The Loz Perspective: Thoughts in Words

GOING BACK TO MY ROOTS

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 01 Dec 2014 11:38:00 +0000

This weekend I had the opportunity to attend a customary wedding in Central Kenya which left me questioning the much I know about the customs and traditions of my people. It was impressive to see how people who fall within the 'generation Y' have embraced their traditions and on how they come together to celebrate the passage rites for one of their own.

I come from the tea growing regions of Eastern Kenya and besides that I can speak my mother tongue well, I don't have much to tell about my traditions. I have thus resolved to dig up as much as I can about the ways of my people which I will in turn pass on to my lineage. I also learnt a crucial lesson from the 'uthoni' on the true meaning of a community. You see, in our deeply tribal nation whenever one mentions 'my community' most of us think of negative ethnicity. I however realized that the reason why some tribes are more unified than others is because they have learnt to work as a community in the traditional sense albeit with a touch of modernity. They have transformed from the age-sets of the times of our forefathers to well organised welfare groups. They then use these welfare groups to advance their courses and most importantly as support groups in times of need. Where I come from, we, mostly men, identity ourselves with age sets with which we underwent the 'cut' together but besides that its everyone for himself.

As part of my research on my traditions I am interested in knowing how a customary Meru marriage is carried out. Anyone?

AN OVER-BURDENED TAXPAYER

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 16 Sep 2013 08:15:00 +0000

On May 1, 2013 the then newly-elected president announced a 14% increment on the minimum wages which was received with a lot of jubilation by the workers who fall under this category and their union representatives. Four months down the line, I feel this was a slap in the face of the workers considering the recent changes in the taxation regime of the current government. I am cognizant of the fact that taxation is the primary source of revenue for the government but for a nation where 40% of the population is unemployed and the greater part of the 60% who are employed are on the minimum wage, the increasing tax burden could lead to some undesirable outcomes for the government.

Let me use the example of an average Kenyan worker who is solely dependently on his salary understand the various taxes that s/he has to pay even before s/he starts spending the money on his/her personal needs. The first order of business is to deduct PAYE from the salary – with the new minimum wage increment almost all employees in the formal sector are now eligible to pay PAYE. Most employers process salaries of their workers through the bank; the employee has then to pay 10% excise duty on all banking charges. From the bank, the employee rushes to his/her landlord to pay the monthly rent which some unscrupulous landlords have increased by more than 16% since the government started enforcing the law on taxation of rental income. The next stop is the supermarket where the monthly bill is expected to have gone up by more than 16% due to the enforcement of the new VAT Act. It is not even 10th but as the employee leaves the supermarket s/he is already searching his brains on how s/he will take care of his/her needs for the rest of the month. Mindless of the agonies the wanainchi are going through, various government agencies are already plotting to have NSSF contributions increased to 6% of a workers monthly earnings and the NHIF contributions increased by more than 100% of the current contributions.

I know the government has to seek revenue from all avenues in order to meet its recurrent and development expenditures but it also needs to listen to the concerns of its citizenry otherwise it will soon have a food revolution on its hands. Going by the look of things, the only motivation to employment will be to avoid idleness and not the monetary gain.

My Simplistic Governance Roadmap!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 22 May 2013 10:48:00 +0000

I believe the President and his deputy ("dynamic duo" à la Ubako) have a God-sent opportunity to not only reshape the destiny of this nation but to change the perspective that the international community, their detractors and the civil society have about them. If I had the chance to be either of them I would focus on a number of issues.

One of the areas that I would focus on is National Healing and Cohesion. The country underwent a very divisive campaign and electoral period and in some quarters the emotions are still very high after they lost out in the plebiscite and the subsequent petition. The nation has also since the colonial time undergone some very difficult times during which a lot of injustices were committed by the ruling elite and their cohorts. Urgent national healing is required so that the supporters of those that lost out can feel that indeed they are still part of this great Nation. I would thus recommend a Peace, Healing and Cohesion Initiative to be undertaken by the current constitutional bodies that we have in place such as NCIC, TJRC, KHREC, CAJ and NGEC. I would also ensure that the TJRC commission report is speedily received (this has already happened), released to the public in its entirety (thanks to the commission we don’t have to wait for the president to do so) and recommendations of the report put into action of course through public involvement and participation (with main political players across the divide adversely mentioned I await to see delivery of justice and reconciliation). I would also ensure that other reports by commissions of inquiry are released for public consumption and recommendations adequately addressed. As a way of addressing historical injustices and bringing about national healing, I would also embark on speedy resettlement of all genuine IDPs and ensure they are appropriately and adequately compensated for their losses.

The main source of conflict in Kenya has always been LAND (I hear the TJRC report has two chapters on touching on land). This is a matter that needs to be addressed soberly and it is for that reason that the drafters of the current constitution saw it wise to anchor land reforms in the constitution. I would first of all ensure that the National Land Commission is well funded and that the commission is allowed to fully and freely exercise its mandate as set out in the constitution and other subsidiary legislation. Through the “tyranny of numbers” that the ruling coalition enjoys in the legislature I would ensure appropriate and well drafted laws are passed to address the problems of land in the country conclusively.

Every new government ascends into power with all the euphoria to do good and deliver on its promises to the populace but somewhere down the years personal interests of government operatives take center stage. I would firstly ensure that the entire government structure is purged of all corrupt or characters of questionable integrity. I would then ensure that accountability and integrity are the driving principles of all government dealings and those of its agencies. I would exercise my executive authority to ensure that corruption, embezzlement and bribery are a thing of the past in all public offices. I would ensure that our term in office is not dogged by any financial scams and scandals as these will only detract us from performing our duties. If we can put a cap on financial drain that results from corruption, it would be goodbye poverty and welcome economic prosperity with other goodies such as free laptops, free maternal care, universal healthcare and many more.

With about 40% of the population currently unemployed and the youth constituting 70% of this unemployed population, the country is in dire straits. This high rate of unemployment has led to upsurge in insecurity, prostitution, drug use, alcoholism and other social vices. By putting in place measures to lower unemployment the government will be dealing with not one but numerous problems. To drive up employment, I would ensure measures such as reduced cost of doing business, raising agricultural productivity, focusing more on technical and vocational training and accessibility to credit among others are put in place. I would ensure that the government goes out of its way to attract new investments as this would greatly reduce unemployment. The devolved form of government that the 2013 elections ushered in is also a good way of reducing the pressure on the central government to provide employment. By fully supporting devolution the counties would be transformed into economic hubs thus attract investments. This would also reduce rural-to-urban migration and as such the populations in informal settlements in our urban centers would greatly come down. By dealing with unemployment crime rate would drastically come down. I would also ensure that the police-to-population ratio is brought to the UN recommended ratio which will not only reduced unemployment but also ensure there is guaranteed security in the country. Not forgetting improved terms and conditions of employment for our police service.

The ICC indictment of the top two is a yoke that the “dynamic duo” and the nation at large which we will have to carry around for as long as the judicial process is ongoing. If I were either of the two, I would fully cooperate with this international judicial institution. The two have time and again said that they are innocent of all allegations leveled against them. The only way that they can prove this to the victims, their detractors and the international community is by allowing the process to take place uninterrupted. This will also give back to them the credibility they so much deserve to execute the mandate bestowed to them by the electorate. I believe the legal teams the two have assembled are competent enough to quash the indictments and prove their innocence.

Of course there are many areas that the “dynamic duo” can focus on and steer the nation to the course of economic prosperity and national cohesion. If I were to pen down all that I think they should do, it would take me as long as their presidential term to complete my write up. I believe they are competent enough to discharge the duties of the offices they hold and all they need now is the personal goodwill and commitment to deliver on their promises. I am however not a politician hence it’s difficult for me to fully comprehend the underlying factors that influence a politician’s thinking or actions. I however know that once one has ascended to a high public office he/she should be able to juggle the thinking of a politician with that of a business person. So Bwana President and your deputy, use your political and business acumen to drive this nation to the prophetic Promised Land.

I wish Messrs. President and Deputy President divine guidance as they execute their duties for the prosperity of this great nation.

God Bless Kenya!

Dear Aspiring Governor for Mombasa County,

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 09:54:00 +0000

I write to you as a concerned resident.

I have been a resident of Mombasa for the last ten years and during this period I have come face to face with the many problems faced by residents of Mombasa County and the Coast province at large. These problems can squarely be attributed to failed leadership. As we enter into the final stretch of the campaigns, those seeking elective positions in Mombasa especially the gubernatorial position should clearly tell us how they will deal with these problems. Mombasa lies at the shores of the Indian Ocean and for this reason it offers sand and sun to tourists mostly from the European nations during winter season. Being a tourist resort and seaport town it is expected that communication and transport infrastructure, waste disposal and sewerage systems and security among others will be of the highest standards. However the story on the ground is entirely a different one altogether.

Moi International Airport is the entry point for most domestic and international tourists visiting the various touristic destinations in Mombasa. As one drives from the airport to the Makupa causeway he/she encounters endless traffic jams and roadside structures not reflective of the tourist resort town that Mombasa is. I wonder what first impression we want to create to our esteemed visitors. The drive along Kibarani section of the Makupa causeway is another of the many unpleasant drives one will have all the way to their destination. For years now the Mombasa Municipal Council (MMC) has been using the section between the Makupa causeway on your left as you drive out of town and the creek next to the port as a dumpsite. This has attracted all sorts of scavengers including human. The smoke from burning refuse combined with the stench from decaying waste matter leaves the place with one hell of a smell - it gets worse during the rainy season. This section of the road is also hilly or sloppy depending on whether you are driving from or to the island and because of the many trucks collecting or dropping containers to the port or various CFSs around the port, its also prone to endless traffic jams with many man hours lost here. Now Mr. Aspiring Mombasa Governor, how does this reflect on the first-time tourists to Mombasa? What plans do you intend to put in place to deal with the dumpsite? How do you intend to decongest the town and most especially around the port? How do you intend to improve the road infrastructure around and along the airport so that visiting tourists, investors and other business people or even the residents of these environs do not waste precious time in traffic jams?

Tourism has been the bedrock of not just Mombasa’s economy but the country’s at large. However the number of international tourists visiting Mombasa has been on the decline. One of the issues that have a direct impact on tourists’ inflow is infrastructure. Tourist coming from Europe and other international markets fly for long hours to Kenya and that is not even as torturous as the drive from the airport to their various destinations in Mombasa due to the terrible state of the roads. At the Likoni channel, tourist vans spend hours waiting to cross from or to the Island and the Mombasa-Malindi highway is a nightmare of patched and uneven road with more patches appearing after every rainy season. It has not gone unobserved that tourist vans take a detour at Kenol-Nyali and/or at the Kengeleni junction to Nyali estate so as to avoid driving past the Bombolulu section of the Mombasa-Malindi highway. This is because just past or before the VOK stage depending on which side you are driving on, there is another MMC sanctioned dumpsite just on the road side and the stench is just unbearable too. Driving further to Bombolulu, Public Service Vehicles (Matatus) pick and drop passengers right in the middle of the road creating endless traffic jams. So again back to you Mr. Aspiring Mombasa Governor, What lasting solutions do you intend to put in place to make sure that all visitors and residents of Mombasa have easy access to their various destinations? Do you have any plans of working together with the Kilifi County government to lobby the central government to upgrade the Mombasa-Malindi road to a dual carriage highway to Malindi and beyond? Infrastructure is just but one of the issues that affect tourism; others are unregulated beach operators who harass and rob tourists on the beach, general insecurity in and around Mombasa town. What solutions do you have for these problems? Tourism standards in Mombasa have also generally been on the decline and the town has failed to capitalize on sports tourism or the ever growing business tourism through provision conferencing facilities of international standards. What strategies will your government put in place to attract and retain investments in these lucrative yet unexplored sectors? How will you ensure the declining standards of tourism in Mombasa are uplifted and maintained to international standards?

The problem of waste disposal at Kibarani and Bombolulu is just but a tip of the iceberg when compared to environmental degradation taking place at Mwakirunge where the main MMC dumpsite is located. I am well aware that you and I are the major contributors to this garbage menace but the MMC has failed terribly in dealing with the waste disposal and sewerage problems in Mombasa. The Mombasa’s main markets at Kongowea, Mackinnon and Majengo lack proper waste disposal mechanisms and there are no public utilities or the ones in place can hardly cater for the needs of those operating from these markets. It’s just by the grace of God that there hasn’t been a breakdown of Cholera or Typhoid in the city considering this is where residents of Mombasa and even the tourist hotels get their raw food. At Mwembe Tayari stands elect an eyesore of what used to be a market which I propose should be opened up to the public as a museum of incompetence – pun intended. The heaps of garbage being dumped right in front of this ruin do not help the situation. Waste disposal is one part of the equation, the other is sewerage management. I always take a pity on anyone taking a dip into the ocean. Truth of the matter is that Mombasa does not have a working sewerage system and all effluent treated or otherwise ends up in the ocean. NEMA has a role to play on matters environment but they too have failed as they are more concern on regulating noise as opposed to more serious matters of environmental degradation. Back to you Mr. Gubernatorial candidate, please tell us how you will ensure that effluent from hotels, hospitals, industries and other institutions in Mombasa does not end up in the ocean? Since previous MMC administrations have failed miserably in addressing the problem of waste disposal, how do you as gubernatorial candidate propose to deal with the problem of waste disposal, provision of public utilities and proper management of our markets? And how will you ensure that our markets are not the source of bad health for Mombasa residents? What do you intend to do with the shell of what used to be Mwembe Tayari Market? Are you aware that the MMC has failed to construct a public mortuary similar to the NCC run City Mortuary in Nairobi leading to congestion at the Coast Provincial General Hospital’s (CPGH) mortuary? The CPGH mortuary is meant to serve those who meet their maker while in the Hospital. However due to failure by the MMC to provide another facility to cater for people who succumb outside of the hospital through road carnage, illness, suicide, homicide etc. they all end up at the CPGH morgue and other more expensive private morgues. Do you have a plan to construct a spacious and well equipped yet cost effective morgue so as to stop straining the CPGH facilities?

Another problem in Mombasa and the Coast province at large is the quality of education. When compared to other counties in the country, the performance of schools in Mombasa is wanting and for this reason the number of students in Mombasa transitioning from primary to secondary and eventually to universities and other tertiary colleges is much lower when compared to other counties. As a result, unemployment is very high and even the lucky ones who get jobs lack the necessary technical skills hence they receive meager salaries which translates to low disposal income – vicious circle of poverty. Most of the indigenous workers especially in the tourism sector and even at the port are either semi-skilled or unskilled. Most employers in the tourism industry which is the largest source of employment in Mombasa have used to their advantage to pay measly salaries. The use of unskilled workers points to the reasons why standards in hotels have declined and why inefficiency is the order of the day at the port, MMC offices and other public institutions. We urgently need reforms in Education not just in Mombasa but the country at large but as the national government pushes this agenda the Mombasa county government should also come up with measures to address the issue of education facilities and standard in the county. As an aspiring governor for Mombasa County, how do you plan to uplift education facilities and standards in Mombasa so that the indigenous people can be able to compete for jobs at an equal footing with other jobseekers? We all know that the inefficiencies currently being experienced at the Port of Mombasa are as a result of a bloated yet unqualified workforce. This bloated workforce is as a result of cronyism and nepotism practiced by politicians who have over time influenced employment of incompetent kin and tribesmen so as to gain political mileage. Since the port is a major source of revenue for the central government and after March 4th for the county government too, how will you as the governor address the inefficiencies at the port and other public institutions in Mombasa? How do you intend to create and offer alternative employment to this bloated workforce so that sanity and efficiency can be restored at the port?

Although land is an issue that needs to be addressed by the Central government, the county governments should also come up with ways of eradicating illegal settlements, ways on how to do away with slums by putting up affordable housing and measuring to deal with street families. The Mombasa county government should also push for release of the Ndung’u report as this report will shed a lot of light of the current land problems in the county. As an aspiring governor do you have the balls to advocate for full disclosure of the Ndung’u report? How will you deal with the street families and transform slums into habitable dwellings?

The problems facing the residents of Mombasa are many as is evident from the length of this post which in itself is not conclusive but as I wind up I would have missed a very crucial point if I failed to mention a thing or two about narcotics. Again due to Mombasa’s strategic positioning, drug barons have made it an entry and transit point for drugs destined for Europe and other Western destinations. Overtime some of these drugs found their way into the Kenyan market and currently a large number of Kenyan youth are hooked to drug use/abuse. Unemployment has not helped the situation with many of the victims being unemployed/idle youths. As a candidate aspiring to ascend to the highest office in the County tell us how you will stop the influx of these narcotics through the Mombasa port. How will you rehabilitate and reintegrate drug users back into society? Enlighten us how you intend to transform the economy of the county thus providing our youth with the much needed employment so that they don’t get caught up in drug use/abuse, crime, prostitution and other social vices.

I would also like to hear or read about your plans of providing the residents of Mombasa with clean water all days of the week, construction of by-passes to connect Nairobi-Mombasa highway to Mombasa-Malindi highway and the North coast of Mombasa hence decongesting the CBD and construction of a rail commuter service network to serve Mombasa residents. Like I mentioned earlier I may not exhaustively cover all the issues but these are the areas I would want addressed within the first term of the new county government in Mombasa

Messrs Aspiring Governors for Mombasa County the ball is now on your court.

Yours faithfully,

PROSPECTIVE VOTER

SOAR HIGH UP WITH THE EAGLE!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 12:31:00 +0000

We are in that period again when we spend all our energies arguing on who is best suited to lead the nation. Like many of you I too have my preferred candidates for the various positions. When I started on this post I had intended to drum support for my preferred presidential candidate but as I progressed I felt that the qualities of an eagle (Eagle being the coalition of my candidate of choice) are indeed qualities that we should look for in the candidates up for election regardless of their sponsoring parties. I thus put down why I feel EAGLE leadership is what we require in Kenya:

Eagles have a vision: We have an economic blueprint namely Vision2030 and for us to actualize this vision we too require visionary leadership. If you are tired of the old rhetoric from our overly recycled and reused leaders then look no further than the visionary leadership of an Eagle.
Eagles are fearless: An eagle uses the currents of a storm to soars to greater heights. Likewise, the Eagle leadership will take us to greater heights by taking challenges head-on. Our country faces a myriad of challenges and for us to wade out of the murk we need fearless leaders. And in fearless I don't mean fearless when it comes to hitting brick walls with their bare knuckles or when hurling stones at the opposition.
Eagles are high flyers: An eagle is the only bird that can fly up to an altitude of 10,000. I believe under an eagle leadership Kenya will be on the right trajectory. We have been told time and again that at independence Kenya was in the same economic standing with Malaysia and South Korea, today the difference is as big as the distance between Kenya and these countries. We thus need a leader who will steer the country to the right economic flight path and fly us high up above the stormy economic weather.
Eagles never eat dead meat: Are you a scavenger or an eagle? By voting back the overly reused and tired leaders you are only proving that you are a scavenger. On March 4, 2013 become an eagle – vote for fresh ideas, vote for visionary leaders who are both fearless and high flyers. An eagle leader will spend time with people who are vibrant and liberal in their thinking and not hobnobbing with his/her fellow bourgeoisie.
Eagles possess vitality: An eagle leader is full of life and a visionary but he/she finds time to look back and reenergize. Great leaders are the ones that always do “check and balance” of their personal and professional lives and make an effort to learn things every day. This is the jubilee year for Kenya; a year for us to take stock. Look back at how far we have come, look forward at where we want to be, then pause and ask yourselves these questions; is this the best we could have done? What or who held us back? What do we need to do to cover up on the lost ground? The answer to the last question lies in your pocket or purse – use it wisely.
Eagles nurture their young ones: Need I say more to the youth of this country. We need a leader who will empower our youthful generation, a leader who will create opportunities for the youth. We have lost some many youthful people in crime, drugs, HIV/AIDS and this is the time to put a stop to this.

Whoever you choice is, vote wisely and above all maintain peace!

MY WATCHLIST...............

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 11:01:00 +0000

Check out this watch list...

Title	URL
21 Jump Street	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1232829/
Think Like a Man	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1621045/
The Five-Year Engagement	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1195478/
One for the Money	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1598828/
The Sitter	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1366344/
Crazy, Stupid, Love.	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1570728/
Horrible Bosses	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1499658/
New Year's Eve	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1598822/
Bridesmaids	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1478338/
We Bought a Zoo	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1389137/
Tower Heist	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0471042/
50/50	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1306980/
The Hangover	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1119646/
Joyful Noise	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1710396/
Just Go with It	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1564367/
The Change-Up	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1488555/
Wedding Crashers	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0396269/
Grown Ups	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1375670/
Hall Pass	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0480687/
Due Date	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1231583/
The Hangover Part II	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1411697/
Bad Teacher	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1284575/
30 Minutes or Less	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1622547/
Johnny English Reborn	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1634122/
The Other Guys	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1386588/
Our Idiot Brother	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1637706/
Knocked Up	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0478311/
The Proposal	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1041829/
A Little Bit of Heaven	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1440161/
The 40 Year Old Virgin	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0405422/
Marley & Me	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0822832/
Meet the Fockers	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0290002/
I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0762107/
Life as We Know It	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1055292/
No Strings Attached	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1411238/
Along Came Polly	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0343135/
There's Something About Mary	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0129387/
Larry Crowne	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1583420/
The Heartbreak Kid	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0408839/
The Dilemma	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1578275/
Jumping the Broom	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1640484/
How Do You Know	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1341188/
Pretty Woman	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0100405/
Why Did I Get Married Too?	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1391137/
Cheaper by the Dozen	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0349205/
Meet the Parents	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0212338/
Friends with Benefits	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1632708/
Everything Must Go	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1531663/
Superbad	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0829482/
You Again	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1414382/
Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1464174/
Gladiator	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0172495/
Braveheart	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112573/
Forrest Gump	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109830/
The Shawshank Redemption	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111161/
She's Out of My League	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0815236/
Just Friends	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0433400/
Troy	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0332452/
Alexander	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0346491/
Real Steel	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0433035/
The Blind Side	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0878804/
Remember the Titans	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0210945/
Any Given Sunday	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0146838/
Cougar Town	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1441109/
Modern Family	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1442437/
The Firm	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1949012/
Suits	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1632701/
Necessary Roughness	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1657505/
The Switch	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0889573/
Something Borrowed	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0491152/
Morning Glory	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1126618/
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2023453/
Madea's Witness Protection	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2215285/
The Campaign	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1790886/
The Watch	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1298649/
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1650043/
The Dictator	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1645170/
The Expendables 2	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1764651/
The Bourne Legacy	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1194173/
Flight	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1907668/
No Reservations	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0481141/
Whitney	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1850458/
Skyfall	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1074638/
Playing for Keeps	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1540128/
This Is 40	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1758830/
Premium Rush	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1547234/
The Good Wife	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1442462/
The Bourne Supremacy	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0372183/
The Bourne Identity	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0258463/
The Bourne Ultimatum	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0440963/
The Express	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0469903/
Invincible	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0445990/
The Replacements	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0191397/
Jerry Maguire	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116695/
The Game Plan	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0492956/
The Office	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0386676/
Friends	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108778/
Arrested Development	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0367279/
Anger Management	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1986770/
Suburgatory	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1741256/
Easy A	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1282140/
Ghosts of Girlfriends Past	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0821640/
13 Going on 30	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0337563/
Law Abiding Citizen	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1197624/
John Q	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0251160/
Ray	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0350258/
The Bounty Hunter	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1038919/
Man on Fire	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0328107/
The Italian Job	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0317740/
The Transporter	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0293662/
Thick as Thieves	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1112782/
Ransom	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0117438/
Ocean's Thirteen	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0496806/
Ocean's Twelve	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0349903/
The Heat	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2404463/

A SALUTE FOR OUR POLICE OFFICERS

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 09:26:00 +0000

When a robbery, carjacking, homicide, murder, rape and many other criminal activities take place we all are quick to blame the police for incompetence and inefficiency. We blame them for contributing to road carnage, perpetuating corruption among other vices. Few of us take time to analyze the conditions under which these officers work as they endeavour to maintain law and order in our country.
While we are busy condemning the police, they have to brave the rainy and muddy conditions not forgetting the blazing heat in Mombasa and other locations to restore sanity on our roads, to pursue and smoke out robbers and carjackers to their hideout. This police officer who has to spend the entire day out in the sunny and hot conditions cannot afford even a half litre bottle of water to quench his thirst or to wash off dust from his throat. On the other side of country in areas like Nairobi, Limuru, Naivasha, and Meru among others, the officers stationed here spend the better part of the day chasing criminals and controlling errant motorists out in the rain. How many of us offer a bottle of water to the dehydrated officer or an umbrella to the drenching traffic cop?
When this officer leaves work at the end of his/her shift, the conditions are no better at the police quarters. In certain locations officers live in mud houses, mabati shacks and other semi-permanent structures. After a long day at work, the police officer retires to a house where his/her family members cannot fit in one room at the same time due to the size of the rooms. During the rainy season, the officer may as well opt to spend the night out working because with leaking roofs the conditions in the house are not a tad different from the conditions outside. In some remote areas the officers families have to share utilities. The walls between adjacent rooms are so thin such that when a neighboring officer is 'getting it on' you can hardly get any sleep. I bet some officers have more often than not had to pay for a room for the night just to have some 'good time' with their partners since privacy is compromised at their staff quarters.
Many officers have resorted to bribery and other criminal activities as a way of supplementing their income. Let it be very clear that I do not approve of bribery or corruption of any form. I believe that many of the serving police officers are committed to their duty of Utumishi kwa Wote. I also believe that due to the nature and risks involved in maintaining internal security, our police deserve to be paid a commensurate salary. Our legislators have so often seen it wise to increase their perks at a whim yet deserving civil servants like the police receive peanuts. Upon being sworn in, our MPigs are given interest free loans for purchase of palatial homes and fuel guzzlers. Don’t our police deserve such treatment too? Besides from maintaining law and order in the country our police also offer security to banks, cash-in-transit, and protection of VIP’s not to mention guarding the palatial homes of these MPigs. What motivation do we give them for these services? How do we intend to achieve our vision of becoming a middle class economy if enhanced security is not at the cornerstone of this vision. Enhanced security will not be brought about by technologically advanced weaponry and/training. The main ingredient to achieving internal security is a dedicated, motivated and committed security force. I however don’t see how we will achieve such dedication, motivation and commitment when our officers sleep in shacks, when they have to hitch a ride from motorists to their work stations, or when they face-off with cattle rustlers who have superior weaponry and better knowledge of the terrain.
Our police deserve better terms of service, they need assurances that their families will be taken care of if and when they meet their maker in the line of duty. These are our fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters and they too deserve a better life. Let us appreciate the work they do and the conditions under which they do it. As for the police officers, I know that this is a heavy duty you have committed yourselves to undertake, please perform it to the best of your abilities. Restrain yourselves from taking bribes, enforce the law in the fairest way possible, exercise restraint when dealing with riotous crowds and above all respect life. As we approach the elections be our peace ambassadors. Let me conclude by paying respect to all officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

God Bless Kenya Police!

I salute you all.

TO EVICT OR NOT? ...........THAT'S THE QUESTION.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 08:31:00 +0000

The coastal people have for many years complained about historical injustices and marginalization. Successive governments have chosen to ignore these outcries and this can partly be blamed for the formation of the Mombasa Republican Council. MRC has been claiming to fight for the rights of the indigenous coastal people through calls for secession and boycott of 2013 elections. For the past few weeks now a row has been brewing in Likoni due to the planned eviction of over 120,000 squatters from a 930 acres farm. The owner of this piece of land is back to reclaim his farm after many years of absence, armed with a court order for eviction of squatters. He claims that he was forcefully evicted from his land at the height of the Likoni clashes in 1997. In the period that he was absent the squatters have put up permanent residential homes and commercial buildings, there are also schools and places of worship on the land. The owner has also moved to court to have the Police Commissioner committed to a civil jail for failing to execute the court order since 2001. In Takaungu another standoff looms as the Mazrui family seeks to enforce a court order for eviction of an estimated 10,000 families from their 9,100 acres land.

I am not against private ownership of property and I am also not for forceful acquisition of property. However I believe one of the core responsibilities of any government is to ensure equitable distribution of resources. So is there any equity in one family occupying a 9,100 acres piece of land while 10,000 families are kicked out like dogs? Civilization is dependent on agriculture thus it can rightly be said that land is the foundation of a civilized society. At the coast we have large arable land pieces whose owners are absent hence no agricultural activities take place. The governments should take up the pieces of land, subdivide them to the landless indigenous people and empower them to cultivate and grow crops on these pieces of land. If not, then the government should ensure these landowners put the land into proper use. This will offer employment to the masses who in turn will be able to uplift their wellbeing. Poverty levels are high at the coast province because our successive governments have failed to meet the needs of the coastal people. Everyday political rhetoric will not solve these problems.

Although MRC's calls for secession calls have toned down after its officials were arraigned in court with charges bordering to sedation we should be wary of the calmness - to me this is just but a lull before a storm. The government should quit dragging its feet on explosive issues at the coast and move with speed to ensure peace and tranquility is resolved. Resettlement of Mau forest evictees was fast tracked for political gains yet land problems from before we gained independence are nowhere near to be resolved. So why not use similar "efficiency" to resolve matters here. I hope the powers that be are listening to the voices of wanainchi.

HIERARCHY OF NEEDS DOES NOT APPLY IN KENYA

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 10:10:00 +0000

On the road to self-actualization, the first step is fulfillment of biological and physiological needs which include food, clothing, shelter, drink, sex etc. The next most important step is fulfillment of safety needs which include safety, protection, law, order, stability etc. The other two needs that one needs to achieve before attaining self-actualization are Belonging and Esteem needs. To me Vision2030 is a self-actualization need and I find it wrong for us to spend hard-to-come-by resources on higher level needs when we cannot offer security, safety and ensure rule of law in our nation. Provision of basic healthcare for all has been a pipedream in Kenya yet we have a vision of crossing the poverty line for all by 2030. The education standards have long gone to the dogs yet we expect to produce professional to lead and grow this nation to great heights. I have often been told that one cannot scale a tree from the top but I think in Kenya anything and everything is possible. Not that I am against Vision2030, but it beats all logic to spend time and money of functions to commission a project aimed at achievement of a 2030 objective when a every day objective of providing internal security is not addressed.
Kenya is no longer the peaceful Island that it was. When communities are not butchering one another in Tana Delta; grenades are exploding in matatus and churches in Garissa and Eastleigh. In the meantime the Executive are busy opening 400 million residences for their fellow political class and receiving honorary degrees on Everything and Nothing. It surprises me that we can afford a 400 million residence for one family yet we are unable to procure a piece of land and build habitable homes for thousands IDP's. A police officer dies in the line of duty and he/she is quickly buried and forgotten yet when a politician dies while attending to personal matters and we form a commission of inquiry whose proceedings are brought to our television sets every evening just as a reminder of his/her "importance".

Any government that cannot set its development strategies based on Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs does not deserve to be in power. We need leaders who acknowledge and understand that you can only pursue a higher level need upon attainment of the preceding need. If we want to achieve growth and development in this country then we need to answer these very simple questions. Who will invest in Konza and Tatu City if the security of their investment is under threat by Al Shabaab, Mungiki, MRC et-al? Who will ride in the newly commissioned Syokimau commuter station/trains if grenades are hurled at the commuters? Who will drive on the Thika superhighway if carjacking is the order of the day? Who will serve in the police/military service if bandits, cattle rustlers, carjackers and robbers have superior weaponry? I again wish to emphasize that you can only achieve self-actualization by gradually satisfying lower level needs. Anyone who desires to ascend into any leadership position and does not know that you cannot achieve growth in a country where security is not guaranteed then he/she is not worthy of any mention on the ballot paper. Any aspiring leader who does not have a strategy on how he/she will achieve universal healthcare for this country's labour-force is not worthy of the ink on the ballot papers. Let us not waste resources pursuing pipedreams when we cannot take care of our citizens basic and security needs. Let us also not waste resources putting on the ballot papers names of people who have no strategy on how to transform Kenya into a cohesive, peaceful, health and wealthy nation.

God Bless Kenya and Peace be with us all.

HOW ARE YOU AND ME DIFFERENT????

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 14:48:00 +0000

Yesterday I had a candid discussion with a brother from another religion and he posed questions that we all Kenyans need to ask ourselves every day. If indeed we are as different as we purport to be, why is it that we all undergo the same stages in life. When I get hungry or thirsty does my brother/sister from another tribe or religion not undergo the same. Are the illnesses that my brother/sister from the other religion/tribe suffers from not the same as those that I suffer from. When I die why brother or sister from the other community of religion will have a death similar to mine. Or will his/her death be different? So what are the differences that we see in people of tribes or religions different from ours such that we will not bat an eyelid as we slash them with machetes? Why is it that we will hurl grenades in a congregation full of women yet when one of our own is arrested we are up in arms protesting. My religion teaches me that we were all created in the image and likeness of GOD. I thus believe each and everyone of us regardless of our different faith or tribal extraction we are all a replica of GOD.
Personally the only difference that I perceive between humanity is the haves and the have-nots. However the haves suffer similar illnesses as the have-nots. The haves die just like the have-nots do, only that they have greater resources at their disposal hence the can still afford to be extravagant even as the rot in their graves. As a nation we really need to understand that many of the problems that we face today stem from the fact that we have allowed our political leadership to divide us along ethnic lines. They have poisoned us against our fellow country men and we are now busy plotting on how to counter this or the other tribe. In the meantime they are busy plundering our resources, the same resources that would have been used to provide quality and affordable health care to us. The quality of education in Kenya is on its deathbed because as you an me fought each other to death, our leaders were busy pocketing the little money set aside for education development.

Who among the current member of parliaments (MPigs as we so fondly refer to them now) has their child(ren) attending the village day primary or secondary school? Which one of them goes to the health centre next door funded by the local authority? NONE. A few months ago we watched in the news as the two ministers in charge of the health dockets flew in and out of the country to seek medical care in the USA. So why do we pick up arms against one another yet our leaders are so united in their selfish quests like the recent proposal to award themselves Kshs. 2billion sendoff package.

LETS US ALL PREACH PEACE IN ALL WE DO.

MY TAKE ON OUR NATIONAL SECURITY

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 06:43:00 +0000

For the past one month or so we have read in newspapers and watched on our television sets the atrocities being committed at the Tana Delta by rival ethnic communities. Some of us have had the chance to witness this first hand and I don't envy them any bit. I really feel sorry for those that have lost their loved ones and property in this mayhem. Just like the majority of you I long for a peaceful coexistence with my neighbour without regard to their colour, gender, height, weight, ethnic origin or any other distinctive difference.

This presidency that many of us were so optimistic about in 2002 has let us down not once but countless times. During the nyayo era our economy had been crippled by endless corruption and embezzlement of public funds. One of the many promises that led to the landslide victory of the current president was his promised to unilaterally eradicate corruption. As we near the end of his second term, a majority of his cronies and members of his kitchen cabinet have been mentioned in one scam or the other and corruption has become a way of life for the high and mighty in Kenya. I only hope the new found judicial independence will be our saving grace.
Insecurity is now at its worst across many counties and more some in some well known hot spots such as the Tana Delta. Kenya is famed in the entire East Africa region for its military might and topnotch intelligence apparatus yet a batch of militia-like criminals has been running amok at the Tana Delta. Either these security organs were deliberately dragging their feet or their superiority has just been blown out of proportion for far too long. This nature of attacks has being going on in various parts of the nation and the security organs seem overwhelmed or unwilling to suppress the attacks. I know the police have been accused of highhandedness when dealing with such in the past and with the passage of the current constitution their hands are in a way tied but not to the level of absolutely failing to perform their duties.

The nature with which our Executive operates has not helped at all in dealing with these criminal acts. Over two months since the demise of the then Minister for Internal Affairs & Provincial Administration and his assistant (may they RIP) they president and his principal partner in the coalition are yet to appoint their replacements. This is the most critical cabinet position and I don't see why the substantive appointments have not been made to date. We have seen positions vacated by ministers who are under investigations remain so until the ministers are cleared of the charges against them. However in the late Saitoti's and Ojode's case its not like they will resurrect to take up their positions. So what is holding the Executive back from filing these positions? Are they still playing the old fashioned carrot and stick game with the people of Kajiado, Kangema and Ndhiwa constituencies while they hold the safety and security of the entire nation at ransom?

I can only make one conclusion of all this, the heightened levels of insecurity in the country are solely as a result of the Executive and the policing organs failure to perform their duties. I guess this quote from Douglas MacArthur is more relevant to the kenyan situation today "I am concerned for the security of our great Nation; not so much because of any threat from without, but because of the insidious forces working from within."

THE JOURNEY TO A HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE CONTINUES..........

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 14:33:00 +0000

For the last seven weeks I have been hitting the gym for not less than one hour every five days of the week and I am happy to report that changes are noticeable. Not that the journey has been easy but I pride in the fact that I have the commitment to achieve my desired goal (to be under 90kgs) by the end of the year. My work out plan has mainly focused on aerobics sessions which comprise of body toning routines, abs workouts, step exercises, zhumba dancing, tae bo among other routines. Upon completion of the one hour aerobics session, I spend another thirty or so minutes doing some weights reps.

On this journey, I have encountered some challenges which may have hampered my desire to loose more weight on a weekly basis but that notwithstanding I am happy of the progress made. One of the challenges I have faced is the temptation to indulge in some not so healthy cuisine. Like I pointed out in my earlier post, my appetite goes on the overdrive when a nicely prepared meal is set in front of me and the result is that I tend to eat a bigger portion than is desirable. I am also a lover of pizza and more so with a sizable topping of cheese and as you all know this is not a healthy meal. I have however restrained from visiting any fast food joints during this period and most of my meals are now home cooked. I have also tried as much as possible to control the portions of my food intake on any of my meals in the day with my lunch consisting mainly of fruits.

Another challenge has been on certain days I have had the temptation to skip workout sessions. My plan has been to attend five sessions in a week, however on certain days the body is usually not willing especially Mondays but I always remind myself of the Health Effects of Overweight and Obesity which has been my greatest motivation to loose the excessive weight. Another setback that I suffered during this period was a company retreat that I attended in one of the "five star" hotels at the South Coast. For someone who desires to loose weight, finding yourself holed-up in a hotel for three nights is not so good. The breakfasts, the lunches and the dinners had an array of appetizing dishes which according to my judgement I may have had more than the needed calories to push me through the weekend. However on my return home, I had a punishing week in the gym and I hope much of these calories were scorched.

You may wonder why five star is in quotes in the above paragraph. Due to my experience in the hotel industry, I have a perception on what a five star service and decor entails and the experience I had there was nowhere near a five star experience. During one of the dinner events a waiter had the audacity to tell me that if I needed more drinks I had to go to a bar to collect them myself. Another minus to this expansive beach Resort and Golf Club was the gardening. The resort has overgrown bushes right from the entrance and all round the hotel such that one could hardly get any site to take a scenic photo. The service is the crappiest I have ever experienced in a long while and one has to literary drag the waiters from their service stations for you to get even a cup of coffee over breakfast. I however give them a thumps up for their mouthwatering, finger licking lamb chops.

Let me end the story here lest I digress from my weight loss journey and leave you with this quote from Vince Lombardi ~ “Most people fail, not because of lack of desire, but, because of lack of commitment.”

MY QUEST TO A HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 10:09:00 +0000

This is my story about my journey to a healthier lifestyle which I hope will inspire you to start living a much healthier lifestyle. I am in my early thirties and I weigh a whooping 116kgs and my height is about 5.7ft which takes my BMI to over 30 which simply means I am obese. The recommended BMI is 18.5 to 24.9 which means I have to loose close to 40kgs if I have to be within the normal BMI range. My total body fat also currently stands at more than 30% whereas the acceptable body fat is 18% to 25% hence my job in terms of losing weight is well cut out for me.

My weight at birth was 4.8kgs and as I grew up I was always the heaviest among my peers. In fact when I joined high school, I was so rounded that on the first day I earned the nickname “Yokoh” (“Yokozuna” if you prefer it in full). At home my older siblings never out did me in weight though they were a couple of years older than me. The fact that I was not active in sports in my formative years also contributed to my weight.

Going back to my current situation, I have for months been in and out of hospital for various conditions which can all be attributed to my weight. I have undergone a number of ECG tests, I have done an echo-cardiogram I have done a stress ECG, a CT scan, numerous chest x-rays; I have done OGTT (oral glucose tolerance test) twice among many other tests that I have done for illnesses/conditions that are weight related. I have been lucky, since none of these tests has given a positive result, I may however not be so lucky the next time. I have also been seeing a nutritionist and her recommendation just like my other doctors is that the only solution to my medical problems is weight loss. At first I took this advice lightly and I would only do some bit of walking in the evenings after which I would slump on my couch for an evening movie treat. I however got a scare a couple of weeks ago when I developed some chest pains which were more prevalent on the left side and as you are aware that is where the second most vital organ if not the most vital is housed – the heart. I was back in the hospital again to see my GP who referred me to a cardiologist. Though the cardiologist gave me a clean bill of health for heart related conditions, his advice was the same as before – lose weight. When I took the results to my GP, she did not mince her words to me. First of all she inquired about how active I was and yes you guessed right, my answer to that was not at all. She then sought to know the reasons for my inactivity, I fumbled with words trying to explain that I am not into sports; she however cut me short and summed up my excuses with one word – LAZINESS. At this point I could not look straight to her face, she had hit a raw nerve and I had no defense. I thus resolved that henceforth I have to live a healthier life not just for me but for my family and all those that love me.

Having made the resolution for a healthier lifestyle, my next big headache was to get a good gym. For those of you who inhabit the coastal town of Mombasa, you are well aware that facilities here are not as advanced as those in the Nairobi. But of course if you have deep pockets you can opt to join a facility in one of the many beach hotels. I was however looking for a fairly priced gym with good training facilities. I have been able to find one though not for its good facilities but it offers good aerobics training which is what I need for a start. So for the past one week I have been doing the aerobics session for one hour every day and I have never felt better.

I have always enjoyed a nicely cooked meal and depending on the delicacy being served, I may so often than not indulge in bigger portions than is recommended. I also partake in the so called junk food every once in a while. As a trained hotelier I should know better but I guess my love for food always overrides my decisions on what I consume. Since I quit the frothy drinks a couple of years ago, I found another new drink in the form of soda/juice. At times I would take a whole litre of soda/juice at one go ignoring the information within my reach on the dangers of sugar. My nutritionist however spelt it our very clearly for me – drinking a 300ml bottle of soda can be equated to taking 26 teaspoons of sugar dissolved in a glass of water. So now that you have the information please put it into good use. If you can, make your own juice and enjoy it while its fresh. She has also taught me that all my meals need to be balanced i.e. they should contain carbohydrates, proteins and vitamins. Many of us take a few slices of bread with a cup of tea in the morning and of we go to a busy day in our various engagements. This however consists of proteins found in milk and carbohydrates in the bread, vitamins are mostly not considered by many during this very crucial meal. My nutritionist has advised me to ensure that I take some vitamins in the morning either in the form of a fruit or some green vegetables. She was very insistent of my intake of green vegetables which she called “my saving grace”. I am thus now making it a requirement that any meals that are served to me should contain a portion of these green vegetables. My intake of water was also a problem, I would spend a day or during the cold days more than two days without taking a glass of water. The other day while taking my son to the clinic, I learnt that if you don’t drink enough water the body will absorb water from the colon thus drying up your excrement. So if you are experiencing difficulties with passage of stool then water could be the remedy that you so badly need.

Another lesson that I learnt during my visits to the nutritionist is portion control. Very few of us consider the portions sizes of what we consume which is very important in weight management. My nutritionist recommends that half of your plate should be filled with vitamins; one quarter should contain proteins while the other quarter contains carbohydrates. She also informed me that the stomach of an average adult is not bigger than the palm of your hand hence the food on your plate should also be about the same size.

This sums up my story for today but if you are experiencing weight problems, this link may offer you some lessons on how to deal with them http://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/index.html.

“To keep the body in good health is a duty, otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear.” ~ Buddha.

RETROGRESSIVE FORCES PLACE HURDLES ON THE PATH TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NEW CONSTITUTION

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 31 May 2011 18:54:00 +0000

Since its promulgation, the new constitution has faced several hurdles in its implementation and this has only left many of us wondering whether our political leadership is committed to the implementation of the new laws. Just recently a cabinet minister argued that Kenya under the new constitution is like a baby that is learning to crawl; this was in defense as to why he had not adhered to the stipulations as set out in regard to public participation in preparing the budget. This is just an argument from a very ignorant and arrogant point of view which should be treated with all the ignorance it deserves. The Kenyan nation was born when we attained our independence from the British and we have been crawling since. The clamor for a new constitution was thus necessary for the nation to start walking and eventually takeoff in speedy social-economic development and growth. The argument was just another illustration of how ignorant many of our political leaders are. Kenya has been on its knees for 48 years which can only be attributed to poor governance and lack of accountability and prudence in the use of public funds.
Negative ethnicity and nepotism that plagues our society has not helped either. In the new constitution however we have structures that can help in eradicating these vices; however rather than fight for the speedy implementation of the constitution, the forces of retrogression are busy putting hurdles on the path to a new dawn. The clauses on the budget are not transition clauses and thus their requirements should have taken effect immediately. The constitution should be respected by all regardless of their stature in the government. It is also important that the political leadership respects the constitution by adhering to the requirements of the new laws. The EAC protocol does not supersede the constitution of the sovereign state of Kenya hence those arguing otherwise are just misguiding Kenyans.

We have also witnessed several standoffs being played out in the parliamentary committees tasked with the job of scrutinizing the many laws that are required before the constitution could become fully operational. Many of these standoffs are not in the interests of the Kenyan public but are geared towards serving political interests. Our political leaders have time and again proven to be self-serving individuals, who are only concerned with what serves them best. Unfortunately for us it is this same crop of leadership that we keep sending back to parliament and come 2012 the case will not be any different. As these political shenanigans play-out; impunity, corruption, negative ethnicity and nepotism continue to take root in our society. We thus have to be vigilant in ensuring that the new laws are implemented to the last dot as this is the only way we can guarantee the future of our children and the generations to come. Lets us build on the gains of the new constitution and let us not lose focus on the prize.

A NATION OF MISPLACED PRIORITIES

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 13:46:00 +0000

While our MPs are at the Hague singing patriotic songs to show solidarity with the Ocampo6, IDPs still sleep in tents three years after they were displaced from their homes, yet none of those MPs has gone to the camps to sing patriotic songs with them. As church leaders fell over one another to organize prayer meetings for the O6, IDPs still whiled away time in camps with no one to share a word of prayer with. The six will arrive back and we will be so engrossed in holding homecoming parties and prayer meeting yet no one is thinking of how the IDPs will finally get to their homes. Talk of a country of misdirected priorities.

Those that accompanied the six to the Hague claim to have gone there to in a show of solidarity and patriotism but to me that was a show of solidarity with impunity. Our politicians have turned the ICC process into a mudslinging and name calling contest with there biggest spectators being the media house that are too quick to turn our sitting rooms into arenas for the same. Much attention is given to politicians yet the more deserving cases of displaced persons and other victims of the PEV are left out. The utterances that we are hearing from our politicians now are similar to those that we heard in 2007 which culminated in the violence of 2011. Kenya a thriving economy and democracy has reduced itself in the eyes of the international community into a failed state. The governement which is meant to be protecting its citizens and ensuring that the rights of the everyone and especially the minority has abdicated this role. It has become more interested in fighting for the rights of the suspects than for the rights of the victims. So who then will protect the ordinary wanainchi?

IMPUNITY MAKES STRIDES IN KENYA

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 29 Jan 2011 11:17:00 +0000

The headline in one Daily Newspaper in Kenya reads, "Kenya Wins Round 1". This is after the AU Ministers meeting in Addis voted in favour of Kenya’s quest to defer the ICC prosecutions for the six individuals who have been named as bearing the greatest responsibility in the post election violence that rocked the nation after the bungled 2007 presidential elections. This is a not so correct headline considering this has been as a result of the efforts of one side of the ruling coalition. The question that all Kenyans should be asking is what did we win? As far as I am concerned the win was only for the six and the headline should thus have read “Ocampo Six Win Round 1” or better still “Impunity in Kenya Wins Round 1”.

The VP of Kenya has for the past few weeks engaged in shuttle diplomacy flying from one end of the continent to the other lobbying for support on the ICC issue. However at no time have Kenyans citizens been asked of their opinion on the matter. The civil society and other human rights bodies have been left out yet these are the people who have always fought for the rights of the local wanainchi. Again I ask what have we as Kenyans won in this whole matter. I am well aware that although the AU Ministers have supported Kenya’s bid, this does not mean that the ICC process will be deferred as Kenya wishes; however there is a lot to read from this putting in mind the Ivory Coast standoff, the protests that have rocked Tunisia leading to the President fleeing the nation, the protests in Egypt and many other crimes against the citizens of a good number of African countries by the very people who are meant to protect them. In Kenya extra-judicial killings continued unabated, IDPs are still in camps and Kenyans suspected of involvement in terrorism are extradited to other countries for trial there when the same could be done locally. All these lead to the fact that few Kenyan leaders and African leaders as a whole are concerned about fighting impunity and injustices in the society, they are more concerned about amassing wealth and about their own political survival. This is why I feel there has been no win for the Kenyans of goodwill in this ICC issue.

Kenya seeks deferral of the ICC cases on the basis that the new constitution offers the nation a chance to prosecute the PEV masterminds. The argument is that with the constitution calling for an overhaul of the judiciary, the nation is better placed to handle the cases. The proponents further argue they will push for a local tribunal that will try the PEV cases. Others have argued that the ICC trials will divide the nation further hence the need for a locally driven process. However bearing in mind the divisions in the political elite in Kenya and the culture of politics in Kenya where everyone seeks to protect their own, setting up a local tribunal and the legislation to govern its operations will be an insurmountable mountain.

We have seen it from the recent nominations of the AG, CJ and Public prosecutor that the political elite will not agree on anything and that one part of the coalition feels more superior to the other. So how sure are we that they will agree on who to nominate to the local tribunal? So my fellow Kenyans, it is upon us to come out strongly and oppose what we feel is against the principles of justice and fairness as envisaged in the constitution. Let us together be united in fighting impunity and other injustices in Kenya today.

Lets us not allow impunity to make positive strides in our society today.

Let us be at the forefront in demanding that IDPs are resettled now.

Let us be our brothers’ keeper.

God bless Kenya!

DEAL WITH CASES OF CORRUPTION DECISIVELY

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 14:48:00 +0000

An American professor opined that corruption has a considerable effect on our lives because it is all around us. He continued to say that the emphasis on getting rich, no matter how, is so tremendous that it influences virtually every aspect of the society. This desire to get rich is driven by greed; the greed for money, greed for property and greed for wealth. That is why people will go to all extremes to acquire any piece of land or any other property they come across regardless of who it belongs to. These land grabbers have not spared our forests too. The forest cover has been depleted so low that even areas that never used to experience drought are now experiencing it. It is common knowledge that our forests have been destroyed by the same people who are supposed to be championing for our rights; either by allocating themselves pieces of land in the forest or by displacing the poor from their land and driving them into the forest lands. People have become so materialistic that they would even kill their kin just to get a bigger portion of property than what they rightly deserve. It is this same greed that is carried into our institutions. Our forests, our road reserves and land meant for public amenities have all been lost in the frenzy to amass wealth.
It is about time the government made good its threat to repossess the property that has been illegally acquired. Although some positive steps have been made to this effect we are yet to see much headway made especially where the so called big-fat cats are involved. I also feel that mere repossession of property got by embezzling public funds or through corrupt practices is not enough deterrent for these crimes. We would also love to see the culprits serve jail term. Some have even gone further to stash wealth that has been acquired through unscrupulous means in unidentified foreign accounts. I believe one way of winning this war against corruption is by enforcing the laws on corruption and other economic crimes. By ensuring that those who have stolen from the exchequer are brought to book and all their illegally acquired property is repossessed. We would love to see repossession of property and subsequent prosecution of all those that have profited from corrupt deals.

In Kenya today, he who steals to feed his/her family gets a longer jail term as compared to the crooks that deprive the entire nation of resources that are meant for basic amenities and other development projects. On the other hand the big sharks continue to roam the waters. They use the money that they stole from taxpayers’ kitty to buy the best legal minds to come to their defense. Even when the happen to get into the pen which hardly happens, they continue with their lives of splendor. This only serves to entrench impunity further. The government should thus deal with these corrupt individuals with the full force of the law so as to deter similar crimes from like-minded individuals.

WIKILEAKS - HOW TRUE IS THIS?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 10:08:00 +0000

For the past few weeks the whistleblower site Wikileaks has been publishing US diplomatic cables from all over the world. Kenya and its leadership have not been spared either. The cables have been too blunt in their description of world leaders. Our very own have been described as “old guard” and the country has been described as a haven of corruption and drug trafficking. I therefore do understand the fury of the President and the Right Honorable Prime Minister as regards to the leaked US diplomatic cables which have cast aspersions as to their commitment to the reform agenda. But on the other hand they should be grateful to the Wikileaks publishers for bringing to light how the US foreign policy/diplomacy works. However let’s not forget the content of the leaked cables. The cables would not have been published at a more opportune time than now when the country is grappling with the problems of drugs trafficking and corruption at the highest levels. Rather than engage in public mud-smearing competition with the US ambassador, the two Principals should be convening meetings with security chiefs and anti-corruptions tsars to deliberate on how these two problems will be dealt with once and for all.

The cables have confirmed the rumors that very highly placed people in government are involved in the trafficking of narcotics in Kenya. The government should move forcefully to ensure all the known drug lords, whether public figures or otherwise are brought to book and punished for their crimes. It should also ensure that the wealth that these individuals have amassed though this trade is taken over by the government and directed to a more justifiable cause of running rehabilitation centers for those who have been snared by the chains of drug use and abuse. The only deterrent for such crimes is by punishing those that are involved in the crime and the punishment meted on them should be such that it acts as a lesson to those who may be drawn to such crimes. The reason why impunity is so high in Kenya today is attributable to the simple reason that criminals who have the right connections go scot free; those that hold the highest responsibility go unpunished while their errand boys take the fall.

So rather than use the leaked cables as a way of getting back to the US envoy, it is a time for us to reflect and act on the truth that is contained in those cables. As for the US envoy, he should realize that his act has been uncovered and he should be made aware that Kenyans do not take the slandering of their leaders lightly. Like the PM so rightly put it in his speech during the Jamhuri celebrations, a true friend does not say one thing while with you and tell of something completely different while away from your earshot. The President and the PM were at the fore-front in championing for the new constitution thus it is utterly disdainful for the envoy to describe them as anti-reformist. The reform process in Kenya has been faced with a lot of hurdles; it is true that some individuals might have stood on the way of reforms but that is expected in any country with a thriving democracy where everyone wants to have their way and say on issues that affect them, their electorate or the various groups that they represent.

Is it not true that senior government officers are involved in drug trafficking? What of corruption? Have we not turned our public institutions into gateways to get rich quickly? Let the government not take lightly the contents of the leaked cables and decisive measures should be taken to ensure that Kenya is not put on the spot for the wrong reasons again. So let us find out what truth these cables hold and let us deal with it.

DOES LOW PAY REALLY LEAD TO CORRUPTION?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 16:22:00 +0000

Many have argued that corruption abounds in our institutions due to meager salaries paid to the employees; others have argued differently. Looking at the case of Kenya, the most high profile cases of corruption have been perpetuated by high ranking government officials in collusion with well oiled business men hence its hardly a case of meager salaries. We also have heard of cases where persons who hardly had meals for the next day have returned substantial amounts of money which did not belong to them. If then the argument that meager pay/wages leads to corruption these persons would not even have had a second thought on whether to return the money or not. Another case in point is that of the famous Goldenberg whistle-blower who died out of lack of money to cater for his medical expenses. Again if really pay induces one to engage in corrupt practices this man would have had greater motivation to do so than the actual Goldenberg crooks.

It is true that poverty leads to a rise in social misdemeanor but corruption hardly falls under this category. I believe corruption has got to do with ones moral values and ethics. We have people in institutions where there are avenues for corruption and whose salaries are as meager as for the rest of us but they would rather go hungry than engage in corruption. Yet again, we have individuals who are well paid with all the allowances one would wish for to boot but all that they think of from the moment they get out of bed is how they can defraud the exchequer and the people they are meant to serve in general. The former category shuns corruption because they have a personal code of ethics which guides them in their lives. As for the latter group, no matter how much money you offer them as pay they will still look for dodgy avenues to make that extra buck. In Kenya tens of billions of tax payers’ money are lost every year as a result of corruption; money that would go a long way in uplifting lives of the general populace.

Nepotism and cronyism have not helped in our case. Government contracts are awarded not on the basis of the contractors qualifications or because their quotations were the least costly but on the basis of their relationship or kinship to the head of the department/ministry. Let us fight corruption by shunning nepotism and cronyism. Let us pay our employees the salaries they deserve not as a way to fight corruption but because the rightly deserve the pay. And above all lets us been people of good moral values and let each and every one of us have a personal code of conduct and ethics.

TAMING THE DEADLY BEAST – CORRUPTION: Fight with renewed vigour!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 16:18:00 +0000

The World Bank defines governance as the manner in which public officials and institutions acquire and exercise the authority to shape public policy and provide public goods and services. The World Bank further identifies six indicators of good public governance which include: control of corruption; voice and accountability; rule of law; government effectiveness; and quality of regulation and political stability.

The Kenyan government has been found wanting especially in the area of controlling corruption. Various government officials have been variously mentioned in corruption cases. Some have so far left their plum positions as investigation are carried out on these allegations. Others are still sitting tight hoping that the ghosts of corruption that are lurking in their closets will remain there. Let all who have in one way or another swindled the taxpayer of their hard-earned money be warned that their days are numbered.

Kenyan has earned a bad reputation for being one of the most corrupt nations in the world. According to the Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index of 2010, Kenya is ranked lowly at number 154 out of 178 countries scoring a paltry 2.1 point out of the maximum 10 points. The highest ranked countries scored 9.3 while the lowest ranked country scored 1.1 points. Compared to the highest ranked country, Kenya has a long way to cover but I believe with the concerted efforts of all it’s a battle that can be won.

The renewed vigor that the KACC has shown in the fight against this multiple-headed beast is commendable and it’s everyone’s prayer that they will not lose steam (of course those whom they are hot on their heels are praying otherwise). A lot needs to be done to ensure that Kenya does not slip down in the next Corruption Perceptions Index.

And what do we blame corruption on? What is it that has seen the country get so deep in this rot? Many ills in the society have been blamed on illiteracy and poverty but when it comes to corruption these two are nowhere close. If anything corruption has contributed to the increase in poverty and illiteracy among the populace. How so some may ask? Just think of the billions of shillings that have been lost through questionable deals. Think of how that money could have been spent in instituting development projects and in enhancing education in the country. Have you got the answer to the question now? Inefficient judicial system, cumbersome and dishonest bureaucracies and malfunctioning government institutions are some of the factors that have been identified worldwide as causes of corruption. The high levels of ethnicity, nepotism and impunity have not helped in the Kenyan scenario. There is also the “it’s our turn to eat” syndrome which has become the very part of our political system. All these factors have seen service delivery in our institutions almost grid to halt.

On 27^th August 2010, Kenya received a new lifeline when new constitution was promulgated. This should have acted as a yellow card to all corrupt public officials. According to the chapter on leadership and integrity one of the guiding principles is objectivity and impartiality in decision making, and in ensuring that decisions are not influenced by nepotism, favouritism, other improper motives or corrupt practices. This is a very crucial principle; one that will help the nation in the fight against impunity nepotism and corruption. All Kenyans should embrace this principle and in doing so, we’ll all be united in fighting these ills from our society.

Let one and all arise, with hearts both strong and true! Let us all arise to fight these ills that have plagued our society for far too long from our society. This battle will not be worn by keeping quiet and watching our institutions work for us. For even these institutions are nothing without our inputs. Let us fight it by undertaking not to partake in these vices. Let us fight them by exposing those in the midst of us who are bent on seeing the country collapse under the weight of nepotism and impunity. Let us desist from negative ethnicity. Let us fight these ills through the power of our words. Martin Luther’s dream has been carried on all these years by the words that he spoke and the deeds of those who believed in his words. Likewise, let our dreams of a prosperous country be carried in our words and deeds.

Do not underestimate the power of words fellow citizens. Entire civilizations have been forgotten and entire religions have risen and fallen all because they did not master the power of the written word. The largest religions today are where they are because their founders recorded and preserved their beliefs and teaching and it is these written words that have been passed on along generations up to today. In our endeavour to fight corruption, rid the country of nepotism, impunity and negative ethnicity, we must embrace the power of the written word.

And the fruits of our labour will truly fill our hearts with thanksgiving!!

God bless Kenya!!

BAD POLITICS WILL LEAD US TO A PATH OF DESTRUCTION ONCE MORE

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 04 Dec 2010 07:48:00 +0000

Writing in a local daily immediately after the post-elections violence that had engulfed the nation, a renowned political scientist argued that the National Accord had come a bit too early. When I read the article I was a little bit apprehensive; I could not understand how one would advocate for the violence to go on even for a minute longer. Fast forward two years to the current ICC debacle as well as the games being played out in parliament and I could be more in agreement with the author. For a country like Rwanda, they learnt their lesson the hard way. Hundreds of thousands of innocent lives were lost before they came to the realization of what was happening to them. As country we are lucky to have come out united, but we are very fast at forgetting the price we had to pay for our mistakes. The blood of the innocent men, women and children who lost their lives in a battle that did not deserve to be fought should not be in vain. We should honor their memories by uniting; by shunning negative ethnicity; by engaging in activities to foster peace and unity amongst our communities.

We have already forgotten of the darkness that had engulfed our beloved country for close to four months as we all fought to stake our claim on an election we will never truly know who was the actual winner. It is however without doubt that the common mwanainchi was the biggest loser. We are still a nation that worships our leaders rather than demand for accountability and good governance from them. Every time one of “our own” is mention in one saga or another we bring out the race card. Our leaders have used this card perfectly to their benefit; they will always run back to hide behind their communities whenever they are faced with problems. The political arena has also becoming a ground for witch-hunting; where one to gets back at their enemies; where political favours are paid back in kind through plum positions and awarding of lucrative contracts. Whenever there are positions to fill in the government, rather than fill-out those positions with competent individuals, our leaders are out to reward their cronies and political supporters. As the politicians play out their games; as they build alliances for the next general elections, the problems that led as to the tribulations of 2007 are relegated to the back of their minds but deep within, disillusionment and resentment continues to build in those that lost their property and loved ones. It is a pity that close to three years after the skirmishes, innocent women and children are still living in IDP camps without any hopes of justice being delivered to them. In the meantime, our leaders continue to haggle on whether to have a local tribunal or to go the ICC way. The search for justice has been reduced to a contest of wits among politicians. The slow process of the ICC has made people lose credibility in it even as impunity continues to take root in our society.It is upon us ordinary citizens to ensure that we do not end up in the same situation that we were in during the last election. We should shun negative ethnicity even as we pride ourselves in our cultures and diversity. We should refuse to be drawn into the supremacy battles of our politicians. We should work together to ensure that we detach ourselves from the shackles of poverty. And above all we should be vigilant so as to ensure that our newly acquired constitution is implemented to the letter. For this constitution is nothing but another document if it is not fully effected. We should also choose our leaders carefully and use the provisions of the constitution to send home those who do not effectively serve us. This is the only weapon we have to fight impunity from our leadership.

Our former president left us with one saying that we should bear in mind at all times – “siasa mbaya, maisha mbaya”. Let us engage in politics that will foster unity. Let us build a nation where no one looks down on another. Let us build a nation where culture and diversity is a source of pride; a nation where everyone has equal opportunities and resources are equitably distributed; a nation that caters for its youth and the elderly in equal measure; a nation where gender is not a hindrance to ascension to leadership. This is the Kenya we should all envisage.

EFFECTS OF CORRUPTION

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 04 Dec 2010 07:47:00 +0000

Transparency International (TI) defines corruption as the “misuse of entrusted power for private gain”. They further define “private gain” to include gains accruing to an economic actor’ close family members, political party and in some cases to an independent organization or charitable institution in which the economic actor has a financial or social interest. Corruption maybe manifested in the following ways: bribery of local or foreign government officials and private companies, fraud, bid submission fraud, embezzlement, theft, collusion among bidders, bribery of parliamentarians and so many more. In Kenya we have seen the manifestation of all these forms of corruption. Corruption has an effect on so many areas in an economy.

Corruption and socio-economic conditions of a nation: Socio-economic factors include the wealth of a country, the distribution of national income and how the public revenues are invested in the overall structure of the state, which fundamentally shapes the quality of life of the population. When funds that are meant for development projects such building of health facilities or for provision of basic amenities such as water and sanitation facilities are diverted to the pockets of a few individuals, it is the general populace that suffers.

Tax evasion is another form of corruption that also has an impact on the socio-economic conditions of a nation. Clearing and forwarding companies have been known to collude with revenue collection officials at the entry points to under-declare cargo. The C&F companies pay less tax for the under-declared cargo while the revenue officials pocket a percentage of what should have been paid to the exchequer.

There is a large income disparity in nations where corruption is rampant. This is because corruption concentrates public funds in the pockets of a few people rather than have the funds distributed equitably among the populace through development projects and programs. In all the large corruption deals in Kenya only a few people have ended up enriching themselves at the expense of the entire populace. Hundreds of billions of shillings that have been lost in the Goldenberg, the Anglo-leasing, the Triton, and many other scandals have ended up in off-shore accounts of a few unscrupulous individuals while the majority of Kenyans struggle to survive on less than a dollar a day.

Corruption and independence & integrity of the judiciary: The legal environment, and in particular the way the judiciary functions and the quality of the services provided, has been acknowledged as one of the most significant determinants of corruption. This is due to the fact that only an independent, fairly administered and predictable judiciary can fulfill its role as institutional guarantor of the rule of law, assuring that wrongdoers are punished with a high degree of predictability. Moreover, since much of the corruption in the public sector involves medium-level and high-ranking office holders and politicians, a necessary condition for repressing such criminal behavior seems to lie with the judiciary, as they are assigned the important task of making sure that members of the Government do not act outside the law. However rather than provide the much needed repression to this panacea, the legal systems and the judiciary in most developing countries, have placed more hurdles in the fight of corruption. In Kenya we have had cases on corruption in our judicial corridors for more than ten years which are eventually thrown out or lost on very flimsy grounds.

Corruption and public sector governance: An essential characteristic of good governance is the existence and efficient functioning of institutions that hold public officials accountable. Administrative inefficiency-ineffectiveness has been linked severally to continued corruption in the public sector. The level of bureaucracy in our public institutions is very high. This is has in turn contributed to the increase in corruption within the public sector. Business people are forced to part with some cash so as to speed up matters in the public offices. Files have been known to disappear or for documents to go missing from files only to reappear after the owners of the documents have parted with a certain amount of money.

ILLICIT DRUGS TRADE RIFE IN KENYA

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 09:13:00 +0000

The drugs/narcotics menace in the country is a serious problem that needs immediate and decisive government action on all that are involved in the illicit trade. Having lived in Mombasa for close to eight years I have had the chance to see firsthand the effects of the drugs on the youth and it is not any good. The Member of Parliament for Central Imenti has made very serious allegations against some former top-ranking officials in the government and we can only wait and see what the investigations that have been promised by the Right Honorable will reveal. It is however common knowledge that very senior people are involved in the trade.

The drugs trade in Mombasa is a trade that is done in the open with the full awareness of the security officials in the ground. The middle-men and the peddlers are well known to the police and it is not surprising to even find them having meals together or even in pubs drinking and making merry. The police also collect some kind of “protection” money from the “agents”. In return the police notify them when a raid is about to be carried out. In some areas the police are known to collect more than 20,000 shillings on a weekly basis which is known as “pesa ya kiwanja”. This simply means that the agents pay the police for them to operate within a certain area. If this money is not forthcoming that is when the police raids are intensified. The claim that the police are unaware of the illicit trade is just but a big charade.

ETHICAL MANAGEMENT AND GOOD GOVERNANCE IN OUR PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 09:32:00 +0000

“A man without ethics is a wild beast loosed upon this world” Albert Camus

Ethics is about the guiding values, principles and standards that help people determine how ‘things ought to be done’. It refers to the judgements that people make and the process of arriving at those judgements. It is the process by which people make value-based decisions. Upholding the principles and standards of right conduct by public office holders at all levels of government is an important aspect of public service ethics.

According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), corporate governance is one key element in improving economic efficiency and growth as well as enhancing investor confidence. Corporate governance involves a set of relationships between a company’s management, its board, its shareholders and other stakeholders. Corporate governance also provides the structure through which the objectives of the company are set, and the means of attaining those objectives and monitoring performance are determined. Good corporate governance provides proper incentives for the board and management to pursue objectives that are in the interests of the company and its shareholders and facilitates effective monitoring. The presence of an effective corporate governance system, within an individual company and across an economy as a whole, helps to provide a degree of confidence that is necessary for the proper functioning of a market economy.

Kenya is not short in legislation on ethics and governance. The recently promulgated constitution has a whole chapter dedicated to leadership and integrity. Section 79 of the constitution also provides for the enactment of legislation to establish an independent Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission. There is also the Public Officers Ethics Act 2003, the Public Procurement and Disposal Act 2005 and so many more laws that govern the conduct and behaviour of public officials. So why is it that the rot in our public institution does not seem to go away?

One of the principles for ethical management is to hire the right people. It is easier to have ethical behavior in an organization if the right people with principles are hired. The public sector lacks ethical behavior primarily because of this. The level of nepotism is so high that large percentages of employees in many public institutions come from the area of the top officer in the organization. Board members of these organizations are also culpable. Rather than concentrate on discharging their duties in the entities in which they sit on their boards, they concentrate in ensuring that they fill the organization with their relatives, their friends and the relatives of their friends. People are not hired on the basis of their qualifications but rather on the basis of whom one knows in the organization or how much money one has to “buy” the job.

Another principle is to set standards more than rules. A code of conduct cannot deter those that are inclined to be unethical. Instead of spending a great deal of time on extensive regulations, mangers should concentrate on clarifying standards. CEOs and managers should let people know what level of performance is expected, and explain that ethical behavior is a must. This hardly happens in our institutions. This is so because managers are busy looking at ways to enrich themselves by embezzling the funds or through unscrupulous deals. People who are tasked to safeguard the finance of the taxpayers are busy colluding with rogue contractors and criminals on how to defraud the exchequer.

The third principle is not to get isolated. Managers can become isolated not only from markets and competitors but from what is going on in their own operations. Nevertheless, managers are still responsible for what goes on, whether they know about it or not. Failure to get involve d in the day-to-day activities of the organization has seen many departmental heads, CEOs, Permanent Secretaries and even Ministers get caught unaware by the corrupt and shady dealings of their juniors.

The final and most important principle is for managers to make sure that their ethical example is absolutely impeccable at all times. They must operate ethically in dealing with various stakeholders. Subordinates are likely to pay more attention to what a manager does than what he says.

In a study on Challenges in implementing code of conduct within the public sector in Anglophone West African countries, Sakyi and Bawole identified the following as some of the hindrances to poor implementation of the codes of conduct. General weakness in leadership, the syndrome of leniency, lack of knowledge, ignorance about the code, weak enforcement, outdated or old codes, difficulty of comprehending and applying the language of codes, too idealistic codes that do not address daily moral issues confronting civil servants, ineffective reward systems, poor public service organizational culture, weak supervision and monitoring and undue societal pressure on bureaucrats.

If we wish to have a turn-around on how our institutions are run we must all be watchful, demand for transparency and accountability from our leadership, elect leaders who are committed to the progress of the nation, and above all have a change of mindset by focusing on the overall good of the nation rather than on individual or communal gain. If we do this and public officials follow the principles on ethical management outlined above, the nation as a whole will be headed to the right direction on matters of governance and ethics in public institutions.