The Kenya We Want

Please Kenyans, Register as Voters

2010-03-24T13:35:00.000-07:00

The voters registration has just begun and it will take 45 days. Quite a good thing. It is only by the grace of God that Kenya survived this far bearing in mind there have been no acceptable voters register since the previous one used by politicians to manipulate the 2007 general election resulting to crises. This process by the Interim Independent Electoral Commission (IIEC) is long overdue. It is largely a clean up and reorganisation process to the electoral register.

The former electoral records were a total confusion. They had over a million dead and multiple registration issues. It is widely believed that even the dead rose to vote in the 2007 general election. This greatly contributed to the 2007 crises.

This made many voter loose faith in the electoral process. Today many voters are approaching this issue with a lot of indifference. The trauma related to the crises continue to haunt many. Many are still in IDP camps. Others have not forgotten how their brothers and sisters were murdered in cold blood as some politicians fanned the issue while the other who had powers to stop the violence watched indecisively.

Shyness of Kenyans to register is amplified by strange behaviour of MPs. Tribalism, regionalism and partisanship as evident in the ongoing constitution making process is a bitter reminder that our selfish MPs were baptised but they never repented. The election crises were precedented by the "Yes/No" referendum with the political class highly divided. They preached hatred among poor Kenyans and are willing to do the same yet again. God forbid. History seams to replicate.

Kenyans lost faith in democracy as innocent people were killed and displaced. The promises were made by the coalition government to the displaced such as resettling and building of houses have yet to be fully implemented. Those in the IDP camps are threatened by the government with eviction yet they have not been given their dues.

Kenyans queued for hours to vote politicians with super projects whose feasibility is only possible in heaven. The elected MPs have never gone back to their constituents amid many soaring problems like the sky-rocketing cost of living, unemployment and insecurity. Kenyans feel cheated. Why then should they register?

The adamant politicians are jostling for powers and position ahead of the next election. They started doing this 5 years to the next general election. They forgot the development issues and started positioning themselves through corruption, realignment and witch hunting.

The electoral commission, politicians, church an the civil society can be invited to do massive voters education. But the assurance that will invite Kenyans to vote with enthusiasm is a promise to end all the above vices largely contributed by the political class.

Kenyans are for sure justified to to be negative to this voter registration exercise. However two wrongs will never makes anything right. Kenyans please register as voters. It is only that vote that have the power to vote out the greedy. What says you Kenyans?

Our Biggest Threat to Attain New Constitution

2010-03-23T12:30:00.000-07:00

Kenya has been trying to writer a new constitution for two decades now. There is no such a time when Kenya has been so near to getting a new constitution than now. In fact president Kibaki told the MPs during then state opening of parliament that their greatest failure would be failure to give Kenya a new constitutional dispensation. However, so many factor have emerged to derail the process.
The rivalry between the ODM and it's coalition partner the PNU has threatened to scatter review talks. The two political parties are busy plotting the strategies to win the next general election. Issues of corruption has been has been levelled against each other thereby creating a stressed relationship for constructive talks to bring a new constitution to Kenyans. A planned consensus building retreat scheduled for Naivasha was shot down by ODM in parliament. The cabinet which should give the leading direction in the reform agenda has not met for weeks over the stalemate. This poor relationship was fanned up by the prime minister's suspension of the ministers William Ruto and Sam Ongeri a decision that was reversed by the president.
The church and supporters of abortion are locked in a dead end argument. The church feel abortion should not be legalised. It further believe that the constitution should clearly state that life start at birth and end through a natural death. The catholic and the protestants have joined hand and vowed that they would rally their members to vote against the draft if it is seen to legalize abortion.
The Christians and the Muslims are also locked up in an argument with the Christians advocating the removal of the kadhi court from the constitution. The proposed draft has strengthened kadhi court a move seen by the christian as trying to make a Muslim the religion of the state.
The units of devolution and powers of the senate are the two weighty issues that may make the MPs not to reach political consensus. The PNU favours two tier devolution and a weaker senate. The ODM want three tier devolution and a strong senate. With the PNU thinking that it can marshal the majority thanks to the fall out of Raila and Ruto and the ODM vowing to not to the bitter end, the consensus is not near yet.
With all these the new constitution seams too near yet too far. The only saviour of the constitution is the law which does not allow MPs to reject the constitution in total. If they fail to agree as they have already, the PSC will take it back to the Committee of Expert COE who will hand over the draft to the Attorney General for Publication. There being no chances of the MPs ending the constitution making process, worse thing await the Kenya ahead.
If there is no political consensus, the country will approach the referendum divided. In fact they could more divided than in 2005. They could be a prerequisite for war come 2012 general election. This general election will be a do or die for some politicians especially Raila Odinga. If he loose it, he may never again in Kenya. Whichever side wins the referendum, an automatic mileage will be bestowed to it come the general election.
Watch Kenyans. Poor majority should not be divided by the politicians for their own selfish gains. Remain united whether there is referendum or not. Even as the politician jostle in the constitution making process, were are the citizens' views? Are the views of Kenyans considered by the MPs or the COE? What says you?

Will the Kenyan Society Fully Accept Abortion Even if it is legalized?

2010-03-15T05:57:00.000-07:00

Some facts about abortion should be elaborated in order Kenyans to approach the issue with sobriety it deserves. The debate has been approached by different group from diverse opinion tending to create a great lapse in the facts about it.
The woman views this as a chance to fix male injustices such as rape rejection after pregnancy and sometimes father running away from the responsibility of rearing the child. The man want to preserve the right to see what he sired thereby deny the woman the right to abort with zeal.
The politicians look at the votes they get. This will determine side to support. To the church the "bible says". Period. All must believe the bible or believe the bible. No option. The bible states (Job 3:3) "An able bodied man has been conceived" interpreted to mean life begin at conception.
The medics and human rights activists don't seam to believe in the right of unborn child. To them rights belong to the one who can be seen speaking, crying, mourning and more so the one who can pay the fee charged. Right can only be enjoyed by the person who can be able to support our activism.
Facts. The medics know this better but they wouldn't bother to tell Kenyans who are threatening the constitution making process. That the baby in the womb is alive and human with all the genetic make up of a human being. The heart of the baby begins beating 21 days after fertilization. The baby can feel pain after 8 weeks of fertilization and can grasp objects in the hand after 9 weeks.
The problems culminating to abortion are largely social and can't be solved medically. Many people seeking abortion don't consider it as an option after counselling.
Kenyan people are largely religious and no religion known in the world is pro abortion. If Kenya with 99% of its people being religious walk the talk, the issue of whether abortion is explicitly mentioned in the constitution would not arise. The need to state life start at conception will be rendered redundant. It would be self catering.
The constitution of Kenya is largely secular except for the national anthem and the Kadhi courts. More over the Christians in their endeavor to remove the Kadhi courts from the constitution advocate for a secular constitution. The clause on abortion can also remain secular if need be.
It takes two to make a baby. After conception at least 3 persons have equal rights over the baby with two having ability to express themselves. Feminism angle have predominated the pro abortion debate completely ignoring masculine dimension which contribute to the formation of the baby. Where a man a claims ownership of a pregnancy a case should be heard and determined except when the life of a woman is in danger.
It is good for men to acknowledge that the issue of abortion is largely a woman affair in the sense that the pregnancy can curtail progress in career or school. The woman may also suffer in fear of rejection by family and can lead to stigma especially for school girls. However, the psychological torture to the abortionist and the family may exceed the advantages of abortion. It is easier to love a child born than to expel the torture resulting to abortion in a society that largely Christian.
Reaching a consensus in the issue of abortion is easy. We may legalize abortion. But while we do so, consider this: "Will Kenyan society fully accept abortion?" What says you? Your views are required.

The Ball Is With You Now Mr Mudavadi

2010-03-11T12:22:00.000-08:00

Nairobi city council used public funds to buy 120 acres of land taunted to be worthless for graves. The land is worth Ksh 24 millions but the city council defied all odds and went ahead to buy it at Ksh 283 million. This is clearly over 10 times above is real value. The excess was shared among 17 people through a city lawyer Mr Newton Osiemo. One Mr Maina Chege the land broker has come out to defend the deal saying it was "pure, open, transparent and as white as cotton".
"We begin by suspecting everyone", and therefore Musalia Mudavadi as the minister in charge of the local government was the first suspect. The KACC indicated that Mr Mudavadi got his share through Mr Osiema who is believed to be his business associate according to the statement given to KACC by Ms Mary Ng'ethe the Nairobi City council director of legal affairs. He came out fighting saying that he had been "persecuted, crucified and sentenced". Raila Odinga has since come out to defend his deputy rubbishing the KACC report as political and relied on a statement by an individual.
Following the saga release to the public, Mwai Kibaki took a fast unprecedented move to sack the official of the city council and the permanent secretary in the ministry of local government. He hided to his own call that the war against corruption must not be politicized and so he spared Mr Mudavadi. Conspicuously absent was the action of Raila of "We begin first by respecting everyone" fame.
Fellow citizen. There is a Kenyan we want. A Kanya free from corruption. Do think this scandal is political? Do think Mr Mudavadi should be given a leave for three months while investigations are done? Please leave your views.

Fight Against Corruption in Kenya

2010-03-10T01:04:00.000-08:00

Two of Kibaki's speeches are thrilling me. One was made to the most optimistic citizen in the world at the time. He made it in a wheelchair. The speech addressed thousands Kenyans gathered at Uhuru Park and millions of other Kenyan who were glued on to their TV to witness his glorious inauguration. The speech did not fail to elevate the moral of the already over enthusiastic Kenyans.
The second speech he gave in the state opening of the fourth session of the tenth parliament. It was made when the moral of Kenyans had gone under following public conflict between Raila Odinga and Mwai Kibaki over corruption.
The speech did not seam to tackle adequately Kenya's number one enemy "CORRUPTION". It largely served to restore the confidence to Kenyans that there is no chance of going back to the streets. The president seamed to say, there is a government in place and the back stop with me.
The first speech had an issue of corruption. I quote "Corruption will now cease to be a way of life in Kenya and I call upon all those members of my government and public officers accustomed to corrupt practice to know and clearly understand that there will be no sacred cows under my government". In this it is clearly expressed that the war on corruption should be political since members of my government are politicians. It should also be personalised "no sacred cows".
The tools to fighting corruption should not be limited. If there is a personal or political tool to fight corruption, use them. The Kenya we want is a Kenya free from this haunting enemy of justice to all us.
Kenyan, what do you think the head of state meant when he said that the war against corruption should not be politicized or personalized?

Abortion Debate in the Draft Constitution in Kenya

2010-03-09T04:20:00.000-08:00

For over 20 years now, Kenyans have been agitating for a more democratic constitution. Kenyans are now very near to getting a new constitution but their hope has been dashed by the human right conflict in the name of abortion. The question to Kenyans is, are you for pro abortion or anti abortion constitution?
The Kenyan Law on abortion has sparked a heated debate more than the widely expected law on power sharing. There is a clear battle lines between opponents and advocates of abortion are clearly drawn. The Kenyan woman who is largely affected by the law believe that her rights are being infringed by any law that criminalize abortion.
On one side is the Kenya chapter of the International Federation of Women Lawyers, the Coalition on Violence Against Women and the Kenya Medical Association who debate with unquestionable zeal for legalized abortion. The generally pro abortion clause as viewed in the draft may not see the light of the day given that the giant catholic church and the protestants have gone public declaring a real war on any thing pro abortion in the draft. This has been amplified by the head of state Mr Mwai Kibaki. Moreover, the male dominate parliament could be anti abortion.
Abortion in the public domain is viewed as more religious than a matter of women's health and rights. The draft states that everyone has a right live. The church want the constitution to clearly state that life start at conception and ends by natural death. What the church remains silent about is the situation were the mother is endangered through reproductive related issues. To many, it is obvious the mother in complication related issues has more rights than the child she is carrying. After all a bird in hand is worthy two in bush.
The current trend of abortion related dangers is worrying. Criminalizing abortion has raised the cost safe abortion and more women seek the services of unsafe doctors. Over 50% of all gynaecologist cases emanates from badly performed abortion. Kenya's current constitution criminalize abortion except were mother's life is in danger. This makes it hard to trace an illegal abortion because the views of the doctors is generally superior to any other view.

Why Kenyans Slaughter Each Other in 2007

2010-03-07T11:41:00.000-08:00

Kenyans did the worst thing in the year 2007. Innocent Kenyans slaughtered innocent Kenyan to safeguard the to safeguard the interest of a few politicians. To name just but a few: one Kibaki, Raila, Ruto, Kalonzo, Najib and the like. In my own view, they fought because of one thing. The "Yes" and the "No". The "Banana" versus the "Orange". If there was no banana and the orange the slaughter couldn't have been of such a magnitude.
Let me admit now that I feel cheated. The same people who fuelled big slaughter camped for days in a prestigious hotel in Naivasha fully funded by tax-payer's money. There they conspired to cheat Kenyans by denying them the right to participate in the constitution making. They produced a document meant to increase the number of war mongers from the current at the expense of million poor Kenyans. The "yes" were previously denied the victory because the "No" thought they had the draft in question favoured an imperial president. Now they have sat down without raising eyebrows and agreed of an imperial president without the office of the prime minister. Kenyan have already begun reading a sinister motive in this. What Is In It For Me? My star is shinning and I have to take it all.