Really?
written by Nekessa , March 13, 2007

I am sure your observation is prejudiced. What is it about the Kisii community that makes them prone to corruption and danger? I thought this was a general Kenyan trait. I don't live in Kenya, so I have no evidence to prove otherwise. Other readers? Any experience, in the recent past, with corrupt policemen and packed matatus?

"What good would new laws bring to Kenya if we won't enforce them?"

I agree with you here, we must take administrators to task. Similarly, citizens should expect no less from individuals offering public service such as matatu drivers. If a matatu fills up, then one shouldn't get on, neither should the rest in the matatu allow that to happen (watch Tanzanian matatus as models to emulate)

...
written by Tim Norwood , March 13, 2007

Kenyans abet crime in many other even more harmful ways. Take for example the way a large chunk of the country actually supports Mwai Kibaki or Raila Odinga. This is like a cheerleader going to matches to support the quarterback that raped her.

I am not sure how the Abagusii have a lesser social conscience than do their neighbours. Comments like the ones you heard on the matatu are the same sort of silliness that Kenyans make on all tribes and issues.

Hence Kikuyus become thieves, Luos have huge penises, Arabs are terrorists, Merus and Kisiis have violent tempers, Coastals are lazy, etc. Forgive my giving such nonsense legs, now maybe you will apologise to the Abagusii?

Norwood, Please!
written by That Kenyan Loser , March 14, 2007

This is not some streotypical crap, as you've tried to portray. Read the article again and you'll see that they are actual observations made by an exteremely well-trained journalist.

I invite you to take the roads described above.

If you're still alive when you get to the end, you'll discover that your last paragraph was uncalled for.

Hence Kikuyus become thieves, Luos have huge penises, Arabs are terrorists, Merus and Kisiis have violent tempers, Coastals are lazy, etc. Forgive my giving such nonsense legs, now maybe you will apologise to the Abagusii?

Not exactly
written by Dave Nyambati , March 14, 2007

Your article, though well intentioned, demonstrates a level of stereo-typical prejudice that is common in how a lot of Kenyans view those from different tribes. You said you were born in Nyamira, one of the towns in question. Not all the people in Nyamira or Kisii for that matter are Abagusii as you well know. Your article would have been more credible had it read 'an indictment for residents of Nyamira/Kisii instead you chose the blanket Abagusii which in itself implies a genetic predisposition to corruption and the general disregard of law.

I have no doubt that your observations are true and I do not contest that you witnessed these things. But, in the context of the undertone of tribal animosity that exists in almost every aspect of Kenyan life, would it not have been more responsible to actually blame the people you saw instead of lumping a whole community together? Your statement is accusatory of Abagusii everywhere, is your observation true of all of them? Statements like yours have been responsible for launching clashes and tribal attacks. We must be careful how we use words after all the pen is mightier than the sword, right?

Other than that you have raised an important question,

What good would new laws bring to Kenya if we won't enforce them?

The issue of writing law and enforcing it belong to different branches of government. That the law is not being followed to code is not reason enough that it should not exist. Instead we should focus on why and how the law is not being fully enforced…which is a whole other topic.

...
written by emmo opoti , March 14, 2007

Self-flagellation is always a good thing, pleasure is pain. I am assuming of course that the author is Abagusii and is not posting out of hatred.

However, it is doubtful to my mind that there is anyhting uniquely inherent in the Abagusii that makes their matatus worse than the others.

Have we considered the following,
a)the local police bosses may be sleeping on the job
b)the local matatu owners and policemen have an alliance of sorts, maybe the matatu men own the police, or vice versa.
c)there are too few matatus in the area, so residents are forced to take what they have.

The Abagusii are not generally known for sitting back when faced with crime. Is this not the capital of vigilantism? Something else must be driving this phenomenon you speak of.

Nyambati, Please!
written by That Kenyan Loser , March 15, 2007

Statements like yours have been responsible for launching clashes and tribal attacks.

Don't let my names fool you; I'm omogusii, flesh and blood. Being critical of my people has no chance of igniting and fueling tribal wars.

And by the way, the people who vowed never to get into matatus owned by Abagusii were Abagusii. There are a few of us who realize that there will be no moving forward without correcting our flaws.

We have stepped outside to look in and have come to a painful, but true, realization: Our mothers are not the best cooks.

Not all the people in Nyamira or Kisii for that matter are Abagusii as you well know.

More than 90% of the inhabitants of Gusii are Abagusii. You would agree that being one of the most densely populated regions in Kenya leaves no room for foreign residents. The few who come in are usually workers in the cities.

Emmo, Please!
written by That Kenyan Loser , March 15, 2007

I am assuming of course that the author is Abagusii and is not posting out of hatred.

True.

Have we considered the following,
a)the local police bosses may be sleeping on the job
b)the local matatu owners and policemen have an alliance of sorts, maybe the matatu men own the police, or vice versa.
c)there are too few matatus in the area, so residents are forced to take what they have.

You are correct on the first two. I saw people arrested and thrown in jail for days by policemen who didn't think the suspects broke any laws, but had to obey orders.

I spoke secretly to five cops on different occasion and they all said the same thing: Polititians and rich businessmen are running Nyamira Police Station.

On the number of matatus available, just go to any of the cities to find the answer. But if you can trust me, conductors fill minivans with 19 passengers -- five over the limit -- while several matatus wait in line.

It's sad how the poor people pay full fare to be packed like cattle.

The Abagusii are not generally known for sitting back when faced with crime. Is this not the capital of vigilantism?

I agree. On July 14, I witnessed a mob on rampage in Suneka (between Kisii and Migori) set ablaze houses of suspected criminal. What makes the matatu issue different is that people don't see it as breaking the law.

Something else must be driving this phenomenon you speak of.

I wanna say ignorance, but many of the people I saw cooperating are educators. One is the vice principal of leading high school.

artist
written by grandmaster masese , August 17, 2007

teba buna eganeirie abanto bakore

Tim your lost.
written by nduta , August 17, 2007

Kenyans abet crime in many other even more harmful ways. Take for example the way a large chunk of the country actually supports Mwai Kibaki or Raila Odinga. This is like a cheerleader going to matches to support the quarterback that raped her.

Comments like the ones you heard on the matatu are the same sort of silliness that Kenyans make on all tribes and issues.

I don't know where you hail from tim,but your above comments were uncalled for.First of all i do not think you understand where we came from as a country,kenyans have suffered in the past regimes, and this two politicians that you have your reservations are the ones who united us and gave kenyans the much needed ...umm whats the word..unity,push to join forces and to get rid of the past regime,thats the first time i ever saw kenyans united,and it didn't matter what tribe you were or what region you came from,we needed change and they made it happen,no matter what state the political atmosphere is currently,they made it possible for us to vote a goverment that had oppressed us for really long.
I do not like the way you generalize us:silliness that kenyans make???
We may have our flaws,but i am extremely proud of being a kenyan.Your kind of negative criticism does not help the situation,we need to criticise situations that can help people to push them to make change.