take back our country. Do not let your values be defined by these clowns we call leaders.
Please!!

look into the mirror
written by a guest , February 01, 2008

The problem our country faces is deeply instigated by ODM.
The reaction to the loss by ODM in the election is a frustration to the evil scheme that ODM had used to woe voters.
ODM engaged in a hate campaign.

It is attitudes like this that are part of the problem. Your argument does indeed have some valid points but you've missed a big point. Raila did not invent tribalism, nor was he the only one who promoted it. Its a Kenyan malaise that as Nancy pointed out and Purity emphasised, we have ignored and ignored until it was too big for us to control. Its easy to blame Raila and ODM because that's an enemy that we can fight but we are too ashamed to look in the mirror and see the enemy within - we are our own biggest enemy James. What about all the young people of all tribes who voted ODM not because they were pro-Luo or Kalenjin but because they thought that ODM represented change, because in the government they saw old recycled faces who knew nothing about their reality as young people in Kenya? Raila and Kibaki would not have led our country into this situation if we had stopped them ourselves. When you point a finger at someone, three are pointing right back at you.

just stuck
written by mkosakabila , February 01, 2008

James. What a thoughtful piece, which somewhat touches on why Emilio and his wontons rushed to swear themselves in so fast and their clinging to power. A defensive strategy, alright! Knowing what we know now, ODM is not the better alternative despite the justice, democracy type rhetoric. But the status quo is also tremendously uninspiring and illegitimate. I don't think we have reached the crossroads yet, otherwise we would be more creative. We are just stuck with both Emilio and Raila for the next couple of years at least. SAD.
ps: might you have a sense of whether Raila was involved in the planning of the Rift Valley violence, or was that just sprung on him by the Rift Valley mafia? Did he have a clue on what was to unfold? Just curious.
psst: nice piece by Nancy Mburu too!

Responsibilities
written by Alexander , February 01, 2008

ps: might you have a sense of whether Raila was involved in the planning of the rift valley violence, or was that just sprung on him by the Rift Valley Mafia? Did he have a clue on what was to unfold? Just curious.

The liidaahsheep obsession of the Kenyan character (a.k.a. Lemmus lemmus Linn invariably tends to make the leaders of either side responsible for whatever happens or not.
So, if a bushel of Sukuma Wiki is stolen on a village market, it is seen as Kibaki's fault (lack of security in the country); if a drunkard throws his empty bottle on a GoK building's lawn, it's Raila's fault (sabotage of the country's administration).
As to the specific question: I think Raila has as little personally "planned" the RV ethnic cleansing, as Kibaki has not personally ordered the shooting of the one young man in Kisumu (that outstanding example of media incompetence and media fakery, as was demonstrated and proven here on KI).
But he has lateron condoned the violence, and has fanned further flames of hatred, destruction and murder. That alone would suffice to hang him for high treason (in the very literal, juridically defined sense of the word).
Alexander

edited
written by a guest , February 01, 2008

Unhelpful and incendiary comment excised, both from your own article and in the one you refer to. Eds

Signs Of Civil War
written by Hussein Musa , February 01, 2008

I think Kenya is heading for civil war, You have to understand civil is a gradual descent that may take few years until the state collapse completely. Somalia civil took many years to become full fledgling civil war. The Kofi Annan peace is going to fail because from what I hear both the ODM and the PNU are sticking to there points etc Kibaki has to accept rigging or Kibaki is elected president of Kenya. All the recipe for failed peace talk is there. The only quick fix solution is for military to take over but I highly doubt that the will. Goodbye Kenya we are heading for end game sooner than we wished for.Thanks for memories.

...
written by Alexander , February 01, 2008

James' article appears far too long to me, and Mzalendo and Anonymous should anyhow desist from quoting it in entirety. An editorial overworking and shortening (like any reader's letter) would certainly do it good.
Alexander

Which effort has been promptly undertaken, to the satisfaction of all, we hope. Eds.

Anti-Tribalism lessons in sch
written by pndiangui , February 01, 2008

I really think we might need as much anti-tribalism seminars and coaching sessions as much as community development ones. Even embedding anti-tribalism lessons in primary schools syllabus might be needed at this rate.
Otherwise as Nyabs has put it; Our first priority should be do deal with negative ethnicity. I don't see this nation moving forward if we remain slaves of where we were born and the mother tongues we speak.
I couldn't agree more.
I wish we can put it as a requirement to have exchange programs for MPs and ministers, whereby a Nyeri MP should be required to spend at least 3 days in a month working with a CDF committee in the North Rift. Also it might be important now than ever to keep the expensive boarding schools even those at the district levels and force them through fees rebates to take more students outside their provinces.
Let me hear more suggestions from KenyaImagine on how we can end this menace of tribalism. Which I basically think comes through a lack of understanding of people from different cultures hence failing to appreciate them wholly plus of course the divide and rule tactics of politicians which really need to be penalized with punitive and heavy sentences, even suspension from parliament.
We surely need to legislate against negative ethnic speech and action whether in public or even at work.

re: Anti-Tribalism lessons in
written by Alexander , February 01, 2008

I really think we might need as much anti-tribalism seminars and coaching sessions as much as community development ones. Even embedding anti-tribalism lessons in primary schools syllabus might be needed at this rate.

The reason why there is so much negative ethnicity in Kenya, is that there is so little positive ethnicity. Especially in the schools. Words to ponder.

Alexander

Reaction to James\' comments
written by Mtaa Babji , February 01, 2008

James is plainly anti-ODM and blindly pro-PNU. ODM has support from all parts of Kenya except central and many parts of eastern so it is not that tribal. You cannot say the same of PNU. People like James should more look more inward if we are to progress as Kenya and overcome the current crisis. For you information, central basically overtook many other parts of Kenya (western, Nyanza and part of Rift Valley especially) when resources were skewed towards central during Kenyatta's regime.

We will allow this slur to remain here, so it can be discussed. However, it should be clear to everyone that it is not based on fact. Eds.

re: ODM
written by Farouk , February 01, 2008

The problem our country faces is/ was deeply instigated by ODM. The reaction to the loss by ODM in the election is a frustration to the evil scheme that ODM had used to woo voters. ODM engaged in a hate campaign. The Kikuyu community in Kenya has since independence been ahead of other communities through largely hard work.
The Kikuyu are Kenyans. They are no more corrupt than the other Kenyans are.

I wanted to quote the entire post, but i want to avoid over-quotation.
It surprises me that the editors have allowed this piece of toxic garbage to stand for the consumption of members. Where have you left your principles?

It has been edited, Eds.

what ails Kenyans is wewe na m
written by Evans Ojiambo , February 01, 2008

we are all to balame for impunity.
we are corrupt
we are idle unemployed
we are unequal
we are never partriotic unless we meet in london or Texas
all that leads to tribalism,ethinicty and creates animosity that fuells over time to explode into deplorable situations
lets think about issues and facts

political socialization
written by mkosakabila , February 01, 2008

Even embedding anti-tribalism lessons in primary schools syllabus might be needed at this rate. I wish we can put it as a requirement to have exchange programs for MPs and ministers, whereby a Nyeri MP should be required to spend at least 3 days in a month working with a CDF committee in the North Rift. Let me hear more suggestions from KenyaImagine on how we can end this menace of tribalism.We surely need to legislate against negative ethnic speech and action whether in public or even at work.

Very, very fair suggestions. I think it would also help to extend beyond primary to even university. Alexander, I think the university is the hotbed of tribalism in Kenya. As a fresher light years ago I was stunned to find all manner of tribe-based students associations. Those should be monitored closely, if not banned.
In fact, I think the anti-tribe curriculum could all be rolled into an overall civic education cum political socialization program that includes some lessons on the norms and values underlying democratic processes and engagement, over and above the obvious and visible institutional structures. There is need to tackle the family too, that can be a source of great evil. I won't go into examples for fear of the editors who are very efficient, but we saw what children did and said in the news recently. So, not very sure how to tackle the family but maybe elimu ya ngumbaru for mothers and fathers, in the workplace and barazas elsewhere and even the very divided church.
The legislation sounds very useful and hope it gets enforced. I'm afraid the exchange programs between MPs, especially working with CDF committees run the risk of them all exporting ideas on how to steal that money. Lets think a bit more on that one.

we are all Kikuyus now
written by Vitalis Oyudo , February 01, 2008

Please listen to this podcast from the BBC, what does it make you think? What does it make you feel? And yes, James is right, all honest Kenyans will admit that the ODM did demand that we hate Kikuyus. I am myself from Western Kenya, and it is this more than anything that repulsed me completely from the ODM and Raila Odinga.

Even after Kiambaa, Raila did make clear that Kikuyus were still proper and legitimate targets for violence and her persists in trying to justify the violence, including the Kiambaa- Eldoret violence. Note the glorious success of the 41 against 1 strategy.

Podcast here.

re: Anti-Tribalism lessons in
written by Wuod Aketch , February 01, 2008

I really think we might need as much anti-tribalism seminars and coaching sessions as much as community development ones. Even embedding anti-tribalism lessons in primary schools syllabus might be needed at this rate.

You can add to this, creation of healing commissions and others that will see to this and that and other bla bla to pass time and drown the fish.
What Kenya needs is an overhaul of all it's institutions (Judiciary, ECK, police ....). Most of all we need a new constitution.
We are actually living in a banana republic where an incompetent man can declare his friend president. The friend can swear himself in at his house under the bed.

If the courts had been known for their efficiency, then we would not have seen any blood shed. If the ECK was not corrupt, Kenyans would be seeing round the corner the 15% GDP expansion that Raila had promised for 2008

Of culinary idiosyncracies
written by Alexander , February 01, 2008

....everyone knows that the only Kikuyu delicacy is not exactly a kid's delight.

A wonderful English pun, Mzalendo. The kid indeed would be sorry about the demise of his mother, her eyes looking at her child out of a cauldron's broth. :-)

PS: My own favourite is irio.

Alexander

anti-tribalism
written by Ndorobo , February 01, 2008

Changing the instutions without changing the qualities of the people does not help.We would just be re-naming them. As a man wiser than me noted, A rose by any other name.....

Afterall, the major investement that these institutions have is people. Changing the people will be a more effective long-term solution. I like the suggestion of ensuring that tribes interact. Matter of fact Edwin Macharia, who ran for the Kieni seat but lost had suggested that all boarding secondary schools be like national schools. He had suggested that if you are admitted to a district secondary school, it would not necessarily mean going to the local one, but maybe going to one in Nyeri if you are from Kisumu.(and this is an example)

When the campaigns were going on, it appeared like a utopian idea when he was addressing tribalism while running for MP in Kieni. What a Kenyan idea it was.

sounds like the gotabkalenjin
written by pndiangui , February 01, 2008

The podcast sounds like gotabkalenjin article that still stands on kalenjin.net.
So basically we really need to know hoe to educate all Kenyan communities about each Kenyan community. Really the idea that Kenyatta allocated resources lopsidedly hence making the community that speaks Gikuyu better-off needs to be debunked with a bit more facts. Also the fact that there are communities who are aliens while they are in certain parts of Kenya need to be re-considered and questioned extensively.

magic bullet
written by mkosakabila , February 01, 2008

Woud Aketch, you sound very cynical, but I get the impression that we might need to do many different things at many different levels to recraft a Kenya that can work for all of us. In any case, rules have been circumvented and informal norms, especially tribe-based ones, have been repeatedly used to reward tribal loyalists, exclude non-tribe members and so on. Thats what we are trying to think through here, how to demphasize tribe as an ideology of division. But you are right too, the formal institutions matter and we need to get them 'right'.

James\' Comments
written by Pac , February 01, 2008

In every society(read ethnic group), there are lazy and industrious people. So do not give us that hogwash that Kikuyu are wealthy because they are hardworking nonsense.
I do not even know why I am responding to such nonsense, and we wonder why Kenya is at this terrible crossroad.

Edwin\'s time will come
written by magothe , February 01, 2008

Edwin had some very progressive ideas. The trouble is he was running in a constituency like Kieni. Nemesius had the seat two years ago when Ndarathi was caught with his hands in the cookie jar.

Note that Kenya has many laws to cater for against the corrupt, the bad drivers, the procurement system. They're just not used. The other thing, you can hate Kivuiti, but he was right when he said that 10yrs after IPPG, nothing has ever been done to change the composition of ECK.

Necessary reforms
written by Alexander , February 01, 2008

What Kenya needs is an overhaul of all it's institutions (Judiciary, ECK, police ....). Most of all we need a new constitution.
We are actually living in a banana republic (...)

If the courts had been known for their efficiency, then we would not have seen any bloodshed.

A new constitution is certainly very much needed, though would be even more urgent (while less glamorous), are new standing orders for the parliament.

I would also agree with you that Kibaki and his government have badly let down the people's hope by dragging their feet and not fulfilling the 100-days promise.

When they finally presented a draft after 2 years (the infamous Wako draft), it was inacceptable and was thus voted down by the Sovereign in the referendum. Alas, since then this important isue has been shelved by the frustrated and grudgeful government.

However, a constitution is no magic panacea, no theriac against all evils. Please keep in mind that all of former communist Eastern Europe had the most beautifully written constitutions, which were worth nothing in reality.

As to the Kenyan courts, the judiciary is probably the worst, most incompetent and most tainted of all Kenyan institutions, even worse than the much-maligned police forces. It is a bad joke, a flock of corrupt baboons in robes. This applies primarily to the High Court, whereas some magistrates a least try to do decent work, underpaid and under a terrible and disheartening overload of cases.

The only way out of the morass would be a summary firing (and maybe subsequent hanging) of all High Court judges, and the immediate hiring of 200 to 300 expatriate jurists from all over the Commonwealth to act as new judges.

Lastly, please do study the GJLOS program for sector-wide institutional reforms and modernization.

Alexander

re: Necessary reforms
written by mkosakabila , February 01, 2008

It is a bad joke, a flock of corrupt baboons in robes.

You forgot the wigs. Why not black ones, if a must?

national schools
written by Stephen Wanyama , February 01, 2008

Macharia, attended the same school as did Nyong'o, Orengo and Nyagah. They evidently see nothing wrong with the 41 against 1 strategy, or with pretending that Kibaki is the president of only Kikuyus. Kenneth Matiba was another hateful man who attended this same, 'national' school. I think the problem is deeper than just teaching people to love their neighbour. Fundamentally we need to set out, that any Kenyan can own anything anywhere in the country. We need to promote in all communities a culture of ownership, of thrift and of investment. It is this more than any of James' hardwork that informs the gap between Kenya's better off and the rest. We need to insist that Kenyans stop looking to government as a big bakuli from which they can eat. I mean seriously, even if a Bukusu became president, and all government positions (how many are there to give out? 1000? went to the Bukusu) would that really improve my 'tribe's' lot? When the municipal council of Bungoma wants to build something, say a water treatment plant, is there locally the competence to execute? Are there Bukusu middlemen conducting the maize trade, or are we depending on these wageni? Why are most of the kiosk owners in Bungoma wageni? Are these not the issues to address if we want to stop people looking at the world as a place that benefits just Kikuyus?

Alexander,
GJLOS it seems will bear the brunt of the aid withdrawal, which step seems to cause much joy with the ODM who dissemble allegiance to a justice platform but are actually promoters of the gravest injustice.

...
written by Alezandru , February 01, 2008

Some people are claiming that ODM is not responsible and what is coming to the surface are decades long animosities. Well, I disagree.

In every country there are ethnic stereotypes and ethnic rivalries. That is actually perfectly normal and healthy. And in Kenya we all know this has existed. But it is when politicians whip up this sentiment, particularly against one group that we start to see this kind of chaos.

Whether it is Jews in Germany, Kikuyus in Kenya, Asians in Uganda, Muslims in India, when politicians actively start whipping up sentiment which lies naturally in every person, then this is the result.

Even in the great United States, if a presidential candidate started attacking Jews and Muslims quite openly, and saying they are to blame for every average American person's problems, the result would be the same. I disagree that there is some inherent underlying animosity bewteen us. It is the politicians who are to blame.

lets get deeper
written by mkosakabila , February 01, 2008

PNdiangui. Very nice. This might sound a bit off, but remember that even in Rwanda, they went back to a traditional system of justice, the Gechache courts? There are some really useful structures, processes of governance and decision making in our very own traditions that can be tapped into. But we are rapidly moving to a political system (democracy sensu Americana) that we so incompletely understand.

check
written by erste , February 01, 2008

Toni Morrison said it
written by observer , February 01, 2008

we were not strong, only aggressive
we were not free, merely licensed
we were not passionate, we were polite not good, but well behaved
We courted death in order to call ourselves brave, and hid like thieves from life - Toni Morrison

Fitting words for what ails us.

an aside skirmish
written by Ndorobo , February 01, 2008

Wanyama- Do not disparage Macharia's school. Interesting but Kibaki attended a rival national school. These 2 schools have been bitter rivals. Are there unaddressed historic issues that maybe the old boys are trying to settle the score

I am no economist so my observations are naive at best. My experiencxes have been with western corporations. It seems like the whole historic issues not fully addressed is just an excuse. I belive that the relative well-being of the middle class is what is the envy of the lower class. Politicians have represented the middle class to their people in various forms, tribal and otherwise.

With the GDP that Kenya has experienced in the short time, is it reasonable to expect the benefits to filter to all and sundry in such a short time? If the PERSONAL economic development of wanjiru, atieno and jeptoo is addressed, maybe they will be less willing to pick up arms?

...
written by politicalscientist , February 01, 2008

I agree with the idea of teaching positive ethnicity in schools. By the time I did KCPE we were learning about musical instruments, and histories of creation of different tribes etc but nothing about the current situation in Kenya. Part of the problem is of course that civic and historical and geographical knowledge in the Kenyan syllabus is rooted firmly in the past, to the point where even by 2002 when I did KCSE we were learning about the "successes of the soviet union" seriously. Our education system must reflect our multi ethnic, current reality, and promote integration by encouraging students to learn each other's mother tongues as an option in school (i.e. you can learn any mother tongue and prepare a final 1000 report/portfolio on any subject as long as the mothertongue is not yours).

In terms of institutions, we need a more independent judiciary, a more transparent electoral system. A big part of the current stalemate is that the ODM did not trust the ECK nor the judicial system, and that the ordinary mwananchi does not trust the police hence the resort to vigilantism. Whatever his short comings, and there are many, Ali and his forces showed great restraint in those first few days of the crisis; remember that GSU officer talking to protesters and encouraging them to go home? We need a police force that is true to the principle of "utumishi kwa wote"; perhaps some of that aid money can be channeled into police reform? And the court of appeal should have the right to nominate judges and require some kind of majority for them to appointed.

Moi focused on centralising power because he wrongly believed that that was the only way he could ensure stability and perpetuity for his regime. But the reality is decentralisation offers the best hope for a fragmented society like ours. Federalism but with a strong central government such as that in Germany, or the USA or in India may resolve any fears of money being concentrated only in central province.

Lets get deeper
written by pndiangui , February 01, 2008

That a society's (and its wrong to equate a society to an tribe Pac). A society can be a Nation or a state or even a certain community of diverse nationalities or tribe) cultural ways might influence its productiveness and innovativeness is about right. By eliminating tribalism of superior and inferior tribes, we can learn of practices from different communities in an interdependency manner to prosper.
Wuod...we already talked about the overhaul of the constitution in this space. We are however convinced that to have a more integrated Kenya, a moral approach to positive ethnicity needs to take root through the schooling system. In fact it might be a chance to educate many of the history of their own ethnic groups and their neighbours to stimulate some positive outcomes of adopting some of the neighbour's best practice cultures. Kenyans know very little of their pre-colonial history. For example few Gikuyus know where they migrated from and their governance structures in a more deeper way, hence the lose of certain societal values that might be important in curbing negative ethnicity. Wuod we are talking of a vision where Kenyans can throw away the tribal lens but keep certain productive and important cultural practices just like Tanzania. To attain such a vision we need concerted efforts from both legal and cultural changes approach.

Alliance
written by Stephen Wanyama , February 01, 2008

Actually no, I am not dissing Alliance at all. In fact the Kibaki side also has very many capable old boys including the CJ, the AG (shame) and the likes of Mungatana and many who did not make it like Professor Meme and Macharia. All I am pointing out is that national schools (Ngilu also sits about with the 41-1ers despite herself attending Alliance) do not of themselves promote this maendeleo. Apart from a few special cases, you will find that the almuni of these schools are not in any way less or more bigoted than the rest of the country. Hence my suggestion that there is more than just promoting friendships.

Please not from Oyudo's podcast, or from the reports of Luo men in Naivasha, that neighbours are attacking each other, friends are turning on each other. Read from this ethnic cleansing report of Kisumu about a Nyamasaria primary school, where half the students were Kikuyu., although I think they meant Kisii. Clearly Kenyans are mixing, but the hatred and the malleability to politicians will persists.

political scientist
written by Timothy Wainaina , February 01, 2008

Federalism but with a strong central government such as that in Germany, or the USA or in India may resolve any fears of money being concentrated only in central province.

How do you go about addressing an irrational fear like this one? There is it seems a great need for education when the middle class is speaking such nonsense. I would really like to see this evidence of money being concentrated in Central Province. I would also like to know, how when Kikuyus are reviled across the country, they are supposed to contribute to the building of other provinces, e.g. the rehabilitation of Kisumu. There can be absolutely no progress until we start seeing each other as Kenyans, as one country. When Kisumu got destroyed, or when Kikuyus were kicked out of Eldoret they suffered great loss, but even more than them, the two cities suffered a loss of capital, goodwill and talent. It is this hatred, and any ideas that seek to divide Kenya that concentrate capital. Private business is really the best way to redistribute wealth.

Now, as has been pointed out here countless times, and as Oyudo's podcast shows, the trouble in the Rift Valley has nothing to do with wealth, or money, it is about ethnic hatred. Many of those Kikuyus in the Rift Valley were tenants of the Kalenjin, paying rent on leased land, or running shops, and so on. We will have to stamp out hate-speech soon, and the idea that Central Province somehow controls the money is a central tenet of this hateful ODM paradigm.

re: political scientist
written by politicalscientist , February 01, 2008

Federalism but with a strong central government such as that in Germany, or the USA or in India may resolve any fears of money being concentrated only in central province.

How do you go about addressing an irrational fear like this one? I would really like to see this evidence of money being concentrated in Central Province. I would also like to know, how when Kikuyus are reviled across the country, they are supposed to contribute to the building of other provinces, e.g. the rehabilitation of Kisumu. .

Hey hey hey...I personally have no such irrational fears, but just because I don't doesn't mean the rest of the country doesn't. And its not simply a hateful ODM paradigm, its a hateful paradigm within the minds of Kenyans of a certain generation. Look mate, whether you want to admit it or not,95% of Kenyans over the age of 40 are tribalists, and whenever they get into a position of power they always, irrespective of tribe use that to bolster their own tribes position.

What we need now is a new collective concsiousness that eschews any such ideas. Its already happening with the urban youth; no matter how hard the government fights sheng' by giving young urbanites a collective identity it has helped them rise above tribal ideas - the most successful new and most importantly multiethnic businesses in Kenya like our radio stations, entertainment ventures etc are built by young people who see beyond tribes and even to some extent class.

But just because you don't want to believe that Kikuyus in power have been tribalist, just like Kalenjins and other tribes, doesn't mean that they haven't been tribalist. And that's not to justify any tribalism by any other group; I can bet all the hair on my body that any, ANY other of the politicians in the same situation would have done the same thing.

...
written by Pac , February 01, 2008

Where are our true leaders? Either born, nutured or natured, please stand up and be counted. Tough times call for tough and drastic measures. This generation of leaders, as in Kibaki, Odinga, Moi, Saitoti...(the list is endless) need to ride far far away into the sunset. They are sacrificing our futures and our childrens futures to try and satisfy their insatiable egos and ambitions. Whatever happened to rising to the occasion and sacrficing for the "greater good?"
The American Declaration of Independence(We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men
are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator
with certain unalienable Rights, that among these
are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. That to
secure these rights, Governments are instituted among
Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of
the governed) was written centuries ago, those men had a vision then, centuries ago. These so called men-Kibaki and Odinga need to read that over and over and given us our country back. I think there should also be an age limit, once you are over say 60 yrs you cannot run for President. These guys are so out of touch with reality, its just mind boggling.

bias
written by Jamvi , February 01, 2008

Why are almost all the writers here on this website Kikuyus? GEMA? This is an important question, as it shows the bias in opinions. It is an uncomfortable truth, but most Kenyans are against Kibaki, the views here are out of touch with the ground.

to my sister Nanjala
written by Stephen Wanyama , February 01, 2008

No, tribalism is not restricted to the over 40s. There is actually a very small sliver of de-tribalised Kenyans, numbering perhaps no more than 500,000 if I may exaggerate.

The myth that economic progress is somehow attached to being in government is a truly pernicious one, and one that explains the aggression we employ in our politics. As has already been suggested above, there are very real, if slight, cultural differences between us that make some communities more prosperous on average than others. Note for example that the Meru and the Kisii have never been in government, nor have the Asians and the Somali, but like the Kikuyu they own land all over the country, and are much immersed (with great success) in the world of commerce and industry.

I do not deny that one can be opposed to the PNU on other grounds, or support the ODM on grounds other than tribal hatred, but you will admit that most of the ODM crowd will in a countdown from 10, by 6-7 have betrayed the fact that they believe the Kikuyu control everything, that there is a need for balancing economic power, improving distributive mechanisms and so on. How exactly the status quo benefits the Kikuyu butcher in Kisumu, or the hotelier in Eldoret is lost on me.

P.S. For the last five years Kenyan banks have almost been forcing people to take credit. People have not even need collateral to take loans, you could do it with your salary, have these opportunities only been open to Kikuyus? Was Equity bank in Kisumu opened for Kikuyus? There is perhaps a reality about the concentration of wealth in a few hands, but is it by political or cultural design? Why are women from some ethnicities selling fruits at the markets in Kisumu and the Coast? Why are those leasing land in Ongata Rongai or Molo or those in the towns of the North Rift from particular ethnicities?

THE way!
written by mkosakabila , February 01, 2008

I doubt there is any one best way to do anything, especially where the playing field is so uneven. There is a strong case for decentralization. As an example, having heard some chatter about alliance, where are the good, national schools in Kenya located? In Kajiado, Garissa, Kitui? Who gets to go to those schools, anyway? Of course decentralization and or devolution is not a panacea (since the corruption at the center can just as easily be transported), but one way of trying to match resources with local priorities as opposed to having decisions and priorities decided from elsewhere. But importantly to have local officials politically accountable to local folk as opposed to their superiors in Nairobi or some middle range administrative cadre.
I dont understand how anyone can claim that privatization is the best way to redistribute wealth. Redistribute wealth to whom, those who already have the tools and skills necessary to participate in the market?! Even those developed countries that are the hallmark of market individualism do leave some room for state-led redistributive measures which play a huge role in providing safety nets, subisidies, compensation schemes, and the like.

We have a long way to go
written by observer , February 01, 2008

The people espousing such deeply felt horrific and ugly tribal bigotry on the BBC pod cast provided by Vitalis Oyudo are young men in their late teens and early twenties. The idea that I share a country with people with such unspeakable hatred and bigotry leads me to wonder if we have any hope as a country. How many generations will it take to remove this cancer from Kenya if an 18 year old Kenyan can have attitudes as destructive as these? I am convinced now more than ever that we are living in completely different countries. The absolute lack of a moral compass or center is very, very disturbing.

political scientist
written by Timothy Wainaina , February 01, 2008

You say

But just because you don't want to believe that Kikuyus in power have been tribalist, just like Kalenjins and other tribes, doesn't mean that they haven't been tribalist. And that's not to justify any tribalism by any other group; I can bet all the hair on my body that any, ANY other of the politicians in the same situation would have done the same thing.

Now, I am not sure that the suggestion that Kikuyus are in power is accurate. Quite clearly, there is a Kikuyu president, but I do not know how a Kikuyu like yours truly is in power, or Anthony in the BBC podcast. That perhaps is an idea we want to cast aside. Nepotism and cronyism it is true are very serious Kenyan problems, but I really do not think that being president benefits one's tribe at all.
Here is a newsflash, in the same way that people from the Rift Valley claim that their land was taken away from them, so it is that people in Central Province had their land pinched from them. The Mau Mau went into the forest to fight for land, their descendants are landless! You see? Kenyatta and his buddies (across the tribes have plenty of this land), Moi and his buddies (across the tribes) have plenty of this land. Beneficiaries of this cronyism would include the familiy of the late Vice President Wamalwa, the likes of Fred Gumo, Musalia Mudavadi, Noah Wekesa and many others, it really is not about tribe, at all. Sorry to pick on Luhyas, just thought I would make that point. The family of Oginga Odinga also owes all its wealth to state largesse and the privatisation of public property. As is clear it came by these even though it was considered, the enemy.

MkosaKabila
That redistribution is also possible through private enterprise and schemes such as the Youth Fund and the Women's Fund. My point, as many who work in the aid industry will tell you is that anything that is just thrown at people will not be appreciated, they need to grow to it, to nurture it themselves and to appreciate it.

Now may I point out that national schools really mean nothing. Please look at this article on national schools by Annette Keino here. There are many national schools all over the place, but then there are district and provincial and private schools doing much much better.

One thing Kenyans fail to realise is that we are in many ways already a very decentralised country. There are very many services and facilities that are already at the grassroots, and transfer payments like CDF and LATF are already being misused. There simply is no capacity in many of these areas to undertake many of the tasks necessary for true development, and private enterprise is a core means by which this capacity will be built.

Please remember the significance of the traditional African schools in Central Kenya in spurring education and development there.

Justice must prevail
written by observer , February 01, 2008

We will need in addition to constitutional changes and new ellections an UN International Criminal Tribunal for Kenya. The notion that the Mzee asking the young men to go kill as well as the killers interviewed in the pod cast can get away scoot free is utterly unacceptable. We will need a Gacaca Court System like the one set up in Rwanda after the genocides there. It must be public and painful, for all to bear witness. We must in Kenya be forced to look at the shameful, disgusting ugliness that we carry in our heart and minds.

wanyama
written by mkosakabila , February 01, 2008

Alas, I am tempted to somewhat agree with you on this one (am kicking myself). Yes, we do have a rather uncoordinated, fragmented, ad-hoc, whimsical 'decentralization,' processes of which are not well thought out, to whom, with what responsibility, and what accountability processes. Perhaps the experience of CDF can be used to identify capacity needs, build those capacities and fashion a framework policy? The forestry sector is now implementing similar reforms. Here the problem is not even capacity, but mindset and organizational culture. Ceding power and authority to people you dont trust to manage(read local communities)is not easy. But then one wonders what comes first, the capacity to manage or the devolved responsibility.

it wasn\'t me, but
written by Stephen Wanyama , February 01, 2008

But Thank you all the same. I think a gradual movement away from central government to greater devolution is best. The rapture from dependence on government as a means to progress and success is the crucial first step, with government more and more taking on a minor role as a facilitator (much as Kibaki has done with interest rates, farm produce prices and rural-electrification). I know that from my part of the country, there have been radical improvements on all these counts, and the youth and women have started projects with the money available through the public targeted funds. What we will make of this in the long term is anyone's guess, but charity begins not in Nairobi, but at home.

Taking from the aforementioned point on access to capital, Bukusu engineers may want to buy graders and earth movers so that next time maybe they and not some Kikuyu or Asian can benefit from the devolved funds. Perhaps in the same way that religion in Kenya has been thoroughly decentralised from the innovation and passion of the likes of Margaret Wanjiru, Deya and Lai, so can the business world be decentralised.

If say a big time American preacher came to Kenya today, there would be no doubt at all that a church in say Kakamega or Kisumu or Eldoret would have the capacity to host that preacher because we have built that capacity.

...
written by benadede , February 01, 2008

People, let us be honest with ourselves. The 41 vs 1 may have unleashed the demon but this demon has been nurtured for a long time by many Kenyan politicians across the divide. Do you honestly believe that Kibaki is totally innocent in contributing to so many people who voted for him in 2002 becoming disciples of 41 vs 1?
What about things from his side of the divide such as Kenya vs One Dangerous Man, or statements made like "now that one of our own is in power..." or that Raila was so useless he could not even raise chicken,or refusing to address perceptions of preferential appointments to key positions. Do you not think these were truly alienating strategies?
In trying to contain Raila,Kibaki made a pact with some parts of KANU and Raila was forced to make a pact with the rest. Therein lay the destruction of the new dawn we thought we saw in 2002.
In my opinion both Kibaki and Raila partly through their own faults and partly not are tainted in a way that they cannot help unite this country. I am only sad there seem to be no new generation leaders willing to stand up and take us to a new path. They are all siding with one of the two and tainting themselves as they do that.
The church is doing the same and from what I see in discussion fora, many Kenyans are doing the same. It seems Kibaki and Raila have cast a deadly spell over us. To survive, we must break this spell.
Some questions. Are our security forces inept or are they ovestretched? You may want to think it is the latter. Police and government officials say they are in control. So I may think they are inept, after all, Mt.Elgon went on unabated for two years in a small localized area. Is the government doing all it can to protect life and property?
I also noted the one billion fund.Is this to resettle only people who have been displaced in the post-election period? How about the ones previously affected in Kuresoi and Mt.Elgon and then farther back in time? Money to build 37 new police stations was also released. Should this be a priority or should we not take more security forces to clash areas immediately even if the have to operate from tents? Brig. Ali and Mr.Keriako Tobiko, when will we see the murderers and looters arraigned in court? More important, when will we see the inciters and funders in court? It is all too common in Kenya that justice never gets to see the light of day!

on things decentralized
written by Ndorobo , February 01, 2008

Maybe the fact that there was decentralization and CDF money was available was the more reason for the call for Majimbo. The greed for more funds so that these funds can be misused. Can I cynically claim that majimbo was an attempted annexation of state wealth.

I think the CDF mode we have now should be streamlined and made more transparent. Most constituencies can point either to a school, a cow dip, a clinic etc that CDF was able to accomplish. How many people can point to what is planned with the CDF money in the coming months? I bet not many. All they want is more money assigned to their area, for what? So, we have people fighting for resources while they have reources available and are not effectively accesing them.

On tribalism, we need a dedicated effort to de-tribalize people. What this takes I do not know. However, the only silver lining I see in the current violence is that we can all (maybe) conclude that violence is not the way to resolve our parents lingual differences. For some of the people that have been evicted, that is the only difference that they have with the people evicting them.
I was in Narok in November and was interacting with some locals and they had a memeber of my tribe married into their family. She was dressed in red, I could not tell she was one of "ours" and she could speak fluent Maa and my language. To me, she appeared Maasai, to some people, maybe she was an outsider. The guys I was hanging out with called me an "in-law" (as a sign of respect) and gave me a rungu as a present. Can I call them tribalists? Nope. We as a country still have hope.

In re Wainaina vs politicalsci
written by Daniel.Waweru , February 01, 2008

But just because you don't want to believe that Kikuyus in power have been tribalist, just like Kalenjins and other tribes, doesn't mean that they haven't been tribalist. And that's not to justify any tribalism by any other group; I can bet all the hair on my body that any, ANY other of the politicians in the same situation would have done the same thing

Wainaina hasn't claimed that there have never been tribalist Kikuyus in power. (One hopes that not all of them were.) And attributing silly claims is a rather tiresome debating tactic.

The question was whether Central province came by its economic position through the efforts of the Kenyatta government. The answer to that is almost certainly no. The present economic ranking of the regions of Kenya is almost exactly the same as it was in 1950 (see, for example, Gavin Kitching's Class and Economic Change in Kenya)). Which is as you'd expect, since the structure of our economy is pretty much as it was then. Industrialisation in Kenya failed; land continues to be our main productive resource.

Good confirming evidence for this is Moi's attempt to spread commercial agricultural production around the country. It failed (not all his fault, since he had a much tougher economic climate than Kenyatta) except in parts of the Rift, some of which had had intensive agricultural production since colonial times anyway. So, compare a map of economic activity in Kenya in 1950, and one now. The same regions stand out: even in Nyanza, Siaya, after all these years (and even with a serious decline in soil fertility), remains one of the richer districts.

Wanyama has a point. Having a president certainly isn't a hindrance for a community. But it is simply far too crude as an explanation of the present distribution of economic opportunity in Kenya. His example of the Somali, or the Somali middle classes anyway, is genuinely interesting. They've never had serious representation in government, or access to productive land, and nor did they have the colonial advantages some Asian communities had. Yet members of that community have done exceptionally well in at least four of Kenya's provinces. There's a dissertation in this.

Its time
written by a guest , February 01, 2008

(...) Tribalist rubbish deleted.

wasnt you--phew!
written by mkosakabila , February 01, 2008

Taking from the aforementioned point on access to capital, Bukusu engineers may want to buy graders and earth movers so that next time maybe they and not some Kikuyu or Asian can benefit from the devolved funds. .

Why didnt the Bukusu engineers buy graders before? They had no clue they could make profits or? Why did Kikuyu and Asian types buy the graders? Just curious.

If say a big time American preacher came to Kenya today, there would be no doubt at all that a church in say Kakamega or Kisumu or Eldoret would have the capacity to host that preacher because we have built that capacity.

I still think the term capacity is an excuse, is overused and poorly defined. I think people can do things if given a chance and some reasonable support. The problems being solved dont have to be big, they just have to be salient. On the other hand, even if the problem is big, it can be solved in little steps. The American preacher doesnt have to be big time, he just has to generate sufficient interest and hosted per available local resources and skills. No need for hullabaloo.

Raglan was fun!
written by Stephen Wanyama , February 01, 2008

It is difficult to compare crimes, and I am loathe to get into the who is badder game but there is I suppose sufficient extenuation for it.

Do you honestly believe that Kibaki is totally innocent in contributing to so many people who voted for him in 2002 becoming disciples of 41 vs 1? What about things from his side of the divide such as Kenya vs One Dangerous Man, or statements made like "now that one of our own is in power..." or that Raila was so useless he could not even raise chicken,or refusing to address perceptions of preferential appointments to key positions. Do you not think these were truly alienating strategies? In trying to contain Raila,Kibaki made a pact with some parts of KANU and Raila was forced to make a pact with the rest. Therein lay the destruction of the new dawn we thought we saw in 2002.

Kenya vs One Dangerous Man is an attack on Raila, and a perfectly genuine one at that. It is underwritten with newspaper reports of him acting thuggish and endorsing violence (just as he did in Kisumu recently). Would you say someone calling Mungiki or Mwenje or Gumo dangerous was attacking their ethnicities?

'now that one of our own is in power'
This statement was made only once, and in contrast to the ODM's three year anti-Kikuyu campaign was not exactly negative. Any Kikuyu hearing that speech would not come away from it angry at Luos or at Kalenjin, you see?

'Raila was so useless he could not even raise chicken'.
Again this is an attack on a politician, a single politician and not an entire community. I needn't tell you of the prominence of Raphael Tuju in the Kibaki team, or of the many Luos involved in the Kibaki campaign effort. You notice that no one is claiming that claiming Kibaki is indolent or given to playing golf is an anti-Kikuyu slur?
refusing to address perceptions of preferential appointments to key positions
I suppose this is entirely subjective. I think Kibaki could have done much better with his appointments, but absent the 41 against 1 strategy there is no doubt in my mind that this would not have taken the importance that it later did. In any case, I am persuaded that a statement such as 90% of all civil service appointments are GEMA deserves to be treated with nothing but contempt.

Public officials and indeed anyone in public life can and ought to be submitted to the most rigorous examination, as has been done with both President Kibaki and Raila. But a community cannot, not in a country like ours be so steadily slurred without consequence. Did the ODM know that the Rift Valley was a likely theatre of war? Did they know that Kenyans are jealous of Gikuyu success (much like they are of Asian success or in Nyanza and the Rift Valley of Kisii success)? Was it not foreseeable that a three year campaign of deceit and slander would result in mayhem? Was not some of the hatred even beyond speech, for example the exhortation against rent payment? Was this not actual incitement?

Even a chicken salesman should have been able to discern that.

...
written by politicalscientist , February 01, 2008

Perhaps I need to clarify some of the comments that I've made lest I continue to be taken out of context.

I never at any point suggested that only the over 40's are tribalist, merely that the over 40's are more likely to be tribalist. This is a product of the age in which they were brought up/began working when tribalism was de rigeur in the civil service. At the time working in the civil service was the most profitable and desirable form of employment but to get in you had to have certain tribal affiliations, or a big man behind you. However in the modern day of competitive recruitment, while tribalism still stalks the halls of government at least the appearance is of more equality.

But you know this really goes back to my 3 Kenyas thesis. Because I can see a move towards change but that is mostly because I grew up in Nairobi, I went to a good multi cultural school (better than Alliance...;-)) which brings with it a certain world view that perhaps other people of a similar age may not have. My family is from one of the most remote and frequently forgotten corners of Kenya and when I meet people from there I am often amazed that they aren't more angry with the rest of us. People here have wondered how an 18 year old could have so much hatred in his heart. Imagine if all your life you had been constantly denied opportunities- you couldn't finish school because there was no money, and even if you could you could never aspire to get into university because someone bribed their way into university before you. You have to hate someone for your misfortune because after all you did everything in your power and checked all the boxes and you still have nothing. And here comes Mr moneybags politician who not only gives you someone to hate, but pays you to do it. A tough offer to refuse, no?

A great part of the benefits that Central province has accrued are merely circumstantial - its proximity to the capital, the nature of the land etc. But it is naiive to believe that the success of this region vis a vis other equally endowed and even more profitable regions owes nothing to the politics of Kenyatta and Co. Just think about Mombasa, for the most part the heart of Kenya's economy and 40+ years after indpendence no university, no significant infrastructural investments outside the tourist areas etc. And as for central province and land, the key role that Kenyatta played in this is the system of ownership in Rift Valley versus Central. Central province is characterised for the most part by small holdings - after independence many people were rewarded with small parcels of land (few of whom, it is often noted, were Mau Mau fighters). On the other hand, the Rift Valley passed on seamlessly into the hands of large plantation owners, locking out all the local people who could never afford to purchase the land at those rates, and were not connected enough to benefit otherwise.


As another commentator has insinuated, don't absolve Kibaki in the process of condemning Raila. He is as much a guilty party in this shennanigans as anyone else.If you know someone who isn't Kikuyu and has worked for the civil service in the last 5 years, I suggest you have a serious heart to heart with them.

If this argument sounds skewed it is only because I am responding directly to points raised by other commentators. I personally am waiting for a certain online petition requesting a second election in which neither Raila nor Kibaki are allowed to stand.

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written by Nyabs , February 01, 2008

Politicalscientist, your defence here resonates quiet well with me. I had an opportunity to discuss with a coastal colleague who voted for Raila and his major reasons for doing that was due to the land ownership problem that is commonplace in the region.

My only question to him is if he thought that Raila would ensure that coastal people get title for their land. Your guess is as a good as mine as to the answer to this question.

Given the behaviour of ODM after the elections ( and justifiably so), I am having very serious doubts whether they would have adressed the fundamental issues that bedevil the nation, especially when some of the key ODM figures, through their past practices, created some of the problems we are seeing.

Conclusion: we need to build institutions that we can trust and respect, not individuals who can make us dance in political rallies and believe that " yote yawezekana" bila so and so or with so and so.

Then and only then will my colleague in the coast be assured of title to his land, because we would have laid laws clearly in place that guarantee every Kenyan the right to legal ownership of land, and when he sees this not happening, he will be able sue the Land Officer in his district for failing in his responsibilities.

Short of that, we will have people coming onto the political stage, promising us heaven in order to be president and because we are so desperate, we will believe in their lies and we will be willing to kill, as we are doing now, in their names.

Just a question: does the bitterness against Kibaki in the Rift Valley mean that his policies of guaranteed prices for milk and maize did not benefit in any way the farmers in these regions?

The \'have-nots\' should be mo
written by Ray , February 01, 2008

It seems to me that there's only 'them' versus 'us' and by this I mean the 'haves' versus the 'have-nots'. This is a cross-cutting theme in Kenya; be it power, political mileage, wealth, money, education, you name it! Take your pick as to which group you belong to. If we could look at this very simple polemic, we would realize that it's not too hard (if at all) to fall into our 'natural' groups irrespective of tribes or political affiliations. So, as the 'haves' continue to bicker and drag their feet (as they collect hefty salaries), shouldn't we, the 'have-nots', be looking ahead and brain-storming about ways to ensure that our voices will be really heard by the 'haves' so that this madness never happens to us again? How are we going to ensure that the 'haves' do not raise their salaries yet again in the august house as they sleep on the job about pertinent issues like the constitutional and institutional reforms? Have we ever thought of alternatives to the political parties in Kenya... eg. workers' parties that advocate for the rights of the common man? Remember that there's such a thing as a Political Parties Bill which is soon to be passed as law in Kenya. What will be in it for the 'have-nots'? There are very many issues that we should be concentrating on right now to protect our interests in the future and yet we spend all our time fighting battles for the 'haves'. When all this blows over and it's 'business as usual', the 'haves' will not remember that the 'have-nots' fought for them. If there are any 'have-nots' like me out there, my appeal is this:- Let's get pro-active and use this time and the available forums to get realistic and organized by sharing our views and ideas to map out our own destiny.

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written by Victoriia , February 01, 2008

Isnt it interesting how the 18yr old in the podcast, believes that this was all a reaction to the election results and if kibaki steps down, the kikuyu neighbours can return to their homes. But talk to the middle aged and the elders- and its a definite no. Granted he's still young and probably ignorant- but the lesson here is -Be careful you know what you are really supporting. I also think its ironic that the elder can state how "its unfair for 1 tribe to rule 41",while he knows that the country was run for 24 years by someone from his ethnicity, what 1 tribe is he really talking about? Lets have a real discussion about who's really benefited from a presidency in kenya while the rest of the country was struggling, coz if memory serves me it was quite blatant. and why is it that there is such amnesia in the country about this MOI era- yet everyone is all of sudden so familiar with what happened during kenyatta's time? Perhaps its as has being mentioned before-clever political machinery. I think issues of inequalities that arose during both eras should be addreesed.
As for the other guys taking about "there will only be peace when the kikuyus leave"- someone should tell this guys once you start this kind of ethnic cleansing, others will return the favor- as is happening - Perhaps when the shoe is on the other foot the error of ones discriminating ways becomes more self-evident. Unless you are ready and self sufficent enough to live solely in your region of ethnic origin- dont start preaching such politics.In fact i think we should have sanctions against people who wield such tactics. This would ofcourse follow laws passed against ethnic division of any kind of for any purpose including political campaigning. Because for all the educating etc etc of people- there eeds to be some true recourse for such actions.

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written by benadede , February 01, 2008

Stephen Wanyama,
Let me clarify that I in no way condone 1 vs 40. It is wrong and uninformed.

Kenya vs One Dangerous Man
You correctly point that this was directed to one man but this is a bit shallow. For whatever reasons Raila was able to appeal first, to many Luos and later to a wider and significant spectrum of Kenyans, this campaign was interpreted as not only aimed at one man but to his supporters too. In 2005, the banana side took a lot of time to campaign against Raila rather than to campaign for the draft constitution. To make matters worse, Kibaki used offensive and humiliating language against(remember pumbavu and mavi ya kuku) the orange supporters. It cost him dearly and I think some people never forgave him. At least it seems during the last campaigns he realized his folly and did not make disparaging remarks about the general public.

'now that one of our own is in power'
No, this was not a one off remark and was repeated openly many times. In the last election, it was the clarion call at campaigns to ensure that people from Mt. Kenya region came out in large numbers to vote lest one of their own is pushed out of power

Raila is so useless that he could not raise even chicken
Again, this was not seen as only an insult to Raila but to his community and his supporters. That they are all lazy and waiting for handouts and supposedly why they are "poorer" than others. This has often been repeated even in this forum by a number of people. As for people from Mt.Kenya region given an important role in Raila's campaign, you must be blind if you have not noticed Nyagah, Wanjiru, Mumbi Ng'aru, KJ to name but a few visible ones.

Refusing to address perceptions of preferential treatment in appointments to key positions
I agree with you that it is subjective and definitely not 90% but there is no doubt some preferential treatment was extended to certain regions. I also agree that appointments should take note of merit. The thing is, it was not always merit used. Otherwise for instance, Wangari Maathai would have been Environment minister. Likewise when Kibaki was in a tight spot, he was blackmailed by the likes of Kombo to give jobs to the likes of Yvonne Khamati!

In response to some other comments by others
Whether it is due to a communites socialization process or the evolutionary process as some would argue, it is a fact individuals from different communities tend to succeed or fail in certain areas of the economic sphere. Like Kikuyus and Kisiis in Kenya, some Asian communities and Jews are known to excel in business. This is where money is made and this makes them the envy of others. But this should not mean this is a rule. Not everyone in a community follows the same path. So while traditionally Kalenjins are good athletes, there are exceptions. Similarly, there are good Luo, Kalenjin, Luhyia e.t.c business people. So it is not only because of patronage from politicians that people excel in certain fields.

Having said that, like in other African countries and elsewhere in the world before stronger state institutions evolved, Kenya's presidents and ruling elite have extended patronage to people who are close to them that made them rich. While the majority of these might be from their communites, others are not. Kibaki's wealth has roots in political patronage as does Raila's wealth, as does Mudavadi's, Ruto's, Dalmas Otieno, Musikari Kombo, Mukhisa Kituyi and many leading politicians and businessmen in Kenya. But there are many Kenyans who have made money out of sweat and hard work who did not have access to political patronage. What Kenyans should push for are strong institutions which will enable hardworking people to succeed and stop unwarranted reward of political elite and their cronies. But remember, money begets money and those who hope to see some of the rich people now to get poor just because of a change of regime can as well continue waiting for Godot.

The much maligned majimbo as we often refer to devolution must also be revisited in a sober manner. Effected in a good way, it will help to make people feel closer to the center of power or at least blame the right people for failure. For instance, regional governments would have been forced to do more to stop the ethnic cleansing we are seeing. As matters stand, the opposition are conviniently pointing out that the job of protection of lives and property is the job of the central government. At the very worst we should consider reforming local authorities and devolving more power to them (of course with better leadership than what they have today). An example of devolved powers can be found in the church. In Kenya, the Catholic church as well as ACK are devolved. So for instance, the people in Nyanza realize that the poor administration of Catholic schools in Nyanza is due to the incompetence of leaders of their archdiocese. They do not blame Cardinal Njue about that because he does not control those decisoins.

The Gospel According to James
written by cicero , February 01, 2008

Very well done, James deconstructing the myth of victim hood. In the podcast, you hear kalenjins complaining about alienation while their own man ruled Kenya for 24 years. These tribal savages are trying to portray this as a have against have-nots struggle but the truth of the matter is that their targets so far has been the poorest of the poor kikuyus.

Truth must be told no matter how inconvenient it is to some ears.

...
written by a guest , February 01, 2008

While I like many of the ideas you guys have posted here, I have a question that I'd like considered;
If we look back into our recent history, you will notice that there are always communities that are fighting. Even during the most peaceful times, they are killing each other, raiding each others cattle, etc. These are usually nomadic communities in the northern part of Kenya. How do we reduce this type of aggression, which seems to have been accepted as a way of life by the warring communities?

As for the ethnic cleaning that comes about during general elections, given the timing, it is obviously politically instigated, and again, at the for the last couple of general elections, it seems to be the same communities doing it over and over again. They keep on fighting others, then peace is brokered and life returns to normal, only for them to turn around and attack in the next election. What should be done to dissuade these communities from behaving this way?

I believe if no action is taken to penalize them, then this will continue because they know that they can get away with it. They did it in 1992, nothing happened! They did it in 1997...nothing happened to them. they do it in 2008.......are we just going to try to educate them that violence is wrong?
On the other hand, if we were to punish members of these communities who are involved with the violence and also persecute their leaders who incite this violence, won't the feeling that their community is being persecuted result in further fighting in the future.

As for the victimized communities, if we do nothing to the aggressors, what message are we relaying to them.... Before the next election, arm and he ready to kill because around election time every five years, killing with impunity is permitted?

Given the unrepentant talk we here some of the audio clips above, would a truth and reconciliation committee really work? I mean, for it to work, the aggressor has to be repentant...obviously, many of those being interviewed aren't.

Any ideas are welcome.

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written by politicalscientist , February 02, 2008

I appreciate some of the concerns that you've raised and to be honest there is no easy way out of it. A large part of the current success in Rwanda is due to the massive exodus of the Hutu population fearing reprisal, and no one has yet addressed the question of when the refugees, some of whom who are causing a lot of mayhem in eastern DRC, will be going home and what will happen when they get there.

To pick up on an idea already mentioned here, I think that a less ad hoc approach to decentralisation would really help Kenya, not in the least because it would relieve pressure on Nairobi where the urban poor are often worse off than the rural poor. I think empowering regional/provincial organisations and giving them more autonomy but more restriction such as splitting local government ministry so that there is a minister for provincial administration who deals with provincial representatives,DO's, DC's etc focusing on intepreting law at a local level and a minister for local government who deals with city, municipal and town councils etc focusing on service provision and urban management. In this way the grievance mechanism would also be split more effectively so that more immediate grievances such as land ownership, differences between tribes etc can be resolved locally. For example things like minimum taxation should be set centrally and then its up to the provincial administration to decide if they want to maintain that (to attract invesment) or raise it (to increase revenue). Each province should therefore have its house of representatives to discuss such issues.

How this would help in the long run would be empowering local communities to take more responsibility for their regions and to feel more represented by their government. It would, to some extent be formalising traditional institutions, which would give them greater legitimacy, but also greater responsibility. In a situation like what we have now, it would be up to the house of representatives to develop a plan of action to respond to local crises in a timely fashion. (Also it would be recommended that provincial and national elections not be held at the same time so that there is always someone in charge that people can agree on).

In the longer run, no lasting solution to Kenya's ethnicity issues will be found in the next year or so. And that is the sad fact that we all have to deal with. We've all been faced with the horrible truth of what lies beneath "hakuna matata". The onus is on us to reach out to our brothers and sisters, through the frequently suggested mediation committees and show them that we are ready to move forward. It is not easy - on tuesday a close relative of mine was killed in this fiasco and we are all pretty angry about it- but at the end of the day, we must be prepared to sacrifice our pride and our anger, if we are to ensure our security.

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written by benadede , February 02, 2008

Cicero, I have encountered you elswhere and while most of what you say usually makes sense, the idea that only some communities have savages atacking poor Kikuyus is misplaced. In revenge, the Kikuyus showed they equally have savages attacking other poor people. We also know the history of Mungiki only too well.

http://www.nationmedia.com/dai...sid=115916

By the way, the thugs in Kisumu were initially looting and burning property but not killing people. After Naivasha they started killing and replaced their stones with machetes. Very scary stuff.

As for Anonymous who wonders what can be done to the recurent clashes amongst the same communites and also fears that if action is taken against the inciters and funders the communities feelings of marginalization will deepen, this is what I have to say.

Perpetrators of criminal activity must be named, shamed, arrested and jailed. For now, it has been suggested that there is evidence polticians incited and pre-planned the violence in Rift Valley. I do not know what Ali and Tobiko are waiting for. However, justice must also be done for earlier clashes in recent times and in the past including Kuresoi, Molo, Mt. Elgon and Rift Valley.

Where injustices such as land grabbing and unfair settlement in settlement schemes has taken place, it must be addressed adequately. Where people sold their land on a willing buyer willing seller basis, sanctity of title deeds must be respected.

We must address the squatter issues once and for all. I do not understand how after more than forty years of independence we still have squatters. The government should not continue using title deeds as a bait to be handed out at every election.

Also, a mechanism to identify genuine squatters must be made. For starters, we must define clearly and enshrine in law who a squatter is. I reject the idea that if you are born to a squatter you inherit squatter status. We have to teach Kenyans that not every single Kenyan is entitled to own land. If this is the case, then there are so many squatters in Kenya including me because as of now I do not own any land. My father who bought his land through his own sweat can decide on whether I should inherit some of it or not. So I am just as landless as many Kenyans but I do not complain and I do not call myself a squatter looking for preferential treatment!

Lastly, Kenyans must learn to roundly condemn injustice to Kenyans anywhere at all times an not only react when they are affected. Just in the last five years, our brothers and sisters in northern Kenya and Mt. Elgon have suffered serious atrocities at the hands of criminals but since we were not personally affected we watched fairly silently as the government paid lip service to protecting lives and property in these places. In urban areas, routine murder of innocent civilians by policemen has not been roundly condemned by us. We left grieving families to suffer silently. If we are honest that each and every Kenyan life is important, let us fight for justice always and for all.

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written by a guest , February 02, 2008

benadede,

I think you are right. For warring communities, a stick and carrot approach would work best, where the carrot is genuinly attempting to understand and address their grieviences and the stick is persecution of those who incite and kill, with no fear or favor. If the force with which the government dealt with the mungiki menace pre election is what it takes to dissuade them from violence, then so be it.

re:
written by a guest , February 02, 2008

Refusing to address perceptions of preferential treatment in appointments to key positions
I agree with you that it is subjective and definitely not 90% but there is no doubt some preferential treatment was extended to certain regions. I also agree that appointments should take note of merit. The thing is, it was not always merit used. Otherwise for instance, Wangari Maathai would have been Environment minister. Likewise when Kibaki was in a tight spot, he was blackmailed by the likes of Kombo to give jobs to the likes of Yvonne Khamati!

While discussing this point, as least regarding ministerial appointments let's also take into account that after the referendum, a number of MPs appointed to the cabinet refused to accept those appointments, Maathai being one of them. As such, if ODM managed to dissuade MPs from particular communities from accepting cabinet positions, should they not share in the blame of creating an environment for preferential treatment, instead of whouting about it!

re:
written by cicero , February 02, 2008

Cicero, I have encountered you elswhere and while most of what you say usually makes sense, the idea that only some communities have savages atacking poor Kikuyus is misplaced. In revenge, the Kikuyus showed they equally have savages attacking other poor people.

I am glad our previous encounter left us both with our heads intact! I guess there is still a few of us who can disagree in a civil way.

Back to the point you raised; I am not of course ascribing the monopoly of savagery to just the kalenjins and in fact I am not of the opinion that a medieval mindset predominates that community.

The Kikuyus who went after innocent Luos/Kalenjins (you must have heard me crusade this in our previous encounter) are just as unhinged feudal thugs.

My emphasis is the reasons provided to justify the slaughter of innocent people by the kalenjins which are (as James aptly demonstrated) bogus and wholly conjectural.

The Kikiyu savagery on the other hand, i suspect, is not being attributed to anything sublimer than thirst for vengeance.

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written by benadede , February 02, 2008

Cicero, you clarifcation is noted. I hope the insane people from our earlier encounter do not find their way here. There are a few of their ilk though.

Anonymous, I agree that after the referendum there were people who declined their positons but that is not when the perception of preferential appointments started. I think by that time, battle lines were drawn. More important was that in the public service a similar trend was noted in appointments and promotions.

Anyway, I think that we should rather look at how we are going to craft our nation together again. What is for sure is it will take a long time and it is time visionary leadership for the sake of the country. Too bad we collectively as Kenyans have vindicated Moi that we were not ready for multi party politics.

We should not however lose hope. The history of many successful countries is replete with disasters from which they learned their lessons and realized that a country should have strong institutions and shun hate politics.

re:
written by cicero , February 02, 2008

Cicero, you clarifcation is noted. I hope the insane people from our earlier encounter do not find their way here. There are a few of their ilk though.

You must be talking about the internally displaced people that formerly inhabited a certain volatile cyber area.

Aside from outright incitement of violence, I am of the opinion that letting these deranged voices be heard provides us with a clear picture of what the problem really is.

Ominously, the unpalatable dialog was probably the closest representations of how Kenyans feel about each other in the anonymity of their closets.

Posts calling for the eviction of Kikuyus in Rift Valley started doing rounds way before there was an election fall out.When i saw such sentiments being expressed and tolerated by a good number of ODMers I knew exactly what "devolution" meant to them...both the devolver and devolved. The latter dreamed of a conquest to re-occupy 'what was once his" while the former braced for, well, devourlution.

I think such changaa dens served to expose the savages...in their own words.

Better structured devolution
written by pndiangui , February 02, 2008

But the reality is decentralisation offers the best hope for a fragmented society like ours. Federalism but with a strong central government such as that in Germany, or the USA or in India may resolve any fears of money being concentrated only in central province.I couldnt agree with you more, but let us address Wanyama's point that we already have devolved intitutions like LATF and CDF.

Steve, we have seen MP's especially in central Kenya where PNU nomination ticket (thank god to the many parties supporting Kibaki strategy), didnt guarantee anyone an automatic entry to the 10th parliament, rather utilization of CDF properly also played a big factor in the 'selection criteria'. Having known a few of those who were trying to contest for parliamentary sits in Eastern (Meru) and central Kenya Kiambu, I was amazed to their change of altitude due to the CDF punishment reward system. People who used to take voters for granted with hand-outs and ad-hoc harambees as the means to secure parliamentary seats, have started enquiring about the long term projects that one can start implementing now to have competitive advantage in 2012 against the current incumbent. Again I saw the already elected incumbents start looking for management consultants who can help them structure a CDF management stracture that will deliver rapid results and with this , I overheard them talk more about the need to recruit talented people from their consituencies rather than their relatives or cronies.
My point? that the accountability of this devolvement is starting to bite because of the knowledge on the ground by commne mwananchi of the instruments of scrutiny' which are basically the naked eye to see what has exactly been done with the fund. A blame of the central government due to the failure of CDF in the constiuency wasnt there it was directed to the right owner of the failure, the former MP.
Therefore the fact that we dont have Municipal councils facing such acountability levels, means that LATF doesnt receive the same scrutiny. I would like to remind many of the deterioration of the Nairobi city and the political accountability in the 90's. Rather than blaming Moi ,Mwai Kibaki was also chiefly accountable as the council was being run by DP councillors and mayors where he was the leader. So if the anti-corruption values were shared across the party, and I remember Wangari Maathai and Wanyiri Kihoro stressing this point too, then they could have atleast made a point of expelling DP councilors, involved with graft in city hall. That they couldnt talk against corruption while the very councils that they run were also inefficient and corrupt to the core.
But again, I go back to mkosakabila's, assertions; That what we have is a haphazard and badly strctured devolution for LATF and even CDF (even if it is bit more susceptible to better scrutiny than the former).
Apparently after listening to the podcast I have every reason to believe that may be better strctured devolved regions might help educate the public into seeing other communities not as aggresors but as investors.
Lets take an example of Eldoret; We have a region ,known as Uasin Gishu and the regional government here is not only receiving funds but it is known to common mwananchi that it is suppoed to raise revenue through regional taxes and deliver on health services, security services, education and the like. And information on the success or failure is debated in those parliaments in full glare of the wananchi who elect the very regional and federal MP's. The regional governements also take full ownership of hiring and firing bureacrats who are tasked with the planning and delivering of these services. Bearing in mind that the governor and the regional ministers want to be re-elected back because of their performance , then I really see them starting to encourage an enterprise culture to raise more revenue and deliver on the expectations of the people if at all impartial institutions to guarantee democracy are allowed to thrive. And if they do this, they will be more inclined in preaching peace and encouraging the community to create a better environment for the Gikuyu or Kisii shopkeeper to thrive. They'll probably strive to hire the best talent to advise them on their regional economic strategies no matter their ethnicity. Now this is the structure that CDF and LATF fails to capture fully and the accountability value chain that goes with it.
Infact these regional governance platforms are also platforms for enterprise development and economic growth since more businesses will be created around the decentralised government to service their Capital expenditure just like it has happened with CDF funds. So literary wealth re-distribution through private enterprises happens by default.


Refusing to address perceptions of preferential appointments to key positions. Do you not think these were truly alienating strategies? Benadede, Whether real or not I absolutely agree with you that this was not addressed. Kibaki has alot to do with the mess we have as much Raila does. But I digress, we really want to heal these wounds and especially among the youth, otherwise we dont have a country at the moment. We areally dont want to have another 'lost generation' like that of the 90's which is some of us who left Kenya in droves after college.

All in all Benadede, where I agree with you most is regionalism so that the blames can be put on the feet of the right people.
We should not however lose hope. The history of many successful countries is replete with disasters from which they learned their lessons and realized that a country should have strong institutions and shun hate politics.
In the end this is what we should make out of this opportunity, however much it has cost us to be able to open our eyes wide.

perception vs. intent
written by Stephen Wanyama , February 02, 2008

BenAdede,
I still insist that perception and intent are two very different things. Luos made the decision to perceive attacks on Raila as attacks on them. Kikuyus on the other hand, even those who were pro-Raila, could hardly have failed to notice the anti-GEMA strain inherent in the ODM's campaign strategy.

I suppose I may be over-reaching but is it not peculiar that some people are completely ignoring Oyudo's podcast? Is it not peculiar that there are those who think that the constant attack and isolation of an ethnicity is something to be brushed off as equal to the campaign against One Dangerous Man and hence just politics?

In civilised countries, which we will have to become soon, there is absolutely no tolerance of hate-speech, and I remain defiant that of all political parties the ODM distinguished itself by preaching hatred, not dislike of a leader, not incompetence but hatred. The 41 against 1 strategy absolutely asked Kenyans to raise themselves against an aggressor, one who was taking what was rightfully theirs. This hateful message was so very adamant even those pretending to be nice like my sister Nanjala subscribe to it (see above). She goes on to supply excuse for it, alleging that there are Kenyans denied university places for being from the wrong tribe and such other utter rubbish. But such is hate-talk, it knows no reasons, and as memeticists will tell you memes are spread and survive quite often against the best interests of their hosts.

This country will never make any progress until we know our history and until we are agreed that we are one country, indivisible. For as long as there are idiots willing to tolerate the suggestion that there are links between blood and soil we are doomed to extinction.

Ndiangui,
This is exactly my point about increased devolution. Firstly where is this money going to come from, we know exactly what are the most productive Kenyan regions now. These are the facts, I am not talking potential but fact. Now, if we are expelling each other from our 'native' provinces, how are we going to support each other's economic growth, you see for Nyanza or the NEP to be made productive or self-sustaining it will need massive transfer funds from Central Government. Is it in the rest of Kenya's interest to do this? Do we really understand the benefits of being one country?

Surely you indulge BenAdede far too much. Kenyans persevered the whole of the KANU years feeling left out of government, they did not resort to attacking the Kalenjin ever.

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written by Daniel.Waweru , February 02, 2008

politicalscientist,

Just think about Mombasa, for the most part the heart of Kenya's economy and 40+ years after indpendence no university, no significant infrastructural investments outside the tourist areas etc.

A friend of mine worked for TARDA. He used to claim that Coast had seen more infrastructure spending per person in the last decade than any other province in Kenya.

Anyway, you must be joking. I can think of nearly ten major nontourist infrastructure projects at the Coast: Bamburi; the oil refinery; the Kenya Meat Commission plant; cashewnut processing in Kilifi; the sugar factory at Ramisi; the milk processing thingy at Miritini; the textile mills; that favourite of Kenyan GHC teachers, the Bura irrigation scheme (which, admittedly, failed); and the new (20 billion bob!) sugar factory which is being built in Mungatana's constituency. All this without including Tiomin.

Central province is characterised for the most part by small holdings - after independence many people were rewarded with small parcels of land (few of whom, it is often noted, were Mau Mau fighters). On the other hand, the Rift Valley passed on seamlessly into the hands of large plantation owners, locking out all the local people who could never afford to purchase the land at those rates, and were not connected enough to benefit otherwise.

It's unclear just which causal claim you're making in the first sentence. If you mean that Kenyatta is responsible for the characteristic pattern of landholding in Central, then, again, it's time to invoke John McEnroe. Small holdings in Kikuyuland were consolidated and registered beginning in 1955 (Swynnerton plan, remember?). The process was complete by 1960 (Probably to ensure that members of Mau Mau were locked out, but perhaps that's just my suspicious nature.) Notably, small holder income had risen before Kenyatta came to power, mostly because the ban on coffee and tea was lifted. It is hard to see how Kenyatta can be held responsible for these events when he was in jail at the time. (Which is not to say he didn't make irregular land allocations in Central; but those allocations neither determined the pattern of land use in Central nor radically changed it.)

The entire Rift Valley is an exceptionally poor comparison for Central province. The better approach is to compare areas of high agricultural potential in both provinces.

But first, let's turn to the claim that Rift Valley land which was not broken up was unobtainable by locals. This is simply false. Legislation was passed in 1968 specifically to permit group ranches (especially in Maasailand). The committees administering these ranches tended, unsurprisingly, to exclude those not of Maasai origin. Even less surprisingly, the committees were reluctant or openly hostile to non Maasai who had lived on those lands before 1968, or who attempted to buy the land. This example of government collusion in blatant ethnic discrimination is not often remembered.

Now, high potential areas in the Rift Valley. Uasin Gishu and Trans Nzoia will do, seeing as both districts have lots of high potential farmland. There was variety in the settlement schemes in RVP. In both, large numbers of Kalenjin, Kikuyu, Kisii and Luhya were settled on two types of settlement: cooperative farms and smallholder units. Cooperatives often bought directly from settlers; the intention was to keep settler farms intact, so to ensure we didn't do a Zimbabwe before Zimbabwe. Some of these have been extraordinarily successful. More to the point, several excluded everyone but Rift Valley locals from participation. One of our former Presidents is famous for lending personal money (or standing security for loans) to members of his ethnic group for this purpose. No, not that President. Locals were also eligible for the smallholder schemes in both these districts; many took advantage of them. To claim that the Rift Valley 'passed seamlessly into the hands of large landowners' is to be very economical with the actualite. As in Central, so in RVP: rich farmland was available to smallholders, either on their own, or in cooperative groups.

To end, some interesting tidbits. John Oucho reports that by 1967 it was clear that the biggest gains from the Rift Valley settlement schemes, once relative populations were taken into account, were accrued by the Kalenjin (and the Kisii). (See page 164-5 of Undercurre
nts of Ethnic Conflict in Kenya).
Rather drolly, he notes that the opposite is widely believed.

re: perception vs. intent
written by aeichener , February 02, 2008

I still insist that perception and intent are two very different things. Luos made the decision to perceive attacks on Raila as attacks on them.

It was politicalscientist who introduced this very, very dangerous fallacy in here. The Gogglemoggle-esque fallacy of "never mind the facts, perception is all that counts".
What can have some heuristic value in particle physics, is utterly nefarious when it comes to political problems and the finding of political solutions.

Is it not peculiar that there are those who think that the constant attack and isolation of an ethnicity is something to be brushed off as equal to the campaign against One Dangerous Man and hence just politics?

The slave sees none but his Master, and Master must never be slighted.

In civilised countries, which we will have to become soon,

Nicely said.

Alexander

re:
written by aeichener , February 02, 2008

If we look back into our recent history, you will notice that there are always communities that are fighting. Even during the most peaceful times, they are killing each other, raiding each others cattle, etc. These are usually nomadic communities in the northern part of Kenya. How do we reduce this type of aggression (...)

I believe if no action is taken to penalize them, then this will continue

Please kindly allow me to inform you that colonial style "punishment expeditions" where in order the discipline the unruly natives, one would hang the chieftain, machinegun the warriors, rape the women, burn the huts and drive their cattle away as recompensation, have come a wee bit out of fashion after, say, 1910 or so...

Alexander

re:
written by politicalscientist , February 02, 2008

politicalscientist,

[A friend of mine worked for TARDA. He used to claim that Coast had seen more infrastructure spending per person in the last decade than any other province in Kenya.

Anyway, you must be joking. I can think of nearly ten major nontourist infrastructure projects at the Coast: Bamburi; the oil refinery; the Kenya Meat Commission plant; cashewnut processing in Kilifi; the sugar factory at Ramisi; the milk processing thingy at Miritini; the textile mills; that favourite of Kenyan GHC teachers, the Bura irrigation scheme (which, admittedly, failed); and the new (20 billion bob!) sugar factory which is being built in Mungatana's constituency. All this without including Tiomin.

[

I concede one point and take issue with another. Yes you've pointed out several infrastructural investments at the coast but you haven't mentioned a single one that directly benefits the inhabitants of the coast. What's the point of building all these things if the local people can't get to school or university to take advantage of the facilities? The infrastructure developments at the coast that you've mentioned are all targetted at extraction, getting things through the coast rather than actually developing the coast. Why do we have to wait for Aga Khan to build a university at the coast? And now it seems due to Kalonzo Eastern is due to get one before the coast? There is one national school at the coast province compared to central and rift valley that have most of them between them. Infrastructure maybe (and that is the point I concede)but not development, because the local people are not being trained or empowered to make the most of these extractive industries. I watched a documentary once on the state of fishing at the coast, and it was appalling that the people at the coast are losing not only their livelihoods but basic food because they are unable to compete with the large multinational corporations.

Many of the examples you point out - Bamburi, Tiomin - are run by expatriates, and by people from other regions. And while in principle I have nothing against people from other regions working at the coast, in practice, one has to be sensitive to the idea that they are being displaced from their homes to make way for factories, losing their livelihoods to trawlers and the security concerns american ships permanently anchored off the coast of Kenya and drawing very little DIRECT benefit from these investments. And this is a genuine grievance that must be addressed. But thank you for challenging me, I think I will do some more reading around the issue.

Central province is characterised for the most part by small holdings - after independence many people were rewarded with small parcels of land (few of whom, it is often noted, were Mau Mau fighters). On the other hand, the Rift Valley passed on seamlessly into the hands of large plantation owners, locking out all the local people who could never afford to purchase the land at those rates, and were not connected enough to benefit otherwise.

It's unclear just which causal claim you're making in the first sentence. If you mean that Kenyatta is responsible for the characteristic pattern of landholding in Central, then, again, it's time to invoke John McEnroe. Small holdings in Kikuyuland were consolidated and registered beginning in 1955 (Swynnerton plan, remember?). The process was complete by 1960 (Probably to ensure that members of Mau Mau were locked out, but perhaps that's just my suspicious nature.) Notably, small holder income had risen before Kenyatta came to power, mostly because the ban on coffee and tea was lifted. It is hard to see how Kenyatta can be held responsible for these events when he was in jail at the time. (Which is not to say he didn't make irregular land allocations in Central; but those allocations neither determined the pattern of land use in Central nor radically changed it.)
.

You've challenged me on nuances and I am compelled to rise to the challenge. By Kenyatta I refer to the Kenyatta administration and not Kenyatta the man, but we all know that in politics we are prone to reducing the administration to its figure head. And I think that statement clarifies the causal claim that I am making, that the Kenyatta administration, the people around him did in fact play a role in the irregular allocation of land in Rift Valley and in Central province. But you've raised an important point that cannot continue to be ignored; the big British Colonial government shaped elephant in the room. I avoid playing this card because after a while it loses its resonance but i think it is appropriate when it comes to the quesition of land.

The crux of the matter is that in Kenya, unlike South Africa, Zimbabwe and Uganda there was no process of transfer of ownership between the white farmers and the black farmers, particularly in the Rift Valley. Land issues because they were percieved as largely resolved were not problematised in post colonial Kenya and I believe that's why places like Kitale, Trans Nzoia etc have large tracts of land passing through generations of settler families.

But you know I have to confess I am swimming a little out of my depth here. A lot of this goes over my head because although I took History for KCSE a lot of it was propaganda and many times just plain wrongs so I learnt to ignore it. Allow me some time to brush up on my History before I come back to the question of land. If you have any recommendations feel free to message me and I will have a look at them as soon as I have time.

And Alexander, perception as reality is not a fallacy. A great deal of what we know as a reality is constructed by the media, by our societies and by other factors. That is not to say that there are no objective truths in this world, but, particularly in the world of politics, they are few and far in between.

from Oucho's book
written by Stephen Wanyama , February 02, 2008

It is amazing how much of what we think we know about our country is actually myth. One wonders at such times where civil society and the relevant scholars are in all this. Kenyan media we have to throw up our hands about, admit they are incompetent, but facts are sacred


This here has been excised from the link above, page 164-165 of Undercurrents in Ethnic Conflict in Kenya. I should of course add here that the million acre scheme is only one of the many settlement programmes there are/were several others.

re: re:
written by a guest , February 02, 2008

Please kindly allow me to inform you that colonial style "punishment expeditions" where in order the discipline the unruly natives, one would hang the chieftain, machinegun the warriors, rape the women, burn the huts and drive their cattle away as recompensation, have come a wee bit out of fashion after, say, 1910 or so...

Alexander

Well, someone forgot to update the kalenjin individuals interviewed in the podcast of this! What do you suggest....we herd them into national schools for some anti tribalism education?

I agree, Alexander, and nowhere in my posting do i imply that raping, burning, etc. is the choice punishment as you seem to imply. However, the options you have listed above do not cover all conceivable options now, do they? However we as a nation choose to deal with initiators of violence, the point I was attempting to make was that there must be consequences for such behavior, and those consequenses need to be strong enough to convince the recipient to stop the violence. Otherwise what is the point of having laws?

...
written by benadede , February 02, 2008

Stephen Wanyama, it is interesting the extract you have posted from Oucho's book also uses this word "perception". Like in my use of the word these historians point out that perceptions can be taken to be very real. This is why I insist that perceptions must be addressed fully to seperate truth from fiction.

Earlier in this discussion I have explicitly said that perceived injustices must be addressed. For instance, many of the people who are being chased away from their farms in the Rift Valley bought the land on a willing buyer willing seller basis and are wrongly persecuted. Some of the land was however grabbed, at times by elite from their own communities.For instance some of you may remember a documentary that did the rounds before election in which a tearful man accused Henry Kosgey of grabbing his land. Kenya must bring closure to the land issue once and for all.

As for devolution, I insist that we must also address it. The good thing is that PNU, ODM, and ODM-K all had one form or another of devolution in their manifestos. It is time to scrutinize these documents and pick what is good and viable in them. There are defintely issues of how much it will cost. If it needs to be done in phases so be it. The CDF has shown there is a lot of promise in this kind of approach. Too bad that myopic Kenyans do not realize true nationalistic contributions such as that of Muriuki Karue, the man who brought us the CDF. Instead, the people of Ol Kalau decided to vote in Erastus Mureithi who made his money while boss of Co-op Bank and went on to invest it in the horticulture industry. He used his money to confuse the people of Ol Kalau.

Finally, I repeat: killing is not justified. Driving people from their land is not justified. Hate speech is not justified. This applies for whole communities as it applies for a single individual.

If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality - Desmond Tutu

Who voted for who? Is not the
written by Beatrice , February 03, 2008

Kenyans have turned on each other on

...
written by Beatrice , February 03, 2008

Kenyans have turned on each other on

re: re:
written by manta ray , February 04, 2008

I concede one point and take issue with another. Yes you've pointed out several infrastructural investments at the coast but you haven't mentioned a single one that directly benefits the inhabitants of the coast. What's the point of building all these things if the local people can't get to school or university to take advantage of the facilities? The infrastructure developments at the coast that you've mentioned are all targetted at extraction, getting things through the coast rather than actually developing the coast. Why do we have to wait for Aga Khan to build a university at the coast? And now it seems due to Kalonzo Eastern is due to get one before the coast? There is one national school at the coast province compared to central and rift valley that have most of them between them. Infrastructure maybe (and that is the point I concede)but not development, because the local people are not being trained or empowered to make the most of these extractive industries. I watched a documentary once on the state of fishing at the coast, and it was appalling that the people at the coast are losing not only their livelihoods but basic food because they are unable to compete with the large multinational corporations.

Many of the examples you point out - Bamburi, Tiomin - are run by expatriates, and by people from other regions. And while in principle I have nothing against people from other regions working at the coast, in practice, one has to be sensitive to the idea that they are being displaced from their homes to make way for factories, losing their livelihoods to trawlers and the security concerns american ships permanently anchored off the coast of Kenya and drawing very little DIRECT benefit from these investments. And this is a genuine grievance that must be addressed. But thank you for challenging me, I think I will do some more reading around the issue.

The recently revived Ramisi Sugar company will employ up to 15000 locals directly when fully up and running. There will be thousands more indirect jobs created through suppliers, distributors etc. It is up to the Coastal people and their leaders to take advantage of the situation without expecting the Govt to hold their hand.

The recently set up Coconut Development Authority is another project that could significantly address unemployment at the Coast. I have not heard of a SINGLE Coastal leader exhorting their people to take note of it or educating people how they will use it to benefit themselves.

The Coastal fishing community has for years refused the idea of forming strong fishing cooperatives in order to pool resources. The one time they tried to do so, the cooperatives collapsed due to corruption. Who should they then blame? Kibaki? They should be having their own deep sea fishing trawlers and processing plants by now. Do they really have to wait for the Govt to get these for them?

Kenya Nchi Yangu!!!!
written by Raphael Musau , February 04, 2008

I think the old patriotic songs need to be aired again to remind us of our love for the country and each other. I agree that majority listen to their political leaders but also quiet a large majority care and love this country and are very ready to put aside their political differences.

Raila and Kibaki do not have the best interest of Kenya at heart, they just want to rule and enrich themselves and their friends. Raila may not have been directly involved in the clashes but he was most definitely indirectly involved as he made no effort to stop them. Kibaki made no effort to stop his people to stop attacks when they started revenging. Both are responsible for the innocent blood that was spilled. While they were tucked in their safe places, innocent Kenyans were suffering.

Mzalendo put it correctly, we grew up with friends from different tribes. Are we to hate them just because they belong to a certain tribe? I certainly can't, my friends will always be my friends. I remember when growing up and a guys car breaks down, we used to race to go help the guy push and restart his vehicle and when it does we all cheer him/her away. No one asked for money,who or where the person came from, the urge to help was stronger. What happened?? We Kenyans need to come together as Kenyan brothers and sisters to save our country. We cannot wait for Raila or Kibaki to do this, its us.

Tribalism is the biggest demon in this country and it needs to be dealt with very very urgently. Pushing it under the carpet wont work anymore. The political situation will be solved as it only involves a few people but the hatred cultivated in the millions of people will grow and grow if nothing is going to be done about it.

Long Live Kenya!!!!

nipe really
written by african eagle , February 04, 2008

Let there be development i.e. infrastructural in all corners of the country. My folks are not lazy but they lack the necessary infratsructure like tarmaced roads, electricity, piped water etc which can only be provided by the govt. Kenyatta and Moi neglected our region(am luo-suba) and we still use 19th century technologies in fishing, mining and agric. It is not that the people are not creative, but the environment is so difficult that one cannot think of modern commerce. It is a fact that those who saw the light earlier(electricity literaly) were able to join the civilized world faster than some of us who have to struggle with koroboi to do their homework. But all is not lost, it is my dream that one day we will all be equal before man - I believe god/satan lives in every human being anad not in the sky as i have been told to believe. We can make it if we try coz nothing is impossible. There is no superior tribe but good systems that make people look great!! otherwise how would you explain the dominance of the jews in finance, media, academia and the other fields. It is basically systems, not individuals.

Keep the main thing the main t
written by ahappyspark , February 04, 2008

I am a Kenyan, living in the US, past 12 years. Here I have witnessed the African American community use the slave mentallity to blame the white man for all their problems, even when teen pregnancies, illegitimate children, murder, high school drop out rates are highest in their communities, and African immigrants who come here with next to nothing and immigration laws insist they attend school or leave, make it. Study, work, and live in decent neighborhoods.
The African American problem persists, and the Caucasian community continues to prosper, because they get out there, degree or not, flip burgers and do what they have to do, to take care of their business.
My point is, I see a lot of anti Kikuyu sentiment and a lot of us that are not kikuyu want to jump on the band wagon of its us against them, like they owe us something. Last I checked, they are 22% of the population, 99% of them are like the rest of us, struggling to educate their kids. What example are we giving our kids always complaining about the Kikuyu's running the country, Moi (a kalenjin) ruled for 20 plus years....what then....I think we are scapegoating on a tribe.
The problem here is the ruling class that is not focusing in the main problem in Kenya, improve the infrustracture, make that a priority, so that investiors local and international can come in and invest and create jobs for the majority of our population, 18 - 35yr olds, educated, jobless, idle, frustrated, hopeless. Hold both so called leaders, Kibaki and Raila accountable to that. And also carefuly disect their past, because, the past predicts the future. Not because of what tribe they are because if you carefully study this, you will find most of their tribes have not benefit at all from either of their leadership. Why are we looking up to them? They have failed us time and time again. Forget both of then. In this forum alone, there are such smart commenters, why can you not be the next president? Why do we only have these to who one is dishonest, the other will do anything to get to power? How can you trust any of them? Lets may a 4 year plan with non of them in the picture....its possible, it can be done and has to be done. Period. We did not go to school and college to endure this folly, and our people cannot continue to be economic refugees building and developing other contries when we can do the same in Kenya. I am not hopeless, but I will be dammed if I will support fools, I will not be led by fools. If you want your name in our history books, you are going to earn your keep, you will be responsible for everything you say, and you will be held accountable for your campaign promises which will be under scrutiny. We shall not support people who prey upon a peoples weakenesses and fears against other tribes and create cracks that take decades to heal. Its irresponsible and it should be unacceptable.

Amen Brother!!!!!
written by Raphael Musau , February 05, 2008

Well written ahappyspark. This should not be about Raila or Kibaki, this should not be about Luo or Kikuyu, it should be about what we want as Kenyans and how we are going to achieve that.

People need to stop voting on tribal lines and vote for issues and development. As ahappyspark said, you need to disect a leader and then decide. That is the only way for Kenya to move forward and all Kenyans to benefit.

Presidents have come and gone and majority of their regions still remain in a hopeless situtation.

...
written by manta ray , February 05, 2008

Couldn't have put it better, ahappyspark. Its time people removed the blinkers from their eyes, stopped worshiping Raila, Kibaki and politcians in General, took charge of their own destiny and demanded accountability and responsibility from those who want to lead, and if they can't lead, you find mechanisms for instantly removing them. That will teach the gangsters and crooks in thousand dollar suits we call leaders.
Since when did an employer[The Kenyan people] have to beg an employee[The politician] to behave? How is it the employee earns more than the employer, and can decide to increase his salary at will? The answer is only if he is holding a gun to the employers head, and Kenyan politicians have been holding us at ransom for 44years.

Kibaki and Raila need to get i
written by Msenangu , February 06, 2008

The same aggressiveness that sees the Parliamentarians agree to a pay hike, is the same aggressiveness they should use in getting us out of this mess. They both need to go out and talk to their camps to calm down and end this sensless killing.

I agree with ahappyspark that we need to make our politicians accountable. They are working on our dime and we need to see results and if not vote in others who can do the job. Kenyans have the skills, intelligence and know-how to get done what needs to be done.

My issue with Kibaki was not coming out when he was needed during a crisis and talking to folks. Any leader worth their salt, would keep us updated on what is going on to allay fears. No one sees what is behind the scenes so for all intents and purposes, it is as though he does not think the killing of innocent Kenyans, be it in Eldoret, Kisumu or Naivasha is of consequence to him. He seriously needs to have a PR machine in place to let us know the goings on. He also needs to get rid of the old 'mzee wa kanisa' approach to things and incorporate some youth to give him a feel for whats on the ground. I believe that he is totally out of touch.

As for Raila, I personally refused to vote for him due to him sidelining me and those of us who dont speak Luo, by announcing he was running for President in Luo. Check You-tube. I mean you are obviously not worth my time and effort if you feel I do not need to understand what you are putting out. On another note, one would think that Kibera being the largest slum, would be an embarrassment to Raila. What can he say he has done for those folks. Tell me that you have at least added a bunch of toilets even though to be shared, lighting, give me something to work with that you have done in order for me to justify giving him the country to run. To add insult to injury, he comes in driving a gas-guzzling hummer (a USD 50,000) vehicle, with dust flying everywhere to the same slum.

All I can say is, we need some young'uns up there, cause these two dont cut it.

re: Anti-Tribalism lessons in
written by a guest , February 20, 2008

I wish we can put it as a requirement to have exchange programs for MPs and ministers, whereby a Nyeri MP should be required to spend at least 3 days in a month working with a CDF committee in the North Rift. Also it might be important now than ever to keep the expensive boarding schools even those at the district levels and force them through fees rebates to take more students outside their provinces.

3 days only? They would spend them enjoying local luxuries and visiting sex workers ofcourse. make it 2 and a half months.

Above all, we must find ways to show that all communities have unique value that we can uphold and imitate. I am convinced that the animosity is a psychological quest for self/group esteem. There must be forums created to celebrate all positive attributes from all the communities, let them shine in the light of admiration if only for one day. That way, even the marginalized communities will start to feel that they are not forgotten.

In paper, this sounds like an ideal, but think about it seriously because in practice, its a different matter.

re: Kibaki and Raila need to g
written by New Day , February 20, 2008

The same aggression that sees the Parliamentarians agree to a pay hike, is the same aggression they should use in getting us out of this mess. They both need to go out and talk to their camps to calm down and end this senseless killing.

Well written Msenangu. It is interesting that you have observed this aggression in our leaders when it is time to receive perks and bonuses, yet they demonstrate lacklustre attitudes to the real developmental issues. I also agree, Kibaki falls short of true leadership and contributes massively to the state of things at the moment. I encourage you to contribute more to the debates.

re: perception vs. intent
written by New Day , February 20, 2008

Ndiangui,
This is exactly my point about increased devolution. Firstly where is this money going to come from?

What use is money without effective management and a good plan? And above all, goodwill from all concerned?

we know exactly what are the most productive Kenyan regions now. These are the facts, I am not talking potential but fact.

You mean agriculturally productive i presume. Please clarify your facts as there are other forms of productivity i.e industrial productivity, natural resources, service delivery.

Now, if we are expelling each other from our 'native' provinces, how are we going to support each other's economic growth, you see for Nyanza or the NEP to be made productive or self-sustaining it will need massive transfer funds from Central Government.

Yes it is sad that forced displacements are taking place. Should not be happening. However, I disagree that funding is all that is needed to jump start development in areas like NEP and Nyanza that have reported weaker development capacities. Go around lake victoria and see what other countries like Uganda have developed their lake fronts. Okay, UG is landlocked and equates LV to the indian ocean. But hey, it is all to do with good will, genuine desire to see projects come alive and prosper. This is lacking in Kenya, I find it hard to imagine Kibaki's administration demonstrate genuine desire to support development in either Nyanza or NEP. Without this desire, even available funds will be siphoned into private accounts at the blink of an eye. Money is just but a tool, but on its own it does little.