AfriCommons Blog

• Time to move on a decision on Uhuru and Ruto eligibility to run for president . . .

  Posted: January 30, 2012, 5:41 am by Ken

  The slow grind of the cumbersome ICC process has finally reached the point now, four years after the post-election violence, that charges should be “confirmed” against Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto. And of course the suspects have appealed this preliminary … Continue reading →

• Rescue of kidnapped aid workers in Somalia highlights Camp Lemonier, Djiboutti

  Posted: January 26, 2012, 5:39 am by Ken

  “Djiboutti Outpost Behind Somalia Rescue is Part of New Defense Strategy”, Thom Shanker, New York Times: . . . “Djibouti is the central location for continuing the effort against terrorism,” Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said during a visit to … Continue reading →

• Another sad tale of why it IS hard to support democracy from inside the Beltway in Washington . . .

  Posted: January 25, 2012, 8:02 am by Ken

  “Democracy Digest” from the National Endowment of Democracy reports on a perplexing problem that anyone who is interested in democracy support or promotion should give some serious attention to: . . . But as President Barack Obama was telling the … Continue reading →

• ICC Confirms Charges Against Four (Ruto, Sang, Kenyatta, Muthaura)–Drops Cases Against Two (Kosgey, Ali)

  Posted: January 23, 2012, 2:00 pm by Ken

  The 4 and 2 split is consistent with speculation I was hearing last fall at the African Studies Association, but not necessarily with the right defendants confirmed. or dismissed. It will be very interesting to see how various elements of … Continue reading →

• Justice, the ICC and Kenyan Politics

  Posted: January 23, 2012, 2:13 am by Ken

  Reblogged from Opalo's weblog: A panel of judges at the ICC will issue their ruling tomorrow afternoon on whether or not six accused Kenyans will stand trial. The six include two declared presidential candidates. Either way the ruling will have … Continue reading →

• BREAKING– “International Colbert Institute” to join America’s Arsenal of Democracy NGOs

  Posted: January 21, 2012, 7:16 pm by Ken

  Dateline Ocean Springs, MS, USA:  The AfriCommons Blog learned today of plans to form the International Colbert Institute, a new INGO (Individual Non-Governmental Organization). The mission of the International Colbert Institute (“ICI”), will be to promote freedom, democracy, the American … Continue reading →

• “War, Guns and Votes”? What will be the impact of Kenya’s war with Al Shabaab on the 2012/13 election?

  Posted: January 18, 2012, 5:07 pm by Ken

  AfriCommons, on Flickr After three months it is now quite clear, if it wasn’t always, that Kenya’s military offensive against Al Shabaab across the border and into the Jubbaland region will be of indefinite duration rather than any type of … Continue reading →

• Cajun Diaspora

  Posted: January 18, 2012, 9:21 am by Ken

  “Cajun Crawfish Invading Africa” from National Geographic news via Africa Files: It’s a far cry from Cajun country, but a U.S. crayfish used in Southern cooking is now eating its way across Africa, scientists say.  Without any native predators to … Continue reading →

• Friday the 13th Ruling: No Kenyan Election Until 2013 Unless Gov’t Dissolved First says High Court

  Posted: January 13, 2012, 9:54 pm by Ken

  Here is the story from KBC: A three  judge bench Friday ruled that the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) sets the date for the general election. In a one hour ruling by constitutional court judges Isaac lenaola, David Majanja … Continue reading →

• More Kenyan-U.S. Diplomatic History: Kenyatta’s health and succession; status of whites; military assistance

  Posted: January 12, 2012, 4:42 pm by Ken

  For those of us who would still like to have a better understanding of what went wrong with the last Kenyan election, and how to do better this year, it’s worth taking advantage of the passage of time (and the … Continue reading →

• Preparations for Kenyan Election Kick-Off With Start of Multi-Step Process to Set Constituencies and Boundaries

  Posted: January 9, 2012, 9:00 pm by Ken

    From Wambui Ndonga on Capital FM: NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 9 – Kenyans have the next 21 days to submit their views on a preliminary report proposing the review of electoral boundaries that was launched on Monday by the Independent … Continue reading →

Blah blah blah

Fish cakes

Alas a fish cake.

Yet more fish cakes

Guess what ... yeah ... fish cakes.

The end of the fish cakes