Why rush the East African political federation?

Are we ready for political federation with the nations and the people of East Africa?

You now read that the EAC is designing an East African flag and anthem. Are these little issues important in the grand scheme of things? Had we not better first concentrate on improving the governance structures and service delivery mechanisms within our individual component states first before attempting an experiment of this magnitude? The little we have going in the Customs Union is not by itself streamlined, and neither is the manner of our treatment of our Rwandese, Burundian, Tanzanian and Ugandan brothers consistent with what would be expected from nations on the track to political federation.

Have we realy resolved any of the grievances that led to the dissolution of the first such experiment? We are including the Rwandese and the Burundians too, how far will the borders go, and what criterion if any are we basing accession on. Finally, given that our leaders have not worked anywhere to popularise a move into political federation, is there any chance that we will be convinced when even they do not seem to be?

What do you think?

Excuse Me!

Last Sunday marked 200 years since the abolition of slavery by an act of the British Parliament.

To mark the event many writers around the globe suddenly remembered that they were black and that society; i.e. Western society owed them all sorts of reparations and apologies for the horrors of the slave trade, and of colonisation. More dangerously, they have sought to explain the troubles facing black families and black society as a whole as a legacy of slavery. The violence, the crime often internecine, the gangs, the ghetto culture all of it, is the curse of slavery.

Annette Keino on the history of slavery on the world's Black populace,: As a black person who works hard for everything that I have, who struggles every day against institutional racism and historic disadvantage, I believe I much better off not thinking that I am congenitally disadvantaged as well, thank you very much."

Only bold action in Somalia will avert chaos

When Ethiopian troops invaded Somalia last December, John Githong'o from his Oxford redoubt "prayed that the gates of hell have not been opened in the region as a result of this intervention." Three months later, John's fears of a nightmare scenario still cannot be ruled out, as evidenced by the revolting desecration on Mogadishu's streets of dead Somali and Ethiopian soldiers' bodies, followed by the downing of the plane supporting the African Union peace-keepers.

Salim Lone, " If the US wishes to avoid another protracted crisis which also has the potential to destabilise its allies in the region, it should bring in theUnited Nations, which would name a senior Special Representative who would head a new political mission in Somalia, to which the AU peace-keepers would be subordinate. Somalis would need to be convinced that this is a genuine attempt by non-interested parties to create a broad-based governing coalition."

Investors' loss is tenants' gain as Kenyan property cools

The high-end real-estate market boom in Kenya may not be sustainable but it has a significant and beneficial effect on the lower (rent) end of the market. As the real-estate market in Kenya started humming over 4 years ago many wondered what was fueling the boom and how long it would last. Several factors have been at play, including the high demand for housing fueled by the surge in resources from diaspora Kenyans and global liquidity. Even then the market has been biased towards residential properties; specifically high cost apartment blocks to such an extent that it has not only over-supplied, but also overshot potential consumption in that segment.

Peter Ndiangui's take on Kenya's real estate industry.

Political capital from bashing Kenya?

Imagine yourself as a presidential candidate in the Kenyan general elections. You are invited as a keynote speaker in a meeting comprising of university students -drawn from all Tanzanian universities- at the University of Dar es Salaam.

What will you tell these students? Will you use the forum to campaign for presidency?

Rodgers Akombe wonders why Kenyan politicians do not dwell on issues, instead engage in irrelevant bashing of each other. After all, couldn't we discuss the East Africa Federation, political and economic integration.

Is Kenya ready for the East African Federation?

Are we ready for political federation with the nations and the people of East Africa?

You now read that the EAC is designing an East African flag and anthem. Are these little issues important in the grand scheme of things? Had we not better first concentrate on improving the governance structures and service delivery mechanisms within our individual component states first before attempting an experiment of this magnitude? The little we have going in the Customs Union is not by itself streamlined, and neither is the manner of our treatment of our Rwandese, Burundian, Tanzanian and Ugandan brothers consistent with what would be expected from nations on the track to political federation.

What do you think?

Kimunya Attempts to woo Kenyan Diaspora

Amos Kimunya, Finance Minister and head of the delegation promoting investments in Kenya, no doubt well aware of this case, deliberately ignored questions regarding the hostile investment climate, bureaucratic thuggery, and the hostile take-over of investment ideas. In a flash, the whole trip became an exercise in futility, a waste of tax payer resources. Kimunya and company had come to the USA to explain how the government has made it easy to invest in Kenya. Refusing to address such a specific case is exactly how not to court investors, this is the stuff of investor nightmares.

That the Finance Minister was not interested in dialogue was also proved by his failure to grasp the conceptual benefits of -dual citizenship with regard to investments that was well articulated by Mkawasi Mcharo, (President Kenya Community Abroad-KCA). A citizen of both the USA and Kenya for example, enjoying local status in both countries is unencumbered in his investments by laws decreeing specific local shareholding. This is especially important in heavily regulated sectors like the telecommunications one. The dismissive attitude of the Minister, summarized as- it took the same path as the Wako draft and died- is extremely unhelpful if Kenyans abroad are to take a greater part in nation-building. If the Ministry of Finance is serious about promoting investments by Kenyans abroad it must soon integrate calls for dual citizenship into the minimum constitution reforms that Kibaki has agreed to support?

Job Obonyo analyzes the Finance Minister's investment visit to Washington DC.

The Hummer and Raila

You have to wonder about the man Raila Odinga, his powerful mouth and the way his finger itches for the self-destruct button.

Raila has been around the world on a number of trips popularising ODM-K ,popularising himself if you asked me. That though is neither here nor there. What has been reported is that apart from addressing Kenyans in the diaspora about his party, the elections and his plan for Kenya, he has been involved in a major fund-raising drive for his campaign. Someone in KANU I hear is pretty miffed that the funds so raised were for Raila Odinga l'homme and not for ODM-K! Kenyan politics one must admit, takes the carrot.

Kamale T, "Raila is prone to making political blunders,but this is one that will follow him for a long while yet."

Women and Shoes!

I am sure a lot of women can identify with me when I say, 'I own about forty pairs of shoes but only ever wear three of them.'

It is not unusual to see women strut along in very uncomfortable shoes that they can barely stand in. Women have historically worn uncomfortable shoes. For the past two hundred years they have been stuck in heel-cracking,toe-pinching shoes, inflicting agony in the name of aesthetics.

A self-confessed altocalciphile (heel fetishist),I have often wondered what drives me against my better senses to put myself through these lofty motions. At the end of the day all I gain is corns and searing backache, but I can tell you that while am up there I feel like am flying. At least until I hit earth again and then its pain and promises of never buying another pair of ridiculous heels ever again. Still I must confess that I know I cant wait to get my first pair of Manolo Blahniks who once said, 'When a woman asks me what I think of high-heels, I tell them to try a pair. If they can't see the magic then they should stick to Reeboks.'

Emily Nyasiebi gives a historical account of shoes, women and their postion in society.

Picture: An Andre Perugia heel

Cadavers and Kenyan Doctors

Last night as I half dozed watching ‘Patch Adams' the movie, my significant other, a faithful reader of the Kenyan e-dailies, asked why Kenyans were reluctant to donate dead bodies for research.
I did not read the article, but it got me thinking.

Is Kenya training enough doctors? Dr. Julius Ogeng'o , Chair of Human Anatomy at the University of Nairobi's School of Medicine claims the lack of cadaver donation is having a huge negative impact on training. But is this the sole reason? Or is it our scapegoat, ‘brain drain' at it again. From my point of view, the brain drain is not a viable reason. It is a rare thing to meet Kenyan medical doctors out here. So far in the 5 states I have toured, I have only met one orthodontist and one chiropractor. I am not sure the latter is even considered a proper doctor in Jamhuri.

Patience Wanga wonders if our culture of revering the dead is getting in the way of doctors' training.

Economic effects of global warming in Africa

Global warming took center stage in Kenya a few months ago as the United Nation Environmental Program (UNEP) held its Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) conference in Kenya.

The delegates who attended the meeting came back with the same conclusion they have in the past; we should aim at reducing the carbon dioxide emissions. The human carbon foot print.

There are several arguments in the global warming story, there are those who insist that the carbon dioxide and the burning of the fossil fuels is casing the earth to become a warmer place. Then there are those who insist that the earth warming up is a natural trend, a cycle through which the earth naturally goes through, it just happens that we are warming up and have been warming up for the last 1000 years. Then there are those who believe that the warming is related to the sun’s activity, the lack thereof.

Brian Mogaka on the environment and economic growth or lack thereof in Africa.

Kenyan Tea

Kenyans seem to drink a lot of tea, as everybody's own daily experience seems to corroborate; astonishingly however, the objective consumption statistics disprove this subjective impression.

The aim of Kenyan tea producers therefore is to raise internal consumption (several expensive advertisement campaigns have been conducted to this effect, with only modest immediate success), and to make additional gains by offering good-quality packaged tea (as tea-bags or as loose leaf) with a recognizable brand name, instead of having cheap anonymous bulk ware tea degraded through the notorious Mombasa auction (which is the pure textbook definition of a "cartel" if there ever was one). The present buzzword in the Kenyan tea sector is "value addition". Rather unsurprisingly, it is most popularly used by those who know nothing about intrinsic value factors of tea in the first place. The more general the blather about value addition, special teas, diversification, the less the speaker usually has an idea what actually could and should be done with tea in order to create real value.

Interesting article by Alexander Eichener on Kenyan tea and KETEPA, and a new brand of tea- Jani.

Kenya's Cricket Heroes

Later today (20th March) a team from Kenya will go out to do battle against a far more experienced side in something of a David vs Goliath style clash.

Kenya are undoubtedly the under-dogs but they are led by legendary Captain Steve Tikolo. New Zealand will not have an easy ride.

The ICC World Cup is here once again- is it really 4 years?-and the boys from team Kenya did a great job in an emphatic victory over Canada in their opening match of the competition. True to form Captain Steve Tikolo led from the front and by example in a fine display of a team working as a single unit. The team came to the World Cup fresh from victory at the World Cricket League tournament held in Nairobi between 29 January and 7 February this year. Kenya recorded good wins against Bermuda, The Netherlands, Ireland and Canada before beating Scotland in the final.

Don Wainaina on Kenya's best sports team, and an appeal to Cricket Kenya to popularise the sport.

Get yourself a gun?

Follow and participate in discussion on arming Kenyans.

Should firearms licensing procedures in Kenya be reworked and streamlined - and how? Together with the imagery of burning illegal guns in Uhuru park, government has announced its intention for still sterner penalties on firearms possesion, and has revoked all temporary permits. How should the future procedures for a firearms certificate and temporary permit look like? What do you think?

Intransparency of Annual Graft Report

Photo: Reports indicate that corruption in Kenya has increased, although according to wananchi actions like the one above are on the decrease.

The exponential ranking of Kenya' on Transparency International's world corruption index since year 2000 to 2006 ,raises questions on the credibility of their annual reports.

One wonders if this is a fair and true representation of the state of affairs in the country. Could there be some underlying influences bent on denigrating the current Kenyan government?

Since its accesion to power the relationship with the anti-graft body has been a matter for glaring controversy. To rank Kenya from index rating 42 in 2000 to 142 in 2006 (with rating 145 being most the corrupt), indicates a stark 338% increase which by necessity must be attributed to some explainable cause and would be felt by a staggering majority of the citizenry.

Read as Collins Mbalo and others discuss the legitimacy of transparency international's corruption index.

The 'Other' Election

With all the drama already unfolding in the 2007 election campaigns, it may be hard to conceive that Kenyans are still diverting a lot of attention to that other election just less than two years away: The 2008 American presidential elections.

The picture has changed somewhat since late 2006, but generally there have not been any major surprises. Among the Democrats, an AP-AOL January poll showed Hillary Clinton in the lead with 38%; followed by Obama with 21%, then Al Gore with 14% and John Edwards with 10%. The rest are in the single digits and not considered serious challengers.

Obama's gain on Hillary has come primarily from Blacks and young voters. In his nationwide campaign, thousands of young people have attended his rallies - rallies that have drawn far larger crowds than any of the other presidential contenders in both parties -, which shows his growing pull on the youth. He has also made headway among Blacks, with the latest polls showing there an almost even split with Hillary but almost no support whatsoever for other Democrats. It is however important to point out that it is very difficult to effectively poll Blacks who constitute 12% of the American population.

Dave Nyambati writes on why he thinks Obama is the best candidate for the US 2008 elections.

Undecided voter; war on corruption

I have been keenly following the candidates for the 2008 Presidential election, trying to find one who is the most outspoken and sincere about fighting corruption.

I am looking for a candidate with a genuine track record of fighting against corruption, whether or not they were successful.

The chain reaction effect of corruption starts at the highest level of government, and then trickles down to the local public service providers. The most fundamental result of corruption is poverty. Another word for poverty is "shortage". In my case it is the Shortage of Government support - evident in the deteriorating healthcare facilities, transportation network, lack of observance of justice to the poor... and the list goes on. My heart bleeds at the knowledge of our poverty stricken brothers and sisters back in Kenya, who toil from dawn to dusk trying to earn a sufficient living to provide food and shelter for their families. While this is happening a few select individuals are sitting on billions of shillings that were/are diverted from reaching rural development projects which were meant to alleviate the suffering of those who are struggling to get the most basic needs.

Andrew Bomett seeks answers from our presidential candidates. None, so far, has a combative strategy in eradicating corruption which Bomett feels is one of the biggest issues facing development in Kenya.

Women, merit and public office in Kenya

Photo: Feminist (n): powerful, compassionate, balance woman
Some time in the past few weeks, President Kibaki appointed Prof Ndung'u as Governor of the Central Bank of Kenya replacing Jacinta Mwatela who had been serving in an acting role.

I have watched silently as this controversial decision was analysed, based either on a pro, anti-government dichotomy or louder still seen as part of an insidious plot hatched to gather the Agikuyu community and cronies of the President to all the powerful positions of government.

I have a wholly different take on the matter, one I feel particularly compelled to speak out on as a woman. Now, it is expected more and more every day that the educated African woman be an iconoclast, loudly crashing through the barriers that her paternalistic society places in her way, and causing trouble even where there should not be any. Such a woman is seen as an agitator against a peaceful and coherent society and an importer of dangerous foreign values.

Angela Wairimu on affirmative action in public office in Kenya.

Societal connivance in road carnage

Above: Matatu on a Kenyan road

This is an indictment of Abagusii for murdering five members of a family, earlier this week. More importantly, it is an indictment of the police, who knew that the carnage was imminent.

The week began with news from my home district, Nyamira, that several people had died in a gory matatu accident. Five of them were from a little village outside the town, where I was born. The report sent me back to the summer of last year, when, after 12 years in the United States, I returned home.

Ombuya E. Okong'o criticizes the Kisii community in its failure to embrace road safety, and what he says is their continued support of the police corruption on Gusii roads.

Raila: The Glue that Holds ODM-K

Caption: Raila with his team at a fundraising.

Through-out history at historical turning points, there emerge dominant, influential figures who command respect, generate fear and veneration and exert close to mythical power over their fellows.

This power results in his or her word acquiring an element of a command, not to be disobeyed.
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Although a lot has been said and written about the collapsed ODM-K leaders’ trip to London; no one has paid close attention to what seems obvious. Before Raila left Kenya for his tour of the United States of America, there was no rift in ODM-K over the trip. In fact, it is fair to say that Kenyans had not heard of this trip until Kalonzo Musyoka announced it at his rally in Kakamega on Thursday, March 1st, 2007.

Read Miguna Miguna's assertion on Raila's leadership prowess. Following is very interesting debate on the merits of Miguna's argument by kenya imagine readers.

International Women's Day

I am moved to tears as these women sing for my colleagues and I. By the look, some of them are my age mates though in their own words ‘we are from two different worlds'.

They perceive me as one from Kenya and themselves as just people. Maybe it's because of my complexion or my jeans and t-shirt. They are all dressed in long flowing diras and a head gear. I sport a cap. Most of them have a child on their back swith a few others around; they tell us that most of them have six to seven children. They probably can tell I haven't given birth. They do not sit near the men, in fact most had to ask for permission to meet us.

These are women from the northern part of Kenya. Married at a very young age, denied opportunities because there it is a man's world. My colleagues and I talk to them and get to hear their issues. They include lack of income generating projects, water, insecurity, discrimination and violence both sexual and physical.

Follow Purity Kagwiria as she talks about her challenges working with disenfranchised women, and the importance of the women's movement.

New man at CBK helm

Nairobi is teeming with opinion that is dismissive of the newly appointed governor of the Central Bank, characterizing him as deficient of ‘real banking experience'.


As is compulsory in our country, a lot of the rejection of Prof. Ndung'u is hinged on the thought that the governor needed to come from another 'tribe'. Let's ignore those sentiments and focus instead on the theory that the Central Bank Governor needs to have a history in the banking industry. This line of thought by banking executives is upon close scrutiny totally baseless.

Read as Peter Ndiangui highlights the functions of the Central Bank arguing that Prof Ndung'u is well-qualified to do his job. Others argue that Pres Kibaki should have sort members of other tribes to lead CBK.

MP's for Sale!!

From face value, the story carried by Standard (March 5^th, 07) looks innocent. It appears to be just another one of the gazillion political stories in the Kenyan media.

The original Lancaster House in 1945

It is only after you look at the content critically that you are hit with the unethical and risky games that our MPs are playing with the future of our country.The Standard tells us that MPs allied to ODM will visit London on a bonding mission. Their bonding session will be presided over by 10 UK MPs. While in London, Kenyan MPs will hold a dinner event for ‘investors' with an entry fee ranging between £100 and £1,000.

Rodgers Akombe takes a critical look at our MP's visit to Lancaster House and the implications this might have on Wanjiku and Otieno.

Fighting Dirty

The Clinton - Obama feud is rather pointless and represents a power struggle within the Democratic Party, between the old skins and the new skins. I don't believe that Senator Clinton has an indelible, potent and carefully planned out strategy for Iraq or for anything else - rather she offers unadulterated ambiguity, and an unconvincing platform. However, her manipulations seem to have resulted in a derailment of Senator Obama's campaign. Immediately after Obama notified the American people via his website that he was planning to run for President, the New York Senator jumped at the opportunity to announce her own candidature online.

Neesha Farouk wonders why Clinton is playing dirty against Obama.

Made in Kenya

(Above, one of Hon Raila's shirts designed in Abidjan)

While addressing Kenyans in Minnesota, ODM-K MPs Raila Odinga and Omingo Magara attributed the rise in crime to unemployment.

It is ironic,that they used the same forum to sell custom made attire made by Mr. Odinga's personal tailor in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. This simple action, -innocent though it may have been- speaks volumes about Kenyan leaders who preach water while drinking wine. Jobs are not a creation of the government but come as a result of trade.

Follow Rodgers Akombe's discussion on why it is important for Kenyan leaders to support our cottage industry.

KCSE

National Schools cheat parents, students
by Annette Keino
When she scored the first place in Coast Province in her KCPE in 2002, Khadija Abdullah was elated to receive a letter of acceptance to Alliance Girls' High School.

For her like for many students her age, entrance to a national school, and especially to the oldest most prestigious ones like the Alliance Schools, Mangu, Starehe is a life's dream. This dream motivates a the ruthless competition to come out on top not just in one's sown local chool, but also in the municipality and province. It is especially difficult for students from municipalities from which a school like Alliance may admit just one girl. So Khadija set off for Alliance where Charity Ngilu, Margaret Kenyatta, Effie Owuor had started their steps to success.

Read Ms. Keino's argument on why National Schools in Kenya ought to perform better at National Exams, and the discussion that follows.