Just one prick confirmed the worst

It all felt like seeing a ghost

Was the world caving in?

Had I thrown my life into the bin?

Six months I had not had sex

My heart was now filled with vex

How would I live my new life?

What would I tell my future wife?

Six months later, the world turned against me

Close friendships turned so dim

Was the disease this demonising?

What happened to my life, so promising?

It is just a disease and I am not dead yet

I have over-lived the period they bet

They all said my life was on the brink

I should take that poison drink

Should I give up and let them laugh?

Can my heart grow to be tough?

I feel my life has a long way to go

To the death they proclaim I say no

It is six year after that prick

My body still as strong as a brick

This is why I choose to live

Live a positive life because I believe

________________________________

HIV/AIDS kills! Malaria and Cholera too

Stop discrimination against people living with HIV

© Oliver Mathenge, December 2009

On November 17, Kenya set out on a path that may go a long way to determine its future. This marked the start of a 30-day public interaction with the Harmonised Draft Constitution. I marked the beginning of the only chance that the ordinary Kenyan will have to interact with the document and make suggestions on how it can be improved.

This morning, there was this conversation that made me think whether the public is ready to be engaged on the making of the country’s supreme law. One guy brought up a notion that the country has a large population that is illiterate but also added that there are those who can read but are too lazy to do it.

And since there is nothing I can really do to increase the literacy level in the 30 days, I want to focus on the latter part of my friend’s concern.

During the 2005 quest for a new constitution, Kenyans (I included) left it to the politicians to read the draft for them and interpret it for them. The country was  then divided into an orange and a banana and that culminated in the death of more than 1,000 Kenyans in 2008 due to the highly polarised atmosphere.

Counting on history to have taught us something, my hope is that Wanjiku will this time read the constitution before listening to the arguments by the politicians, civil society groups and religious leaders. We have a duty to ensure that we get it right before all the confusion starts.

Already there are those who are arguing against some aspects of the constitution without having even had a look at the document. Some shout loudest with arguments based on hearsay and without any basis in fact.

For instance one newspaper had to shameless give some politicians a platform to trash the proposals on the executive just hours after the document was unveiled. Even if they had an advance copy, it was prudent to let us all read it first and then open up the debate.

Having read the document, I believe it is one of the most advanced step that the country has made in the quest for a new constitution. All the legal jargon may be somehow confusing but it makes more sense than when you get explanations from someone – some who may have heard from someone else.

And that’s my call to Wanjiku… Read it this time!

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!

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

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.