Kenyan Pundit

Details here.

Of course, there’s a lot of negatives like the effective absence of an opposition. But it gives the country some much-needed breathing space and I sincerely hope an opportunity for the hard work of rebuilding, healing, and creating a new political space to begin.

Popularity: 19% [?]

It is increasingly seeming like my worst fears will be confirmed, and the Annan mediation talks will become a long road to nowhere.

Frustrated as we are, I think it is important for us as Kenyans to keep trying to find ways to wrest the fate of our country from these two power-hungry individuals. You can play your part by doing what you can to support the peace building initiatives and aid effortsthat I have listed below. These efforts are more tangible than signing petitions, wearing bands, etc.

Lets demonstrate that there is a better way to do things and that unlike our leaders, we as Kenyans are ready to do the HARD work necessary to rebuild our country…talk is cheap. I also encourage you to circulate this list widely, especially to people in Kenya who are in position to do something but might not necessarily access my blog…some of these initiatives just need a show of support.

1. Operation Saving Baby Brian

2. Anyone interested in working with youth groups in Nairobi on sports, art, and music - drop me a line: kenyanpundit-at-gmail-dot-com

3. Media Producers are looking for peace stories about people who have shown bravery in looking for peace, these stories will be turned into 5 minute documentaries to be screened at Makutano Junction and elsewhere. If you have stories or can help find partners to air the stories drop me a line.

4. Korogocho has women netball teams and youth football associations that could use visits from groups who want to support their efforts. If you are interested, drop me a line.

5. Youth For Peace and Development: Does training young peace builders and does reconciliation talks in communities. Meetings at the Peacenet Offices in Nairobi every Monday at 11:00 am.

6. One Kenya One Nation: The Kenya Institute of Education is working on developing messages for school children. Meeting to be held on 3rd March 2008. If you are interested in participating, drop me a line (I think they could use help from those in the diaspora with an education/counseling background or resources).

7. Generation Kenya: A project whose mission is to showcase Kenyan achievements and Kenyan lives. Check out their mashujaa page to get inspired. You can submit your stories here.

8. If you are in the Coast, check out Pwani 4 Peace. They have been instrumental in helping keep Mombasa relatively calm where other big towns were on fire. They still need support.

EDIT: Tavia has just left a thought-provoking comment - “I agree that the stalemate is frustrating, but however tempting it will now be to reduce the political crisis to two power-hungry individuals, and to encourage a mass exit from political engagement into charity, development, and peace work, in my view that would only add to our challenges. On this point, I would suggest the excellent commentary of Sam Amadi, the “Kenyan Crisis and the Neo-Liberal Fallacy” available on allafrica.com: http://allafrica.com/stories/200802251378.html . Amadi argues that deemphasizing popular participation in politics, and instead grasping for technical and humanitarian quick fixes, is what prevents us from establishing lasting and workable democratic political structures.” My question then is what avenues do we have for popular participation? I have some thoughts on this train of thought but would love to hear your comments first .

Popularity: 20% [?]

Please let us introduce the Sundance Institute Theatre Program, one of America ’s leading programs supporting new writing for the stage. Based in Sundance, Utah (with offices in Los Angeles, California), as part of the Sundance Institute (www.sundance.org), its mission is to identify and assist emerging theatre artists, to reinvigorate the creative energies of established artists, and to encourage and support the development of new work for the American theatre. The Sundance model emphasizes development through professional mentorship within a supportive artistic community.

May 19-31, 2008, American theatre artists from the Sundance Institute Theatre Program are planning an exploratory visit to meet East African theatre artists and to explore a potential relationship of exchange between Sundance and East Africa . In order to learn more about the East African theatre community, we are thinking about several different kinds of interactions: a Public Meeting where we can meet all interested individuals; intimate artistic presentation exchange opportunities; individual meetings with interested artists; and select professional interactions with Sundance guest artists.

If you are interested in any of the above-mentioned interactions, we’d love to hear from you.

TO EXPRESS YOUR INTEREST: Please send, by email only, to theatreeastafrica@sundance.org:

1. a letter of interest

2. a résumé of your work in the theatre

3. 5 pages of theatrical writing

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS: March 1st

We will respond to your inquiry with updated information about our May visit after March 15th.

Our ultimate hopes for this exchange are three-fold: to expose American artists to the richness of theatrical expression from East Africa, to offer to our international colleagues a glimpse into the methodologies of play development at Sundance and to support theatre in East Africa . We very much want Sundance in East Africa to be borne out of the desires, hopes and vision of East Africans themselves. We hope over the coming years to create rich, deep and broad creative exchanges between East Africa and the United States .

Popularity: 18% [?]

The CCP Technical team had a meeting yesterday, 21st February 2008 discussing whether CCP should continue to exist (unanimous agreement on this) and if so how it should do so.

Various decisions were reached in the meeting including:

o Morning forum- meetings will now be held once a week on Friday’s from 830 a.m. to 1030 a.m. (subject to change on a need-to basis)

o Other CCP chapters have been formed and are moving to lobby and raise funds for CCP – accountability and transparency required in management of these funds

o CCP needs to engage more with the media

o CCP to strengthen its secretariat

o Engage in outreach, starting Wednesday 27th Feb

- Last Tuesday was international day of the Mother tongue. Kenyan writer spent time at Moi Forces Academy with the students, encouraged the students to appreciate their own and other people’s cultures and backgrounds.

- There is a meeting at Webuye Anglican Church targeting church leaders from Western Province (Mt Elgon, Vihiga, Emuhaya) on Tuesday 26th February 2008 at 10 a.m. Purpose of the meeting is to bring people together from different tribes to discuss peace.

- Last Wednesday, the scouts went to Kirathimo IDP camp and participated in a clean up. Plan to go to other areas but are hampered by lack of funds. Funds were raised during the meeting (Ksh. 2300/-) to enable the scouts go to Karura on Saturday and spread the spirit of hope and peace.

- The National Youth Violence Prevention week is being held from the 23rd February 2008- 1st March 2008. The goal of the week and the campaign is to support the Kenya National Dialogue and Reconciliation process by raising awareness and educating young people and the community on prevention of violence. A number of major events have been organised for this week including a ghetto-to-ghetto tour, in school dialogues, national youth forum for safer neighbourhoods, peace garden, peace run all culminating in a peace concert on the 1st March.

- LIKA: the Leadership Institute of Kenya continues to hold meetings in their offices on Kirichwa Road near Masaba Hospital. The meetings seek to show that Kenya is bigger than any single tribe and there is a need to harmonise and integrate each “nation” in order to create the feeling of Kenyan-hood. Comparisons were made with Tanzanian culture and questions raised such as has greed over-ridden Kenyan values so that we are governed by a monetary culture? There is a big challenge ahead; other areas that shall be explored in future meetings include; the language factor and marital unions. Meetings are held at 5 p.m every Tuesday.

- Women are planning to surround Serena in white to show solidarity with the Kenya National Dialogue and Reconciliation team and the need for peace in Kenya.

- A challenge was put out to the MP’s by one of the members asking whether mass action is the only means to achieve certain aims. Is there a less expensive and less controversial means to do the same?

- Further allegations of tribalism in IDP camps have been made, member who raised it has been asked to follow this up with the relevant authorities and the Kenya Red Cross to confirm its truthfulness or otherwise and ensure something is done about it, if it is true.

- CCP has been asked to participate in peace meetings in Dandora and Huruma to avert further crisis in the area.

Popularity: 16% [?]

Thanks everyone for sharing the 8-4-4 memories, you have me cracking up…and it’s a great reminder of what’s so fabulous about being Kenyan.

- Problems I’d like to have. Oh darling…do we really have to give up the Barcelonas…tehehe. Gosh I miss the self-indulgent aspects of living in the U.S. sometimes. I haven’t done much childproofing in my house besides latches in the kitchen cupboards where cleaning supplies are kept. I’m of the “I’ll chapa you!” and “Weh!” school of thought. So far so good.

- The church finally gets its act together in Kenya, read about the Msafara initiative and lend your support by either joining the trip or helping to purchase relief packs.

- Vuma Kenya makes the Boston Globe! The diaspora has been getting quite the negative shrift in Kenya as far as claims that they have been helping fan and sponsor the violence…so it’s important to show highlight the positive initiatives that are being carried out by those in the diaspora.

- Is your President Hot or Not?, interesting review of a book on voting systems.

Popularity: 21% [?]