If we are a failed state help us build it… stop the noise!

There is a lot of noise on Kenya not doing anything right. And it is noise that I am so tired of hearing. My humble opinion is that Kenya is not doing as badly as some people want to portray us. We have a long way to go but we are getting there.

The international community seems to think we are such a failed nation more often than not pouring money to encourage NGOs to push the government. And this is the source of the pollution that is leaving the country with no focus.

Yes, a lot is to be done in the same way that a lot is being done. We are reforming various institutions in this country and my take is that we have done pretty well.

Look at parliament that could be silence by a single statement in the past. It has now become a major beacon of hope for this country due to the reforms, some of which however have made it dictatorial.

A draft constitution will be published in the second week of November and I believe Kenyans will have a good 30 days to discuss it and arrive at a consensus.

Registration of voters starts next months and the interim electoral commission is planning to automate things including introduction of electronic voting.

The boundaries commission, the TJRC and the national cohesion teams are up and walking if not running.America, EU and the rest should give Kenyans the space to complete this reforms.

As I have argued before, reform is not about removing individuals from certain positions and replacing them with others. Did we not record cases of electoral malpractices in the August by-elections even after kicking Kivuitu and company out after the disputed 2007 elections?

Instead of giving NGOs money to continue making noise over nothing, help this country feed itself. Help it build its infrastructure. Offer its traders favourable markets. Lift those travel advisories so that tourism grows if you really want this country to be stable.

Even as you argue the major problem in Kenya is governance, you must realise that it is struggling like any third world country. Struggling to have proper roads and hospitals. Struggling to fight poverty. Struggling to fight impunity and corruption.

You can advice us, but do not rub it on us!

I am just a Man

You want me to always help you up
Even when I am laying next to you
You want I to always shoulder all your burdens
Even those that are you own making

But then, I am just a Man

You want me to always shield you from the sun
And want me to cover you from the rain
You want me to always wipe your tears
Even when you know I can drown in them

But then, I am just a Man

I want to always be your anchor
Guarding you from the violent waves
I want to always make you laugh
Even when the ground opens up to swallow you

But then, I am just a Man

I want to always answer when you call
Even when my own troubles weigh me down
I want to make life easier for you
So that you can live a fulfilling one

But then, I am just a man

Every day I want to do more for you my friend
Yet I can only do so much
Because, I am just a Man

© Oliver Mathenge, October 2009
http://www.olivermwandishi.tk
http://waandishi.ning.com/profile/OliverMathenge

Now that you have pushed Ringera out, reform KACC!

I would hate to be the person who replaces Aaron Ringera at KACC even with the tempting Sh2.5 million monthly salary. The same mob that has today lynched a man who has done his job, would come baying for my blood.

Yes, I said he has done his work because I am not here to push propaganda. He investigated, listed them but who is he to prosecute – that’s another person’s job.

Our MPs may have managed to push Ringera out, but the current system is not likely to help the fight against corruption in Kenya. My hope – which will die off going by the shenanigans in that August house – is that the MPs will use the same amount of energy to reform KACC.

Currently, its like employing an unarmed guard at your fence-less home. KACC remains a toothless dog even as Ringera exits and unless parliament acts to change this, whoever comes next will perform non better than him.

I will not be surprised if MPs turn their attention on another individual as a way of settling scores with the government instead of reforming this important institution. I wouldn’t mind if they turned the battle on Attorney general Amos Wako who is catalyst beginning of Kenya’s corruption culture.

Corruption remains a major obstacle in Kenya – keeping at bay would be investors while hurting the economy. Corruption has denied Kenyans essential services and must be fought not for political reasons but for the sake of the country.

Are we really doing that badly?

For one week now, we have been taken through a circus of a big brother claiming how we are doing badly as Kenya. Obama thinks that some people under Kibaki and Raila are slowing down reforms in the country.

So people, even those who were in charge of those reforms not so long ago think that Obama and his cronies are right. I beg to differ with both the opposition powers int he country and the Americans – and I am no government spokesman.

Having actively covered the reform agenda since last year, I am of the opinion that Kenya is doing it better than anyone else can.

I could take those with a different opinion through the steps that the country has taken to put in reforms aimed at ensuring that we regain our position as a leading African country. However,  I would rather spare you the agony as the writing is on the wall.

Almost a year ago, I wrote in the ‘Forgotten Agenda’ and I can now report that I feel confident that the country has made great strides. Reform is about institution that is clearly been done through the Interim Independent Electoral Commission, the Committee of Experts on the Constitution Review among others.

Reform is not about removing individuals from certain positions and replacing them with others. Did we not record cases of electoral malpractices even after kicking Kivuitu and company out after the disputed 2007 elections?

I acknowledge that core issues such as poverty are yet to be adequately addressed. But at the same time, how comes, everyday we read in the newspapers or watch on television, Kenyans who are using the little they have to create more.

Kenyans are feeding themselves and others from small portions of land. Zero grazing has become an option as drought continues to persist in the country. Domestic irrigation too has become an option as people look for new ways to feed their families and relatives.

My humble opinion is that Kenya is not doing as badly as some people want to portray us. We have a long way to go but we are getting there. But political rivalry is blocking our view from the good that is happening.

Even as we blame the government, we have failed as Kenyans in ensuring that we are part of the change we want to see. For instance, only 12,000 Kenyans gave written view to the experts putting together the new constitution and we dare say that our views have not been taken into account.

As a country, we must raise our optimism and avoid been lied to that we are doing nothing. We must stand up to detractors who are out to ensure that they will be singing; “we told you!” if things go wrong in the future!

No more Pledges, Plans or Strategies, Please!

Today, August 19, marked the launch of the Prime Minister’s strategic plan in Kenya and the country’s Economic Stimulus programme.

As usual, it was pomp and colour as taxpayers’ money financed another ambitious plan to turn around the country’s fortunes. The country was witnessing another strategy document launched and hope that it may not turn into another white  elephant.

In 2003, we had the Economic Strategy for Wealth and Employment Creation of 2003 -2007 which outlined Kenya’s development priorities. The number of people living under a dollar a day in Kenya has increased in the last 2 years that this strategy expired.

We were told that the economy had grown from a negative in 2002 to 7 per cent in 2007. However, this economic growth has come with a higher cost of living – unaffordable housing, high food prices and high energy cost.

As a result, the economy cannot absorb as many graduates as our institutions are producing in any year and the number of jobless Kenyans has increased over the years.

The government did not stop at the 2003 strategy and last year went on to launch its blueprint, Vision 2030. Its main objective is to turn Kenya into a a middle-class economy by the year 2030.

But the road to this vision is still hazy as corruption, poor implementation of projects coupled with climate change and the global financial crisis cloud it.

In June this year, the government rolled out a multi-billion public expenditure plan it hopes will pull the economy out of its deepest plunge in 20 years, restore food security and reduce inflationary pressure that has cut consumer purchasing power by nearly one third in the past 15 months.

The Sh40 billion plan, whose details President Kibaki unveiled in his Madaraka Day speech, will see the government spend close to Sh20 billion on infrastructure projects contained in Phase One of the economic blueprint Vision 2030, support agriculture and establish special economic zones to boost the country’s export earnings.

And now we have the PM’s Economic Stimulus Programme July 2009 – December 2009. There is no problem in having plans. We all do make them and even support fully the government efforts.

The point is to put them into action and have them properly implemented. While we appreciate the good roads that we see to day, they will never make sense too use them to transport our produce to factories that do not have electricity.

The government must go beyond this rhetoric and paperwork. Do not talk of industrialisation when the cost of doing business  in Kenya remains up there and expect me to invest my money here.

What is the use of putting up digital villages in every constituency while we are still struggling with putting together a power plan for the country?

Do not produce more food through irrigation if the citizenry cannot even afford whatever little that is there.

Unless the cost of living and that of doing business in Kenya is drastically brought down all these strategies will go to waste and will remain government paper.

Why the two principals do not deserve that title!

On July31, President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga betrayed the millions of Kenyans who put them in those positions. The failed to successively defend their agreement and ensure that they offered leadership to the country.

They allowed their ministers to arm-twist them into giving the international community an opportunity to call Kenya a failed state. The two backtracked on their promise to Kenyans that they would do all they can to help fight impunity.

On December 16 last year, the two so called principals signed an agreement on the implementation of the recommendations of the Waki Report. The agreement bearing the signature of President Kibaki and that of Prime Minister Raila Odinga is divided into six articles.

Article one clear states that the two agreed to establish the Special Tribunal for Kenya to try post-election violence suspects. What more evidence does one need that these two fellows do not deserve to be at the helm of this government?

Article two says that they would lobby parliament towards the enactment of the Freedom of Information Bill and take such administrative measures as may be necessary to fully operationalise the Witness Protection Act and the International Crimes Act. The law on the freedom of information is yet to be enacted and the the other Acts are  yet to be operationalised.

Article three called on the comprehensive reform of the Kenya Police and Administration Police. A task force on the same has finalised their work and we will have to wait and see where the government heads on this one. We expect an independent Police Service Commission  and an Independent Police Conduct Authority as stipulated in the agreement.

Under Article four, the two leaders agreed that they shall ensure that any person holding public office or any public servant charged with a criminal offence related to 2008 post-election violence shall be suspended from duty until the matter is fully adjudicated upon. They also promised that they shall ensure that any person convicted of a post-election violence offence is barred from holding any public office or contesting any electoral position.

Under Article five, Mr Kibaki and Mr Odinga committed themselves to ensuring that the Conflict and Disaster Early Warning and Response Systems as articulated in the First Medium Term Plan (2008-2012) are developed and implemented as a matter of priority. Well we are always moving in late in all aspects including launching disaster appeals for food and water like it is happening today.

Article six on the was on setting up of a framework for implementation of the agreement.

The short of this is that the two have failed in showing leadership. The two must rise to the occasion and save this country or they will be remembered as the two leaders who burnt Kenya.

2012: Agwambo’s last chance to become a statesman

Prime Minister Raila Odinga

The grapevine is pointing to a 2012 Kenyan presidential race minus Prime Minister Raila Odinga. The move will definitely break the hearts of many of his followers but there lies a silver-lining for the man who was set to be Kenya’s fourth president after the 2007 bungled elections.

Kenya, like a large number of African countries, lacks a statesman. The next election remains Mr Odinga’s most viable chance to take up this enviable role. That is if he convinces his supporters that he does not have to be president to influence the direction that the country takes in the coming years.

As a statesman, Mr Odinga will have a chance to help redeem the country’s image which has been tainted by leaders who want to stay in power for years to end. President Kibaki had the chance in 2007 since he had promised his supporters in the political arena that he would serve a single term and retire to Othaya to look after his tea and coffee.

Kenya needs a leader who will influence the country’s agenda from outside government. A leader who both the citizenry and the government can look up to for counsel as has been the case of South Africa’s Nelson Mandela. Mr Odinga has the chance to take up this role in 2012.

My conviction is driven by the fact that in the last six months, the PM has stood out to be a man of principal who is ready to look beyond what his political cronies are saying. He has made it clear that he is ready to move alone as long as this will be for the benefit of the larger Kenyan public.

I believe a large number of the close to 40 million Kenyans are ready to support Mr Odinga if he chooses to take this path and save this country. Kenyans have lost their faith in the political system and wish to have a leader who can influence the restructuring of the country’s institutions.

Who better to lead that cause than Mr Odinga who has served in both the Moi and Kibaki governments and understands fully how the opposition works in the country.

A statesman in the face of Raila Odinga is what Kenya needs to advance democratically and economically after the death of the excuse of a government the country has as the grand coalition.

We need a working government!

On Tuesday night a Kenyan TV  station asked a rather tired question during its 9pm prime news. And the response was obvious – a majority of Kenyans would rather do without the current government.  But two of us – Wakasa and I – disagreed and said we would rather have a working government than replace the current one.

The flow of thought is simple. Most of us feel that the government has totally failed and should be done away with. We feel it is the government’s fault that we do not have enough food, energy and water. We feel it is there fault the they call Cabinet meetings to discuss post-election violence instead of focusing on the issues that really affect this country currently.

However, I do have a different thought to sell. We have failed institutions – police, judiciary, civil service, ,electoral commission etc – and things will not be different even if we put in place a new government. My thinking therefore is that we need a government that works even before thinking of replacing the one we have.

A government must be able to operate fully, effectively and efficiently regardless of the individuals taking up the different positions. Government institutions must be able to withstand the change of guard and unless we make this possible we will sit back and watch as dysfunctional governments come and go.

I bleed, I am lost, I breath no more

I bleed, I am lost, I breath no more
Holding my breathe, just as I did before
They cheat, they cry
Pretending they try

I blame me for I listened
Acting on what they said
That they would make everything right
That they would keep all in sight

Now they call me a nag
I appear they hide their flag
Yet I am asking for my right
A right that makes my life light

Will I ever learn
I made my neighbour run
No one to share in my sorrow
That which makes my spirit wallow

Yet today I whet my arrow
Ready to hound my neighbour tomorrow
Why don’t I hunt them down
Them that drained life out of town

Them that I feed while I am hungry
Leaving my famished family angry
Them that make the laws
Laws that never arrests their flaws

Flaws that leave the country naked
Naked to reality that can’t be faked
Yet tomorrow I listen
To the slur that leaves me beaten

And then I chase my neighbour
Who previously I run to his shoulder
The day after I bleed like before
I am lost, I breath no more

I have beef with the media (I included)!

I am in a very foul mood today because my work and that of my colleagues in the media is failing this country. Kenya is in the verge of drowning in four major crises that threaten the peace and stability of the country.

The country is faced with an energy crisis, a food crisis, a security crisis and water crisis. But as usual, unless a Kenyans start losing their lives, the media remains quiet about it.

There is looming energy crisis that at the end of it all will lead to a collapse of several other sectors. This crisis is set to make the country’s food crisis even worse as drought continues and the cost of food production.

The power plant dams along the Tana River are drying up and doing so fast. Yet, the country’s forest cover continues to be depleted by the day – currently standing at less than 1.5 per cent. No one – the media included – seems to be buying the idea of green energy even as experts indicate that’s where the solution lies.

A lot of the country’s production in all major sectors relies on energy in particular electricity – 75 per cent of it being hydro.

The rains have failed, more rivers are drying up and the crop production in the country is set to decrease drastically in the coming months. The October rains may also fail as the environment continues to be degraded.

A hungry lot is an angry one. Kenya should expect civil protests due to a rising cost of living. The rate of crime is already on an upward movement. But it is set to be worse as time goes by – as Kenyans become impatient.

The beef I have with the media, is that we remain silent and when we do anything about it, we never put it in perspective. As the fourth estate, as a watchdog of the people the media must rise to the occasion and help Kenyans come up with solutions to this problems.

It about opening debate as we have done with who should replace Muthaura, why Kenya should silence the Al-Shabab, Whether it is a local tribunal or The Hague…!

It is time the media got down to work!

Being from the ‘right family’ killing Kenya’s democracy

So in the last week two Kenyan women trounced men to inherit leadership positions left behind by their next of kin. It is appreciated that the people of Sotik and Bomet had the right of choice between the men and the women.

But in the same breath, it is greatly regrettable that the two are now honorables by the mere fact that they were related to their predecessors. More disturbing is calls for their appointment to cabinet regardless of their qualification or lack of it.

Though not a new phenomenon, Kenyans have every reason to fight political inheritance. It is an issue that has the potential to cripple the country’s democracy and erode all gains made thereof. It is now emerging that you have to belong to the right family or the right party for you to have any prospects of being a leader in Kenya.

Political inheritance blocks potential leaders by the mere fact that they do not belong to the “right” family. And since politics has been used as a platform for accumulating wealth, the main goal of the inheritor is the security of the family coffers as well as accumulating more. And Kenyans wonder why the country remains ‘the land of ten millionaires and ten million beggars’.

As mentioned earlier this is not the first time that political leadership in the country is being passed around in the same families. What amazes many is that the voters do not seem to see anything wrong with the issues as long as the seat remains in the “right” family.

Just because someone belongs to the family of the former leader does not guarantee delivery of service to whatever community they belong to. As it has rightly been the tradition in the country, whatever community resource that the leader may have in their control at the most benefits their extended family and those connected.

Political leadership must remain competitive if the country respects any aspect of democracy. It remains a fallacy for Kenyans to continue thinking that they will benefit from anything once one of their own is at the helm.

Why Karua’s presidential bid misplaced

Some obvious silence has befallen the highly criticized 2012 presidential bid of one Martha Wangari Karua lately. The move by the justice minister did not augur well with many especially her counterparts from Central Kenya. Basic reason (other than it is four years to the next election) being that when making such a decision one usually consults widely especially in their home area.

I have never been a fan of Ms Karua and do not think will be as I think she is wasting valuable time telling us more about her bid than matters concerning her responsibilities. I have great respect for her efforts to bring the country together earlier in the year but it is just that. I have several reasons for taking this position.

First, her bid can be interpreted to mean that she is not committed to one of her office’s responsibility – a new constitution dispensation for this country. How can she convince Kenyans that she is committed to this course when she is already preparing herself to bid for the country’s most powerful position by the current constitution. So, one question begs , “Under which constitution is Ms Karua biding her presidency on?”

Kenyans may (if the constitution reforms ever take off) decide that they want a parliamentary system of governance. Where would this leave our pacesetter? My advice for the minister is to first give us a new constitution then we can chart the way forward.

Secondly, I attended the launch of ‘product martha karua 2012′ in the form of a website sometime back. Before I get to the point allow me to give my humble opinion that the website cannot sell any product. From my judgment Ms Karua failed to pull in the basic support of numbers with only two MPs from her Narc Kenya party attending. The rest were basically close friends and relatives (judging from the conversations).

Lastly, in the event that things remain as they are, election in 2012 under the current constitution, a Kalonzo – Uhuru alliance will definitely work against Ms Karua.

So, Ms Karua gunning for the presidency has never been a one man show and not especially now that the country is seeking legal and institutional reforms that fall under your docket.

We asked Waki to lift the lid; time to clean up the mess!

A lot of opinion on the all-important Waki report on post election violence has been floated over the last couple of days. I have even participated in the coming up with newspaper reports on the document’s content in the name of giving the public an easy read.

My observation, however, is that even as people continue throwing the opinions many are yet to read the report either fully or partially. I could draw numerous examples of biases that have hit the newsstands since Thursday, a day after the report was handed over to the country’s top leadership.

Therefore, I waited until I had read the entire report, word for word, to throw in a few lines on it. Today, I just give my opinion on the issue of the dealing with the suspects. In a short while I will give my opinion on the report’s findings and recommendation on the security agencies.

However, before I give my take on why we have no other option other than implement this report I pose the following; Why is it that we are so quick to dismiss the likelihood of the implementation of the report judging from history? Kenyans have tolerated the culture of impunity so why hasn’t anyone told off leaders who claim that the violence was all about the ‘stolen election’? A lot has been said about the violence in Nakuru and Naivasha but why aren’t we saying that the report says that this were reiteration attacks? And what about the violence in the rest of Rift Valley and Western Kenya?

Unlike other journalists and commentators, (including Donald Kipkorir in his piece in the Saturday Nation and Mutahi Ngunyi in today’s Sunday Nation), I think the Waki report and the famous sealed envelope are the best things since Jelimo’s jackpot win.

Following the violence rocked the country before the election (the report clearly states this) and escalated after the announcement of the presidential results we formed a commission of inquiry to look into it. We appointed commissioners led by a Kenyan who like all of us was affected by the chaos in one way or another and gave them a clear job description.

Commission’s first term of reference was to investigate the facts relating to the post-election violence. An important part of that investigation is to identify who planned, organised, facilitated, and committed egregious human rights violations.

So why are Kenyans behaving as if the country expected anything short of what the report give?

In respect to the rule of law and even the simplest of the laws of natural justice, those behind the attacks and the reiterations that followed must be brought to book. This is the only way that Kenya can deal with political impunity.

Those who are pessimistic about the report’s implementation must remember that the commission was borne out of an international agreement between President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga. The two men remain the centre of focus as the world awaits the implementation.

It is in the respect of this international obligation of the two leaders that Justice Waki cleverly ensured that in case the local systems failed then international systems would apply.

Consequently, when the two sign an agreement authorising the setting up a tribunal in the next 60 days the stage will be set and parliament will have little choice but to pass the required laws. The truth is that the implementation touches the cream of the grand coalition government but with 2012 still in the eyes of most legislators, this is the time to score among voters.

Politically, MPs who are not likely to be affected by this report will definitely stand to be counted on this for two reasons. One, they may finally be able to join the cabinet to replace those implicated. Secondly, our MPs (like all other Kenyans) are scared that if the envelope goes to The Hague, the repercussions may be stiffer than a locally assembled tribunal.

The other major reason why the MPs will (and they must) set the ground for the implementation of the report is that majority of the public will expect them to deal with the issues that caused the violence. The Waki report repeats many issues that Kenyans have complained about over the years – negative ethnicity, inequality, corruption, the presidency, constitutional reforms, institutional reforms (security and judicial).

Kenyan leaders now have every reason and ground to deal with these pertinent issues comprehensively. Due to our ethnic inclinations, we may witness a series of reactions (physical or otherwise) with some communities feeling that they are being targeted.

But the magnitude of this will never measure to what we saw in January or what we may see after the next election if we fail to institute the necessary reforms. Moreover, the shame now associated with attacks on others due to their political or ethnic inclination will keep most away from such events.

However, we must continue pressurizing the country’s leadership and shape the public opinion to ensure that the report is implemented fully. According to the report, the president and the PM have until December 17 to ensure that an agreement on the setting up of the tribunal is in place.

Parliament is then expected to enact a Statute for the Special Tribunal come into force within 45 days (by January 30, 2009) after the signing of the agreement. It is President Kibaki in consultation with Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Chief Justice Evan Gicheru, Justice Minister Martha Karua and Attorney-General Amos Wako who will set the date the tribunal will start its work within 30 days (March 1, 2009) after the presidential assent to the Bill enacting the statute.

If either an agreement for the establishment of the tribunal is not signed, or the statute fails to be enacted, or the tribunal fails to start work, or its functions subverted after starting, the list of suspects behind the chaos will be forwarded to the International Criminal Court.

A word to the Nairobi Eve

I choose to move against the wave and write on something that may make me wear stunners as I walk around Nairobi from this evening.

Well, for the last few weeks it has either been about Obama, Waki or Kriegler and now the highly expected demolition along Thika Road. I am tempted to tackle all of these topics especially the last one but I think they are over done.

There is one character in modern day Kenya referred to as the Nairobi Eve. The term has been used to refer to a woman who had been cultured into the city life, mostly from a tender age. However, the Nairobi Eve can be used to refer to even those who have come to the city and are now part of the system.

The Nairobi Eve has been termed as complex, sophisticated, one who loves partying and is not ready to settle down into a responsible wife and mother. This may be overrated but my brothers cannot fail but attach this tags to the Nairobi Eve.

I have chosen to give free counsel to the Nairobi Eve in case when she is still finding it hard to be taken seriously by my brothers.

Dress Right! To begin with, how you dress whether you are just loitering, in the office or busy shaking it in the club matters a lot. It is the first thing that sets your apart from the Nairobi Eve. Men are selfish! They want an exclusive display of skin not one that has been stared at the whole day. A well groomed man falling for a rugged you can only be in your dreams after an overdose of Mexican soaps. Keep yourself well groomed.

Size matters! First because no man wants to sleep squeezed to less than a third of the bed. Imagine how it would be when your two year old son has had nightmares and must share the bed with the two of you for the rest of your night! Then again, men want flesh on those bones – so keep those slimming pills away.
Keep that African body, skinny women belong to the runway – its all about job creation for the cameramen, designers and of course the event organisers and sponsors.

Learn how to cook! It is not that men do mind making their own meals but the Nairobi Eve has been accused of not being good in the kitchen. The thing is that men hate burning their fingers and would not mind someone doing it for us. Then again, men want to be sure that while they are busy toiling your in laws and of course the kids are well taken care of.

There is more than the club! This life has a large collection of activities, you must not be confined to the club. Actually, most men go to the bar over the weekend to enjoy football and the extension just comes naturally. And then since you have confined yourselves to the club, men cannot help but stay there late in an attempt to make life more habitable for you.

It is the economy, stupid! As the relationship grows so do responsibilities, needs and prospects grow. Then again Nairobi has also been hit hard by inflation if you haven’t noticed. If you are not actively throwing ingredients into the family budget, kindly stop digging in to much into it. Men want you to have a comfortable life that is why they are are saving for that car and house.

Finally be there! I have heard most men complain that their Nairobi Eve is emotionally and physically unavailable. That is the worst mistake that you will ever make, then you will wonder why your man has fallen for another Nairobi Eve.

Well, to all Nairobi Eves, please do not throw your hand bag or stiletto at me when you spot me around. I am just trying to see if men can finally demystify the Nairobi Eve!

The Forgotten Agenda

During the last session of the Serena talks chaired by mediator Oluyemi Adeniji, the Kenya National Dialogue and Reconciliation team signed what we now call Agenda Four. The document simply outlines issues that the country’s leadership was to deal with as part of correcting past mistakes and injustices.

The document identified issues that have divided Kenyans over the years and said to have been responsible for the cycle of violence surrounding elections in the country. These are constitutional and legal reforms; land reforms; poverty, inequality and regional imbalances; unemployment – particularly among the youth; consolidation of national cohesion and unity; and transparency, accountability and impunity.

The agreement stipulates that the coalition government borne of the same talks is to lead the implementation of the reform agenda, working with parliament whenever appropriate. It also says that the main beneficiaries of the reforms, the Kenyan public, must be regularly consulted and their views sought.

Over the few weeks, Kenyans have been pulling on different directions over a sealed envelope containing the names of a few individuals out of the nearly 38 million citizenry. And even more recently, it is possible that most Kenyans have been mentioning the name Obama more times as compared to their own.

Other than the passing of the Constitution of Kenya Review Bill (2008) on Wednesday, the country is yet to make any strides towards addressing the other issues. Issues that are more pertinent that a new constitution which is largely viewed as a ‘how to share political power’ document.

These crucial steps have failed to take form despite the Serena agreement on Agenda Four giving an implementation framework. Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi and Ministers Martha Karua (Justice), James Orengo (Lands), Sally Kosgey (Higher Education), Mutula Kilonzo (Nairobi Metropolitan), Sam Ongeri (Basic Education), Moses Wetangula (Foreign Affairs) and William Ruto (Agriculture) were responsible for the agreement and I believe are still accountable for its implementation.

Kenyans must now demand that the team above offers the necessary leadership that will aid the country in dealing with these long-term issues. Implementing the Waki and Kiregler report may propel the country towards this direction but will do little to avoid a recurrence of the aftermath of the 2007 general elections.

What will keep voters from receiving bribes ahead of the 2012 elections if Kenya does not deal with the escalating poverty in the country? What will keep people from chasing ‘outsiders’ from their regions if Kenya does not institute comprehensive land reforms? Why will the youth not involve themselves in inter-communal rivalry and join militia groups if more than half their population remains unemployed?

Such instruments as the Waki report have ignited communal hatred with the Kikuyus and the Kalenjins claiming they are victims of a political agenda. How then will the country be able to counter communal hatred ahead of the next elections if national cohesion is not anchored into the society? Can ones national identity supersede their ethnic identity?

According to the Agenda Four agreement, a new constitution should be in place 12 months after March 8, 2008. This is four months and three days at the time of publishing this. Most of the other proposed reforms are to be rationalized with the quest for a new constitution making it the most crucial step in the Agenda.

Kenyans must wake up to ensure that a few individuals do not derail the reform agenda that this country badly needs.

Dear Mr Michuki

Dear Mr Michuki,

My name is the taxpayer and they also call me Wanjiku, Wafula or Anyango. I am the guy you have been taking from Sh10,361 from my 50something thousand shillings salary. And I am not alone we are millions of us some paying less than Sh1,100 and others paying hundreds of thousands.

I earn more than Sh11,135 per month and I am therefore eligible for Pay As You Earn (PAYE). You always take Sh1,016 for my first ten thousand shillings, you then take Sh1,436 for the next Sh9,576. Then you charge another Sh1,915 for the next similar portion, then Sh2,394 for the next portion. You are not yet done as you then charge me another 30 per cent for anything else I earn above Sh38,892.

In other words, I am the one who has been funding the government in all its operations including paying salaries for members of parliament. The MPs are the fellows who blackmailed you yesterday into withdrawing a proposal by your predecessor to tax their hefty allowances. These guys earn up to Sh500,000 monthly in allowances, which is like 10 times my earnings.

Well may be you had no option since the finance bill has to be passed for the country to run smoothly but I need to inform you this. With my Sh10,000 tax, I help you buy medicine for my village health centre and yet I cannot afford drugs and proper meals for my ailing grandmother.

With my remaining Sh40,000, I have rent to pay in one of Nairobi’s ‘middle class’ estates. I also pay electricity and water bills that have in the last one year doubled. When I factor in my daily bus fare, my family’s food budget and school fees for my two sons in primary school, you leave me with little if not nothing to put in my savings account.

Food prices have gone up globally and I must remind you that even here you do not spare me. You take a certain percentage of whatever I pay for the different basic products in the name of Value Added Tax.

And did I mention that my parents are living on pension after years in the civil service. They are now farmers but as you saw recently they were uprooting tea bushes due to the low returns. Yes, I have no option but to show gratitude for taking care of me in my earlier years by topping up what they have.

My village considers me one of their important sons. Thus, they have invited me as a guest of honour in three harambees to aid different women and youth groups in the village.

Trust me if you even only took 10 per cent from the allowances of the 222 selfish individuals in the August house, they will be still be left with enough money to comfortably support four individuals like me. It would also add Sh11.1 million shillings to your Treasury account every month.

I know they are capable of not passing the Finance Bill thus crippling the country in the remaining part of this financial year. Therefore, I am suggesting that you withdraw the proposal yes but prepare another bill that will either enable a reduction in their allowances or strip them the powers to interfere with the Finance Bill.

Alternatively, you can reduce taxes for us and let us see where their salaries will come from. I will be glad to give you less and have more to meet my needs.

PS: While me and the other millions of Taxpayers report to our work places for 5 days a week, those fellows in parliament only attend sessions three days a week. And some are seen in their constituency offices only twice in a month.

Yours Sincerely,

The Tax Payer.

Dear Kenyans

Dear Kenyans,

The year 2008 is just about to bid us good bye. A year that we will always remember for its bloody start following our selfish quest for the ‘national cake’. Kenyans have come out very strong in getting themselves and the beautiful country to a sober and stable state.

However, the challenges that continue to face us are immense. The cost of living has escalated to an unmanageable level for a majority of the populace. The cost of everything is as high as it can be but all it not lost. I propose we join our efforts and get this country back to the growth path.

In 2009, we will be faced with the challenges of making sure that we get ourselves a new electoral body and a new Constitution. We will also be seeking to punish the suspects of the post election violence that I must remind you took away 1,133 Kenyans, displaced over 300,000 other and cost the economy billions of shillings.

But my fellow brothers and sisters, I do not find the agenda above a priority for this country. We must demand that our leadership guides the country to the path of prosperity. A country where the gap between the rich and the poor is manageable enough to avoid seeking aid. A country where we wont have families surviving on ugali and salted water or nothing at all for that matter.

Kenya must seek policies that will aid in driving the cost of living down to manageable levels. We must seek, in 2009, ways to help our people create sustainable wealth that they do not have to rely on handouts.

In 2009, we must institute reforms in our education to safeguard the country’s future and ensure that we do not just produce theorists. Kenya need skilled individuals who can help this country industrialise…otherwise as one PS recently put it the best we may compare Kenya with is Gikomba. A country that imports to sell to its own people.

Finally my brothers and sisters, we are all responsible for what happens in this country. We are responsible for the bad politics that we have that remains tribal because that is what we think of each other first. We are responsible for the failure of our leadership for we refuse to demand accountability from them.

The change that we seek is our collective responsibility.

Your fellow Kenyan,

Oliver Mwandishi

Kenya: A Country in Crisis!

I am neither an alarmist nor a pessimist! But as they say, Kenya has gone to the dogs. The country lacks leadership in governance and now we have an ever-growing crisis ready to explode on our faces.

Kenya has a convenience government whose players are more interested in the next election that may, given the circumstances we are in, come any time. A leadership that does not care a dime about the immediate needs of the country’s 38 million residents hence the massive scandals in the energy and food sectors.

Two hundred and twenty two individuals many of whom have perfected the art of eating from our coffers both legally and otherwise hold the country at ransom. We have two exit points to the current dilemma.

A new constitution may lead us back to the ballot as a vote of no confidence in the current collapsing government may do. But given the attitude of our leadership none of this may come soon – which would be to the benefit of millions of Kenyans.

However, in what seems to be carelessness, our so called leaders have been enacting laws blindly not caring to fine-tune transitional arrangement. The country has no electoral body in place, no voter register and the convenient government has no exit point other than the 2012 election.

Thus, the crisis that faces Kenya today.

Let us say, hypothetically, that the entire constitutional review process will move well with the speed required and we get to the referendum. Or better still, the so called grand opposition outfit marshals troops and a vote of no confidence on the current administration sails through parliament.

Only a simple majority is needed in the parliament to declare no confidence in the government. And fellow Kenyans, it is at this point that we will all realise that we have no country.

To jog your mind, Chapter 3 Section 59 (3) of the Constitution of Kenya reads; “If the National Assembly passes a resolution which is supported by the votes of a majority of all the members of the Assembly (excluding the ex officio members), and of which not less than seven days’ notice has been given in accordance with the standing orders of the Assembly, declaring that it has no confidence in the Government of Kenya, and the President does not within three days of the passing of that resolution either resign from his office or dissolve Parliament, Parliament shall stand dissolved on the fourth day following the day on which that resolution was passed.”

In other words, a vote of no confidence would lead us to another election just as the referendum would require us to vote for or against the new document as we did in 2005.

But this is our dilemma! Since our so leaders thought it wise to send the Electoral Commission of Kenya home without setting up immediate parameters for the transition, you and I, my friend are no longer voters.

The voter register went home with Kivuitu!

The earliest time that we can expect, according to our leaders, the promised Interim Independent Electoral Commission to start operations is sometime in March. So, if the government is sent packing in the coming month of February, we would have no mechanisms to put in place a new one.

And even if we manage to have the instrument by then, millions of Kenyans will probably be incapacitated as the leadership continues to share out the few resources left. It is not ordinary Kenyans who have made oil and maize disappear from the stores. Kenyans do not even know where these so-called grain and oil reserves are stored.

I have no solution to any of the problems facing us but I am now more than ever convinced that Kenyans must rise up and demand to be heard. And not just to be heard, but to be taken seriously.

Kenya: Looming class clashes

I predict the death of tribal clashes in Kenya and the birth of class clashes. Come 2012 (or even before), Kenyans will not rise against each other on the grounds of their tribe.

Since 1990, Kenya has faced socio-politically motivated tribal clashes. A few individuals have used differences that communities have held over the years to instigate  violence. But in the near future, Kenyans will be dived into two – three quarters representing “the have nots” and a quarter representing “the haves”.

Wealth or the lack of it will be the center of division in the country. And all signs and indicators are clear though none of us seems to be reading them right.

Kenya is one of the country where the gap between the rich and the poor seems to be widening daily. Basic commodities such as food and energy have spiraled beyond the reach of many. Meanwhile, a few individuals (in politics and business) are enriching themselves in the process.

Some big-bellied men decide to smuggle maize out of the country and the price of ‘ugali’ hits an all time high. And then the government embarks on some endless investigations yet there are intelligence reports on the matter.

Some businessmen decide to hoard fuel and the price of everything from electricity to food stuff skyrockets.

Then MPs appoint a tribunal to review their salaries (upwards). Rumor mills have it that they already have a proposal – they be paid a higher salary and they will pay tax. Those in the know indicate that MPs have indicated that they will pay taxes once they get Sh1.4 million in salary and allowances.

And we all thought that the 9th parliament was the worst that this country ever had.

These are the reasons why a new kind of war is shaping up in Kenya ahead of a referendum sometime later this year or early next year and the 2012 general elections.

Meanwhile, any sober Kenyan will agree with me when I shout that we are a very irresponsible lot.

We lack responsibility in our thoughts, deeds, reactions, planning… name it, if the events that have both surprised and shocked us over the last couple of weeks are anything to go by.

The fire tragedies that claimed over 150 people have shown us how irresponsible we can be with life.

Even the guys who perished in Molo indicated that they were aware of the dangers posed by flammable substances such as the petrol they were busy stealing.

It would not be surprising to learn that some may have perished in the Nakumatt fire as they tried to find their way to free goodies.

Total cases of negligence!

Over 45 years after independence, Kenya has a police force that cannot control a crowd of onlookers. The country is served by a small number of emergency response personnel using limited facilities.

Kenya: We have failed

In the last couple of weeks, we have seen and heard all manner of accusations among Kenyans – we are an angry lot.

These have ranged from the church accusing the government of failing, the media accusing politicians for fueling ethnic animosity, the government asking the media and the church to turn a blind eye to what it has not done and see what it has done.

I have seen and heard the president accuse his minister of bickering, scientists not ready to accept that cough syrups are preventive and not curative medicines. The list goes on!

But what takes me aback is that I have not seen any of the mentioned groups and others critiquing themselves.

One of my not very popular political leaders made me think in the course of the week. She questioned why the public is quick to judge the leadership harshly yet it remains tolerant to the vices it accuses politicians of. The same public is ready to defend one of their own and even vote them back despite their dirty linen being displayed in the open.

Who helps politicians propel ethnic animosity, corruption and all other vices that continue to dog Kenya? Why are all sorts of leaders so quick to return to their tribal cocoons and proclaim that their community is being targeted in this scandal or the other?

Is the media justified to accuse politicians of fueling tribal animosity while printing and broadcasting the same statements uttered by the same people? Why is the civil society so quiet when police officers are killed in cold blood by robbers who they are so quick to defend when gunned down?

My humble opinion is that we have failed as a society. We are quick to judge each other pointing trash stained fingers towards the next person.

Forget the truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission or the one on cohesion and ethnicity that we are about to form, Kenya will only arise from this dark path when we all learn to accept we have failed.

And we have failed!

Can Karua Mother Kenya?

Since she decided to leave government, Gichugu MP Martha Karua has been on everyone’s lips. From those who see her as a saviour to Kenya’s many problems to those who now call her a pretender and opportunist – Karua has made most conversations.

I find all sentiments leveled against the former minister as an honest and truthful summary of the ‘iron lady’ of Kenyan politics. Those who have read me previously will tell you that I have never been her fan but this is not to say that I do not appreciate the manner of which she has managed to execute her duties.

Yes I find Karua a fighter who has always defended whatever she believes is right. But I also find Karua a pretender who together with others in the Narc administration blocked minimum reforms that could have gone a great length in averting last year’s post election chaos.

However, since all of us have our weaknesses, I am willing to give the former minister some benefit of doubt. Not to say that I full agree that she is our best bet but may be the better one.

At the Kinyozi last weekend I could not help but realise how much faith Kenyans are placing on Karua especially with the instability that has rocked the grand coalition. My barbers were furious over a Sunday Nation report that described how President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga were till being babied by Kofi Annan – one year on.

They made it known that they were very unhappy with the status quo and the current administration to them was a total failure. From the ranting, I could tell that Karua had at least 4 votes if these barbers will not have changed their mind before 2012.

There is something about Karua that has endeared her to Kenyans. Something that is giving her an upper hand as compared to her other likely 2012 rivals. Wherever I have had people speak of Karua and the future of this country, one thing has stood out, Kenyans have placed a lot of hope on her.

I have one specific concern in my humble opinon that would make me vote for President Karua come 2012. She does not belong to any dynasty and may be the Kenya’s bet to break the cycle of the ‘right family’ in Kenyan politics.

Uhuru Kenyatta, Gideon Moi, Raila Odinga all belong to the ‘right families’. The rest who are eying the presidency, George Saitoti and William Ruto have close associations with the ‘right families’.

Other than Karua, I can bet on anything that none of the other potential presidents have the will to recover from their own families whatever wealth that they may have acquired illegally or otherwise from public coffers. None of them will be ready to go for the other ‘right family’ and their associates.

It may be too early to tell but if Kenyans went to the ballot today… Karua  may be that mother that the country has lacked in over 40 years.

My brother Uganda please return my rock!

Dear Brother Uganda,

I am not about to tell you that you took what is mine without my permission. That you already know since some of my inhabitants have used it as an excuse to uproot a railway even though the real issue was that their colleagues had caught them using unpaid for electricity.

Uganda, you have been a dear brother. You have allowed my inhabitants to cross to your side and study for half the fees they would have used here. You have allowed my business inhabitants to exploit your surface by erecting banks, schools and now supermarkets.

In the same manner, I have allowed your inhabitants to use me to transport all kinds of substances from the bigger water body – the one that has no Mijingo. I have in many circumstances come to the aid of your inhabitants as they freed their brothers who thought they are not good enough living in you.

Now to the matter at hand. I know you think since your inhabitants can easily chase each other out of you, they are mighty enough to stand against us. Remember in 2008, when you had to cry asking me to ask my inhabitants to stop chasing each other around me? I am talking about that time that fuel prices went so high in you that most of your inhabitants resulted to bicycles.

Well, if you do not want to see this happen again please place back that rock… it belongs to me and we all know that. That rock is too small for me to have it go but it will leave me deformed. Some of my inhabitants are called army and others navy.

These guys have some things that resemble rocks and go BOOOOOM!. Those rocks may be small but have the capability to sink that rock I call Migingo and you call Mijingo… But I do not want us to get there.

It will be painful for me to lose a part of me and you too may lose some of your inhabitants since I will have evacuated mine who you have been harassing because of fish. And by the way, I have not paid attention do the fish from your part of the queen’s lake have number plates… well I am sure those from my side do not. So why arrest my fishing inhabitants when they capture the fish from you that come to me.

A long time ago, the kings of me pushed the kings of you back as you tried taking a part of me. The current king does not like quarrels, he thinks it is is upubavu and those who quarrel are mafi ya kuku… I am sure you know what these means by now.

Now my dear brother, I am begging you to return my rock… I will still allow your inhabitants to come capture fish whether those with Kenyan or Ugandan number plates.

Your timid brother, Kenya.

Before you approve the supplementary budget…

Dear honourable members,

I am writing to you on behalf of the millions of Kenyans who have lost trust in you.

Information in the public domain indicates that Finance Minister Uhuru Kenyatta will this week as you to approve a Sh 24 billion supplementary budget in the name of meeting the government’s obligations. I know that the money is vital for the country’s survival but I beg you to consider a few things before you allow Mr Kenyatta to use more of our money.

I ask that you demand an audit of the money that you approved in June last year. Reason being that it is my feeling that the government has used the money to pay for unnecessary expenditure such as financing the bloated Grand Coalition Cabinet.

The 2008/09 Budget programmed expenditure amounting to Sh 673.1 billion that was to be financed by revenues amounting to Sh 546.5 billion, leaving a deficit of Sh 127 billion.

On March 12, in a statement, the minister said that through to December 2008, the implementation of the budget progressed well. He actually told us that the Sh127 billion deficit had been covered in five way.  These were Sh25.2 billion net foreign funding; Sh52.1 billion infrastructure bond comprising; Sh36 billion net domestic borrowing; Sh8 billion privatization receipts; and Sh5.7 billion comprising of refinancing of Sh3 billion shareholder loan to Telkom Kenya Ltd and Sh2.7 billion to Kenya Petroleum Refinery Ltd.

His statement indicated that the true position is that as at end of last year, ordinary revenues amounted to Sh216.7 billion or 98 percent against a target of Sh221.8 billion, representing Sh5.1 billion below target. So why does he now need Sh24 billion if the the deficit to December last year was Sh5.1 billion.

On the expenditure side, the minister said that under utilization of funds budgeted comprised of Sh21.8 billion in recurrent budget and Sh24.9 in development budget. This means that, up to December 2008, the government spent Sh262.9 billion against a target of Sh309.9 billion.

As you scrutinize Mr Kenyatta’s supplementary budget, kindly ask for me and the other Kenyans wallowing in escalating inflation, how much he has saved from the planned expenditure cuts. He promised to ensure expenditure cuts in domestic and international travels, conferences and workshops, training and furniture.

In addition, recruitment of new officers and projects whose implementation had not commenced were to be postponed to next fiscal year.

Let him tell us how much the government has used to elevate hunger in the country that has put more than a third of the country at the risk of hunger. He should also tell us who has been financing political parties as they hold rallies and retreats while no budget was set aside for the Political Parties office during the last budget reading.

What will he do with the money that he is now requesting? Is this new request that necessary given the statistics he gave in March? Is the government so broke and we still see ministers and other civil servant traveling in top of the range vehicles? Can the minister justify all government spending including the payment of ministrerial allowances to the bloated Cabinet that does not have the full mandate of Kenyas?

Why this questions are vital is because the ordinary Kenyan continue to see the government spend money in what can be considered as unnecessary expenditure. It seems the government continues to spend more on recurrent expenditure than on development issues.

For a sneak preview, in the course of the year, four top government officials – the Prime Minister, his two deputies and the Vice-President – have received new vehicles at an estimated  total cost of Sh80 million, which I highly doubt were necessary.

In the course of their work, the PM and the VP have been consuming unnecessary funds through their numerous trips around Nairobi and the rest of the country. I am still wondering why their entourage has to be made up of up to 10 vehicles from their offices on Harambee Avenue to lets say Serena Hotel.

Your Concerned Electorate,

Oliver Mwandishi.

The politics that is the Uhuru budget

Last Thursday, Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta delivered what has been touted as the most ambitious yet key to economic recovery budget speech in Kenya’s history.

I too was impressed by the young Kenyatta’s budget which if well implemented will be a key to regional development, poverty reduction and employment creation.

In particular, the 2009/10 budget promises to improve infrastructure especially in rural Kenya in the process boosting the local economy.

Uhuru plans to give millions of Kenyan youth an opportunity to earn a livelihood by increasing money allocated to the CDF, Youth Fund and Women Fund. He has also promised to make more youths fishermen and jua kali artisans.

All the niceties aside, my analysis reads politics in Uhuru’s maiden budget – since no one has pointed out any errors so far. While it promises to make your life and mine more comfortable and improve our economic status, the first Uhuru budget is a well calculated political scheme.

It may be hard to believe that Uhuru has made sure that his colleagues will not forget his good “deeds” that they up their profiles among the locals. Uhuru, just like any of his predecessors, may not have another opportunity to read another budget – things change fast in this country.

And in order to ensure that he remains a key figure ahead of the 2012 elections, Uhuru gave our MPs a lot of goodies to bring to us in the name of different funds. Even though the MPs may never come close to the money, the various ministries will have to consult with the constituency office before a new school is built in the area.

Uhuru has made the MP more powerful, he has ensured that at least you will remember that your MP brought you development through a budget granted by the son of Muigai who has wanted to lead the country since 2002.

And so if he has brought you water, your children are going to school, you have markets and your eldest son is doing a kibarua somewhere, why then shouldn’t you send him to State House  ten years later when your MP says so.

While you give Uhuru marks for an economic recovery oriented budget, I give him the thumbs up for playing the cleanest politics yet.

And if he keeps on the momentum and ensures no errors in the implementation of his budget, I am sure he will score big on this one.