Items by Kishawi
Pandemonium Today
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If Sisterhood is Imperative…
Posted: April 28, 2008, 3:47 pm by Kishawi
Movements often peter out when their goal is seen to be achieved. Then there are those movements that die prematurely or go into an indefinite hibernation long before serious gains are made. Is it frustration and fatigue? Is it an ingenuous illusion of success?
When I learned of the term “feminism”, it seemed to me a relic from the past rather than an ideology that was relevant to my life. Indeed there are critiques of feminism that question its relevance to millions of women . Do movements deteriorate because they fail to engage all of those who they claim to represent?
Or is it something as simple as an issue of language? Call it “feminism” and I see as something dated and distant and riddled with a questionable manner and intent. Consider it instead as “sisterhood” and it becomes a fact of life. It ceases to be a movement and becomes, as breathing is, an extension of being.
Sisterhood
Defined as… the feeling of kinship with and closeness to a group of women or ALL WOMEN
Congenial relationship or companionship among women; mutual female esteem, concern, support, etc.
An association, society, or community of women linked by a common interest, religion, or trade…
“Linked by a common interest” – like being a woman? Like often being made to feel like some man’s property? It always strikes me that in the¬ Swahili language, women are married and men marry. Men who are seen to be dictated by their wives are always taunted – is it you who married her or she who married you! Such banter is usually harmless jest but, I have always found it difficult to disregard the oppressive connotations of the concept.
On one hand there are debates with mothers. Mothers wondering why Mrs. So-and-So hasn’t yet had children. The likes of me suggesting that maybe she doesn’t want children. Mothers protesting, of course she wants children! That is what is expected of women – that is their defining role. On the other hand, some mothers insist that their daughters never get married for the sake of it and that they take advantage of all the opportunities the mothers didn’t have.
My mother sometimes laments her youth where her father invested more in the education of his sons because his daughters would no doubt get married and have husbands to provide for them, thus making the necessity for things like university degrees irrelevant. Forget about the fact that women can have careers! Ironically, these same daughters would in later life turn out to show more concern (in heart and in action) over their parent’s welfare. I think my grandfather did come to appreciate the prejudice of his ways. I remember sitting in his room when I was much younger – listening to him proudly telling me stories of his Harvard days and encouraging me to read hard and do well so that I too could one day grace the halls of that revered institution.
And all this talk was successful – I grew up believing myself free of the limits that my mothers were expected to silently accept. But I am often reminded that this is still not the norm, regardless of generation. While in Tanzania a recent while ago, a vociferous cousin of mine took it upon herself to criticize my every action as if to demonstrate (implicitly and explicitly) my lack of “womanly” domestic skills. I could have chosen to ‘behave’ in the ‘proper’ way but my stubbornness would not let me be an accomplice to my own suppression. When I was younger, my resistance was more vocal but easier to dismiss by virtue of my age! Now I am dismissed as having been influenced by foreign values and having lost touch with the way things are done. It makes me wonder why, when there is solidarity on so many levels, there are still narrow avenues where sisterhood ceases to breathe? And I wonder, can there be true solidarity before consciousness?
“Women need other women.
Men need men too but it’s not the same.”
— my friend’s high school teacher who first got her thinking about feminism.
What opportunities are there for solidarity as a catalyst to greater consciousness, collective consciousness as well as personal? Women throughout history and across geographies have found ways, often through their everyday activities and obligations, to carve out spaces for some sisterhood solidarity. They have managed, through this congregation, to taste a morsel of freedom within their servings of captivity. Take for example the ‘Quilt Code’ in 19th century North America where slave women allegedly used quilt designs to send messages about when and how to escape to freedom. Even if these stories are more legend than truth, quilting has still served to build, reassemble, restore and express. Discussing these quilts, Susan Bernick asserts that “women’s art forms can be experienced as a source of strength, joy, expression and as an affirmative badge of pride.”
Yet the struggle continues to maintain these spaces – these minutes of liberation. I am reminded of a story (legend?) I was told about some NGO activity in a village somewhere in the less economically developed world. The women in this village would walk miles everyday to go and fetch water. The NGO workers thus decided that what the village needed a well but once built were confused as to why the women were unhappy with it! They came to find, when they finally actually communicated with the women, that the women’s daily walks had been their only opportunities for release (from their husbands and domestic duties) and communion with each other. Now that the well was at their doorsteps, they no longer had an excuse to get away! The NGO workers had believed they were doing the women a favour but had not taken a moment to actually consult with the women on their needs.
So let’s talk about women’s solutions to women’s problems.
What if sisterhood was imperative?
If sisterhood were imperative, there would be greater unity among oppressed and disadvantaged people because cutting across their differences would be the common experience of being a woman and all the implications of this in our still male-dominated world. If sisterhood were mandatory this status quo would be interrogated in every second of every day. If sisterhood was compulsory, we would think before slanderous speech about each other – think about why it is so easy to do this, think about WHY we do it and come up with an alternative constructive language. If sisterhood were compulsory, we would transcend other people’s images of ourselves.
If sisterhood was the norm, men wouldn’t flinch and feel uncomfortable or threatened when reading this, or think it that has nothing to do with them.
If sisterhood were imperative we would guide each other to our self-actualisation.
Imperative for what?! Imperative for what?!
Have you (and here I’m talking exclusively to the women) ever been in the company of amazing, intelligent, funny, positive women and felt the warmth of utter resonance? Have you come to such a situation with preconceived notions, with your guard up just WAITING for someone to act in the less-than-positive way that you expect? … and it never happens? Instead, you find yourself getting to know people for who they truly are and discover that they are truly beautiful and interesting and capable of enriching your life. Have you ever ran to your sisters for solace when you thought there was nobody who could understand you or what you were going through. Have you ever communicated the world to your sister through a simple glance and when she wrapped her arms around you the silent dialogue was whole? I COULD get even more sentimental than this (and what would be the matter?). I see it quite simply:
If sisterhood IS, then sisterhood is imperative.
_____
*Thanks to the sisters who shared their experiences and knowledge with me ☺
Other sisterly things…
For Coloured Girls who have Considered Suicide when the Rainbow is Enuf: a great play (‘choreopoem’ is what author Ntozake Shange calls it) I recently read that reinforces just how common many of our experiences as women actually are.
The L Word: a great TV series where men only get the occasional supporting role and as a result you don’t really think about them that much. A show that opens up a world of opportunities (in many ways)!!!
In Search of Our Mothers’ Gardens – Womanist Prose: a thinking collection of essays by Alice Walker. -
People want the Earth but they Don’t Care to Feel It
Posted: April 14, 2008, 4:57 pm by Kishawi
He drew a circle around my feet
On the concrete with a
Piece of chalk
Thus marking the shape of his
Crime
I moved in and out of
His visibility
Remaining still, out of reach
And in the palm of his
Dreams
And then one day,
He didn’t see me dancing.
My pedestal
Was made of air!
When I tasted the earth
I found that it
– Was sweet
And gritty
– Moistened my mouth
And chipped away at my teeth
And the soil made way for
Me
Welcomed
Me
In its terminal embrace
Readjusting contours
Unchanging composition
Pushing
Me
Up
Even as I
Sank
He wants the earth
But he doesn’t care to
Feel it
Copyright Lulu Kitololo -
A Necessary Dose of Affirmation
Posted: April 7, 2008, 6:52 pm by Kishawi
I recently returned from a glorious two weeks in my mother’s land – Tanzania. The good-feeling that filled me began as a drop in a petri dish – slowly but determinedly it expanded to meet the full circumference of my being.
I cannot think of a place where I have felt so much love – both from those who “should” as well as the mutual recognition, with absolute strangers, of a common divinity. How else do you explain Dunga, the trader at the fish market in Dar es Salaam, who insisted on devoting over an hour of his day to show my friend and I all the fascinating fruits of the sea? The skeptic in me kept wondering how many shillings he’d demand in return but I realized my own deplorable (in my own opinion) capitalist configuration: when offered, he declined. The abundance of true brothersisterhood is something that warmed me yet worried me too for its conspicuous presence, in my perception, alerted me of its absence in my everyday life in the UK.
“If your granny’s your nanny, should she get paid?” the presenters on a TV breakfast show asked the other day. I thought back to childhood Decembers spent in Tanzania. The children of all my 6 aunts and uncles in my grandparents home – playing in the crisp clear stream at the bottom of the farm. The smells of fresh manure toasted in the generous sunshine mixing with the floating aroma of mangoes, oranges and passion fruit. Like a band of soldiers we’d take off on adventures through maizefields and forest, with neighbours offering us supplies on the way, in the form of fruit. After dinner – which often we made collaboratively, when our parents went on strike – we’d make up songs and dance and entertain the grown-ups with our laughter and energy. It sounds so idyllic now I often wonder if it was real and I lament the likely discontinuation of an experience that my children might never know.
All of us grandchildren, at some point in our younger days, were sent to live with our grandparents – for weeks or even months! There were varied reasons for our stays and our grandparents never saw it as an inconvenience but rather as a joyful opportunity. The bonds we formed are incomparable. Our grandparents shared their stories, wisdom and discipline, instilling in us a sense of pride and a grounding that cannot be matched. And a closeness that bolsters through and through, the meaning of family. Monetary exchange, between our parents and grandparents, was merely an issue of logistics – extra money to feed the extra mouths. Yet, as this TV show would suggest, people in today’s UK, view spending time with their grandchildren as work demanding a wage!
These are different times and this is a different place. In a country that is so expensive to live in and in the context of a system that leaves less and less opportunity for the fostering of close familial relationships (particularly those beyond the primary family unit), I can understand the roots of a demand that in many other parts of the world would be unheard of! Would be insulting to the grandparents in fact!
And yet, this the society a vast majority of us in those same distant parts of the world aspire to, often without appreciating the full social implications of this economic machine. Meanwhile a growing minority of people in the West are now seeking to ‘downgrade’ their lifestyle and move ‘back’ towards a simpler way of living that is more in tune with the environment and community – privileged by having already experienced an affluence that those outside the window can only dream. And who is to deny another of dreaming?
Today I was completely disgusted by a comment that someone made to an online newspaper article: “the only thing africa exports is bullshit moaners and Nigerian e-mail scams… africa is a pimple on the wests backside and is a bottomless pit for its aid money.”
I cannot help but take it personally when people attack the things I love. Especially when they fail to appreciate the majesty, complexity, texture, wonder, energy, beauty… of a continent. And I am affirmed by something Alice Walker once insisted:
“Please remember, especially in these times of group-think and right-on chorus, that no person is your friend (or kin) who demands your silence, or denies your right to grow and be perceived as fully blossomed as you were intended. Or who belittles in any fashion the gifts you labour so to bring into the world.”
In Search of Our Mother’s Gardens
I think this reminder is very useful in the context of the global community and especially in a decade where catchy slogans (Make Poverty History) and pop-stars are singing these choruses that seem to mirror the longevity of a sub-standard seasonal radio hit. All continents, countries, nations, people have a right to respect – and understanding is a prerequisite to that respect. Imagine what can happen with not only open, but engaged eyes and minds…
Kenyans For Justice
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An Opportunity towards a Different Politics
Posted: March 5, 2008, 6:35 am by Kishawi
Journalist Tom Maliti makes a plea to Kenyans to take responsibility for their leaders. Be informed, lobby, volunteer – demand justice:
"On Thursday our members of parliament will be formally called to national duty to bring to life the Harambee House Accord. Our members of parliament should not be left alone in that duty. As citizens we are also called to national duty.
First is to be informed. The mediators of Kenya's political crisis have set up a web site with links to all the agreements so far, statements and other material that is informative.
The web site is www.dialoguekenya.org .
Many of us publicly celebrated the signing of the Harambee House Accord, but our members of parliament have been uncharacteristically silent. Between now and when debate on the Harambee House Accord begins they will need encouragement to avoid selfishness, narrow party interests and visualise the national interest. As citizens, it is our national duty to provide that encourage, remind our parliamentary leaders that this is not just about them. It is about all of us.
How do we do that? Many of us went to the same school with a current member of parliament or have worked with them or just attended a half day seminar with them before they became politicians. Or it was their relative we were in school with or the person we know is an aide or key ally.
We are connected. This is one time we need to make those connections work. Individually, for example writing to them, or collectively through the neighbourhood association.
If the member of parliament is not easy to reach, try your local councillor. Many councillors live in the ward they represent and are easy to find. Many also act as grassroots mobilisers or coordinators for members of parliament and can easily get in touch with the area member of parliament.
These are some of the approaches one can take to lobby members of parliament on the Harambee House Accord.
But it is not just the Harambee House Accord that needs our attention. There are other agreements negotiators reached that need our action. For instance, the Serena Accord of 1st February, 2008 calls for politicians of different persuasions to hold joint rallies to advocate peace. A few were held the day and weekend that accord was announced. Then what happened?
The Serena Accord also states that militias need to be demobilised and disarmed. But it does not say who should do this or when this should begin or end.
But our focus as citizens should not be limited to the Annan-mediated accords.
For example, under the arrangement elaborated in the accords, there is not going to be a significant opposition in parliament. So who will act as a check on the government? Ensure that what the politicians have agreed to is implemented? As citizens we will be required to be more vigilant than before.
In the months to voting day, lots of questions were raised about the type of political parties we have. The chaotic nominations of parliamentary and civic candidates prompted many of those questions. The general sense was, "Well, that is politics for you". It doesn't have to be that way. And there's a possible answer: the Political Parties Bill.
It was passed by parliament in November and is waiting for the assent of President Mwai Kibaki. The importance of this bill is it proposes to steer our political parties to become mature organizations that are responsive to their members and have a national agenda.
For a detailed analysis of the bill you can go to www.capf.or.ke/document/Political_Parties_Bill_2007.pdf
To date, political parties are registered under the Societies Act just as are neighbourhood welfare associations, neighbourhood funeral groups and so on. There's nothing wrong with that because the Societies Act covers a wide range of groupings and its criteria for registration is also broad and does not cater for the specific needs of political parties or Kenyans concerned about their parties.
The Political Parties Bill proposes to address that. In it you will find it requires political parties to report each year to the Registrar of Political Parties on their membership countrywide, financing and other issues. If passed, a lot of briefcase parties will disappear simply for failing the membership criteria. The bill also provides for the Treasury to give some funding to parties with a certain level of representation at the council or National Assembly level. This could, I emphasise could, help political parties ease the grip people with deep pockets have on them. The catch is this: it does not have clear criteria on limits of funding by an individual or company nor does it make it mandatory for parties to disclose who is funding them and how.
The Political Parties Bill offers an opportunity towards a different politics. Talk to your MP to talk to the president to sign the bill into law.
But matters do not end there. Assuming your preferred political party is able to recruit a substantial and committed national membership, is able to fundraise for its needs and will willingly and publicly account for the monies, and has a clear agenda that is tied to principles and not individuals, where are the people to make all this happen?
A big challenge for any political party today is staff. From the simplest job to the most complex. Many people volunteer their time, services and money during election time. Once the election is over, however, they go back to their routines. And yet we still expect political parties to work and satisfy our ideals of what politics should be. Why?
If you recognise Kenya is at a historical moment and want to make a contribution, opportunity is knocking at your door. Answer, give time to your preferred political party, even if it is just one Saturday a month.
If you don't, who will?" -
Join the Protest! Feb 27 – International locations
Posted: February 26, 2008, 5:38 am by Kishawi
Amnesty International is organizing streets demonstrations in the following locations on 27 February (more info at www.amnesty.org/en/appeals-for-action/kenya-action or through facebook ).
Turn up and show your support...
London, 17:00 to 19:00 pm
Outside the Kenyan Embassy, 45 Portland Place, W1B 1AS
Washington DC, 4:30-6:30pm
Outside the Kenyan Embassy, 2249 R. Street N.W in Dupont Circle
Melbourne, 6pm
Parliament House steps, East Melbourne, join us for a vigil with our message calling to: PROTECT THE PEOPLE OF KENYA
Canberra, 1pm,
In front of the Kenyan Embassy
QBE Building, 33-35 Ainslie St, Civic Square. We will be writing letters to the Kenyan government in solidarity with the Kenyan people to bring an end to the violence.
Brisbane, 4pm
Reddacliffe Place, George St, Brisbane, join us for a vigil to reach out to Kenya, and have a look at our giant hand!
Denver, Colorado (the sister city of Nairobi, Kenya), 6pm
West Steps of the Capitol - Candlelight Vigil for the People of Kenya: Support Human Rights and Peace Now! [Please Bring a Flashlight or Lighter]
Kampala, Uganda, 12:30 pm
Outside the Kenyan High Commission, Nakasero Rd. A joint action with Amnesty International and the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project.
Check out the website for details of events in Canada, Germany, Mali, Mexico, Uruguay and more. -
Be heard on Kenyan Radio
Posted: February 25, 2008, 5:35 am by Kishawi
Get your voices heard on a Kenyan radio station, NATION EASY FM RADIO.
This is an opportunity for the diaspora to send their messages of love, solidarity and most importantly peace to our brothers and sisters in Kenya .
WHAT KIND OF MESSAGE?
1 Minute message of peace beginning with self-introduction.
Suggested Topics:- How do we address the rifts between ethnic groups, which were widened during and after the elections?
- Call for transparent leadership and accountability on all sides of the conflict.
- Call for peace and reconciliation within communities and moving forward without violence.
- You can also share what Kenya means to you as your homeland. How you feel about Kenya , what you hope for Kenya in the future?
HOW?
Call EASY FM at + 254 20 251964 and ask for Sam or Davis
WHEN
Saturday, March 1st AND Sunday, March 2
TIME: 4pm to 8pm Nairobi time i.e.
- 8am-noon US Eastern time
- 5am-9am US Western time
- 1pm-5pm London time
CONTACT:
For any further questions or concerns please contact Inbal Alon at inbal.alon@gmail.com -
London Debate – Wednesday 20 February
Posted: February 13, 2008, 5:31 am by Kishawi
The Royal Commonwealth Society invites you to a panel debate:
Kenya: What Route to Peace?
Wednesday 20 February, 6pm
At the Commonwealth Club, 25 Northumberland Avenue, London WC2N 5AP
Speakers:
Joseph Warungu, Editor, Focus on Africa and Network Africa, BBC World Service
John O. Oucho, Marie Cure Chair, Centre for Research in Ethnic Relations, Warwick University
Max Caller CBE, Member of Commonwealth Observer Group for Kenya 2007, and Electoral Commissioner, UK
Wangui wa Goro, Writer, translator and human rights activist*
Patrick Smith, Editor, Africa Confidential and Africa-Asia Confidential*
Chair: Laurence Cockcroft, Chairman, Transparency International UK*
The post-election violence and political deadlock in Kenya has shocked the world.
Due to the urgency of the humanitarian and political crisis engulfing Kenya, the RCS is hosting this debate to bring together experts to discuss issues surrounding the crisis and debate strategies for resolution and rehabilitation.
In light of the historical foundations to the current crisis, this debate will ask: what is the route to peace in Kenya? Should Kenya strive for peaceful compromise or truth and justice? And how can such humanitarian and political crises be prevented from recurring?
The event will also focus on the role of the Commonwealth, particularly as a promoter of democracy and of human rights, and how it can help negate the regional repercussions of this national political crisis. The role of the Commonwealth Observers Group (COG) in monitoring the Kenyan election will also be examined.
This will be a highly participative discussion, with a focus on informal roundtable debate and full audience involvement.
Admission is free but it is essential to register in advance.
To book a place please contact Imogen Mathers on 020 7766 9235 or imogen.mathers@rcsint.org
For more information on RCS events please go to www.rcsint.org/events. -
Oxford Events — Tues 12 - Thurs 14, February
Posted: February 9, 2008, 8:09 pm by Kishawi
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One Month
Posted: January 30, 2008, 5:04 am by Kishawi
It has been one month since Kenyans were denied the right to a free, fair and transparent election. A great betrayal to the people, and to the concept of democracy, was committed and has subsequently let loose a wave of violence that many, in Kenya and abroad, would never have imagined.
A UN report cites that “Mr. Annan said that the immediate dispute over the Presidential election result could be solved within four weeks and the underlying conflicts and grievances, many of them associated with land tenure, could be solved within a year.”
Let us push for these targets to be met, without forgetting that the causes must be addressed if we are to effectively treat the symptoms. Let us demand justice, for without it, peace will be precarious.
In the spirit of action
Send a letter to the press
We have created various templates that you can personalize:- A template for the media, encouraging them to tell our story with integrity and to keep the world and decision-makers properly informed;
- A template thanking the press for coverage on the situation in Kenya (thereby encouraging them to continue informing greater audiences);
- A template for a letter to your MP, encouraging them to champion the issue in parliament and consequently put pressure on the Kenyan government and Opposition to come to a solution that will be in the interest of Kenya and its people.
Oxford debates
The Way Forward is a series of upcoming talks organized by students at the University of Oxford. The first talk is on Wed 13th Feb at Rhodes House, South Parks Road from 5 - 7pm. Talking points will include:- Constitutional reform including the reform of the ECK
- Ethnicity and Unity - are they mutually exclusive?
- Economics of the poor - are there ways Kenya can devise strategies that directly benefit? Do they already exist and just aren't implemented?
- Land, resettlement, redistribution and how that ties in with the displaced.
Rally for justice
Watch this space for details. We are hoping to get as many individuals and like-minded organizations to come together, making a powerful statement to the international community.
Sign in Solidarity
We have set up an online petition which will be available for you to sign in the next few days – watch this space for details! -
Template: letter to your MP
Posted: January 30, 2008, 5:02 am by Kishawi
Dear [sir/madam]
RE: Striving for Justice and Peace in Kenya
[I/We] [am/are] writing to kindly request your support for the push for justice and peace in Kenya.
Kenyans for Justice is a non-partisan, UK-based group of Kenyans and friends of Kenya that feel a great injustice was done to Kenyans during the flawed presidential election of December 2007. The irregularities witnessed during the tallying of presidential results meant that the results of the presidential election were rigged at worst and uncertain at best. Kenyans were subsequently denied the right to protest, to exercise their freedom of speech and the free and independent media was silenced. We believe that sustainable peace and stability in Kenya cannot be restored unless these and other related injustices are corrected. We do not endorse any specific candidate or party.
The UK political establishment can play a major role in helping the Kenyan people achieve justice and ultimately peace. By highlighting the injustices committed there – from electoral fraud, police violence to organised violence – in parliament, decision-makers can be kept informed. Politicians and decision makers can further put pressure on the Kenyan government and Opposition to work at a solution that will be in the interest of Kenya and its people. Silence and indifference on the matter by the West will only mean it is swept under the carpet only to recur again in future.
Our goals are to ensure that:
- The correct winner of the 2007 presidential elections is ascertained by an independent body or persons such as the UN;
- Electoral and constitutional changes are made to avoid a repeat of the irregularities and mistakes seen during the 2007 presidential election;
- The restoration of the rights of Kenyans to free speech, the right to protest and free and independent media;
- The arrest and imprisonment of perpetrators of violence against innocent victims including police shooting at unarmed protesters and vigilante groups targeting specific ethnic groups;
- There is support for efforts for enhancement of peace and harmony between the different communities in Kenya and a push for quicker resettlement of those displaced by the violence.
Yours Sincerely,
[name] -
Template: letter to the press
Posted: January 30, 2008, 5:02 am by Kishawi
Dear [sir/madam]
RE: Striving for Justice and Peace in Kenya
[I/We] [am/are] writing to kindly request your support for the push for justice and peace in Kenya.
Kenyans for Justice is a non-partisan, UK-based group of Kenyans and friends of Kenya that feel a great injustice was done to Kenyans during the flawed presidential election of December 2007. The irregularities witnessed during the tallying of presidential results meant that the results of the presidential election were rigged at worst and uncertain at best. Kenyans were subsequently denied the right to protest, to exercise their freedom of speech and the free and independent media was silenced. We believe that sustainable peace and stability in Kenya cannot be restored unless these and other related injustices are corrected. We do not endorse any specific candidate or party.
The UK media and press can play a major role in helping the Kenyan people achieve justice and ultimately peace. By highlighting the injustices committed there – from electoral fraud, police violence to organised violence – the media can keep the world and ultimately decision-makers informed. We request informed and in depth coverage of the issues and not mere generalizations of the issues in Kenya as merely tribal or African. Misinformation, silence and indifference on the matter by the West will only mean it is swept under the carpet only to recur again in future.
Our goals are to ensure that:
- The correct winner of the 2007 presidential elections is ascertained by an independent body or persons such as the UN;
- Electoral and constitutional changes are made to avoid a repeat of the irregularities and mistakes seen during the 2007 presidential election;
- The restoration of the rights of Kenyans to free speech, the right to protest and free and independent media;
- The arrest and imprisonment of perpetrators of violence against innocent victims including police shooting at unarmed protesters and vigilante groups targeting specific ethnic groups;
- There is support for efforts for enhancement of peace and harmony between the different communities in Kenya and a push for quicker resettlement of those displaced by the violence.
Yours Sincerely,
[name]
Kenyans for Justice
http://kenyansforjustice.blogspot.com
kenyans4justice@gmail.com
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=9937101338 -
Template: thank you letter to the press
Posted: January 30, 2008, 5:01 am by Kishawi
Dear [sir/madam]
RE: Striving for Justice and Peace in Kenya
I am writing to you to thank you for your recent [article/report] on the situation in Kenya. As a Kenyan in the UK, I appreciate the coverage that your [station/paper/magazine] is giving injustices done to the Kenyan people by politicians on both sides of the conflict. News on the happenings in Kenya not only keeps the world informed on the injustices done there but also keeps the story alive in the minds of people that can help and influence change in Kenya.
Kenyans for Justice is a non-partisan, UK-based group of Kenyans and friends of Kenya that feel a great injustice was done to Kenyans during the flawed presidential election of December 2007. The irregularities witnessed during the tallying of presidential results meant that the results of the presidential election were rigged at worst and uncertain at best. Kenyans were subsequently denied the right to protest, to exercise their freedom of speech and the free and independent media was silenced. We believe that sustainable peace and stability in Kenya cannot be restored unless these and other related injustices are corrected. We do not endorse any specific candidate or party.
The UK media and political establishment can play a major role in helping the Kenyan people achieve justice and ultimately peace. By highlighting the injustices committed there – from electoral fraud, police violence to organised violence – the media can keep the world and ultimately decision makers informed. Politicians and decision makers can further put pressure on the Kenyan government and Opposition to work at a solution that will be in the interest of Kenya and its people. Silence and indifference on the matter by the West will only mean it is swept under the carpet only to recur again in future.
Our goals are to ensure that:
- The correct winner of the 2007 presidential elections is ascertained by an independent body or persons such as the UN;
- Electoral and constitutional changes are made to avoid a repeat of the irregularities and mistakes seen during the 2007 presidential election;
- The restoration of the rights of Kenyans to free speech, the right to protest and free and independent media;
- The arrest and imprisonment of perpetrators of violence against innocent victims including police shooting at unarmed protesters and vigilante groups targeting specific ethnic groups;
- There is support for efforts for enhancement of peace and harmony between the different communities in Kenya and a push for quicker resettlement of those displaced by the violence.
Yours Sincerely,
[name]
Kenyans for Justice
http://kenyansforjustice.blogspot.com
kenyans4justice@gmail.com
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=9937101338 -
Leaving comments on our blog
Posted: January 23, 2008, 11:07 am by Kishawi
Just a quick note as some people have been having difficulty leaving comments on the blog: you do not need to have a blogger or google account to comment. Simply select either "nickname" and fill in your name – and a url if you have one – or "anonymous" at the bottom of the comments box.
We look forward to hearing your constructive ideas for action! -
Get Involved. Do Something.
Posted: January 20, 2008, 6:15 pm by Kishawi
"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."
— Martin Luther King Jr.
Kenyans for Justice is a non-partisan, UK-based group of Kenyans and friends of Kenya that feel a great injustice was done to Kenyans during the flawed presidential election of December 2007. The irregularities witnessed during the tallying of presidential results meant that the results of the presidential election were rigged at worst and uncertain at best. Kenyans were subsequently denied the right to protest, to exercise their freedom of speech and the free and independent media was silenced. We believe that sustainable peace and stability in Kenya cannot be restored unless these and other related injustices are corrected. We do not endorse any specific candidate or party but will work with and support like-minded organizations, persons or groups of persons that are working at achieving similar objectives.
Objectives
The main objective of the group is to give Kenyans in the UK and other parts of the diaspora a forum to share ideas for action and to contribute in the fight for electoral justice.
Our goals are to ensure that:
- The correct winner of the 2007 presidential elections is ascertained by an independent body or persons such as the UN;
- Electoral and constitutional changes are made to avoid a repeat of the irregularities and mistakes seen during the 2007 presidential election;
- The restoration of the rights of Kenyans to free speech, the right to protest and free and independent media;
- The arrest and imprisonment of perpetrators of violence against innocent victims including police shooting at unarmed protesters and vigilante groups targeting specific ethnic groups.
We plan to achieve our objectives by, among other methods:
- Lobbying parliamentarians and politicians in the UK to pressure the Kenya government and opposition leaders to address the electoral irregularities and determine the rightful victor;
- Writing to the media and journalists to keep the focus on Kenya alive and where necessary correct misconceptions in news reports;
- Supporting those fighting for justice 'on the ground' in Kenya through petitions, letters of encouragement, etc;
- Organizing rallies and demonstrations in the UK in acts of solidarity with those attempting to peacefully protest in Kenya.
To reiterate, we are a non-partisan group that believe that the injustice that was done during the 2007 presidential election should be corrected, not because we believe any one party should be in government or any specific person should be president, but to nurture democracy in Kenya and enable future generations to enjoy the ability to elect their leaders in a democratic way without having to resort to violent or illegal means. The Kenyans for Justice forum is not a debating forum as to which candidate should or should not be president but a forum for supporters for all parties to come together and work at a solution for justice and ultimately for lasting peace and stability.
Addressing Some Myths
The election was not flawed or rigged
Numerous independent observers including the Electoral Commission of Kenya (ECK) chairman, EU and US observers, The Kenya Human Rights Commission have all testified that the presidential tallying process was flawed and potentially rigged. Based on observations of people in Kenya during and after the elections as well as the opinions of numerous independent bodies, we believe the process was flawed and potentially rigged.
Both sides, i.e. the opposition and the government rigged in some areas
The irregularities reported by independent observers were indeed both in pro-government and pro-opposition strong holds. However, the main flaw in the process was identified as being in the tallying process at the ECK headquarters in favor of the government. Kenyans for Justice would like all irregularities and flaws investigated by an independent body for the rightful victor to be determined. The reluctance of the government to have the results verified by an independent body and the speedy swearing in of the president further fuels the suspicions that rigging occurred.
The violence witnessed is purely ethnically based and has been orchestrated by the Orange Democratic Movement
Although we believe some level of violence is ethnically based (and would have happened regardless of the electoral outcome) we believe there are many Kenyans (from all ethnic groups and across the political divide) who are angry that the democratic system in Kenya appears to have been abused to benefit a specific party and person. Kenyans for Justice believes that there will be sustainable peace only when the perceived electoral injustices are addressed and corrected.
The court system in Kenya should be used to address the disputes
The fight for democracy and justice has to be fought on many fronts. One of this is the Kenyan court system, which several NGOs are now pursuing. However, the court system has been known to be corrupt, biased and slow to justice. Other methods of pressure and protest are not only necessary but, in many cases, the only viable ones for bringing about justice. A case in point is the fight for multi-party democracy in the 1990s that required numerous protests and international pressure for change to be achieved.
We should continue with our daily lives as whoever is president doesn't affect us
Kenyans for Justice is not fighting for a specific person or political party. We believe that for Kenya to develop politically, electoral justice has to be upheld and be seen to be upheld. The process is more important than the individual and we believe the process should be free, fair and just. The process, we believe, is worth fighting for.
Any rigging that was done by the government was justified as Raila is not fit to be President of Kenya
Democracy dictates that the peoples’ choice be respected regardless of what that may be. During the presidential campaigns, both sides had the opportunity to present their credentials and, if necessary, reasons why their opponents were not fit to lead. Once this was done, the decision of the Kenyan people ought to have been respected and accepted.
Pandemonium Today
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Minority Report 200807
Posted: August 19, 2007, 9:05 pm by Kishawi
I’m beginning to become actively concerned about the future plight of minorities living in the West. Passively yes, one observes institutional racism, blatant profiling and glass ceilings thick enough to absorb the most ambitious of shocks. And yes, the occasion incident happens with you as subject but once the futility of your anger neutralizes it back down, it’s life again, as what you have now come to regard as normal. You remind yourself that you are here with a purpose in mind and the gains you patiently persevere for will annihilate memories of a senseless subjugation.
But there are 2 films I’ve watched lately that had me last night seriously considering the need for developing a continent-wide (Africa in this instance) defense strategy. (Disclaimer: obviously Africans and related Diasporans are not the only minorities in the precarious situation I’m getting to but, my mind tends to default to focusing on that glorious land mass that gave me life, in the physical and spiritual sense!) It began with Children of Men – a bleak future where those who are different are caged like animals because England, the last standing nation yet to be obliterated by war, disease etc., is consequently suffering a far graver immigration problem than the (supposed) one of the present. Then last night, I watched the gloriously anarchistic V for Vendetta where, once again we had, a future-time England where Muslims, homosexuals and ethnic minorities were outlawed and used as specimens for pharmaceutical research (as animals once were). Again, the ruling regime was totalitarian. Again, viral epidemics, nuclear fallouts and brutal wars were the government’s chosen weapons of fear to keep the masses complicit. Altogether a profoundly depressing but altogether not too surreal scenario. And that’s what scares me most. The fact that not only do these storylines appear very feasible but that elements of them are already realities. There’s a brilliant line in V that states something about artists using lies to tell the truth and politicians using lies to cover the truth!
All the disparate acts against humanity that occur worldwide fail to coalesce into an crucial urgent collective consciousness. Anyone alien studying our life and times must shake their heads in astonishment on our failure to learn from our own histories. Is the biggest tragedy of our times a superlative failure to communicate? To make connections between things – to perceive and derive patterns? Indeed poetry is truer than history. Indeed the tools that art possesses may be the most powerful implements we have to awaken ourselves to what is before our very eyes. So yes, lies, embellished truths, tales… these are like masks that the artist wears so that he can be her- or himself without unfavourable consequences. That’s the crazy irony of our existence – we need props and tricks to safely liberate ourselves. There’s something seriously wrong with that state of affairs. It’s funny then when you think that the romantic ideal situation in life is freedom. Because in actuality, the journey there is perhaps the most difficult and dangerous one we will ever undertake.
… so we keep the hope alive that the reward will be worth it.
Blah blah blah
Fish cakes
Alas a fish cake.
Yet more fish cakes
Guess what ... yeah ... fish cakes.
The end of the fish cakes
