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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.
Apologies for the lack of posts, been dealing with personal stuff (read drama).
So I’ve been thinking it’s time for a little break since the news is slow pending the outcome of the Annan negotiations. There’s all sorts of people complaining about “imposed” solutions,and foreign intervention, and “Kenyan solutions“, but the last time I checked we were achieving zero on our own as far as working towards a local solution for the crisis. Except for continued violence. That’s what we get for having leaders who are bozos…we have to be put in line by other guys. Do I think that ultimately whatever solution that is reached will have to have local legitimately? Of course. Do I think that ultimately the solution to the deeper problems that are underlying the crisis will have to be tackled by Kenyans? Absolutely. But I think it’s a bit rich for folks to be scoffing at the current international mediation (or bullying) efforts from the safety of their houses and their offices. Can anyone tell me where things were heading if Annan was treated as shoddily as Kufuor and others? Frankly, I think we are “lucky” in some ways to be a country that has some international goodwill remaining (hello Somalia?). It sucks, but it is what it is.
Oh, this was meant to be a mental break. Dammit.
OK, so a couple of days ago a few of us were cracking each other up with stories about our 8-4-4 projects. Those dreaded pyjamas, nyatitis, huts (the guys who built huts, pole…I went to Conso in Westlands and the biggest dilemma for the school admin was where to actually put the hut), woodwork (I can’t even remember what we built, but the woodwork teacher was a terror…apparently all woodwork teachers had “issues). My dad was old school, so he had banned that storo of having the housie shona your pyjamas and do your weaving (yes we had to weave a rug with some hideous loom, WTF?), not to mention that he was cheap (for good reason, school fees was expensive enough, and I really appreciate the sacrifice in retrospect but going to a posh school without the necessary accroutements was trying at times in that I’m-going-to-be-made-fun-of kind of way ). So my pyjamas were made from this material that was really for sewing machines, and I won’t even go into the story of the wool for the rug. You know that kind of cheap where the plastic for covering your books starts ripping apart as you are unfolding it? And when you FINALLY got an Oxford mathemetical set (and not the cheaper ka-red and gold one), it was accompanied with a fire and brimstone lecture on how you better not lose it? But he caved when we got to the nyatiti. Mine was made from by some Jua Kali guy in Kariokor.
So (presuming that some of the people who read this blog are 8-4-4 products) what were your “project” experiences?
(Notes were taken by Shalini, I’ve taken the liberty of categorizing them).
THE BAD NEWS
* Rain means the situation in the camps has badly deteriorated. Flooding leads to disease, there is nowhere to sleep, kids having to scoop water out of tents. Standards truly appalling. Who’s responsibility is the camps? Govt is standing by, and Red Cross doing much work, but is still patchy and accusations of partisanship are being loudly voiced.
* Concerns about partisan nature of aid by Red Cross. When Jamhuri Park was full of Kikuyu IDPs, aid was distributed very quickly. Now that other groups are there, Red Cross says there isn’t enough staff to cook food. When asked to provide unga etc for IDP’s to cook, they stalled. The National Alliance of Churches is now in there helping. In Tigoni, Luos were only provided with transport for themselves and had to leave all their possessions behind. Red Cross is saying it will only work in Govt approved camps. All camps in Rift Valley are approved, but camps in Central are full of others and have yet to be recognised by the Govt as camps, so supplies not going there. [For more on claims about bias in the treatment of IDPs, click here].
* MP’s raised political temperatures and are responsible for bringing them down. However there is evidence of hidden boardroom meetings, and continuous funding of violence by some MP’s. Any involved in this must be outed and anyone involved disqualified from any peace activities
* Bishop report from Bungoma – Kalenjin in the area are not just killing, but are mutilating their victims, cutting legs, arms, private parts, then beheading Luyha and Kikuyu. They are dying in painful de-humanised way. This is being funded by a parliamentarian, who is currently in the peace talks. Police are compromised. Up to today the area was cut off from Nairobi so couldn’t report on these atrocities. Army needs to come in to rescue and secure the area. Sitting MP’s are involved in elimination in the name of land defence. There is tangible evidence to support this. Community is also being instructed to continue violence using hand signals and sign language when these MPs appear on TV. Leaflets twice been dropped threatening clergy who have protected Kikuyus. Luyhas voted for ODM and are now being burned out by those they voted for. On other side of Mount Elgon in Uganda, all communities living happily together, so it possible to do same in Kenya!
PEACE EFFORTS
* Next meeting on Weds 13 Feb is to be on the published, signed agreements that came out of the Annan led peace negotiations. They are also attached. Please study them and come to the meeting with practical ways in which these promised can become enshrined and adhered to. Citizens must lead on this to ensure they don’t become spectators as these promises are broken.
* Retired General Humphrey Njoroge had 30 displaced people on his farm in Njoro. That has risen to 300 and he doesn’t have enough water in his borehole to cope. Asked if it was possible to provide a water tanker. Mike Eldon arranged for water, which should by now have arrived with them.
* On the farm, various military, aided by a few teachers are trying to school the children. There is a lot of concern countrywide about how kids are losing out on education in this crisis
* National Youth Violence Prevention Week is on 23Feb to 1 March. There will be a conference at KICC on 24.25 Feb with concerts, drummers, creative writing. A request has gone out for flowers to lay as a sign of peace, both in Uhuru park and at KICC
* CASAM organising a Valentine Peace March from Gatundu. They are also looking for flowers. They are meeting on Sunday with UN Human Rights and are collecting and encouraging IDP’s to share stories.
* Much strong feeling about MP’s and their role. They are due to be called back for a meeting tomorrow, Tuesday with Speaker of the House. While a few preach peace, citizens continue to be forced to move. Situation on the ground in their constituencies is not being addressed. When Uhuru went to speak to people, the violence did abate, so it is possible. Some MP’s are going to Central and Western in to help. Strong message needs to go to MP’s. Need to hear from them, they must actively involve themselves in ensuring diffusion of violence. Some want to work with CCP, because CCP has more credibility and less baggage than other organisations.
* A call for MP’s to give over their salaries for a month (since they are not working) has been re-issued. These can go towards helping those in need. Currently MP’s rushing for the CDF fund. They must be held to account for all their actions, including speeches inciting violence. Will we have a 10th parliament full of killers? MP’s have to stop what they helped to start.
* Meeting tomorrow, Tuesday 12th at the Leadership Institute Centre at 5pm, next to Masaba hospital to air deeper issues that have arisen from this crisis, that people are afraid to talk about. There is so much bitterness and stories being reported to the DC’s that are far grimmer than is being reported at the CCP meetings. Need to go beyond the obvious and produce a document about all of it. Critical to stop this cycle of violence. Would like to tailor also for use in primary and secondary schools to help alleviate some of the mental damage that will result in long term detriment in Kenya.
* On 14th Feb there is a meeting at Mathare’s chief’s camp to see IDP’s to engage kids in fun day. Books, crayons, paper are needed for children and white roses to symbolise peace. Everyone leaving from One Stop near Railways next to Easy Coach, so meet there.
* Zones of peace model continues to be rolled out. PC’s involved along with religious, business, FM radio stations. In Mombasa leaflets used to good effect to restore peace and get looters to return goods. Also football screens set up for Africa Cup of Nations used to show clip from Rwanda and ask the question “do you want Kenya to go that way.†Big collaborative effort. Once PC here was told about it, it took 2 days to get everyone together, and a week to sort funding and begin helping. In slums they responded quickly as follows: role of police (e.g. – if they use violence to attain peace nothing has worked), issues between tenants and landlords, youth, employment. WFP now involved. UNDP also training 200 young people to promote peace.
* Important to realise that current calm is not peace. Real peace takes more action and MP’s, community leaders, inciters all need to be held accountable. Judiciary must be engaged. Vital that those who killed and who funded killing face the consequences of their activity.
* There was strong criticism of how pastors had prevented or criticised members of their congregation if they went to a different church or service. Likewise those clergy who only prayed for either PNU or ODM, politicising the church. Inter-religious group plan to change that. Church leaders now beginning to meet. They have been very separate and also played a role n the violence. They need to get together and apologise to each other and their congregations. Meetings of different bishops already being convened – currently Western and Central, and Rift Valley and Central.
Fundraising event for Kenyans in NY: Kenyans in New York are organising a fundraiser aimed at helping the victims of the violence. We are fundraising specifically for Urgent Action fund which has a rapid response strategy and reaches out to victims of violence. Our focus is that the funds be used for post – exposure prophylaxis to prevent the spread of HIV.The Venue for the fundraiser will be at the LAVA GINA Club on Ave C between 7th and 8th St on Saturday Feb 23, 2008, from 9:00pm. A suggested donation of $10 will be collected. Online donations can be made through www.africanservices.org. Kindly Indicate that your donation is for the Kenya post-election crisis.
– Kenyans send their “Tips to Annan” via mobile video.
– All might be calm in Nairobi, but there are indications that the violence might be far from over elsewhere.
– In other news…interesting theory on why female leaders have a hard time. Karua’s politics aside, it’s been interesting to see how much admiration she’s getting from Kenyan men (who agree with her politics) because she has “balls” – I wonder where she’d fit in Kristoff’s analysis.
– TED Africa is coming to Cape Town this September, click here to register / apply for a fellowship…it’s going to be a fantastic event…hopefully my current dalliance with Afro-
BY STEPHEN PARTINGTON
Some friends say ‘Let us blog,
we’ll call it Kenyablog.’
They blog and blog and blog.
A member posts
‘This blog is tedious,
I’m gonna form a blog,
a blog called Lakeyblog
where Lakey types can blog.’
The rump of Kenyablog
rename themselves TheHighlandblog
and blog about the soil,
quite unaware that other Forestbloggers
formed another blog in which
the self-same soil is blogged about.
Now keen to keep the secrecy of blog,
the lively Lakeybloggers
shift to write in bubbles
while TheHighlandbloggers
only write in cones,
a sort of hieroglyphic oath,
each to his own, each to his
non-discursive moans
until the bubbles burst with anger
and the cones erupt with hate
and all are blogging-blogging-blogging,
typing keyboards with our pangas
blogging ‘Highlandbloggers suck’
and blogging ‘Lakeybloggers blow’
and blogging ‘Forestblogger mothers are all hoes’,
now blogging rumour blogging anger
blogging gossip blogging rancour.
Local fissures rip the WorldWideWeb
as bloggers blog their cyberfoes to death.
I had a uuum, visa mishap.
Relied on online site for visa information and didn’t notice that only “official” passport holders from Kenya as opposed to “ordinary” passport holders didn’t require a visa. I’ve been to Turkey several times when no visa was required so there was also a bit of ujuaji on my part.
I’m so bummed out! This conference was very important to me because I’m at a crossroads as to where to go with Mzalendo, Ushahidi, KP – I’m struggling to stay on top of that, other Kenya initiatives, work, mommyhood etc. and I need to make a call about where I’m going…Istanbul was meant to clarify that by giving me the opportunity to bounce ideas of friends and experts in areas I’m working on and also give a number of us who are involved with Ushahidi the opportunity to work on strengthening it.
Next time I’ll remember to do things the old-fashioned way, pick up the phone. The silver lining, no time away from the family…I always hate leaving them behind. And maybe I just need to do the hard thinking myself.
[I’m off to Istanbul for a digital activism conference, will probably be offline till Friday. The post below has lots of opportunities where people can help, please contact those listed directly or send me an email – kenyanpundit-at-gmail if you want to help]
BY SHALINI
* A Kenya map, littered with yellow post it notes pointed to areas here people have volunteered to work to help those in need. It will also be circulated by email. Some funds from IDRC will go towards transport for those trying to get to destinations. Central and Nairobi well covered. Need more volunteers to go to Mombasa and Rift Valley. There are linkages with Peacenet and with organisations on the ground to help facilitate trips. Anyone keen? Contact Mercy on mercy_gichangi@yahoo.com
* CEO forum. About 300 people attended. Speech made by Kofi Annan (multi-part agenda for corporate to offset the negative aspects of globalisation. Also South African High commissioner who said a) politicians don’t have people’s interest at heart (in general worldwide), b)They must be told what they don’t want to hear and c) Private sector has very big muscles. Flex them. Psychiatrist Frank Njenga spoke about how Kenya society is socialised to accept violence in the home and said neglected groups (police, journos, politicians(!!) need help. A draft resolution was adopted by CEO forum which demanded (rather than their previous use of urge – they were buoyed by SA high commissioners speech), to be a major player in sorting out peace.
* Bata is considering closing as it is unable to sustain itself. Suggested we all buy Bata to help and that aspirants for Limuru should go with press there to highlight how the unrest is affecting some industries. Mediation team should also include such visits in their itineraries
* Couples valentine plots being hatched for Feb 14th. Idea to spread flowers all over Uhuru Park. Suggestion however that it would be better to reach other areas, such as slums and to take flour (unga) instead/as well as flowers so as to be more useful. More on that as it emerges. Also whole of DFID laid flowers. Contact 0722 364629 for more info
* Nation ran a scathing piece about CCP taking water to the police at Uhuru Park and accused CCP of doing it just for picture value and ignoring the problems those who really need help. CCP aims to be more balanced in future with such initiatives but acknowledges cannot cover everyone with each gesture of help.
* Brand Kenya – group of organisations that came up with ways to create an identity for Kenya products. They are organising a blood drive due to chronic shortages countrywide, along with a campaign to highlight then when sick, nobody takes account of which tribe blood comes from, just that it is there. Launch is at Bombsite (former American embassy at 10am tomorrow) People can give blood from 10am to 5pm until Saturday at Bombsite, Mama Ngina Street and Kencom bus station. So please go along and drop off a pint.
* Formalisation of CCP as an organisation that can raise funds continues. The technical committee still meeting to work out core proposals. No objections made to draft documents.
* Meeting was held at Dagoretti with DC. This was a follow up to last week’s PC meeting and aimed to put structures in place to help with admin, security and peace messages. Committees being formed for Nairobi and the initiatives on the ground are going to meet to prevent duplication, as there are many organisations. Civil society still wary of working with govt though.
* Rape in camps – this is a problem. Dept of Reproductive Health is trying to get counsellors on the ground – They need about 1000, and have only 400 so far. Anyone who can help, please get in touch with Auxilia on 0736 587408
* We have been chucked out of the Serena Hotel! Boo, hiss at their mercenary money motives! Basically they wouldn’t give us a larger room at same price (a discounted 7500/=) and then moved the UN into our meeting room from this Friday. I spoke to GM Mark Gathuri who explained what a great favour he was doing to have reduced the rate before, and moaned about loss of business. He had nothing to say about civic duty in this time of need. Anyone fancy a little story for the papers on this? You can contact Serena on 2822000. The CCP meeting on Friday has moved to All Saints Cathedral, NP8 Room 4 for Friday. No tea sadly as it is lent and they are fasting. Any help with a new venue close to Serena (so that meetings with Annans and similar high-ups can be easily reached now that traffic is back to normal levels) is welcomed.
* Moi Uni opening on Friday. Concern about maintaining peace. Talks to be held, but security needed also to accompany students to campus. 120,000/= needed. Dr Kinanjuyi is going to try to raise the Vice Chancellor Bethwell Ogot for the funds, as volunteers have been unable to raise him. Kenya Pipeline also contacted and student leaders. Plan to put a peace corner into the university.
* The varied youth projects need funding – eg transport for youth leaders to a meeting at All Saints on Saturday to meet with media. Also for people attending the peace football match at Mathare on Saturday.
* Doreen Ruto is training youth also to be councillors to take their skills to their respective areas
* National Youth Violence Protection Week. 800 young people (mostly scouts) met with UN Habitat and laid flowers at the UN. There will also be a peace messages at Founders day 21-24 Feb in Nyeri. Scouts are helping in the IDP camps in Tigoni, Nakuru and Jamhuri to pitch tents, crowd control and assisting in registration. Funds have been requested internationally.
* Mombasa model of keeping peace, which involves close co-operation of faiths, business, local govt etc is being implemented here. There’s a need to have peace and security committees in every area.
* A serious look at deep seated issues especially land policy is necessary to stem the violence.
* Critical to recognise the youth factor in elections and also in society as a whole. They must be able to access income. Criminal subcultures need to be dismantled and alternatives provided for young people.
* 30 days of CCP meetings have passed. A diary with photos, news stories, achievements, details will be put together. What would we like to say about CKW. Deadline is Friday for this. (short piece of 300 words)
* Soiya Gecaga is to arrange an event in UK to create awareness and funds. And possibly a UK chapter of CCP. Also Bethwell Kiplagat is in Nigeria currently and may initiate a Nigerian chapter – its going global!
* Update put together on current media possibilities through ICRC and Mediae trust to use Makutano Junction, Radio, TV, billboards, sms to disseminate messages. What can we do to contribute to this? Funding is available and more to be got from DFID.
– The ban on live media broadcasts has been lifted. I’m really finding hard to see what it achieved….wouldn’t it just have been easier to go after individual broadcasters who were inciting violence if that was the main concern?
– Haiya, I thought this story was just another nai-rumor when it was doing the SMS rounds. I’ll start taking rumors a bit more seriously now  I can confirm that Murage was indeed given marching orders by Lucy for taking it upon himself to negotiate with Kufour on behalf of State House (when the ‘baks was still dithering) and then injecting himself into the World Bank / Colin Bruce memo fiasco.
– I was being interviewed a couple days ago about my hardline stance on my crappy local coverage of the crisis in Kenya has been, I still think the coverage has been crappy but I’m reminded of some exceptions – I hear K24 has been doing a good job of at least reporting on the facts and going a bit deeper, I also acknowledge that it might be difficult for local journalists (vs. international journalists) to report from some areas depending on their ethnicity.
– Why is Jirongo the only one doing this? And yes, I am surprised to see Jirongo stepping up…Kenyan politics is strange that way. That “we can’t go back to our people without a message on how things will be resolved” excuse is bullshit. I’ve heard/read several stories over the last few days about how lives have been saved and temperatures cooled just by talking to people. Uhuru was in Kikuyu and Tigoni cooling temperatures, which were very hot over the weekend (although he’s also doing other shady things which will be blogged about at some point…the goings on in Kenya are really just exasperating). Can these MPs get out of Serena and go talk to their constituents? Maybe if Serena / Nakumatt Junction was attacked, or teargassed? I’m working hard on getting contact info for the new Parliament up on Mzalendo over the next few days so that people can petition them directly for action. Not sure it will help much but every little bit counts.
– As I reported before, David Kobia has shut down the Mashada forums due to all the hate speech that was going on there. He is instead redirecting Mashada users to a great new initiative, I Have No Tribe – where people are posting their thoughts on tribe and what it means to them.
– The tough road ahead when this is all over.
Finally, this quote has been repeated in lots of places: “Let Annan do his bit but there’s going to be no resolution. The clashes will continue,” a youth manning a roadblock near the town, who gave his name as Lefty, told the agency. This is what worries me…the politicians have unleashed something that might be impossible to quell. It’s easy for us to sit and pontificate and ask how can they, but we are missing something. Two must reads on the role of Lefty/the youth, their long persistent disenfranchisement, and the dangerous sense of empowerment they are getting from killing and burning with impunity are here and here.
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