I lost my friend in the Nakumatt fire

Yesterday was an exhausting day. Our directors were visiting from Dubai so we had one meeting after the next. With all the reports that we had to make I did not have time to go out to lunch. Finally, I found some reprieve late that afternoon, left the office and walked towards Nakumatt Supermarket. Imagine my delight when I ran into an old friend Vicky. We met in primary school where we became fast friends, but had since lost touch because she had moved to China. Her sister, who lived in Langata, was sick so she had come to visit.

Read more from Rachel's blog. 

The fellowship of the wringer

After declaring he had rather die than resign, then "stepping aside" to allow for independent investigations which reportedly found him culpable for misleading parliament andselling the Grand Regency hotel with undue haste and secrecy, Amos Kimunya is back in Mwai Kibaki's promised "Clean Cabinet".

After declaring he had rather die than resign, then "stepping aside" to allow for independent investigations which reportedly found him culpable for misleading parliament andselling the Grand Regency hotel with undue haste and secrecy, Amos Kimunya is back in Mwai Kibaki's promised "Clean Cabinet".

More here. 

The Shooting Down of a Rising Star

Editor's Note: It is with deep regret and sorrow that the kenyaImagine board of editors announces the passing of one of our Political Editors. Dr James Kariuki Muiruri, 29, was fatally shot on the morning of January 24th, 2009. Published here is a tribute to the Ngethu Star as he was known by his friends.

Life in Kenya has never been as cheap as it is now.

Read more from Judy Kibinge.

Africa Policy Outlook 2009

The outpouring of emotion across Africa when President Barack Obama was sworn in had as much to do with his heritage as with the possibility that he might reverse some of the Bush administration's disastrous policies.

President George W. Bush trumpeted Africa as a foreign policy success, highlighting the President's Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (PEPFAR ) as proof. He didn't mention the extremely unpopular ideological limitations on PEPFAR that he championed.  He also failed to mention the impact of his administration's other key initiatives that were also important to African people. He didn't talk about the dramatic increase in military spending, the controversial creation of the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM ), the extremely flawed war on terror, his unpopular unilateral and bilateral approaches to various countries, the collapse of Somalia, his support for undemocratic leaders, and the undermining of the United Nations, particularly its peacekeeping operations. 

Read more here.

The Dawn of the Obama Era: In Memory of the Ancestors

The Obama era has begun. Like millions of people in the United States and around the world today I sat glued to the television watching the historic inauguration, relishing the man and the moment, its substance and symbolism. Tomorrow, of course the hard work starts and the harsh realities facing the new president will break today's magical spell. America's daunting challenges will puncture the bubble of messianic expectations invested in the young president. The extraordinary euphoria that has gripped this nation and parts of the world is obviously unsustainable, and it will inevitably evaporate in the predictable whirlwind of stumbles, setbacks, even scandals, not to mention the structural obstacles, the systemic imperatives of this mighty but beleaguered capitalist country and imperial power that will constrain bold changes, truly progressive transformation.

More.

A Salute to Barack Obama's Father

As I headed out the door to witness the inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44Th President of the United States, I thought about his late father. Much of what we’ve heard about the president’s “Old Man” has been from the president himself and others who knew very little about him. But the elder Obama’s is a story of the African immigrant — a story of a people who come to a new country and learn so fast to become the most educated group.

What follows is an except from my stand-up comedy set performed on Sunday at The African Inaugural Ball in Silver Spring, MD. Part true, part fiction, the account is based on my life and the stories of other African immigrants in the United States. Knowing what I know about the Old Man – and having grown up in the same area as he, I have no doubt he would have appreciated the humor.

Don’t hate; Inaugurate!

More?

Stillborn: a very Kenyan story

In these times, when corruption is every news headline, we forget, its easy to, just how ugly life is all around, or that the political class are not the only heartless ones in our midst.We extend our pointing fingers. Them.

I got a phone call this morning from a girlfriend of mine in Kenya, she could not go to the cemetery she said, so she had to come to the hospital to console the mother.

More?

Presenting Kenya to the world with Obama

In these days leading up to Barack Obama's inauguration, Kenyans have left the euphoria of November to reflect on the possibilities the Obama moment has brought for change in their particular lives. Concerned Kenyan Writers, an online collective of writers and scholars who came together during the 2007 post-election violence, have engaged in lively debates in the last week over the entertainment scheduled for the inauguration dinner at the Kenyan Embassy in Washington, DC. A particular poet and a particular boys' choir are the subject: are they the kind of representation we would like for Americans and the world to see?

More?

What Obama can do for Kenya

This week marks the inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States of America. But despite the massive hope that Obama's presidency bring for Kenya, there is a growing scepticism about his ability or even willingness to assist his father's country of birth.

First, the US has enough problems on its own for Obama to focus on Kenya. In spite of his Kenyan roots, not only is Obama an American, as opposed to being Kenyan, he is the president of the United States. In addition to acting in the domestic interests of his people, other issues of priority would lie in the threats and opportunities provided by the Middle East and the economic crisis obliges the new president to confront the challenges that come with emerging powers such as China and India. When not engrossed on these issues, environmental concerns, democracy and the rule of law are likely to take up the president's time and attention.  

More. 

Join our Liveblog on Barack Obama's Inauguration

Here at KenyaImagine, we will be hosting a live blog of the inauguration. You are invited to share with hundreds others in a live observation of this event, share perspectives from your family and friends, and from that part of the world that you call home. 

Happy New Year!

Inauguration festivities, a music concert, begin in Washington DC at 10amEST (-5GMT). Barack Obama will deliver his Inaugural address at NoonEST (-5GMT). After the address, he will escort outgoing President George W. Bush to a departure ceremony.

We will begin the live blog at 10amEST: Kenya (6pm), South Africa (5pm), England (3pm), Australia-Melbourne (2am Wednesday)

Cheers!

kI editorial team

Narendra Modi, Raila Odinga and you

The Minister for Foreign Affairs regularly distinguishes himself as a bad public servant, as a thoughtless and irresponsible politician. He is regularly held to account by a media that has no allegiance to him, this is how a democracy works. The media informs us so we can hold politicians to account.

Want more?

I'd Rather Not Hear You Now

When I officially get to be classified as a cranky old (not elderly, not older, and certainly not advanced in years) man, I also want to be declared wise. There are a growing number of old people who are not wise, I finally uncovered the conspiracy behind this: hearing aids.

More here.

Kalembe Ndile Donates 21-inch Tv to Ministry of Foreign Affairs

According to the Daily Nation , Ndile donated a 21-inch television set to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs so that ministry officials would save themselves a trip to DC for Obama's inauguration.

However, his gesture was not received well as his “donation” was rejected. The former Kibwezi MP was also not allowed into the building with the gift. None of the ministry officials was willing to take the TV set, with the minister, his assistant and PS not available to receive it.

Read more.

Hanging Gaza Out To Dry

As Gazans continue to be crucified for the sins of Hamas, the international community seems helpless or unwilling to either lift a finger in their defense or reign in the rogue state that Israel has now become.

Even what is supposedly the world's most powerful nation is willing to endure the humiliation of its diplomatic representative by Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, who last week said concerning the US vote to abstain from a UN resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire:

Read more.

Marketing Obama in Kenya: Introducing the oPhone

Ala, I just read about a new phone in the Kenyan market. Well, the phone isn't really know. Apparently its a cheap Chinese handset (a Finnish reapoff) with an Obama logo.

Want more?

Are we all Potential Racists?

I am going to start with a very politically incorrect question but I will not pressure you for an answer; Are we all potential racists, are we genetically moulded to be drawn towards our kind, to feel protective over those who look or appear to be like us? Here is an anecdote from many years ago; my darling mom and I were totally obsessed with WWF wrestling. Fond memories! We would sit and watch and cheer or heckle loudly and may I take this opportunity to apologise to the neighbours we disturbed! I loved one Brett Hart, so much so I was convinced he would one day marry me! Swords between me and mom were usually drawn when Brett was fighting a Black man, because then, my mom would shamelessly automatically change sides and supporting the Black man. I would demand to know why she was changing allegiance and she would answer “he is Black”.

More.

Obama: Letter to My Daughters

Dear Malia and Sasha,
I know that you've both had a lot of fun these last two years on the campaign trail, going to picnics and parades and state fairs, eating all sorts of junk food your mother and I probably shouldn't have let you have. But I also know that it hasn't always been easy for you and Mom, and that as excited as you both are about that new puppy, it doesn't make up for all the time we've been apart. I know how much I've missed these past two years, and today I want to tell you a little more about why I decided to take our family on this journey.

Read Obama's letter to his daughters here. 

How to Parlay a Bit of Luck into a Life Changing Experience

A missive written in officious standard three English - big un-joined letters but perfectly legible - arrived last week from a Michael Oduor announcing that he had found my husband's driving license and that if 'Sir' contacted his brother on  the undersigned number, arrangements could be made to return the same. 

Although government offices generally practice admirable utumishi for all these days, the all are usually far too many and the queues in the necessary offices and at various desks can be seriously off-putting. In short, we were mighty relieved to hear of the potential shortcut represented by Mr. Oduor.  200/ bob, I thought, thank you very much and the paperwork, given our very-active traffic cops, is safely back where it's sure to be needed soon.

More here.  

The Africa that pushes back

I have been asked many times a variation of the same question: "Why do Africans wait until it is too late?" For most Westerners, Africa is hunger, war, despotism, AIDS and poverty - full of Africans who are either helpless victims, or who choose to sit on their hands, only lifting them up to accept Western handouts.

But there's another side of Africa, the one that pushes back. This side is comprised of political and social organizations and activists, school teacher organizations, journalists, and health professionals, as well as women, worker and youth organizations that patiently chip away at Africa's problems, usually with no funding, media coverage, or national and international recognition to speak of.

Read more from Mukoma wa Ngugi here.

Are you in the army now?

You cannot judge a book by its cover, my mother always said. However, growing up I found that you could tell a thing or two about people by what they wore. Like everyone else, I have gone through various stages of shedding, starting with sneakers that were far too big for me and a fringe that covered my face so I did not have to look at the ridiculous shoes below my nose. Then there was that period when I insisted on revealing my wobbly knees through expensive jeans that were consciously ripped and t-shirts that had all the wrong color combinations on them.

More. 

of handjobs and recessions

Yup, there is a recession in the US. What better way to gauge this than the porn industry's looming financial crisis? Read Gathara's post here.

And Amina shares some of her personal stories: friends who have lost jobs.

A friend was in Auburn Hills, Michigan, a few days ago. In December, Chrysler shut down its plants, albeit temporarily. It resulted in the loss of 46000 mostly low income jobs. What she saw shocked her. A city that was dead: it looked like one of those ghostowns in Western movies. She describes old burnt out buildings, and a growing underclass.

Visiting home and feeling the foreign pinch

New Year’s Greetings, I am reading Christine Stephanie Nicholls’ Red Strangers: The White Tribe of Kenya. The makeda calls lighter skinned black people yellow and my brother was once told that he was so light he was turning yellow. Red strangers, yellow people. This younger brother, who is at school in cooler climates is home for the holidays, this time he has brought someone with him, a foreign someone, and such visits being what they are, it turned into a touristy holiday- show the visitor around the house.

Read more on my brother's nightmare as he visits home.

War on Peace

It is often said that truth is the first casualty of war. Take the reasons offered for the ongoing bombardment and invasion of Gaza by the Israeli Defence Force. The right of national self defense is the oft-repeated mantra, the reasoning being that no nation can abide continued rocket attacks on its civilian population.

More here. 

Blogging in Kenya

Blogs continue to grow as alternative news sources, in Kenya and around the world.

Blogging, I think is the new frontier of information, opinion and news in our local society. Here we have a pool and a variety of news and information from different people on a wide range of issues.

Victor Ngeny highlights Kenyan bloggers here. The list is not conclusive, add your blog in the comment section. 

Why it is hard to sympathise with the media

As a journalist, it is very easy to be swallowed into the bandwagon calling for actions to amend the Kenya Communications Act, which the media hoped it would not be signed.

But most of us shouting from the top of our heads do not even know much about the history of the process. It has been a long process since 1998 when the Kenya Communications Act came into force. The ICT policy was published in 2006 and since then the amendment

Another journalist takes on the media's reaction to the Media Bill. Read more.  

Kibaki signs the “Media” bill, Media continues to play war

I've just tried to watch the 9pm news tonight and mostly failed, the first twenty minutes went to the media bill, choreographed a little with an interview type session within the news talking about how draconian and evil the Kenya Communications (Amendment) Bill, now Act, 2008 is.

The interviewee has been pitched as someone close to President Kibaki or to the Government. He begins by saying that the lengthy statement issued by Government Spokesman Alfred Mutua in today's dailies was a waste of public funds.

More?

A journo's take on the media bill

This media bill.... has anyone read it anyway or as usual, are we just commenting on things we know very little about? I am beggining to think it isn't such a big deal anymore....don't get me wrong, I think if the media was really 'gagged', we would be in big trouble, and me being a journo, it wouldn't be good for me, so a gagging is the last thing I want. But for me, this is no longer about the media bill.... there is much more to this..... Yesterday, I attempted to go through some literature on the bill. I still haven't seen the amendment bill, but I think from what I have gathered, I have a good idea on what is going on. Allow me to dissect, and please feel free to contribute.

More. 

New Communications Law; from Government Spokesman

The Government of Kenya's Communication Office has put out in yesterday's (Sunday) papers paid advertisements in which it aims to dispel the fears raised against the so called Media Bill, recently signed into law by the President.

We republish that paid advert here (for free) noting that it has been available on Dr. Mutua's website for a while now, the date on the website is 19th December. Kenyans would likely have been less surprised by the presidential assent if they had read this opinion then. 

Want more?