Items by Ory Okolloh

Kenyan Pundit

• Update on Civil Society Campaign against Police Violence

  Posted: August 7, 2008, 1:15 pm by Ory Okolloh

  BY SHAILJA PATEL A brief update on our progress so far in the civil society campaign against escalating state and police violence in Kenya. For background, please see the statement titled: “Kenya: Investigate Police Brutality”, at the bottom of this email. Triumphs (1) Three hours after we rolled out the Direct Action campaign yesterday, Prime Minister Raila Odinga encountered [...]

• Christian Science Monitor feature on Kenya

  Posted: August 5, 2008, 4:17 pm by Ory Okolloh

  Interesting series that will be looking at the role of African elders in resolving the Kenyan post-election crisis. Part I is here.

• Support Civil Society Activists

  Posted: August 4, 2008, 4:25 pm by Ory Okolloh

  Date: Tuesday August 5th Time of hearing: 9:00 am Venue: Kibera Court Directions: Coming from the direction of town on Ngong Rd, turn left on Mugo Kibiru Road (before Ngong Hills Hotel and Nakumatt Prestige Plaza). Go down Mugo Kibiru Road until the T-junction. Turn LEFT at T-junction, and continue until you see Chief’s Office, courthouse, and government [...]

• Young Kenyans express themselves

  Posted: August 1, 2008, 7:44 pm by Ory Okolloh

  I came across this interesting Digital Storytelling Project today (hat tip Bankelele!). The project aims to help the Undungu Society and the street children they work with get their voices heard through voices and pictures. Please visit the blogs and encourage the young authors to keep expressing themselves. It is [...]

• Mau Mau Film Festival in Nairobi

  Posted: July 31, 2008, 3:57 pm by Ory Okolloh

  Details available here.

• New kind of electricity meter

  Posted: July 30, 2008, 11:55 pm by Ory Okolloh

  This is pretty nifty. The soaring cost of electricity in SA has made me a turn off the lights Nazi at home. And maybe I can finally convince my mum that the TV does not need to be unplugged from the wall after its been turned off.

• Violence in Kenyan high schools

  Posted: July 22, 2008, 2:27 am by Ory Okolloh

  In the last few days Kenyan headlines have been dominated by reports of increasing levels of violence and riots in high schools. Things appear to have reached a crisis point with the obligatory formation of a “committee” to investigate the cause of the riots. According to some news reports, students are [...]

• Why has no one arrested Ntimama yet?

  Posted: July 20, 2008, 12:31 am by Ory Okolloh

  The incriminating clip can be watched here. Where is Alfred-full-page-color-press-ad-against-war-criminals Mutua? Not to mention politicians from both sides? This is the kind of loose talk that will get the country into trouble a few months from now. Don’t the police have nothing better to do rather than arrest and [...]

• Did anyone else catch this?

  Posted: July 18, 2008, 1:12 pm by Ory Okolloh

  Apparently Ntimama was caught on tape making threats regarding the Mau eviction order. Anyone else catch this?

• Interesting perspective on ICC indictments

  Posted: July 16, 2008, 1:09 am by Ory Okolloh

  I didn’t know that all 12 of the indictments issued by the ICC have targeted Africans (do we really have a monopoly on atrocities?). On a more serious note, I think the article raises some serious issues. Lets face it…while we all like to pat ourselves on the back for “removing” [...]

• Google launches Africa blog

  Posted: July 9, 2008, 4:57 pm by Ory Okolloh

  Click here for details. SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Google launches Africa blog", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/2008/07/09/google-launches-africa-blog/" });

• Kwani Litfest website is up

  Posted: July 7, 2008, 4:40 pm by Ory Okolloh

  Should be a great event, featuring writing workshops, book launches, top African writers and so much more. Click here for more details. SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Kwani Litfest website is up", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/2008/07/07/kwani-litfest-website-is-up/" });

• Grand Regency / Kimunya

  Posted: July 4, 2008, 7:51 pm by Ory Okolloh

  A couple of KP readers have written to ask why I haven’t done a post on this issue…it’s simply because I have nothing to add beyond what everyone else is writing/opining. It’s a travesty, Kenyans are being ripped off, MPs are happy to get back at Kimunya, the sale financed PNU, Kimunya will [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Grand Regency / Kimunya", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/2008/07/04/grand-regency-kimunya/" });

• Quick Hits June 30

  Posted: June 30, 2008, 5:28 pm by Ory Okolloh

  - Now this is competitive advantage - How to make a killer slide presentation. - Is Google making you stupid? _ Ushahidi featured in MIT’s Technology Review as one of Top 10 Start-ups to watch. SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Quick Hits June 30", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/2008/06/30/quick-hits-june-30/" });

• Poor women being detained at Pumwani Maternity Hospital

  Posted: June 28, 2008, 9:20 pm by Ory Okolloh

  PLEASE HELP GET THE MESSAGE OUT. THE WOMEN ARE BEING DETAINED FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO PAY THE DELIVERY FEE OF KSHS 3,400. We, at KENGO believe that it is our responsibility to hold all public institutions accountable and to ensure that in the delivery of services the right of all to dignity is respected. [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Poor women being detained at Pumwani Maternity Hospital", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/2008/06/28/poor-women-being-detained-at-pumwani-maternity-hospital/" });

• Electoral Review Commission hearings

  Posted: June 24, 2008, 5:18 pm by Ory Okolloh

  Independent Electoral Review Commission(IREC) shall be holding its sittings in Nairobi from June 25 - 27, 2008 at the KICC from 9.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. Any bloggers who are free at the time…would be great if you could cover it. SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Electoral Review Commission hearings", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/2008/06/24/electoral-review-commission-hearings/" });

• Hypocritical UNEP campaign

  Posted: June 23, 2008, 2:49 am by Ory Okolloh

  The UN(EP) recently launched a campaign to encourage people to “Kick the CO2 habit.” That’s all well and good except for the fact that while, the UN is busy encouraging us to reduce carbon emissions, as Dipesh points out, they don’t seem to have a problem with staff members driving around Kenya (and I’m [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Hypocritical UNEP campaign", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/2008/06/22/hypocritical-unep-campaign/" });

• Kenyan MPs asleep on the job

  Posted: June 21, 2008, 12:19 am by Ory Okolloh

  Read more here. SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Kenyan MPs asleep on the job", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/2008/06/21/kenyan-mps-asleep-on-the-job/" });

• (Was) In Nairobi

  Posted: June 18, 2008, 2:16 am by Ory Okolloh

  EDIT: This post should have gone up last week but it got “eaten.” Apologies for the lack of posts, I have been traveling for the last week and a half and more travel is coming up. This doesn’t seem to be a good year for me to travel, however, if my bags aren’t [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "(Was) In Nairobi", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/2008/06/17/in-nairobi-2/" });

• BarCamp Nairobi ‘08

  Posted: June 10, 2008, 4:20 pm by Ory Okolloh

  Should be a great event, I will be attending and possibly speaking and registering for the event gets you an Ushahidi t-shirt and lots of other “schwag”…and you get to hear about possible opportunities to help with the next version of Ushahidi (we are trying to put African developers on the map, no pun intended..heheh). [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "BarCamp Nairobi ‘08", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/2008/06/10/barcamp-nairobi-08/" });

• What’s Google East Africa’s strategy?

  Posted: June 3, 2008, 6:50 pm by Ory Okolloh

  So I came across this post by Kenyan Entrepreneur and I was just as perturbed as he was. Why would Google East Africa sign a deal with Wunderman (and who are they…can’t even locate a website?) rather than promote adwords accounts in East Africa? Is it difficult to do online transactions in East [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "What’s Google East Africa’s strategy?", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/2008/06/03/whats-google-east-africas-strategy/" });

• Bunge la mwananchi protestors arrested

  Posted: June 2, 2008, 2:04 pm by Ory Okolloh

  Statement from George Nyongesa of Bunge La Mwananchi: Two nights and three days after wananchi led by Bunge La Mwananchi demonstrated on the streets of Nairobi to protest against high food prices and the escalating cost of living, ten Kenyans are still being held at the Central Police Station in Nairobi because “the matter is [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Bunge la mwananchi protestors arrested", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/2008/06/02/bunge-la-mwananchi-protestors-arrested/" });

• Kivuitu Responds

  Posted: May 29, 2008, 3:33 pm by Ory Okolloh

  Full details of the chronology of events can be found on Shailja’s blog. Kudos to her for her persistence and showing fellow Kenyans why it is important to keep up the fight to hold leaders accountable in whatever way we can…it should not just be business as normal! After reading Kivuitu’s response, let me know your [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Kivuitu Responds", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/2008/05/29/kivuitu-responds/" });

• We Won the Netsquared Challenge!

  Posted: May 29, 2008, 11:11 am by Ory Okolloh

  All the details here. Thank you everyone for the support and cheerleading! SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "We Won the Netsquared Challenge!", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/2008/05/29/we-won-the-netsquared-challenge/" });

• Quick Hits May 27

  Posted: May 27, 2008, 7:13 pm by Ory Okolloh

  - Great piece about Kenyan blogger (and Mara park ranger) Joseph Kimojino. Got me wondering if local experienced bloggers could other organizations develop their online presence (I know Daudi’s doing a great job with Kwani and Generation Kenya). - Always uber-helpful Life hacker roundup. - 6 most frequently quoted BS stats. - Hash [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Quick Hits May 27", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/2008/05/27/quick-hits-may-27/" });

• Thank you for supporting Ushahidi

  Posted: May 21, 2008, 12:40 am by Ory Okolloh

  To everyone who took the time to navigate the registration requirement and vote for us at NetSquared, thank you, thank you, thank you again. We made it to the finals and the winners will be announced next week…keep your fingers crossed! We have been busy working on growing Ushahidi (details to come soon) and I’m [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Thank you for supporting Ushahidi", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/2008/05/21/thank-you-for-supporting-ushahidi/" });

• Xenophobia in SA

  Posted: May 20, 2008, 4:13 pm by Ory Okolloh

  Thanks for the emails, sms’s, comments etc. Me and the fam are safe and sound. Most of the targets of the attacks have been those who were already vulnerable and living in the townships/poorer parts of town. That’s no comfort to us though, because the violence seems to be spiraling out of [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Xenophobia in SA", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/2008/05/20/xenophobia-in-sa/" });

• CCP Update May 9

  Posted: May 19, 2008, 4:30 pm by Ory Okolloh

  CP meeting notes Mathare: - Mwangi Kihara, the Chairman of the Mathare United Landlord organization (MALUO) reported that negotiation between Landlords and illegal occupants of houses in Mathare ongoing. So far at least 111 illegal tenants have agreed to leave the houses. KVP (Kenya Veterans for Peace) has been facilitating this process. - It was reported that [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "CCP Update May 9", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/2008/05/19/ccp-update-may-9/" });

• Sessional Paper No. 10

  Posted: May 13, 2008, 3:02 pm by Ory Okolloh

  Interesting analysis of how the (in)famous Sessional Paper no 10 authored by edit Tom Mboya (mea culpa for previously attributing to Kibaki and thanks to those who corrected, great background on Mboya can be found here) is relevant to the current situation in Kenya. EDIT: (Woz, here’s a better link, Cheers). Full text [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Sessional Paper No. 10", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/2008/05/13/sessional-paper-no-10/" });

• Mental Break: Safari Rally

  Posted: May 6, 2008, 5:47 pm by Ory Okolloh

  So me and the fam were out of town for the holiday weekend…while driving to one of the tourist sites we visited, we came across groups of people parked on the side of the road waiting for cars participating in the Sasol Rally (never heard of it before) to drive by. It reminded me of [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Mental Break: Safari Rally", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/2008/05/06/mental-break-safari-rally/" });

• Guardian International Journalism Competition

  Posted: April 29, 2008, 3:33 pm by Ory Okolloh

  Deadline for entry is May 8. Details are here. SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Guardian International Journalism Competition", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/2008/04/29/guardian-international-journalism-competition/" });

• Quick Hits April 24

  Posted: April 24, 2008, 7:45 pm by Ory Okolloh

  - Interesting perspective on Kisumu youth who took part in the riots (if you ignore the author’s tendency for the overdramatic). I really wish more of our Kenyan writers / journalists would make an effort to talk to and write about the often faceless and nameless “violent youth with nothing to lose”. - And another [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Quick Hits April 24", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/2008/04/24/quick-hits-april-24/" });

• Concerned Citizens for Peace Meeting Apr 18

  Posted: April 23, 2008, 3:52 pm by Ory Okolloh

  IDP’s * There are 250 camps still existing countrywide. Little concrete solution for them and we don’t want them to become a forgotten species. Need symbolic gesture to remind govt and public about this situation – a group from CCP to spend night in the camps. Through this, they can strengthen the call for political [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Concerned Citizens for Peace Meeting Apr 18", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/2008/04/23/concerned-citizens-for-peace-meeting-apr-18/" });

• Challenges of the Grand Coalition Part 1(guest post)

  Posted: April 17, 2008, 2:19 am by Ory Okolloh

  BY ONYANGO OLOO 1.0. Challenge # 1: Credibility The Grand Coalition is slowly rousing to its feet amidst widespread cynicism, bewilderment, anger and disappointment. The fact that almost half of the 220 member Kenya National Assembly will be in government is astounding, especially if one takes into account the high falutin’ earnest pledges by the three leading presidential [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Challenges of the Grand Coalition Part 1(guest post)", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/2008/04/16/challenges-of-the-grand-coalition-part-1guest-post/" });

• Mungiki

  Posted: April 15, 2008, 1:55 am by Ory Okolloh

  [I'm in Uppsala, Sweden speaking at a conference so posting will be light] I’ve been spending the last week or two trying to revisit Kenya’s political history from an academic perspective (and trying to get back in to the habit of reading voraciously) with the help of a bunch of mailing lists that I subscribe to. [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Mungiki", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/2008/04/15/mungiki/" });

• Forum on Truth Justice and Reconciliation Commission

  Posted: April 15, 2008, 1:51 pm by Ory Okolloh

  The Multi-Sectoral Task Force on Truth Justice and Reconciliation Commission and Kenyans for Peace with Truth and Justice (KPTJ) invites you to a public forum to be held on Wednesday, April 16, 2008 at Norfolk Hotel Nairobi. Time 830 a.m – 12.30 p.m The Government has now drafted a Truth Justice and Reconciliation Commission Bill [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Forum on Truth Justice and Reconciliation Commission", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/2008/04/15/forum-on-truth-justice-and-reconciliation-commission/" });

• Quick Hits April 8

  Posted: April 8, 2008, 3:26 pm by Ory Okolloh

  - One of the better written pieces on Mobitelea that I have seen. Too bad this issue was handled shoddily by ODM, they had a real opportunity to give this story legs. And I like that there is some finger pointing and Vodafone and the Brits as well - it takes two [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Quick Hits April 8", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/2008/04/08/quick-hits-april-8/" });

• Zimbabwe elections

  Posted: April 4, 2008, 12:13 pm by Ory Okolloh

  Analogies are being made between the current situation in Zimbabwe and the aftermath of the elections in Kenya. Others argue that the two are completely different. What worries me (apart from the prospect of Mugabe’s return) is that the possible development of a new trend of “civilian coups” in Africa. Nigeria and [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Zimbabwe elections", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/2008/04/04/zimbabwe-elections/" });

• Kenyans teargassed for demanding lean Cabinet

  Posted: April 1, 2008, 11:18 pm by Ory Okolloh

  Details from one of the people who took part in the march can be found here. I’m happy to see that civil society is keeping up the pressure. I hope other Kenyans, especially middle-class Kenyans and those who have the luxury (responsibility?) of shifting our political paradigm but who are only too happy to [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Kenyans teargassed for demanding lean Cabinet", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/2008/04/01/kenyans-teargassed-for-demanding-lean-cabinet/" });

• ECK Internal Report on 2007 Election

  Posted: April 1, 2008, 12:33 pm by Ory Okolloh

  ECK is basically absolving itself of any wrongdoing as far as the presidential vote tallying. The full report is here. A summary of the disparities in the report (in comparison to what observers reported) can be found here. SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "ECK Internal Report on 2007 Election", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/2008/04/01/eck-internal-report-on-2007-election/" });

• You can apparently fool Kenyans all of the time…

  Posted: March 25, 2008, 5:25 pm by Ory Okolloh

  How else do you explain how Uhuru Kenyatta is getting away with his ridiculous traffic de-congestion plan? Only in Kenya, can you attempt to ease congestion in the CBD by banning public transport. This solution comes from a guy who’s never ever even dreamed of taking public transport. Beyond the ridiculousness in [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "You can apparently fool Kenyans all of the time…", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/2008/03/25/you-can-apparently-fool-kenyans-all-of-the-time/" });

• One more time, pretty please…

  Posted: March 20, 2008, 7:00 pm by Ory Okolloh

  …vote for Ushahidi at Netsquared website. Last day to vote is Friday 21st March 5:00 pm Pacific US Time For those of you who have already voted, please note that this is different from the number of stars that we have already picked up (thanks y’all). Hash, has a very detailed explanation of the process. [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "One more time, pretty please…", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/2008/03/20/one-more-time-pretty-please/" });

• Quick Hits: Mar 18

  Posted: March 18, 2008, 4:41 pm by Ory Okolloh

  - Spitzer wants to be more than just a number…hehehe. - Derrick Ashong in the New York Times. - The Shikwekwes, an African ‘webcomic’. - Interesting post by Ethan on transparency and corruption in Brazil. Speaking about public declaration of wealth by civil servants, what the hell is happening in Kenya? Wasn’t there [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Quick Hits: Mar 18", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/2008/03/18/quick-hits-mar-18/" });

• Human Rights Watch Press Conference

  Posted: March 13, 2008, 12:55 pm by Ory Okolloh

  What: Report release on organized political violence and the crisis of governance in Kenya Who: Ben Rawlence, Human Rights Watch Africa researcher When: Monday, March 17, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. Where: Stanley Hotel, Nairobi SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Human Rights Watch Press Conference", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/?p=473" });

• Google East Africa Gadget Competition

  Posted: March 13, 2008, 12:51 pm by Ory Okolloh

  Hat tip AfroM The competition is open to university students in Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda, Ethiopia, and Burundi. The deadline for this is March 17th; so if you have some great ideas, you can still submit them for consideration. The categories/types of software gadgets and apps that they are looking for include: (1) Best Gadget UI (2) Best Local [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Google East Africa Gadget Competition", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/?p=472" });

• Now that I’m done gagging…

  Posted: March 12, 2008, 1:56 pm by Ory Okolloh

  …I think some kind of active follow up with the Standard is necessary. I have no problems with tabloid newspapers. In fact I regularly read them when I’m in Nairobi. I do have problems with a supposedly serious newspaper that has “tabloidish” tendencies - and I don’t think it’s not [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Now that I’m done gagging…", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/?p=471" });

• Excuse me while I gag…

  Posted: March 7, 2008, 6:55 pm by Ory Okolloh

  I have yet another post cooking, but I need to go and grapple with dinner for a one-year old who will chew only certain foods, depending on her mood. So I’ll just put up these links and wonder how Kenyan newspapers are managing to outdo themselves when it comes to crappy, and yes, irresponsible [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Excuse me while I gag…", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/?p=470" });

• Peace Messages on Easy FM

  Posted: March 7, 2008, 6:17 pm by Ory Okolloh

  I know there are readers who have issues with my posting of “humanitarian” efforts, and who doubt the efficacy of these efforts, and who feel that what is needed is more “political” ways to engage the “people/masses.” I have a response cooking in my mind. In the meantime, I will keep the info. [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Peace Messages on Easy FM", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/?p=469" });

• Women’s March for Peace - March 8th

  Posted: March 6, 2008, 9:31 pm by Ory Okolloh

  On International Women’s Day Saturday, 8 March 2008 WOMEN FOR KENYA Invite All Kenyan Women to Join Together in a Peaceful March As mothers, wives and daughters, Kenyan women have endured tragedy in the past two months. Too many of us have lost family members and homes. Others of us have done what we can to help them. Regardless [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Women’s March for Peace - March 8th", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/?p=468" });

• Quick Hits: Mar 5

  Posted: March 5, 2008, 2:14 pm by Ory Okolloh

  - Bankelele has a great write-up of this years first Skunkworks meeting held at the Google offices in Kenya. For more about Skunkworks, click here. There’s 3 points that resonate with me in Bankelele’s write-up: 1. The fear of sharing content online - or really just sharing information in Kenya. From [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Quick Hits: Mar 5", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/?p=467" });

• CCP Meeting Update Feb 29

  Posted: March 4, 2008, 1:44 pm by Ory Okolloh

  NOTES BY LINDA The meeting began by recognising the historical moment arrived at yesterday with the signing of the mediated peace deal through the assistance of the Kenya National Dialogue and reconciliation Team headed by H.E. Koffi Annan. The meeting focused on the views of the Members towards the peace deal, urging them to discuss [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "CCP Meeting Update Feb 29", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/?p=466" });

• Further development for Ushahidi

  Posted: March 3, 2008, 10:57 am by Ory Okolloh

  We are working on developing Ushahidi into a tool that can be applied to other crises and on improving its applicability in the Kenyan situation even after the power-sharing agreement. We’ve entered the Netsquared Mashup Challenge where we can stand to win up $20,000 for development. Show your support by voting [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Further development for Ushahidi", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/?p=465" });

• There’s a deal!

  Posted: February 28, 2008, 7:14 pm by Ory Okolloh

  Details here. Of course, there’s a lot of negatives like the effective absence of an opposition. But it gives the country some much-needed breathing space and I sincerely hope an opportunity for the hard work of rebuilding, healing, and creating a new political space to begin. SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "There’s a deal!", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/?p=464" });

• Ways to help keep the peace in Kenya

  Posted: February 26, 2008, 5:51 pm by Ory Okolloh

  It is increasingly seeming like my worst fears will be confirmed, and the Annan mediation talks will become a long road to nowhere. Frustrated as we are, I think it is important for us as Kenyans to keep trying to find ways to wrest the fate of our country from these two power-hungry individuals. [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Ways to help keep the peace in Kenya", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/?p=463" });

• Opportunity for theatre artistes in East Africa

  Posted: February 26, 2008, 3:41 pm by Ory Okolloh

  Please let us introduce the Sundance Institute Theatre Program, one of America ’s leading programs supporting new writing for the stage. Based in Sundance, Utah (with offices in Los Angeles, California), as part of the Sundance Institute (www.sundance.org), its mission is to identify and assist emerging theatre artists, to reinvigorate the creative energies of established [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Opportunity for theatre artistes in East Africa", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/?p=462" });

• CCP Update Feb 22nd

  Posted: February 26, 2008, 10:43 am by Ory Okolloh

  The CCP Technical team had a meeting yesterday, 21st February 2008 discussing whether CCP should continue to exist (unanimous agreement on this) and if so how it should do so. Various decisions were reached in the meeting including: o Morning forum- meetings will now be held once a week on Friday’s from [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "CCP Update Feb 22nd", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/?p=461" });

• Quick Hits: Feb 21

  Posted: February 21, 2008, 6:29 pm by Ory Okolloh

  Thanks everyone for sharing the 8-4-4 memories, you have me cracking up…and it’s a great reminder of what’s so fabulous about being Kenyan. - Problems I’d like to have. Oh darling…do we really have to give up the Barcelonas…tehehe. Gosh I miss the self-indulgent aspects of living in the U.S. sometimes. I [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Quick Hits: Feb 21", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/?p=460" });

• Mental break: 8-4-4 memories

  Posted: February 19, 2008, 2:55 pm by Ory Okolloh

  Apologies for the lack of posts, been dealing with personal stuff (read drama). So I’ve been thinking it’s time for a little break since the news is slow pending the outcome of the Annan negotiations. There’s all sorts of people complaining about “imposed” solutions,and foreign intervention, and “Kenyan solutions“, but the last time [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Mental break: 8-4-4 memories", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/?p=459" });

• Concerned Citizens for Peace Update Feb 11

  Posted: February 12, 2008, 3:39 pm by Ory Okolloh

  (Notes were taken by Shalini, I’ve taken the liberty of categorizing them). THE BAD NEWS * Rain means the situation in the camps has badly deteriorated. Flooding leads to disease, there is nowhere to sleep, kids having to scoop water out of tents. Standards truly appalling. Who’s responsibility is the camps? Govt is standing [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Concerned Citizens for Peace Update Feb 11", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/?p=458" });

• Quick Hits - Feb 11

  Posted: February 11, 2008, 6:07 pm by Ory Okolloh

  Fundraising event for Kenyans in NY: Kenyans in New York are organising a fundraiser aimed at helping the victims of the violence. We are fundraising specifically for Urgent Action fund which has a rapid response strategy and reaches out to victims of violence. Our focus is that the funds be used for [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Quick Hits - Feb 11", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/?p=457" });

• Diary 26 - Pearshaped Blogosphere

  Posted: February 11, 2008, 10:42 am by Ory Okolloh

  BY STEPHEN PARTINGTON Some friends say ‘Let us blog, we’ll call it Kenyablog.’ They blog and blog and blog. A member posts ‘This blog is tedious, I’m gonna form a blog, a blog called Lakeyblog where Lakey types can blog.’ The rump of Kenyablog rename themselves TheHighlandblog and blog about the soil, quite unaware that other Forestbloggers formed another blog in which the self-same soil is blogged about. Now [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Diary 26 - Pearshaped Blogosphere", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/?p=456" });

• Not off to Istanbul

  Posted: February 7, 2008, 8:49 pm by Ory Okolloh

  I had a uuum, visa mishap. Relied on online site for visa information and didn’t notice that only “official” passport holders from Kenya as opposed to “ordinary” passport holders didn’t require a visa. I’ve been to Turkey several times when no visa was required so there was also a bit of ujuaji on [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Not off to Istanbul", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/?p=454" });

• Concerned Citizens for Peace Update Feb 6

  Posted: February 6, 2008, 5:57 pm by Ory Okolloh

  [I’m off to Istanbul for a digital activism conference, will probably be offline till Friday. The post below has lots of opportunities where people can help, please contact those listed directly or send me an email - kenyanpundit-at-gmail if you want to help] BY SHALINI * A Kenya map, littered with [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Concerned Citizens for Peace Update Feb 6", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/?p=453" });

• Quick Hits Feb 5

  Posted: February 5, 2008, 9:59 am by Ory Okolloh

  - The ban on live media broadcasts has been lifted. I’m really finding hard to see what it achieved….wouldn’t it just have been easier to go after individual broadcasters who were inciting violence if that was the main concern? - Haiya, I thought this story was just another nai-rumor when it was doing [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Quick Hits Feb 5", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/?p=452" });

• Diary 25 - The obituary of Simiyu Barasa, written by himself

  Posted: January 31, 2008, 12:52 pm by Ory Okolloh

  DIARY BY SIMIYU BARASA When you find yourself talking with several guests of the morbid situation of your country during the wedding of one of your friends, you quickly realize there is something wrong with your country. When your National broadcasters show men being dragged out of public service vehicles and hacked to death by [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Diary 25 - The obituary of Simiyu Barasa, written by himself", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/?p=451" });

• Quick hits - Jan 30

  Posted: January 30, 2008, 12:10 am by Ory Okolloh

  - Some vivid on the ground reporting and pictures on the situation in Kenya. - The humor might not work for everyone but I like this guy’s perspective on what’s going on in Kenya. SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Quick hits - Jan 30", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/?p=450" });

• Support Vuma Kenya

  Posted: January 30, 2008, 2:24 pm by Ory Okolloh

  VUMA KENYA! Initiative is a new and exciting non-profit initiative that is the brain-child of a group of talented, resourceful and socially connected young professional Kenyans based in the US who have decided to pool their resources together in response to the recent post-election violence following the disputed December 27th Kenyan General Elections, to rally [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Support Vuma Kenya", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/?p=449" });

• Update from Concerned Citizens for Peace Meeting Jan 28th

  Posted: January 29, 2008, 2:32 pm by Ory Okolloh

  I’M POSTING THIS SUMMARY WRITTEN BY SHALINI - THINKS IT GIVES A GOOD SENSE OF INITIATIVES BEING UNDERTAKEN BY THOSE LOOKING FOR A THIRD WAY AS WELL AS DISTURBING REPORTS FROM THE GROUND E.G. OF PATIENTS BEING DISCRIMINATED AGAINST. General update * The night vigil went off successfully. About 250 people attended, [...]

• Technology and hate speech

  Posted: January 29, 2008, 2:22 pm by Ory Okolloh

  I’ve deleted a comment made by someone about the hate speech on Mashada, not because I disagree with the concerns raised but because I know the links included would have been bait for guys to respond with their own hateful comments. I have recently had a conversation with David about the kinds of inciteful and [...]

• :-(

  Posted: January 26, 2008, 10:44 pm by Ory Okolloh

  First, a couple of people responded to my rant on the coverage by Kenyan journalists by making a point that I should have acknowledged - beyond the government clamp down, the journalists are also inhibited by the positions taken by whoever owns the media houses, there are reports of journalists already being fired for taking [...]

• Diary 24 - The Kenya I want!

  Posted: January 24, 2008, 12:34 pm by Ory Okolloh

  DIARY WRITTEN BY A MUDACHI Part of the Kenya I want is a Kenya where politicians will not run rough shod over the law & the will of the people to serve their own ends. Part of the Kenya I want is a Kenya where my consititutional RIGHT to elect my representatives in the Government is not stolen away from [...]

• Diary 23 - What are we going to do about it?

  Posted: January 24, 2008, 12:30 pm by Ory Okolloh

  DIARY WRITTEN BY RAY N. I refuse to fight for so-called leaders who clearly care nothing about me, the common mwananchi. As we speak, they’ve already been sworn into parliament, which guarantees that they are on their way to becoming Kenyan millionaires (at our expense). In effect, we the voters, put them in [...]

• Update Jan 22

  Posted: January 22, 2008, 5:14 pm by Ory Okolloh

  One thing that has really been bothering me is lately is how the Kenyan media has just rolled over and played dead during this whole crisis. No contextual reporting, no investigative journalism, not even daring to reprint the chronicle of events that has been compiled by Kenyan election observers…or is my perspective very [...]

• Ushahidi - Local SMS number 6007

  Posted: January 22, 2008, 1:51 pm by Ory Okolloh

  Ushahidi now has a local number where you can SMS incidents of violence or report on peace efforts. The number is 6007 (normal SMS costs apply). Please help us publicize this number locally - it’s part of our effort to make sure that we are reaching as many people as possible on the [...]

• Anatomy of a rigging

  Posted: January 20, 2008, 12:30 am by Ory Okolloh

  BY Kenyans for Peace with Truth and Justice (KPTJ) Kenyan Elections Observers’ Log: December 29-30, 2007 The following account is drawn from the statements of four of the five domestic election observers1 allowed into the verification process the Electoral Commission of Kenya (ECK) afforded political party representatives the night before the announcement of the supposed results [...]

• Count Down to Deception: 30 Hours that Destroyed Kenya

  Posted: January 20, 2008, 12:26 am by Ory Okolloh

  BY KENYANS FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE Friday January 18, 2007 Nairobi, Kenya Kenya is today on the brink of disintegration. At least 500 people have been killed, 6,100 have fled into exile in Uganda and another 250,000 plus are living as internally displaced persons in their own country. This is not the end of this sad chapter [...]

• End of week goodness…

  Posted: January 18, 2008, 7:15 pm by Ory Okolloh

  IMG_1005 Originally uploaded by ateka. For the fellow mama’s - a mummy post. I didn’t coordinate the “b” block. For real. She’s eleven months next week. Cruising along furniture now and still very desperate to walk, but balance not there. We’re both bored of baby food so I think she starts eating more [...]

• Some commentary on the post-election situation

  Posted: January 18, 2008, 10:38 am by Ory Okolloh

  I’m sure you all know by now that Parliament has been prorogued. No word on when it will resume. At the rate Kibaki is going…probably not any time soon in order to kill ODM’s perceived momentum within Parliament. On to the links: - Get Africa right dammit (OK, those [...]

• Diary 21 - Observations (from the ground as it were)

  Posted: January 16, 2008, 12:16 am by Ory Okolloh

  DIARY BY MX 1. i have been in kenya since early september 2007. i am finding it a tad bit intellectually dishonest when people here express shock at the aftermath of saturday bloody saturday (december 29th, 2007). i find their expressions a bit rich in that the one thing i quickly realized when i [...]

• Diary 20 - The present, the future

  Posted: January 16, 2008, 12:10 am by Ory Okolloh

  BY DAUD The more things change, the more the stay the same. My take on the situation will be short.I found this interesting video on you tube. It was on Tom Mboya’s death. I am struck by the differences and the similarities to the situation today. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NghXDf2tZo Most striking, is the much bandied about and simplistic ‘Luo vs Kikuyu’ Kenyan [...]

• Parliament coverage

  Posted: January 15, 2008, 4:07 pm by Ory Okolloh

  Marsgroup Kenya should be showing live clips every 15 minutes. Site is a bit slow so be patient. Man, I wish I could be liveblogging this. Live broadcasting of Parliament should be a permanent thing. Trying to get MPs to vote that in is another matter altogether. A From a skype [...]

• Diary 19 - We are after all each other

  Posted: January 15, 2008, 1:58 pm by Ory Okolloh

  By MARIPOSA NEGRA I left Kenya when i was 24 years, 10 month and some days old. With me were two suitcases stuffed with books and unsuitable clothing for the upcoming winter and in the midst of the hot, tuesday afternoon, my heart was burdened by the choice I feel I had to take. I was tired [...]

• Diary 18 - My heart bleeds for my beloved country

  Posted: January 15, 2008, 1:54 pm by Ory Okolloh

  By BILLY OWINO This will be long so brace yourself! As I write this, I have tears welling in my eyes once more. I thought I was through with that until I reported back to the office today after a 3 weeks break. I live and work in Khartoum, Sudan and every single person I have [...]

• Diary 17 - I no longer think my government listens to me

  Posted: January 14, 2008, 1:34 pm by Ory Okolloh

  By Allan Kirui I have been reading your blog and other and I must admit, like many others, it is a much better source of information than the actual news pages! Thank you!! Personally, I was too young (or perhaps also too naïve) in the Moi era to know whether he rigged himself in, or won [...]

• Diary 16 - Government of National Unity

  Posted: January 14, 2008, 12:52 pm by Ory Okolloh

  Written by Ben Kiilu (aka BigBen) Kibaki, the man who many believe is illegally in office as the president of Kenya has offered to form a government of national unity. Not a surprising turn of events. Many will urgue; yes, there goes a true leader, trying to find a solution to save our motherland. While others [...]

• 3 posts I should have written but I didn’t….

  Posted: January 12, 2008, 8:27 pm by Ory Okolloh

  Number 1, Ushahidi is already getting good traffic since it’s launch and already gone through a number of updates. Hash, has put up a great post highlighting the changes. Keep spreading the word and encouraging people to submit stories. Number 2, a number of people responded to my rant about Kibaki’s appointment of [...]

• Diary 15 - I cannot say “Happy New Year”

  Posted: January 10, 2008, 12:16 pm by Ory Okolloh

  By Kui I have never found it so hard to wrap my mind around the phrase ‘Happy New Year’ before. The sun is shining outside my window. I am on my way back to the rest of my life overseas. I am glad to be alive. But somehow, in another locality, the locality where my [...]

• Diary 14 - What way forward?

  Posted: January 10, 2008, 12:13 pm by Ory Okolloh

  By Nits he call for immediate new elections as a way forward out of the current crisis is not a feasible solution. Elections in order to be credible to all sides must be free, fair, and transparent. This is not possible given the current state of Kenya. The last estimate of displaced people is now nearly [...]

• Diary 13 - Feeling unwanted in my own country

  Posted: January 10, 2008, 12:08 pm by Ory Okolloh

  By Kenneth Karanja Let me start on Dec. 24, 2007. My friends and I met to finalize on our investment plan for Kenya. We were planning to buy shares and build some hostels. Loans were to be taken, several hundred thousand. We were all ecstatic that the economic growth in Kenya would allow us to return [...]

• Ushahidi.com

  Posted: January 9, 2008, 6:38 pm by Ory Okolloh

  Last week, in between nightmares about where my country was going, I was dreaming of a Google Mashup to document incidents of violence, looting etc. that have occurred during the post-election crisis. Today, Ushahidi is born. The website was literally put together in 2 days and is a testament to the best of Kenya [...]

• Diary 12 - Reach out!

  Posted: January 9, 2008, 3:19 am by Ory Okolloh

  By Kamau Going through this whole nightmare has brought up some very raw emotions in me. Rage at the politicians, deep sorrow for the victims and burning anger at the thugs. However it is some of my friends who have evoked that sense of disbelief in me. I’m talking of people that we went to college with and who, I [...]

• Breaking news…

  Posted: January 8, 2008, 6:10 pm by Ory Okolloh

  Kibaki has just announced a new Cabinet on KBC. One minute address. No condolences. No calls for peace. Nothing. Kalonzo VP (what a snake). Other usual suspects back - Murungi, Karua (justice), Michuki, also Uhuru. Announcement was only for half the cabinet (he doesn’t have enough guys…this is funny in [...]

• Diary 10 - Africa needs to find what works for us

  Posted: January 8, 2008, 11:23 am by Ory Okolloh

  By Anon “I also want to say that I agree with the sentiments of Damte and only hope that we can learn from one another. The sad events that have taken place in Kenya over the last few days have just displayed to me that democracy in Africa may not necessarily be the answer for us which [...]

• Diary 9 - I hate it!

  Posted: January 8, 2008, 10:48 am by Ory Okolloh

  By Erick About making it personal, I’ll borrow a phrase from Half n Half: I hate it that I saw a pic of a man carrying a little girl to safety, and was shaken. “There but the Grace of God go I”. I hate it that the extremists are now holding the rest of us hostage, and now [...]

• Diary 8 - How does it feel to be witnessing this from the diaspora

  Posted: January 8, 2008, 10:39 am by Ory Okolloh

  By Tamtam “I feel shit scared, and niko na wasi wasi 24/7. I started a blog today, as my phone has been ringing off the hook with friends, colleagues, and relatives elsewhere checking on what is happening. It just felt easier to put things in one place. I feel so powerless knowing that things could escalate, and I [...]

• Update Jan 8

  Posted: January 8, 2008, 10:35 am by Ory Okolloh

  I’m glad today’s rally was called off. Hopefully the negotiations will bear fruit though I worry that a flawed electoral process and result might be legitimized in the process. I’ve received several reports from guys with relatives in Western/Nyanza saying that people who live in Nairobi and have been stuck there since the violence [...]

• Diary 7 - We fight those who seek to divide us

  Posted: January 7, 2008, 5:48 pm by Ory Okolloh

  By Anon. In the chaos since the new years’ announcement that there is violence in Kenya, I have barely slept here in the U.S, nor am I at peace regarding the safety of Kenya. I am young enough to remember the Njoroge, Onyango, Chebet and Ali names in the primary school reader books that proposed an [...]

• Diary 6 - We are better than this

  Posted: January 7, 2008, 4:58 pm by Ory Okolloh

  By Doug. I started reading your blog last week and to tell the truth, I thought you were a little one sided. Being Kikuyu I fell into that trap…Kibaki won. I feel different now. All I want is for things to go back as they were. I have never considered myself tribalistic but this has been [...]

• Diary 5 - We need a lasting solution

  Posted: January 7, 2008, 4:55 pm by Ory Okolloh

  By Abass. [As KP I have asked readers to submit their own perspectives on the unfolding events. This is their voice.] Mandera, in the far East of the country is where I was born. With many refugees from Somalia already living in our town, for a moment, I was pondering what if all of a sudden [...]

• Diary 4 - How I feel..

  Posted: January 7, 2008, 4:48 pm by Ory Okolloh

  By Nyamse. [As KP I have asked readers to submit their own perspectives on the unfolding events. This is their voice.] vuitu et al acted according to what is required by law when there are election disputes, all this mess would likely have been avoided. Had he gone ahead and announced a presidential outcome [...]

Blah blah blah

Fish cakes

Alas a fish cake.

Yet more fish cakes

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

The end of the fish cakes