From Horror to Hopelessness: Our Forgotten Somali Refugee Crisis

Since the border closure, the Kenyan authorities have deported hundreds, possibly thousands, of Somali refugees and asylum seekers, thereby violating the most fundamental part of refugee law, the right not to be refouled-forcible return to a place where a person faces a threat to life or freedom on account of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion. Under its obligations in the 1969 OAU Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of the Refugee Problems in Africa (1969 OAU Convention), Kenya is also bound not to send refugees or asylum seekers back to situations of generalized violence, such as in Somalia.

Updates on Kenya's Somalian refugee crisis.

The Dalai Lama. And Unconstitutional Helicopters

In Kisii, there is a village whose name I have unilaterally changed to Constitutional Village. It was there where our beloved president's 30 year old, second hand, Cold War era, airforce maintained, Anglo Leasing-acquired Puma helicopter spewed dark, ominous smoke...

The inimitable Eric Ng'eno returns to our pages.

Will you be our 100th fan?

Check us out and be our fan on our facebook page!!

Peter Marsh. In Memoriam

Remembering Peter Marsh.

Democracy is Expensive.

Neema counts the cost, and finds apathy even more expensive.

Kenya's Next Top Model

The question that emerged in my mind after watching the initial episodes of the show and observing the feedback was what it meant to be a 'model' Kenyan. Is it fair that we entrust one person to represent the entire community of Kenyans when they find themselves in the international limelight? As Kenyans, are we mandated to act as 'good' ambassadors for our country at all times? If so, by what standards?

Why do we care about Sandra Nyanchoka? Why should we anyway? Is she just following her dream? 

What do you think?

Kenyaimagine Launches Facebook Fan Page

Exciting news from the desk of the editors at kenyaImagine!

We would like to increase our interaction with our facebook users. We had a facebook group, but it was difficult to remind readers to come back and contribute once they had joined the group. With the new fan page you can keep in touch with any changes, and new discussion through your newsfeed.

We will use the page to highlight recently published articles; to recruit new writers; to find out what you would like to hear from us and to generally interact with all our fans.

If you like what you see at kenyaimagine.com, or if you'd like to get to know about us, please take a minute to become a fan on our facebook page! And let your friends know!

cheers!

See you there :)

Women leaders are key to ‘the Kenya we want’

A government conference encouraging citizens to tell them about ‘the Kenya we want’ via censored media channels is unlikely to yield positive change, suggests feminist activist Awino Okech. Okech calls for Kenyan women to self-organise and engage with political structures using the frameworks provided by feminism or, she cautions, history will not judge them kindly for failing to take on the issues of their time.

Conflict between the state and Kenya's poor

How can you explain to a hunger stricken peasant in Yatta or Lodwar why their family or community cannot have a decent meal in Kenya? Do you tell them that the weather has conspired with globalization to consign them to their misfortune? Or that good fortune is available only if you are born into the families that inhabit Muthaiga? What do you tell a peasant who knows that in Kenya there are 142 or more District Commissioners, each with a minimum of three cars fuelled by the state, whose specific duties are not too clear?

Makhakara has some questions, and a surprising answer.

Small Acts of Possession

On the Presidential front, The Great Silent One continues in his inscrutable ways, his wonders not to perform. Perhaps he believes that politics, like poetry, ‘ is the opening and closing of a door, leaving those who look through to guess at what is seen during a moment,' for he merely peeks out, announces his marital status, and, not noticing the bullets whizzing practically past his nose, goes back inside and closes the door, to our Statehouse.

Was that a metaphor for the state of our country, or a mime?

Wambui Mwangi has a piece so rich it resists easy summary. I'll let you see for yourself.

The development charade: empowerment, and other myths

Stephen Williams reviews Rasna Warah's new anthology, Missionaries Mercenaries and Misfits.

In Case Of Accident, Do Not Admit Liability - and other beefs

Eric Ngen'o has an entertaining rant about recent coalition disagreements, and other things. The insurance metaphor alone demands your attention.

Dead Aid: a review

Chola Mukanga, AKA the Zambian economist - note the definite article! - reviews Dambisa Moyo's Dead Aid. Devastating consequences follow.

Review of Okoth Osewe's Raila Odinga's Stolen Presidency

Okoth Osewe's explosive new book reviews the election - he concludes that Raila and ODM won, and has harsh things to say about Kriegler's report. Per Lindgren has a review.

The Bio-safety Bill vs Organic Farming

Samuel Maina gently makes the case that organic farming is to be preferred to the genetically modified kind - especially when, as it turns out, American farming lobbies had a hand in the passing of the bill in Kenya.

Could GMOs Turn Kenyans into Bioserfs?

Stephanie Migot reckons they just might.

Over My Shoulder: Remembering Atieno Odhiambo

It is now 2009, Atieno. This is too soon. I shall not stop writing with you at my shoulder. There is still history to do, and to make, for you, because of you.

Prof. David W Cohen's appreciation of ES Atieno-Odhiambo.

A tribute to E.S Atieno-Odhiambo

In letters I used to call him 'ruoth'; he used to call me 'wuod ajuoga.'

Prof. John Lonsdale pays moving tribute to his colleague and friend, Prof. ES Atieno-Odhiambo.

Darkness visible

Continuing with the review theme: I have a piece on Michela Wrong's Our Turn to Eat.

Kenya Burning: Reviews

We have two great reviews. Take a minute to check them out.

Rachel Gichinga asks Never Again?,
One year later (with the opening date of the exhibition set to coincide with the first anniversary of the signing of the peace accord), the slogan ‘Never Again' seems more like a question than a statement; it is said more with trepidation than with a resolute determination. Kenya today feels as close to the brink of collapse as it did when the violence broke out at the end of 2007. The sense of hope that may have emerged with the creation of the coalition government is all but gone. Several incriminating reports and the most repugnant of scandals later, the photos from the exhibition no longer feel like a distant memory, but rather the chilling foretaste of things to come.

Rombo from What the African Woman Thinks hopes Never Again.,

I worry though, about the ways in which this new awareness of their rights will be channelled. In selfish or unselfish ways? Negatively or positively? For the good or detriment of society? This is what remains to be seen.

As we wait to see, if you are in Nairobi and have not yet visited the Kenya Burning Exhibition at the KICC, there’s still tomorrow, and, as a recent bonus, Tuesday. It is well worth your time.

Never Forget. Never Again.

University of Minnesota discovery offers potential breakthrough in preventing HIV transmission

Researchers in HIV/AIDS prevention and cure have been ga-ga about the discovery made by University of Minnesota yesterday afternoon.

The remedy? Glycerol Monolaurate (GML ). This compound is mostly used to give food such as icecream and gravy a longer shelf life.

Check this incredible research out!

Music will not start a party in your pants

While the aims of the American Journal of Preventative Medicine are commendable, one can't help but feel that perhaps the research grant would have been better spent on investigating other, more relevant, influences on teenage sexual activity.

Stephanie is unmoved by the latest moral panic.

Heartburning

The exhibition does not lack shock value, and rightly so. We need to be shocked. We need to be repulsed. We need to have our stomachs churned, our eyes misted up, our hearts filled with constructive rage and righteous indignation.

Rachel Gichinga sees Kenya Burning.

Is Safaricom Ready for Disruption?

Peter Ndiangui wonders if Safcom knows just what it has taken on in buying One.