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

let us all hope and pray that peace is restored and prevails, and hopefully let this whole mess be a learning lesson for the country.

...
written by Njau Ndirangu , February 01, 2008

let us all hope and pray that peace is restored and prevails, and hopefully let this whole mess be a learning lesson for the country.

i agree; if this fails i don't want to imagine Kenya.

Kenyaimagine?
written by cicero , February 01, 2008

let us all hope and pray that peace is restored and prevails, and hopefully let this whole mess be a learning lesson for the country.

i agree; if this fails i don't want to imagine Kenya.

Kenyaimagine where that would leave us?

...
written by Mr. Vikii , February 02, 2008

I don't think we are going to achieve peace by ACTING. Diplomacy like the one spearheaded by Kofi Annan is good especially in shaping perception, but the truth of the matter is that no solution will be found by people sitting in a hotel. This is a pure waste of time. This is the same thing Heywood Brown was referring to when he talked of "appeasers believing that if you keep throwing steaks to a tiger, it will become a vegetarian." It wont, and the earlier we understand that the better.

The problem of Kenya right now is that of lawlessness. This problem can only be solved by the police and other security forces being firm and ruthless against hooligans. Desperate situations call for desperate measures. They should shoot dead all hooligans in Kisumu, in Eldoret, Nakuru, Naivasha and Kikuyu. They cannot afford to keep hiding under due process or civility.

For the sake of appearing good and civilized, we should carry on with Anan's negotiatins, but accepting them to produce a genuine solution to our problem is expecting too much. Like Al Capone, I believe you can get further with a kind word and a gun than with a kind word alone.

re: Kenyaimagine?
written by politicalscientist , February 02, 2008

let us all hope and pray that peace is restored and prevails, and hopefully let this whole mess be a learning lesson for the country.

i agree; if this fails i don't want to imagine Kenya.

Kenyaimagine where that would leave us?

I believe the appropriate term is up a creek without a paddle (expletive expunged).

...
written by anonymous , February 02, 2008

go back home????Uhuru and Gumo are mad all those people killed why did they not protect them?Like kibaki telling people to go home while seeing their houses burn....the situation will never be better if they exhibit such stupidity...they should provide assurances that people will not lose their lives like extra security these politicians.......i will stop ranting.

re:
written by a guest , February 02, 2008

go back home????Uhuru and Gumo are mad all those people killed why did they not protect them?Like kibaki telling people to go home while seeing their houses burn....the situation will never be better if they exhibit such stupidity...they should provide assurances that people will not lose their lives like extra security these politicians.......i will stop ranting.

I totally agree...i think these politicians, having being holed up in relative safety in nairobi, have not gotten in touch with the new Kenya....the reality on the ground today.

It is totally foolish to tell people to go back home without ensuring a safe environment. Surely, if they were to go back and then they are attcked, where does that leave us? In another round of riots and revenge killings.

Maybe these politicians need to face the wrath of the gangs without their security before telling people to do the same! Idiots

Uhuru?
written by mkosakabila , February 02, 2008

I hate Uhuru. This is not meant to incite. It's just an irrational feeling that I have, sort of like how Wanyama characterized the pure hatred by the Kalenjin of the Kikuyu somewhere in this post. But I mean Uhuru no harm and I am not Kalenjin, at least not in full.

...
written by benadede , February 02, 2008

It is fine to tell people to go home and live together like brothers and sisters. However, this is hollow and unrealistic if the government cannot guarantee their safety in these homes.

As for Uhuru, I have nothing against him but I still think he made the wrong move to join Kibaki at the last moment after being very critical of him for almost five years. It put a question mark on his honesty. He said that he did not want KANU to be left out of government. That is okay but I think it is this idea of wanting to be in government at all costs even if it means making a pact with someone you do not have similar values with that is killing politics in Kenya.

In fact any Kenyan who thinks there is no alternative beyond Kibaki and Raila ascribes to the traditional mediocre politics of Kenya.

Open Letter to Wanyama and Opo
written by Daudi , February 02, 2008

Try this at home.


Go to Nyahururu or Murang'a and say your name is Opoti or Wanyama, or even visit Alexander's grandma and introduce yourselves and tell us if you will not be dismembered.

All the while, your bossom chubby "business" buddies Ndiangui, Marangus, The Nancy Mburus,will be cheering on.

In a nutshell, you are the most ignorant non-kikuyus.

ME And You Brother
written by Bobby , February 02, 2008

Irregardless of how you hate Uhuru. He has taken a step n the right and so Gumo. They have gone to the areas where people are! Where you should be directing your hate is at the MP

Bobby, there is a bug we suffer that cuts of comments you have our unreserved apologies for the inconvenience.

What this Means
written by Bobby , February 02, 2008

Every time henceforth that a candidate does not receive the kind of nomination he or she feels is owed to them, they will take up arms and put the country at a civil unrest just so that there position is taken up. So the Next Election if one ever comes around and the next person does not get elected to president does that mean we are going to go through the same thing.

There should be a mandate that people will use peaceful means to have their pleadings heard. There should be a legal way in which the Judges are impartial to the government but we all know that is not going to happen anytime soon.

adede
written by Stephen Wanyama , February 02, 2008

You people still do not get it! The way the ODM treated Kalonzo, the way you insisted on the 41 against 1 strategy gave very many of us no choice at all. We may not necessarily love Kibaki, he is nowhere near decent, but to embrace a tyrannical and hateful warlord is something else completely.

Please do me a favour now, so I may know you are at least different from the ODM mass. You have already condemned the 41 against 1 strategy. Kindly condemn also Raila's Kisumu speech in which he okayed the attack and murder of Kikuyus and other people who did not vote Kibaki. Kindly condemn the portrayal of Kikuyus as blood-sucking vampires who have grown wealthy off the Kenyan state. Kindly condemn violence as a form of political action.

re: What this Means
written by Wuod Aketch , February 02, 2008

There should be a mandate that people will use peaceful means to have their pleadings heard. There should be a legal way in which the Judges are impartial to the government but we all know that is not going to happen anytime soon.

People had decided to vote Kibaki out by peaceful means but that failed due to his rigging.
As you remark very well, judges are not going to be impartial soon. So what do you propose? Are you suggesting that Annan is wasting his time? Kibaki has been sending the same message as you the last three days.

a road from deceitful proclama
written by Serai , February 02, 2008

God help Kenya and her people, Uhuru and Gumo have set forth a good example, war mongers should take hid to the good gesture by delivering a massage of peace across the country.

It appears there are people who overtly mistake the relentless quest for power with the quest for democracy. The posturing of intolerance, outright incitement and polluting the mind of unworldly people with a fiction of democracy that exists only in Utopia, is one dangerous pathway. That same flawed and off putting democratic misrepresentation has led to the universal reprimand of certain people in the Rift Valley who were perceived to have voted contrary to the dictatorial dictum of one masquerading as democrat aspiring to be president.

It is unwise, to lead the less wise into the abysmal hell hole of war based on a know it all self deceitful proclamations that the elections were meant to bring about more democracy rather to acquire power by all means.

Wanyama
written by benadede , February 02, 2008

I condemn violence and I condemn Raila's speech in Kisumu in which he asked his supporters not to attack Kisiis but was silent on Kikuyus. I am also mad about the reactions by ODM leaders about the Naivasha incident when people were burnt in the house yet they were fairly silent about the people who were burnt in the church.

For me, I don't think I can say there is between Kibaki and Raila there is one who is better than the other. The company you keep defines a man. These two dishonorable men are willing to make a pact with the devil. A Kibaki alliance with Moi is inexcusable for me. At the Coast, a Kibaki alliance with Shirikisho whose mantra is "watu wa bara waende" is inexcusable. We are lucky that clashes did not break out there and at least Mungatana realized what kind of people Mwakwere and Dzoro really were. Raila likewise courted Shirikisho but because he was not sure of their support courted radical Islamists too. Inexcusable.

Kibaki at one time recruited Ntimama in his camp until they fell out over the referendum. Ntimama, he of the lie low as an envelope fame. Inexcusable. Raila embraced him. Inexcusable. Nyong'o like Alfred Mutua are making a mockery of PhD holders. They disgust me.

I guess what I am trying to say is that we as Kenyans who may claim to be reasonable and sane must be willing to support new leadership that will change this country. Do you remember at one point Mungatana tried to form what he called a third force and because he did not get support of Kenyans he had to go back into the mediocre politics?

Because days of Kibaki, Ntimama, Moi, Michuki e.t.c are numbered (they are on the wrong side of life expectancy) we do not expect to have them continue the leadership of this country. Raila, Kituyi, Kiraitu, Orengo, Karua, Kombo, Farah Maalim, Muite, Imanyara and Anyang' Nyong'o, Karua, the young turks of 1992 have fought each other since 1992 positioning themselves for power. In the process they got entangled in the mediocre politics and greed that is partly the reason Kenyans have allowed tainted leaders to entrench themselves in both the ruling coalition and the opposition.

What role did we Kenyans play in this? We were not willing to support good leaders amongst them because of a combination of ethnic leanings and the fact that they did not have financial clout. So we pushed them into the arms of the devil as they seek both financial clout and broader ethnic backing.

Are we going to again sit back and let the Uhurus, Mungatanas, Kiais, Salats, KJs, PLOs, Mbarires, Kerrows, Balalas, Taibs, Shabirs, Shabaans, Namwambas e.t.c be sucked into the same vortex?

Are we going to continue to let former tainted public servants like Zackayo Cheriyot and Erastus Mureithi amongst others to reinvent themselves and become our leaders?

re: re: What this Means
written by Watetu , February 02, 2008

People had decided to vote Kibaki out by peaceful means but that failed due to his rigging.
As you remark very well, judges are not going to be impartial soon. So what do you propose? Are you suggesting that Annan is wasting his time? Kibaki has been sending the same message as you the last three days.

Part of the problem in Kenya today is our inability to be impartial even in the face of the pain and suffering that has been experienced by kenyans over the last month. All our leaders have failed us. Both Raila and Kibaki rigged. Its time we start looking for something constructive to say and finding real solutions. As for Annan, his efforts are much appreciated but ultimately we as Kenyans need to solve this problem ourselves.

I agree with Bobby. We need to be careful what sort of precedent we set in these negotiations. Will we make it clear that the lives and well-being of Kenyans supercede any politiacal ambition, or will we send out the message that Kenyan lives can be used as leverage for the realization of ones ambitions.

The problem is fuelled by us as individuals everytime we refuse to think for ourselves and allow any leader to manipulate our actions and our relationships. When your friends cheer the burning of your family's house because of their political affiliation, then you know we have a real problem in Kenya. This is no longer about ODM And PNU, this is about us as Kenyans.

...
written by Hussein Musa , February 02, 2008

Uhuru Kenyatta is one hell of a hypocrite he is the man who according to reliable sources sponsored Mungiki militia to take revenge against the Luo and others.All I can say is that this is last we should hear of the Kenyatta name in our history.People actually blame Kalonzo forgetting Uhuru is the one who made all these mess possible.Let hope he would face justice in near future.With leaders like Kibaki and Uhuru who needs enemies.

Hussein, sponsoring Mungiki is hardly a trivial matter, especially not in this time. We are most gratified that you have reliable sources. It would be the decent thing now, to quote them. Eds.

chruches burning
written by Timothy Wainaina , February 02, 2008

Apparently, there are still people being burned in Church's in Eldoret and Kisiis, in spite of the Holy Father's words are being attacked in the Southern Rift Valley. But still the ODM says it is the government that is fuelling these clashes!!

And why is Cyril Ramaphosa supporting Raila Odinga, why are the Libyans schmoozing the ODM man? Had our soil been promised to foreign masters? Oh, I suppose I was not asked as I am only a Kikuyu, Wanyama were you consulted?

...
written by Njau Ndirangu , February 03, 2008

Who are we fooling? I think the Kikuyus are making a deal with the devil-Mungiki. Once the support of the blood thirsty Mungiki dies; Kikuyus will suffer the blunt rampage from these maniacs. The reason Central is experiencing less violence is because a lot of people are vigilant in the face of terror. Kikuyu where I come from, Mungiki has struck in the middle of the night baying for the blood of our worker and his family who happens to be a Luhyia. Imagine my father trying to reason and cooling the tampers of these guys. This guys had guns and meant business; finally they left but not without a warning. During the day its fine but night with so many marauding youth, is scary. My father Knows he cant protect this family again incase they came back; so they are dropped every night at Kikuyu police station where it is relatively safe. I have provided them with my camping gear so they are not in bad shape. I worry if killing does not stop; the magnitude of the ripple effect will be devastating to everybody. As we speak the dons in Kabete research centers and KARI in Muguga are under threat. We need this brainiacs doing research on diseases not taking cover in Bondo or rural Kisumu. My point is everybody is going to loose. This is not about elections anymore; too much innocent blood has been shed and normal lives disrupted. If we as Kenyans dont come together then we are doomed. Let this be a lesson learnt and never again should we take peace for guaranteed.

Remember \"The Animal Farm\"
written by richard ochieng , February 03, 2008

The Nation Newspapers should serialise this book for every kenyan to read before it is too late. There is a lesson to be learned, if what has gone on in Kenya is not lesson enough.

re: ODM has saved Kenya
written by a guest , February 03, 2008

Had ODM not insisted on international or on third party to help negotiations, Kenya would be no more today. Agree?
ODM has also been ferrying people from violence ridden zones;

On Saturday, about 1,000 families ferried by ODM from Thika were denied access to the Jamhuri Park grounds in Nairobi. The Government has closed the park.

Link

Had ODM not instigated violence in the first place, we would not be in this situation. Furthermore, 1000 people is nothing compared to the 300k ODM has managed to displace.

ODM has saved Kenya
written by Wuod Aketch , February 03, 2008

Had ODM not insisted on international or on third party to help negotiations, Kenya would be no more today. Agree?
ODM has also been ferrying people from violence ridden zones;

On Saturday, about 1,000 families ferried by ODM from Thika were denied access to the Jamhuri Park grounds in Nairobi. The Government has closed the park.

Link here

Re
written by Serai , February 03, 2008

just a though would you care to elaborate? Who should we hold responsible for the deaths of women and children at the church in Eldoret and the purging of over a quarter of a million people in the Rift valley. Who should we seek to write out of our history for this hideous crime on innocent Kenyans?

Honest condemnation of the.crimes committed must be seen to be above board, unbiased and none prejudiced. To pull the country from evil thoughts and deeds then we must place equal and not less value on those lost souls in the North Rift valley and those in Naivasha.

Naivasha is in the Rift Valley, Moderated Eds

re: ME And You Brother
written by mkosakabila , February 03, 2008

Where you should be directing your hate is at the MP

Sawa.

When will Wuod\'s penny finall
written by aliosema , February 03, 2008

It seems that there is a general concensus (minus Wuod) that we have been on the wrong track...fighting against each other instead of against the hatred and polarisation our leaders have preached. If Wuod is ready to give up his quest for raila - no raila, no peace - I would be ready to do the same re Kibaki - kazi iendelee. As it is I would prefer to fight for tirelessley for Kibaki (I am all for Kazi and will remain so) just so that I do not get saddled with One Dangerous Man - Raila (why would I want to see more of the greater mt. kenya community dead or exiled for the sake of cheap talk, power hunger and political mileage). We need someone we can trust to steer us through these difficult times (perhaps it is time to bring out Kalonzo the miracle?). Raila has proved himself incapable of leading KENYANS...too bitter, too angry, too violent, bent on winning at all costs, controlled by his hardliner pentagoners!! Worse still he promised the people who oppose him hell!!!..and they have had a glimpse of what he means. He has not even been willing (or dare I say able since he was behind the mess) to acknowledge that more people suffered at the hands of the ODM ethnic cleansing movement. Kenyans know the truth and cannot reconcile what he says to the west with what has really happened. Playing to the hardliners and western media will only get him so far...the truth will set us free!!!

It wasn\'t UNTILL HIS PEOPLE
written by Bobby , February 03, 2008

I just want to point out that it wasn't until people from the Luo and Kalenjin tribes had been killed that Raila came out and acknowledged the violence. A good and Smart Leader would have come out before and condemned ANY OF THE the killings. However I never heard any of the speeches by Raila so am not sure but if he promised hell to anyone that did not vote for him, IF SO THEN no wonder he could not condemn the killings. NOW THAT

Who ihas been \"president\"?
written by Wuod Aketch , February 03, 2008

May I remind you that the man who declared himself "president" of Kenya has been holed in state house now for more than a month. He is supposed to play president.

What has he done to save Kenya except drive it to ethnic war? Instead of accelerating the actual negotiation process chaired by Annan, he has been undermining it.
Kibaki can go to hell.

By the way, who knows where Gitobu Imanyara disappeared to? I hope he was not killed by the Mt Kenya mafia!!

...
written by Kamale , February 04, 2008

Wuod,

Rumours are a dangerours thing - especially when repeated by the uninformed! I flew back into Kenya last Saturday in the same flight from South Africa with Gitobu. Today he addressed a press conference confirming that he had been assualted by the First Lady at State House and that he would sue.

Secondly, Kibaki did not need Annan to entrench his presidency - he did that when he was sworn into office.

Here is a bit more information - Gumo is among 6 other ODM MPs who will be supporting government. This is the deal apparently for the assurance that the are no clashes involving his luhyia constituents in the Kangemi and Kibagare slums ( wondered why they are peaceful?)

Legislator Gitobu Imanyara
written by Wuod Aketch , February 04, 2008

Wuod,
Rumours are a dangerours thing - especially when repeated by the uninformed! I flew back into Kenya last Saturday in the same flight from South Africa with Gitobu. Today he addressed a press conference confirming that he had been assaulted by the First Lady at State House and that he would sue.
Secondly, Kibaki did not need Annan to entrench his presidency - he did that when he was sworn into office. Here is a bit more information - Gumo is among 6 other ODM MPs who will be supporting the government. This is the deal apparently for the assurance that the are no clashes involving his Luhyia constituents in the Kangemi and Kibagare slums ( wondered why they are peaceful?)

Another PNU propagandists. Are we talking about the same Gitobou Imanyara. Here it is man:

Lucy Kibaki had landed another hand on a newly elected legislator. This time the victim was none other than renowned lawyer Gitobu Imanyara. It is said that Imanyara retaliated by firing a fist salvo sending Lucy scampering to the floor in front of Mwai Kibaki. Security men were called in and it is said that some of them punched and kicked Imanyara who was later taken to Nairobi hospital.

And now Imanyara is attacking. Kenya legislator says first lady assaulted him Click here

Innuendo
written by magothe , February 04, 2008

I know that many ODM ma-fans have no time for peace as long as Ojinga is not president, but can we at least ask that we stay away from innuendo /idle gossip. @Woud, I believe Gitobu held a press conference over the weekend. I am surprised to hear ODM ma-fans hating on Kalonzo and Uhuru for jumping from ODM. Isn't that the greatest irony especially when they voted/supported Kenya's greatest political opportunist? I am glad some MPs are finally getting off their well-paid backsides and showing wananchi that there is no-beef between them. I was really touched by Linah Kilimo's speech in Marakwet -clearly we need more women leaders in Kenya. Hopefully these rallies alongside the talks will halt any more violence.

re: again!
written by Q , February 04, 2008

Who are we fooling? I think the Kikuyus are making a deal with the devil-Mungiki. Once the support of the blood thirsty Mungiki dies; Kikuyus will suffer the blunt rampage from these maniacs.

Kindly Sir; please say this again, this time a little louder!! This has happened before, Mungiki was "used" only to be later discarded!
How quickly we forget!