Livelihoods v Lives

April 2, 2009 in G20 by Mentalacrobatics | 3 comments

Douglas Alexander, UK's Secretary of State for International Development is interviewed by G20Voice bloggers James Simmonds and Simon Berry. Picture by Daudi WereDouglas Alexander the UK government’s Secretary of State for International Development – a cabinet level position – has one of the hardest jobs at the London Summit as it falls on his shoulders to persuade us that this Summit intends to tackle the concerns of the people and countries who have been deemed not important enough to be represented here directly.

Alexander did this in his press briefing by throwing numbers around, for example:

  • This summit is the 1st time ever that global leaders have come together to forumlate a global plan to economic recovery.
  • 90 million people are at risk of falling into extreme poverty in the next two years
  • 70% of global economic growth has been in emerging markets
  • a World Bank Rapid Response Social Fund to stimulate trade needs USD 30 billion and the UK has pledged GBP 200 million towards it
  • The USD 250 billion that the IMF has at its disposal is not enough
  • 90% of global trade requires either credit or insurance – in many cases both

Alexander is in the unenviable position in that many UK citizens feel that their government has lost focus on what should be its key mandate, domestic issues and tackling hardship at home in the UK in order to play big on the world stage tackling global problems.

To make Alexander’s position even more challenging when you consider that many of the initiatives this summit promotes, while helping some countries in desperate need of help, hurt others in the same position. Cheryl Contee who writes as Jill Tubman for the award-winning and top-ranked black political blog JackAndJillPolitics.com which she founded in 2006, and I came face to face with a such a scenario on Wednesday during the World Have Your Say phone in programme on BBC World Service. Asked to comment on the G20’s proposed initiative to close down tax havens both Cheryl and I spoke strongly in favour of the policy. Coming from Kenya where our former president the dictator Daniel arap Moi together with his cronies and family looted Kenya for over 20 years stashing away billions in these tax havens, my position is not that surprising. One caller from a tax haven, The Bahamas, emailed the BBC show to disagree stating that many people in the Bahamas relied on the tax haven financial system for their livelihood.

How would you balance all these competing interests as the UK’s Secretary of State for International Development has too?

Alexander’s response during the press briefing when remarking on the UK, but this could be equally applied to the caller in The Bahamas, was to remind us that yes in some places livelihoods would be lost however in other places lives would be lost and saving lives take priority over saving livelihoods.

What can the ordinary African citizen do to make Africa relevant on the Global Scene?

April 2, 2009 in G20 by Mentalacrobatics | 14 comments

President of The Republic of South Africa Kgalema Motlanthe arrive and is met by Prime Minister Gordon Brown arrives for the start of the London Summit at ExCel. 20 of the most powerful global political leaders gather to take decisions that will impact the whole world in far reaching ways and Africa is has only one seat at the table occupied by South Africa. This under-representation of Africa is sadly a recurring feature and indeed a defining characteristic of these international summits.

As Africans we have to start focusing our energy on adopting strategies to counter this state of affairs beginning with a harsh reality check. We are under-represented at these summits because we are increasingly irrelevant. On the global scene African countries have very little influence, even less power and no force at all (except against other African countries).

Relying on our current political leaders to draw up and implement a strategy to make Africa relevant in a positive way is a non starter. Indeed those who have succeed in making African relevant to international policy making have done so for increasing negative reasons, for example Mugabe in Zimbabwe and Bashir in Sudan. Ethan Zuckerman labelled the position taken by such political leaders as a strategy of, “If we act deranged enough, maybe they’ll just give us the country.”

The burden rests on us, the ordinary citizens of Africa, to come up with a strategy that will increase our positive relevance to important global conversations and thus make it impossible to ignore Africa, Africans and the issues they feel important. I would love to hear your thoughts on what this strategy should adopt.

As a first step we can start by breaking the cycle of ineffective negative political leaders. The veteran British political warhorse Tony Benn proposes 5 questions to ask anyone in power or who wants power:

  1. What power have you got?
  2. Where did you get it from?
  3. In whose interests do you exercise it?
  4. To whom are you accountable?
  5. And how can we get rid of you?

G20 Voices getting together before the G20 Summit

April 1, 2009 in G20 by Mentalacrobatics | 4 comments

G20Voice logoI am in London at the kind invitation of G20Voice. 50 bloggers will be your eyes and ears at the G20 Summit in London, April 2. We come from 22 different countries, and between us represent a global audience of over 14 million readers and online participants. Some are journalists who use blogging as their medium to disseminate their views. Some are ‘professional bloggers’, others of us are are ordinary citizens who have become known through our blogs.

We have been given the same media accreditation as the main stream media to enter the G20 Summit tomorrow and hopefully we will be able to make a positive impact for citizen journalists and some of you will be invited to the G8 and other high level meetings in the future.

So who’s here at the G20?

Leaders of the world’s major economies and of global economic financial institutions have been invited to attend the London Summit. This includes the leaders of the G20 countries, which represent:

  • 90% of global GNP (gross domestic product)
  • 80% of world trade
  • two-thirds of the world’s population

Having said all that only two African leaders are here:

Kgalema Motlanthe - President of the Republic of South Africa
Meles Zenawi - Prime Ministe of Ethiopia in his role as Chair of NEPAD

This is a dire state of affairs even if you go beyond the numbers. Motlanthe is just keeping the seat warm until South Afrcian elections later this month, and Zenawi well you couldn’t have asked for a better example of a “soft” dictator that are the bane of our continent!

So who speaks for Africa here? Or even – should Africa be speaking here? Should Africa want to be involved in the G20? I think the important thing is to keep a sense of perspective by keeping an eye on the big picture and to question even the basic assumptions.

Arriving in London this morning and making my way by tube from Heathrow to Westminster, in the heart of the city, (the Houses of Parliament, 10 Downing Street etc are only a few steps away) was notable only in that it was uneventful, none of the chaos that has been hyped to a ridiculous level by people with various agendas.

Transcript of webchat with US Ambassador to Kenya

January 21, 2009 in Issues, Kenya, Politics by Mentalacrobatics | 3 comments

Update 1: Official Transcript now avaliable. (Thanks Mark).

At 15.00 local time on January 21 2009 the United States Ambassador to Kenya Michael E. Ranneberger hosted a webchat (online discussion) with Kenyan citizens on topics of interest in Kenyan-U.S. relations. Here is the transcript:

Webchat Moderator (Mark): Welcome to today’s webchat! We are glad you are with us. Ambassador Ranneberger will begin answering your questions at the top of the hour.

Webchat Moderator (Mark): We are taking your questions now. Our first question comes from Justus ole Ndutu Narok

Justus ole Ndutu Narok 2: Now that the American people have elected their first ever African-American President, are we likely to see more African-Americans being elected to this office in future?

Ambassador Ranneberger: Yes, I believe we will. The election of Barak Obama demonstrates how far the United States has traveled to build and strengthen democratic institutions. The U.S. presidential election was clearly decided on the basis of the issues, not on the basis of race. President Obama received support from a broad cross- section of American voters. His election also reflects the impact which the civil rights movement has had in transforming the United States. Democracy is, however, always a work in progress and much more remains to be accomplished.

brigid koskei 2: brigid koskei from Kenya. the political party system in America not only favors the majority but also the minoority.it also ensures that political leaders are not only in officeas a result of support from a specific race or tribe but leaders with right qualifications and those who merit those position. Does the Kenyan political party support this? if not what can be done to ensure theres a suitable and fair party system?

Ambassador Ranneberger: You are right about the American political party system. Political parties in the U.S. have developed over a period of more than 200 years. The parties nurture talent and enable individuals to run for office on the basis of merit. Although our political parties are well-developed, there are still a number of issues which must be addressed, including the ways in which parties and candidates finance political campaigns. In Kenya political parties are not as developed. First, there are too many parties (over 100), and many of these are tiny, personality-center “briefcase parties.” Second, corruption has a negative impact on political party development in Kenya. Third, many parties are based on ethnic affiliations rather than on issues. Development of more effective issue-focused political parties is very important to the future of democracy in Kenya. We are working to foster more effective political parties focused on issues. This is part of a broader effort to strengthen democratic institutions.

omweba shadrack- moi university 2: obama says, “…those from largest capital to smallest villages(Kogelo/Nairobi) will feel him…” Through your embassy how will you make Nairobi(Kenya) reform its institutions especially parliament hence feel Obama’s effect as he promised now that you are our big brother? Asks Omweba S.M a Political Science Student from Moi university ( Kenya.)

Ambassador Ranneberger: Even before the inauguration of President Obama, we were working to support reforms. As you know, during the post-election crisis, the U.S. intervened to press for formation of the coalition government. That government committed itself to carry out an agenda for fundamental reform. While there are many reforms, constitutional revision, establishing an independent electoral commission, and formation of the Special Tribunal to try perpetrators of post-election violence, and fighting corruption are among the most important. We have made clear to the leadership of the coalition government that the partnership between the U.S. and Kenya is based on shared democratic values and, therefore, on implementation of the reform agenda. Parliament must play its role to support implementation of the reforms. I also want to emphasize, however, that the Kenyan people have a most important role to play. Although the U.S. helped on formation of the coalition government, it was the fact that the Kenyan people spoke out and insisted on a political solution that was the most important factor in resolving the crisis. The Kenyan people did this directly, and through the media, civil society, religious groups, and the private sector. It is important that the Kenyan people now insist upon implementation of the reform agenda.

Aaron cheruiyot 2: well yesterday president Obama moved from his usual hope speeches to one full of pragmatic demands both for his government and the citizens of the US. For us in kenya, after his inpiration we are faced with the enormous task of getting things rollong in our own country. where do you think is the place for us to start especially the youth?

Ambassador Ranneberger: I believe that the inauguration of President Obama will inspire young people in Kenya to be more active in political life. Despite the fact that there are now many younger Kenyans in Parliament, I do not regard them as really the voice of the young people of Kenya. It seems to be that genuine youth leadership has not really emerged yet. The young people of Kenya has the advantage of being relatively well education. I believe that young people should become more active in forming and participating in civil society organizations, and in speaking out peacefully through the media. Young people should be asking their Members of Parliament and the coalition leadership hard questions about why the reform process has not moved more quickly and about why more is not being done against corruption. Young people should take advantage of new technology, like the internet, to communicate, and to promote activism. Young people can also insist on the reform of political parties so that young people can participate more transparently. We will support these efforts.

Jeremiah - Kenya: Dear Mr Ambassador - I have read your bio about your career with the State department. With the new administration are you going to stay on in Kenya or will you be moving to another position?

Ambassador Ranneberger: It is always up to a new President to determine whether an Ambassador remains in his position. We serve at the pleasure of the President. As a career, professional diplomat, I am non-partisan and strongly committed to advancing the policies of the United States regardless of who is President.

Tuikeny from Nairobi: Bearing in mind that Obama’s ancestral home is kenya, does the America’s Embassy have any plan to encourage, support and boost tourism through initiatives like cultural activities in Kogelo and its neighbourhood?

Ambassador Ranneberger: In the wake of the post-election crisis, the Embassy has been working to boost American tourism to Kenya. We have no specific plans to become involved with Obama’s ancestral home. How that is handled is strictly up to the Obama family members in Kenya. It will be important to respect their privacy and their decisions regarding to what extent they might or might not want to become involved with tourism promotion.

Daudi: Good afternoon Ambassador. There is no mention of Africa on the White House Foreign Policy agenda page: http://www.whitehouse.gov/agenda/foreign_policy/ indicating that perhaps Africa is not a priority for the new Obama administration. Can you share any information you have on the Obama’s administration foreign policy agenda for Africa?

Ambassador Ranneberger: During the political campaign, Obama and his team made clear the importance they attach to U.S. policy in Africa. There has been strong bi-partisan support from Democrats and Republicans for programs like the PEPFAR anti-HIV/AIDS program, for promotion of democracy, for resolution of conflicts, for education, and for other programs as well. I am sure that the new Administration will give appropriate attention and priority to African issues. The U.S. greatly values its partnership and friendship with Kenya and with other countries on the continent. We will continue to support these and remain engaged with the people of Africa to promote their well-being.

Kamene Mutua - Machakos, Kenya: You were instrumental in encouraging power sharing at the begining of last year at the height of post-election violence. What is your take on the coalition government so far?

Ambassador Ranneberger: Thank you for your kind words. I believe that establishment of the coalition government was the best option to end the post-election crisis. I have talked extensively with President Kibaki and Prime Minister Odinga, and they have assured me of their commitment to carry out the reform agenda. I believe that they will do this. We will insist upon this, but the clear message they are hearing from the Kenyan people will also help push the reform agenda forward. At the same time, this will not be an easy process. There are vested interests on both sides who do not want to see the reform agenda fully implemented. It is important that the Kenyan people continue to make clear to the President and Prime Minister the importance of moving forward quickly to implement the reforms (particularly establishment of an independent electoral commission, establishment of the Special Tribunal to try perpetrators of post-election violence, and constitutional reform) and the urgent need to end corruption. The vested interests want reform that will be merely window dressing. President Kibaki and Prime Minister Odinga need the support of the Kenyan people to carry out real reforms that will begin a process of fundamental change. Largely because of the faith I have in the Kenyan people, I remain positive about the coalition government, and am optimistic that Kenya will move ahead to strengthen democratic institutions.

Nekesa: Good Afternoon Mr. Ambassador. As I’m sure you’re well aware the USA under 20 team has qualified for the Junior World Rugby Trophy to be held in Kenya this year. Do you plan to attend this tournament?

Ambassador Ranneberger: Nekesa: Unfortunately, I don’t know much about Rugby, but I am excited by the prospect that a U.S. team may participate in the tournament here. Kenya is well-known for its athletes, yet another dimension of this great country.

Webchat Moderator (Mark): Thanks for joining everyone. We hope you will understand that the Ambassador tried to address as many of your questions as possible during the 60 minutes allotted for today’s webchat. The Q/A portion of today’s webchat is now closed.

Ask the United States Ambassador

January 21, 2009 in Issues, Kenya, Politics by Mentalacrobatics | 2 comments

January 21 webchat with Ambassador Michael E. Ranneberger

Time: 15.00 Kenya time
Location: This webchat will take place at http://statedept.connectsolutions.com/nairobi.
Procedure: No registration is needed. Simply choose “Enter as a Guest,” type in your preferred screen name and join the discussion.

Press release follows:

The enduring friendship between the United States and Kenya is a testament to the commitment the two countries share to democracy, liberty and free markets.

On Wednesday, January 21, 2009, at 7 a.m. EST (12:00 GMT), U.S. Ambassador to Kenya Michael Ranneberger will host an online discussion with Kenyan citizens on topics of interest in Kenyan-U.S. relations. The ambassador will be available in real time to take comments and answer questions.

Michael E. Ranneberger has had a long and meritorious career with the State Department, spanning more than 20 years. He was sworn in as the new U.S. ambassador to Kenya on July 31, 2006. His previous assignments have been in Sudan and Mali, and he has also served as the Africa Bureau’s principal deputy assistant secretary and as the coordinator for Cuban affairs. He has worked in South America during periods of conflict and has worked to support human rights activists and to develop independent civil societies in South American nations.

This webchat will take place at http://statedept.connectsolutions.com/nairobi. No registration is needed. Simply choose “Enter as a Guest,” type in your preferred screen name and join the discussion.

Day of The Obama

January 20, 2009 in Africa, Human Rights, Kenya, Politics by Mentalacrobatics | 5 comments

Random thoughts on Obama’s Inauguration

Name one thing you would like Barak Obama to do once he is president of the United States of America. This is the question, or variations of it, that I have been asked, mainly by the international media, over and over again these past couple of weeks. They are eager for “the view from the Kenyan street” you see.

As the day when Obama does become president has drawn closer my answer has changed a couple of times. From the philosophical – Obama does not need to do anything more, what he has achieved so far is revolutionary. The vaguely idealist – a deal on trade would be brilliant. To humouring my inner conspiracy theorist – Obama needs to tell us the truth about the American lab where the AIDS virus was invented.

As today, Inauguration Day, got closer my mind kept going back to my good friend and blogger extraordinaire Sami Ben Gharbia and a Twitter update he posted on Oct 9th, 2008. Sami’s Tweet said:

I’m sick of the Obama’s myth of change and of the dream that the US will finally stop its support for “soft” dictators

I agree completely. Soft dictators – those who are convenient allies to the powers that be on the international scene while destroying liberty at home (see Mubarak, H; Zenawi, M; arap Moi, D) are the scourge of the Continent. If Obama’s administration drops the United State’s moral, financial and military support for soft dictators then we’d know the man is serious about change (and I’d be able to convince Sami that having a Kenyan in the White House is a good thing).

Prayer

Barak Obama must be the most prayed for politician ever. Throughout the past two years all over Kenya there have been prayer for Obama. My Nigerian and Ghanaian friends tell me that the same has been happening in their countries. Many African American churches and the wider evangelical movement have had frequent days of prayers for Obama.

When the announcement came through on the international news networks that he had secured enough Electoral College votes to win the US presidency I could hear Christian songs of praise, sung by the West African women who had been having an all night prayer virgil as the results were coming in, flowing from the flat above. Not to be outdone Kenyan MPs decided to hold a prayer meeting in Uhuru Park in the middle of Nairobi.

Even those who do not like Obama very much, for example bitter right wing bloggers, have been busy urging prayers for Obama (although their prayers seem to be of the sour-grapes-he-better-not-mess-up-all-the-good-work-Bush43-has-done variety, but they still count.) When you have Kenyan MPs and bitter rightwing bloggers all praying for you then you are probably the most prayed for politician ever.

The prayers did not stop with electoral victory. Since he ascended from being a candidate for the presidency to President-Elect the prayers – at least in Kenya – seem to have intensified.

Before the election the prayers were for electoral victory, immediately following the election the prayers were of thanksgiving for the victory. The intense prayers that have taken over since then are prayers of safety. Over and over again I hear passionate almost desperate prayers for Obama’s safety. That those who want to physical hurt and even kill him, his wife, their children and extended family do not succeed.

There is a sense of real and immediate danger on behalf of Obama flowing through Africa and when Africans feel danger they pray! Most of the questions I have fielded on issues surrounding Obama in the past few weeks have focused on the Secret Service because people are interested in who is protecting him and how good they are. (Very bleeding good, is my standard reply, I wouldn’t mess around with the USSS if I were you.)

This fear for the safety of Obama is strange in that it seems to have an expiry date. There seems a conviction that once he takes the oath of office he will be fine and no one would be allowed to kill him. But while he is just President-Elect he is still in danger! That is one reason some people have taken the afternoon off today in Kenya today - not just to watch the build up to the inauguration which is at 20.00 local time - but to pray for Obama’s safety in these final moments before he raises his hand and takes that oath.

Asides

Aside 1: If, as rumoured, the Boys Choir of Kenya included Jambo Bwana in their repertoire during International Conservation Caucus Foundation Inauguration Gala as threatened, I will personally cancel all their passports! Please no no no. Not Jambo Bwana. Please! Hopefully it was just a bad rumour!

Aside 2: You would think that with all the Obama parties taking place across Kenya today someone would have hosted one of these, “No Bush Left Behind” bashes somewhere. Instead all we have are boring drinks with “traditional” food (a.k.a Nyam Chom na Tusker). Shave the Date would have been a lot more interesting.

Blogging Positively - Live chat on now

December 3, 2008 in AIDS, Global Voices, Issues by Mentalacrobatics | No comments

Blogging Positively - Live chat on NOW!
Join Us

Instructions:
Go to the chat room select “English” and then press “Next”. We will create other chat rooms for other languages if the opportunity arises.

Blogging Positively - Live chat Dec 3 on AIDS + citizen media

December 2, 2008 in AIDS, Global Voices, Issues by Mentalacrobatics | 2 comments

In commemoration of World AIDS Day Rising Voices will be hosting a live chat. This chat aims to build on the foundations laid by the first chat we had back in April which asked the following question: “How can citizen media be used to supplement and improve the mainstream media’s coverage of the AIDS epidemic?”

Date: Wednesday, December 3rd
Venue: http://www.worknets.org/chat/
Time: 15.00 Nairobi time:
07.00 (New York, EST) - 10.00 (Buenos Aires) - 12.00 (London, GMT) - 14.00 (Cape Town, Beirut) - 15.00 (Nairobi, Moscow) - 17.30 (New Delhi) - 18.00 (Beijing, Manila) - 21.00 (Tokyo) - 23.00 (Sydney)
Login instructions: Login using your name and then select the room you want to join by clicking enter. Once in the room, select a font colour on the left side of the screen, then join the chat.
Chat Facilitators: Serina and Daudi

This weeks chat will start out focusing on two Rising Voices grantee projects, REPACTED in Nakuru, Kenya and AIDS Rights Congo based in Brazzaville. We will learn how both organizations have implemented blogging and video outreach programs to spread awareness about their initiatives in AIDS prevention and advocating for the rights of HIV-positive individuals.

Other discussion topics include: What are the factors to weigh when HIV-positive bloggers go public about their status? How can blogging support networks form online? What about online forums? What are other new media tools, such as mapping mashups, that can be used effectively?

If there are other topics that you would like to discuss during the chat, please respond with your ideas. I hope that as many of you as possible can make it.

David Sasaki of Rising Voices writes:

As a primer to the conversation I encourage you all to take a look at a recent post written by Juliana Rincón on Global Voices about AIDS awareness through video. Especially fascinating is a video podcast produced by QAFBeijing, which interviews South African grand justice Edwin Cameron, the country’s only government official who has gone public about his HIV status.

I will be sending out a reminder email on Tuesday with a link to a video of a fascinating conversation among the members of the Breaking the Silence in Kwa Mashu project about the fear of discussing HIV status in their community.

Check out Global Voices’ World AIDS Day 2008 coverage.

Blogging Positively - see you there Wed 3rd December.


National Aids Control Council of Kenya
Pamoja tuangamize ukimwi

Elendu - Nigerian blogger - detained without charge

October 23, 2008 in Human Rights by Mentalacrobatics | 1 comment

The BBC reports:

A US-based Nigerian news blogger is being held without charge by Nigeria’s secret service.

Jonathan Elendu was taken into custody on Saturday when he arrived in the capital, Abuja, on a family visit.

The State Security Service (SSS) has refused to allow his lawyers access to him and denied him a medical visit.

Jonathan writes Elendureports.com.

This is ridiculous. You do not hold people without charge, you do not refuse access to lawyers and you do not withhold medical treatment. Regardless of what you think about Jonathan or Elendureports.com you cannot and should not do that. Especially if you call yourself a leader and want us to treat you as such.

What is it with these heads of states or “big” politicians who act all tough but cannot stand some criticism or dissent? Sending the secret service to round up critics is not tough; it is sad, pathetic and sign of very poor leadership.

Via Afromusing – thanks.

KELELE - The African Bloggers’ Conference

October 12, 2008 in Blogs, Kelele '09 by Mentalacrobatics | 3 comments

kelele logo by Kobia

What is Kelele?
Kelele is an annual African bloggers’ conference held in a different African city each year and run by an organising committee in that city. Kelele will be held for the first time in August 2009 in Nairobi, Kenya.

Why Kelele?
Kelele is the Kiswahili word for noise. We are organising a gathering of African bloggers in the tradition of historical African societies where everyone has a voice. Where society has room for debate and discussion. With too many voices marginalised or simply ignored in Africa society today for a variety of reasons we believe that technology in general and grassroots media tools such as blogs in particular represent the most powerful way in which to give Africans back their voice. We are gathering in Nairobi in August 2009 to make a powerful, positive, inspirational noise that will be heard across the continent and beyond. KELELE!

The theme of Kelele ’09 Nairobi is Beat Your Drum – we want to connect the traditional Africa method of getting your message across vast distances – the talking drums – to the 21st century and the tools we use today to get our message across, blogs and the Internet. We anticipate that this conference will continue to be called Kelele wherever it is held. For example Kelele Nairobi ’09, Kelele Accra ’10, Kelele Cairo ’11 and so on.

When will Kelele ’09 Nairobi take place?
August 2009. We have tentatively booked the 13th – 16th August 2009.

Here is a summary of the proposed programme:
Day 1 August 13: Arrival in Nairobi and official opening
Day 2 August 14: Conference Day
Day 3 August 15: Skills/Training Day and Outreach Day. Official closing
Day 4 August 16: Sight seeing / departure

Sister events
The African Bloggers Awards, which aims to recognise the top blogger from each African country. The winner from each country will be invited and sponsored to attend Kelele ’09 Nairobi.

Budget
Every successful event needs the backing of some great sponsors! We’d like to invite all organizations with an interest in blogging, Africa and citizen media to become a sponsor of the inaugural African Bloggers Conference: Kelele!

There are a variety of ways that you can become involved as a sponsor for Kelele - your contribution doesn’t only need to be financial in nature. If you’d like to find out more about the sponsorship opportunities, please email daudi.were AT gmail.com

For more information please contact
Daudi Were – daudi.were AT gmail.com
Erik Hersman - erik AT zungu.com
Ndesanjo Macha - ndesanjo AT gmail.com

Kenyan Bloggers Meet Up Tonight

October 3, 2008 in Blogs, KBW by Mentalacrobatics | 2 comments

To celebrate the end of another week and to herald the beginning of the weekend, a bunch of Kenyan bloggers/blog readers/blog enthusiast/secret bloggers/potential bloggers/relatives of bloggers will be meeting at Alpenhofs, next to Prestige Plaza on Ngong Road at 6pm TODAY Friday 3rd October. Nothing formal, no agenda, just catching up to find out what people have been up to, making new connections any excuse to spread some good blog karma. It looks like some very interesting people are going to be coming and so should you. Really. You have no excuse no to come. Spread the word.

Hear us ROAR

August 19, 2008 in Kenya, Rugby, Sport by Mentalacrobatics | 1 comment

Now that the child’s play (gymnastics, swimming, equestrian, kayaking etc) in Beijing is over the JOGOO of Africa roars (as much as a JOGOO can roar anyway).

Real Medal Table

The only country that is worthy of a seat next to Kenya is Jamaica. As for the rest of you, you can steal our athletes with PetroDollars, LegoDollars and MacDollars but until you start eating ugali you haven’t got a chance.)

In other news

Elgon Cup Score

our dear (younger) brothers from Uganda, this is what we meant last time. Hehe ati dethrone Kenya in Nairobi. Never talk badly again!

(Balanced, non jingoistic, rational coverage continues after the Olympics etc)

Commissioner of Police - Kenya is NOT a police state

July 8, 2008 in Human Rights, Kenya, Politics by Mentalacrobatics | No comments

Now That Amos Kimunya Has Resigned -Release Our Civil Society Colleagues

To the Commissioner of Police and the Government of Kenya:

We demand the unconditional release of our patriotic colleagues in the civil society who were brutally manhandled and arrested this morning as they exercised their constitutional rights to demand the resignation of Amos Kimunya as Finance Minister.

Their right to freedom of peaceable assembly was brutally violated by members of the Kenya Police. We demand their unconditional release for they have committed no crime. The Police officers who directed the assault on Ann Njogu and her colleagues must be subjected to appropriate discipline by the Commissioner of Police.

Kenya is not a Police State and Kenyans will not surrender their constitutional freedoms or their right to complain against wrongdoing, or to speak against grand corruption and impunity.

The arrested members of the civil society must be released.

In any event the man they were protesting against, former Finance Minister Amos Kimunya has resigned his office and stepped aside to facilitate investigations into the subject matter of the protest of civil society. In the spirit of a transparent enquiry into the role played by numerous public officers and institutions in the grand corruption saga that is the Grand Regency Hotel ‘handover’ and sale, it is morally and legally right that no one should be punished for speaking out for the Kenyan people in their time of need.

July 8th 2008 Mwalimu Mati www.marsgroupkenya.org

Kimunya:Death Certificate (temporary)

July 8, 2008 in Kenya, Politics by Mentalacrobatics | 1 comment

Patient: Amos Muhinga Kimunya
Occupation: Member of Parliament for Kipipiri Constituency
Previous positions held: Minister of Finance, Kenya
Notable quote: “I would rather die than resign.”
Cause of death: Death by Hubris

What Amos Kimunya did not tell you about the budget

June 24, 2008 in Kenya, Politics by Mentalacrobatics | 5 comments

The Kenyan government, like most governments around the world, is well versed in the art of deploying and utilising smokescreens. As the name implies the purpose of the smokescreen is to hide something from view or atleast divert attention away from an issue or subject that the government would rather was not noticed, leave alone discussed or debated at all. These smokescreens come in various forms but they all share some of the same characteristics.

For example the smokescreens usually contain something completely ridiculous which leads us to wonder what planet members of our government come from. This was the favoured tactic of the Moi regime. Here is an example. Did you notice how when there was a negative and potential very damaging story about the government dominating the news agenda one of Moi’s ministers would stand up and give a speech in which he would make some ridiculous claim? My favourite one was that Kenya was about to bid to host the Olympics. Predictably we would all get outraged and froth at the mouth and spend the next month partaking in debates with our friends and colleagues, remarking to each other that there are other priorities for the government to focus on, we would chuckle at the idea of the creaking Kenyan infrastructure being asked to host such a large event, and we would write articles to display our intellectual fortitude informing the minister that Olympics are hosted by CITIES not COUNTRIES so Kenya could not bid for the Olympics but Nairobi could. Of course by the time we had exhausted all this energy we would have forgotten what issue we were discussing before the minister made his ridiculous statement. And as we laughed all the way to our bars and coffee shops content that we were smarter than our ministers, our self proclaimed Professor of Politics was laughing at our constant ability to be played.

More recently we have seen another smokescreen deployed occasionally. When difficult questions started surfacing about what we now call “Anglo-Leasing type contracts” the First Lady would go out and do something totally ridiculous, such as raid a private party at the World Bank country director’s house in her pyjamas. When the questions about corruption would not stop the First Lady would either storm a police station and demand the cops arrest somebody or storm a media house by herself in the dead of the night and proceed to slap reporters – an act that is 110% guaranteed to dominate the media’s new agenda. Where was Kibaki, we would ask, why didn’t State House intervene when the First Lady’s security detail first reported her irrational and illegal actions?

Well maybe State House did not intervene because they had just deployed their smokescreen. And soon afterwards whispers about medication being deliberately withheld from the First Lady to ensure her irrational behaviour continues started to surface. These days whenever the First Lady does something outrageous I check the newspapers from the previous week to try and figure out what they are trying to hide.

In June 2008 we have been thrown yet another smokescreen, this time by the Minister of Finance, Amos Kimunya. This smokescreen, brilliant deployed it must be said, centres around Budget and the issue of whether Members’ of Parliament should pay tax on their salaries and allowances. Of course they should. That is obvious and indeed it is ridiculous that in 2008 we can still debate this. Of course Members’ of Parliament should pay tax on their salaries and allowances. Predictably many MPs are resisting all attempts to pay tax and that is the debate that has dominated the Kenyan news agenda in the past couple of weeks.

This debate about MPs and taxation is a smokescreen which Mwalimu Mati the CEO of MARS Group Kenya has exposed with his usually thoroughness. If MPs paid tax the Treasury would save between Ksh. 600 million and Ksh. 700 million. That is good money. However, Kimunya’s latest budget is full of waste, which runs into the HUNDREDS of BILLIONS of shillings. And that is even better money. And all this is probably going to pass unscrutinzed by a parliament full of MPS whose only point of concern in this Budget is whether or not they are to be taxed.

Please download [pdf 48 kb] , read, blog and circulate widely Mati’s article. You can download [pdf 48kb] it here.

Some shocking statistcs:

  1. Last year the Government of Kenya budget for entertainment of its guests amounted to Ksh 5.7 million per day for EVERY day of the year.
  2. The Governemnet of Kenya spends Ksh 3.995 billion on rents per annum and only receives Ksh 239.368 million per year from property income and rent.
  3. Last year, the Government of Kenya spent over Ksh 6.7 million per day every day of the year on foreign travel. This is set to increase in this budget.
  4. Did you know that State House Nairobi has 149 cars? Did you know that this year Minister of Finance wants to buy Ksh 73 million more worth of cars for State House? Did you know that last year a similar amount of money was spent on cars at State House? Did you know that the Government budget for cars for 2008 has gone up by 1 billion shillings, even as public attention is consumed by the debate on MP’s allowances?

    5. And the best one

  5. Every year the Minister of Finance presents lump sum budgets for the National Security Intelligence Services, the Armed Forces and the Kenya Anti Corruption Commission. This year their collective budgets will pass the Ksh 47 billion mark – and yet they will be no debate on the budget items in them because the Minister of Finance has helpfully provided none.

Ksh. 47 BILLION!

Kenyans let us demand that our MPs accept that they have a duty to pay taxes but let us not allow this debate on MPs allowances to distract us from the bigger picture. Do not be fooled by the smokescreen! Demand equally that your MP take his or her constitutional responsibility seriously and scrutinise Amos Kimunya’s ridiculous Budget.

Please download [pdf 48 kbs], read, blog, and circulate widely Mati’s article. You can download it here [pdf 48kb].

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