Kenyan Pundit

I’m not sure how else to characterize the current Parliament.

No wonder we have such an escapist President…who would want to deal with such imbeciles?

Oh gosh, I guess I was about due for a rant.

Here we go…
So Parliament resumed yesterday.

And it didn’t take long for the tragedy that is Kenyan politics to manifest itself in all its glory.

Where do we start?

“Parliament got off to a stormy start that saw the Opposition pull out of the most important committee of the House at the end of a bitter dispute on Wednesday.”

Which means we have to spend the rest of the year listening to the Opposition whining about being left out of the decision-making process and threatening to shut down government business. The fact that virtually no government business has been conducted by Parliament since 2003, makes me wonder why the Opposition is acting like this was such a deal-breaker issue. Unless I’m missing something, the previous 11-9 configuration that they are now up in arms about did not fundamentally change their collective ability to do much more than draw a paycheck every month and hold political rallies. Can the Opposition even point to one instance when they pushed an agenda had a positive impact on Kenyans since 2003? Let’s see…we can have no meaningful parliamentary proceedings OR no meaningful parliamentary proceedings. Brilliant!

“The Government was also forced to drop Trade minister Dr Mukhisa Kituyi in favour of Public Service minister Moses Akaranga after a section of Ford-Kenya-allied MPs protested at what they saw as skewed nomination within the party. They complained that all the three MPs from the party — Local Government minister Musikari Kombo, Kituyi and Assistant minister Moses Wetangula hailed from Bungoma District.”

I have no words. OK maybe I do. Yaani it’s not even tribal, we are now at a district level? But that’s an easy target. Wasn’t the nomination list presented by Ford-Kenya itself? Why couldn’t this issue have been sorted out in the FIVE month recess that these guys have had?

“Planning minister Henry Obwocha of Ford-People said his party was entitled to its own slot on the committee. “Ford People is not dead. Some party members are still in the Opposition, like Magara,” said Obwocha.”

I am just fascinated with the way that the MPs acting as if party-politics in Kenya is based on ideology. That’s the only way that this brouhaha can be justified. Can anyone tell me what Ford-People stands for? Ford-Kenya? ODM?

While saying he would remain a Narc member until 2007, Raila added that the composition of committees must be decided by the various parliamentary groups.

And as Kaparo confirms “the political parties represented in Parliament as Narc, Kanu, Ford-People, Safina, Sisi Kwa Sisi and Ford Asili.” There is no LDP or Orange as far is Parliament is concerned. So I’m not really sure what Raila’s story is. He didn’t object to Kamotho’s name being offered as part of the opposition, but wants to question Ford-P’s role in the government side. You can’t have it both ways. The only people who should be having a beef are maybe Kanu and Ford-People guys. Then when Kaparo offered a compromise: “In the afternoon, Kaparo ruled that Kanu deserved an extra slot that had hitherto been surrendered to the Ford-P, as the latter had since been co-opted to the Government of National Unity. But both sides dug into their heels, forcing physical votes.”

So the opposition has resigned from the committee en masse. I fail to understand what point they are trying to make since paralyzing parliament is not exactly a vote-winning tactic. Negotiation does not equal weakness and going from some influence to zero influence is not a victory. All the ODM have done is show that they have the ability to make things difficult for the government. What a revelation!

Rant over.

AOB: Kaparo’s opening speech was pretty good, BUT forget the expensive renovations for people who hardly show up anyway. Give us the website, attendance records and the hansard online.

Apologies for the blogging infrequency - combination of numerous deadlines and mindblock….

On to the link-a-rama.

- Parliament resumes tomorrow sans website, they can learn a thing or two from the Constituency Development Fund website which is rather impressive as far as Kenyan government websites go.
- I keep saying it takes two to tango (Sir Clay, where art thou?).

- Why move back home? This sums it up.

- One of the better analysis on corruption in Africa that I’ve seen in a long time (once you ignore some of the cliched writing). His book should make for interesting reading. One line I like in particular, “The problem is that Cameroon, like other poor countries, is a topsy-turvy place where it’s in most people’s interest to take actions that directly or indirectly damage everyone else.” This describes my experience with trying to get projects up and running in Kenya, everybody you need assistance from wants to know what’s in it for them. Hat tip Jewels in the Jungle.

- The African Digerati (term coined by Hash) is making things happen. First, Hash’s Africa Network/Zangu is a brilliant idea. Kudos to him and to everyone who has given their input. Then Jikomboe and Maitha on the possibility of blogging via cellphones in Africa (in Swahili).

- kwani? Open Mic @ Club Soundd featuring GITHUKU MWANGI winner of Kenya’s first Poetry Slam. Tuesday 4th April 2006 7 pm Club Soundd Hamilton House Kaunda Street. Entry 50 bob.

(although their love for political gossip and “siasa” makes them abettors).

That the government can go to great (shoddy) lengths to orchestrate the mercenary press conference saga may suggest that they are well attuned to Kenyans’ infamous political amnesia.

Or am I giving them too much credit?

Anglo-leasing? Goldenberg arrests? Moody resigning? Constitution? Standard raid?

What??? That was so two weeks ago.

Meanwhile ODM has the same predeliction for stupid drama while the country falls apart. I mean have these MEN put anything on the table other their raw ambition?

So on and on we’ll go until 2007.

And Kenyans will be right there with them ready to gobble up all their antics (while complaining about how terrible politicians are).

How many times have you heard people say that they miss Moi because at least he was entertaining (folks who spent nightmarish times at Nyayo house will disagree…the amnesia problem again)?

And the elections will be upon us.

And we’ll spend another five years complaining about how nothing has changed.

A few days ago I read this post by Ethan. He links to this piece in the New York Times that is seeking the source of Africa’s “relentless optimism.” The author asks: “Where does such relentless optimism in the face of unyielding misery come from? One glance at the statistical profile of the continent’s 900 million people will tell you that Africans can expect to live the shortest lives, earn the lowest incomes and suffer some of the worst misrule on the planet. They are more likely than anyone on earth to bury their children before the age of 5, to become infected with H.I.V., to die from malaria and tuberculosis, to require food aid.”

I have no issues with the question, but like Ethan I’m bothered by the explanations she comes up with I think the crux of it is right there towards the end of her piece. She writes, “I was in search of a safe place to sleep in a perilous land. Mr. Mostapha, a minor town official, offered me what little hospitality he could: a patch of earth on which to sleep beneath the stars, a communal bowl of stew and porridge shared among all those assembled within his compound, a few cups of hot tea. Grateful for all, the next morning I thanked him for his hospitality.” In my experience, this kind of hospitality, kindness, and warmth exists nowhere else in the world - humanity or in Swahili utu is still an important value in Africa more so than your profession, your ideologies, your achievements etc. Maybe that is why we are so optimistic, we still believe in humanity, we place high value on the simple things, and we still find ways to enjoy life because at the end of the day it’s all you have (no matter where you are).

Does that make sense?

AOB: The EU cannot be giving us grief about fighting corruption while shielding shady European companies who are part of the corruption network at the same time…this is just wrong. Our ambassador in France should hold a press conference to condemn this

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4254430.stm

http://www.newstatesman.com/nssubsfilter.php3?newTemplate=NSArticle_NS&newDisplayURN=200509190007

- Geekcorps is looking for a few good geeks to work in Kenya.

- North Sea Jazz Festival coming to Nairobi next year. Neat.

- $100 laptop meets free wireless?