A bedazzled slave looking for a new Massa.
A sad sight to behold. No wonder that there is no progress in sight, with such an attitude.

Osas

I think, however, its telling to see that many of the MPs in these countries are getting replaced. Which tells me that democracy is indeed taking root across the continent but that its stopping short of the presidency.

I think we have come a long way in Kenya and that the newly expanded middle class is going to be key to democracy reaching the top.

One major challenge I see is that this middle class, and the working classes that took to the streets with pangas etc are lacking effective direction. I see the current crisis in Kenya as a moment that is ripe for change but we are unfortunate in our lack of committed and truly progressive leadership.

With appologies to R.O’s supporters, I think the last month has revealed serious weaknesses in his democratic credentials. And we all know Kibaki stopped offering that hope years ago.
Question is where do we look now? Githongo? Kiai? PLO?
around whom can we rally?

Boil a missionary in your cauldron if you must, Sijui, but please leave fellow Kenyan brothers and sisters unharmed. And keep your mouth shut.

Osas

I also agree with Shiroh’s implied statement, the ECK acted on their own, as is often said by our beloved, leaders, “Africans are not ready for democracy”.

Maybe we need more workshops, and, training in how to run an honest election. The training we got was on how to run an election, not on how to run an honest election.

One thing I particularly like about the aftermath of the Kenyan election is that the average low income mwananchi fought back, and in my opinion they fought less for their civic freedoms……I think that is obvious by the nature of the blood letting………but more for their naked self interest, as blatantly parochial and regressive as that might be. I now have far more respect for people acting on their suspicions and resentments than the cowardly, complacent and self absorbed ‘middle class’. And I don’t want to make the mistake of painting the ENTIRE Kenyan middle class with the same brush, that would be dishonest and clearly there are many who fought the good fight however my point is, things would not have changed HAD THE VAST MAJORITY of the working class and low income not brandished their pangas.

And yes, Kenya has come to the point where disputes will have to be settled violently. I’m glad the average mwanachi has disavowed the pretense of a stable, functional society. And are dealing with the ethnic, social and political fissures head on, albeit violently and disastrously…..atleast they’re dealing with them and don’t have their head up their arses.

My personal position on all of this is let the chips fall where they may, and let’s all be forced to dealing with the price of stitching back together a disintegrating country.

P.S. I’m glad Zimbabweans got their balls back…..sorry if this offends anyone…….but I remain unimpressed with their determination to rid themselves of tyranny, I believe KENYA WOKE THEM UP! The extent that people were willing to go (including killing their own neighbors) for a sense of electoral justice.

Africa cannot feed its people. It cannot educate its people. It cannot treat its people. It cannot govern itself.

As a friend of mine suggested in class yesterday….. may be the entire continent should be put under UN receivership until it gets its act together. May be then we can get rid of the Mugabes, Obiangs and Zenawis that make living in Africa hell on earth.