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Too young to die?
Posted: March 29, 2010, 4:03 pm by Chris
A fascinating and yet gruesome crime took place about 12 days ago in a Nairobi high rise building.
A cleaning woman, 25 year old Rachel Aoko Okello who worked at the NSSF building in the community area was sent to the ATM to withdraw cash for one of her bosses. That was the last time she was seen alive. Initially her colleagues were puzzled because the money she was sent for was not the kind of amount that would tempt anybody to do “G4S disappearing act.” Their faith in their colleague was confirmed 9 long days later when her decomposing body was found in the registry of the same NSSF building.
What is puzzling police even more is that initial indications are that some kind of chemical was used to muffle the smell of the decomposing body. The obvious idea seems to have been to delay the discovery of the body. Rachel was raped before she was murdered. Even more baffling in this case is that police have evidence obtained from the scene of the crime that suggests the victims’ assailant revisited the corpse several times in the 9 days before it was discovered.
About two months ago the body of yet another young woman was found dumped on a footpath next to a house that most neighbors believed hosted regular sex orgies for the rich and powerful of Nairobi.
The chances of these two crimes ever being solved are slim. And the sad thing is that there are many more young lives being snuffed out in Kenya (and especially in Nairobi) these days which never attract the attention of the press and thus go unreported. Dozens have been brought to my attention.
The truth of the matter is that even as we retain leaders and people in decision-making positions from another very different age who still believe in old solutions for new problems, crime has escalated to a very high level in Kenya. It is probably being fueled by plenty of serious drugs easily available and desperation amongst many young people, we can also not rule out the influx of all kinds of DVD movies very cheaply available at 50 bob a pop that promote all kinds of cultures as well as giving all kinds of sick ideas to minds hungry for those sick ideas.
The result is that our police force is already terribly overwhelmed.
It is fairly easy to criticize the Kenya police for their crime-solving methods but admittedly the lack a lot of the tools required for modern-day crime-fighting is one major impediment.
A few years back I talked to a source very close to the CID department who assured me that despite their bad reputation the truth is that the CID always got their man and a very high percentage of the crimes that came to their attention were always solved. He quickly added that I should not ask for details on the methods they employed. Although I thought I had a pretty good idea of the methods he was talking about I prodded him to tell me more and what he revealed almost made me pass out in shock. He told me that the CID did not just torture suspects carelessly; he said that they regularly consulted some top notch witchdoctor and were thus able to very accurately recreate exactly how a crime was committed. I tried unsuccessfully not to burst out laughing loudly.
I don’t think that a state-of-the-art forensic laboratory is enough to change the crime-fighting ways of our cops. The archaic laws of our country will not accommodate scientific evidence too well. After all audio tape recordings are still not admissible in our courts as evidence. These are some of the things our COEs would have had time to look at in an ordinary sane country, but alas, we have been too busy dealing with the powers of the executive and devolved government to spare any thought to creating a new constitution where fighting the rapidly increasing crime rate will be easier. And so as badly as our cops are doing, I guess they are on their own.
This week’s kumekucha classified ads: Property listings and a laptop for 3,500 among other interesting ads.
Kumekucha -
Kumekucha classifieds 29th March to April 4th 2010
Posted: March 29, 2010, 3:47 pm by Chris
Kumekucha classifieds will now appear once a week. Next post will be on Monday 5th April 2010.
Last week's advertisements
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I have an old Hitachi laptop that has given me 3 years of service. It is a 386 but very fast. Admittedly it has many problems. To start with the screen collapsed so you have to connect it to a separate monitor to use it. Out of two USB ports only one works. The DVD drive doesn’t work and the most obvious fault is that it is literally falling apart and so it cannot be moved from place to place. If you want to use it as it is it is best to place it on a desk somewhere permanently.
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But I am only asking for Kshs 3,500/- for my dear old Hitachi laptop that still works despite its’ appearance. If you are interested call/sms 0727-217920. Serious enquiries ONLY.
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Obama predictions: You need a
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The Bible code predicted Obama’s sensational win of the presidency which made history. People doubted but it came to pass.
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PROPERTY LISTING
SIZE LOCATION AMOUNT
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¼ ACRE ONGATA RONGAI TOWN...5M
¼ ACRE ONGATA RONGAI......3.4M
½ ACRE LAISER.............7.5M
1/8 ACRE LAISER............1.9M
1/8 ACRE ONGATA RONGAI.....1.6M
¼ ACRE NKOROI.............1.6M
¼ ACRE ONGATA RONGAI......1.6M
¼ ACRE ONGATA RONGAI......2.3M
1/8 ACRE ONGATA RONGAI.....1.9M
¼ ACRE ONGATA RONGAI......5M
1/8ACRE ONGATA RONGAI......6.5M
½ ACRE ONGATA RONGAI......7.5M
1/8 ACRE 0LE-KASASI........1M
1/4ACRE NALEPO-KASASI.....1.95M
1/4ACRE ST PATRICK/KONA
BARIDI......................1M
1/2ACRE KISERIAN(KAHUHO)...2.1M
1/8ACRE OPP REDSOIL
SCHOOL.....................0.95M
¼ ACRE RIMPA 1.7M
1 ACRE KANDISI 3.8M
1ACRE KANDISI(OLERAI) 5.5M
1/2ACRE KANDISI(CATHOLIC) 1.95M
1/4ACRE KANDISI(CATHOLIC) 1M
3BR HSE sitting on ½
ACRE KAREN..................13M
½ ACRE MUKOYET ROAD 11M
2.5ACRES BOGANI 53M
5ACRES OFF KAREN 17M PER ACRE
3.2 ACRES KAREN 18M PER ACRE
1/8 ACRE KANDISI(LANGAU) 230K
4.5ACRES LIMURU
ROAD...............11M PER ACRE
17.5ACRES LIMURU
ROAD...............11M PER ACRE
51 ACRES LIMURU
ROAD...............11M PER ACRE
FLATS sitting on ¼ ACRE ONGATA RONGAI......................25M
3 BR SITTING ON ¼ ACRE ONGATA RONGAI.....................6.5M
6 BR HSE sitting on ½ ACRE OLE-KASASI ACASIA PARK.....8.5M
1/2ACRE KAHUHO 2M
5 ACRES KISERIAN/ISINYA RD(Maji Mazuri)..........500k per acre
10ACRES SHOLINGE RD 400K
1ACRE KISERIAN/ISINYA (Maji Mazuri)............500k
½ ACRE PLOT OPP ACACIA PARK......................500K
1/8 ACRE PLOT OLE KASASI....................900K
2BR HSE sitting on APPROX 1/8 LAISER (o’ 3.2M
20 ACRES SHOLINGE RD 350K
1/8 ACRES KINDIRI/BARCLAYS-350k
300ACRES LODWAR 50K PER ACRE
5 ACRES OLOI-SIRIKON......400K PER ACRE
230 ACRES KISERIAN/ISINYA RD........850K PER ACRE
¼ ACRE KANDISI............1.4M
¼ ACRE KANDISI 1.4M
¼ ACRE KANDISI 1.4M
¼ ACRE KANDISI 1.4M
¼ ACRE KANDISI 1.4M
¼ ACRE KANDISI 1.4M
1/8ACRE KANDISI 700K
1/8ACRE KANDISI 700K
1/8ACRE KANDISI 700K
1/8ACRE KANDISI 700K
1/8ACRE KANDISI 700K
1/8ACRE KANDISI 700K
1/8ACRE KANDISI 700K
1/8ACRE KANDISI 700K
1 ACRE KAREN 20M
1/4ACRE RONGAI 5M
¼ ACRE RONGAI TOWN 4M
Call 020-2420132
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Botswana: A Case Study of Practical Abstract
Posted: March 29, 2010, 2:00 pm by Taabu
By Mwarang'ethe
In response to some of the ideas we have articulated on this blog, a certain anonymous ranted that, “While we appreciate your intellectual discourses, your abstract (NOT PRACTICAL) rants only succeeds in expanding your ego. ... What is a better robot than one possessed with quoting newspapers and dead men passing it along as knowledge?”
Having noted the above, we all know that, there are thousands of highly educated and qualified Kenyans who have worked and are still working in Botswana. We are told that, in this country, we find Kenyans manning very senior positions. But, has anyone dared tell Kenyans why this nation which has abundant diamonds, gold, nickel and copper has avoided the “resource curse” we see in Congo, Nigeria, Sudan and the tragedy and stagnation of Kenya, a nation with such immerse potential?
It is a well known that; Botswana which had income per capital of $100 at independence has performed very well when compared to other sub–Saharan neighbours. For instance, this land locked nation in 2006, had income per capital of $ 9, 945, Uganda had $ 1,478, and Zambia had $ 943 while Malawi had $ 646. When it came to top income tax rate, Botswana had 25%, Uganda had 30%, Zambia had 37.5% while Malawi had
40%.
Apart from these impressive economic figures, Botswana is also devoid of civil conflicts we see in Kenya, Uganda, Sudan, Congo, etc. More so, it is also ranked as one of the least corrupt nations in Africa, with high expenditure on schools and health. To understand this 'paradox,' the IMF posed the question, why did Botswana escape from resource curse which tend to bring both conflict and corruption?
Here is the reason. Since independence, Botswana has dedicated its resources rents (land values) to investment in public infrastructure under a fiscal discipline called the Sustainable Budget Index. In addition, the Botswana government channels these land rents into the Pula Fund which invests for long term interests of the nation. The question is why has Botswana leaders behaved so responsibly instead of
squandering this wealth in corruption and wealth as we see around Africa?
The answer is found in the history of Botswana. When British occupied this nation, it did not kill traditional practices or institutions such as land ownership. In this country, land was collectively owned but cattle were privately owned. This was exactly the position in Kenyan and all other African tribes. This is a clear and unmistakable distinction between common property and private property which we have
become ignorant of (such an idea is now abstract and impractical) because we now wear suits and ties and we can speak English.
When this nation gained its independence, it had only one abattoir, two secondary schools and few paved roads. Following independence, the founding fathers of Botswana enacted the Mines and Minerals Act (1967). This Act vested sub–soil mineral rights in the national government. Thereafter, diamonds, copper and nickel were discovered.
Using the rents from these minerals, the government built impressive infrastructure. But, why was this? Simply because, diamond rents were widely distributed this increased the opportunity cost of undermining the good institutional path. In other words, no group risked to expand its rent because that would have rocked the boat.
From this, we can see that, these developments were spurred by the traditional African practice of sharing land as a collective property right but not the cattle. How was this system organised before colonial times? All land was vested in the Chiefs of tribes who held them in trust for members of the tribe. Therefore, membership of a tribe ensured the individuals right of access to tribal land for USE.
After Independence
These tribal customs on land ownership were preserved after independence via the Tribal Land Act of 1968. Under this Act, the leaseholder is subject to a rent on the land payable to the land board subject to review every five years. In this tribal land tenure, speculation in land (remember Thika road we mentioned a few days ago)
is avoided while ensuring no one is landless. In this scheme of things, LAND IS NOT A CONTESTED ASSET as we see today in Kenya. And, when land becomes a contested asset violence and genocide is a matter of time.
Therefore, we can see that, Botswana has avoided conflict, corruption because rents have been preserved for the community benefit. This was so because; the founding fathers of this nation had wisdom to preserve the customary rights of the everyone to share in the riches of nature. This has ensured that, the land rents are used in the public sector while burdening least capital investments by the private sector. In
other words, Botswana has preserved the natural right to the use of land which some now see as abstract in Kenya.
In Kenya, we may not have the diamonds of Botswana, but this is no problem at all. It is not a problem because, people’s energy and creativity creates even more land rent and it the infinite value we can tap very easily. Again, a look at what is happening at Thika road tells us how much rent Kenyans create, but, which is now monopolised.
Was it smooth sailing for Botswana?
This you can read in Joseph Stiglitz book Globalisation and its Discontents. Since Botswana lacked technology to mine these diamonds, they called the de Beers from South Africa. Quoting Stiglitz: “Shortly after independence, the cartel paid Botswana $ 20 million for a diamond concession in 1969, which reportedly returned $ 60 m in profit a year. In other words, the payback period was four months!”
It was then Botswana enlisted the help of a lawyer from the World Bank who argued very forcefully for renegotiation of this contract. As one would expect, to lose such rental flows was an insult to this cartel. They went all to the World Bank to stop this lawyer from helping Botswana. At the end of the day, the World Bank issued a letter denouncing this lawyer as not speaking for Wold Bank. Botswana’s response was this. This is precisely why we are listening to him.
Eventually, the matter was resolved when the second mine was discovered. Therein, we see how close Botswana was close to the destitution we see in Congo, Nigeria, and Sudan. It was the intervention of a just one brilliant and a publicly minded lawyer that saved Botswana from resources curse we see around Africa, but, at the cost being denied by his employer.
Thus, by securing rents from its land, this has made the difference between poverty and prosperity we see today in Botswana. Therefore, when you hear a Kenyan is working in Botswana, know that, he is running away from a nation full of practical men/women with practical ideas, to a nation of men/women who use abstract and impractical ideas to govern that little island of prosperity in the ocean of poverty.
Given the clear example of our neighbour Botswana, we appear abstract and impractical only to Cheerful Robots which want to enjoy the luxury of holding opinions without the discomfort of thinking. Since their reference is ignorance, these Cheerful Robots believe all that they do not know, understand and dare not ask or investigate further is abstract and impractical.
Kenyans have had a golden chance to implement these abstract and impractical ideas from Botswana in the ongoing “constitutional reforms,” but, since we are practical men/women, we have chosen to entrench plunder. Having done so, we now see every Kenyan is now fighting tool and nail to ensure he/she is the plunderer and not the
plundered.
What a spectacle?Kumekucha
Blah blah blah
Fish cakes
Alas a fish cake.
Yet more fish cakes
Guess what ... yeah ... fish cakes.
The end of the fish cakes
