Items by Taabu

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• The Toxic Ethnic Subject Kenyans Won't Touch

  Posted: December 19, 2011, 3:00 pm by Taabu

  Hassan Omar Hassan has touched a raw nerve with his claim that President Kibaki has ethnicized Kenya like never before with key appointments to Finance, Security, Energy and Transport dockets populated exclusively by his tribesmen. Not that what he said was new if anything the same material had gone viral in the cyber world many years before. But why all the fuss for this otherwise mundane claim from the former student leader?
  
  Omar is no stranger to controversy as Moi University authorities would attest when he took them head on as a student leader and they ended up expelling him. True, the constitution does not discriminate against any tribe occupying any position. Also the President may have appointed these people because they are qualified. Omar has chosen to bell the cat by taking this emotive subject out of the web into the mainstream media and now many cannot stand the heat.
  
  So is Omar just a roublerouser or simple standing facts on their feet? It may be either one or both or even neither of these two propositions depending on what language you dream in. But one thing is true, Kenyan kings hate to be reminded that they are nude. And in cue the tribal activists have found a handy (mis)use of Mzalendo Kibunja's commission by referring Omar to it as a perpetrator of hate speech.
  
  Which leaves the question whether acknowledging and broadcasting a problem is a crime. We have seen many nominees of various commissions created in the new constitution not picked simply on the basis their ethnicity. The so-called face of Kenya is a gimmick pulled and played when convenient to mask the real tribal undertones.
  
  If its is true all the above four ministries can have their boardroom meeting conducted in their mother tongue, which it is, are Kenyans like Omar right to bring the same for public notice and debate? Again the answer will mostly depend on your ethnic origins.
  
  But one thing is clear about this toxic tribal debate. The hollipolloi fans it when they suffer most as their tribal lords ride on their back when caught with the principal intention of only serving their selfish interests. Moi did it and Kibaki has not made any pretense to change it but the ordinary Kalenjin and Kikuyu will militantly defend them to the hilt.
  
  Well, two wrongs never made a right and the joke is squarely perched on the ordinary Kenyan who is used as a poodle to advance this poisonous state of affairs at our collective expense.
  
  Omar Hassan's brave exposition is just the tip of the iceberg and as 2012 polls draw near the heat is destined to intensify only in one direction, up. How many can stand the temperatures in the kitchen? Brace yourself, tic toc.Kumekucha

  
  

• Corruption: Now MPs Invent a Measure of Passion

  Posted: December 16, 2011, 4:30 pm by Taabu

  So what is the standard unit of measuring passion? If only being voluble PLO-style is symptomatic of superlative passion then corruption would have been eradicated even before he assumed office. But alas, there is more to passion than just mere words and good (albeit empty) intent.
  
  Just when you thought our MPs have had their full they have now invented a measure of passion as a yardstick to fight corruption. Seeing them falling over themselves and waxing patriotic in demanding the very virtue they lack in plenty is a sight to behold.
  
  Trust the smart Alec's to always clothe their sectarian interests in very glossy garbs. In demanding that Ceaser's wife be beyond reproach, the new proposed anti corruption chief has been hit with allegations of impropriety while at KRA. If proven true, the KES 2.4b that he never collected as tax from Kingsway Motors (read Kamlesh Pattni) will come to haunt him big time.
  
  And if you thought the bull fighter is alone in demanding transparency, lady MPs are seeing the whole charade as a scheme against women given that two of the three nominees are their ilk. We haven't heard the last of these lot yet.
  
  As we near 2012, political battles will take all forms and shapes. No effort will be spared even if it means exporting out village politics to the global arena just like the Kenyan Diaspora discovered this week the hard way in the US with regards to ICC and Ocampo.
  
  Back to the anti corruption saga in parliament. It is all heat with no intention of generating any trace of light. The whole thing is flawed all the way from top to bottom. Otherwise how else do you explain the fact that the new constitutional offices are all being filled using every criterion except merit.
  
  Well, the engine is revving and we are just glancing the steep slope to 2012. Brace yourself ladies and gentlemen.Kumekucha

  
  

• Bashir: Kenya Unwittingly Spoiling for Costly War

  Posted: December 6, 2011, 4:30 pm by Taabu

  By KK Blogger
  
  At the risk of being painted an apologist to murderers and genociduers, I beg to ask some fundamental questions with regards to the present political and diplomatic heat threatening to consume Kenya-Sudan relations. Excuse my belting out a confession as if I were a faithful adherent of Sunday observance, namely, for this I believe;
  
  First international justice should not be limited to selective current and former presidents, but all presidents and prime ministers who have committed, sponsored, supported, abetted, and engaged in crimes against humanity, and are known to have been signatories to crimes against humanity in their own countries and abrioad.
  
  Again excuse my belated Sunday evening service that's panctuated with dry prologues, monoloques and epilogues asking;
  
  What Are The "Hidden Variables" of Kenya Trying To Arrest The Sitting President of Sudan?
  
  As well as highlighting the ICC's tenacious designs of wanting to prosecute the powerful King of the lost Kingdoms of Nubia. There have always been real dissatisfactions with the kind of interpretation of all things to do with the current lopsided ICC's prosecutorial justifications with regard to the pressing issue of crimes against humanity and war crimes.
  
  So, the real question is why al Bashir and not George Bush or Putin?
  
  Or even the leaders of Bahrain, Colombia, Syria, Yemen, Zimbabwe, DRC, Uganda, et al, and former presidents like Daniel arap Moi?
  
  Why not? Crimes against humanity are still crimes against humanity regardless of who committed them, where they were committed, and when they were committed.
  
  It's not an issue of cowardice or our favourite theater of the absurd, that of engaging in false brado when we are faced with to critical issues, such as whether to try and pick fights with people like al Bashir and so forth.
  
  As meantioned earlier on, al Bashir, the sitting President of the Republic of Sudan is not our problem, he has never been and never will unless we try to start barking at his shadow with the encouragement of certain European and North American entities.
  
  All that's been started from the get go is a cautionary wake up to those concerned and especially the so called very ambitious high court judge who is still dreaming of landing a job at the ICC.
  
  Kenya has two options, one is to let the ICC deal with al Bashir, in the same way it's going to deal with the leaders of the PEV in due time, all things considered.
  
  The other deadly option, would be to mess with al Bashir and his supporters, the people of Sudan, at Kenya's own peril.
  
  Case in point, protracted instability along the north-eastern corridors of the Kenya's porous borders.
  
  al Bashir is who he is, we known what he has done in South Sudan and continues to do in Western Sudan, unfortunately al Bashir is not our pilipili as far Kenya's internal security is concerned.Kumekucha

  
  

• Bashir's Ransom Wins, Court's Warrant Rubbished

  Posted: December 1, 2011, 11:00 am by Taabu

  Update: Now that Fatou Bensouda of Gambia is destined to succeed the voluble Louis Moreno-Ocampo, Kenya has been left with her face plastered with eggs after the 'brotherly' support of Tanzania's CJ Mohamed Chande Othman flopped. The shuttle diplomacy can only save Bashir and no more (read Ocampo6).
  
  ------------------------------------
  High court Judge's decision to issue a warrant of arrest to Sudan's sitting President Omar Al-Bashir is the ultimate test on judicial independence from executive meddling. The Government never saw it coming or if they did they must have dismissed it with a wave of the hand confident in the old ways of doing things. No wonder they wasted no time to trivialize the not only as insensitive but irresponsible and unpatriotic too.
  
  With predictable impunity and bravado, Foreign Affairs Minister Moses Wetangula, a lawyer himself, has indicated Bashir is headed to our shores courtesy of Kenya Government's invitation. Hiding under so-called IGAD head of states meeting will not fool anybody from the masked brinkmanship. In plain language the executive is reminding the courts who is the boss, period.
  
  Where others see judicial activism, Wetanguala reads destructive insensitivity to national and regional matters of peace. Omar Bashir wouldn't have been happier holding the whole region at ransom with regards to peace in Southern Sudan. And he has neighbouring allies who are more than ready to irk ICC for obvious reasons.
  
  The script is so predictable seeing foreign hands lurking in every shadow. While Bashir sponsored the Janjaweed to butcher (ethnic/black) Africans, our ears will be assaulted with drums of war castigating the West for imperialism. In the process the butcher of Khartoum will have his bloody hands cleansed with sectarian and racial detergent in the name of IGAD and/or AU.
  
  By inviting Bashir to Kenya again the Government is rubbing salt to the wound it inflected on our national body in August 2010 during the new constitution's promulgation. If we ever thought that act of obtuse impunity was unfortunate and regrettable, well the Government is reminding all and sundry KENYA IKO NA WENYEWE.
  You see with no spine to remind Sudan that the ruling was an act from our independent courts, Wetangula is circumventing the core issue to serve political expediency by throwing the balderdash that expulsion of ambassadors is a normal thing.
  
  Poor Prof Githu Muigai must be precariously dangling between the rock and the dark blue sea. Like Wentangula he knows the LAW is LAW but again he knows which side of his bread is buttered and by whom. Damned if he acts professionally and damned if he does an Amos Wako.Kumekucha

  
  

• Kenya Engages Reverse Gear on New Laws

  Posted: November 25, 2011, 2:30 pm by Taabu

  Kenyan leaders must be world beaters in speaking through both sides of the mouth. While on one hand we want to be seen as modern by adopting electronic voting in the 2112 election, we cannot hasten the process by 100 days. While Mutula is promising eradication of dead voters from the election register, he is can only guarantee mayhem if the polls are held next August and not his preferred December. According to the good lawyer those four months defines the difference between chaos and order.
  
  And by sanctioning the official mutilation of the new constitution even before its full implementation, the Speaker to Parliament Kenneth Marende has laid the foundation to golden pavement of Kenya's ruin. He completed the national betrayal by using the flawed logic of innumerable amendments to the disgraced old constitution.
  
  True we get the leaders we deserve and Kenyans must be feeling left home and dry. The present leadership has collectively conspired to butcher the very tenets of the constitution which was painstakingly promulgated after so much bloodshed that lasted over two decades. They better know now who will never serve their national interests.
  
  The drafters of the new constitution must have seen the present monsters coming by leaving no room for ambiguity about the election date. But alas, now our good Justice Minister Mutula Kilonzo will not stop waxing legal about the Armageddon that will be averted by four months.
  
  We are our own worst enemies by electing the very dogs who will never stop salivating at the Kenyan carcase. These wolves provide ready and rich cannon fodder for conspiracy theorists who gleefully expose their post molars laughing at every predicament armed with hammers to which every local, national or international development is a nail.
  
  We can author all the grand theories available in our heads but implementing them demands focused leadership. But with our present set of so-called leaders shepherding us to hell, Lucifer may consider himself dethroned from his own territory. What is more, the simplistic corruption of CON-stitution may have been very apt after all.
  
  While the hitherto loud-mouthed NGOs lost their collective voices when they got embedded in the Narc government, the new constitution has provided yet another fertile ground for not only political horse trading with posts but obscene salaries for both the well-connected and the home boys. Meanwhile the rest of Kenya are all on their won. OLE WETU.Kumekucha

  
  

• Cremation: Wangari Defies Tradition in Death

  Posted: October 4, 2011, 2:00 pm by Taabu

  She continues to defy both tradition and stereotypes even in death. Her love for trees continues in her will to be cremated instead to cutting trees to make a coffin for her. Wangari Maathai's trail blazing is a spectacle in all spheres of a rich life lived humbly.
  
  They say a dead professor is like a library burnt down. Well, a cremated professor must double the loss. Wangari's smart will to be cremated has denied scheming politicians to hijack her burial. The family has made it plain that the cremation at Kariokor will be a private a fair sparing us crocodile tears and plastic eulogies.
  
  It is both a paradox and coincidence that Wangari is being buried at the height of announcing this year's Nobel prizes. And she is not alone now that we have seen a posthumous nomination for the Medicine prize. Prof Ralph Steinman missed his moment of glory by three days after dying from pancreatic cancer last Friday. But the good news he left the human race the richer with his scientific discovery on the immune system.
  
  Back to our elite Wangari who refused elitism. She fought the fight, dirtied her hands and never whined about feminism waiting for portfolios on a silver platter. She went and grabbed what the women folk deserved. Our only tribute must be living her legacy.Kumekucha

  
  

• Fare Thee Well Nobel Laurette Prof Maathai

  Posted: September 26, 2011, 2:00 pm by Taabu

  She came. She battled. She won. She was a first is almost everything she put her head and heart into. The first woman in East and Central Africa to earn a doctorate degree. The first African woman to win the coveted Nobel peace prize in 2004 for her conservation efforts. And now a bright light has been dimmed. The cruel hands of death have snatched Prof Wangari Maathai from our midst. Shame!!
  
  Forget the present-day activists shouting about the NOT-MORE-THAN-TWO-THIRDS provision in the new constitution, Wanagari Maathi was there more than three decades ago and grabbed the whole 100% then. She lived ahead on her time and was a trailblazer leading by example and from infront.
  
  The death of this distinguished lady marks the end of an era epitomized by Wangari's love for nature/trees and environment but above all else her relentless fight for social justice and freedom. Death, how cruel is thee? But we will shame you by choosing to celebrate the productive life of Prof Wangari Muta Maathai, an icon who lived well ahead of her time.
  
  Death has been variously described as the universal equalizer. Maybe but you cannot fail to feel a sense unfairness when it strikes and eliminates those who stand tall for the downtrodden and depressed. Wangari stood up against Moi's oppressive regime and won when the kleptocrat schemed to desecrate Uhuru Park with another concrete monster in the name of Kenya Times Towers.
  
  She defied all African stereotypes by being a first in many spheres including divorce from her husband when it was unfathomable. She may have not stripped naked herself but productive symbolism of leading mothers of political prisoners remains unmatched. One Koigi Wamwere must be feeling a great loss in the passing on former Tetu MP.
  
  She may be gone having succumbed to cancer but Kenya and Kenyans owe her plenty. Our best and fitting tribute to this heroine and lioness would be to remain steadfast against tyranny and aspire to fight for the wider good for our motherland.
  
  FARE THEE WELL Prof Wangari Muta Maathai.Kumekucha

  
  

• Kibaki, Raila Serves Toxic Tribal Horse Trading

  Posted: August 24, 2011, 11:00 am by Taabu

  Call it what you wish but nominating Githu Muigai for AG the same day Agnes Odhiambo and Edward Ouko were nominated as Controller of Budget and Auditor General respectively smack off blatant and shameless political horse trading. There would be no better way to polarize Kenya than see the BIG CATS share the spoils at the expense of the rest.
  
  Make no mistake, the nominees have superlative qualifications but the you cannot prevent that rotten air of something up the sleeves of the appointing authority.
  
  And true to Kenya's reputation, we were handed a morsel in Willy Mutunga and before we could even say STUD there we have the kings of impunity suffocating Kenyans with their ethnic choices to key offices.
  
  The position of AG is such an integral office for all forms and shapes of governance so much so that all the previous heinous frauds like Goldenberg and Anglo Leasing can as well mutate and acquire new lives of their own secure in the knowledge that the perpetrators remain untouchable.
  
  Wako may have smiled his tenure for nearly two decades but the self betrayal of hitherto brilliant resume is a warning sign of what disaster such people foment in service of the powers they serve. One would have expected Prof Githu Muigai to act when his name was dragged in mud in a previous nomination. But alas, some are more equal and more imporatnt than the rest. He remain the singular beneficiary after the rest in the list were sacrificed.
  
  Interviews for the Chief justice raised the bar so high it appears the only way to go was down. This is evident from the shameless handpicking by the two principals which smells of deadly tribal fumes. Those hiding under paper qualification above the true and practical Kenyan politics are living very beautiful lies.
  
  Githu Migai may have been among Mutanga's first cohort of law students but the later must not be naive to know who calls the tune and pays the piper. The bottom line is CALCULATIVE JUDICIAL GATE KEEPING. All is smokescreen. Amos' smile may be gone but we as well learn to live with Wako repackaged, MTA DO?. Kumekucha

  
  

• Gadaffi Out, Son Captured, What/Who's Next?

  Posted: August 22, 2011, 9:00 pm by Taabu

  Update
  Well it is the day after the night before and Saif al Islam is strolling the streets to shame ICC announcing contemptuously that he and daddy Gadaffi are safe and sound. So did the National Transition Council fool the whole world or was the world was is such a hurry to see the comrade brother gone? whatever the case the noose is tightening around Col. Gadaffi's neck.
  
  Meanwhile shame on FA Assistant Minister Richard Onyonka's empty rant on BBC mourning the loss of Gadaffi having being at the forefront of fighting Apartheid and financing AU. Speak of being weaned on toxic handouts?
  
  The king of kings is dethroned. The dear brother leader is so lonely with no sibling left standing and the revolution aborted. The future of Libya is bleak indeed. The tribal warfare is knocking at Tripoli's doorstep. With the world's longest serving leader gone another history is made and broken in the same breathe.
  
  What is more, the ICC (yes that monster linking Kenya's State House to PEV) is rubbing her hands in glee waiting to receive high profile tenants. The ICC has confirmed that Gadaffi's son and heir apparent Islam has been captured. It looks like The Hague Express never runs out of steam. And that opens the floodgates for plastic African patriots to have their mouths foaming throwing brickbats at ICC as constructed exclusively Africans (may be Ratko and co are mere tokens).
  
  One can only imagine the defiant leader of green revolution throwing his fist in the air disparaging ICC judges reminding them he is above their authority. Add that to the flowing robe and with no time for endless speeches, his goose if surely hunted, roasted, digested and flashed.
  
  And before we shout IMPERIALIST, we must be ashamed of the Indian-educated Dr Mbingu wa Muthariaka next door who has not failed the African leader's test of gleefully falling on his own sword. Just when many were lauding Malawi for turning the corner from being a begging bowl in hand to food basket, Mutharika has not only dissolved the whole cabinet reverting all powers to himself but he is heavily clamping down on dissent the African style.
  
  Back to Libya. Gadaffi's fall spells more trouble than hinting at solutions. The National Transition Council leaders are nothing but smart opportunists who rapped Libya under Gadaffi but only defected at the right time to depose the leader and feather their nests. In short Africa remain their own worst enemies. Kumekucha

  
  

• Breaking News: News of the World Dies of Shame

  Posted: August 7, 2011, 6:00 pm by Taabu

  Call it Solomonic wisdom or whatever you fancy but that is exactly what James Murdoch did to shut a more than Century old newspaper in Britain in attempt to weather a storm caused by its reporters desperate for scoops at the expense of the victims.
  
  To put the whole picture in perspective just imagine the Sunday Nation folding up because of a public backlash. Well that is the fate that befell UK's largest selling newspaper News of the World (NoW). And trust the Murdoch Empire to spring an unprecedented surprise to give itself room for reinvention.
  
  Here is a recap for the uninitiated. Britain's best selling tabloid known for scoops on celebrities and politicians falls on its own sword by hacking phones of DEAD victims going as far as deleting messages to create room for more. Well, there comes a time when those with DISPOSABLE income for cheap talk cannot take such toxic gossip.
  
  Give it to Rupert Murdoch's son James for sacrificing a whole institutions of 168 (yes one hundred and sixty eighty) years to please a populace suffocating from cheap gossip. But give credit where it is due, at least NoW showed some element of sensitivity albeit plastic. It is no brainer to see the Sun going the extra day to fill the smartly created void.
  
  I couldn't fathom it when my students (remember the PENSIONER?) solicited my opinion on the merit of sacrificing a whole newspaper (NoW) to save its CEO Rebbekah Brooks. And there comes the common thread sewing politics across continents - POLITICS. Ms Brooks was the editor when all this hacking broke out early last decade and even testified on the same under oath. What is more, current UK PM's first director of communication - one Any Coulson - is the one who succeeded Ms Brooks besides the face that David Cameron himself was a social guest of Brooks sometimes back.
  
  The moral of the present bombshell at NoW is that politics is the same evil across continents. Expediency is common denominator as evident in Rupert Murdoch's transparent gimmick to pull wool on the British's collective face while he schemes to buy BskyB later in the year.
  
  In a nutshell when economics clashes with morals, there is only one winner an unfortunately it is not the later. Same game of deceit and fraud except played abroad. Let conspiracy theorists go overdrive to mint their stuff with regards to the present UK media Tsunami.Kumekucha

  
  

• Another Maestro Dead: Fare Thee Well Kifoto

  Posted: August 2, 2011, 12:00 pm by Taabu

  The curtain has fallen on a name that is not only closely associated with this blog but and also inspired its nomenclature. Today (Amka) Kumekucha has lost a syllable in Habel Kifoto's death.
  
  Kenya's present generation may not know what they missed until they listen to the EVERGREEN Maroon Commandos led by the burly guitarist Habel Kifoto. Well, that no nonsense band leader has just past on in some nondescript hotel room in Madaraka estate where he was staying in readiness for a Music Society of Kenya (MSK) board meeting.
  
  Those old enough can only imagine the grief of one indefatigable DJ Jeff Mwangemi whose infectious laughter when introducing local talent over the radio made madmen offer handshake to strangers. Only people like Jeff with their natural charm would break the monotony and boredom of the monolithic KBC then.
  
  The late Habel Kifoto of Charonyi ni Wasi fame was born in Taita District of Coast Province. He started his music career back in 60s and started playing bass guitar in 1967 until when he started his skill in Solo lead guitar.
  
  That Maroon Commandos was synonymous with Habel Kifoto is irrefutable. The soldier in him never dimmed not diminished his vocal prowess. Instead he lead from the from the front strumming the strings and by example in leading his fellow soldiers to musical glory.
  
  Nostalgia galore for those fortunate/old enough to have graced the then agricultural shows where Habel Kifoto and his Maroon (Green) Commandos had villagers and urbanites alike shake their legs to nationalistic songs whose inspirational was way ahead of our past and present tribal leaders. What is more, apart from Aziz Abdi (Kilambo), few musicians appealed beyond tribal enclaves. if in doubt just ask PENSIONERS.
  
  Kenya has lost her equivalent of both Baraka Mwinshehe and Remi Ongala. It is a sad day for Kenyan music, (wana) Maroon Commados and 7KR.
  
  Fare thee well Habel Kifoto.
  
  
  Tribute to Habel Kifoto from Chris Kumekucha
  
  Tears are blurring my eyes and I have a heavy heart as I write this brief tribute to a truly unsung hero of the republic.
  
  I was sincerely looking forward to his classic (which has always been the anthem of this blog) Amka Kumekucha being played over and over again one day in 2012 when we have a new government and government structure in place. In my heart I knew that that would be the moment when Kenyans would wake up and really notice this talented Kenyan who has given so much and yet received so little in return.
  
  Alas it was not to be. We will still play his song but it will not be the same.
  
  I agree with my comrade in arms Taabu that Kumekucha the blog has truly lost a syllable.
  
  "His life was gentle; and the elements
  So mixed in him, that Nature might stand up
  And say to all the world, THIS WAS A MAN!"
  
  — William Shakespeare (Julius Caesar)
  
  RIP afande!!!
  
  
  Today's post by Kumekucha Chris: What is this new thing happening in Kenya?Kumekucha

  
  

• Expansionist Museveni Walks to Fourth Term

  Posted: May 12, 2011, 8:59 am by Taabu

  While loudmouthed Dr. Kizza Besigye is shamelessly urging Ugandans to walk to work, the hard working revolutionist Yoweri Kaguta Miseveni hasjust been installed as the President for a fourth term in office. Kizza may have been Museveni's personal physician but he is no match to the real Sebo. No wonder his eyes were sprayed with deadly pepper and had to run to Nairobi for treatment.
  
  Uganda needs Museveni more than Kaguta needs her. After JUST 26 years Ugandans seem to have forgotten that they owe everything to Yoweri. He deserves to stay in power until the natural equalizer beckons. If anything Leader Colonel Gaddafi himself told Museveni that revolutionists don't QUIT they soldier on and lord it over their subjects until the limbs fail.
  
  The world can make all the noise they want but Museveni and Uganda are the same thing. All he needed at his inauguration ceremony are his TRUSTED neighbours and colleagues. With Mugabe, Moi and Kibaki around, Sebo is in good company.
  
  Charity begins at home and already Museveni has shown the way and leading by example in uniting Africa. After expanding Uganda into Lake Victoria by adding Migingo, he has lately acquired Ugingo and we Kibaki must thank him on our behalf for his unmatched statesmanship and enterprising expansionist qualities.
  
  As our own KK resident virtual economists will tell you for free all the West's eyes are singularly trained on Uganda's new-found oil. You need a strongman and battle hardened leader like Museveni to milk that wealth. Others must learn to wait for knock-down effects.
  
  Congratulations are due to Kaguta. Twenty six years and counting. With First lady as minister, son leading the presidential guard and daughter as private secretary you are in safe hands.Kumekucha

  
  

• Obama Bumps Coward Osama, Kabuga Next

  Posted: May 3, 2011, 10:50 pm by Taabu

  They got him and he is dead. At long last Osama met his match and the hitherto tough-talking mass murderer was shot hiding behind his screaming wife whom he shamelessly turned into a human shield. What a royal coward?
  
  The lesson is clear. Behind the tough talk from fugitives resides the soft underbelly that epitomizes superlative cowardice. Professor Laurent Gbagbo hid behind his wife Simone before capture and now Osama tried to use his wife as a human shield. He may have lived large and sounded tough but that bravado melted when the time of reckoning came.
  
  Conspiracy theorists will be working overdrive flogging the tired lines of imperialism and Osama being the handiwork of US itself. But the bottom line for those Kenyans who have bored the raw brunt of his his murderous rage is he met his match. Live by the sword, die by the very blade.
  
  That Osama successfully played hide-and-seek for close to two decades evading capture does not subtract the fact that he was the ultimate evil. And back home one genociduer Felician Kabuga will be left scratching his head before he is smoked. He can run but cannot hide forever. No amount of fraud will buy his eternal freedom from corrupt Kenyans.
  
  Osama is down and out and that leaves the world without one devil incarnate. At the risk of sounding sadistic, kudos to the executioners.Kumekucha

  
  

• Bye Michael: the Roving, Randy Ambassador

  Posted: May 1, 2011, 10:40 am by Taabu

  
  The heart has no protocol. Michael came, ranted, raved but above all else he got smitten. As he packs his bags to join the State Department, Rennenberger will be having among his luggage a trophy like no other. As for Ruth Konchella, it cannot get any better after landing the ultimate jackpot every girl dreams of as evident in her confident kiss squarely planted on Michael's lips.
  
  And so there goes the story of IRRESISTIBLE Kenyan women. Even the macho Arturs had their hearts melt at the sight of our local queens. Given Obama's Kenyan roots, he couldn't be prouder with Renneberger bringing a piece of Kenya home in the form of a most expensive diplomatic, sorry emotional, prize.
  
  The jury is out and who knows whether the two love birds will be the proud parents of a future Obama? Congratulations to both.Kumekucha

  
  

• No Wasted Tears for Poor Sad Kenyans

  Posted: April 23, 2011, 3:00 pm by Taabu

  By KK Blogger
  
  What a speedy ruinous transition from the most hopeful in the world to the saddest in under a decade? The true state of sad Kenya can only be traced to the own making of Kenyans themselves. They made the bed and must brace themselves to lie on it.
  
  That Kenya is at crossroads is susch a remarkable paradox where human, material and achievements are celebrated irrespective of how have been acquired. The media are culpable in this context thriving on fanning emotions of the Kenyan people rather than promoting ethnic harmony. Secondly, leadership lacks direction whipping ethnic allegiance at the expense nationhood.
  
  As revealed in a recent research, Kenyans are amongst the saddest which tells a million since majority are prone to depression worried about where the next meal would be coming from whilst those inciting us against each other worries the least about this. Majority of us lack the relaxed social contact and emotional satisfaction we need, we thrive on exploiting others to an extent where illegal drug lords are celebrated deemed as leaders.
  
  How is it that we have created mental and emotional suffering manifested through corruption, land grabbing and exploitation the poor while at the same time keeping t the poor masses together as they follow ‘leaders’ blindly? The ilk of Ruto, Uhuru and Sonkos are the ones I have in mind. Whilst we struggle for psychological survival, we celebrate this people against the backdrop of stress and emotional exhaustion we are going through. But the truth is that they are lavishing themselves in extravagance at our expense while our children, siblings, families are dying of hunger, diseases not able to afford basic health care, least of all able to put food on the table.
  
  These people are deeply ambivalent about our welfare or the state of affairs, rather are concerned about wealth, material gain and at the pinnacle this is how to protect what they have ‘acquired’ at all cost thus the hullabaloo about ‘time for youth leadership’. Incisive questions in this regard are whether this ‘bus’ offers any solutions to unemployment, drugs, crime , diseases and lack resources to jump start businesses or offering any vision for the future of Kenya with clear strategies. Hell no, the culture of impunity is what this promotes, with ‘me/my’ at centre of it all. The end result to all these is that we are bringing up children who will be celebrating drug lords, those with no respect to humanity , grabbers and in the long run perpetuating moral profligacy.
  
  It is a pity that mainstream politics no longer taps on these issues and has abandoned the attempt to provide a shared vision capable of inspiring us to create a better society. As mainstream voters we have lost collective belief that that the society has bestowed upon us to shun such personalities for the sake of harmony in our midst. With this in mind it is possible to piece together intention of these ’Johny come lately’ politicians who personify dysfunction behaviour. If we spared a second in order to have a proper understanding of where these actions will take Kenya or transform politics and quality of life for all of us. This would change our experience of the world around us and change whom we support or vote in.
  
  Instead of blaming the society, religion, values education, governance the responsibility is ours, resonating around our behaviour, culture and values. The buck therefore stops by the doorstep of the media, instead of promoting harmony in the society; they are constantly thriving in fanning animosity between different personalities an extension of divide between their communities. Positive stories/news that would help Kenyans celebrate their diversity positively are relegated to ‘less worthy stories’ as opposed tribal warlords galvanising their tribes to fight their personal wars.
  
  This decay will result in a generation lacking vision, direction or future that which celebrates thugs, Mungikis, drug lords and proponents of widening the gap between the poor and rich or just society and broken society.
  
  But again aren't we an enterprising lot and the envy of many neighbours? Surely the road to self destruction must be immaculately paved with golden pebbles. Ours is akin to marvelling at the beauty of every floor on our way down oblivious of the hard pavement waiting to split our collective skulls.Kumekucha

  
  

• Africa's Curse of Eternal Slavery Inside the Box

  Posted: April 20, 2011, 11:00 pm by Taabu

  By EMK
  
  Blogger Mwarang'ethe has been raising here some thought-provoking questions relating the present and past POLITICONOMICS packaged in very apt historical contexts. Well, the response has been varied as the bloggers supporting and rebuking them.
  
  No matter you take, one thing is clear and we have to give it to Bw Mwarang'ethe that he his posts raises level of discourse. Specifically, his posts demonstrate the essential validity of a systemic analysis, rooted in history, of the current African condition.
  
  For example, Mwarang'ethe was spot on about Botswana and her relatively developed economy compared to the rest of Africa. Botswana went their own way and repudiated the neo-liberal/neo-colonial Washington Consensus and that is why they have done relatively well.
  
  However, let us not forget that Botswana remains a poor country. They have done well relative to other African countries, but they have not done well relative to their resource and economic potential.
  
  The truth be said those who keep talking about leaders as the problem, miss the point that you made. That our leaders will keep acting the way they do because of the historical and systemic straitjacket that we are in as neo-colonies of the west.
  
  Granted, leadership is a problem. But it is not the fundamental problem facing Africans.
  
  One should just ask themselves this question. How come Africa consistently produces bad leaders? Given about 50 African countries with and average of 3 post colonial presidents and probably a further dozen key leaders at lower levels each, gives a total of about 700 key African post colonial leaders.
  
  Out of that large number how many can we say were or are good leaders? You can probably count them on just your fingers.
  
  This should prove to anybody that what we have in Africa is a systemic problem. We have a systems of governance, politics, economics etc that consistently produce bad leaders.
  
  To change the leaders, we must change the systems. We can't just hope that the next leader out of the same system is going to buck the trend of the previous fifty bad ones.
  
  To change the system we must look to its fundamental underpinnings. It is an imperialist system and imperial systems consist of the subjugated and the subjugator. This is their essential nature. Just as for slavery to exist, there must be a slave and a master.
  
  Our problem as Africans is that we are too weak both individually collectively to confront imperialism head on. Until we unite with a singular purpose, we stand no chance of breaking free of the present ruinous system. Any takers out there?Kumekucha

  
  

• Dinosaurs: Mubarak, Gbagbo, Who is Next?

  Posted: April 17, 2011, 10:00 pm by Taabu

  By KK Blogger
  
  Contempt and impunity are their first and middle names. They treat their countries like person fiefdoms and the resources therein as their birthright to plunder. Their citizens are nothing but a herd to be whipped into submission towards advancing selfish gain. Meet the fast-dying African despots.
  
  Our fools we have for African presidents have never bothered to learn from a single chapter of the history of vanquished African political leaders.
  
  Case in point,Pharaoh Mubarak scoffed at his counterpart in Tunisia by claiming that the Egyptian domestic situation was very different from the one that was falling apart in Tunisia.
  
  So being the real Pharaoh of Egypt with a huge military under his command, Mubarak turned down so many alternative offers for a quiet life in exile with a guaranteed immunity against prosecution and confiscation of his family assets.
  
  The Pharaoh was so sure of himself to point where he chose to spend the rest of life in the resort city of Sham el-Sheikh as a statement of defiance against all the Egyptian people who wanted him out of power and gone for good from Egyptian soil and waters.
  
  What a difference several weeks can make in the life of a one time mighty ruler of Egypt, it now turns out that Pharaoh Mubarak's family is in hot waters because of the pharaonic arrogance, hot temper, a lack of diplomatic skills, and an obstinacy that bordered on mulishness of their patriarch.
  
  The Pharaoh is now languishing in prison, alongside his two sons, Gamal Mubarak, and Alaa Mubarak awaiting trial for misuse of power, corruption and a slew of other charges.
  
  All the family's assets have been frozen, the Egyptian Court has dissolved the Mubarak Party, and all of his cronies and allies have been purged from the military, national police and civil service.
  
  Pharaoh Mubarak and his sons now wish that they had accepted the offers to flee to quite and dignified exile in Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, Monaco or Australia.
  
  The other arrogant former president is defeated Laurent Gbagbo, his wife, family and cronies who will be brought to justice.
  
  While there is still hope that countless other Pavlovian fools like Robert Mugabe and others will face same fate that befell the Pharaoh of Egypt, his sons and cronies when the timing is right.
  
  Ever wonder what causes mighty military organizations on the African continent to fall apart in the eye of the storm, when engaged with rebel forces?
  
  Woe unto you the exported villager still enslaved in ethnic politics. The next candidate may as well be your tribal warlord. Good riddance to bigoted intellect.Kumekucha

  
  

• Fiendish Delight: ODM's Poor Face Saving Bid

  Posted: March 28, 2011, 6:00 pm by Taabu

  Don't be vague, let's go to The Hague. Well, not quite as ODM's poor attempt to bake its cake and eat it culminates into another impending political tower of Babel. Torn between projecting a spruced face seeking justice for post-election victims and token appeasement of its residual hitherto members from Rift Valley, the ODM edifice is staring its political and credibility Waterloo in the face.
  
  What is more, William Ruto has compounded ODM's problems by smartly rejecting the poisoned chalice that was doled out to him as legal support for his forthcoming Hague date. Granted, most Kenyan will predictably rush for the cheap ethnic explanation but the truth is far bigger than that. Speak of reverse FIENDISH DELIGHT which amounts to cheap justification of security in numbers albeit disguise. Our political parties stand for nothing apart from being used as vehicles to acquire raw political power, PERIOD.
  
  The hitherto political juggernaut ODM is calmly lying on her deathbed crowded by opposing camps in every decision making. It is simple: YOU CANNOT HAVE YOUR CAKE AND EAT IT. While collective responsibility would demand the Orange party to go by its NEC and parliamentary decision to sponsor lawyers for Ocampo3 to placate Rift Valley voters, it is a difficult balancing act to renege on consistency to project objectivity in search of justice for the PEV.
  
  Make no mistake, the support and opposition for the gang that is Ocampo6 is nothing but our time-tested ETHNIC POLITICS perfected. Despite the high-sounding declarations laced in chest thumbing, no camp is interested in justice or reconciliation. Your guess is as good as mine what the fate of the Ocampo6 be if ICC another of our easily-manipulated courts. All his warts notwithstanding, Luis-Moreno Ocampo has scared the IMPUNITY hell out of tribal lord and things will never be the same again.
  
  Meanwhile, lawyers or no lawyers, ODM is a victim of its own schemes and the tower of Babel will soon leave members cowering for political safe grounds. 2012 here we come.Kumekucha

  
  

• Don't be Vague, Create More Huge Confusion

  Posted: March 25, 2011, 6:00 pm by Taabu

  The political gestation period is already here ready for 2012 elections. Soon it will be mutation galore from both sides of the political divide. And don't count on any your tribal chieftains to keep a float in the impending implosion. Given the ongoing internal divisions, squabbles, fights within the two coalition parties with heat in one begetting heat from the rival, even die hard supporters are better advised to invest their loyalty elsewhere. But this is Kenya with all her unique political landscape, anything is possible.
  
  All the wrangles within the parties, whether on ICC or posts, can be correctly traced to lack of political ideology. All there is presently are mere vehicles to acquire raw political power for personal aggrandisement, PERIOD. All parties are more of cults revolving around individual with no solid traditional identity. All the empty slogans are just that devoid any objective and unifying theme.
  
  All the heat will soon upgrade to an inferno electioneering season set in proper Kenyan style. We haven't seen anything yet from both local and exported Kenyans waxing patriotic in support of their tribal warlords, NA BADO.
  
  
  Poor Kenyans! The belief that the new constitution was crafted to make the presidency less attractive must have been misplaced given the length of queue of aspirants. Well, Kenya has changed but not Kenyans. No matter your take, the fiasco that was 2007 elections changed Kenya forever. The take off was bumpy and the landing/transition is equally scary.Kumekucha

  
  

• Statesman President Kibaki Talks the Walk

  Posted: March 23, 2011, 7:00 pm by Taabu

  Typical and resolute President Kibaki avoided the small talk while opening parliament and instead reminded the MPs of the bigger task ahead. While all others have been enslaved to small talk, Kibaki never mentioned ICC nor party party politics. By urging the MPs to pass the requisite laws that will anchor the new constitution, Kibaki is leading from in front and by example.
  
  Walking the talk meant the President never lost sight of his main agenda. No petty talk on the heat generated about August/December elections next year. Those who know Kibaki will recall his singular determination and proclamation to banish our national vices in during his inauguration in 2003. The same steadfastness saw him steer Kenya out of near-apocalypse after 2005 referendum when he reorganized and formed an INCLUSIVE cabinet.
  
  A peaceful and fair elections will guarantee all else. By reminding MPs about the urgency of the task ahead of them, Kibaki couldn't have been a better barometer of the Kenyan pulse. He is aware of the importance of passing the laws that will create Independent Electoral Boundaries Commission. The President aptly noted that 2012 elections will be MORE DEMANDING because of the many offices that will be contested.
  
  So there we go, Kibaki has set the ball rolling. We can only hope and pray that the heat and foul-mouthed politics revolving around The Hague will not rear its ugly head to derail implementation of the constitution. Kibaki is the political giraffe whose advise will see us avoid the hitherto predicted chaos because of only two people.Kumekucha

  
  

• The Bright, Clean Face of Future Kenyan Politics

  Posted: March 21, 2011, 7:00 pm by Taabu

  True patriots, three young Kenyans with a singular vision and boiling warrior blood ready to slay our endemic trinity evil: tribalism, corruption and impunity. A breathe of fresh political air.Kumekucha

  
  

• Ocampo's New Plan to Detain Muthaura April 8

  Posted: March 19, 2011, 5:30 pm by Taabu

  Forget about April 7. Now the D-Day is April 8. Ocampo is no fool to crowd a day designated for his prized catch. While Ruto and Koskei will appear before ICC Judges on the morning of April 7 to confirm the charges against them, Muthaura and Uhuru have been reallocated a new date/day to enable Ocampo sufficient time to execute his plans to detain them on account stopping them from interfering with police, investigations and witnesses in the course of their official duties.
  
  Make no mistake, President Kibaki is no fool as WikiLeaks revealed the other day. HE knows too well who prosecutor Luis-Moreno Ocampo has on his radar. And when push comes to a shove Mzee Muthaura has already made it known about his dismay at being left holding the can of worms. The next natural course of action will see him letting the worms slither. Well, a few more TRADITIONAL mysterious deaths in the near future is not fat-fetched.
  
  All the war drum gimmicks will be served the contempt card they duly deserve. The hydra that is Kenya's impunity has exhausted all orifices to sprout ahead. And Moreno knows it that is why he is waging both media and legal wars to prepare both suspects and their gullible apologists for the dark political/legal future lurking ahead.
  
  Diner with the devil
  Now our patriotic leaders are shamelessly peddling the cheap and laughable theory that local political parties have extended their influence from ICC to the UN. Looking at all the motions and charades to defeat justice, one need not be a nuclear physicists to imagine what a local tribunal would be mandated to do. You have to excuse the regime apologists for supporting the hitherto poisoned judicial appointments.
  
  We invited the devil for dinner and he must be ready to sup with our guest now that he is promptly seated. Like him, hate him, Ocampo has the ruling class by the balls. No amount of posturing or bravado will loosen the grip. Hardly 1000 days after collectively raping a country and her voters, the incalculable bill of that national fraud is just beginning to stream in threatening to blow up the calculators.
  
  While we live beautiful national coloured lies always prefaced in denial and acute selective amnesia, the internationals community which saved from ourselves are knocking for their pound of flesh. No amount of threats will have them buy our twin vices of deceit and fraud. We made the bed and must brace ourselves for the eventful sleep.Kumekucha

  
  

• Governor Ocampo Triggers False War Drums

  Posted: March 17, 2011, 5:00 pm by Taabu

  Imaginative Kenyans. They mint new phrases every time the political temperature soars. Thanks to them now we have new lingo in POWER GRAB CALCULUS alongside MANIFEST NONSENSE that is devoid of PATRIOTIC flavour. Well give it to one governor Ocampo (hate him, like him) the Argentine has rattled Kenya's ruling class like never before. Meanwhile the gullible Kenyan is still pitching for the tribal warlords.
  
  Make no mistake, Ocampo's incessant media briefs is both political and legal. He is simply conditioning the leading suspects for a SUMMON-WARRANT transition in addition to preparing the masses. No amount of threats of violence will deter Lius-Moreno. Having successfully prosecuted Argentinian military junta, the threats and bravado flying from our public rallies only succeed in providing him with more ammunition against the suspects.
  
  Both Ocampo6 and their supporters have exhausted all our traditional trademark excuses lakini wapi? The sovereignty card won't wash neither the naked lies dressed as motion with no trace of movement. We cannot export our NATIONAL culture of deceit. We only fool ourselves by claiming to task police with investigating themselves and reporting to a suspect himself.
  
  It is true proving and convicting a suspect on crimes against humanity is no mean feat and Ocampo knows it. Judge Kaul had to dissent for legal fidelity lest he loses credibility after differing with his colleagues in round one. But reading his report is no consolation to the suspects. The diplomat in him refer to local solutions that do not exist.
  
  Granted we created our own bed of mess and must be ready to lie on the filth. But given the gimmicks from the owners of Kenya, you need not be a neurologist to see through the beauty of coloured lies. Truth is there will be no more ELECTION/TRIBALLY-instigated violence like that witnessed in 2007/8. Every tribal warlord now has his (no lady yet) horn firmly in ICC and/or Ocampo's hands.
  
  The cheap and empty threat of POWER GRAB CALCULUS is MANIFEST NONSENSE, period. Leta ingine.Kumekucha

  
  

• Apt Parallels: Kapenguria6 and Now Ocampo6

  Posted: March 14, 2011, 11:00 am by Taabu

  History is prone to repeat itself with regard to Kenya stewing in her own blood come 2012 elections. Exactly 20 years ago Moi prophetically warned about the perils of multi-party politics. Fast forward to 2012 and the game remains the same except the players are donning jerseys in different colour - the foot is in the other boot. The world would be IRRESPONSIBLE to let Kenya go to the dogs. And we have been warned that indicting Ocampo6 is an open invitation to chaos.
  
  The SHATTERED diplomacy was not an exercise in futility but a chance to remind the world that Kenya has her owners. The truth is that you only risk arresting LEADING PRESIDENTIAL candidates at the peril of the remaining 40 million Kenyans. Kibki is no political fool to risk his legacy by shooting himself in both feet.
  
  Make no mistake, defending the Ocampo6 is a national project, MTA DO? Uhuru and Muthaura cannot be left to their own devices when their only crime was to do what they had to do given the near-Armageddon in 2007/8. As for Ruto, it is REALPOLITIK and expediency both rolled in one, period.
  
  At the risk of distorting our national history, the gand of Ocampo6 may as well be compared to the Kapenguria six in their fight for independence. The later delivered and the former have the potential to deliver us from APOCALYPSE if Kibaki saves them from the noose of vindictive ICC.
  
  Presidential frontrunners
  Naysayers will cheaply equate the cost of shuttle diplomacy to dancing on the graves of PEV victims. Far from it, brother Kalonzo has selflessly devoted his energy and time to help Kenyans reclaim their country back. The born-again VP has put at stake his moral compass, dignity, self-respect, honour and pride on the national chopping block. What is more, no price is bigger than patriotism and sovereignty.
  
  While saving the Ocampo6 will definitely guarantee peace for the IDPs in their camps, carting the suspects to The Hague is a sure recipe for another bloodbath. Well, the choice for a lesser evil must be natural. President Kibaki is never known to protect anybody from prosecution but since he is neck deep into saving the Ocampo6 we must accord him the benefit of doubt for he surely knows alot that we don't.
  
  Kenya needs no babysitting given our selfless and competent leaders. Post-election violence was our own making and we are better placed to solve all its problems by ourselves. The Americans and Britons are better advised to keep off and so do the loud-mouthed so-called international community.
  
  No amount of judicial posturing can solve the plethora of our domestic problems. Truth is our problems are political which demand political solutions. We have the political will and leadership to steer MV Kenya out of the present and future doldrums. With Gaddafi and Mubarak as our trusted allies who wants neo-colonialists?
  
  The ICC is poised to shape 2012 polls. It is true that while Uhuru and Ruto may miss 2012 polls, the 1300 victims of PEV will definitely miss 2012 polls. Similarly while the next president is not known, what is known is who the 4th PORK will NOT BE. That is HARD BALL politics 100. Meanwhile the Rift Valley (and Central) remain the focal point and hotbed of Kenya's politics.Kumekucha

  
  

• ICC Vindictive, VP's Shuttle Drive Vindicated

  Posted: March 9, 2011, 7:00 pm by Taabu

  The VP Kalonzo Musyoka is the true political winner whether the Ocampo6 are indicted or not. His is an enviable win-win political scenario. Either Kalonzo will inherit all political votes following Uhuru and Ruto's being carted to The Hague or he will bask in glory and reap abundantly as the defender of the duo at time of need.
  
  See latest post by Chris: Evil plan to stay in power for 3 more years
  
  Hon Kalonzo Musyoka's unwavering shuttle diplomacy has been vindicated by the vindictive ICC following sermons for the so-called Ocampo 6. Now that two of the three ICC Judges have joined the global political chorus in making Kenya an example of fighting EXECUTIVE IMPUNITY, all Kenyans must join the VP in the global fight to reclaim our country and pride.
  
  Those who derided Kalonzo for wasting taxpayers' money must now bury their heads in shame. See Steve has proved once again what it means to be steadfast while armed with wisdom of being able to see ahead of time. We must have faith and confidence in our national institutions otherwise the recently promulgated constitution would not be worth the paper it was printed on.
  
  And the message to the world is clear: defer the ICC cases and you spare the WHOLE REGION and our country Armageddon. Only doomsayers would argue with that truism given our immediate political past experience. What is more, Kibaki and Kalonzo should know better given the comprehensive daily intelligence briefings at their disposal.
  
  The President and his principal assistant must not be faulted for operating at a variance with the aspirations of most Kenyans. Truth is they know more that we don't know as ordinary citizens. Forget about the NGOs. They can as well sing IMPUNITY till cows come home but we know their sights remain singularly trained on donor funds while they remain oblivious of the plight of IDPs.
  
  As a country we must learn to be grateful. So far our born-again brother Steve has worked diplomatic MIRACLES on a shoestring budget of just about KES 30m. Make no mistake, that amount cannot even built a MODERN MANSION for a single IDP family leave alone the many thousands littering our national landscape in the Rift Valley.
  
  We must all pull together to save the 6 gallant Kenyans from Ocampo's jaws of prejudice and neocolonialism packaged as seeking justice against impunity. It is no coincidence that half of the Ocampo 6 share a sodiac star - all born in December (CLOSURE?).
  
  The VP deserves the support of every breathing Kenyan in securing our national pride and sovereignty. A closer look will reveal that his singular objectivity has even seen him SHUTTLE together with SALACIOUS Sally Koskei who SLAPPED him while she was his PS as the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Surely, there comes a time when national priorities outweigh personal traumas.Kumekucha

  
  

• Smart Kibaki Now Upgrades Shuttle Diplomacy

  Posted: March 5, 2011, 11:00 am by Taabu

  President Kibaki has once again shown his genius side by appointing VP Kalonzo to lead the group of envoys who will push for ICC deferrals. And that what it takes to lead from the front and by example. The truth is some of these issues are too complex to be solved using pedestrian antics packaged as cheap populism. Granted, it is one thing to respect the views of Kenyans but quite another to do the right thing for the long term benefit of those who MOVE (and own) this country. And Kibaki should know better.
  
  As a servant leader, VP Kalonzo's rallying call to give us back our country is no empty slogan. Forget about the diplomatic rumours labelling the handsome and born-again Veep as an opportunist and an intellectual lightweight. Nothing can be so condescending from an arrogant guest with an obtuse appetite to scandalize his hosts. It is the height of diplomatic hypocrisy to turn the truism of real (kati kati) politics as devoid of gist, gravitas and agenda.
  
  Make no mistake, Kibaki has seen it all. HE often draws from his alloyed wisdom to serve all Kenyans equally including the so-called Ocampo 3 (not 6). A look at the list of envoys tasked with ICC deferral reveals the TRUE FACE of Kenya and intellect both dolled in a unit. What is more, Kibaki even respects both the spirit and letter of the new constitution on gender parity by appointing two ladies. Both Dr. Sally Kosgei and Prof. Hellen Sambili are women with superlative brains, the former having hinted at being underutilized prompting her deride our national flag.
  
  What is more, while Minister Njeru Githae is an accomplished legal mind, Chirau Ali Mwakwere is Kenya's ex-chief diplomat. Add Saitoti's experience to the mix and you get a team teeming with all it takes to competently and selfishly serve our national interest.
  
  Kalonzo is a reputed peace maker. That his sojourn as Minister for Foreign Affairs saw peace in Southern Sudan and Somalia cannot be gainsaid. Only him could have Libya's Muammar Gadaffi listen and endorse our cause. Forget about the NON-EXISTENT unrest in the Middle East, we owe the pride of our own LAICO (sorry Grand Regency) it to dear Leader through Libya Investment Authority.
  
  The naysayers must spare HE Kibaki spats and wait to see the fruits of his vision. He is no lame duck President and serving the interests of movers and shakers of Kenya has always been his forte. No need for juvenile consultations. Kalonzo will deliver ICC deferral under stringent budget and squalor among the IDPs will disappear.
  
  And the ultimate reward awaits brother Steve next year when he brings the trophy home parading his fighting spirit. Who said the VP needs KKK? Both Imanyara and Orengo only have single votes. Washindwe!Kumekucha

  
  

• Shuttle Diplomacy Costs Millions, no Results

  Posted: February 1, 2011, 4:00 pm by Taabu

  After burning millions of taxpayers money to have AU support deferral of ICC case, Kenya has lost big by failing to be picked as a member of the imminent five regional nations to resolve the Cote d'Ivore crisis. The smart one must have seen it coming after our display of juvenile politics in Addis Ababa.
  
  Change from OAU to AU was typical African cosmetic penchant to create and impression of change without commensurate movement. AU supported ICC's deferral on Sudan in 2008and nothing has changed. And Kenya has toiled to join Sudan thanks to the club of master of impunity that is AU. The French must have been very right with their cliche that the more things change the more they remain the same.
  
  AU may have offered Raila a poisoned chalice after he derided the toothless continental body. But even before the son of Jaramogi the noose tighten around his political neck, juvenile PNU-ODM theatrics were exported north of the border with Saitoti as Kenya's chief envoy. Wow! No wonder even the moribund Igad had the presence of mind and tact to settle for Tanzania instead of the chest thumbing, deceptive and fraudulent neighbour.
  
  Well, it doesn't stop there. While Kibaki was convincing (nay cheating) the AU of our capacity to form a competent judicial system to take over ICC cases, his local action betrayed all the pretence. Even the Kenyan Diaspora are not spared the embarrassment judging from their penchant to ethnic loyalty and expediency.
  
  Nobody is begrudging the qualifications of the proposed CJ, AG or DPP. But respect for the law demands both its facets of SPIRIT and LETTER must not be adulterated. It is base and pedestrian to posit that the end justifies the means. A flawed process can never win credibility anywhere, PERIOD. The apt precedent was set by ECK appointments prior to the bungled 2007 polls.
  
  Being above reproach demands more than just shouting and quoting legal statutes. We are a country best known for deceit packaged as sophistication only that the vice if never sustainable and often leaves us with a collective bloodied nose. If you doubt it just wait till you see our stillbirth Tunisia-Egypt-Sudan revolt derailed by enterprising tribalists who will castigate the masses for not cashing in on their won plight. NA bado.Kumekucha

  
  

• New CJ, KKK Legalized, Hague Express Stalled

  Posted: January 29, 2011, 7:00 pm by Taabu

  The law is an ass so they say and nobody knows how to breathe life into that timeless cliche that President Kibaki. If you thought the unilateral re-appointment of Kivuitu's ECK team just before the disputed 2007 polls amounted to a cause-effect relationship then wait till you see through the SMART thinking behind appointing the new CJ and AG. Legal pretenders will discredit the new constitution oblivious of the naked fact that accountable governance is all about upholding the SPIRIT and not the letter of the law.
  
  Predictably the nay Sayers will read all the RETROGRESSIVE conspiracy theories in President Kibaki's latest bold judicial appointments.To set the record straight, the nominated Chief Justice Visram and Attorney General Githu Migai are more than qualified. These are accomplished lawyers with 6 degrees to spare between just the two of them. What is more, their advanced degrees are homegrown (UoN) giving them the capacity to competently domesticate complicated legal issues.
  
  The REAL radical surgery here we come. With Muthaura's lawyer guarding the legal gates, ICC is dead in the water. Ambassador Francis Muthaura would be a fool not to position a trusted, tried and tested lawyer at the helm given the impending ICC 'manifest nonsense'. What is more, Githu is an accredited lawyer to the ICC. That is a superlative move which is poised to leave the boisterous Luis Moreo-Ocampo wiping his bloodied nose. After all the both referral and deferral sound the same except for the first letter ONLY.
  
  Next, the in-coming powerful director of prosecution is one NO-NONSENSE Kioko Kilukumi. The abrasive lawyer has seen it all handling high profile cases that other legal neophytes would dare not tough with a 10-feet pole. Just the other day he stood firm for the beleaguered Hon William Ruto and boy, don't you love the 10 voluble and brave pounder (Kilukumi)? Those with less impaired memory must remember Kioko's educated pitch while trashing Kibaki bashers from Netherlands some years back. He stuck his neck for the boss and what a sweet payback/check for the learned mind?
  
  And finally with a masterstroke that will leave his detractors sprawled kissing dust, Kibaki has proposed the sharp mind of William Kirwa (MBA, MA) as the controller of budget. Those who have been criticizing the President for being aloof must be frying in their own fat of shame. Here iss the deal, while both Kioko and Kirwa constitute the double, the missing K need no physical lettering, MTADO?
  
  Checkmate
  Those who have been burdened with the phantom mindset of co-principals need to have their heads examined lest they continue with their unhelpful hallucination. The buck must stop with somebody and President Kibaki has called the pretenders bluff.
  
  ODM's goose is chased, defeathered, cooked and digested. Rift Valley MPs have been given the sacred card to checkmate ODM and the PM. With their bread generously buttered, they must be rubbing their hands in glee to emphatically register their political score.
  
  President Kibaki is never known to promise what he cannot deliver. And after his latest forays in Eldoret, the warriors have been smothered and the owls rattled. NA BADO. Hague Express kitu gani?Kumekucha

  
  

• Kenya's Expensive Export of Shuttle Diplomacy

  Posted: January 27, 2011, 4:00 pm by Taabu

  That Kenya always scores a first in the Africa continent is given. Barely a week after VP Kalonzo's shuttle diplomacy to secure Africa support in pulling out of ICC, troubled Cote d'Ivore has launched charm offensive to legitimize the DULY ELECTED President Laurent Gbagbo.
  
  Forget about all that cheap game of semantic on referral and deferral. We are sovereign and if not conquering the world with toxic tribalism, we are expanding the sphere of intellectual fraud. Even Gbagbo knows the wide rift between our leaders and what a better way to exploit the same to advance his brand of democracy.
  
  Toothless AU can scream till her voice turns hoarse but Gbagbo knows where to seek similar and useful support. Kenya and Zimbabwe are automatic stops. Here we had a mediator who was set by AU to fix him after deriding the same AU as ineffective. That was an apt case study of helping make a sturdy noose for your own round neck.
  
  Our very own Samuel Kivuitu's electoral manual has proved such a continental bestseller. All that heat about AU position had no trace of light. AU must must have been mad to imagine that any CREDIBLE leader would negotiate himself out of power. And lest they forget, Gbagbo is in very good company. The noise makers can willfully buy a one-way ticket to refurbished hell.
  
  It is a pity nobody is listening to Gbagbo's explanation about electoral irregularities during the disputed presidential elections in his country. Here is a leader, just like our own Kibaki, who crying to be heard after refusing to play dirty. Only such unrivaled democrats can allow massive electoral fraud by the opposition without unleashing state power on them.
  
  Shuttlemaster
  We have been there. Sending special advisers to African capitals is an old trick. You only need to remind yourself of Kenya's own charm offensive after the 2007 polls to secure continental acceptance. Gbagbo is right, the Independent Electoral Commission only gives provisional results. We must learn to respect institutions and accept that Ivory Coast's constitutional court has the sole mandate of declaring the poll winner.
  
  Only Ivorians voted and the so-called international community must shut up and leave them alone. The President-Pretend Allassane Ouattara must accept the verdict of the electorate and stop causing more suffering. True, Kenya may have been saved from stewing in her own blood but the international resources are limited.
  
  Gbagbo has rejected mediator Raila and is in order to send and emissary to the ultimate boss/CEO. The truth is Raila had no mandate of his own but to deliver the poisoned chalice of negotiating Gbagbo's safe exit. Now that the noose has snapped and with the AU summit looming, Gbagbo's masterstroke has pitted PNU against ODM which will buy him the much-needed political space. NA BADO.Kumekucha

  
  

• Kenya Must First Go to the Dogs to Develop

  Posted: January 8, 2011, 6:00 pm by Taabu

  By Two KK Bloggers
  
  The recent political past has left MV Kenya tottering precariously in the doldrums. Last year ended with Ocampo's hanging a milestone collectively on 6 necks. And just before synthesis what 2011 portents, we seismic political waves are already threatening to shred any trace of hitherto calm. These developments have left political tongues wagging and the bloggers here have not been left behind. Here are two divergent takes from two our bloggers. Enjoy
  
  1: Red Flag
  Make no mistake, Kenya has surely gone to the dogs. Look, everybody wants a pound of flesh of hapless Kenyans, drug traffickers in the highest echelons of security and governance, those not dealing in drugs to destroy future generations are busy plundering the country and extorting the meagre resources we have from us, gangsters running amok doing whatever they want with help from the police and guns sometimes hired from the police, if they are not police themselves, highest paid MPs in the world, droughts looming and at the risk of raining on bloggers’ party (read stirring hornet’s nest), Somalis buying up the country with questionable sources of money, borders wide open for as little as KES 500, drug addicts mugging in once peaceful coastal towns, HIV/Aids, treatable and preventable diseases like malaria etc etc. The picture is not very alluring.
  
  Meanwhile idiots are busy with "my tribe, your tribe". KENYA IS GOING TO HELL IF IT IS NOT THERE ALREADY! Of what use is my tribe and your tribe important when we will are all living a hell on earth. You might have made it and are relatively rich, you are still living in hell, having to lock yourself behind high walls, driving through poverty and squalor, not knowing when you will be shot dead by gangsters or extortionist police, when a matatu which has just paid a bribe will ram into you and end your life or maim you.
  
  Come on people, we are in this together, of whatever tribe or social class. This country lacks leadership, lacks moral values. Pastors drive sparkling SUVs and Kenyans are told to close their eyes and pray while being dispossessed of their meagre resources by the men of god. Politicians are either engaged in drug trafficking, car-jacking or high level corruption despite being paid one of the highest salaries in the world in one of the poorest countries in the world.
  
  Why can't we open our eyes? Are we a masochist nation? We are suffering or will suffer pretty soon, and we are busy with personalities just because they are from our tribes. Aliyeiba abebe mzigo wake, ANY KENYAN POLITICIAN OUT OF ACTION IS A BLESSING FOR KENYANS, whatever their tribe might be.
  
  It is about time we wake up from our slumber. All right-thinking Kenyans should see what is happening. The situation in which our country finds itself is very dangerous indeed. It will explode pretty soon. We have to avoid it at all costs. You do need to be a neurologist to identify the real enemies taking a ride on our collective backs. Forget all the heat and barbs directed at US envoy Ranneberger who is only earning his pay. His dossier on drugs would have sent a chill down our spine but this is Kenya where the drug barons know our mouths are ready for hire. And we never disappoint. Just look at how busy we are with INDIVIDUALS which every tribe thinks will deliver them to the Promised Land. Well, NO ONE WILL. Those whom we foolishly protect are nothing but equal opportunity thieves who hate all Kenyans and Kenya in equal measure. Simply put, they are out to destroy all of us and our kids.
  
  Kenyan foreign debt has increased more than five-fold since 2002. Who will pay it back? Your kids and mine for generations to come, regardless of our tribes. What do we have to show for it? Drug addicted zombies and hundreds of ministers and other officials being driven around from one corruption deal to another.
  
  When a drug addict mugs you he will not ask for your tribe, when a police officer robs you he will not ask for your tribe first, neither will the angel of death ask for your tribe when a substandard matatu crashes minutes after paying a bribe.
  
  Bottom line is, we are in this together, we had better wake up and unite and isolate our real enemies. This country needs us as a matter of urgency, otherwise PEV will soon sound like a distant sweet dream to come.
  
  2: Rite of passage
  On the flip side you need superlative skills to successfully preach to a choir. Crying for Kenya amounts to wasted tears, please reserve the precious liquids for a worthwhile personal cause, joy or sorrow, whatever the case may be. What you see as national decadence are the compulsory birth pangs a country must experience in the process of growing. Kenya, the country will outlive you and the current four generations of Kenyans by the time the year 2080 comes knocking.
  
  Save us your cries and better get advised that we are not in that mess together. The wailers are on their own. This is Africa where anything and everything goes.
  Why not let the country go to the wild dogs and jungle power brokers for a change? The match towards equilibrium will see frustrated hyenas frothing and waiting in the fringes of society ready to take advantage of every morsel of mess and the boundless opportunities caused by vicious canines and their handlers.
  The hyenas will snatch everything in sight leaving behind very little for the opportunistic jackals and vultures to scavenge on.
  
  I can't wait for another wild seasonal political cycle with new players, new takers, new herds for the hunt and intense brawls in the same old country.Kumekucha

  
  

• Kumekucha Bloggers Awards 2011

  Posted: January 3, 2011, 10:40 am by Taabu

  Happy new year to you all. After burying the eventful 2010 and showering politicians with accolades, it is time to honour the people who keep this blog alive and kicking. The bloggers here provoke the political heat that very few can stand as evident in the numerous standpoints. So here we go with our 5th KK bloggers award for 2011.
  
  Topping the table is one and only Mwarang'ethe with his fidelity to remind all and sundry about political OPIUM. Mwarang'ethe's educative sermons on matters wealth, land and tax are legendary on this blog. Give it to the man for his wisdom alloyed in history-tested Sumarian folklore. Woe unto the intellectual feather weights who dare challenge him for he has no qualms going bare knuckles ready with abbreviated web references to back his takes. He may be staying abroad but Bw Mwarang'ethe never hides his disdain at cheap WESTERN solutions. Just pop any matter (political, economic or legal even biblical) and Mwarang'ethe will match it shredding you into pieces in the process before taking a deserved mouthful of pop corns drowned in e-mursik. This blog wouldn't have been the same in 2010 without Mwarang'ethe's ready red flags always signaling doomsday lurking in the shadows.
  
  Accolades to Mwarang'ethe is no justice without crowning Oracle who epitomizes insider information so tactfully delivered he often leaves his target biting the dust. Oracle is a whole package who consistently takes off the wind from the sails of intellectual pretenders. Besides checkmating bravado, he simply breathes fresh air into any dialogue here.
  
  Next award goes to the ebullient Mpesa with his straight shooting posts. You don't have to like Mpesa for he takes no hostages in his numerous parodies against the political class. He never shies away from reminding the king of his nudity. And while at it no tribal warlord escapes his thorny barbs. No wonder his Martha Karua choice for KK person of the year 2010 eventually carried the day.
  
  Blogger Philip gets the award for stabilizing posts. His back to the basics often rubs the e-high priests the wrong way. Philip's love of the basics is so refreshing he stitches the lips of all e-loud-mouths. And while at it he spares none of so-called political big guns no matter their ethnicity. Together with Philip, Muru wa Gacii and Bobby6Killer are the other sprinklers of barbs and banquets to those who deserve them. Thanks guys for reigning with sanity.
  
  And who can forget one Luke for daring the BOSS never to pander to explicit posts lest he corrupts his FAMILY BLOG? Luke's posts seamlessly blends both humour and hard facts to perfection. Whipping everybody into shape is his forte and woe unto the tribal warlords for crossing the path of his sparkling white HORSE. His search for HORSELESS merits e-cop award in readines to head candidate Atwoli's PR team.
  
  Speaking of FIDELITY and horses, you must give it to Phil for his consistency. He may not have been as active here as before but you only rule Phil out at your own political peril. And he never masks his horse whom he rides and backs with facts while always keeping it civil.
  
  Last which could as well be first, a deserved award to Chris for his dare devil posts. Nothing is a taboo here to him whether it is the tribal myths or stereotypes you will find them here all spread out to hang. Chauvinists will rue the day they discovered this blog for Chris' posts leaves them livid with rage that also hooks them here in equal measure. If you have no woken up from stereotypical hangovers, well you are better advised KUMEKUCHA.
  
  And finally the ultimate award goes to all the silent readers and critics of this political blog for their warmth and heat respectively. Your loyalty kept the blog going and without you, all the efforts would have been akin to a parent punishing an unresponsive kid. This pre-elecetion year promises to be a furnace and we hope the many 'anonymouses' will acquire handles that let them feature in 6th KBA of 2012. Happy new year and let us keep the heat on in service to our motherland.
  
  Just whispered into Kumekucha Chris' ear: A certain contender for the presidency in 2012 has instructed his handlers to dig up all the dirt they can find on Martha Karua. KwaniKumekucha is how inflential? Because this happened shortly after we named her the person of the year 2010 and said we would be willing to support her bid for the highest office in the land. Of course the whole idea of digging up dirt on Karua is to totally derail the iron lady's presidential ambitions when push comes to shove. As most of you know, Martha is very very vulnerable especially where her personal life is concerened so she had better get prepared early. Folks get ready for high wire drama as the contenders and pretenders to the throne get bare knuckled in their fight for the presidency. All indications are that the campaign proper has already started.
  
  
  
  
  

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• Raila is Kenya's New Electoral Export to Africa

  Posted: December 28, 2010, 11:00 am by Taabu

  Different countries same political game and crisis. Cote d'Ivoire is slowly but surely coasting to bloodbath. The electoral commission of Ivory Coast must have competently read our own ECK's script except the judicial appeal court there went a step further knowing which side of their bread was buttered and by who. It is a battle of the titans pitting two already SWORN-IN presidents, the incumbent Laurent Gbagbo (what a name, from Pungoma?) and ex-IMF chief Alassane Ouattara.
  
  Double standards galore from the international community when it comes to Africa's never-ending political crises. Where is Annan and his troope of Imminent persons to save Cote d'Ivoire from self-destruction? These clowns appeared in Kenya in a flash while for almost two months the world watches as (DULY ELECTED) Gbagbo overturns Alassane Ouattara's victory. This will definitely be godsend cannon fodder for the deluded e-high priests who often wax lyrical and intellectual about doomsday and neo-colonialism. Well, let the REAL intellectuals cannibalize the latest standoff to spin yarns and revise alien theories on sovereignty and imperialism.
  
  Ivory Coast's election standoff is is compounded further by AU's obtuse goof in appointing Kenya's PM Raila Odinga to mediate on the same. What a feat for AU to recognize Kenya's dubious electoral exploits and dutifully help export that fraud to Ivory Coast? AU's latest move amounts to either an apt exercise in continental mischief or a jaundiced set-a-thief-to-catch-a-thief mission (read use a victim to sooth the pains of another victim).
  
  Predictably the incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo will see AU's move as belittling him by sending a non-head of state (read peer, BIG MAN) to talk him out of power. Make no mistake, the local mouthful idea of co-principals is only known in Kenya.
  
  The parallel between Ivory Coast and Kenya ends at the fact that the DEFEATED Gbagbo was hastily sworn in after losing the elections to Ouattara. With the army and judiciary at his beck and call, the so-called international community must revise their strategy to deal with a SITTING head of state. Bottom line, this is Africa and even the toothless AU knows its noise will not amounts to nothing but hot air.
  
  Just like patriotic Kenyans prefix all their pronouncements with SOVEREIGNTY, Gbagbo has demanded the ex-colonial power France and the 10,000 strong UN peacekeeping force protecting Ouattara's government to leave. He can as well add, GO EAST. His Excellency Gbagbo must be laughing his head off at ECOWAS' threat of so-called legitimate force. Only in Africa do we have unique problems and mint ORIGINAL solutions. We haven't seen anything yet from Gbagbo and his lieutenants. And they are in very good company.
  
  The plot thicken given that Raila already muddied the waters early this month by demanding Gbagbo to vacate office. It appears the PM has more space to stomach and top-up the wrath he invited from Robert Mugabe sometimes back. But just like Kenya, Ivory Coast has its owners and Ouattara is better reminded that he is an alien clinging to the coat tails of the international community to subvert the will of the people.
  
  Well, let wild and exotic conspiracy theories begin in earnest. Bring them on!Kumekucha

  
  

• Of Drug Barons, Rogue Envoy and Stalled ICC

  Posted: December 24, 2010, 7:00 am by Taabu

  Kudos to Juja MP William Kabogo for being smart enough and not naive to provoke an EXCUTIVE foul mood.
  
  Only in Kenya do you find the title Honourable before the name of a drug baron. And the Kenyan voter love them while the Diaspora applaud the bling bling MPs as hard working. Woe unto you envious, lazy mortals for questioning the source of their wealth. Make no mistake, these monsters rule us from both sides of the political divide.
  
  The Muslim clerics crying foul about drug abuse at the Coast finds themselves in a catch 22 with Joho and Punjani named as prime drug pushers. Mark you Ali Punjani donated a cool KES 6m cash and Joho 1m to President Kibaki during the Lamu fund raiser. That tells you alot about the dearth and/or abuse of intelligence and integrity among our leaders. These smart alecs know when to stealthily buy political insurance from the safest and most powerful covers.
  
  Before we foam at the mouth shouting imperialism and neo-colonialism, we must accept that it was one ROGUE Michael Renneberger who belled these wild cats. It would be business as usual without the envoy's dossier. Meanwhile Kenyan youth would continue imbibing narcotics and transforming themselves into zombies as the drug barons laugh their way to the banks.
  
  Exposing so-called honourable MPs as drug barons is the strongest proof of our rotten politics. Our hell-for-leather mentality manifested in blind worship for monetary success at whatever cost comes with very destructive consequences. But who cares when we envy Kabogo's and Mwau's choppers as they buy the voters' conscience with dirty money? I guess sharing comes in different forms and shapes.
  
  The genesis of impunity is failure to hold people to account. And the tribal kings know Kenyans better. Just look at the chorus to withdraw Kenya from ICC to save just six out of 40m people - forget about the eyesore that is the IDPs. With the exported villagers aka Diaspora dusting up their local loyalties, the war on impunity was lost even before it all began.
  
  Luis Moreno-Ocampo may have been a professor at Harvard but Kenya's political class will serve him his deadliest Waterloo. Remember we had a professor of realpolitik who never had a degree (tell it to the birds!). You don't have to be a neurologist to imagine Ruto's fraud case expedited and possibly (artificially) jailed locally and Ocampo is left chasing his own tail.
  
  Poor Amigo Moreno is better advised that Kenya has its owners. And lest he forgets, Kenya is not Sudan or Liberia or Serbia. He hasn't seen the last of this thriller made and directed by real and true kings of impunity. Sovereignty my foot!Kumekucha

  
  

• Ruto and Uhuru Tops The Hague's Gang of Six

  Posted: December 16, 2010, 6:00 am by Taabu

  Updates
  Ocampo has miserably failed the REGIONAL BALANCING test, LOL. And President Kibaki has subsequently called Kenyans' bluff that Uhuru and Muthaura are innocent till proved guilty, so no RESIGNATION, period. These two are special breed and we must not use same political lens applied to Ruto and Wetangula. This is Kenya, MTADO?
  
  Luis Moreno Ocampo has lived to his promise and he has delivered emphatically. The Hague's gang of six have been named as William Ruto, Uhuru Kenyatta, Francis Muthaura, Gen (Rtd) Hussein Ali, Henry Kosgey and one radio executive Joshua Arap Sang.
  
  PS Muthaura MUST be the most surprised, but is he? Well, when you coordinate government operations like a governor, the buck stops with you, PERIOD. Ex-police boss Ali couldn't escape either given the number of people shot from behind.
  
  As for Ruto, he saw it coming and has been working himself into lather to remain afloat. Not even a winter visit to The Hague could save the warrior. There is no love lost between Bill and Moreno. Jomo Jnr. meanwhile chose to take it cool but set his foot soldiers on the war path to no success. Henry Koskey and radio journalist completes the infamous list of cargo destined to The Hague.
  
  The die is cast and Kenyan politics WILL NEVER be the same again. The faithful Diaspora can wax patriotic extolling their village virtues but that won't wash. The Hague Express has completed her first trip and let the political temperature sour.
  
  Meanwhile the named suspects finds themselves in very strange territories. Ocampo has outlined very stringent conditions and they dare break them at their own peril. No more empty threats, LET JUSTICE PREVAIL.
  
  Chris is preparing a major analysis on this major event which will appear here later today. See his brief initial comment on this.
  Kumekucha

  
  

• The Hague 2090 is Already Here Knocking

  Posted: December 14, 2010, 10:00 pm by Taabu

  The die is cast and the kings of impunity have their backs firmly against a mighty reinforced wall. They were so sure they shouted that The Hague process will take 90 years to start. On the contrary the ICC engine started, gathered steam and is today docking at the station to claim her six scalps. The suspects have no more places to hide. No amount of bravado or tribal obstacles will stop Moreno's juggernaut from shipping its cargo to where they belong. Time truly flies and 2090 must have arrived way too fast. Let the trials begin and let Ocampo met justice on behalf of the dead and IDPs.
  
  Supping with the devil is not a crime and politicians are doing just what they are known best for, protecting their turf at all costs. Forget the voters who perished for them, Kibaki succession is a priority any other politics and activity is secondary.
  
  Early this year they all chanted, DON'T BE VAGUE, LET US GO TO THE HAGUE. The bravado was amplified even a notch higher deriding ICC process to begin in 2090. Well, Ocampo has called their bluff and the masterminds are running short of holes to run to. The last few weeks has seen suspects firing from all cylinders principally to sabotage the ICC process. Will they succeed?
  
  You do not need to be a neurologist to imagine what the charade would have if we were to have local trials. The so-called constitutional reference would keep the cases in their infancy forever. Even the tribal demonstrations planned for tomorrow will not deter ICC from slaying the kings of impunity.
  
  There are no more places to hide. Even if a section of the government tries all the rules in the book to halt ICC. No leader wants to rule a pariah state even if it means visiting China only. The stakes are high and damn the IDPs, the two ministers and their Hague-bound colleagues are too important to be left at the mercy of Ocampo's jaws.
  
  Hague 2090 is here and now, tic toc counting to the smouldering hellhole.Kumekucha

  
  

• Wheels Slowly Coming off The Hague Express

  Posted: December 8, 2010, 10:00 pm by Taabu

  Thank God for auto mouths like Agriculture Assistant Minister Kareke Mbiuki who does not sugar coat what others refer to in relative terms. MP Mbiuki laid it bare that the ICC process is a weapon to eliminate William Ruto and Uhuru Kenyatta before 2012, PERIOD. And there is no guessing who scheming to benefit from such devious machinations.
  
  Well, not so fast as evident from judicious suspects who are burning the midnight candle formulating ways to scuttle this ICC animal. The security chiefs are not fools to incriminate themselves with statement to Lady Justice Rawal. Ocampo is better advised to spare his chest the self-thumbing. He has not seen the last of Kenya's octane tribal politics at play.
  
  The security chiefs were only doing what people employed in the disciplined forces do, follow and obey orders. And shooting only 500 Kenyans from their backs is a small price to pay to stem mayhem. Asking the PPOs the source of their shoot-to-kill orders amounts to raping our national sovereignty.
  
  Meanwhile our smart legal minds are smiling all the way to the bank. The Hague and Ocampo better prepare themselves for a battle royale. Ruto is a real warrior never intimidated even with Europe's biting winter. Add shrewd and moneyed Uhuru to the mix and Ocampo has a handful of political heavyweights with a Diaspora ready to parade their village loyalty at any time of need.
  
  Make no mistake, the bolts are slowly but surely coming off the hitherto Hague Express. In no time, the juggernaut will ground to a halt once the Ruto/UK axis starves its steam engine of oxygen. NA BADO.Kumekucha

  
  

• Wheels Slowly Coming off The Hague Express

  Posted: December 8, 2010, 10:00 pm by Taabu

  Thank God for auto mouths like Agriculture Assistant Minister Kareke Mbiuki who does not sugar coat what others refer to in relative terms. MP Mbiuki laid it bare that the ICC process is a weapon to eliminate William Ruto and Uhuru Kenyatta before 2012, PERIOD. And there is no guessing who scheming to benefit from such devious machinations.
  
  Well, not so fast as evident from judicious suspects who are burning the midnight candle formulating ways to scuttle this ICC animal. The security chiefs are not fools to incriminate themselves with statement to Lady Justice Rawal. Ocampo is better advised to spare his chest the self-thumbing. He has not seen the last of Kenya's octane tribal politics at play.
  
  The security chiefs were only doing what people employed in the disciplined forces do, follow and obey orders. And shooting only 500 Kenyans from their backs is a small price to pay to stem mayhem. Asking the PPOs the source of their shoot-to-kill orders amounts to raping our national sovereignty.
  
  Meanwhile our smart legal minds are smiling all the way to the bank. The Hague and Ocampo better prepare themselves for a battle royale. Ruto is a real warrior never intimidated even with Europe's biting winter. Add shrewd and moneyed Uhuru to the mix and Ocampo has a handful of political heavyweights with a Diaspora ready to parade their village loyalty at any time of need.
  
  Make no mistake, the bolts are slowly but surely coming off the hitherto Hague Express. In no time, the juggernaut will after Ruto/UK axis extinguished oxygen off its steam engine. NA BADO.Kumekucha

  
  

• God-Fearing Kalonzo, Ruto Unite to Expose Raila

  Posted: December 6, 2010, 3:00 am by Taabu

  The Hague is vague, the problem is Raila, PERIOD. We have this confirmation from none other than the VP himself. And the God-fearing cannot lie in church when he declares that he knows Kibaki bears no grudges even after after teaming with Raila to abuse the President.
  
  Teaming with the straight-talking, brave and dare-devil Ruto, Kalonzo is showing Kenyans the way to go and that is to TAME RAILA. You see, only fools do not change their minds and the VP is not a political fool. He has grown and outlived cheap talk and activism to real governance now that is he is constitutionally just a heart beat away from the throne.
  
  Raila's half-hearted quest for a local tribunal to try PEV perpetrators has been summarily busted. Poor son of Jaramogi has enough political foes with the furious Ruto the latest to join Uhuru and Kalonzo who both blame Raila for deflating their political balloons in 2002 and 2007 respectively. The PM is a marked man with enmity and venom oozing from every political orifice, damned either way he acts or speaks.
  
  But we must not lose sight of the trophy. To their collective rescue, Kenyans are better advised to listen to the two voices of God through Kalonzo and Ruto and consign the PM to political dustbin lest they fall to his machinations to eliminate opponents prior to 2012 polls.
  
  Prof Luis Moreno-Ocampo himself epitomizes bad omen and death. The last time he was here coincided with the cold murder the late Mungiki spokesman Njuguna Gitau Njuguna. What is more, Moreno's presence last week was accompanied with the death of three policemen who succumbed to grenade attacks.
  
  Make no mistake, the ICC is Raila's project through the US with Ocampo being just a handle under manipulation. Removing UK and Gen Ruto from the Kenyans political landscape will not be an easy task. Their respective communities knows what true power is than the other 40+ Kenyan tribes. They will fight to the last blood buoyed by the exported Diaspora who have their ears and village loyalty on the ground.
  
  So there we have Kenya's vision clearly spelt out for us by the VP. We must join Kalonzo's prayer to have Ruto's ICC case expedited to pave way his return to the cabinet even if it means take shade under ODM-K umbrella. But above all else Kalonzo needs Ruto on his side to formulate agenda for a brighter Kenya come 2012. Woe unto masters of mass action.
  
  As a footnote to the doubting Thomases, Kenya remains a continental trailblazer in exporting fraud. And if in doubt just ask one Laurent Gbabgo of Ivory Coast. Pretender Quattrra is better advised to accept Thambo Mbeki's predictable proposal to serve as PM in a coalison government. NANI KAMA SISI? Hakuna. We lead, others follow.Kumekucha

  
  

• Imperialists Annan, Ocampo Choking Kenya

  Posted: December 2, 2010, 4:25 pm by Taabu

  The big boys are in town wielding the bid stick. Koffi Annan has never tired of babysitting toddler Kenya. And for good measure this time he is accompanied by the holder of that scary ICC office, one Luis Moreno Ocampo. Which leaves you wondering why the later did not save Ruto money by asking him to wait in Nairobi instead of suffering The Hague winter. But that is a story for another day.
  
  Kenya is choking with imperialists demanding every pound of her flesh. If it is not the US envoy Renneberger hogging the loacl political scene with his diplomatic incitement of Kenyan youth against their own government, we collectively get painted with that broad brush as a stinking SWAMP of FLOURISHING CORRUPTION. Well, if that is the accolades from a friendly country I guess we need not search for true enemies.
  
  Forget that fat lie that the international community saved us from ourselves. We have always butchered each other in five-year periodic cycles since 1992. Annan is better advised that his determination to remain relevant and in employment since leaving the UN is selfish at best and overbearing at worst.
  
  The ex-UN boss must leave Kenyans to run their own affairs in ways they know best. Now he is in town breathing fire on our necks threatening brimstone if we derail implementation of the new constitution which has proved to be the elephant in our house.
  
  The stakes are too high to leave the new constitution grow legs of its own lest we all get consumed by this hydra. Kenya is the largest economy if both East and Central Africa and the REAL ENTREPRENEURS who make us tick must not be harassed with fictitious.
  
  The Charterhouse bank operated on Kenyan money and was run by Kenyans for Kenyans. The phantoom drug lords are mere shadows. For the records Taib is a lawyer and must know better when it comes to matters that appertains to law. Loud-mouthed Renneberger must stop being jelous of SELF-MADE MPs Kabogo and Joho and smart ex-sharp shooter Mwau.
  
  We must unite as a country to collectively stop the so-called international community from conspiring to bring Kenya down to her knees by targeting our industrious leaders. Annan and Ocampo are simply disguising their escape from the biting winter in Europe, WASHINDWE.Kumekucha

  
  

• Imperialists Annan, Ocampo Choking Kenya

  Posted: December 2, 2010, 4:25 pm by Taabu

  So the might US of A has degenerated so low to an extent of financing Kenyan youth to topple their government? Well, one must expose his post molars at that laughable jibe of yore. And while at it forget the present hot potato from the cyber fascists called Wikileaks who gives priority to the facial beauty of our president as if governance is a catwalk. They can rant and rave all they care but we remain SOVERRIGN so much so that only we have the patent for such gems as Goldenberg, Anglo Leasing, Triton and Grand Regency. But that is a story for another day.
  
  For now the big boys are in town wielding the bid stick. Koffi Annan has never tired of babysitting toddler Kenya. And for good measure this time he is accompanied by the holder of that scary ICC office, one Luis Moreno Ocampo. Which leaves you wondering why the later did not save Ruto money by asking him to wait in Nairobi instead of suffering The Hague winter. Again a story for another day.
  
  Kenya is choking with imperialists demanding every pound of her flesh. If it is not the US envoy Renneberger hogging the local political scene with his diplomatic incitement of Kenyan youth against their own government, we collectively get painted with that broad brush as a stinking SWAMP of FLOURISHING CORRUPTION. Well, if that is the accolades from a friendly country I guess we need not search for true enemies.
  
  Forget that fat lie that the international community saved us from ourselves. We have always butchered each other in five-year periodic cycles since 1992. Annan is better advised that his determination to remain relevant and in employment since leaving the UN is selfish at best and overbearing at worst.
  
  Reign of shameless imperialists
  The ex-UN boss must leave Kenyans to run their own affairs in ways they know best. Now Kofi is in town breathing fire on our necks threatening brimstone if we derail implementation of the new constitution which has proved to be the elephant ready to evict us from our own house.
  
  The stakes are too high to leave this hydra-headed monster set of new laws to grow legs of its own lest we all get consumed by it. Kenya is the largest economy if both East and Central Africa and the REAL ENTREPRENEURS who make us tick must not be harassed with fictitious.
  
  The Charterhouse bank operated on Kenyan money and was run by Kenyans for Kenyans. The phantom drug lords are mere shadows. For the records Taib is a lawyer and must know better when it comes to matters that appertains to law. Loud-mouthed Renneberger must stop being jealous of SELF-MADE MPs Kabogo and Joho and smart ex-sharp shooter Mwau.
  
  We must unite as a country to collectively stop the so-called international community from conspiring to bring Kenya down to her knees by targeting our industrious leaders.
  
  The truth be told, Annan and Ocampo are poorly disguising their escape from Europe's biting winter, WASHINDWE.Kumekucha

  
  

• Poor Governor-Elect Sonko Selectively Arrested

  Posted: November 23, 2010, 1:30 pm by Taabu

  The rich also cry. Poor Sonko is cooling his heels in the cells. It appears some people have never forgiven Makadara MP for showing his bling-bling all the way to parliament and leaving hitherto seasoned politicians sprawled on the ground in shame. And the Kenyan media must be exposing their post-molars in joy after hounding and convicting Hon Mbuvi without the benefit of plea.
  
  Typical Kenyan voters will start parroting in favour and against Sonko's incarceration while conveniently ignoring that the MP is a mirror of themselves. We get the leaders we deserve and Sonko is just one among the many robbers and murderers we elect after every five years. Soon fingers will be pointing in every direction accusing perceived political opponents. This perfect and apt drama to take over from where Ruto left with his Hague antics.
  
  The political Kenyan will jump to innuendos without asking the basic questions like why the the same CID who cleared Sonko to vie as MP are now hounding him. A civilized society would have witnessed heads rolling yesterday. But sorry this is Kenya which is almost exclusively defined by double speak.
  
  If Ruto is preparing to demand a full refund from his advisers for dangling him in front of the ICC sharp fangs, then Sonko's advisers must be hanged for exposing their client to the valgaries of political office given his heavily packed cupboard of skeleton.
  
  Sonko should have known that one must be very afraid when flaunting wealth whose source is as dark as his/her past. Consorting with Maina Njenga and Kamlesh Pattni rightly paints you with the huge brush of guilt. Poor brother bling bling Mike Sonko! Next stop Shimo-La-Tewa.Kumekucha

  
  

• Ruto Theatrics Proves Public Confidence in ICC

  Posted: November 12, 2010, 9:00 pm by Taabu

  Ruto is not going down to The Hague without a bruising fight. The battle-ready, warrior and messiah has his eyes and jabs singularly trained on the trio ROW - Raila (as standard), Omar and Waki.
  
  The drama has been unparallelled the whole week. The coincidence in HEROIC homecoming from The Hague and guns blazing with bullets aimed at the head of one Hassan Omar was textbook Kanu parading evidence to advance a mission. Add that to both Rono and Wekesa disowning KNHRC and spitting in the face of perjury charges and you get an original script from an incompetent spin doctor willfully leading her client to the slaughter by the leash.
  
  Ratko Ruto did a splendid job and saved ICC plenty of resources by presenting himself to be ICC officials for a close and candid study, dissecting his personal demeanour, credibility, language and guilt. The TRIBAL siege mentality Ratko is working overdrive to craft with a hope of making his indictment politically untenable is no brainier for ICC. Hon Ratko is better advised to stick to Raila and forget blaming small fish like Omar
  
  The phrase dancing yourself lame before the real music starts must have been coined with Hon William Ruto in mind. Thanks to Ruto, Kenyans are reliving the Kanu theatrics of yore. And just how much ground of deceit can one cover in a week of political polemics? Well, we haven't seen the last act from the MP for Eldoret North.
  
  Kenyans are better advised to brace themselves for more Ronos and Wekesas who have come out to disown dream lives of luxury without telling us the BUYING PRICE. You just don't trash freebies of KES 60,00 a month and a fully furnished three bed roomed accommodation in leafy suburbs for press headlines, or do you? Only in Kenya do we fall for such gimmicks.
  
  Ruto did not need the trip to The Hague to reinvent himself. His spin doctors must be working overdrive to keep the cheques coming and remain relevant before the owl is unmasked revealing the feathers that he is presently disguising as horns. A lie repeated in total brinkmanship and bravado never mutates into truth, or does it?
  
  Porous shield
  For starters, ICC will do their own investigations and all the present heat on KNHRC is a charade at beast and a decoy meant to divert at attention at worst. Rono and Wekesa appear to be blinded with the present money taps so much so that they have become oblivious if the legal chopping block they are inadvertently placing their dead necks on. The cause of the present fallout has been reduced to typical Kenyan unmet promise of land, money and scholarships. Well, ICC is not our local courts and that is why many Kenyans preferred it from the word go.
  
  Behind Ruto's hyperactivity lies the big nasty political plot that will hit Kenyans like a thunderbolt. The real owners of Kenya have had a glimpse of ICC fangs and claws and tehy are running really scared. Ruto is not alone and is merely testing waters for the real shakers who don't have the guts to face their demons. Make no mistake, 2012 is only 13 months away and the suspects are ganging behind their tribal walls to scare and frustrate justice. Well, they are swimming in uncharted waters and time is not on their side.
  
  The tribal warlords are all out to sabotage ICC but tough luck. We are in a new Kenya and their expertise of trying to fit old wine in new wine skins will backfire big time. Individuals committed crimes and not communities and ICC knows it better. The later may only provide porous shields until Ocampo's spear comes for the hearts of the former.Kumekucha

  
  

• Brave Ruto Panics, Calls The Hague Bluff

  Posted: November 5, 2010, 6:00 pm by Taabu

  Naive or brave? Well call is courage, panic or whatever you fancy but Hon William Samoei arap Ruto has rattled both Kenya and the The Hague. After deriding ICC as irrelevant and snail-paced to act (remember 100 years?), Ruto has taken the battle right to Ocampo's doorstep and in its wake left all the PEV's suspects shaking in their boots like leaves at the mercy of ferocious desert gales.
  
  That Ruto caught all and sundry by surprise is not debatable. And he could not have struck at a better time in his political life when he has no CABINET BAGGAGE which would have demanded clearance before booking a date with Moreno and his sleuths in The Netherlands.
  
  Either Ruto is trailblazing in tilting/setting Kenya's political agenda or being plainly naive by attempting to preempt the inevitable. True to the adage either the guilty are very afraid or the brave chat their won paths. Take you pick. Either way Bill has left the other suspects with little room to wiggle. They must come out of the closet and publicly declare their stand, no two ways about it.
  
  You can only imagine the impending political inferno if Ruto chooses to go SUICIDAL (security in numbers) with some PENTAGON minutes, either real or not. Spice that up with the unsettling fact that senior security officers have written to Ocampo vowing never to take responsibility for orders that came from the GOVERNMENT.
  
  The recipe you get is a mix that leaves every politician sneezing and the stomach rubbling. Meanwhile they are left groping in the dark with Ocampo's sledgehammer lurking in the shadows. The Hague Express has gathered full steam and there is no disembarking. Nobody is safe. And what was that gimmick about AU resolution not to submit to the ICC again? NA BADO!!Kumekucha

  
  

• Leader's Curse: Damned for Action and Inaction

  Posted: October 25, 2010, 7:00 pm by Taabu

  There is no honour among hyenas, and who cares? The PM Raila had no power to suspend a minister because he is not the appointing authority and now he is taking all the flack for same. Well, masters of impunity must be feeling like fish tossed out of water. Their political epitaphs were scripted with golden letters of constitutional promulgation on August 27.
  
  President Kibaki suspended Hon William Ruto from the cabinet and Raila is paying the heavy backlash bill. And the whole saga gets even more paradoxical for Kibaki who would have been vilified if he did not act and just he is being criticized for his action.
  
  Next neck on the chopping block is Foreign Affairs Minister Moses Wetangula following the damning parliamentary report on Tokyo scam. The committee's indictment is so damning on Wetangula so much so that his hitherto securely locked closet has left his Kanu-era worms crawling from the shelves.
  
  After unsuccessfully attempting the typical Kenyan political gimmick of drumming tribal support to cover your stinking back, Wetangula has his head squarely placed on the block. But don't count on any consistency in suspension yet. This is Kenya and political premium reigns supreme. Wetangula will either go Ruto way or Ongeri way depending on his weight on the succession and political balance.
  
  With no regard to morals, Kenyans have the leaders they deserve. Look no further than the bigoted comments in support or condemnation of the fraudulent politicians. Even the Diaspora are playing ball with pedestrian analysis of which political alliance will win 2012 elections.
  
  A nation living in denial is one immaculately paving her path to self destruction. Ruto and Wetangula do not have to wait to be suspended if they respect the laws they are paid to make. But this is Kenya where politicians shamelessly on camera secure in the knowledge that they have their tribe in the pocket.
  
  The new constitution may be better compared to the previously tattered on but both never condoned fraud. Until we reboot out national mindset and accept the simple truth that morals cannot be legislated, Wetangula and company will continue ripping us off collectively as a country as we cheer and re-elect them as our top most diplomats.
  
  It is no coincidence that both Ruto and Wetangula were our chief negotiators at Serena following the 2007/8 near Armageddon. We only condemn impunity from others and not when two junior embassy officials (Mburu and Muchiri) masterminds such a gigantic national fraud and get promoted for the same.
  
  Woe unto a people living a beautiful national lie of pretense.Kumekucha

  
  

• ICC Fangs Scares, Rattles Lords of Impunity

  Posted: October 14, 2010, 6:00 pm by Taabu

  Whatever the outcome of the impending probe into PEV, ICC has already succeeded big time where no Kenyan institution dared tread before. The hitherto lords of impunity have been comprehensively scared stiff of their survival wits and left with no room to wiggle.
  
  Who would have imagined a Kenyan politician voluntarily submitting himself to ignominy of The Hague probe even before being served with any summon. The guilty are surely very afraid chasing their shadows and tails.
  
  Even the loudest of tribal drums won't scare one Luis Moreno-Ocampo and his team. So far ICC has only bared her fangs and the guilty are running scared like headless chicken. They have been properly rattled like never before. And before their apologists rush throwing in hollow sovereignty polemics, they better appreciate the fact that ICC has exposed the underlying powerlessness of our dead institutions which are easily manipulated by the ruling elite.
  
  Loudmouth for hire
  
  Listening to Simon Mbugua is real proof of the folly of believing in change from the recently promulgated constitution without an overhaul in our national and individual mindset. Mbugua let the cat out of the bag with his stupid bravado that even if Uhuru and Ruto are shipped to The Hague, they will still be voted in come 2012. His is an apt case of a loudmouth with loose lips for hire which unfortunately end up selling the landlord for cheap.
  
  The clever albeit PRIMITIVE ploy to raise a suspect's political profile does not blunt ICC's sharp claws. Michuki’s latest anointment of Uhuru would have been a smart Kenyan move but it has no chance in hell to frustrate ICC's investigations. The wider scheme of trying to stir tribal emotions is past its sell by date.
  
  The three Cabinet Ministers are better advised to honour their appointment with Ocampo instead of dragging their gullible kinsmen with them to the guillotine. Crimes are committed by individuals and not tribes.
  
  They suspects are better advised to start shopping around and making contacts with Charles Taylor lawyers. They can afford all the good lawyers money can buy. While that may lessen the burden, their crosses they must surely carry on their own.Kumekucha

  
  

• The Hague Express Gathers Even More Steam

  Posted: October 7, 2010, 6:00 pm by Taabu

  You cannot fault the Chief Justice Evan Gicheru for being alive to Kenya's morbid and rabid tribal realities. Granted, Lady Justice Rawal is more than qualified to help with ICC investigations on PCs and PPOs. But you don't have to be a neurologist or a NASA scientist to see why she was a safe bet among the LOCAL legal brood. No wonder the tribal Diaspora are already crying wolf that the good Judge is not Kenyan enough.
  
  The adage the guilty are afraid and get exhausted chasing their own shadows could not have been more true. On one hand ICC wants official State minutes detailing (mis)handling of PEV and on the other Rift Valley MPs are asking the Hague-based court to investigate mass action planned at the ODM headquarters that produced the resulting chaos and destruction.
  
  Well, as Chinua Achebe aptly summed it, a frog never leaps across the road if something is not after its life. ICC's singular determination to prove her case of crimes against humanity has foamed into a life of its own. Forget the tribal posturing, no amount of gerrymandering will cloud ICC's vision to met justice.
  
  Fact, the genocide suspects are individuals and not tribes. They better get used to the truth that the dragon of of impunity has individual souls and no trace of collective ethnic loyalty. What is more, crime against humanity is often traceable to government turning its monopoly of violence against her own people. And lest we forget Kenya has never had a parallel government at any given point in time.
  
  That our sickening tribal loyalty has acutely infected even the so-called exported bigots answering to the tag of Diaspora is shameful to say the least. And the politicians know it that is why they are drumming tribal emotions with the aim of sucking ICC into that primitive dark tunnel. Well, with all its warts notwithstanding, ICC has her sight singularly trained on the key suspects.
  
  Outside the facade of sovereignty (if only that would stop us from self-destruction), the government has nothing to fear in providing those minutes. Similarly, the RV MPs are giving themselves away by shadowboxing and pointing fingers about mass action. They are fooling nobody but themselves with the hollow and cheap security in numbers mindset.
  
  We failed ourselves and we have no moral grounds to shout otherwise under the cover of new constitution. The truth be said, ICC is rattling all suspects. And you know what, they are VERY AFRAID because they have no recourse to buy or delay justice. Let the suspects carry their own crosses no matter the wait. The tribal security in numbers is a cheap shot that won't wash.
  
  ICC is only stepping in to fill the void left by our failed judicial system. Protesting that using the new constitution is typical deceptive Kenyan ways of living a national/tribal lies. Questioning PCs, PPOs and those who bankrolled the violence and murder must not be tribalized. Justice can only be frustrated but never defeated.Kumekucha

  
  

• ICC: Ocampo Out of Order, Chasing Shadows

  Posted: October 4, 2010, 3:00 pm by Taabu

  Refrain 1: The ICC does not care whether you are a Kikuyu, Kalenjin, Luo or Mijikenda.
  
  Refrain 2: ICC is not a tool to settle political (tribal) scores.
  
  First, ICC's chief prosecutor is operating on an ILLEGALITY and Kenya has no blank sheet/vacuum to offer him for his destructive experiment. Our own Justice Minister Mutula Kilonzo told him the very basic that the new constitution has overtaken all his theatrics. What is more, Ocampo's desire to question PCs and PPOs is an obsession with offices that no longer exist in our laws.
  
  Lius Moreno-Ocampo may have been hitherto a top notch law don in an Ivy League University prior to taking the ICC job, but as he will soon realise to his eternal embarrassment nobody can intellectually tackle Kenya's ETHNIC-based problems. ICC lost her case immediately the suspects successfully sold the dummy of OUR TRIBE is targeted. Game over and thinking otherwise is to entertain a mirage as an oasis. Period.
  
  Lest Moreno forgets, there is no honour among hyenas. The adage of security in numbers works best when suspects with everything to loose gang up together to protect their interests. And you cannot blame them for celebrating on the graves of PEV victims because the living have a life to live and protect. Add that to the willing tribesmen and Diaspora who have seen the dark forces aiming to nub their tribal lord and Ocampo's goose if surely roasted and digested.
  
  Forget all that scare about ex-Mungiki leaders secured abroad with dossier on Naivasha massacres. PEV targeted only one community and all others are pretenders to murder. Ocampo will meet his Waterloo in our own superlative legal minds led by ex-LSK boss Ahmednasir. Moreno may have succeeded in convincing some two out of three judges in the Hague but he is better advised to save his face from legal eggs by going slow and avoiding Kenya's TRIBAL minefield.
  
  Ocampo has been warned. Woe unto him and his reputation (if he has any) should he dare venture into our EXPLOSIVE ethno-government.Kumekucha

  
  

• ICC: Ocampo Out of Order, Chasing Shadows

  Posted: October 4, 2010, 3:00 pm by Taabu

  Refrain: ICC is not a tool to score political points.
  
  First, ICC's chief prosecutor is operating on an ILLEGALITY and Kenya has no blank sheet/vacuum to offer him for his destructive experiment. Our own Justice Minister Mutula Kilonzo told him the very basic that the new constitution has overtaken all his theatrics. What is more, Ocampo's desire to question PCs and PPOs is an obsession with offices that no longer exist in our laws.
  
  Lius Moreno-Ocampo may have been hitherto a top notch law don in an Ivy League University prior to taking the ICC job, but as he will soon realise to his eternal embarrassment nobody can intellectually tackle Kenya's ETHNIC-based problems. ICC lost her case immediately the suspects successfully sold the dummy of OUR TRIBE is targeted. Game over and thinking otherwise is to entertain a mirage as an oasis. Period.
  
  Lest Moreno forgets, there is no honour among hyenas. The adage of security in numbers works best when suspects with everything to loose gang up together to protect their interests. And you cannot blame them for celebrating on the graves of PEV victims because the living have a life to live and protect. Add that to the willing tribesmen and Diaspora who have seen the dark forces aiming to nub their tribal lord and Ocampo's goose if surely roasted and digested.
  
  Forget all that scare about ex-Mungiki leaders secured abroad with dossier on Naivasha massacres. PEV targeted only one community and all others are pretenders to murder. Ocampo will meet his Waterloo in our own superlative legal minds led by ex-LSK boss Ahmednasir. Moreno may have succeeded in convincing some two out of three judges in the Hague but he is better advised to save his face from legal eggs by going slow and avoiding Kenya's TRIBAL minefield.
  
  Ocampo has been warned. Woe unto him and his reputation (if he has any) should he dare venture into our EXPLOSIVE ethno-government.Kumekucha

  
  

• ICC Curse: Trapped Between Devil, Deep Sea

  Posted: September 29, 2010, 5:00 pm by Taabu

  The elephant that is ICC is refusing to burg. The Kenyan government is refusing to play ball too. In between Kenyan voter and IDP find themselves sandwiched between the devil and the dark blue sea.
  
  We have been reliably informed by bloggers here at Kumekucha that behind ICC's enthusiasm to met justice to PEV victims and perpetrators lurks the evil schemes by some politicians to eliminate their potential rivals prior to 2012 elections. The wisdom from that logic implies that it is alright to leave the IDPs and those who were prematurely and mercilessly sent six feet under during the 2007/8 near-meltdown to their own devices.
  
  When Justice Minister Mutula Kilonzo talks from both ends of his mouth on matters ICC, some support him for his bravery and patriotism. Well, if the new constitution is the panacea to all our problems then one is left wondering what the IDPs are still trapped in squalor. But that a concern for the politically naive because big things come at a prize and it seems none is too big to pay even with more than 1300 lives lost.
  
  It is true the US and China are not signatories to the Rome statute but do we have to employ cheap security in numbers and reverse logic (hata wewe pia) after failing to protect the same voters? Kenyans are superlative spinners capable of shamelessly reading malice from an angel's lips. Behind all the plastic patriotism lies ethnic bravado and loyalty. But dare tell a Kenyan blogger that and you become an e-meal cooked in tribal vitriol.
  
  ICC just like the international community came to save us from ourselves. Were it not for them, there would be no Kenya to speak of in the first place. Waxing patriotic to hide our primitive ethnic loyalties is to live a coloured lie. Well, the five-course tribal meal never constipates. We often wash it down with champagne made from ground conspiracy theories and served as intellectual discourse.
  
  ICC must have seen it coming and Prof. Luis Moreno-Ocampo is better advised to brace himself for more roadblocks. He has not seen the last of Kenya's superlative schemers yet. Meanwhile the living Diaspora and Kenyan leaders continue to urinate on the graves of PEV victim, both burnt and sliced.Kumekucha

  
  

• By-election Results Rattles Political Parties

  Posted: September 24, 2010, 8:00 pm by Taabu

  The recent by-election results is sending shock waves among hitherto united political parties. Having lost two seats, PNU as we knew it is tottering in the brink of disintegration. With Kanu, Ford People, Ford Kenya, New Ford Kenya and ODM-K deserting the coalition, we may as well be staring a new political dispensation all together.
  
  But wait a minute, are these mere political tantrums founded on nothing but hot air or signs of a sober reality check? Well, you guess is as good as mine given the original shaky grounds on which the coalition was founded in the first place. Just like Nark before it, PNU appear far past its sell-by date. But don't tell that to its supplicants lest you become a ready e-meal.
  
  While political spin doctors will shamelessly peddle the lie that the new constitution has no place for pre-poll pacts, the reality lies elsewhere and they know it. No party formed singularly for convenience can stand the occasional political heat like the one brought about by the Kabogo-Sonko axis.
  
  May be we have to witness all the present phase of amorphous grouping as a process of political maturing. But again, it is only in Kenya where the so-called leaders lie through their teeth and the voter including the Diaspora and bloggers buy the deceit line, hook and sinker. The journey to political maturity will surely be both torturous and painful.
  
  Or may be the stillborn political baby christened Progressive Democratic Movement (PDM) will save the day and orphaned political faces. But you only bet on any Kenyan political sloganeering at you eternal peril. Talk is cheap. What is more, Kenyans never disappoint when it comes to waxing patriotic and intellectual albeit of the plastic genre.
  
  Here comes the theatrics premiere of 2012 Kenya style now showing at a microphone and a camera near you. Enjoy, NA BADO.Kumekucha

  
  

• Iron Lady Martha Karua Floors Giants in Polls

  Posted: September 21, 2010, 6:00 pm by Taabu

  Her Nark-Kenya party has bagged two more parliamentary seats and in the process floored PM in Makadara, VP in Juja and DPM in both Makadara and Juja. She may not be ruling but Martha Karua reigns supreme, at least for these by-elections.
  
  You have to give it to the iron lady from Gichugu and her bare knuckles political fights. Thanks to her resilience, William Kabogo and Gideon/Mike Mbuvi Kioko have acquired the honourable titles before their names.
  
  With an average turnout of 40%, the three by-elections epitomizes the curse and cost of democracy. Well, people get the leaders they deserve but having such a low turnout flips the argument on its head. While the electorates may be blamed for failing in their collective and individual civic duty, it is difficult for the emerging MPs to claim to be comprehensive representative of the people.
  
  The latest by-elections also exposed the folly of Kenyans expecting different politics from the same old brood. The campaigns took the predictable and partisan path that read like any script from the years of yore. And the voters have themselves to blame because they cannot turn around and demand any better after going to bed with the same scoundrels.
  
  Just like exams being the worst form of evaluation but for lack of a functional alternative, democracy is surely a curse and damn expensive. It may be tempting to wax intellectual with a think-outside-the-box prescription but viability and practicality will dissuade such pretense.
  
  We have laid our bed and must sleep on it with all the moulds underneath. In the meantime congratulations to William Kabogo, Sonko Mbuvi and Bishop Dr Margaret Wanjiru. All the three winners owe their success to no king-pin with Mbuvi drawing the thickest of political blood while Kabogo has whipped the UK-Wiper alliance.
  
  What is more, Bishop single-handedly upset the bookmakers even with ODM's lukewarm support. Well, I guess the cast will be complete when Maina Njenga becomes the Governor of Nairobi in 2012.Kumekucha

  
  

• Here Comes Constitution Mirage and/or Oasis

  Posted: August 13, 2010, 1:30 pm by Taabu

  By KK Pundit
  
  New Kenya constitution Chapter one, Section (1): “All sovereign power belongs to the people of Kenya, and shall be exercised only in accordance with this Constitution.”
  
  It is one week since Kenyans voted for a new constitution but reading newspapers and watching news one would be tempted to imagine that last Wednesday's was a mock exercise. The so-called Kenyan church is up in arms demanding amendments to what is not promulgated yet.
  
  Reading blogs with Kenyan political content leaves you wondering whether we falsely accuse out leaders of politicking 24/7. Bloggers will never cease drawing and craving political blood no matter the serenity of the occasion. Well, I guess it all boils down to the basic fundamentals: YOU CANNOT LEGISLATE VALUES, it is in the genes, LOL.
  
  No wonder the Pokots have killed all their cats and dogs following advice by Minister Samuel Poghisio and PS Lonyangapuo that they would be taxed for keeping them under the new Constitution.
  
  Are we there yet? Or are we heading nowhere?
  
  There is a question being asked over and over by voices from the legal chambers of concerned experts, social gatherings, frothing waterholes, meat roasting dens, dispirited religious circles, sardine parked matatus, death-wish buses and regional political grapevines, which is:
  
  What name will Kenyans christen the so called newly delivered Baby Constitution?
  
  Will it be Dilemma, Quagmire, Quandary, Limbo, Mystery, Business As Usual, Kenya Ina Wenyewe (Shakers and Movers)?
  
  Or will it be Hope (For the Better), Freedom (At Last), Change (We Fought For), Kick Them All Out If They Don't Deliver (Come 2012), Let's Wait And See (It Will Take Time Kenyan Style).
  
  An ancient echo from a distant first cousin of KereNyanga named KereNjaro who lives in the neighbouring clouds of Eastern African may remind us of what is yet to come.
  
  "Fifty years later and none of my six children have yet to resemble me in any way, shape or form, nor do they resemble their immediate grandparents, five paternal uncles, three aunts or any one of their paternal eighteen nephews and sixteen nieces. What's going on? Should I keep hoping for the better, ignore the matter all together or have a DNA test done asap?
  
  I fear the worst if I opt for the last alternative. The truth may be a bitter pill to swallow if the results confirm my simmering decade old suspicion. The mother of my children is very uncomfortable with us being seen in public as a family.
  
  Our close friends, family, colleagues, associates, relatives, complete strangers, former school mates, and neighbours have never ceased to ask whether all of our children are from their mother's previous relationship, marriage or were adopted by us given our very busy sociopolitical engineered projects for the last five decades."
  ~ KereNyanga.
  
  Majority of Kenyans gave birth to a new constitution, but will it translate into what they had hoped for or will they end up without an inclusive political DNA that will transform the lives of many Kenyans all over the country?
  
  Should Kenyans demand an immediate constitutional DNA test in order to figure out the real devil that is hidden in the details before it's too late, or should they wait and see what becomes of the baby's true political, social and economic identity in the next ten to fifteen years?
  
  BTW, how does a country like Kenya finds the means and ways to perform a national DNA on the newly delivered baby christened by the majority as "Consti Tution wa Kenya"?Kumekucha

  
  

• New Constitution: An Oasis or Mirage?

  Posted: August 6, 2010, 6:30 pm by Taabu

  So Kenya is basking in the limelight as among the few countries who can overhaul their constitution in peace time. Well, it has been along journey for both proponents and critics of the new constitution. First a deserved congratulations to all Kenyans for showing maturity and disabusing the doomsayers who never expected an African country to release poll results in REAL TIME just like any other developed country out there.
  
  We are a lucky lot to be witnesses to a rebirth of a country. True, it is not perfect but what is? We have a plebiscite and it is upto us to better the template. At least we have the pride of place and mind to claim it as our own unlike the tattered Lancaster document that was thrust at us and then mutilated by our won for selfish reasons. And there comes the BIG catch.
  
  It may be premature to pop the champagne just yet. We have NEW wine in old wineskin's. Implementation of the new constitution is left at the hands/mercy of the OLD POLITICAL guard. Can they make a clean break from their selfish and destructive past to do what is right? Well, the jury is already out roamimg and your guess is as good as mine.
  
  Without abstracting the obvious, the new constitution provides a very radical road map on how to governance and other matters thereof. You can bet you next lunch that OWNERS of Kenya will not go down ushering in new FAIR ways of doing things that will jeopardize the leash and 'illegal' advantages they enjoy over the majority. They may not come out fighting but the RESISTANCE will definitely be massive.
  
  The most difficult part begins NOW
  
  The new constitution is no panacea to our myriad national maladies. We missed the opportunity to shape Kenya after independence and again after 2002 when we were the most optimistic nation on the planet. Will we squander this opportunity for the third time running? One only hopes and prays against all odds that we will not have the next two years of fiver pitch campaigns for 2012. How about putting a smile on the IDPs by resettling them to set the pace? Wishes!!
  
  This new constitution provides the best rallying document to galvanize us as a country and NOT a mere sum of 42+ tribes. The ordinary voters have led the way, will we follow and take it to the next level? We MUST REBOOT of our national culture and lay out clear objectives with time lines on what we need as a country. A constitution in nothing without people respecting and living its ideals. You cannot legislate values, they must be nurtured by design.
  
  We may be oblivious of the historic opportunity dangling before our eyes. Can we rise to the occasion and measure up? It may all sound evangelical but it is TRUE and DOABLE. Yes we can but can we seize the moment? Well, change starts from the individual before acquiring critical mass. It is incumbent upon each Kenya to start that change in his or her small way.
  
  Welcome to NEW KENYA. Congratulations Kenyans. One people, one Nation, one Kenya.Kumekucha

  
  

• The Face of Kenya After Next Week's Referendum

  Posted: July 29, 2010, 12:00 pm by Taabu

  Whatever the outcome of next week's referendum on the proposed constitution, the political landscape and chemistry will be radically altered forever. Whether Kibaki will reshuffle his cabinet is neither here nor there but the writing is boldly imprinted on the wall. The church too must brace itself for rebranding after next Wednesday.
  
  First the trophy goes to Moi for standing up to Kibaki to remind him he has all the right to trash the proposed constitution. At least Moi unwittingly accepted that we needed a new constitution 100 days after Kibaki took power. But his beef that the promise was not kept leaves him exposed as very petty. Is it not better to have it in less than 3000 days (8 years) than not at all after close to 9000 days (24 years) of ruin?
  
  Granted, neither Moi nor Kibaki should be criticising each other in public. It is just not right given their ages and our African culture. But Moi should walk his talk of speaking the truth instead of selective interpretation of the draft for political and personal expediency.
  
  True, two wrongs never made a right but just imagine anybody swiftly standing up to Moi just some 9 years ago? The political hirelings would have left some parts of the victim's anatomy scattered in various parts of Kenya. That Moi has his right as a Kenyan to make political choices is given. But attempting to square it out with his predecessor is just not right.
  
  Freedom! That word which is both used and abused in equal measure. Moi is brandishing it while he denied Kenyans even a trace of the same commodity. Well, speak of people living in glass houses having their hands full of stones and throwing them with abandon.
  
  We live in interesting times, COME ON August 4th.Kumekucha

  
  

• Opinion Polls, US Don't Vote Only Kenyans Do

  Posted: July 24, 2010, 4:00 pm by Taabu

  
  
  One week to go and the heat is on. Come on Kenyans do your part. Ignore both scaremongers and liars and VOTE your conscience.
  
  See Chris' latest post on the Opinion polls released earlier today.Kumekucha

  
  

• Matuga: Parties Stuck in Past, Behind Voters

  Posted: July 16, 2010, 11:00 pm by Taabu

  By Matuga Insider
  
  The Matuga by-election results deserve a deeper analysis to reveal the changing Kenyan political dynamics. I am not here to rain on anybody's parade but give an honest account of Coast's local politics.
  
  First let us not kid ourselves that Makwere did something extraordinary. No as evident in the proportion of votes by the two leading contenders. Granted one had to win but let go through the whole episode with a tooth comb, shall we?
  
  First of all, the youth brigades were equally represented on both sides of the camps' defence and offense. All the candidates were liked if not loved by their respective home crowds. The approval rating was clearly evident in their response, praise and acclamation.
  
  As a matter of fact, both candidates received ten thousand plus votes.
  
  No need for blinkers. Religion was never issue because all candidates were aware of the votes from both religious camps and ethnicities involved. Religion only becomes an issues on the main islands of Mombasa, Malindi and Lamu for obvious historical reasons known to many by now.
  
  The main chip that earned Mwakwere a huge chunk of the Matuga vote was none other his high profile and the alleged presidential guarantee of the reserved ministerial post (bendera) for the native son of Matuga.
  
  While the ODM candidate was viewed as a potential backbencher who not even survive the on coming 2012 onslaught. The death nail was ODM's upcountry cavalry. they were the most boring of any politicians ever seen or heard in the region during an election time. They were the ones who were boring and not the ODM candidate himself.
  
  The upcountry ODMers could not speak a coherent sentence in fluent Swahili, instead they were full of themselves and thought that the Nairobi "sheng" would endear them to the people of Matuga. It didn't and it never does.
  
  The biggest anatheema was ODM's mondus operandi, and the misplaced belief that they wow the Matuga crowds by using the Queen's vernacular to vouch for their "chosen one."
  
  The 'Mombasa Billionaire Factor' was another factor that made the ODM candidate to be labeled as a "sell out" and "representative of outsiders".
  
  Hence, one of the reasons ODM's Najib Balala ("Yule Fulani") was asked to stay away or keep a safe distance from the Matuga crossfires.
  
  While PNU became good bed fellows with the locals from the get go as opposed to ODM who have preferred to operate according to every command and edict that comes from their general who was missing in action as well as on the front lines.
  
  Let the truth tell itself. If not tell us your otherwise.Kumekucha

  
  

• Greedy MPs Collectively Raping Kenyans

  Posted: July 7, 2010, 1:00 pm by Taabu

  By Philip
  
  Update
  The proposed constitution explicitly states that all public officers (INCLUDING MPs) will pay tax on their income. So are the MPs rushing to beat katiba at its own game by topping their pay in readiness to pay take and eventually retain their present pay? These scoundrels are clever by half.
  
  ---------------------------------------
  Oops, they are doing it again. They have have no shame these politicians. And you cannot fail to see the silent unity that has suddenly overtaken their NO-YES divide. Even after the Kenyan press tabled evidence that they are earning far more than US senators, they remain firm in their shameless pursuit to accumulate funds for 2012 campaigns
  
  So why the painful contempt to Kenyans by their MPs? Your guess is as good as mine, WE HAVE NEVER HAD LEADERS. All of them are united in legal looting. And as they embark on their mass rape of Kenya it is funny that see bloggers here concentrating on those same leaders and not what we do to reclaim our country from these fraudsters.
  
  Well, let me assume that we are all doing well and that's why we are here blogging, not to discuss important issues that will improve Kenya, but as a form of exciting pass time and adventure.
  
  Just ponder this. When your famous neighbour is sick while a thief is trying to break into your house, will you leave the thief to go ahead to steal from you as you go watch your neighbour and start gossiping about him? I don't think so.
  
  After Ghana was defeat by Uruguay last week what is annoying majority of Kenyans now, apart from maybe Kenyans blogging here, is the MPs plan to increase their pay.
  
  Someone somewhere argued that the new constitution will have even more MPs (senators) e.t.c meaning more money will be needed, however nobody, including those in yes side, wants to mention about Chiefs, Sub-chiefs, D.Os, D.Cs, P.Cs e.t.c who are in our current set up but not mentioned in the proposed constitution. This is a hot and loaded topic that I will come back to later after more research.
  
  I think as Kenyans one way to take control (just the same way MPs have taken control of the government from the President, and will take more control with the proposed constitution), is to realize first of all that our MPs are not us but our representative. That the reason our MPs are in Parliament to represent us is because we cannot all fit there and it will be expensive for us to be there. That we have the power to take over this representation. That the law is there to serve us and not us to serve the law. That it's possible as people of Kenya to sue our MPs for failing to represent us the way we want.
  
  Let's think about this and see how we can step by step improve our country.Kumekucha

  
  

• Shameless Kenyans Peeing on Graves

  Posted: July 5, 2010, 8:00 pm by Taabu

  Readers of this blog have over the years seen/met commentators waxing lyrical and knowledgeable only to fall on their own sword. Not that we have do not admire them for exposing their post molars in self-importance pose.
  
  The PM Raila's hospitalization last week was an apt assessment of how out-of-tough the so-called Diaspora (most comments) are with reality in terms of Kenyan national culture and politics. Most commentators here were so insensitive and sarcastic so much so that you would imagine Raila booked himself in Nairobi Hospital, opened his own skull for the press to broadcast.
  
  Contrast that will the mature and sensitive manner all shades of politicians and his hitherto political opponents commiserated with the indisposed PM. Leading the queue was VP Kalonzo followed shortly by William Ruto. But twisting their long tongues in their won mouth we saw vitriol flow implying Raila was seeking cheap publicity and sympathy.
  
  Any normal human being is prone to sickness and Raila is no exception. We only need to be mature and outgrow the village antics and bigotry. It is the height of obtuse irony and paradox so see readers here shout about intellectual debates while the same fingers type debased comments that are not only primitive but inhumanely insensitive too. Theirs must be classic cases of exported 'villagery'.
  
  We have been admonishing our politicians for lagging behind the average voter but low and behold the bloggers is at the tail of the queue peddling cheap hatred spiced in exclusive insensitivity. And these few really know how to muddy the waters as will be evident in their mutating under several anonymous posting the garbage and hate they are genetically programmed to.
  
  Please grow up and do Kenya proud even if only once by shunning bigotry and trivia. There is no need of demanding the bar be raised if you have made a silent vow with yourself to permanently stay underneath. Over to those with what it takes to stomach the unpleasant truth. No derivatives.Kumekucha

  
  

• Fare Thee Well Queen Jane

  Posted: June 30, 2010, 8:00 am by Taabu

  
  The death of local music maestro Queen Jane from menengitis has robbed Kenya of yet another national icon. You need not understand the language she sang in to appreciate the authenticity and energy QJ radiated.
  
  Those not-too young will reminisce with her vocal prowess during her stint at Mbiri stars with Musaimo. Her landmark number Mwendwa (my dear) KK remains an household tune defining her unique melody. Fare thee well Nyambura and may your music live on.Kumekucha

  
  

• Self-Destruction is Complicating Simple Isssues

  Posted: June 28, 2010, 8:00 am by Taabu

  By Mwarang'ethe
  
  Living in a complex society, we often fail to perceive through study, critical thinking and reflection very simple truths that even a child can see. The fact is that, the basic principles that guide a simple society are not suspended when we enter into a complex society. Such ought to be self evident, but, alas, it is not. This lack of critical thinking and the subsequent error is evident in the so called "new constitution." To many supporters of the proposed new constitution, they like the so called "progressive human rights" contained in this draft as we are taught by brain dead intellectuals.
  
  But, what do these brain dead intellectuals mean by progressive human rights? They mean the obligation of the "state" to provide or ensure good housing, good jobs, and decent pension for the old and such as we find in Article 43 of the proposed new constitution. In accordance with this doctrine, it is for the state to show that, it does not have enough resources. In other words, it must prove it has not robbed enough to give others. This is not unexpected because; socialists/collectivists/communists have no time for morals. All they care, or they think they care about is social justice. In their perverted way of thinking, as long as a measure is intended for good cause, then, all is fine. As such, they suspend their inquiry when they meet something they like. They fail to see that, the train of cause and effect in real life will go beyond where they suspended their inquiry.
  
  Now, the best way to see through the serfdom of so called "progressive human rights" is to reduce the Kenyan State into the size of a location. For our purposes, we propose to take a fictitious nation called Bondo with a population of 1000 people and reduce to it in a fully fledged State. In Bondo where money economy has yet to arrive, there happens to be some very hard working villagers who number 600. As a result, they command a lot of wealth in terms of goats, beans and maize. At the same time, there are about 200 citizens of Bondo who are classified as poor in terms of World Poverty Bank index. There are also 200 recent post fake independence retirees who used to work in a nation called Nairobi. In their heydays, these retirees would visit the Bondo with second hand cars imported from Dubai. They would also used to speculate in shares hoping to get rich while doing nothing. In other words, they preferred to consume their savings to keep up with Jonnies and bidding up prices of existing assets instead of investing in productive ventures like the 600 citizens of Bondo who now have goats, beans and maize.
  
  To enhance governance, the people of Bondo decide to make a constitution. To ensure they know what they are doing, the people of Bondo engaged a committee of lawyers led by professor Ghai and Nzamba Kitonga. Being very kind hearted lawyers and well versed with the international instruments they call treaties emanating from some mysterious august bodies calling themselves the UN and AU, which require the Bondo State to provide economic and social rights of man, these lawyers and the Dear Leader agree that, every retiree in Bondo shall be entitled to at least 1 butchered goat, 1 bag of beans and 1 bag of maize every month. For the poor, which the modern lawyer is not educated to critically investigate the cause because, he deals with something they call precedent, the new constitution provides that, they should be provided with half a goat, 40 kgs of beans and 70 kgs of maize every month.
  
  This new constitution also, provides that, it shall be the noble and highly coveted task of the Dear Leader to ensure that, the retirees and the poor receive their due every month. In other words, the poor and retirees of Bondo State can now look up to the political power as the source of material betterment and as the guide to their personal destinies. They need not care about virtues of thrift, industry and initiative. Talk of making a virtue that was once considered a vice.
  
  The question now is, since the Dear Leader has nothing himself, where shall he get goats, maize and beans to give the poor and the retirees? In the spirit of participatory democracy, the committee of lawyers go around Bondo State collecting ideas and they come up with an ingenious idea. To get enough goats, beans and maize for distribution to the retirees and the poor, the new constitution empower the Dear Leader to confiscate via something they call direct tax from those who have more goats, beans and maize than they need and then, distribute to those who need them in the spirit of liberte, egilate and fraternite. But, none of this is new. As far back as 1580 B.C. the Great Leader of Egypt did not levy tax on the incomes of his subjects but, on the incomes of the public officials. And, since public officials produce nothing, their taxable funds consisted of what they had farmed from the public. The beauty of the Egyptian method was that, the tax collector got his cut before turning the difference to the Great Leader. As a result of this arrangement, he could not be said to have taken bribes like a Bondo Tax officer will be accused of.
  
  If you think we are using the word confiscation with malicious intent, consult Encyclopaedia Britannica which defines taxation as that part of revenue of the State which is obtained by COMPULSORY DUES AND CHARGES. Thus, income and inheritance taxes are a DENIAL OF PRIVATE PROPERTY by the state. Why does the state deny common people private property? Simply, income/inheritance taxation is an institution of state meant to keep masses under its heel, to favour its minions, to ruin the majority for the benefit of the rulers and thereby, maintain the old divisions and castes in a society. This is so because a government's despotic powers increase as its revenues increase and as the wealth of the masses decline.
  
  The new constitution also provides that, the more goats, beans and maize the citizen of Bondo has, the more shall be taken from him/her. The people of Bondo are advised that, this strange doctrine is called progressive tax i.e. soak the rich, which is taught by all Bondian State accredited universities. The doctrine was brought to Bondo by leading economic and law professors who happened to have schooled in a land called the West. Karl Marx would call this doctrine "FROM EACH according to his ABILITY/HARDWORK, to each according to HIS NEED/LAZINESS." But, to hide this communistic device, the Bondo professors of law, ethics, economics and even philosophy, call it progressive tax. One must wonder, why did Lenin have to have a bloody revolution when you can introduce serfdom by calling it progressive?
  
  The new constitution goes further to provide that, where the goats, beans and maize confiscated from those who have more than they but, it is not sufficient to meet the needs of the Dear Leader, the poor and the retirees, the Dear Leader shall have powers to borrow goats, beans and maize locally and abroad. Such loans shall be called public debt. To assure the creditors, the Dear Leader shall have the right to pledge as security the future goats, beans and maize of the hardworking villagers of Bondo. The end result of this new constitution is that, those who have sacrifice, save and do all is supposed to be done to raise goats and grow beans and maize shall have to part with a portion of their wealth every month so as to provide for the Dear Leader, the poor and the retirees in Bondo State and the public debt.
  
  More so, the new constitution provides that, before the Dear Leader distributes the goats, beans and maize which he shall confiscate from the wealthy to the needy, he shall pay himself first a salary. This salary, the Dear Leader shall decide himself or appoint a well paid committee of experts made up of his minions to decide his take. The committee of expert on Dear Leader's salary shall ensure that, the net income is as high as it was in the old constitution. Thus, the gross salary will be high enough to leave good net income as the Dear Leader is used to have. In any case, all the Bondo citizens wanted was for their Dear Leader to pay tax. To meet such stupid demands, the gross salary will be set appropriately so as to leave the net income as it was when the salary was untaxed under the previous constitution. Voila!
  
  To ensure that all villagers of Bondo shall do an honest yearly declaration of their wealth to provide for the Dear Leader's self declared salary and still have some of it left for the needy, the new constitution provides that, every villager must fully and accurately declare his/her goats, beans and maize and give that information promptly to the Bondo Tax Revenue Authority (BTRA). Failure to declare and any cheating will be met with the Penal Code. Yes, that infamous book of punishment invented in the spirit of the Inquisition and of the teachings of the despotic regimes of the Orient. The declaration is so intrusive such that, even goats and cows paid as dowry must be declared for the purposes of taxation. After all, was it not the Master Himself, who taught us, give unto Caesar what belongs to Caesar? But, how did Caesar get his cut? We are taught by historians that, up to the 4th century of the Christian era, to get the truth about incomes, they used racks and scourges to get the truth from suspected evaders.
  
  Since the income tax will not be enough for the Dear Leader's salary and the social purposes, the new constitution also gives the Dear Leader the powers to impose tax on wealth creation i.e. the consumption taxes such as the VAT and excise. In other words, the Dear Leader will hide taxes in goods and services the people of Bondo consume. If a citizen of Bondo has four kids, he must part with much of his wealth as compared to a citizen who has no kids when he buys bread. Thus, being responsible by raising a family will be punished for these taxes are a licence to live and one cannot run away from them. If he wants to avoid these taxes, then, he must commit suicide. If you add the income tax and the license to live tax, it will be about 60% of the Bondonian citizen income. In other words, the Bondian citizen will be 60% state slave. Only about 25% is remaining and chattel slavery/feudalism will be back.
  
  Consequently, the amount of wealth the citizen of Bondo MAY retain for himself shall be determined by the needs of the government of Bondo without his say. The Dear Leader will make such determination of his needs in his Budget speech which will be broadcast live in TV. In other words, the government of Bondo will have powers to take everything the citizens has and leave him with wealth for mere subsistence just to allow him to produce something to be confiscated in like manner. Simply, the government of Bondo has A PRIOR LIEN on all property produced by its subjects. This is the essence of socialism for whatever else it may say; its first tenet is the DENIAL OF PRIVATE PROPERTY.
  
  This is the blatant denial of the inalienable right to a man's property. This is not only a negation of a man's humanity, but, also, a negation of the Divine and Natural Laws. It is so because giving a man right to life is an empty title when he is denied the things that make life liveable, i.e. food, clothes and shelter. The question is, as one of the 1000 citizens of Bondo State would you accept such a Robbin Hood governance system as proposed by their new constitution? A system whereby, A and B put their heads together and decide what C shall be made to do for D? The vice of such scheming is that C is never consulted in the matter. He is simply clubbed by the police power of the state into diverting a part of his earnings to someone he has never seen. If no, why should Kenya be so organised?
  
  In any collective/socialistic based society, truth must be killed. To make such a nation work, all people are forced to work for the ends selected by those in control. It is thus essential that the masses are taught to regard these ends as their own. This requires massive propaganda and complete control of sources of information. So, how do the masses get carried away? Simple. The leaders of constitutional reforms in Kenya have carried the masses by appealing to a common human weakness. This is so because, it is easier to make people agree on a negative programme such hatred of the enemy rather than engage in any positive task. In Kenya, the hatred has been directed against Moi and his orphans. Armed with such low standards for what constitutional reforms should be about, Kenyans are aiming at having a constitution that will punish such evil doers like Moi who took away Kenyan's wealth. To hinge a constitutional reform on such a negative programme can only lead to a disaster for all we have at the end of the day is a Bondo state as we describe above. In such a state, it is the robbers, idiots and such other men can rise to power. We prefer a well thought out constitution which should bring about independence, self reliance, individual initiative, reliance on voluntary charity etc.
  
  We leave thee with some interesting story from the Bible and a personal observation of serfdom. In 1 Kings, Chapter 12, there is an interesting story where the people of Israel petitioned their new King, Rehoboam, son of Solomon to relieve them of the yoke his father had put on them. The designation of a levy on one's production as a yoke is very interesting especially for any man who has trained a bull to pull a plough under the yoke. The author of this article happens to have trained young bulls to pull the plough. When you start training a young bull to bear the yoke, it resists with all its might. The young bull will do whatever it can and this includes strangling himself to death to avoid the yoke. Such fight for freedom by a young bull shows how even animals value their freedom. Given this amount of resistance, one can say that, training a bull to bear the yoke may be one of the difficult jobs. However, through persistence and some serious beatings, we would subdue/wear the young bull until he bears the yoke with pride. It is the same with man for we pay tax with pride.
  
  Having learnt to bear the yoke, the bull ploughs the farm like a tractor. But, what does the bull get out of all this labour? Nothing. Seen from this personal experience with bulls, it is understandable why the people of Israel saw taxation as a yoke. A yoke symbolises the beast of burden which has no right to property. As such, when a human being is in a like manner deprived of what he has produced, which is the essence and sole purpose of income taxation, wealth creation and consumption taxation, he is degraded to the status of an ox. The people of Israel who could sense that man was created in the image of God and therefore, could sense this indignity and they wanted none of this yoke. It was for this reason they stoned to death Rehoboam's chief tax collector called Hadoram.
  
  In our times, stupefied by state education whose objective is to train slaves who do not understand the meaning of liberty and who confuse serfdom for liberty, we have become worshippers of the state. After all, don't we teach income taxation law in our esteemed law schools? As a result, and very sadly and very depressingly, the modern man has accepted the yoke just like an ox. However, bulls do better because; they never teach the young ones to bear the yoke. For us, we not only bear the yoke, but, we also teach our children how to bear the yoke.
  
  As you head to the referendum, remember this. When the people of Israel had a "referendum" on whether to have a King as other nations despotic nations, Jehovah's parting words with Samuel were these: “And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen: And the Lord will not hear you in that day.” It did not take long for this prophecy to come true. Saul, the first king, taxed the people about 10 per cent. David took care of at least 25 per cent more. Solomon, his son, required about 50 per cent. When they asked Solomon's son to reduce this yoke, he responded by saying this: "Whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father did chastise you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions."
  
  
  
  
  Kumekucha

  
  

• Killer Kirui Released: The Law's a Coloured Ass

  Posted: June 22, 2010, 1:00 pm by Taabu

  Make no mistake, video evidence is no sufficient ground to convict a criminal. If video pictures are no evidence where does that leave the fate of investigation into burning houses, forceful circumcisions, rapes, beheadings and serial killers?
  
  And oh, the government's quest to install CCTV in our streets must be an intention to beautify the cities with camera.
  
  Kenyans must have seen it coming. Having the Kenyan police investigate one of their own must be akin to delegating hyena the responsibility of guarding the pen. No brainer. Even the Judge sounded so self-contracting by accepting the video recording as Kirui but trust police's deliberate and systematic cover up to defeat the course of justice system.
  
  And these cops are smart. By meticulously presenting a gun for ballistic testing that is so similar to the killer weapon except the first digit, they knew they were guaranteed to both run and hide permanently.
  
  It may be time to have an independent prosecution services different from the law enforcement police force. But again IMPUNITY enjoys immunity to any office. We surely need total change in basic values and attitudes towards human life before we even shout reforms.
  
  You can only imagine the unbearable pain of relatives of the two victims. Imagine the traumatized witness Wafula who positively identified Kirui given he was one of those being kicked and pinned down that fateful January 16, 2008.
  
  Granted respect for the law is what separates us from other animals in the jungle but what do you do with irrefutable evidence butchered with scandalous investigation? Well, theorists can cobble countless conspiracy theories that will not lessen the pain of a bereaved mother seeing the killer of her son set free on such shoddy prosecution.Kumekucha

  
  

• Orbituary: Tony Msalame of Sheki Legi is Dead

  Posted: May 29, 2010, 12:18 pm by Taabu

  The rampant CHEST epidemic has robbed Kenya yet another of her illustrious sons. Veteran Kenya broadcaster Tony Msalame, 57, passed away Friday morning after suddenly collapsing at his Sheki Studios in Mombasa complained of chest pains. He was pronounced dead on arrival at Pandya Memorial Hospital where he was rushed.
  
  The death of Msalame robs Kenya of an authentic entertainer both at radio studios and on TV, Tushauriane. The not-so young Kenyans will recall Tony as the signature voice of infant Metro FM radio off KBC. Teaming with youngster DJs like Lucy Nduta, Angela Obino, Anne Lamayan and Kenyan-Congolese Harry Kabecha, African Music/Lingala and Benga music grew its own wings at Metro.
  
  Tony was an accomplished broadcaster at ease acting in TV, presenting Jazz hour on radio and Rhythm and Blues with Fayaz Qureishi. His Zum Zum Kipindi cha Kuongeza Maarifa, which he co-hosted with Kenyan-Tanzanian Tido Mhando was in a league of its own. Come Sunday evening and Msalame na dada Mrembo Khadija Ali would rock you off your seat with scintillating and often provocative Taarabu ballads.
  
  Tony Msalame trail blazed modern FM Radio entertainment in Kenya with his Sheki Legi program. His ilk includes the evergreen Freddy Obachi Machoka (the blackest man in black Africa), Khadija Ali, Eddy Fondo and Abdull Haq not to forget Mwalimu JOJ (Kenyan Franco), John Karani and Jeff Mwangemi. Tony's death is a golden feather off Kenya's national entertainment wing.
  
  A true Kenyan, Burudani with Tony at Sheki FM was the best. His fans spanned all the corners of Kenya. He would start with a call from Kip in Eldoret, follow it with Kasivu from Mwala, spice it with Nyongesa from Bungoma before invitting, Busia, Kisumu dala, Kisii, Kakamega, Muranga, Lunga Lunga na Kenya yote to Sheki legi.
  
  Rest in peace Tony, we loved you. And may your Skeki FM studio in Mombasa live long in flying your flag/legacy. You were a true Kenyan who warmed our hearts when you lived. Thank you Tony for a life fully lived and enjoyed, we can only repay you by celebrating yours.Kumekucha

  
  

• YES, Even Dead Fish Goes With the Flow

  Posted: May 21, 2010, 10:50 am by Taabu

  By Mwarang'ethe
  
  In his latest piece, Chris has written this: “how long do you think we will be able to flout our cash around even as our fellow countrymen starve and struggle to survive”? The implied meaning in this statement is that, the yawning gap in wealth between the few rich and majority dirty poor will be reduced or eliminated by the “new constitution.” As we have stated previously, a constitution is an economic document. As such, a constitution drafted without clear understanding of economics, i.e. natural laws of wealth creation and distribution is rubbish. We shall demonstrate with real examples.
  
  Let us first note two crucial, but, little known facts. In the “classical age” politics and economics were studied under the rubric of political economy as the science of wealth. Science in this manner meant the systematical classification and arrangement of the natural laws of social prosperity. However, so as to produce one dimensional idiot who cannot see the whole picture, this subject was divided into political science and economics. The reason given by Neo Classical economists was that, economics had now become a science like physics and astronomy. However, the main aim was to fool mankind for the benefit of few.
  
  About a hundred years ago, a group of socialists established a society called Fabian Society. Taking their name and strategy from Quintus Fabius, the Roman general who advocated a war of attrition against Hannibal of Carthage, they sought to impose socialism on mankind by stealth. To do so, they founded the London School of Economics and Political Science in 1895 (by the way, isn’t Kibaki and many other economists not graduates of this prestigious school?). For those of us who are awake in these dangerous times, we can see their dream of socialism is close to realization all over the world. Yes, we hear the right to food, decent housing and everything else to be provided by the government. The masses completely ignorant of long historical plans are deceived by this monkey language. In this collective ignorance, we hear them say hallelujah. We say woe unto you for we are on the road to serfdom worse than any other in the human history. While at it, remember this. It is socialism for the rich and free markets for the poor. If you doubt the definition of socialism, please tell us what you make of this.
  
  This year Citigroup just announced that its profits for just the first three months of this year totalled an incredible $4.4 billion, Goldman Sachs' haul was $3.5 billion, JPMorgan Chase grabbed $3.3 billion, and Bank of America took $3.2 billion. How did these geniuses make this fortune? It is this. The Fed has deliberately held short-term interest rates to historic lows -- less than one half of a percent. Meanwhile, the Treasury Department is paying almost 4 percent interests on longer-term loans that banks make to the government. This might sound complicated. However, it's really a very simple transfer of public wealth to the giant banks owned by a few thousand people out of 6 billion people. The Fed loans, let's say, a billion dollars (public money) to a bank at a half-percent interest. The bank then turns right around and loans that billion dollars to the Treasury Department, collecting 4 percent interest. In short, the banks take citizen’s money and loan it back to them for a sweet 3.5 percent profit. Apart from loaning the citizens back their own money at interest, they are using the same funds to short including naked short selling shares and government bonds in Greece, Europe and globally. To prevent the collapse of land values, shares and government bonds and currencies (which is a futile exercise where we are now), governments must come up with money bailout (more public debts on the shoulders of the poor) and the game goes on and on. Sheer genius!
  
  Question for YES people
  Have we entrenched such a system in your wonderful constitution? And, if yes, can we be educated how such a piratical monetary arrangement will help in bridging the wealth gap you talk about when we know as a matter of fact, that, it is a means of transferring wealth from the poor to the super rich, i.e. the rentier class?
  In a recent article on this blog we stated something like this. “The productive activities that can make a nation wealthy must meet two tests. (a) Such activities should lead to production of valuable tangible/intangible stuff. (b) Such activities should be surplus generating economic activities that can be made available for future re- investment. Ignoring the distribution aspect of this surplus for the moment, we can say that, since our economic activities do not meet test (b), in other words, we specialise in unproductive economic activities (special EPZ's and coffee growing - Malthusian activities) we are going NOWHERE. “
  
  We added this. “Furthermore, even if there is some little surplus revenue for re- investment we also have a major problem of its distribution. Under the private land ownership (absolute title to land), land absorbs almost all of the surplus revenue in form of rent. In addition to this, we have piratical monetary system that also extracts a very large portion of the surplus revenue from our economy. This extraction of wealth by the idle class is at the expense of the class that create real wealth. This class is composed of the labour and the real economy/industrial/agriculture economy. Once the industrialist/farmer who creates commodities we need and exchange with each other is starved of revenue for future investments, it follows that, there are no jobs for the labour. And even if there are jobs, so as to meet the unjust demands of land owners and the financial capitalists, the wages must be low as we see in the EPZ’s. Low wages cannot create an environment for industrialists to invest.”
  
  Question for YES people
  So, if this is the condition of our economy and the “new constitution” has not fixed it, how do you meet the economic and social rights as well as devolution demands?
  More so, there is something else we seem not to understand. It is the real meaning of “free trade” under which we are operating. This is a simple analysis. The imperial nations export capital to our nations for two reasons. These are the development of low cost sources of food (coffee, tea, fruits) and raw materials required by developed nation’s factories (copper, oil etc). By exporting capital to us, these nations can keep wages for their labour a bit low because basics/food is cheap. This ensures that, their profits for future investments are not squeezed too much. If free trade for the rich is meant to preserve their profits, what do we seek to preserve on our part? We answer debt, poverty and ignorance and conflicts over shrinking cake.
  
  Question for YES people
  To what extent does this wonderful constitution come even close to appreciating this reality, and therefore, come up with innovative means of escaping these arrangements? And, since it has not done so, can we be taught how prosperity of the poor will come about when wages must be kept low such that, we lack purchasing power and the profits for future investments?
  
  We seek to write as little as possible, but, we are attempted to say more. In Article 41 (3) of the proposed constitution, we read this: “Every employer has the right – to form and join an employer’s organisation, and to participate in the activities and programmes of an employer organisation.” May God save Kenya. In the USA, we hear that, lobbyists make it impossible to make the necessary reforms. However, here we are, seeking to entrench such rights in our “new constitution.”
  Let us see what Adam Smith said about employers and let the reader judge whether the drafters of this document and the Kenyans in general know anything they are talking about. He wrote this:
  
  “People of the same trade seldom meet together, even for merriment and diversion, but the conversation ends in a conspiracy against the public, or in some contrivance to raise prices... The interest of dealers ... in any particular branch of trade or manufactures, is always in some respects different from, and even opposite to, that of the public... The proposal of any new law or regulation of commerce which comes from this order, ought always to be listened to with great precaution, and ought never to be adopted till after having been long and carefully examined, not only with the most scrupulous, but with the most suspicious attention. It comes from an order of men, whose interest is never exactly the same with that of the public, who have generally an interest to deceive and even to oppress the public, and who accordingly have, upon many occasions, both deceived and oppressed it.”
  
  In the end, it seems as if one thinker who also a journalist was right. He argued that, people, including journalists were more interested in believing the pictures in their heads (housing for all, wealth distribution etc) rather than come to judgment by critical thinking. He added that, the function of journalists and news in this sense is only to signalize an even while the function of truth is to bring to light the hidden facts and thereby, set them in relation with each other so as to make a picture of reality upon which men can act. The news is that, we have a new constitution. The truth is that, it is the same old wine in new wine skins. In this case, news and truth are not synonymous. Even worse, he noted that, even if journalists could be effective in educating the public about important issues, the masses are never interested in learning and assimilating the results of accurate investigations. Thus, like a dead fish, they go with the flow.
  
  In conclusion, no, we are not motivated by fear, but, the truth. However, we are aware that, today, there is little regard for the truth, little access to it and even little ability to recognise it. Truth is unwelcome entity. It is very disturbing. Truth is an inconvenience for governments and the interest groups who benefit from so called governments. Even worse, those, whose goal was once discovery of the truth about just wealth creation and just distribution thereof, are now paid very well to hide it. In other words, truth has fallen to the gods of mammon.Kumekucha

  
  

• Referendum: Draft Chocking in Shameful Errors

  Posted: May 19, 2010, 10:30 pm by Taabu

  It may sound trivial or even an exercise in hair-splitting. But going through the draft leaves you wondering what a shoddy job of editing it was. Even cutting and pasting in any MS word document would highlight these shameful errors.
  
  Sample this:
  
  24 (2) (b) ...fundmental freedom....
  
  92 (i) ....politcal parties.......
  
  95 (4) (c)...expediture.
  
  115 (3)......emendeds the bill.......
  
  173 (4) .....judicary.......
  
  216 (4).....comission shall determine.....
  
  250 (8) ....an indepenedent.....
  
  254 (3)...a commisssion....
  
  260 county legistlation 'under under'- repeated word ppg 182- oath or Solemn Affirmation of Due Execution of office for a cabinet secretary.....Presidentfor.....Kumekucha

  
  

• Green and Red: Referendum Reduced to Colours

  Posted: May 17, 2010, 8:00 am by Taabu

  
  
  Kivuitu and his defunct ECK made us beat two fruits, oranges and bananas, to pull. And now the interim independent electoral commission (IIEC) has gone a notch higher by giving us GREEN and RED as the colours to hug or kick. And the choices couldn't have been more telling
  
  Green is the universal colour of acceptance. But red is love and danger depending on your take. So is IIEC playing games or they are already irreparably partisan by inadvertently stroking the tension of 2005 back? Either the IIEC is a genius or suffering acute intellectual laziness depending on which side you support.
  
  The colour RED is universally associated with danger. Either the IIEC is giving YES camp the green light or wants NO supporters to see red. Better still IIEC is simply painting Kenyan streets red. IIEC had all the time to come with authentic symbols and their superlative wisdom directed them to the two primary colours.
  
  One only hopes and pray that the busybodies will not take IIEC to court in regard to colour blindness. Wikipedia will tell you most men are colour blind to the two colours.
  
  And oh! MELLOW YELLOW is the intermediate colour separating green from red. Any takers out there?Kumekucha

  
  

• Orbituary: CID Boss Gatiba Karanja Dead

  Posted: May 10, 2010, 2:00 pm by Taabu

  Kenya has lost her top sleuth. CID boss Simon Gatiba Karanja reportedly died at Thika Nursing Home where he was rushed by family members. And what a great loss to the country for a man who headed such a sensitive position during the dark 2007/8 PEV period?
  
  Already speculation galore of how a top policeman would just collapse and die like that. Spice it with the speculation that Gatiba and Iteere were to have a date with ICC's Ocampo later in the day and the mix becomes so lethal. While that is typical Kenyans' cynicism about such high profile deaths, one cannot fail to recall the mysterious death of former police commissioner Philip Kilonzo.
  
  Kilonzo reigned during the late Ouko's murder investigation just like Karanja did over the PEV. Granted, he must have been privy to very sensitive information. The suspicion is even compounded more with Karanja's death coming hot in the heels of former AP deputy boss leaving the country for Germany fearing for his life.
  
  For now Karanja's family needs all the comforting words with the hope that his death was a natural one. At 56, such sudden calamities are rare but who knows? Maybe a policeman's physical fitness exponentially deteriorates as he climbs the ladder in the force hence the ill health.Kumekucha

  
  

• Ocampo Jets Straight Into Eye of the Storm

  Posted: May 8, 2010, 4:00 pm by Taabu

  
  Poor Prof Moreno-Ocampo is landing when the political heat is intensifying just like what generated the near-Armageddon whose mess he is coming to investigate.
  
  But again just like Annan, Ocampo must be warned that Kenya needs no baby-siting. We are sovereign and independent. And who knows, this ICC monster will soon dissolve if Africa's academics and ruling elite have their way in petitioning the UN.
  
  We can handle the bloodshed and don't need ex-UN envoys or non-practicing Argentinian lawyers. Kenya is not a failed state and will never be.Kumekucha

  
  

• Draft Published: How'd Muge and Okullu Vote?

  Posted: May 7, 2010, 11:00 pm by Taabu

  A country without history is one devoid of a soul. Publication of the draft constitution makes those not-so young Kenyans ask themselves very tough counterfactual (what if) questions. For starters, one is left raking his head which side of the draft divide Alexander Muge and Henry Okulu would support. Well, it is easy to guess but difficult to know.
  
  Only one thing is for sure, these two Anglican firebrands were very brave Kenyans who dared questioned baba na mama when it was treasonable voicing any letters of opposition to the ruling class. But voicing they did and loudly so. They stood their ground no matter the heat from cockerel party and its sycophantic youth wingers.
  
  Granted, Kenya is making history by enacting a constitution in peace time. But how things have changed in the last 20 years from the time Mwai Kibaki was tear-gassed at All Saints Cathedral to Moi now deriding the exercise as academic. The present church has metamorphosed into many shades unlike years gobe by.
  
  Make no mistake, every Kenyan has the right to vote YES or NO otherwise the referendum's democratic creed would be in tatters. The only prayer is that both sides go into the campaign with Kenya elevated above all their political leanings.
  
  A really tall order but never the less mandatory if we are to become civilized citizens who can disagree without necessarily being disagreeable. Shall we?Kumekucha

  
  

• We Must All Vote Yes for Kenya

  Posted: May 2, 2010, 9:02 pm by Taabu

  Russian Roulette: praying for holy shot.
  
  The daggers are out of their sheaths. The church are out in full swing planning POLITICAL NO rallies. This time round the MEN of clothe have vowed to lead by example unlike 2005.
  
  And to politicians the year 2010 will be to 2012 what 2005 was to that dark year 2007. Make no mistake, 2005 the referendum changed Kenya's political landscape forever and was clearly the political rehearsal for 2007 bloodbath.
  
  Kenyans must not make that mistake again with the 2010 referendum. Before voting YES or NO, we must all agree to vote only one way, YES, for Kenya. The referendum will come and go but Kenya remains generations. It is within our powers to stop the present polarization which will only succeed as the best spark for Kenya's sure self-destruction.
  
  There is no worse dictatorship that uniformity of thought. Granted, the church and any other Kenyan has all the constitutional right to vote NO just as the GCG have resolved to support the draft constitution. Trying to convince the other party to give up would defeat the very rubric of democracy. The referendum question can only be answered in one of two ways.
  
  Conducing civilized campaigns by either party is key to holding Kenya together. We must learn to agree without being disagreeable. Come on, it is 2010 and we can and must only fight armed with facts and not misinformation laced in propaganda whose only selfish objective is to achieve short-term goals.
  
  There is no need foul-mouthed campaigns. No need for politicians to call others names. Equally the church must stand up to its byline as the bastion truth. Men of collar must not engage in propaganda and misinformation. True, religion is founded on dogma but the flock have brains of their own and must be allowed free conscience.
  
  After all those voting NO in the referendum will still have to be governed by the very Constitution if the YES team wins. We must be ready to lead the orchestra by turning our backs to the crowd (read politicians). So vote yes or no in the forth-coming referendum but before that please vote only YES for Kenya for she is bigger than all of us singularly or collectively.
  
  Kenya remains after the vote. So seize the opportunity, do your bit and shame the perennial scoundrels.Kumekucha

  
  

• Vote Yes/No, It’s Your Choice, Kenya Remains

  Posted: April 27, 2010, 11:00 am by Taabu

  Caveat: Let the YES and NO camps sell their wares/ideas but leave Kenyans to vote with their conscience. No need to force any to buy into take.
  
  The present political heat generated by both supporters and opponents of the draft constitution is unnecessary to say the least. First we must appreciate that the there would be no need of a referendum if all were in agreement. So we must learn to disagree without being disagreeable. That is what civilization is all about, learning to listen to opposing viewpoint without raising your voice nor rising in arms.
  
  Even the church has all the constitutional right to oppose the draft. Sitting on their hands as YES campaigners traverse the country would be akin to supplying nails for their own spiritual coffin. Granted, dogma is the singular thread that sews the church together. Remove it and men of the collar are permanently rendered irrelevant. Forget the paradox that it’s the male clergy complaining loudest about reproductive health and abortion despite the fact that they have no clue what it means to host and nourish the unborn for nine good months.
  
  Kenyans are a very resilient lot and we must not allow ourselves to be hyped and poisoned by our selfish politicians. Just look at their frequent change of stand on the same issues they claim to fight for. To them the only constant thing in their political lives is INCONSISTENCY.
  
  Collectively we have survived numerous calamities as a nation and we must not allow the forth coming referendum to sow seeds of discord among us again. Not after the near-Armageddon that followed the bungled 2007 polls. Respect for ourselves and to one another is KEY. From there we must start learning as Kenyans to demand respect of our so-called leaders otherwise nobody will take us seriously.
  
  And the consequences are dire. Even Museveni will expand his ego past Migingo and the Al Shabaab lay claim to annex North Eastern. What is more, US and UK will continue treating us like dirt by letting us scramble to sleep in the cold streets in search of their visas in our own country. Salt that grievous injury with our own politicians refusing to pay taxes and we have our backs against the wall.
  
  So please vote YES or NO but remember to keep it civil for Kenya is bigger than anyone of us. To paraphrase someone's succinct summary from a previous let us avoid trying so hard to herd everyone Kenyan into the "YES/NO" grazing paddocks where there may not be enough political foliage as well as economic green pastures to sustain the 'voters' in the long run once the odious task of chewing regurgitated constitutional cud is no longer palatable.
  
  Update
  
  Kibaki's riot act to the cabinet must be seen in its right perspective as a CEO whipping his subordinates to order. Doing otherwise would be akin to lack of leadership and courting chaos. Now that he has made the draft a government project, those opposing have the option of quitting and pissing from out rather that from within. True, they can shout democracy and right to disagree. But order and harmony is irreplaceable in any organization. There are no two ways about it: you cannot have you cake and eat it.Kumekucha

  
  

• Ruto Demoted: Moi's Old Musical Chairs Reigns

  Posted: April 22, 2010, 6:00 pm by Taabu

  Hon William Ruto is ragging and shaking with anger. Now Kenyans can understand what he meant with BETRAYER. But Bill is a strong man who knows better to contain his flaming anger in the lungs and not let it seep to the heart where it could be fatal.
  
  The whole rider is now we can trust all our learning institutions and kids from kindergarten to university with two INCORRUPTIBLE ministers Prof Ongeri and indefatigable Ruto.
  
  Update: Meanwhile Keter is already missing the flag. He has been freed to do what he knows best.
  
  Arap Moi must be laughing so loud at his students political students' attempt to outdo him at his game of musical chairs of yore.
  
  So who is fooling who here? It attempting to create and impression of motion in the Ruto-Koskei swap, we are have just witnessed no movement except Moi's old political modus operandi. So the political muscles must be flexed at our national expense.
  
  And the so-called face of Kenya recycling continues. Who cares as more Kenyans continue to perish on our roads. You cannot fail to see through the political schemes of dangling the Transport Ministry portfolio to Matuga electorates while Kimunya holds brief.
  
  The cheap philosophy of replacing like with like cheapens leadership and governance to some political liver juggling. But we cannot complain because we get the leaders we deserve.
  
  Maybe reminding Ruto who the real power wielders are was a political reality check. Sacking him would have only succeeded in polarizing Kenyans more as we approach the referendum.
  
  On a positive note Ruto can transfer his energy and enthusiasm, team with Prof Ongeri and reform the decaying education sector. That would be such a political coup for Bill as he partners with Uncle Sam for the national good.
  
  You know what, him who wants to conduct the orchestra must turn his back to the crowd. Na bado.Kumekucha

  
  

• Kibaki, Moi, Ruto: 3 Most Consistent Politicians

  Posted: April 19, 2010, 4:00 pm by Taabu

  Give it to these elegant three Kenyan leaders. They can manage to hold their forte no matter the political heat. Not even the fuming church matches their political fidelity. Ex-president Moi saw it ahead of all Kenyans and warned us as much. He was in the NO camp in 2005 and is staying put there. Kibaki likewise is not decamping from his YES stand. These two wise men epitomizes mental and political stability.
  
  Ruto's resolute leadership of the NO camp must come as no surprise to those who know Bill well. William is his own man and unlike his peers, he won't patronize but seeks to be the patron himself. In Ruto the church has a PRINCIPLED leader and partner in the no campaign. He shoots hard from the hip and holds no hostages.
  
  Make no mistake, Ruto's rejection of the porous draft is strongly grounded on merit and merit alone. Passing the CoE's constitution will provide the seed to fertilize ethnocentrism, nepotism and violence. Ruto and his NO brigade have selflessly warned us against the draft's exotic Bill of Rights.
  
  You cannot fault Moi on patriotic matters, or can you? He knows better than having Wanjiku mesmerized by such a weighty and abstract matter as the constitution. Forget all that lofty talk of fundamental rights and freedoms. Nothing is more basic than the God-given right to life, security and privacy. The drive for justice is only meant to keep the civil service relevant, nothing more. And Ruto is not afraid to remind them and even take them head on.
  
  According to Ruto, Chapter five of the Proposed Constitution on land is a sure recipe for eternal friction and chaos if not amended NOW. Well, our independence was fought with lives lost over land and Ruto and Moi have reminded those with ears and eyes as much. What is more, these two know exactly what they are talking about when it comes to land. We ignore their wise counsel at our collective national peril. All the hot air on water towers and environmental conservation must be dismissed for what they are. Vision 2030 can only be secured with enhanced investment including capable Kenyans and foreigners acquiring and modernizing our national parks, forests and water towers.
  
  The draft's pretense on provision of equality flies hollow at the face of our African values. You only hasten your suicide mission in the villages by mentioning gender parity on land matters. No wonder Kenyans turn a blind eye to Moi's timely reminder that the draft is academic crafted to serve foreign interests. Parliament cannot pretend to have the authority prescribe minimum and maximum land holding acreages for our tribal kings. Squatters must jealously retain their status so as to have the opportunity to vote.
  
  Ruto is more than right on his fight against a super-imperial President. He knows and has experienced the perils of bestowing powers on one person to appoint virtually all state officials including ministers, ambassadors, permanent secretaries, security chiefs and heads of government firms.
  
  Passing the draft will deny Kenyans the political excitement derived from MPs jockeying for ministerial posts. Kenya is no US and our Cabinet must be exclusively composed of elected MPs. Pretending otherwise is to spite the squatters who vigorously campaign and vote for their lords.
  
  Ruto and his NO camp must not waiver. It is a new dawn led by Ruto and he deserves the support of every progressive Kenyan. This is 2010 and unlike the hitherto politically-informed 2005 referendum, the present debate is issue-based.
  
  While the No camp articulate their ideologies devoid of raw politics, the deceptive and politically faint-hearted have their eyes singularly trained on 2012 polls. Well, look no further than the two marionettes speaking from both sides of the mouth saying different things about the draft depending on the audience.Kumekucha

  
  

• Katiba: Tribal Clergy Triumphs Over Dogma

  Posted: April 12, 2010, 4:00 am by Taabu

  As they say the singular difference between religion and science is the fact that with science we can predict.
  
  The Kenyan Christian Church Leaders are crying foul and demanding to be heard. Men of collar are admonishing the media and politicians for demeaning and painting their NO stand as obstructive to securing a new constitution. And you know what, the church is right. They have the right to peddle their divine wares (DOGMA) lest they be left home and dry as the constitution coasts to the shore.
  
  The misinformation and propaganda on abortion and kadhi courts have taken back seat as the heat intensifies. The church-state/politico war is gaining momentum. The whole charade leaves you wondering why the church is failing to stick to its cardinal duty of shepherding the flock. If only the flock listened then nobody would be aborting babies. Period! But the SPIRITUAL PANIC informs you that the flock have their ears/hearts elsewhre outside church hence the clergy's quest to legislate morality
  
  Forget the pulpit grandstanding and all the cheap Christi/Islamic conspiracy theories. The fact is that constitution making is a political process. And what is more, Kenya’s political decisions are EXCLUSIVELY informed by tribal interests.
  
  It therefore remains a matter of when and not if the prevailing religious brinkmanship fail to win the flock against the draft constitution. True, dogma is the singular ointment that nourishes any religion. But will it wash this time round for Kenyans?
  
  Well, the jury returned inside long time ago and the Kenyan church is destined to be exposed for what it has been all along. They may have maintained the dogma candle burning but their attempt to enslave Kenyans to the old ways of doing things is headed to the bottom of the pit soon.
  
  The Kenyan church DOUBLE GOOFED during both the 2005 referendum and the botched 2007 elections. And just when they thought they had secured forgiveness and redemption from aggrieved Kenyans, here they are backing a dead stinking horse. True to the Jewish adage, the gods fatten you before the ultimate slaughter.
  
  You don’t even need to decipher the deceit that belies the church’s crusade on abortion to expose them for hypocrisy. The draft constitution explicitly outlaws abortion except on medical grounds. But the male clergy would have none of that as they wax spiritual on matters REPRODUCTION oblivious of the burden of an an expectant mother.
  
  That no female church leader is included in all their campaign is testimony to the church’s oppressive and gender-insensitive foundations. To be a bastion of tolerance, one would expect the church to back their opposition to Kadhi’s courts with commensurate facts and not cheap religious me-too bravado. What is more, the whole constitution as presently drafted in overtly Christian in both spirit and print. Otherwise there would be no Christian weekends as we know them and offices would be open on both days.
  
  Contesting the fact that taxpayers’ money will be used to finance the Kadhi’s is foolhardy to say the least. Employing the same lame line of reasoning would make the affluent sending their kids to private schools refuse to pay tax to develop public/faith schools.
  
  The Kenyan church must seek better ways to re-invent herself lest they be permanently consigned to MORAL IRRELEVANCE. Just as prior to the bungled 2007 polls, the clergy have started breaking ranks with their bosses as they take ethnic inclinations towards support for/against the draft constitution.
  
  And with that proven trend there emerges only one winner, which predictably and fortunately is not the church. There won't have been a more apt and timely reality check.Kumekucha

  
  

• Esau and Jacob Story at James Gichuru Road

  Posted: April 3, 2010, 6:00 am by Taabu

  By Mwarang'ethe
  
  From the Sunday school story of Esau and Jacob, we know that, Esau contemptuously surrendered his birthright for he was hungry after long days of hunting. All he wanted was rest and food, i.e. the stew of meat and vegetables which Jacob had in his possession. Simply said, Esau sold his birthright for miserable messes of pottage.
  
  With this story in mind, let us take a walk along James Gichuru road which runs from Westland, cutting through Lavington, near Kawangware slums which then end up at Dagoretti corner. This walk more than anything else, reveals that, we are a nation of Esau and Jacob. Now, as you walk along this road, if you are a keen observer of man and society, you will notice two very interesting things.
  
  On the paved road, you will see very well dressed and well fed or over fed Kenyans/foreigners sited on their big fuel guzzlers as they cruise to and fro. Also, on both sides of this road, which are dusty or muddy depending on the season, you will see a lot of shabbily poor men and women walking in very hurried manner. These poor Kenyans, are either going to work, or coming from work. But, where do most of these poor Kenyans work? They work for the Kenyans/foreigners in the big cars. The walking masses represent Esau and those in big cars represent Jacob.
  
  Now, the reason you will see a lot of poor Kenyans walking as we describe above is because we have chaotic, inefficient, dangerous and expensive transport system made of matatus. We know Michuki tried to improve it, but, we ask, how do you improve a perversion? The question then is why is it so damn difficult for Kenya to develop a well integrated transport system? We are taught, it is very expensive. But, is it so? We deny these falsehoods which Kenyans have swallowed for 50 years.
  
  However, before we do so, let us say this. Whenever the development of Asian nations like Singapore is discussed by our politicians and scholars, including Professor Ali Mazrui, we are told that, it is because a nation like Singapore has been led by malevolent dictator. Is it so? Mazrui is an eminent thinker, but, we deny his answers as utter rubbish. So, how does Singapore provide its citizens with world class integrated transport system? It boils down to bidding for land/space. Sample this genius in integrated transport policy and compare it with the stupidity and madness of the Kenyan transport system.
  
  Due to lack of space in Singapore, they have developed a unique market mechanism that equalize everyone's ability to share in the benefits of that scarcity. In this scheme, motorists are free to determine the road rents they are willing to pay. They do this in auctions where they compete to secure the right to drive on the highways. Those who fail in their bids or those who do not wish to own a car, share in the benefits of the road rents which are spent on providing first class public transport.
  
  Given the land scarcity, Singapore has a sophisticated way of controlling car growth (in Kenya, we can use scarcity of oil). The government constrains the growth of vehicles to 3% a year. To do so, it uses a range of tools which include the Certificate of Entitlement (COE), the Vehicle Quota System (VQS), road taxes and Electronic Road Pricing (ERP). Each month, a certain number of COE's are released. The vehicle entitlement is valid for ten years from the date of registration of the vehicle. Bidding is done electronically whereby, people determine how much they will pay in competition with other would be motorists.
  
  The electronic road pricing is based on the pay - per - use principle that reflects the true cost of motoring. Singapore has extended this to points of congestion on major highways and it has been credited with having reduced the volume of traffic during peak periods. The consequence of this is that, the cost of motoring in Singapore is staggering.
  
  In Singaporean dollars, in 2006, an Audi A 41.8 is $ 182, 000, for a BMW 328 (2.8 cc) $ 238, 000, for a Mercedes 200E: $ 201, 902, for a Volvo Estate 2.0: $ 160, 753. The alternative is you take the bus or train. Interestingly, the demand for the COE’s continues to rise and their prices in auctions that are open. This means that bidders can see what others are bidding for before they submit their offers. This reduces massive speculation.
  
  What is the verdict of the World Bank on Singaporean transport system? It has concluded that:
  (a) This system has helped attract foreign investment and there are no major negative side effects on economic growth or on the welfare of people on the lowest incomes.
  
  (b) In addition, by rationing scarce physical space by price mechanism, Singapore has generated funds for investment in improvements much beyond transport and enabled reductions of other, less desirable taxes.
  
  Thus, using a scheme that equalizes all citizens’ access to road/land, Singapore has been able to come up with a truly integrated transport policy. Those who cannot afford to run a car benefit from higher - quality public transport and lower taxes. In this scheme, there are no losers because road rents facilitate a sophisticated approach to sharing scarce space.
  
  The collateral gains of this system include a dynamic economy at the frontier of technological progress and wage levels that employees of the West can only envy. No wonder, the OECD is always complaining of Singapore as an offshore since they want to hide the link between road rents and Singapore's low tax rate. However, Singapore government is keenly aware that, its success in the global economy depends on recycling rents back into its infrastructure so that equity is associated with efficiency. This policy has placed Singapore at the forefront of global commerce. Yes, fortunes are made in Singapore, but, they are not made in land speculation. That’s why in building highways, they do not reward landowners at the expense of the taxpayer as the African nations are doing.
  
  Something to ponder about
  (a) When Singapore gained independence which was at the same time as Kenya, some areas looked like Kawangware. Today, this tiny island is among the largest sovereign investors with over $ 247 billion as sovereign fund/assets. Mark you, this fortune has not been made from commodities as some suggested about Botswana. How much do we have as Kenyans in 2010? We answer mounting debts, poverty and senseless tribal conflict over land.
  
  (b) In Kenya, if anyone wants to import a Hammer (remember the battle of Hammers in Kibera) or a Range Rover, we just allow them to import without questions and then allow them to blow dust on the poor Kenyans who fund these roads as they walk on the dusty pavements. Is this the way to build a just and peaceful nation?
  
  (c) Does this sound like malevolent dictatorship, or a sound land policy as the foundation just like the one we have been advocating at work?
  
  In a nutshell, if we had institutionalised this kind of land policy, we would be able to provide safe, efficient, affordable and accessible transport system for women who constitute the majority of those who walk to and from Kawangware slums along Gichuru road so as to go and clean the houses of bwana kubwa, i.e. bwana jinga.
  
  Instead of such a simple policy, we come up with weird ideas of affirmative action to "uplift the welfare of our women." How do you separate the welfare of men from that of women? These are mere delusions which will ironically, cost these poor women even more in terms of tax to pay these so called "women leaders." Kenyans may go ahead with these schemes, but, we shall keep on shouting, yes, we know you are tired and desperate having waited for 20 years for the new constitution, but, just as Esau was tired and hungry, you have opted to denounce your birthright for miserable messes of pottage for we know he asked, behold, I am at the point to die, and what profit shall this birthright be to me? And, Jacob said, swear to me this day; and he swore unto him and thereby, he sold his birthright unto Jacob.Kumekucha

  
  

• Kibaki Drafts Legacy in Historic Interview

  Posted: April 1, 2010, 8:00 pm by Taabu

  Breaking News: Headed to the Hague, the names that will NOT miss Ocampo's list
  
  He faced the scribes with alloyed intellect oozing from both lips. Outlining his singular determination to lead the war on terror to keep Kenya safe, Kibaki has just inked his legacy with golden letters. Kenyans couldn't have asked for more after HE Kibaki promised to do all in his EXECUTIVE powers to secure a new constitution after a 20-years' struggle.
  
  President Kibaki won’t have chosen an opportune time to emphatically answer his critics who have pilloried his presidency as lacking in both charisma and leadership. First he disabused his interviewer with his unequivocal support for the draft constitution. And having stolen the wind from his detractors’ sails Kibaki took centre stage with his best wits ever this millennium.
  
  Never try to belittle an LSE graduate must be the message his interview took home. Straight to the point, Kibaki debunked the street rumour about his EMOTIONAL PLURALITY. And Lucy couldn’t have been happier with his darling hubby. Woe unto Mary Wambui with all her deceptive gimmicks to associate with the first family.
  
  Forget about the fraudulent Synovate poll paid by those who always lead it. You must be numerically illiterate to believe the lie that HE Kibaki trails the loudmouthed PM. What is more, true Kenyans know who exclusively wields power in Kenyan.
  
  The eight-year wait for an exhaustive interview was all worth it. Kibaki was at it best articulating the vision and legacy he wants to bequeath Kenya. He not only talked big, he acted large too. By choosing to talk to foreign press, HE must have borrowed a leaf from Tanzania’s ex-president Mkapa in shunning local parochial journalists. And the difference in focus and depth was all there for all to see.
  
  Kibaki has smartly ushered his twilight presidency by leading by example and from in front. The CEO has shown he is an effective manager of Kenya plc. His candid interview has set the bar so hire so much so that the other pretenders to opinion poll premiership are left scratching the surface. All kudos must go to the intellectually astute president.Kumekucha

  
  

• 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

  
  

• Industrializing a Nation is an Art of War

  Posted: March 14, 2010, 1:00 pm by Taabu

  By Mwarang'ethe
  
  Kenyans have agonised over many years why we are unable to develop with all the manpower and resources in our hands. With a religious conviction, we have convinced ourselves that, if only we were less corrupt, we would have ended our poverty and attendant social miseries. We are also convinced that, all will be well if we utilise “donors” funds well, have free primary education, and “fight” diseases like AIDS and malaria.
  
  These are myths and delusions fostered by the propaganda from the media, donors, NGOs and our schools. As thus, this common wisdom is totally baseless. The other side of the story that is left deliberately untold is this. Nations do not develop or industrialize and maintaining their prosperity, by fighting corruption, diseases and such mumbo jumbo.
  
  In truth, these are lullabies given to Africans to ensure their continued deep sleep as others f#%£% them. Excuse that French please. So, how do nations develop? Well developing a nation IS AN ART OF WAR.
  
  Industrialising a nation is an art of what, is what the Japanese Prince cannot tell Raila. (See Japanese Prince Dinner with Kenyan PM Here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ITzlWOqYc4&feature=channel.
  
  Among other lullabies, the Japanese Prince did mention how Japan has helped us grow more rice (yes, a Malthusian activity we have mentioned many times). In his remarks, the Kenyan Prime Minister said there are a number of Japanese companies in Kenya. He seemed very pleased with that.
  
  In this article, we wish to dispel these delusions and myths, not with mere speculations, but with factual evidence of what Japan has been doing since 1945. Armed with these facts, you will decide whether we know what we are doing or not.
  
  After the 2WW, the remaining imperial centre of capital, i.e. USA was desperate to stop the spread of socialism. To do so, it had to assist countries like Japan that had lost that war. So, USA provided Japan with:
  
   Industrial technology.
   Finance capital.
   Dropped import barriers while permitting Japan and Germany to protect their industries and markets. This was the same formula USA had used in building its industry and wealth.
  
  Question
  
  (a) Did Kenya/Africa get access to technology, finance, markets and more crucially, are we able to protect our industry and market?
  (b) If no, it means that, we believe we will develop under free trade regime. We will be very happy to get any example of a nation that has ever developed under free trade regime as we have embraced it.
  
  As Japan rebuilt under the above conditions, it developed long term strategies for entering existing high tech markets (Schumpeterian activities, the opposite of Malthusian activities like rice growing the lullaby the Japanese Prince sung to us). These strategies were composed in detailed plans spanning 20 – 50 years for getting a share of existing markets. At first, it started by introducing new and highly refined versions of existing products and then slowly upgraded these products.
  
  It begun with CRUDE copies of advanced German cameras like Leica and Rolliflex. They then honed their skills by continually upgrading their entries into these markets until their level of quality and technology began to equal that of Germans and then surpassed them. In a span of less than 20 years, using such long range managerial approach, the Japanese were able to gain by far the largest share of the worldwide camera and optical goods market and thereby, edging Germans to the sidelines.
  
  Having taken this market, they now took aim of other existing markets which they could use their advanced optical skills. These were small copying machines, professional video devices, computerised silicon chip etching equipment. They now dominate this market as well and have edged the Americans who plan 24 months ahead.
  
  As Japanese chanted free trade and laissez faire lullabies to Africa, the Japanese Ministry of Finance (MOF) and the International Trade and Industry (MITI) controlled the government’s budget, set monetary policy, collected taxes, supervised banks, brokers, and insurers and established parameters for credit, asset values, capitalization and lending.
  
  More so, through cross shareholding, they ensured no outsider takeover (remember how Raila is happy about presence of Japanese companies in Kenya?). To further these mercantile schemes under the banner of laissez faire for the foolish, they ensured Japanese corporations are primarily owned by each other.
  
  Questions for you
  
  (a) Does Kenya have any long term plans for entering any high technology market? Please do not tell us about tea branding and tourism marketing in Germany.
  (b) How coordinated is ownership of Kenyan companies like Kenya Railway, Safaricom, Telkom, Ken Gen etc?
  
  To further protect its markets, Japan came up with very complicated high product prices which were protected from imports by arbitrary health, safety and quality standards. These “standards” permitted charging Japanese consumers 3 times the price for consumer products as that paid by the rest of the world. Through these "standards" which are never met, instead of TARIFF, the Japanese prevented others from selling on its home front. See the irony, in Kenya/Africa; a Minister proudly launches a new foreign product as you can see here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVC4OcWFf9U&feature=player_embedded#.
  
  These high prices were nothing but hidden taxes along with other dictated policies and creative accounting which gave Japanese industry the same finance capital as it has received 100 years earlier. In other words, government financed industry and protected home market created a comparative advantage which permitted the Japanese industry to sell, for a period of time, at what would be a loss for a free enterprise corporation. Having built the world’s most modern industry and captured markets around the world, so long as trade surpluses are maintained, losses can be absorbed up to a point by those high domestic prices taxing back a part of the economic multiplier gains.
  
  When Japanese government tried to deflate cautiously the land and stock bubbles by raising interest rates, the Wall Street bankers went on the attack using their new weapons of mass destruction, i.e. derivatives to sell the market short and bring it crashing down.
  
  In other words, Japanese formula is this. Buy RAW RESOURCES cheap (from Kenya/Africa), build and maintain the most efficient industry in the world, educate its citizens, pay Japanese labour well (remember SAPS from IMF telling us to pay badly?) charge Japanese consumers above export prices, price exports just under the products of other nations and sell enough on the world market to pay for it all with a substantial cushion to spare. It may appear that, these policies contravene the Most Favoured Nation clause in free trade treaties. Well, that’s a small deal. As long as all nations face same arbitrary standards, the problem is “solved.”
  
  So, why don’t the rich nations force Japanese to comply with the laws Kenya/Africa must comply with? Very simple. In 1987 when Japanese sold its bonds, the global liquidity was lowered such that, America experienced the worst one day stock collapse. So, if they are forced to, they will liquidate these investments, properties and dollar will crush. This is jiu jitsu economics at its best because USA and Japan, China etc, are now locked in debt – equity embrace that no knows how to get out of it. Remember that, these nations have very old art of art of war skills.
  
  When the Western capital withdrew finance capital from Asian Tigers (this is a story for another day) they shattered (deliberately) these economies and then bought the best industries for pennies on the dollar. When they turned these derivatives as we noted above on Japan, they met their match. Japanese never permitted outside finance capital to gain TITLE to their industrial wealth. How so? They simply kept all bankrupt banks and industries running by ABANDONING capitalism’s bankruptcy rules. This enabled Japan to maintain trade surplus, expand savings, and thereby avoid DROP IN LIVING STANDARDS. We see the entire world now trying these formulae’s. We will see the end of this soon.
  
  We have cut short a very long story, but, we hope short as it is, we are able to show that, developing a nation is more than fighting corruption, inviting foreign investors, “bringing development,” new constitutions etc as we are told. It requires leaders who understand the art of war.Kumekucha

  
  

• PDM Stands for Progressivism, Nothing Else

  Posted: March 8, 2010, 8:00 pm by Taabu

  ODM has been checkmated big time. The orange party has been brutally reminded that there is no monopoly to permutation of letters. Give it to PDM for scoring big by leaping to P from O in the alphabetical ranking. Only DM remains a constant.
  
  What is more, PDM singularly stands for PROGRESSIVISM. You cannot beat that using any linguistic pretense. After grand coalition come grand ideas. Learning from the master/s and even taking it a notch higher, PDM is collating all the hitherto PNU big shots.
  
  With PROGRESSIVISM comes the mantra of equitable distribution of wealth. Kenya couldn't have asked for a sure cure to ethnic tension. It PDM you have tried and tested political hands teaming with both young and old.
  
  The era of briefcase political parties is surely gone. Soon we Kenya will be an African case study with only two or three strong parties competing for power thanks to PDM.
  
  And let you forget, PDM has REINVENTED our own brand of ANC where like-minded parties of all shapes and shades share the common ideology of PROGRESSIVISM politically, economically and socially.
  
  In PDM we have arrived at the political nirvana and there is no turning back. The naysayers will be left at the dock as we sail deep into political doldrums.
  
  Why start with a vowel if a consonant can do the job even better? Welcome to murky and Micky Mouse Kenyan politics.Kumekucha

  
  

• Juicy Esther Adongo Timberlake (EAT)

  Posted: March 6, 2010, 8:00 pm by Taabu

  
  
  Eat and lets eat. It is a free world and let people eat and get eaten generously. The burden of modern freedom and civilization.
  
  And then the killer punch. You can imagine if Esther's parents were also to file a counter suit demanding compensation for all the diapers, weetabixes and lollipops. Maybe Esther would counter that she is a byproduct of her parents' emotional bliss.
  
  The Arungas financed a law degree that has come back to haunt them. The resulting legal scoundrel can afford to wed in prison/remand oblivious of the fact that is not permissible under Kenyan laws.
  
  Whatever HELL(on) has brought together no parent must try/dream to put asunder. Consenting adults have all the rights to indulge and parents must learn to know when to let go.
  
  Esther has set a precedence. Soon many will be suing their parents for forcing alien names and beliefs (religion) on them. Never joke with YouTube generation.Kumekucha

  
  

• Polls: Raila and Ruto Joined at Fractured Hip

  Posted: February 26, 2010, 6:00 pm by Taabu

  Do you want to top the polls? Well, just pay up and have your imaginary results announced by credible lips for hire. How can ODM still top the polls as the most popular party given the hemorrhage from the recent valentine political bloodbath?
  
  These pollsters must be either from outer planet of just plain guns for hire. How else do you explain their cheeky rating that disrespectfully undermines both the president and thee VP as the least committed to fighting corruption? It is such a cheap paradox to rank the CEO so low with 14% fire to fight graft while his executive authority just saw off 6 PSs last week.
  
  Even more insulting to the collective intelligence of most Kenyans is the Strategic poll disparaging the UNTAINTED VP as only scoring 5% in the war on sleaze. It couldn't have been worse. Now it appears after the daily newspapers, polling bodies are firmly in the pocket of politicians.
  
  There is no way ODM can claim 51% popularity when the poisoned rose it was generously served last valentine has not even withered. Somebody is playing smart by paying Strategic and then very soon it will the quarter report from ex-Steadman. Well, Kenyans won't be fooled any more.
  
  The pollsters can only lie to themselves. We are lucky to have a no nonsense president who promised to tackle corruption and after 2000 days incubation his prescription can only be lethal to the vice. All else is smartly packaged pretence at motion with no commensurate movement nor commitment to slay the dragon.Kumekucha

  
  

• No Meeting: Kibaki Call Raila, ODM's Bluff

  Posted: February 21, 2010, 6:00 pm by Taabu

  Peddling the word crisis does not necessary create an image of one. And now those who have been carelessly and disrespectfully bandying words at Kibaki have found their match. Kibaki the shrewd politician has come out with all guns blazing and there is no place to hide. ODM and its hirelings are toasted.
  
  First the President has categorically made clear it there is no CRISIS, real or imagined. All Kenyans must know who is in charge and make no mistake about it. Kibaki has reminded Kenyans once more of his signature tune and declaration that "corruption will now cease to be a way of life in Kenya". That tempo was set in 2002 and after more than 2000 days, the gestation period is over. Heads will and must roll now.
  
  Make no mistake, Kibaki is held hostage by no corruption networks/sharks. For those doubting Kibaki's brand new resolve to eradicate corruption once and for all are yet to come to grip with his determination to clean Kenya and bequeath her new constitution as the template for his LEGACY. There is no bigger scandal than Anglo Leasing and Kibaki learnt his lessons hard and painful.
  
  Woe unto those who said that rhetoric about corruption and good governance does not make an entertaining national circus. Well, hear and read for yourself from the horse's mouth lest you loose the gist and substance in translation:
  
  "Dear Kenyans, first and foremost be reminded of the basics and know that I was duly elected (the PORK) and then signed NARA on behalf for GorKi.
  
  I want to take this opportunity to outrightly dismiss careless and disrespectful suggestions that I have been SLEEPING and cannot CO-ORDINATE AND SUPERVISE affairs of state, leaving HOME AFFAIRS aside.
  
  My cabinet has become even stronger. We now don’t tolerate GRAFT - anybody stealing from the citizens children freely will be dealt IMPUNITY, I will came out strongly to terminally rectify any attempt before it gets out of hand. My Government will move swiftly with bold, decisive and transparent steps to avoid a crisis as has been demonstrated recently.
  
  We have opened our MARKETS and will continue to give away LABOUR, your thirst for work will be taken care off. First as a thank you to our partners doubling THE DOLE during this last EL NINO hunger compared to the normal seasonal HUNGER periods that we live with every year and second for the ROADS we receive that opens further our markets and RESOURCES to our brothers in the west and at an accelerating pace to the new brothers from the EAST.
  
  Now you can see our new brothers in the deepest part of our former agricultural sacred lands prospecting for minerals. We are planning to open Mandarin classes in almost all villages so that it could help YOU SERVE them better.
  
  Transportation is on the MEND, the railway will be soon moving again and be back ON THE TRACK after our very own HARD WORKING Kenyans took possession of it from the government, cleaned it of its land, “lazy employees” and other assets which it could not manage. They will be selling it back to wanainchi having been CLEANED through our thriving STOCK MARKET. We will now pick up the pace of PRIVATISATION as a means of RELIEVING wanainchi their burdens.
  
  To the EDUCATED fleeing in droves to use their potential in the WEST, there are some who claim CORRUPTION AND NEPOTISM have REPLACED RELIGION in my Government, I Emilio can assure you those are things of my PAST, and as I promised when I was sworn in -”serikali ya ufisadi" will continue to provide the LEADERSHIP YOU HAVE BEEN USED TO.
  
  My Government is even getting stronger as you see new members joining we strive to continue changing Kenya to our image even after I pass the torch of state to our very enthusiastic NEW YOUTHFUL LEADERSHIP.
  
  With those few words let’s all stand up and join hands together singing kazi iendelee to the 65% unemployed. Thank you."Kumekucha

  
  

• Kibaki Leads from in Front, Declares No Crisis

  Posted: February 19, 2010, 7:00 am by Taabu

  Annan ni nani? Well, there must be ANNANMAGIC, just mention Kofi's name and things start moving or so it seems. Now this mongrel called dialogue has been invited to the top table on Sunday.
  
  While all Kenyans get consumed with cheap politics, HE Kibaki has reminded those who care to listen that THERE IS NO CRISIS. President Kibaki has reminded all and sundry that his priorities remain fighting corruption (since 2003) expanding programmes to create jobs for the youth (since 2003) and singular focus to address the needs and improve the welfare of all Kenyans.
  
  Above all else Kibaki has staked his glittering legacy on a new constitution. What more can you ask of a selfless leader? Speak of leading from in front and my example and that is Kibaki for you.Kumekucha

  
  

• Cabinet Meeting Off as Political Heat Soars

  Posted: February 17, 2010, 6:00 pm by Taabu

  
  
  Updates: PC-PS transition
  Meanwhile the predictable PC/DC-PS transition here we come: 75% of the new acting PS are ex-provincial administrators: Mondoh, Ndolo and Mr Kiritu Wamae. Smell a rat?
  
  =========================================
  
  
  Liver juggling must be such a difficult yet basic task! If somobody shadow boxing or seeing double? Well, a mirage is an apparent oasis to the thirsty.
  
  Bring the heat on. NA BADO.Kumekucha

  
  

• Raila Checkmated, Pressure Eases Off Ongeri

  Posted: February 14, 2010, 12:30 am by Taabu

  Update
  You are suspended, oh well, you are reinstated or is it, wait a minute! Who is calling who's bluff here? Watch out when you steal thunder lest you get struck by the same.
  
  The hitherto docile by choice and design has been smoked out and is now hyper active. Somebody's face has been left plastered in egg york of sleaze.
  
  What a great Valentine gift for Kenyans. Reg rose of another blossoming weed? Take your pick.
  
  ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
  Intrigue is a word used and abused in equal measure. This time last week it was Raila straddling the higher moral ground admonishing Education Minister Ongeri in public to resign. Come Tuesday and the bombshell that is PWC audit report of teh maize scandal was dropped right at his feet.
  
  Checkmate! What a smart timing to neuter Agwambo. But his hitherto zeal to mount the high moral must have been shaken to the core. PWC's report laid culpability right inside Raila's nest by naming his PS and top aide. His answer on Wednesday to a press which had smelt blood was both half-hearted and unconvincing. From nobody is sacred to defending 'innocent' civil servants. So where do you draw the line?
  
  Now we know Tinga had to salvage what was left of his name and integrity by giving his two top subordinates ultimatum to step aside latest Saturday to allow speedy and impartial investigation. And step a side Ishahakia and Karoli did. So what next for the prime minister?
  
  Well, at least his move has forced the president to act albeit belatedly in ordering PS education and his comrades in graft to step aside too. Call it security in number if you wish but at least the ball left the court flying even if on extra time. Ogneri's fightback would have sounded bell to the PM, or didn't gongs go off?
  
  You cannot fail to see the gerrymandering behind the calculated procrastination. Either two against two made sense to act or this was just another attempt to create an impression of motion without commensurate movement. Just read in between thelines and see the full plot. Raila received the PWC on December 22 and his adversaries were waiting for the ripe time to hit hard where it hurts most. And he inadvertently supplied a sturdy and reliable rope.
  
  Kenyans will read what they want in all the political heat but the truth remains, corruption is deep-rooted in our system and there is political will to even pretend to root it out.Kumekucha

  
  

• Mandela: 20 Years on vs Gaddafi's 40 Years

  Posted: February 11, 2010, 12:00 pm by Taabu

  How time flies? Twenty years ago today Nelson Mandela walked out of prison a free man to lead South Africa into a vibrant democracy. And just 15 years since he left South Africa is speedily joining the rest of Africa in free fall and poor leadership.
  So what went wrong after Mandela?
  
  Millions of South Africans will readily point a finger to Mbeki, Mandela’s successor, the embodiment of their failure. Well, it is cheap to point fingers and even the populist JZ is coming to grips with reality that the presidency is no license to plant wild oats with daughters of all your comrades.
  
  The steady fall of South Africa as a template for Africa’s renaissance leaves plenty of questions than it answers. Or may be Mandela knew something we did not by being the anti-thesis of African strong men when he consciously and deliberately relinquished power to Mbeki. Better still, Madiba saw it coming and chickened out to spruce his saintly name.
  
  
  The strong headed Mbeki may have blighted Mandela’s legacy, but the randy Zuma is taking the cultural joke too far by taking spitting this auspicious anniversary with his scheduled state of the nation address. Mandela thrived and lived on optimism, Zuma prides in abusing that virtue.
  
  May be all an African country needs is a Gaddafi and not Mandela. Just look at how generous and prosperous Libya is and the determination of its leader over the last 40 years to stand up for Africa. Forget the betrayal he suffered in Ethiopia at the hand off other presidents last week.
  
  Gaddafi Betrayed
  How can they be so ungrateful these African leaders? After benefiting from Libya's generosity they dare refuse to grant leader Gaddafi another term as AU chair. With that single act of selfishness the leaders have snatched the authority and audacity with which Gaddafi has been taking on the mighty on our behalf.
  
  True to his King of Kings title, Gaddafoi did not leave the arena without a fight. During a midnight press conference, he took no hostages and declared that his eyes are now trained on leading the Arab League.
  
  Gaddafi only wanted what he invested in after financing the broke AU for years. But the African leaders had other ideas after enjoying his generous inducements. And Gaddafi pulled no stops to remind them that AU without him is dead and he regretted having served such a thankless lot.
  
  The African continent remain the poor with Gaddafi's exit. This is one Pan-Africanist whose passion and dedication to see through US of Africa is unparalleled. What is more, he should know better now that he is rightfully the longest serving president in the whole world.
  
  Africa has lost heavily by refusing to extend Gaddafi's term. His vision to empower the continent's village and tribal elders was not only unique but also historic. Together with Venezuela's Hugo Chavez, Gaddafi is the face of modern leadership.
  
  Look at Libya and the business expansion from Tripoli right at the heart of Nairobi. Former Grand Regency and Oilibya are case studies of brother helping a brother in need.
  
  No wonder Gaddafi wasted no time to remind us of the true leaders of yore like Said Bare and Mobutu Seseseko. Somali and Zaire have knows no peace since the death of these gallant sons of Africa. Moi couldn't have agreed more.
  
  Africa would be better advised to model their future around the realistic ethos of Gadaffi and stop living the utopian Mandela dream.Kumekucha

  
  

• Raila: Kenya’s Most Loved, Loathed Politician

  Posted: February 9, 2010, 1:00 pm by Taabu

  By Philip and Anon
  Yes you read it right, RAILA! See, reading that name has already sent your fingers itching to hit the keyboard with expletives or praise even before reading the first sentence.
  
  Call it blasphemy if you wish but please decipher the figurative speech. Raila is to Kenyan politics what Jesus is to Christian churches - divisive and/or uniting. Granted, Raila is synonymous with our politics for the last many years and no discussion on Kenyan politics is complete without numerous references to the PM, both good and bad.
  
  The late VP Michael Kijana Wamalwa aptly captured it by politically categorizing Kenyans either as Railamaniacs or Railaphobics.
  
  The next 30 months before the next general election in 2012 will witness more political heat with Raila either stroking it or getting consumed by the same flames. Picture this, imagine the furnace with a sitting president and a former one leading the onslaught on Raila with a supporting cast of the present VP, Finance and Agriculture Ministers.
  
  If an alien were to land on earth and log here onto Kumekucha, they would be left wondering who is this man called Raila? So who is Raila? Is he a demi-god? A witchcraft practitioner? A dictator? Is he an Obama in the making? Is he a nationalist? Is he a Hitler in Mandela's skin. Surely who is this man called RAILA?
  
  Well, Raila may as well be all those things listed above and more.
  
  Is he a demi-god ? Yes to all the intelligent poor kids who don’t have access to education when money is being stolen and the Mafioso’s kids are sent abroad and some are tutored privately with the stolen money. They just want a decent shot at life like everybody else.
  
  Does he use witchcraft? Yes to those that is used to impunity and fighting feverishly to preserve that evil because they never thought the spotlight will ever shine on them. It’s perplexing to them that things can change so fast.
  
  Is he an Obama in the making? That is yet to be seen, but HOPE you can bet your last Kenyan coin that he gives thousands, if not millions of down trodden Kenyans.
  
  Is he a dictator? Yes, to those who think they own Kenya and never thought things would be different, Dictating on behalf of Kenyans, enough is enough of empty talk and commissions whose reports don’t see the light of day. Enough is enough of using poor Kenyans to protect personal interest and crying wolf and ”dictatorship" when your dirty laundry is exposed for all to see.
  
  Is he a nationalist? Flash back to "Not yet Uhuru" to mainstreaming Majimbo today. The name Odinga is synonymous to National struggle.
  
  Is he a Hitler in Mandela's skin? If we need a “Hitler” so that national resources can be distributed to the most deserving and will benefit from it, nipe Nyundo anytime. It is high time we have a "Hitler" to break the backs of all these "locally-born foreigners" who have been suffocating wenye inchi with smoke screens while stealing resources and murdering poor people who dare to protest.
  
  He is all of the above and he does them with finesse - hardball or softball - take your pick. Yes, Raila is the enigma of Kenyan politics. Bring them on.Kumekucha

  
  

• Mwakwere Dismissed, Bring Back Michuki

  Posted: February 6, 2010, 11:00 am by Taabu

  Mwakwere's loss of his parliamentary seat via petition could be a blessing in disguise for Kenya. Now Kibaki can bring back Michuki to head the Transport ministry and restore sanity.
  
  At least the popular demand to have Michuki back at transport has less political fallout than the heat at education. But again, Kibaki is one ruler immune to public wishes, or is he?
  
  But the petition's success has once again exposed the rot that was ECK. But again they both rigged and so the whole lot should be illegitimate. This election petition thing needs to be urgently addressed since almost 1000 days after polls is no justice at all.
  
  Which leaves you asking weather losers should be made to pay back what they earned while on the job. Democracy must be so expensive.Kumekucha

  
  

• Press Must Let Muhoho Modernize Airports

  Posted: February 3, 2010, 8:00 pm by Taabu

  What is all these obsession with age? The media is all over crucifying Muhoho oblivious of the fact that fellow octogenarians PSs Mutahi and Nyoike are doing just fine. Grey hair if synonymous with wisdom alloyed with the right genes.
  
  Kenyans never cease to amaze. Their penchant to witch hunt the really industrious and competent is legendary. Now the press wants to hound CEO Muhoho out of office before his term expires. What a disgrace to pay somebody who has turned the hitherto sleeping KAA into a profitable institution.
  
  The press must give the KAA board the freedom to appoint the MD after the President did his constitutional part in appointing ex-Runyenjes MP Wambora chairman. Muhoho is no ordinary Joe, just ask Engineer Erastus Mwongera who thought he had the gravitas to take him head on.
  
  True, Muhoho has served two mandatory terms plus a 12-month extension but he must be allowed to manage his succession given the capital investment KAA has initiated. You only entrust such heavy investment to upstarts at the nation's collective peril. The astute economist in the President cannot and won't allow that to happen.
  
  Reign of octogenarians
  Father Muhoho may be 72 years only but he is less than 30,000 days old. What is more, his short third term has witnessed phenomenon growth with Kisumu Airport destined to be upgraded to international status in addition to constructing Isiolo Airport to decongest JKIA and open up northern Kenya for prosperity.
  
  We owe it to Muhoho that he helped whisk the notorious Artur brothers out of our borders. What more do we need from such a person with a passion to preserve national security? All the flack directed at him can only be traced to his his filial and royal relationship with President Kibaki. Leaves you asking whether an ex-priest cannot remain faithful to his flock?
  
  The press better direct their tirades elsewhere instead of detracting Mzee Muhoho from his pet projects that will see JKIA join the league of world's leading Airports.
  
  For Pete's sake, we don't eat politics. The press must desist from attacking the president via proxy. Washindwe!Kumekucha

  
  

• Mariga's Premier League Star Dimmed

  Posted: February 2, 2010, 10:00 am by Taabu

  
  Update 2: Raila in the mix
  The PM has announced that he successfully pushed for Mariga's case but unfortunately he secured the work permit after the transfer deadline. If that is true then Mariga can join an English Premier League club in the next transfer window this summer. But with a four-year deal at San Siro under the tutelage of the special one, Mariga may have bagged more than he prayed for.
  
  Raila stated he spent more than 200 minutes on phone talking to UK PM Gordon Brown's office, the Africa Office, office of Culture and Sports, the Home office, the FA president Lord Treisman and to Mariga himself. Was he trying to rig or just doing what he had to do? Well, out there rules are rules and they are bent for nobody no matter your social standing.
  
  ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
  Update 1
  And Mariga has landed at Inter Milan in the capable hands of the special one, Jose Mourinho. Just when the English Premier League thought they have done him in by denying him work permit to play for Manchester City, Mariga has landed even a bigger trophy guaranteeing him Champions League in two weeks time. Now being Eto's teammate must be living the dream. Well, fate and fortune only smiles on the face of the deserving. Go Mariga go, you have hit the ceiling of Kenyan football history.
  
  +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
  
  Kenya's McDonald Mariga has been denied work permit to play for Manchester City in the Premier League. While Mariga passed FA's criteria for appearing in 75% of internationals in the last two years (with his 24 caps for Kenya), his work permit application was rejected because Kenya is ranked 98th in Fifa's world rankings, outside the top 70 nations.
  
  Manchester City's management have failed in their appeal to have the verdict overturned about the 22-year-old. The Kenyan press must have celebrated too early even before the goal hit the net. Now you can imagine the family's heartache after such irresponsible exposure.
  
  Granted rules are rules and unlike us, civilized nations live by them and won't bent them no matter what. But the whole decision leaves a very sour taste in one's mouth. It is the individual who plays and not the country. Mariga's fate is akin to being erroneously declared incompetent by association and birth not his capabilities.
  
  This is such a sad fate for the Kenya's would-be record breaker in the world of football. But take heart young Mariga, your star has been recognized and no bushel will succeed in dimming it. At 22, it is only a matter of when and not if you live your dream, North West or elsewhere.Kumekucha

  
  

• Wise Tested Counsel: Do Better than 24 Years

  Posted: January 29, 2010, 2:00 pm by Taabu

  Kumekucha

  
  

• Profiling Makes Us All Less Safe

  Posted: January 25, 2010, 6:47 am by Taabu

  By Mwarang'ethe
  
  Without even informing us whatever the so called national security really means, in the last few months, Chris has informed us that Somalis are a threat to the Kenyan national security. Thus, while evoking such an ambiguous term, he has now implored us on the wisdom of “supporting” Saitoti in his crack down on Somalis in Eastleigh in Nairobi.
  
  Anyway, the main issue here is not how to define the meaning of so called national security, but to show that, this kind of profiling we have adopted in the name of “fighting” terrorism, and which Chris is cheering in the name of fighting terrorism can only make us less safe.
  
  Now, there are two kinds of profiling. We can use behavioural profiling which is based on how someone acts. The other profiling is automatic profiling which is based on names, nationality; the way one may the way a person buys a plane ticket etc. As an example of automatic profiling, in December, 2009, the USA government designated 14 nations whose nationalities must be subjected to more screening. The meaning is that people from these 14 countries are more likely to be terrorists than all other nations.
  
  The behavioural profiling can be the most effective way of profiling. However, it is extremely hard to get it right. Consequently, national security people and media people, retort to automatic profiling as we see now in Kenya against Somalis. The question is, does this kind of profiling really work?
  
  As a matter of evidence and reasoning, automatic profiling does not work. It does not work because the so called terrorists do not come in a neat profile that computers can pick. For instance, Timothy McVeigh was a white male American. The recent “terrorist,” by the name Mutallab, was a Nigerian. The shoe bomber, a Mr Richard Reid was a British with a Jamaican father. Germanaine Lindsay one of the alleged 7/7 bombers was an African from the Caribbean. Jose Padilla was an Hispanic American. The terrorist who blew the Russian planes in 2004 was a Chechen female. From this list, it is rather obvious that, terrorists do not come in one brand.
  
  More so, this kind of profiling creates two paths through security system. In one path, there is less scrutiny and the other one there is more scrutiny. Once you have this two path security system, you invite the terrorist/criminals to use the path with less security. These criminals no doubt have the capability of analysing a profiling system and then adapt accordingly.
  
  For instance, since Uganda is not among the 14 nations designated by the USA administration, what would stop a criminally minded person to relocate to Uganda for some time and then start his journey from Kampala to the USA?
  
  From what we have said above, it seems more reasonable to have a system where we can randomly select people to be screened. For instance, if it is at the airport, why not have an idea whereby, every 20th passenger, unless is a toddler, will be subjected to a more through screening? With such a system, anyone could be subjected to security checks at any time.
  
  The beauty of such an approach is that it does not anger the ethnic groups that we may need on our side if we are to be secure against criminals. Otherwise, with automatic profiling, you alienate the same people you want to cooperate.Kumekucha

  
  

• Presidency: Reducing Institution to Personality

  Posted: January 22, 2010, 11:00 pm by Taabu

  By Guest Writer
  
  Come on Kenyans, let us get our priorities right for once and have the cart behind the horse. This animal called the presidency is the singular source of all the ills afflicting Kenya and until we rectify and straighten that institution we will only succeed in bandaging a festering wound with devastating consequences.
  
  The constitutional order was never the problem for Kenya. Rather, the problem has been and will always remain the abused institution of the presidency, debased by tribal shenanigans and left to rot by a "below-the-threshold" civic consciousness, low energy and rudderless political participation by the Kenyan people.
  
  To create a proper constitutional presidency takes thorough-going measures to establish formal permanent structures to manage the presidency. These structures must create a process for how the presidency functions; develop goals and action plans for achieving presidential agenda, time frames and a reporting mechanism for the accomplishments of the presidency. Kenyans can then begin to make sense of the institution, weigh its actions against its goals and agenda and, evaluate its excesses based on a known set of parameters referencing constitutional provisions and limits of presidential action.
  
  As things stand, the presidency in Kenya operates by rule of the thumb, has a limited executive apparatus consisting of a state comptroller, a press secretary and a security details. Think about it, how can this outfit effectively manage presidential programs?! The president's involvement in national issues, under these circumstances, becomes residual and the presidential routine includes such mundane roles as signing legal notices, receiving ambassadors credentials, attending ceremonial functions etc.
  
  Lords of Impunity
  There is much more that a broadened presidency can do. It can act as a centre for the expeditious implementation of important socio-economic agenda that meets the expectations of the people.
  
  Institutions that are not held accountable never reformed or restructured in any way become derelict. If Kenyans can separate the presidency from the president, the executive, as an institution, from the president and, if focused attention can be paid to the structure and facility of these institutions, they have a chance to function as organs for the pursuit of the integrity of the state.
  
  Instead, we have a presidency without a structure, an administration that functions as the superintendent of the permanent bureaucracy, a government that reels under the disruptive impact of new dynamics associated with new administrations, absence of transitional structures to anchor the bureaucracy from the degenerative effects of administration change. The presidency has, historically, produced political impunity and hawkish ethnic power centres. All these elements sour the political landscape and make good governance untenable.
  
  A president that knows he/she functions under the watch of an institutional rather than an individualized presidency, will, in most cases, be controlled and limited in what he/she can arbitrarily do or allow to be done.
  
  Return of Imperialism
  Any constitution, old or new, that does not guarantee the rule of law, that allows the president to feel and act as an omnipotent deity, that tempts tribes to want power so desperately, will never be a good constitution. Anytime a good constitution is combined with bad institutions the resultant practices and political behaviours will undermine the rule of law. This will often create the impression that the constitution is the problem. Nothing can be further from the truth.
  
  In a nutshell we are not starring hell in the face for lack of preachers. Far from it, we have collectively and unwittinly allowed pretenders and little devils to lead us by the hand to hellhole.
  
  We must hold our leaders to account so that they match the letter and spirit of our laws, period.Kumekucha

  
  

• PSC and Paradox of Presidential Governance

  Posted: January 21, 2010, 3:00 pm by Taabu

  It must be such an obtuse paradox to have parliamentarians as authors of a presidential system of governance. Well, if the imperial presidency is synonymous with impunity, then the parliamentary system is a poor acceptance of tribal tension among Kenyans.
  
  Kenyans have been unanimous in demanding one centre of power. Consequently, the PSC meeting in Naivasha have taken cue to settle for presidential system of governance. So far the whole PSC business smacks of smartly-disguised mischief.
  
  What a lucky and privileged lot? Not only do they set and increase their own salaries, this time around they have upped the game by creating more constituencies for themselves.
  
  Now we have PSC members determining a cap of 325 MPs. Which leaves you wondering what were their parameters in their hurry to jump the gun. Here we have people enslaved with the present political dispensation selfishly prescribing a future manual and structure of governance.
  
  It appears the Kenyan voter hasn't seen the last of these scoundrels. One would be forgiven for believing the MPs when they shamelessly wax patriotic and pseudo objective until they start voting on weighty matters using their stomachs and mouths.
  
  But you cannot blame the MPs who are only flying their Principal's flag. Lack of leadership from the TOP proved a clear abdication of responsibility. This saw the PSC being entrusted with an enormous task that the real power men never even pretended to solve.
  
  Well, plastic patriotism may make us shout in denouncing those classifying us as a failed state. But the reality remains we are in the same cesspool as that hosting Mugabe and Tsvamgirai.
  
  Kenya may not be Zimbabwe (spelling and pronunciation) but the common thread through both countries is the beautiful MIRAGE of a new constitution.Kumekucha

  
  

• Xenophobia and Mau Unites Karua and Ruto

  Posted: January 18, 2010, 4:39 pm by Taabu

  They play in opposite sides of the political field occasionally throwing choicest epithets at each other. But on demanding humane treatment of victims of official harassment, Hons. Karua and Ruto play on the same team for the same goal: FAIRNESS.
  
  While Ruto took the PM head on demanding HUMANE EVICTIONS from Mau forest, Karua is roasting Saitoti for allowing police to use excessive force in breaking last Friday's protest. True to the hen-egg adage, which came first: the floods/trees for Ruto or human rights/security for madam Martha?
  
  Here are two presidential candidates walking the talk. And Karua should know when she barracks Saitoti for a failed intelligence gathering. Her fidelity to the law can only earn her more admirers if not more voters. She stands tall and tough when no man dares raise his neck as evident during the post-election storm.
  
  As for Ruto, his focus and bare knuckles approach to matters he consider close to his political cause can only raise his standing. After defying Moi and succeeding against all odds, nobody knows better how to fell a political giant.
  
  These two presidential candidates have introduced a breathe of fresh air to political competition based on ISSUES. Karua knows human rights must not be compromised at whatever cost. Even Al-Shabaab sympathizers have rights and what is more, they are Africans and Kenyans to boot. Eastleigh and Kenya would be much poorer without these enterprising lot.
  
  Meanwhile Ruto's selfless fight for the downtrodden sets a new standard for true leadership. Nobody could have been far-sighted than an Agriculture Minister promising a nationwide tree planting instead of selective actions media tokenism witnessed in Mau last Friday. Ruto has reminded us that tree planting is like infant immunization that can be postponed till the right time.
  
  It is no coincidence that events of last Friday provided the platform on which these two great politicians launched their constructive campaigns against xenophobia and government harassment of her citizens.
  
  Kenya can only get better. Kudos to the principled iron lady Karua and the indomitable honest Ruto. You have both painfully planted and the bounty harvest from your common constituency constituting the harassed will not disappoint.Kumekucha

  
  

• Experts Betrayed Kenya, Planted High Tension

  Posted: January 15, 2010, 4:00 pm by Taabu

  The wide gulf between the two leading political camps on the new draft constitution beggars the question, whose views did the committee of experts (CoE) gather and synthesize? In fact the VP has already challenged the CoE to table the raw views.
  
  Something is not quite right here. Either the CoE betrayed their mandate and deceived Kenyans by ignoring their views or the political shenanigans are back to what they know best by stroking tension in preparation for 2012.
  
  Our politicians have thrown posterity to the dogs. Meanwhile they continue to hold us collectively hostage by the fear and interests of personalities. And the CoE did us no favour with the hybrid proposal that thought was a master stroke to bridge the divide but instead seems to be even driving the wedge deeper.
  
  The last few days brings back the tension and division of referendum 2005 live. The coalition mongrel is tottering in the brink of collapse. Already ministers are publicly pulling in opposite direction pandering and aligning themselves for 2012.
  
  Deceit manifests itself in various shapes and forms including contempt packaged as silence. Just look at all the nonsensical standoff between the PM and President on tree planting in Mau. The whole episode leaves you wondering and marvelling at the folly of inverted priorities.
  
  Unless some sombre leadership prevails, the impeding referendum will do more damage and leave the country more polarized like never seen before. That would be the perfect catalyst to spark inferno come 2012.
  
  Something or somebody must stop these selfish politicians from playing Russian Roulette with Kenya. The Katiba mirage is fast fading in the horizon.
  
  P.S. Don't miss the sizzling weekend special this weekend;
  Kumekucha

  
  

• President or PM: The Draft's Dead on Arrival

  Posted: January 12, 2010, 11:00 am by Taabu

  Political scientists often advance the theory that a country needs a crisis to draft a new constitution. So do we need a crisis or are we already in one to warrant one? Well, maybe we have both circumstances in our hand if the single obsession with executive power is anything to go by.
  
  Ex-President Moi has just added his voice with a preference to presidential system of governance. And he has the right more so given his 24 years of RUIN as the president himself as be shamelessly reminds us that the presidential system is not dictatorial as politicians want us to believe. Well, we better listen to the professor of Kenyan politics now that the present dispensation makes him look a saint.
  
  The renown Oxford-trained political scientist Mutahi Ngunyi (WANTED by Ford foundation) also bastardized the CoE of intellectual laziness. He opined that the PSC can salvage the simmering political situation by presenting two drafts for a YES-YES vote. And therein lies the matchbox to ignite a raging inferno.
  
  Recent developments points to the two political sides pandering to this ROSSY proposition. But behind this poisoned chalice for proposal hides their true intention to drive the final blade through body Kenya. You cannot fail to see the smartly veiled gimmick to rally other Kenyan tribes against those who have ALLEGEDLY suffocated them with the imperial presidency.
  
  Bloggers here may chose to differ but not before the mass hysteria acquires a life of its own to self-destruction. True, the CoE failed in their mandate by holding themselves hostage to present political dispensation while giving leave to posterity.
  
  But all is not lost. Kenyans have come along way and the politicians can only use old tricks on them at their collective peril. Until then the scent of new constitution may just drift away as the struggle enters its third decade.Kumekucha

  
  

• Al-Faisal: Of Loyalty to Religion and Country

  Posted: January 11, 2010, 9:00 am by Taabu

  
  The difference between failed and failing state may just be reduced to tenses. Well, somebody must have slept on the wheels to let the Jamaican preacher in Kenya. So far nobody wants to answer the basic question of who gave him visa to enter Kenya.
  
  Nobody and no country wants to touch him. But Al-Faisal traversed a dozen African countries including South Africa before landing in Mombasa by road. Now none of these countries want anything to do with him.
  
  Either we were more vigilant within our borders or just plainly naive and left holding both the baby and the bath tab. The fact that neither Tanzania not SA doesn't want to hear about this guy leads to the obvious question did he have visa for these countries or was he there illegally?
  
  Meanwhile our over zealous activists and lawyers-for-rent are all over demanding his release. Speak of the law being an ass. Religion has become a cheap rallying call and adherents can sell both their souls and country for six silvers.
  
  Well, these loud-mouthed activists must have forgotten one Fazul staying and marring a local in Lamu and the subsequent dark August 7, 1998.
  
  Al-Faisal must have been unlucky to have been nabbed before he disappeared into Eastleigh. Kenya must be the safe haven and route for Al-Shaabab recruits.Kumekucha

  
  

• Zuma: Fidelity With Plural Emotions

  Posted: January 8, 2010, 10:00 am by Taabu

  
  Not even ultimate power comes in between the joy and burden of athletism around the waist.Kumekucha

  
  

• Kumekucha Awards for Citizen Journalism

  Posted: December 31, 2009, 9:00 pm by Taabu

  The first decade of the new millennium is gone. And gone with it too is the prophesied meltdown that never was in 2000. The vanishing decade also ushered in the so-called citizen journalism that saw the birth of our own Kumekucha.
  
  True, a blog is nothing but just that a blog, an online diary if you like. But again there are blogs and there is Kumekucha. This is not only a political blog that trail blazed while others followed, but readers visit this blog so as to have a true feeling of Kenya’s political pulse. And the opinions are both varied and acidic as they come.
  
  As we welcome the second decade of the millennium, pioneer writers of this blog deserve accolades. First comes Chris with his no-holds-barred insights. The BOSS has rubbed many regulars and newbies the wrong way. And true to the adage that only fools don’t change their minds, he has modified his political takes based on dynamics while retaining history as his principal anchor. Wapi Oscar?
  
  Acid and vitriol
  Next comes Phil, the indefatigable. Like him hate him Phil’s passion and steadfastness to advance and defend his course is a case study of political fidelity. That picture would be incomplete without mentioning Derek (aka Deroo) as Phil’s checkmate on the political chessboard. Derek and Vikii’s eloquence in articulating their respective political stands is passion personified.
  
  The rainbow politics in Kumekucha would be the poorer without mentioning both UrXlnc and Sam Okello with their often controversial pitches. And yes, one and only Luke with his tongue firmly stuck in his cheek.
  
  Then comes the girls who stuck their heads to disabuse the male folk of political naivity. The potent mix of PKW, Ciku Msa, Sayra and Mrembo would often leave the men scampering for political safety like headless chicken. This lot provided the much needed reality check when the political kitchen became too hot.
  
  The past few months wouldn’t have been the same at this blog without the intellectual rigour and vigour of our own Mwarangethe. His singular obsession and articulation of matters wealth and land is a thesis superlatively written and defended.
  
  Reclaim Kenya
  The KK citizen journalism awards would be biased and insensitive without mentioning the numerous anonymouses whose wits and vitriol spiced and enriched the blog.
  
  This is therefore to wish all of you a happy NEW YEAR for making this blog such a success. KK's clones never grew wings or the feathers froze. You have provided a steady pedestal for even better political discourse in the new decade.
  
  Phew! Gone is the cursed decade when we almost collectively stewed in our own blood and incoming is the defining year when Kenyans either reclaim their country from scoundrels or kiss the bottom of abyss-self destruction.
  
  Happy new year once more folks.Kumekucha

  
  

• FPE Funds: Vultures Mauling Carcass Kenya

  Posted: December 17, 2009, 6:00 pm by Taabu

  The hyenas have struck at the Ministry of Education by looting donor funds meant for free primary education. The heartless wolves won't care less even if their selfish acts will see more than 8 million children drop out of school.
  
  That the government has been used as a cash cow by fraudulent civil servants is not legendary. But seeing senior officers at the ministry's headquarters squander money meant for the poorest is cannibalism taken too far.
  
  Well, the thieves may have just bitten more than they can chew. And Kibaki is livid with rage at their audacity to steal such large amount organizing and attending phantom seminars and conferences. You can only imagine how many such evil schemes these fraudsters successfully executed without being caught.
  
  Leaves you asking where are our values as a country and society if we can chuck out food from a starving Kenyan? No superlative constitution can legislate human values. No wonder these officials have no qualms formulating policies for public schools while sending their own kids to private schools.
  
  Begging thieves
  Add this obtuse heartlessness to government officials stealing bags of maize and beans meant to feed the starving in Rift Valley and you get what constitutes our warped sense of financial success - HELL FOR LEATHER.
  
  We are such shameless begging thieves. It had to take donor UK's actions of withholding further funding before the so-called leaders react. So much for hollow sovereignty and flag independence.
  
  And true to our unique template Professor Ongeri and Mutahi won't take personal or official responsibility. Welcome to Kenya where everything goes.
  
  
  
  Special announcement: Cancel all your dates this weekend that will keep you far from the web. Chris continous with his groundbreaking series; Dark secrets of the Kenyan presidency. If you thought the Kenyatta secrets were hot then you will faint when you read the Moi ones starting tomorrow.
  More good news for regular visitors to Kumekucha. Starting Tuesday Chris will launch a new business and social series to highlight heroic deeds and unique stuff Kenyans are doing all over the world. He will focus on the small man who hardly has a chance of ever getting major media coverage. There is a lot Kenyans are doing quietly from a great herbal service that has a track record for saving lives of people suffering from Aids to a small publishing company that has launched a very useful stimulus package that will make 2010 a great year for anybody who gets these 9 books and practices everything in them. Much more to look forward to only here in Kumekucha.Kumekucha

  
  

• Apolitical Gema Backs Raila: Smart or Suicide?

  Posted: December 15, 2009, 2:00 pm by Taabu

  Folks, it is time for RE-INVENTION. Old wine are out in full force searching for new bottles: from non-political Karume-led Gema to reformist YK92.
  
  The Jewish folklore of fattening a goat before eventually slaughtering couldn't have been more apt. But again in politics only interests are permanent and nothing else is.
  
  We surely live in interesting political times. And history must be the richer for it as it beckons to repeat itself and resoundingly so.
  
  Bishop Dr. Lawi Imathiu should have asked EXPERTS here at Kumekucha to know that his kite won't fly. He would have been promptly reminded of the sophisticated political mindset of the same people whose interests he claims to advance. No brainer.
  
  Interesting time indeed when a tribal grouping DENOUNCES tribalism. The whole thing leaves you wondering whether we are ushering in a new dawn or staring at a mirage.
  
  Well, the dye is cast and EXCITABLE experts can join the party in bashing and gloating in equal measure. Just take your pick.Kumekucha

  
  

• Draft Constitution: The Curse of Two Parties

  Posted: December 10, 2009, 6:00 pm by Taabu

  One week to go and the discussion on the so-called harmonized (conflicting) draft constitution has refused to leave the station. The whole noble task of drafting a constitution for posterity has been reduced to the never-ending PNU-ODM political wars.
  
  You can never built anything sustainable premised on FEAR. Chapter 12 of the draft on executive has proved to the most contentious. Each political side is determined to have her cake and est it. Unfortunately, the truth is that none of the parties is right on either the presidential or parliamentary system of governance.
  
  While Moi frustrated the search for a new constitution for selfish reasons to consolidate his powers, the present political leadership are no better. No wonder the key players inadvertently let it out that the struggle was not to make Kenya better but to remove Moi and inherit his powers. Meanwhile Kenyans remain stuck in the middle suffocating from impunity.
  
  The whole country is held hostage by the political class. Despite being overtly political, the average Kenyan will fall to the gimmicks of these scoundrels and miss yet another opportunity to re-invent Kenya.
  
  Only a third neutral force devoid of the present brinkmanship can make us realize the dream of a new constitution. And there promptly comes the question, who will offer this selfless leadership. There must be such a Kenyan out there, who is s/he, ANYONE?Kumekucha

  
  

• Reforms: More Visa Bans Coming Soon

  Posted: December 9, 2009, 6:00 pm by Taabu

  While Amos Wako re-invents his poisonous smile smarting from the US visa ban, more politicians are lined up for the next round of ban. And the present grandstanding and brinkmanship on the draft constitution won't have been godsend. Forget the empty abroad-is-not-heaven chorus. The bans hits the mighty hard where it hurts most.
  
  Calling learned politicians ignorant may sound disrespectful but what else can you term a bunch of people whose vision never extends past the present leadership? Add to that the obnoxious obsession with TRIBE and you get a recipe to make a superb idiot.
  
  But these leaders are not alone. The have good company in equally-schooled Kenyans who mouth superlatives with no intention of walking the talk. Hypocrisy must be our collective forte. Look no further than the predictable propensity to chest thumb while supporting political turf wars at the expense of weighty national issues.
  
  Kenyans appear to have been weaned on LEADERLESSNESS so mush so that any trace of tough decision is fast reduced into cheap grandstanding and partisan warfare. In the meantime nothing moves and Kenya remains the worst for it all.
  
  No wonder the so-called international community have refused to buy into our national lies. Annan and co will never leave us stew in our own blood again and the EU and US visa bans are coming soon and furious.Kumekucha

  
  

• The Curse of A+O+O: Lovely Bedfellows

  Posted: December 7, 2009, 5:00 pm by Taabu

  Hail the king and his sidekick for true triumph. Fighting him is akin to cutting fig tree with a razor blade.
  
  The last laugh is surely the longest, loudest and sweetest. Don't spoil the party with all those stale draft constitution debate. Forget about LEADERSHIP, politics is all about triumph here and now. And the winner is........................(NOT KENYANS).
  
  So in appreciation let us all expose our post-molars please and applaud the brave worriors of democracy. One, two, three ............Kumekucha

  
  

• The Two Centres of Power Can Hold, Why Not?

  Posted: November 23, 2009, 3:00 am by Taabu

  The unpleasant truth be told, the draft constitution will be passed or defeated on the singular issue of competing executive powers between the president and PM. Pretending otherwise is to live a national lie. All the other magnificent clauses will either fall in place or be buried together with the explosive executive power.
  
  The real paradox lies in the hidden acknowledgement from CoEs that all our woes are traceable to imperial presidency while also creating a check in the office of the PM. Well, we know the king size egos of politicians and we only leave such an ambiguity to their so called well-meaning and statesmanship interpretations at our collective peril.
  
  We know the tattered constitution owes its stench not from its print or spirit but wanton abuse by the previous three presidents. While Jomo betrayed all the basic tenets of nationalism at independence, Moi fitted smartly in his predecessor’s ruinous shoes to drive Kenya down the destructive slope. As for Kibaki his love for the nostalgic 1960s left him no time to measure up to Kenyans’ expectation of him following 2002 elections. But all that is water under the bridge.
  
  The present political circumstances though self-inflicted offers us the best opportunity to reclaim Kenya and free ourselves from the evil grip of these selfish politicians. Granted the draft is not perfect, if not a lazy pretence at intellectualism that merely grafted the controversial executive clause to hitherto comprehensive Bomas and divisive Kilifi drafts.
  
  American constitution is often quoted for posterity because while POTUS remains the most powerful person standing on planet earth, he is comprehensively checked by senate and other arms of government. We cannot afford the expensive luxury of leaving the ego of a president and a PM enslave and strangle Kenya forever.
  
  The spirit of CoE’s draft lies in its latent acceptance that we are a nation exclusively led by competing tribal lords. Majority of Kenyans owe their loyalty first to their tribe and country second. The proposed regional governments are nothing but an academic nomenclature of that truism.
  
  So are we ready for both an executive president and PM? Well, while the present proposal was singularly informed by the nasty experience of a suffocating presidency, we MUST tame competing egos with stringent laws that leaves the scoundrels no room to hold Kenya at ransom again, NEVER.
  
  True, majority of Kenyans only read for exams in addition to text messages. But this time we must roll up our sleeves, open our eyes, read the draft and make our opinions count.
  
  And who knows, we could trail blaze uncharted waters of governance. But while at it WATERTIGHT remains the key.Kumekucha

  
  

• The Paradox of Devolution and Nationalism

  Posted: November 20, 2009, 4:00 pm by Taabu

  Kenyans are poring into the draft constitution starting from the top. They have collectively identified the cancer of unchecked powers exclusively resident at State House which they want tamed. On the same frequency they abhor reserving the weighty task of choosing PM to selfish politicians.
  
  The CoE would kill many birds with the same stone by amending that clause to indicate that the PM will be the leader of the party with majority MPs. That single provision will sound the death knell of briefcase parties while promoting policy-based parties. What is more, voters will vote with be priori knowledge of whom their prospective PM would be. That will minimize political wheeler dealing and arm twisting.
  
  That said the prospect of two centres of power MUST be addressed if the present inertia and tension is to be eradicated. Instead of narrowing power sharing to two offices, the executive authority is better best executed from one office with empowered independent institutions as watchdogs. Independent institutions rather than gullible MPs are a safer bet to objectivity and continuity devoid of electoral tensions.
  
  While Kenyans rightfully remain fixated to the proposed two centres of power, chapter two of the draft constitution is a study in paradox per excellence. First the chapter spells out devolution which captures the hitherto loathed majimbo in all but name.
  
  With devolution come deserved superlatives like sovereignty of the people and supremacy of the constitution itself. The three layers of governance is just too costly for a poor country like Kenya. But again, the CoE must have been alive to our ethnic loyalties and regional disparities.
  
  The draft declares that the governments at the various levels will be distinct and interdependent. Then comes the rider that the same governments must conduct their mutual relations on the basis of consultation and cooperation. That paradox must be clearly spelt out to avoid any regional conflicts that will inevitably impact on the national fabric.
  
  Also chapter two of the draft hits a masterstroke by reducing national holidays to three: Madaraka, Mashujaa and Jamhuri days. Makes sense if only they would do away with the obsession to specific dates and instead opt for days of the week (e.g first Monday of June ....) to avoid disruption of economic activities.
  
  But this structuring and reduction of holidays is a first step to kill deity and destructive sycophancy that saw previous presidents patent Kenya in their own names. Besides disabusing previous imperialists of personalized rule, this is a recognition of all who selfishly contributed in different ways to liberating Kenya.
  
  In a nutshell, while all are tackling the draft head first, the document provides us with the best opportunity to RECLAIM Kenya for ourselves and the future generation. We must not allow the pettiness of the present politicians to take us back to MISRI. The first generation leaders failed big time to steer Kenya to her right heights and we are paying the painful consequences.
  
  Let us seize this unique moment to retrace our steps and redefine the glorious Kenya for posterity. We owe it to ourselves and the future generation.Kumekucha

  
  

• Imanyara's Local Tribunal Bill Dead on Arrival

  Posted: November 12, 2009, 7:00 pm by Taabu

  Kenyans must have seen it coming. The voluble MPs predictably and conveniently dissolved in thin air leaving parliament chambers empty. Result, the popular Imanyara Bill meant to create local tribunal to punish perpetrators of PEV was pronounced dead on arrival.
  
  To compound matters, the Kenya clergy are already proposing minimum reforms after prophesying failure in enacting new constitution. But you cannot fault men of the cloth given our penchant to kill any progressive idea that doesn't serve present political interest.
  
  Give it to Minister Michuki for shooting straight from the hip. At least the snake rattler is forthright in telling off Imanyara to separate local tribunal from his obsession in targeting the president. Kimendero is a go-getter who knows what brings results and what amounts to hot air bereft of any meaningful movement.
  
  For results, Michuki has promised Imanyara his vote provided the provision stripping the president of immunity is deleted from the bill.
  
  A+O+O=Fire or meddling?
  So here we are paying over 200 MPs to desert their work stations and still expect progress from their collective inertia. The political stakes have never been higher and the forest is getting even more crowded.
  
  It appears we haven't sunk to the bottom of abyss but we are steadily headed there.
  
  The eloquent inaction, rudderlessness and official indifference are the trinity arsenal we need to exterminate ourselves come 2012.
  
  No wonder only the fire of A+O+O shakes the scoundrels off their boots.Kumekucha

  
  

• Progressive or New Activist Draft Constitution?

  Posted: November 10, 2009, 4:00 pm by Taabu

  A look at the proposed new draft constitution leaves you wondering whether you are listening to an NGO seminar presentation. While the draft captures the heart of most of the salient issues like devolution and judicial overhaul, the finer prints smacks of activism devoid of any trace of tunnel vision to anchor national foundation and values.
  
  The return of two chambers may appear to rewinding the clock to 1960s but at least it is an honest reflection to help us retrace our steps towards disabusing the godfathers of impunity like Jomo and his STUDENTS who patented Kenya for themselves. The senate will ensure no region feels marginalized by either default or design as we re-invent ourselves into a modern state.
  
  Hopefully the provincial governments will comprehensively tackle the regional militias presently roaming and BEHEADING fellow Kenyans. At least the regional authorities will be knowledgeable and armed with experience to stop the murderers at their doorsteps.
  
  Perhaps the most progressive suggestion in the draft constitution is the provision of dual citizenship. Kenya has been blind to her Diaspora despite their enormous contribution to the economy. This development is a step towards disabusing the old guards of their primitive nostalgia and contempt towards modernism. The ball will squarely fall on the Diaspora’s court to walk their lofty talk should the dual citizenship proposal pass muster.
  
  Saving ourselves
  But predictably, the draft does not fail to inject a bitter taste onto the lips with its academic legislation on gender. While NGOs win donors with their gender campaigns, legislating that no gender should occupy two-thirds of the seats in the National Assembly turns the whole theme of equity on its own head.
  
  On the whole the so-called committee of experts has correctly diagnosed our collective ailment. Their prescription may not be the best but at least it will keep us alive to either accept reality and reform or revert to our destructive pettiness that will only see us perish collectively.
  
  It is incumbent upon us to rise to the occasion and save ourselves from stewing in our won blood, shall we?Kumekucha

  
  

• Yet Another Financial Typo From Treasury

  Posted: November 9, 2009, 1:00 pm by Taabu

  Their creativity is so amazing and they won't stop. After the BUDGET typo now comes CMC's 2003 loan being paid in style via Volkswagen Passat cars.
  
  Competitive bidding must have been a preface in syllabus of yore. Value for theft is only guaranteed via sour be single sourcing. And at KES 3.7m per VW unit, don't ask the difference from KES 1.8m from the truly industrious lot.
  
  You see we have to retrospectively finance the hither phantom 6% growth that was exclusively anchored on deceit. In addition to paying the previous debts, the kitty must be replenished for 2012.
  
  Make no mistake, the fraudsters are not naive. They packaged the fraud so smartly the public was left asking for more. Denouncing fuel guzzlers must have been a superlative PR while the scoundrels scouted for next prey. And the game goes on and on..........Kumekucha

  
  

• Wako to Enter Nolle Prosecui on US Visa Ban

  Posted: November 4, 2009, 11:10 am by Taabu

  
  Smiling Wako must be wishing that impunity could be exported and made universal. But hell NO.
  
  Well, the smile has vanished to be replaced by a long face. Amos needs to CLONE himself to have a chance of testifying against the US. He would better ask one Chris Murungaru on the futility of such bravado.
  
  Living national lies must be damn expensive in the long run. Now Amos Wako can shamelessly claim to be the point man who ushered in multipartysm during the fall of the Berlin wall. That amounts to hawking fake credentials, and smart Amos knows it. Whoever said lawyers are legal scoundrels wouldn't have been more apt.
  
  Extrapolate that lie to the hitherto 6% national growth in the face of more Kenyans joining the poverty bracket and you define our national fabric of deception. NA BADO.Kumekucha

  
  

• As the Noose Tightens: To Refer or Not to ICC

  Posted: November 2, 2009, 5:00 pm by Taabu

  There is a very thin line between EXECUTIVE INDIFFERENCE and leadership fraud. The buck must stop with the CEO when the company he is entrusted and paid to watch over comes down tumbling. But not in Kenya.
  
  Those making noise and taking sides must be strangers to Kibaki's political modus operandi. When the heat becomes unbearable, Emilio never helps anybody fight his political battles once you hit your-sell-by date. Not even if you staked you head for him. If in doubt Martha and octogenarian ambassador Muchemi are living testimonies. And so UK and Bill will soon find out that they are on their own.
  
  The good news is that when The Hague Express finally leaves the station, it will acquire its own momentum that will only stop when Kenya is eventually cleansed of bravado, brinkmanship and above all else IMPUNITY.
  
  Political sell-by-date
  Prof Alston came and declared his unflattering verdict on the three musketeers. Well, they vilified him but look who is smiling from ear to ear now. Ali is cooling his heels at Posta, Wako's lips are fatigued from plastic smiles and next will be CJ Gicheru. The noose is tightening quite fast.
  
  Prof Luis Moreno Ocampo has set his own agenda and demanding that the script be followed to the letter. While his actions would smack of neo-colonialism to apologists, many Kenyans are cheering him on for taking on the might and doing what they wish but can never do given the suffocating impunity.
  
  So is it the beginning of the end for kings and princes of impunity? But again this is Kenya and king Louis XVI may choose to ignore the impending heat while his wife Marie Antoinette asks Kenyans to eat cake if they cannot afford githeri?
  
  Well, the die is cast and the real fire and curse of the three dread vowels A+O+O is here.Kumekucha

  
  

• The Curse of A+O+O, Hollow Pride in Poverty

  Posted: October 29, 2009, 9:00 pm by Taabu

  Why do hitherto brilliant brains MUTATE into porridge once in government? Lord Acton must have been a genius with his time-tested adage that absolute power corrupts absolutely. A look into our cabinet would leave the late Rogue Ambassador Smith Hempstone turning in his grave for wasted efforts to protect pretenders for champions of good governance and democracy.
  
  So it appears Obama's utter contempt for Kibaki's protest letter is to send an Assistant Minister to deal with Kenya. And our chief diplomat Wetangula has threatened to reciprocate the humiliation to President Kibaki. Maybe Renneberger will be declared persona non grata soon.
  
  But Wetangula appears to know something we don't when he names Fidel Castro and Ahmednedijan's trip to UN despite their respective hostility America. His comparison leaves you wondering who is the Kenya's equivalent of the two and if he is a target of BAN.
  
  It must have sounded intellectually stimulating and sense of pride for Weta to mention Nairobi, Geneva, New York and Vienna in the same sentence. We are sovereign and independent, so what? The US are doing what ordinary Kenyans would wish to do were it not for saffocating IMPUNITY. Any form of pressure to release us from the yoke of impunity is more than welcome. Well, apologists will rush to the next rooftop to shout neo-colonialism.
  
  The US pressure for reforms has been reduced to the predictably PNU vs ODM tiff. The hitherto champions of good governance shifted the goalposts immediately they tasted power. As one PKW noted here in the previous post the political foot is now squarely stuck in the other foot. Flashback to 2000 and see Kibaki and the present brigade lambasting Moi on imperial presidency and now?
  
  Edible sovereignty
  The latest poverty index has shamed the national lie about phenomenal growth during the 2002-7 period. The increase in poorer Kenyans is once more living testimony of the resulting embarrassment of living a national lie. Anything premised on this vice is simply unsustainable.
  
  Wetangula and Mutula's rush to see every criticism directed at the ruling class as an agenda to embarrass the president smacks of sycophancy of yore. Speak of hollow pride from a beggar who cannot feed himself while living in darkness.
  
  Meanwhile the pressure is on and the lid may not hold it any more when Ocampo lands within our shores next week.Kumekucha

  
  

• Equity: One Kilometre, One Man, One Vote

  Posted: October 28, 2009, 11:00 pm by Taabu

  Here we go again. The magic word EQUITY is back on everybody's lips. Digging in for a fight, MPs are breathing fire to scuttle the yet-to-be born constitution. The war pits Central-MANIACS against Central-PHOBICS. All else is pretence at best and denial at worst.
  
  Make no mistake, our problem is not exclusively due to the present bad constitution. The real problem is that we have and make laws with no intention to obey them. Impunity, another magic word rules supreme.
  
  Looking at PNU and ODM MPs shouting their love for EXECUTIVE presidency and parliamentary governance respectively leaves you wondering what a bunch of AIRHEADS we have as leaders. The truth is that PNU thinks of presidency and Kibaki as synonymous while ODM entertains that fertile imagination that they will remain the majority party forever.
  
  Nobody would have put EQUITY better than Muite. A country is not merely the sum total of its population. True, population is a factor among many others towards creating constituencies. But our mad rush-past-the-post spares us no room to think of tomorrow. All we have and fight to die for is here and now.
  
  We have leaders whose loyalty to anything objective is as good as a dog to fidelity. Their selfish and never-ending petty wars makes Kenya be in a permanent state of tension and they don't care a hoot. What is more, they remain secure in the knowledge that many will buy their pettiness hook, line and sinker.
  
  The word POSTERITY must mean nothing to these scoundrels. Instead of putting their heads together to mend a tattered country, they are busy shearing at every remaining thread. But not for long.
  
  Kenya and Kenyans are far ahead of this lot and very soon they will be put where they belong. It only remains a matter of time.Kumekucha

  
  

• Wako’s US Visa Ban is Megaphone Diplomacy

  Posted: October 27, 2009, 5:00 pm by Taabu

  The curse and heat from three vowels A+O+O is back. And now they have gone a notch higher and Kenya government’s chief legal officer is banned from visiting US. After defying President Kibaki’s official protest, Obama’s contempt for both our country and leaders continue.
  
  Kenya is for Kenyans and Obama must stop his proxy wars for influence our 2012 elections. Barack must avoid double standards by putting undue pressure on our government. He must not insult Kibaki’s mature diplomatic approach and resort to MEGAPHONES handed to one Johnny Carson and his sidekick Michael Renneberger.
  
  Obama must stop listening to the jobless ex-UN chief Koffi Annan. You cannot fail to see their evil intention to intensify the pressure just ahead of Moreno Ocampo’s date next week. Obama must measure up to his NEWEST Laureate status and stop fanning tension at the slightest excuse within Kenyan borders.
  
  Cheap 2012 proxy wars
  Kenya must be suffering from the curse of Obama by association. US needs to be ashamed of meddling in every aspect of Kenya’s government. They have spitted on our face by promoting the loudmouthed Renneberger when we demanded he be recalled. What is more, Johnny-come-lately even has the cheek to deride Ali’s exit as police boss as good riddance.
  
  More than 60% of Kenyans know no other AG in their lifetime except the brilliant and ever-smiling Wako. Amos is NOT GOING ANYWHERE. He is the only experienced hand who knows when to tamper justice with political reality.
  
  Wako's measured doses of nolle prosequi when militia bosses threaten to soil prominent names by spilling the beans is just what the doctor ordered. He is impunity personified. He provides the much-needed legal cover for kings of impunity.
  
  Obama must leave us alone to sort ourselves in the best way we know how. We need neither prodding nor babysitting. Just like Annan before him, Ocampo will come and gleefully kiss every camera and microphone thrown at him and go.
  
  The US of A is not heaven. They better know that all their present theatrics and megaphone diplomacy is not new, we have seen all these casts before. We are firm and happy in our own skin.Kumekucha

  
  

• Wako’s US Visa Ban is Megaphone Diplomacy

  Posted: October 27, 2009, 5:00 pm by Taabu

  The curse and heat from three vowels A+O+O is back. And now they have gone a notch higher and Kenya government’s chief legal officer is banned from visiting US. After defying President Kibaki’s official protest, Obama’s contempt for both our country and leaders continue.
  
  Kenya is for Kenyans and Obama must stop his proxy wars for influence our 2012 elections. Barack must avoid double standards by putting undue pressure on our government. He must not insult Kibaki’s mature diplomatic approach and resort to MEGAPHONES handed to one Johnny Carson and his sidekick Michael Renneberger.
  
  Obama must stop listening to the jobless ex-UN chief Koffi Annan. You cannot fail to see their evil intention to intensify the pressure just ahead of Moreno Ocampo’s date next week. Obama must measure up to his NEWEST Laureate status and stop fanning tension at the slightest excuse within Kenyan borders.
  
  Cheap 2012 proxy wars
  Kenya must be suffering from the curse of Obama by association. US needs to be ashamed of meddling in every aspect of Kenya’s government. They have spitted on our face by promoting the loudmouthed Renneberger when we demanded he be recalled. What is more, Johnny-come-lately even has the cheek to deride Ali’s exit as police boss as good riddance.
  
  More than 60% of Kenyans know no other AG in their lifetime except the brilliant and ever-smiling Wako. Amos is NOT GOING ANYWHERE.
  
  Obama must leave us alone to sort ourselves in the best way we know how. We need neither prodding nor babysitting. Just like Annan before him, Ocampo will come and gleefully kiss every camera and microphone thrown at him and go.
  
  The US of A is not heaven. They better know that all their present theatrics and megaphone diplomacy is not new, we have seen all these casts before. We are firm and happy in our own skin.Kumekucha

  
  

• Cholmondeley Free Man: The Law's an Ass

  Posted: October 23, 2009, 9:00 pm by Taabu

  The Kenyan government owes Maina Njena and his 18 co-accused both apologies and handsome compensation for unlawful incarceration. The injustice meted against the Mungiki leader that saw him being denied the opportunity to even bury his late wife is unforgivable.
  
  And now that the executive have taken over the court's jurisdiction to free Maina, the power that be must brace themselves for the Njenga’s threat to disclose names of the mighty Mungiki collaborators. The ever-smiling Amos only did what he knows best by lending authority to prodding from political quarters.
  
  BOXER from George Orwell's Animal Farm saw it all. If only we could all see the smokescreen for what it is. As you concentrate on the slap on the wrist for Cholmondely, the real deal below is off the hook after threatening to UNDRESS the KING.
  
  Brother Maina is back and is soon headed for BAPTISM. He has ordered the beheading squad to follow suit. We can only hope and pray that when the two profitable professions of religion and politics combine, Central Kenya will regain their peace.
  
  
  
  
  At long last Mungiki can now restructure and be more EFFECTIVE with their leader back. If only all were equal and so lucky?Kumekucha

  
  

• KCSE Exam Cheating Reflects Rotten Values

  Posted: October 23, 2009, 7:30 pm by Taabu

  Our filthy national fabric is being aired for all to see and marvel at. Past students who scored As and waiting to join campus are being hired to RESIT exams so as to boost schools’ profiles. The single fraudulent objective being to attract more money from gullible parents. But who is fooling whom here? No prizes for guessing.
  
  Granted, the cheating may not be that widespread but only concentrated in the usual pockets of regions. And there lies the crux of the matter, why would a parent or guardian sent a student to mark time in school for a whole four years with the singular objective of buying his/her way to SUCCESS? This evil ritual is so annoying and demoralizing to the majority hard-working students.
  
  And as they say a society is its own mirror. Honesty and integrity are virtues for the less industrious who sweat for their food. Why soil your fingers if a shortcut is available at the right price? We are our won worse enemies when we cheer thieves and murders as they lead us to the next available cliff.
  
  The KCSE exam fiasco is another reminder of our rotten values. The same parents complaining about corruption will be the first ones to troop to the schools enrolling past candidates in search of admission. And here we are admonishing abstract impunity while watering the fruits of eternal self-destruction. OLE WETU.
  
  Forget about a new constitution all we need is a NATIONAL REBIRTH OF BASIC VALUES. Generally what we consider success is nothing but primitively accumulated wealth by few individuals at our collective expense. And what is more, they have rented our mouths at no fee.
  
  Most of Kenya’s maladies are self inflicted. Just look at the limping economy, predictable floods and at the top IDPs. Until we have a honest look at our national conscience and mend our ways, all the lofty talk about DELUSION 2030 amounts to nothing but baying at the moon.Kumekucha

  
  

• Best Wishes for KSCE But You’re on Your Own

  Posted: October 21, 2009, 7:00 pm by Taabu

  We live in interesting times, don't we? First it is OFFICIAL, you are on your own as a Kenyan in terms of security. Forget about whining about government when your neighbour resorts to extortion and macabre beheading.
  
  While the government disowns its principal duty to provide national security, it is yet another season of exams starting Wednesday. And reading about the predictable tales of leakages going for as low as KES 2000 in addition to KNEC’s painful and expensive tasks of hiring helicopters and boats to overcome elements of adverse weather leaves you wondering why we continue inventing paths to self-destruction.
  
  Examinations have been reduced to loose all or win all platform to success. And what is more, our national deceptive mind has not spared the evaluation either. We have made deceit our second name so much so that success by any dubious means is an end unto itself.
  
  How nostalgic the Chiromo days when a grade A came after sleepless nights. That was then when industry meant each of its letters. But not anymore when scoundrels re-invent you in their minds and peddle a lie about you here at KK. That is Kenya’s fabric at its purest for you.
  
  Civilized societies would have exams posted to their schools who would post directly to the markers. But not in Kenya where any valuable item will never reach its designated postal address. Our parents are so ready to buy success they wont bat an eyelid purchasing fake or real leakages.
  
  Industrious beheading
  Having known first hand a copy typist who attained C- in form 4 but now a city lawyer after using the boss, a college Principal, to rig admission into parallel degree, I know the quacks we are breeding in our streets.
  
  The extra security and financial measures taken by KNEC are NOT a reflection of how industrious but fraudulent we are as a nation. Our national fabric seems to be exclusively made of threads of deceit. And we iron the gab with a hot steam of self-denial. Woe unto a country whose foundations are anchored on primitive and plastic success that is not sustainable.
  
  All the best wishes to the many candidates who adequately prepared for their KCSE exams. They are guaranteed to earn their marks and grades but unfortunately compete against the rotten lot weaned on the doctrine of SUCCESS BY ANY MEANS.Kumekucha

  
  

• Uhuru Settles IDPs, Leads by Example

  Posted: October 19, 2009, 5:39 pm by Taabu

  Acting just in time to celebrate his dad's day, the DPM and Minister for Finance Uhuru Kenyatta has proved himself a doer and not the mere talker that other leaders are. UK personally witnessed resettlement of hundreds of IDPs in Rongai from their Mawingu camp. What is more, the land used to resettle them was previously owned by the Kenyatta family.
  
  If only other leaders would follow in Uhuru's footsteps and donate part of their obscene acreage to resettle the remaining domestic refugees. Uhuru’s gesture must be emulated by others if leaders are to earn their votes. It is the height of insensitivity to own a whole PROVINCE of land and refuse to donate a negligible fraction to miserable and deserving souls. That the government buys it from you is even a greater selfless motivation to sell.
  
  Kenya needs true leaders like Uhuru who lead by example and from in front. Forget about the noisy elders from Rongai with their misplaced complaints that the government favoured the IDPs and has done little for the 25,000 squatters in the area.
  
  Professional squatters are better left to continue living the life they know best. Let the IDPs have roofs over their heads and a place to call HOME. Kudos to UK.Kumekucha

  
  

• Only Kalonzo Can Guarantee Kenya’s Peace

  Posted: October 19, 2009, 5:00 pm by Taabu

  The Honourable VP Kalonzo Musyoka has been erroneously and selfishly put on the defensive mode about his quest to unite Kenyans. Kalonzo is only being truthful and saying-as-it-is unlike the majority politicians who mask their tribal modus operandi.
  
  Kenyan politics is tribe-based and Kalonzo’s KKK alliance is nothing but testimony to that truism. Many may deride him as spineless but no Kenyan politician can hold a candle of GODLINESS and HONESTY to the MP for Mwingi North.
  
  After wrong footing pretenders to the throne in PNU, now Brother Stevo is whipping ODM’s backside. What is more, the God-fearing and saved VP is the MOST POPULAR and ELECTABLE among the masquerading lot.
  
  Reverse logic informs you that the VP would not be receiving so many brickbats were it not for his popularity which his opponents are cheekily bent on diminishing. The KKK Juggernaut is one hell of a political edifice that leaves others shaking in their boots. With the other two Ks already associated with power, only one K deserves the presidency. Calculative Kalonzo knows when to strike it rich and hot.
  
  Saintly mien
  Kalonzo’s political track record spanning over a quarter century speaks for itself. He should know better when he warns us against negative ethnicity drawing out attention to two million Sudanese killed from such heinous acts. He is unparalleled ambassador of peace and a DIPLOMAT to boot.
  
  Kalonzo’s detractors give wings to the old adage that a prophet is never revered at home. While Sudan and Somali owe their PEACE to his singular efforts, we cage him into our narrow tribal jingoism. Stevo proved that charity begins at home when he SWALLOWED his political pride and saved Kenya from stewing in her won blood.
  
  Only Kalonzo’s honesty can save us from our own evil selves. Look around you and see fake witnesses at Waki’s commission seeking protection with the singular intention to make hay. Add that to con IDPs parking SUVs next to their tents and you get a country blissfully mocking God's wrath unto them.
  
  Our politics feeds exclusively on deception and ONLY Kalonzo can dissolve the burden of imperial Presidency and its attendant impunity. Go Stevo go and unite the willing majority of Kenyans.Kumekucha

  
  

• Kenya Must Opt Out of ICC's Death Trap

  Posted: October 16, 2009, 9:00 pm by Taabu

  Desperate time calls for desperate measures and for Kenya that time is NOW. With IDPs being forced from the camps into hostile localities, we need HEALING in all forms and shape. And the starting point must be the cabinet to lead by example in renouncing Kenya's signature to the Rome statute enjoining us to ICC.
  
  Ocampo and his brigade have generated more heat than light. His noise together with lectures from Annan have detracted our diligent ministers from their core duties. We cannot afford to have the two key ministries of Finance and Agriculture suffer as their holders look over their shoulders shopping for international lawyers at our collective national expense.
  
  Kenya is for Kenyans and only we can save our country from stewing in her own blood. What is more, we are blessed with a REFORMIST president who will spare no effort to shame doomsayers.
  
  We are in dire need of reconciliation and healing. The suicidal ICC's milestone around our collective neck is one catastrophic baggage we can safely do without. Kibaki must lead by example and from in front in signing Kenya out out of the ICC statute.
  
  The loudmouthed and ever-patronizing US opted out of ICC, so why not Kenya? Their moral balloon is busted and we must be left to chat our own peaceful and unique destiny as we match towards vision 2030. Down with ICC and OcampoKumekucha

  
  

• Delusion 2030: Joined at the Fractured Hip

  Posted: October 12, 2009, 6:01 pm by Taabu

  
  
  The fire and curse of three vowels: A+O+O.Kumekucha

  
  

• Congratulations Nobel Laureate Barack Obama

  Posted: October 9, 2009, 7:00 pm by Taabu

  Nobody saw it coming. Even the bookies’ radar had no faintest signal of him. Well, the world listened, surprised and DELIVERED. Barack Hussein Obama is the winner of 2009 Nobel Peace prize for global diplomacy. There could have been no other better way to bait a leader to do great good with his immense power.
  
  That makes 3 Nobel Laureates with more than a passing interest in Kenya’s political problems. Our own Wangari Maathai, Kofi Annan and now Obama are all determined to see Kenyans freed from the suffocating evil grip of impunity.
  
  We must have seen it first by being the only country to declare Obama day last year. We are on the right side of history besides banishing the old adage that a prophet is never revered at home.
  
  And who doesn’t want to be associated with the winner. President Kibaki has performed the necessary rituals claiming it was BEFITTING. Well, maybe that is smart recanting of the protest note last week. It is bad manners to rain on a global party.
  
  So was Obama a worthy winner? True, there were other weighty contenders but Obama's resolve and determination to use his powers for the wider good must have won the votes from the five-member committee. Obama's strength can be captured in the single word INSPIRE. Think dialogue with Iran, N. Korea and Russia and you get the wider picture of international diplomacy at its best.
  
  The Nobel peace prize committee has debunked the enduring myth that the prize is only about accomplishment. Actually the prize was created as much to supply momentum for peace as to celebrate it and they said as much in awarding it to Obama in support of his plans to make the world a better place.
  
  Global diplomacy
  The other 204 nominations for this year's peace prize including Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Chinese dissident Hu Jia may have been unfortunate to run against a PHENOMENON. As the Norwegian selection committee aptly said, it is very rare to have a person to the same extent as Obama captured the world's attention and given its people hope for a better future.
  
  Put simply Obama has created a new climate in international politics. Predictably Obama's award will invite detractors with equal zeal. Those conversant with American politics, will see Republicans ask why it is Obama after Carter and Al Gore. Well, you don't rig honours, do you?
  
  Obama’s winning the Nobel prize is testimony of what the rare humanity resident in a few can achieve. It may not be the results but the gesture and the will to fight and inspire the world is a priceless asset.
  
  It is one thing to lead but quite another to encapsulate the leadership concept towards steering the world on the premise of values and attitudes that are universally shared. Congratulations Obama.Kumekucha

  
  

• Bye Kofi Annan, You're Not Kenya’s Friend

  Posted: October 7, 2009, 6:00 pm by Taabu

  Annan came, shouted himself hoarse and must leave now after accomplishing ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. True, he may have saved Kenya from stewing in her own blood but Annan lost the plot when he chose to advance the interests of the so-called international community at our expense.
  
  And lest he forgets, Annan has never been our friend. No wonder we bugged his hotel room last time he was here. You don’t do that to trusted friends. He has outlived his usefulness and must know when to quit.
  
  Annan is living a lie by refusing to accept and appreciate our 90% reform pass grade. Instead he has shamelessly enjoined himself into our local pettiness so much so that he is know admonishing our DULY elected President’s public appointments claiming they are skewed. All posts are filled on MERIT, period. All else is cheap propaganda.
  
  Appointments on merit
  Patriotism and sovereignty are priceless assets which our forefathers lost their lives fighting for. Annan must know the futility and perils of attempting to babysit octogenarians.
  
  Just like one loudmouthed Michael Renneberger, Annan will kiss the next available microphone and leave. And Moreno Ocampo coming after him is destined for the same fate. Kenya is for Kenyans and no amount of noise or pressure will make the landlords change their schemes to auction the remaining viable pieces.
  
  Bye bye Annan, please pass the button to Prof Luis Ocampo and don’t forget to reminding him to breathe real fire and threaten smouldering brimstone too.Kumekucha

  
  

• All is Well, We’ll Sort Ourselves Out in 2012

  Posted: October 7, 2009, 3:28 pm by Taabu

  It is harvesting season in the Rift and the peace valley is awash with cash from wheat and maize. But also doing roaring business are gun dealers with the buyers having their eyes singularly trained on the trophy year 2012. The issue is too hot for our local media lest they invite EXECUTIVE RAIDS.
  
  Forget the 2007 preface with matches, bows and arrows, this time round it will be heads and bodies stopping bullets. Faint hearted will speedily brand this sensational but the truth remains TIMELESS and its legacy last forever. You can choose to permute our national pastime of deceit and bury your head deep in the sand oblivious of the impeding Armageddon.
  
  The warlords of 2012 massacres remain free men roaming our streets. What is more, we are dutifully paying their hefty salaries from our tax. Make no mistake, these kings know too well how high the stakes have risen.
  
  But trust AIRHEADS to trash the truth with serial juvenile attempts to reduce and denigrate what they hate to read and hear. Well, let such heads enjoy the warmth of the sand oblivious of the inevitable explosion facing their exposed backsides.
  
  Denial paradise
  We owe the Daily Nation plenty of thanks for BUGGING Harambee House to reveal what transpired between Annan, Kibaki and Raila. Surely, we have taken rumour-mongering to new national levels. And we are not talking about some yellow A4 tabloid but this is is coming from the most circulated newspaper in East and Central Africa.
  
  Annan’s diagnosis as lack of political confidence is an understatement at best and recapitulation at worst. Otherwise you fail to explain how a boss can complain that his subordinates are standing in the way of reforms and he in return only promises to slap them on the wrist aka TAMING them.
  
  The truth is nothing has changed and the objectives behind last poll’s fiasco remain very much the same. You don’t subject yourself to international ridicule only to turn around and surrender to the pressure from the same quarters. Unless you are a permanent resident of DENIAL PARADISE, like many faceless apologists here.
  
  The political will died before 2005 referendum and is yet to resurrect. Forget about the lofty and academic three-tier approach being peddled in the face of obtuse impunity.
  
  We are collectively living the beautiful national lie. In the meantime communities are arming to sort themselves once and for all in about 25 months from now. We haven't seen anything yet.Kumekucha

  
  

• Hague Express: Heat is on, Goalposts Shifting

  Posted: October 6, 2009, 6:00 pm by Taabu

  Parliament has been reigning supreme. They demanded Ringera's head and they got the Judge's scalp. MPs demanded The Hague. They reminded all and sundry not to be vague but instead choose The Hague. Well, prayer answered and so Hague here we come. But not just yet, we will board that jalopy to Netherlands at our own pace.
  
  Obama can eat his heart and take care not to suffer constipation. Hit kite won’t fly and the balloon sent to us in the name of Kofi Annan is at the mercy of our sharp pins. It is such a huge shame for a whoole ex-UN boss to shamelessly stoop so low to an extent of criticizing our president on his EXECUTIVE appointments.
  
  It is the height of pettiness for Annan to globalize our tribal governance. He needs to understand that Kenya is for Kenyans and only we can change at our own pace. The impressive report of 90% pass warrants appreciation. The accelerated judicial reforms will render Luis Moreno-Ocampo jobless and all his hitherto bravado will be irrelevant at best and hot air at worst.
  
  Kofi Annan must have met a very different Martha Karua from the one he dealt with just a year ago. He can as well use that single sample to generalize our collective national propensity to deceit. The boot is in the other boot which reminds you of yesterday reform champions turned present day masters of impunity - it is our time to eat.
  
  We are so dynamic as a country we change the goalposts as appropriate. Those who have been shouting themselves hoarse about The Hague are now staring the real prospect of joining Charles Taylor sooner than they imagined.
  
  One wonders who the members of this so-called international community are. That red herring can paint itself all the rainbow colours but remain rest assured that Kenya will not give an inch, not even with Michael Renneberger’s loudmouthed gimmicks.
  
  Babysitting octogenarians
  We are so unique and enterprising as a country so much so that we can have IDPs parking four wheel SUVs outside their tents. To us every calamity is an opportunity and we need no MBA from Harvard to exploit an opportunity when we see one.
  
  Our country remains an island of peace in a sea of chaos and those who think otherwise are living in DENIAL PARADISE. Nothing exemplifies our fledging democracy than the fractious coalition trading accusations. Who said the Permanent Committee on the Management of the Grand Coalition cannot reconvene after the Kilaguni fiasco?
  
  Annan came and he will soon leave after the four-day holiday. Ocampo will follow and he too will leave. Meanwhile Kenya remains where they found it. We embarked on project Armageddon in 2007 which must be completed in 2012. We need total extermination so that Kenya can regenerate a fresh.
  
  All other efforts amount to nothing but ego expansion gimmicks. Annan can not re-invent the wheel neither can he go against established natural order by attempting to babysit octogenarians.
  
  Put simple, nobody is going to The Hague anytime soon. Let Annan ask Omar El Bashir.Kumekucha

  
  

• Yes We Can Reform But No Lectures Please

  Posted: October 5, 2009, 2:00 pm by Taabu

  Kofi Annan has landed, breathing fire down our necks and ready to give a progress report for an examination we never sat in the first place. Unfortunately Annan's gloomy assessment is exclusively premised on misinformation and prediction of Armageddon. Otherwise he would readily accept the impressive distinction of 90% pass as graded by our own competent Alfred Mutua, PhD.
  
  Dr. Annan is here but he must be reminded that Kenya is no toddler in need of babysitting. He played his part last February, we appreciated it and he now better learns never to attempt extending the handshake past the elbow.
  
  The US would do themselves a great deal of good in accepting the basic truism that sanctions and threats never work as diplomatic tools. The Americans can keep their laser-guided sanctions to their political labs and spare Kenya uninvited lectures on good governance.
  
  YES WE CAN reform ourselves and our country BUT at our own pace. We are sovereign and independent with a FLAG to boot. Just like we defeated the late Smith Hempstone during his nyama choma gimmicks packaged as advocating for multiparty, the activist Renneberger stands no chance to shake us as a country.
  
  Kenya is no Somalia or Zimbabwe and one Johnny-come-lately Carson better learn to respect his ex-host. Invoking Obama’s name at the sight of every microphone will not make any difference-Kenya is for Kenyans, PERIOD. Michael better revise notes from the late Rogue Ambassador Smith who consorted with the likes of Kamau Kuria and Kiraitu Murungi then.
  
  Laser-guided bans
  We only have one centre of power and the presidency is our singular symbol of UNITY. Uhuru and Murage may have desecrated the hallowed grounds of State House by using it as a venue to plot Naivasha massacres but that does not make the legal tenant guilty by association.
  
  President Kibaki was there and saw it all as an opposition politician. Renneberger’s antics amount to playing a melodious tune to a HE-GOAT, no dance nor nodding. Even the loudmouthed EU and Canada are welcome to jump into that expanded bin of irrelevance.
  
  Make no mistake, we adopted multipartysm at our own pace and nobody can claim otherwise. The world has changed and America’s high handedness will only push us into PRODUCTIVE business with China and Iran. What is more, these fledging economies have plenty of resources and help to help Kenya realize v2030 in light years.
  
  No country but Kenya can have reforms in the constitutional review, land, boundary, police and the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission in less than a year. Add that to the on-going electoral reforms, judiciary, youth employment and National Cohesion and Integration Commission and you are staring an emerging AFRICA TIGER in the face.
  
  The so-called international community needs new names to paint as faces of impunity. One Prof Alston may be showing his post molars in glee after Major Ali quit but that is it. AG Wako has served us diligently for 20 years and nobody is more qualified to be CJ than Gicheru. Sorry the guillotine must run on empty, no more heads.
  
  We are miles ahead of the pack and deserve no patronizing lectures which only succeed in provoking our EXECUTIVE FOUL MOOD.Kumekucha

  
  

• Ringera's Head Off, Next Target Please!

  Posted: September 30, 2009, 9:37 pm by Taabu

  The dragon slayer fell headlong on his own sword. The sharp blades happily kissed his shiny skull. Shakespeare was lost for words. It was a paradigm shift when hitherto bravado conveniently metamorphosed into evangelism. The crestfallen Aaron was a lion both fatally wounded and thoroughly drenched.
  
  But wait a minute, no false jubilation claiming triumph of people's power. Not just yet unless you are politically naive. Kenya has its owners mark you.
  
  Ringera did his part and saved the regime at its most trying moments. What is more, re-election came and went and the rest is history. All the explosive deals have been safely tucked in secure vaults awaiting appointment of a replacement with the right GENES to take the reigns of KACC. Forget about all the noise from the loud MPs.
  
  Bravado readily transforms itself into evangelism in diffult moments. You only write Ringera's epitaph at the risk of overfeeding on humble pie. He was the face of the discredited radical judicial surgery. Well, he may have suffered the pain of blunt scalpel now but the silver headed Justice is headed for greater things. What with 150m guaranteed with no sweat broken?
  
  Clever gimmicks
  Expect an artificial crisis with dual objectives soon-to mask Aaron's departure and create a smokescreen for the rulers to regain the apparent lost political ground. It is typical Kenyan mentality to selectively praise and condemn with expediency as the ultimate goal.
  
  Look no further than this blog where faceless apologists will shamelessly divert attention by violently attacking the messenger while conveniently evading the message. Well, such old tricks stand no chance in hell just like the present rulers scheme using templates of yore to emasculate Kenya.
  
  MPs must not be fooled into chest thumbing. With impunity personified in the two faces of ever-smiling Wako and the Chief Justice, the rag will be speedily pulled under their feet. As the old bad guy movie's signature goes NOBODY MOVES NOBODY GETS HURT. We haven't seen the last moves from our landlords. NA BADO.Kumekucha

  
  

• Ringera’s to Resign in Style, at his Own Pace

  Posted: September 30, 2009, 4:00 pm by Taabu

  The mob won’t relent and leaving Justice Aaron Ringera alone. Neither wil they respect authority of the president. Our own Shakespeare cannot bare it any more and he is destined to jump into the tattered towel. Poor Aaron!
  
  Make no mistake; Justice Ringera is going to have the last longest and sweet laugh thanks to our collective folly. For starters we have to pay for our deafening noise by parting with a cool 150m that Ringera would have earned for the next five years. There is no other way to earn such a colossal sum without breaking a sweat. Forget that silly question about the re-appointment's legitimacy.
  
  What is more, Ringera is just relocating and rejoining the bench. The loudmouthed MPs can eat their hearts out and they must not forget to avoid constipation. Hounding Ringera out of KACC will eventually prove very expensive. The same MPs mourning loudest about contempt for institutions are themselves busy denigrating the presidency and its powers. Shame on them all.
  
  Ringera is not leaving KACC because his position is no longer tenable, whatever that means. The good Judge is miles ahead of the noisy pack. He knows when to quit, at his own pace and on his won terms. The Court of Appeal will be the richer. What with alloyed wisdom housed inside the silver hair? His dragon slaying skills will be handy in cleaning the rotten judiciary, ala radical surgery phase 2.
  
  Watchdog is to guard master
  You see some people are too important to a regime to be joked with. Ringera holds the key to the vaults containing all the explosive dossiers that can destroy a country in a flash. Such national investments like Grand Regency and Anglo Leasing cannot be entrusted to the wrong GENES.
  
  While parliament may sheepishly be showing their post molars in jubilation, they won’t know what hit them soon. KACC will remain headed by the RIGHT PERSON at any given time t, PERIOD.
  
  Very soon Parliament will be reminded that being a watchdog is to guard the master. And all their rulings and deliberations are nothing more than opinions. NA BADO.Kumekucha

  
  

• Polygamy: New Marriage Law Targets Kibaki

  Posted: September 29, 2009, 4:00 pm by Taabu

  Cabinet's attemtp to modernize marriage by legalizing polygamy amounts to opening a Pandora box to say the least. The demons crawling from that box would be so scary to imagine leave alone see. Imagine Mary Wambui taking cue from Jane Kanyotu!
  
  The cabinet is at it again, pulling another fast one that will only invite President Kibaki's foul mood. Instead of focusing on weighty issues geared towards feeding the starving nation, here they are brandishing a smokescreen in the name of modern marriage law.
  
  The irony of legalizing come-we-stay and allowing polygamy is a sure recipe for domestic anarchy. While it may sound modern by demanding the rich spouse to support his/her partner, introducing plural matrimony is to wreck havoc in the same homes they intend to protect.
  
  Just imagine if Mary Wambui were to stake a claim due to obvious reasons. The cabinet is upto no good by compounding Kibaki's already RED mood with Uncle Sam by rubbing the raw family feud. With our ministers' propensity to have mistresses in every corner of the country, the courts are destined to be very busy besides official raiding of media houses.Kumekucha

  
  

• Kibaki Calls Obama Bluff, Opens Battle Front

  Posted: September 26, 2009, 2:00 pm by Taabu

  As the DULY elected president of Kenya, Kibaki did what he is constitutionally mandated to do. HE took the oath to protect Kenya’s constitution and her people and he has just done that but reminding Obama of the internationally accepted diplomatic boundaries.
  
  Johnny Carson may claim to know more about Kenya than Kibaki but the later is the PRESIDENT, period. Kibaki cannot just sit on his hands let his lieutenants be bullied by Uncle Sam, never. Moreso when the targets are his right hand men, the people who hold the levers of REAL POWER behind his throne.
  
  Raila lost his patriotic badget when he failed to tongue-lash America on their latest bullying antics of our hard-working, diligent politicians and civil servants. Instead, the PM shamelessly appeared to support REVERSE IMPUNITY from US lording on us. No wonder Mickuki led a walkout on him in one of the Diaspora talks. America is no heaven and we remain an independent state in no need of patronage.
  
  Renneberger no Hempstone
  So are we back to the 1990s when the self-styled rogue ambassador Smith Hempstone consorted with dissidents and rilling Moi to the bone? No chance. Make no mistake, Kibaki is no Moi. And who said Kibaki is a coward and spineless? Well, he has drawn the boundary clearly on sand. No pride, no dignity and no shame. The Republican Renneberger may have just handed himself the noose. His misadvising Washington may backfire big time.
  
  Kibaki has made it abundantly clear that we will not take hostages as pretenders of good governance under the excuse of fighting impunity. Kenyans are not complaining about their diligent and HARD WORKING leaders so America must keep their uninvited lectures to themselves.
  
  As for Raila, he has inadvertently set the political bridge ablaze. He has bitten the political hand feeding him. Brace yourself for another round of PNU-ODM bickering and stalemate. And this time PNU can count on Ruto and Bett. NA BADO.Kumekucha

  
  

• US Puts 15 Kings of Impunity on the Spot

  Posted: September 24, 2009, 1:50 pm by Taabu

  
  The big brother is out and breathing fire on the neck of lords of Kenya. But before Michael Renneberger and his predecessor and sidekick Johnny Carson spits fire, one is left yawning given the past heat that left no light.
  
  Threatening sanctions to 15 kings of impunity without publicly naming them is akin to another Kofi Annan-like secret envelope. Leaves you wondering what these people fear so much in naming saboteurs. And that opens the floodgates once more for us to don that tattered gab of patriotism in blind defense.
  
  US must be naive to slap travel ban on landlords likes Muthaura and Uhuru. They even have the temerity to ask for Gicheru head even after the good justice saved Kenya from herself by swearing Kibaki at midnight. They will be awaken to a rude shock when they realize who the real RULERS and shakers of power are in Kenya
  
  Trusted Daily Nation
  But uncle Sam and Renneberger better pad their skin for the predictable tongue-lashing from regime apologists masquerading as patriots . Sovereignty is a common and apt word in such times. The script will run like this: Kenya is an independent state and we need no lecturers. And bloggers here will take it a notch higher reminding all and sundry that we have gone East.
  
  Renneberger should know better, Kenya has its owners and no amount of noise NOT even rivers of blood can stop their evil schemes to auction the country. What is more, all the key posts are held by the right genes and they collectively form that critical evil mass to destruction. NA BADO.Kumekucha

  
  

• Ringera Tells KACC Board Off, he’s no Wanjala

  Posted: September 23, 2009, 9:00 pm by Taabu

  
  This national obsession to embarrass President Kibaki must stop. After the MPs’ antic, now the KACC board is playing to the full gallery by waxing legalistic. But they met their Waterloo in Justice Aaron Ringera who reminded the excited bunch that he is no Dr Smokin Wanjala. The law don is better advised to stop inhaling whatever herb he has been smoking.
  
  By inducing Ringera and his deputy Ms Sichale to resign or re-apply after their positions are advertised, the board had their bullets singularly trained on Kibaki albeit via proxy. Well, President Kibaki has seen it all and has been there and back. Nobody knows the game better than him. Very soon all the loud mouth will be permanently zipped as he enjoys the last and longest laugh all the way to 2012.
  
  Kenya’s politics shifts with every one of the 42+ indigenous dialects. The hitherto fire-breathing MPs will come for the November parliamentary session both ethnically mellowed and fatigued. The Mau-for-Ringera preface shall have turned into an irresistible thriller.
  
  Professional buffoons
  The KACC board has proved to be nothing but a bunch of professional buffoons. They have been ADVISING through the media who never appointed them. What is more, payment for advertising Ringera’s post must be approved by the dragon slayer himself. And they thought our native Shakespeare is stupid to naively place his head on the chopping block?
  
  Vision 2030 and 2012 are both twined to KACC. Kibaki is no fool to let activists ruin his plans, NEVER. The stakes are sky-high and no amount of noise will stop the gravy train from docking come 2012 and beyond. Not even the two loudmouthed musketeers in Michael Ranneberger and Luis Moreno-Ocampo. NA BADO.Kumekucha

  
  

• Poor KACC No.2 Resigns, Next Head Please!

  Posted: September 18, 2009, 12:45 pm by Taabu

  
  The resignation of Dr. Smokin Wanjala as KACC’s deputy director in charge of preventive services shows he is a political feather weight. Dr. Wanjala can choose to wax spiritual in defending his dignity but his gimmicks only succeeds in soothing his academic ego. The real target of MPs remain the dragon slayer Ringera who is staying PUT.
  
  Wanjala must have lived in outer space and he just landed into alien Kenyan political landscape. You see on these shores of the planet we give conscience abundant leave and public pressure and opinion a wide berth. The Anglo Leasing stakes are too high to prod Shakespeare Ringera into even contemplating resignation.
  
  Some dockets in the present regime are TOO SENSITIVE and IMPORTANT to be entrusted to aliens. A look at treasury, CBK and internal security will disabuse doubting Thomases of any trace of pretense otherwise.
  
  Dr. Wanjala's resignation will definitely NOT rattle the ruling reptiles. Surely dinosaurs never learn. All the old gimmick of scheming for 2012 using state power will come tumbling down like dominoes. We are in the 21st Century and the village brilliance of yore will bring the same bloodshed just like insensitive electoral theft of 2007.
  
  Denial must be a fortress for its faithful residence. As Chris posted earlier, the BATTLE ROYALE of 2012 will make the 2007 preface fade into irrelevance. Ringera is going nowhere, MTA DO?Kumekucha

  
  

• Ringera Round One: Kibaki 10, MPs Nil

  Posted: September 17, 2009, 6:00 pm by Taabu

  
  Kibaki is in REAL foul mood. And he rarely acquires that stench of a mood unless the picky Kenyan press dares upset Lucy. Now the MPs have left all the hair strands at the back of Kibaki's neck standing and stiffly so. Woe unto the next head his axe will land on.
  
  MPs will live to rue the day they subjected Kenya's CEO to ridicule. As they adjourned, the loudmouthed lot were all glee in embarrassing the President oblivious of his last sweetest and longest laugh.
  
  Ringera is not going anywhere, WATA DO? Time heals all wounds and Kibaki knows it better than any voluble Kenyan politician. Come next parliamentary session in November and the warthogs shall have forgotten everything including their unpleasant faces.
  
  What's more, the myriad political alliances shall have mutated into all the rainbow colours hence promptly relegating the present heat to political archives. Surely, there are no permanent friends nor foes in politics. Instead the permanent selfish interest of trading Mau for Ringera is a profitable and bankable deal. NA BADO.Kumekucha

  
  

• Ringera: Kibaki, VP Right, MPs Disrespectful

  Posted: September 15, 2009, 8:00 pm by Taabu

  
  The loudmouthed MPs must have chewed more than they can swallow. After disrespecting the President and subjecting him to ridicule on Ringera, the MPs are now destined to meet they collective Waterloo.
  
  Speaker Marende has opened a Pandora box and all the demons are fighting to snuff life out of Kenya. As the VP succinctly put it, Marende is not only watering the seeds of constitutional impasse but he is shamelessly undermining the president who remains the singular head of state and government.
  
  No more parliamentary dictatorship. Uhuru’s REALPOLITIK will carry the day. The ungrateful nominated MP Amina Abdalla who chairs Parliament’s Delegated Legislation Committee will be taught the lesson to never bite the political hands feeding her.
  
  The last laugh is surely the longest and sweetest. Kibaki has been there and seen it all. Ringera is going nowhere and the voluble MPs are better advised to prepare their stomachs for constipation from humble pie. Kenya has its owners and the MPs must not pretend otherwise.Kumekucha

  
  

• Kibaki Fires Police Boss, Rewards Major Ali

  Posted: September 9, 2009, 8:00 am by Taabu

  
  By firing Major Ali, President Kibaki has called Kumekucha's April 1 post bluff. Well, it is not foolish to play the game and score five months later.
  
  What a political genius President Kibaki is? With the musical chair rewarding Major Ali with Posta CEO job while pretending to have fired him as police boss, he has taken the wind off the sail of furore over Ringera's reappointment.
  
  Give it to one Mzee Muthaura. The government was tottering in brink of collapse for the few weeks he was hospitalized. But thank God for his recovery. Now the heat is back and the octogenarian diplomat is destined to fix things in no time.
  
  Where is the loudmouthed Prof. Alston? The UN activist wanted Ali, Wako and Ringera removed. Now with the typical Kenyan token gesture, Ali has been cleverly sacrificed to create an impression of action with no actual movement. He can eat his heart out. As for Kenyans, they can as well resign to being tenants to the real landlords. MTA DO?
  
  All the noise about police reforms have been nipped in the bud. Kibaki's former security commandant Iteere is the new police boss. Under him are flower assistants charged with reforms, chapter closed.
  
  Nobody understands Kenyans better than Kibaki. Aware of our short memory, he has fired and rewarded Major Ali. And with that singular stroke of genius Ringera is securely fenced from attacks as we gleefully jump to the next hot issue before us. OLE WETU.Kumekucha

  
  

• Ringera to Remain KACC Boss, MTA DO?

  Posted: September 3, 2009, 8:00 pm by Taabu

  The so-called national outrage over President Kibaki’s decision to UNILATERALLY re-appoint Justice Aaron Ringera as KACC boss is both misplaced and mischievous. Kibaki acted within the law and the dreamers are better reminded that there is only one centre of power occupied exclusively by President Kibaki.
  
  ODM has been wrong footed once more. Just like when they continued with protests on December 30, 2007 and Kibaki was taking his oath of office. While ODM was drowning in celebrating their inconsequential by-election victories, Kibaki pulled the plug once again to show them who the real boss is.
  
  Meanwhile ODM's serial activists are busy disowning collective responsibility in their petty effort to play to the excited gallery. Well, Kibaki knows REALPOLIK and he has both his eyes and hands on the trophy.
  
  That mob in parliament cannot be taken seriously either with their obsession to turn Kenya into a parliamentary dictatorship. Kibaki was legally sworn in by the Chief Justice to uphold the law and that he is simply practicing what he is constitutionally mandated to do. Kibaki never co-held the Bible with anybody and therefore needs nobody’s approval to re-appoint the eloquent and unrivalled dragon slayer.
  
  Ringera is the best KACC Kenya will ever have. He knows what to protect and Kibaki knows better than appointing a hot head who will disturb business flow with nosy investigations. We are a working nation and with a vision to eradicate darkness and famine by 2030.
  
  Saintly VP
  The so-called KACC advisory board must be condemned for being disrespectful to the head of state. Basic logic would inform them that the word advisory simply implies answerable to a higher authority who can chose to make decision with no reference to them. It is foolish for the hecklers to attempt biting the very hand feeding them.
  
  All pretenders criticizing Kibaki on hollow legal grounds better listen to the Justice Minister who knows what it means to defend a president. These loudmouthed even shamelessly ignore the wise counsel of the brilliant, untainted and saintly VP.
  
  Kibaki is right to reappoint Ringera. Aaron has no equal in slaying dragons and waxing Shakespearian. Only him could author and execute the radical judicial surgery. What is more, his ingenuity saw him discover divine intervention to fight graft without firing a short or spending any of our scarce resources. Speak of a genius.
  
  All the noise on Ringera’s re-appointment will only succeed in vindicating Kibaki’s contempt for Kenyans’ pettiness.Kumekucha

  
  

• Bomachoge, Shinyalu: Kibaki's True Leadership

  Posted: August 31, 2009, 7:00 pm by Taabu

  While ODM drowns in victory after winning the latest two by-elections, a poignant message lost in the celebratory heat is the above-fray leadership shown by President Kibaki. He left PNU to its own devices and chose not to reduce himself to petty and partisan politicking.
  
  True leadership from the front and by example is practiced and not preached. And Kibaki has just raised the bar to the sky. In any case after WINNING his final term in 2007, he has no political business to conduct in either Shinyalu or Bomachoge.
  
  PNU chair Prof G. K. K. Saitoti tried his best but fell short. But there is no need cause for alarm since ODM capturing Bomachoge from PNU reverses the political equation to what it was before the former lost Embakassi to the later. Game draw and now we can concentrate on our working nation before another holiday is declared to celebrate census results.
  
  The more things change politically the more they retrogress. Well bloggers here have been waxing patriotic demanding political lullabies in the name of solutions without first dissecting the present rot. The by-elections have provided them with more than enough as evident in the emerging destructive so-called Kalonzo-effect that has just entered out political lexicon.
  
  One thing is for sure, you don’t WIN a presidency at all costs and disturb your peace thereafter with politically inconsequential by-elections. Kenya made the turn in December 2007 and we will never the same again. Sorry to disappoint pretenders in search of evangelism.Kumekucha

  
  

• Working Nation's Holiday to Count Tribes

  Posted: August 24, 2009, 4:00 pm by Taabu

  News update
  The 2009 census exercise has kicked off to a storm when enumerators incited President Kibaki's foul mood when they asked him about the actual size of his family. The head of state was not amused especially when asked to specify his spouse/s. Heads will definitely roll at the bureau of statistics.
  
  ********************************
  Working Nation Takes Holiday to Count Tensed Tribes
  It is census time and Kenyan style a holiday has been declared for this historic exercise. But while knowledge of demographics and all its varianst are important for national planning, do we have to resort to many holidays for our working nation?
  
  This will be the fifth census for Kenya since 1969. Just like all other institutions and activities we inherited from the colonialist, we have not KENYANIZED our census apart from counting native faces. The 10-yearly exercise has simplye been reduced to a national ritual.
  
  Before apologists fall over themselves throwing epithets in defense of thoughtlessness they better try a honest reflection. We don't have to operate like robots to answer to the 10 year timetable in counting deeply divided tribes.
  
  Typical Moi took it to extreme levels by creating non-existent subtribes for pure political expediency among perceived oppositionists. On the other hand he came up with mega-tribes to boost political supremacy. Just ask yourselves what is common among the Pokots or Turkans with the Nandis apart from being Nilotes.
  
  The whole census exercie leaves you with the gut feeling that it is just another conduit for the politically correct to draw some more blood from prey Kenya. The country is so divided and tensed, counting tribes would be the last agenda on any leader worth his name.
  
  But hey, this is Kenya owned and patented by political scoundrels. We are so unique we heal when tensed by being reminded that we are different.Kumekucha

  
  

• Masters of Duplicity, Perils of Parallel Actions

  Posted: August 21, 2009, 7:00 pm by Taabu

  
  The term figurehead had never acquired a poignant meaning in Kenyan political lexicon. The two centres of power are really working overtime to create a false picture of harmony. Well, evidence and history will leave those young or naive enough to trust the gimmicks really disappointed.
  
  The last few weeks have witnessed tough talk and directives that are designed to be ignored and never followed. Only in Kenya do you have a commander-in-chief issuing an edict for immediate eviction but no subsequent actions by his subordinated to effect the same. We heard the confirmation that Migingo is Kenya’s ruled by Uganda who have declared no census on the island come next Monday.
  
  And the evil of parallel authorities serving selfish interest doesn’t stop there. On paper there is only one Kenya Police but the reality confirms two forces. While Major Ali heads the regular police wing, ex-Nakuru DC Kinuthia Mbugua is busy arming and modernizing the AP wing for obvious reasons. Besides parallel commands, the two bosses owe their loyalty to different individuals and not the institutions they lead.
  
  Misplaced enthusiasm
  Meanwhile the PM has been handed a sturdy velvet noose. Poor man! He is meant to coordinate and supervise some painful and unpopular activities by ministers already scheming for 2012. How I would love to be proved wrong but I fear not.
  
  Raila’s enthusiasm will be severely fatigued and frustrated by vested interests. The history of such a disappointment is just months past when he was reminded that Muhoho is not ordinary. Meanwhile let living in serial denial mutate into all its known and unknown variants.Kumekucha

  
  

• Begging With Exotic, Golden-Plated Bowl

  Posted: August 19, 2009, 9:30 pm by Taabu

  
  We are not a failed state. We are sovereign and we have told every patronizing neo-colonialist just as much. We need no lectures from foreigners. But hey, here we come gold-plated bowl in hand begging for food lest we go extinct from hunger.
  
  The international community must help us save souls otherwise we will have NOBODY to count come census day on August 24. And they must do so with no strings attached because soon we will be on our own feet once we DISCOVER alternative and safe sources of energy that can provide power and water to our homes and industries.
  
  The 40 plus Cabinet Ministers are working overtime to help us manage these crises. They need unwavering support from all patriotic Kenyans. Let us help save Kenya from herself please.Kumekucha

  
  

• Fallacy of Power Sharing, Two Centres of Power

  Posted: August 19, 2009, 6:00 pm by Taabu

  
  You know you are a failed state when the country’s institution constituted to fight corruption abdicates its responsibility and instead seeks divine intervention to achieve that mandate. They should resign so that we appoint Cardinal Njue to head KACC for free. Boy, aren’t we geniuses who can afford the cheek to mock God together with the Holy Book? That is Kenya for you and we are erratically matching on to vision 2030.
  
  Almost 50 years after FLAG independence, our original quest to conquer the trio menace of hunger, disease and ignorance has been overcome only in tons of paper and no result to show for the gimmicks. Meanwhile the politicos are all dreaming and scheming on how to share raw power.
  
  Power rationing must never be mistaken for power sharing. Power abhors vacuum and all the eloquence in articulating new vision amounts to nothing but hot air designed to expand political egos. The truth is with limping institutions, Kenya is only cheating herself by making impression of motions bereft of any meaningful movement.
  
  Mocking God
  The numerous political posturing in the last two months can only be traced to PS Muthaura’s hospitalization and subsequent recuperation. Everybody is jostling to fill the void he left. But soon the schemers will come crashing down when the real power levers revert to the rightful owners.
  
  We are not permanently warming hellhole's bottom because of lack of glossy blue prints. It is the acute dearth of political will. The current crop of leaders is only entertaining us with circular motions.
  
  With their theatrics, the distance covered may be enormous but unfortunately the true displacement remains ZERO. We will eventually arrive at the starting point very exhausted.
  
  Aborted revolution
  Look around you what do see, paralysis and anarchy galore. Basic necessities such as water, energy, food and security have been cheaply branded emergencies. What is more, 10 days after an EXECUTIVE order from the commander-in-chief to evict forest settlers nobody moves, nobody cares what the political rant was all about.
  
  Well, political IMPOTENCE and MORAL DEATH manifests itself in numerous forms and shapes. We must re-invent ourselves fast politically before 2012 after our 2002 revolution was aborted. OLE WETU.Kumekucha

  
  

• Is Imanyara Fighting Impunity or Kibaki?

  Posted: August 17, 2009, 7:00 pm by Taabu

  
  Honourable Gitobu Imanyara has crafted a private member’s bill seeking to establish a local tribunal to try PEV perpetrators. This comes after MPs unanimously shot down Martha Karua’s bill proposing the same. What is more, they threatened a repeat performance to Mutula Kilonzo. The turnaround amounts to liking the message but hating the messenger or grabbing ownership of what you hitherto loothed.
  
  Imanyara’s bill comes with the knockout punch that specifically strips the president of immunity. He says his singular goal is to end impunity. So the question follows whether he equates the reigning impunity to the person of the president.
  
  Don’t be vague, let’s go to The Hague was the clarion call of the heard in parliament. They chanted and shouted themselves hoarse but in the long run to show the MPs who the real bosses were, the cabinet disabused them of any pretensions of power and came with the TJRC gimmick.
  
  Imanyara and his ilk may mean all the good things for Kenya. But one is left wondering whether personalizing the crusade against an individual and not the office takes the wind off the legal sails.
  
  Parliamentary dictatorship
  What is more, Imanyara intends to give MPs the exclusive power of parliament, executive and judiciary all to themselves. They will debate, legislate and enact the bill without reference to any other branch of government. One would wish MPs were that objective and honest to be trusted with this parliamentary dictatorship.
  
  This impunity hydra mutates into many shapes and forms. Granted, any Kenyan suffocating from yoke would readily and unreservedly support anybody with a blade aimed at any of the monster's many heads. But the double standards and hypocrisy leaves you fearful of another mutant masquerading as a saviour. NA BADO.Kumekucha

  
  

• Fare Thee Well Maruge, Face of Courage

  Posted: August 14, 2009, 8:30 pm by Taabu

  
  Mzee Kimani Ng’ang’a Maruge, the Guinness World Record holder for being the oldest student, has succumbed to cancer aged 89. He lived his course and in his death Kenya has lost a resilient face of determination and perseverance.
  
  Enrolling in class one at the age of 84, Maruge was courage unrivalled. He may not have realized his dream to complete primary education, but Mzee Maruge epitomized pure DETERMINATION.
  
  Maruge surely and bravely breathed new life into the cliche IT’S NEVER TOO LATE TO TRY. Fare thee well Kimani.Kumekucha

  
  

• Kibaki on Mau Warpath, Kenya Turning Corner

  Posted: August 13, 2009, 8:00 pm by Taabu

  
  The General has given eviction orders. In one firm action, President Kibaki has emphatically ordered all Mau settlers out. And he is not done yet. Failing to obey will see you arraigned before court. That is pure leadership from the front and by example. So who said we lack leadership?
  
  President Kibaki couldn’t have been more inclusive. He first met Rift Valley MPs two weeks ago to discuss the forest evictions and national healing. Kenyans must be prepared to usher in new dawn, thanks to Kibaki. We must learn to start revering our own prophet at home lest we loose him to other deserving nations.
  
  Kibaki’s blade will crack all thieving skulls. His unselfish actions will not spare anybody, not even ex-president Moi and AP commandant (ex-DC, Nakuru) Kinuthia Mbugua who together own more than a district hived off Mau.
  
  Desperate times calls for firm actions to confront challenges and Kibaki has just done that. Soon, the starving 5m Kenyans will be sufficiently fed and Kenyans will kiss goodbye to power rationing thanks to Kibaki’s foresight.
  
  The electoral reforms seminar at KICC provided the launching pad. The Honorable VP aptly summed it up when he eloquently and diplomatically reminded us all was not lost with the unfortunate madness of 2007. We just slipped and forward-looking Kenyans have seized the opportunity to MOVE ON in securing a bright future for themselves.
  
  What is more, we are cruising on the superhighway to modernism with automated voting. The shame and grime we visited upon ourselves from the flawed electoral process is history. The President himself vowed at KICC that Kenya will never see the kind of violence that followed the 2007 poll. And with the power bestowed on him, knows what he is talking about and he will deliver.
  
  Saving best for last
  Election manipulators are better advised to seek exile. We have no more room presiding officers who come to Nairobi with one set of results, detour to their homes and evaporate in the thin air. No more computer geeks who get inside computers magically alter data.
  
  Kibaki couldn’t have come out so forcefully at the right time. He has effectively killed two precious birds with his single action. He has put golden letters to his legacy and saved Kenya from self-destruction. All he needs is our collective support.
  
  With that magic wand, Kibaki’s actions have banished the evils of vote rigging, electoral malpractices and bloodshed. HE has come out in his best element and woe unto political hangers on. No more deodorant would have been effect in sanitizing our polluted social and political environment following the bungled 2007. Bye to impunity, cronysm, political intolerance and primitive ethnicity.
  
  A WISE good leader is a constant source of overflowing optimism in the face of famine, water shortages and power rationing. Folks, a new dawn is here and we owe it to Kibaki. In return he needs our unwavering support. He surely saved his best for the last - FOR US.Kumekucha

  
  

• Electoral Reforms Mirage from Dinosaurs

  Posted: August 12, 2009, 8:00 pm by Taabu

  We are not in the present hell hole for lack of brilliant ideas but failure to utilize them because of political expediency. The trio famine, ignorance and disease that defined our independence clarion call remain a mirage. The useless and myriad commissions and committees continue to suffocate Kenyans.
  
  The new Ahmed Hassan-led IIEC outfit is composed of brilliant Kenyans and already they have shown what they are capable of doing. But it is not what is put on paper that counts when the power wielders can trash anything thanks to obtuse impunity. We only fool ourselves by going in circles in search of solutions only to come out with same old stuff packaged differently.
  
  The easily excitable scoundrels are all glee with the workings of electronic voting. But these are the same people whose cronies penetrated the discredited ECK and abandoned the use of computers and shamelessly opted for manual counting to facilitate voting fraud.
  
  Granted, the evils of ethnicity, irresponsible utterances by politicians and media sensationalism played part in 2007’s PEV. But it is typical Kenyan trait to live the coloured lie in failing to accept responsibility for the action that triggered the near-Armageddon.
  
  Critical mass
  The more things change the more they really remain the same. But one thing is for sure, these dinosaurs speak of reluctantly speak of reforms which has succeeded in fueling Kenyans need of true change. No amount of procrastination will buy them time when we acquire that critical mass.
  
  They bastardized Kenya's democracy and seeing the same faces participating in a mock voting exercise amounts to salting our national raw wounds. It is impossible to author any new order out of the present quagmire with these dinosaurs in charge.
  
  Before you know it the real power brokers will have mint spanners in the works with eyes singularly trained for a repeat performance in 2012 albeit with a different face holding the bible in darkness.
  
  Kenya is overflowing with enthusiasm for REAL REFORMS but the acute lack of both leadership and political will is our singular bane. Look no further than the forgotten IDPs who be become but a footnote as politicians selfishly scheme for 2012.Kumekucha

  
  

• Famine Crisis: Time for Vultures to Scavenge

  Posted: August 11, 2009, 8:30 pm by Taabu

  
  At the risk of being branded a doom sayer, past experience points to another opportunity for enterprising Kenyan leaders to make a killing over the present famine crisis. Times like these will prod the best thieving minds with power and money to import maize duty free and hoard it to create artificial shortage.
  
  With no singular virtue defining us as Kenyans, expect the political and economic vultures to circle the carcass as they suck the last drop of blood. And lest we forget, all the WAR TIME theatrics are all clever gimmicks crafted with no intention of any real movement.
  
  The plastic motions to confront famine whose symptoms have been staring us in the face for more than a year are smart ploy to cool off from Mau and stillborn TJRC. After doing commerce with Kenya’s dying masses, trust the scoundrels to manufacture another crisis to postpone Hague and Mau.
  
  Here we are as a country with top notch academicians and well-paid parastatal heads now running like headless chicken as Kenyans starve to death. And to soothe tribal egos we shout ourselves hoarse about self-financing our national budget. Add to that the mirage of vision 2030 and you get a soothing melody that sends a whole nation to their collective death bed.
  
  Leaking moral fibre
  The genesis of all ailments afflicting Kenya is principally traceable to acute lack of leadership. Instead of confronting challenges, what we have are half-measures to deodorize stinking rot underneath. The moral fibre is so much shredded none of its threads can withstand any iota of credibility.
  
  Meanwhile the next looting and thieving frenzy will start with the duty-free importation of maize. Take it a step further and you have the big boys importing phantom standby generators meant to ease power rationing. These are the fraudulent schemes of vices that define us as a nation.
  
  All else are political theatrics designed to keep us engaged and enslaved to the present rot. NA BADO.Kumekucha

  
  

• Famine Top Excuse, Mau and TJRC Relagated

  Posted: August 10, 2009, 12:00 am by Taabu

  Just when the noose was tightening around the cabinet following their contemptuous decision to force TJRC down the throats of Kenyans, they have just up gradated the debilitating famine to a convenient emergency. Our smart political Alecs never suffers the dearth of creative ideas to disguise challenges before them.
  
  With donors not buying the TJRC facade and promising no funding, the kite lost both wings before leaving the ground. Forget all the balderdash that we finance our national budget. That phantom declaration is principally aimed to create a sense of false pride among Kenyans as the looters go on a spree emptying our national coffers and auctioning Kenya to Libyans.
  
  Look at Mau and the dirty tricks involved. While one side of the administration is left to do the heavy lifting, the other consorts with the same MPs hell bent on reaping maximum political capital at the expense of conservation. Inciting Mau peasants is easy for politicians who in real sense are protecting their own selfish interests at our national expense.
  
  Raila may have just been unwittingly handed the velvet political noose. The Jewish folklore of fattening a lamb before sacrificing it has never been so prophetic. The Mau crisis was one that was started with the singular purpose of not solving it.
  
  24-hour courts
  You don’t expect Moi and Kinuthia Mbugua to vacate their large farms guarded by GSU just like that. Kenya has its owners. The parameters for dealing with the Kenyan masses and the masters are different as day and night.
  
  The Cabinet must be smiling from ear to ear for the godsend DISCOVERY of famine that will soon make all of us forget any traces of impunity. Meanwhile the pests continue sucking our last drop of blood as they grandiose paper proposals. After the 24-hour economy now comes grandiose 24-hour court sessions. What next? NA BADO.Kumekucha

  
  

• Evil Trinity: Contempt, Impunity and Immunity

  Posted: August 9, 2009, 8:00 pm by Taabu

  Let the truth be told, the unspoken utmost fear is President Kibaki being held personally responsible as commander-in-chief for all the post election violence. When the security machinery kills RIOTERS, the buck stops at the Commander-in-Chief who must have overtly or covertly given those orders.
  
  You can choose to bury your head in the sand in denial all you care but only one person MUST be held responsible for the breakdown in law and order and the subsequent bloodshed in the control of lawlessness. Only the state has monopoly of violence. Hiding under two-wrongs-make-a-right facade is a cheap short at security in numbers gimmick.
  
  Apologists to the present regime can hide under truncated ICC mandate but not for long. Most Kenyans are comfortable serially living national lies. We are allergic to making hard decisions no matter the challenge facing us. What to do, someone else (read The Hague) must come and clean up our messes.
  
  We can circumscribe all the beautiful circular motions we want but twisting the nasty truth will not make it vanish. The NSIS saw it coming and promptly warned the relevant offices. And what did they do? Well, the script had been crafted and rehearsed. No amount of dire warning would let the National Security Council (no pizes for guessing its members) change tact or give in. Kenya has its owners and we all unwittingly dissects the effects ignoring the 2007 cause.
  
  Settling for a suboptimal compromise singularly crafted to please selfish competing interests of tribal warlords is a kin to neatly bottling a deadly apocalypse. Soon the deceptive threads will give way and the red river of blood will flow fast and furious. But scoundrels would prefer to baptize a grave as a rut oblivious of the fact that the true difference lies only in their dimensions.
  
  Evil reign
  The ghosts born in December 2007 are growing bigger and won’t exit our borders any time soon. Faint hearts bred on deception would cheaply brand that whining. Well, living in self-denial is the genesis of self-destruction.
  
  We speak of impunity as if it is some alien object from outer space. Nothing epitomizes impunity more than the obtuse contempt Cabinet shoved down the throat of Kenyans by opting for the phantom TJRC headed by pretenders and peddlers of diplomatic/peace CVs.
  
  The cabinet is simply telling Waki and the selfish, querulous bunch of MPs who the boss is - UTA DO? What is more, the cabinet’s fear for MPs is an extrapolation of bastardized democracy as expertly engineered during the 2007 polls.
  
  The MPs may have thought they had the executive by the balls. Not quite when the executive is the alpha and omega as originators of impunity. Even Imanyara’s well-meaning manoeuvre to set up a local tribunal independently by parliament while bypassing the presidency is a kite without wings. The hitherto absolute and abject fear of the Tenth Parliament has been turned on its head. No surprise here.
  
  Of whiners and pretenders
  Pretender here often hide under platitudes in re-defining ICC mandate oblivious of the naked fact that their poorly disguised concept of presidential immunity is a dead end under international crime context. Refusing to look the ugly truth in the face only succeeds in postponing the inevitable explosion.
  
  While the genuine IDPs remain relegated to the footnotes of present leadership, we shamelessly applaud their fraudulent political schemes. If not fattening an opponent before political slaughter, our political masters dream of unholy alliances of tribal warlords. Well, the joke is squarely resting on our heads.
  
  The evil trinity of impunity, contempt and immunity is what accurately defines the mindset of our past and present rulers. All else are sideshows and acts meant to propagate the same selfish interests. The saving grace it that the wishes of majority of Kenyans for The Hague trials will eventually come. Only that the present pretenders are expensively buying time, but not forever.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