IS THE CONSTITUTIONAL REVIEW OUR ONLY REMEDY
The constitutional review has been a song sang since early 90s by majority of Kenyans under the leadership of a number of civil society organizations like the National Constitutional Executive Council. Activities of such organizations helped us attain an awareness level to most of Kenyans on the importance of reforms through constitutional review.
However it’s unfortunate that it’s almost two decades since the introduction of multipartyism whose campaign was spearheaded by a number of the current people in government.
The constitutional review process has instead become a serious impediment to any reforms in this country because Kenyans have been made to believe that real change can only come through a constitutional review. this has also given opportunity to those who are anti reforms to have a clear picture of what would stand on their way in maintain the status quo.therefore the anti reform forces who are beneficiaries of corruption which includes irregular land allocations to use all their energies and positions of power to ensure there are no reforms that might interfere with their comfort. It’s also notable that most of those who agitated for change while in opposition changed their language immediately they got opportunities to serve in government.
It’s a known fact too that a number of non governmental organizations exist on the sole reason of pursuing constitutional changes in the country and the general feeling is that they will be rendered insignificant once the we have a new constitution.
Given these circumstances, Kenyans need to redefine a new way of implementing reforms or rather having a new constitution without involving the usual stakeholders who have been squabbling over the way to the reforms.
If we still believe that reforms can only be achieved through constitutional review then we need to have different players other than politicians or those with vested interests.
It has been a daunting task for Kenyans who even went on to believe that by voting in pro reform leaders into parliament, it was going to be easier to have a people driven constitution which was eventually a proven futility citing examples of Prof Kivutha Kibwana’s days in parliament and the current presence of the likes of Mutava Musyimi and others.
It’s therefore evident that all Kenyans in positions of leadership are obstacles to constitutional change in Kenya. This is the same cause of our inability to attain this long fought potential historic achievement in 2005 when we went to the referendum because of tension and vested interest s by leaders from different sectors of political and civil society leadership. In the same vain was the national accord that was signed by the President and the Prime Minister in order to halt clashes that resulted fro a disputed presidential election. For the same reasons of the process driven by a political class, the Serena talks went into disarray immediately the agenda on power sharing was cleared. Agenda four which had a lot to do with the reforms is now being treated as a minor issue by the same political class that agreed on power sharing. It’s for this reason that I believe that our political class will never address issues on agenda four.
This is the reason as to why some people have decided to agitate for piecemeal reforms which have still been rendered useless because of legal arguments based on current constitutional references. It is therefore imperative that we have a radical approach on the process or else we will never have a new constitution in this country and that means we will never be able to address reforms in this country whose implementation is based on constitutional interpretation. When NARC government took reigns of power from Moi, Kenyans were very optimistic and Kibaki who those days seemed to still care about his reputation as the hope for change, created a number of commissions which included the Ndung’u commission on land that produced the report which can now only be termed as having been a public relations exercise. It has since been a nightmare to implement because there is no mandatory constitutional obligation for its implementation. So it can authoritatively be argued that in a way the constitutional review process has in itself been an obstacle to reforms in this country. The same forces that have been ensuring that we don’t get a new constitution are still very influential in the country. Therefore if we divorced the constitution from the political class, it may be easier for us to achieve change or alternatively, Kenyans have a duty to think of another way of achieving change other than the constitution. It’s mind boggling conscientiousness to every progressive force in this country. Changing the process or the method is the only right direction we must take to achieve change.
FWAMBA NC FWAMBA
BOX 41046, Nairobi
0736170218
http://kenyayoungvotersalliance.blogspot.com
http://fwambancfwamba.wordpress.com
http://fwambancfwamba.blogspot.com
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Friday, March 6, 2009
MY COMRADE GPO
MY TRIBUTE TO GEORGE PAUL OWEN OULU (a.k.a.OULU GPO)
It must have been around January of 2003 when I first met George Paul Owen Oulu (shortly referred to as Oulu GPO,) He was a first year then at the university of Nairobi kikuyu campus. He was a very jovial guy, free and confident unlike other freshers who always looked intimidated by the new university environment. I was in the first semester of my third year. We had declared that we needed revival of the student organization of Nairobi University {SONU} after it having been disbanded in 2000.so it was a great risk we had taken to be on the frontline agitating for this. For a first year it was so courageous of him and I once noted it and told him I couldn’t believe he was a fresher given his guts in addressing people who had by then spent more years at the university. I know all agitators of change are scared now (I included) but in spite of my mourning I believe as a writer I got a lot to write about my brother and comrade GPO.
When elections were later called on 7th march 2003, GPO emerged the winner as the campus representative for kikuyu campus whereas I was elected the vice chairman (academic affairs) thanks to him having helped me campaign in vote rich kikuyu campus. Therefore we became members of the SONU executive together with the following elected
Chairman Tedd Munovi,
Vice Chairman Academic Affairs-Fwamba NC Fwamba
Vice Chairman Administration-Koome Wa Mburugu
Secretary General-Makokha Wanjala
Organizing Secretary-Mwengi Mutuse
Treasurer-Tabitha Wainaina
Secretary Legal Affairs-Cornelius Lupao
Secretary Health-Dr.Onkoba Marube (Now Deceased)
Secretary for Sports/Entertainment-Juma Jombi
Secretary Gender Affairs –Purity Mukami
Campus Representative College Of Architecture and Engineering-Opata Kopata
Campus Representative College Of Humanities and Social Sciences (Main Campus)-Ngaruiya John Kamau (Later Elected Sonu Chairman)
College of Education and External Studies-(The late) Oulu GPO (Was Later Elected Sonu Vice Chairman)
Lower Kabete Campus-James Oluoch
Medical School Campus (College Of Health Sciences)-Dr.Brian Lishenga
Parklands Campus (Law School)-Gitau Gitonga
Upper Kabete Campus-Nelson Indimuli
Chiromo Campus-Nemwel Machuki (Was Later Elected Sonu Vice Chairman, Then Chairman)
That constituted the SONU executive (like SONU cabinet)
During that tenure we worked well with GPO since just like me he was a man who believed in transparency and was on the frontline in fighting corruption among student leaders and the university administration. The congress (student parliament) elected me the chairman of Public accounts committee. In that docket I got a lot of strength from GPO because he always stood by what was right. I even know today that if GPO was in Kenyan parliament, he would be amongst the 22 MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT.
In subsequent SONU elections I remember GPO as the most popular candidate, who used minimal resources but emerged as the winner in his docket and one with the highest margin of victory than any other member of the executive I remember as David Okindo used to joke about it all the time that when we went to campaign in Kikuyu campus, students could sing and shout GPO, GPO, GPO CONTINUOSLY without tiring regardless of who was talking. Any candidate could chant comrades’ power!!!The crowd answered GPO.Kikuyu campus was a GPO zone. it was beyond any doubt that GPO was VERY POPULAR THERE.I remember one of the last campaigns when I delayed to arrive, for the Kamukunji, Ken Orengo, Brian Lishenga, Kingwa Kamencu and Ngaruiya KJ(who were vying against me for the position of chairman)GPO himself had talked.GPO had kept the crowd waiting for me with David Okindo on the podium. When I arrived I could only see crowds singing GPO, GPO, GPO, .it was one of my most fantastic days of my campaign. We all knew that we all had supporters there but GPO had followers.
We later developed a good liking for the American rhetoric which were produced by Wafula Buke then and I distributed them at a commission from Buke.the most interesting part was the message to the grassroots where Malcolm X mocks ‘the big six’ about ‘THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON’ when Malcolm X says ‘then old tom said ‘boss I cant stop it because I never started it’ that is obviously what we would have joked about if we met on that evening of 5th march 2009 when GPO was assassinated in cold blood with the founder the Oscar Foundation.
GPO stood for the down trodden all his life especially during the time I have known him. I remember him being suspended from the university for three years for complaining against arbitrary fees increments without the university authorities caring about the peasantry background of the majority of bright university students who are usually admitted through the Joint Admissions Board.
GPO was a real comrade. He was one person you could always count on at the hour of need. As I write this I find it difficult to control my tears.
At some point together with Ken Orengo, Nemwel Machuki, GPO, Kingwa Kamencu and I helped sensitize university of Nairobi students after they had a student election rigged in favour of puppets as leaders of the union. This is when I met Isaac Otidi Amuke, one of GPO’s greatest friends too, mamluki, sissey Marvin and Susan Chege.
In recent past I remember him being one of the first people who came to central police station immediately word went around that Philo Ikonya, Patrick Kamotho and I had been arrested and beaten by the brutal police.
The following morning of 19th Feb. 2009, GPO called me and said ‘boss, its good you are fighting corruption, you just made my spirit stronger when I was just about to give up’ and I told him ‘boss we need to be patriotic enough and cause real change corruption is a serious disease in this country’.
Before the maize demonstration I asked GPO if he was going to commemorate the 44th anniversary of Malcolm Xs assassination on 21st Feb. he said the idea was great since to him just like me, Malcolm X was a great symbol of struggle for freedom justice and equality. But the whole issue was changed because on that week I got arrested demonstrating against corruption and food insecurity in the country.
I Met GPO on 22nd and he joked about our demonstration saying we would have mobilized more people. I laughed and told him what was important was the message, not necessarily big crowds. I was with Philo whom I reminded that it’s GPO who had introduced me to her back in 2007 at the Norfolk hotel during one of the civil society functions organized by the youth agenda whose CEO was Kepta Ombati then. Other prominent youth leaders had been around too like Cyprian Nyamwamu, Ndolo Asasa, Kingwa Kamencu and others.
On the tragic day while sitting with Ken Orengo, Martin Nkari and jimmy Nyikuli, Patrick Kokonya and Jeremy Oloo, I thought of talking to GPO, I called him and said’ boss, why don’t we meet, I would like us to meet’. He told me that he was on ngong road and he was going to call me immediately he got to town. So I waited for his call. At around 5pm, I called again and he told me he was on the way. When it got late I decided to call Kamotho so that we could have coffee together. We thought of going home then while on the way along Koinange street I got a call from Kelly musyoka.So I left Orengo,Martin and jimmy then together with Kamotho we joined gaceke,odipo and Kelly whom we had been with earlier.gaceke received a phone call from George Nyongesa who informed that some people had been shot at the university. as I moved out of kikwetu I got a call from philo Ikonya who asked me if I had heard anything about GPO,I told her I had just talked to him wanted for him but I was going home because he hadn’t shown up. I assumed he got busy with something else.Philo told me Kingwa had told her GPO might have been harmed, that he might have been shot. I called Kingwa right away who told me GPO had been shot. But she didn’t sound so certain. I got worried and asked George Nyongesa who told me he was at the scene at the university and GPO had BEEN shot…DEAD!!!I broke down in town, Kamotho tried to calm me down. I was with Kamotho all that time. March 5TH 2009 was one of the worst days in my life since I was born.
, The ever happy GPO, The man full of jokes, the man full of wisdom is gone, gone.
Rest in Peace GPO, You are my man…
It must have been around January of 2003 when I first met George Paul Owen Oulu (shortly referred to as Oulu GPO,) He was a first year then at the university of Nairobi kikuyu campus. He was a very jovial guy, free and confident unlike other freshers who always looked intimidated by the new university environment. I was in the first semester of my third year. We had declared that we needed revival of the student organization of Nairobi University {SONU} after it having been disbanded in 2000.so it was a great risk we had taken to be on the frontline agitating for this. For a first year it was so courageous of him and I once noted it and told him I couldn’t believe he was a fresher given his guts in addressing people who had by then spent more years at the university. I know all agitators of change are scared now (I included) but in spite of my mourning I believe as a writer I got a lot to write about my brother and comrade GPO.
When elections were later called on 7th march 2003, GPO emerged the winner as the campus representative for kikuyu campus whereas I was elected the vice chairman (academic affairs) thanks to him having helped me campaign in vote rich kikuyu campus. Therefore we became members of the SONU executive together with the following elected
Chairman Tedd Munovi,
Vice Chairman Academic Affairs-Fwamba NC Fwamba
Vice Chairman Administration-Koome Wa Mburugu
Secretary General-Makokha Wanjala
Organizing Secretary-Mwengi Mutuse
Treasurer-Tabitha Wainaina
Secretary Legal Affairs-Cornelius Lupao
Secretary Health-Dr.Onkoba Marube (Now Deceased)
Secretary for Sports/Entertainment-Juma Jombi
Secretary Gender Affairs –Purity Mukami
Campus Representative College Of Architecture and Engineering-Opata Kopata
Campus Representative College Of Humanities and Social Sciences (Main Campus)-Ngaruiya John Kamau (Later Elected Sonu Chairman)
College of Education and External Studies-(The late) Oulu GPO (Was Later Elected Sonu Vice Chairman)
Lower Kabete Campus-James Oluoch
Medical School Campus (College Of Health Sciences)-Dr.Brian Lishenga
Parklands Campus (Law School)-Gitau Gitonga
Upper Kabete Campus-Nelson Indimuli
Chiromo Campus-Nemwel Machuki (Was Later Elected Sonu Vice Chairman, Then Chairman)
That constituted the SONU executive (like SONU cabinet)
During that tenure we worked well with GPO since just like me he was a man who believed in transparency and was on the frontline in fighting corruption among student leaders and the university administration. The congress (student parliament) elected me the chairman of Public accounts committee. In that docket I got a lot of strength from GPO because he always stood by what was right. I even know today that if GPO was in Kenyan parliament, he would be amongst the 22 MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT.
In subsequent SONU elections I remember GPO as the most popular candidate, who used minimal resources but emerged as the winner in his docket and one with the highest margin of victory than any other member of the executive I remember as David Okindo used to joke about it all the time that when we went to campaign in Kikuyu campus, students could sing and shout GPO, GPO, GPO CONTINUOSLY without tiring regardless of who was talking. Any candidate could chant comrades’ power!!!The crowd answered GPO.Kikuyu campus was a GPO zone. it was beyond any doubt that GPO was VERY POPULAR THERE.I remember one of the last campaigns when I delayed to arrive, for the Kamukunji, Ken Orengo, Brian Lishenga, Kingwa Kamencu and Ngaruiya KJ(who were vying against me for the position of chairman)GPO himself had talked.GPO had kept the crowd waiting for me with David Okindo on the podium. When I arrived I could only see crowds singing GPO, GPO, GPO, .it was one of my most fantastic days of my campaign. We all knew that we all had supporters there but GPO had followers.
We later developed a good liking for the American rhetoric which were produced by Wafula Buke then and I distributed them at a commission from Buke.the most interesting part was the message to the grassroots where Malcolm X mocks ‘the big six’ about ‘THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON’ when Malcolm X says ‘then old tom said ‘boss I cant stop it because I never started it’ that is obviously what we would have joked about if we met on that evening of 5th march 2009 when GPO was assassinated in cold blood with the founder the Oscar Foundation.
GPO stood for the down trodden all his life especially during the time I have known him. I remember him being suspended from the university for three years for complaining against arbitrary fees increments without the university authorities caring about the peasantry background of the majority of bright university students who are usually admitted through the Joint Admissions Board.
GPO was a real comrade. He was one person you could always count on at the hour of need. As I write this I find it difficult to control my tears.
At some point together with Ken Orengo, Nemwel Machuki, GPO, Kingwa Kamencu and I helped sensitize university of Nairobi students after they had a student election rigged in favour of puppets as leaders of the union. This is when I met Isaac Otidi Amuke, one of GPO’s greatest friends too, mamluki, sissey Marvin and Susan Chege.
In recent past I remember him being one of the first people who came to central police station immediately word went around that Philo Ikonya, Patrick Kamotho and I had been arrested and beaten by the brutal police.
The following morning of 19th Feb. 2009, GPO called me and said ‘boss, its good you are fighting corruption, you just made my spirit stronger when I was just about to give up’ and I told him ‘boss we need to be patriotic enough and cause real change corruption is a serious disease in this country’.
Before the maize demonstration I asked GPO if he was going to commemorate the 44th anniversary of Malcolm Xs assassination on 21st Feb. he said the idea was great since to him just like me, Malcolm X was a great symbol of struggle for freedom justice and equality. But the whole issue was changed because on that week I got arrested demonstrating against corruption and food insecurity in the country.
I Met GPO on 22nd and he joked about our demonstration saying we would have mobilized more people. I laughed and told him what was important was the message, not necessarily big crowds. I was with Philo whom I reminded that it’s GPO who had introduced me to her back in 2007 at the Norfolk hotel during one of the civil society functions organized by the youth agenda whose CEO was Kepta Ombati then. Other prominent youth leaders had been around too like Cyprian Nyamwamu, Ndolo Asasa, Kingwa Kamencu and others.
On the tragic day while sitting with Ken Orengo, Martin Nkari and jimmy Nyikuli, Patrick Kokonya and Jeremy Oloo, I thought of talking to GPO, I called him and said’ boss, why don’t we meet, I would like us to meet’. He told me that he was on ngong road and he was going to call me immediately he got to town. So I waited for his call. At around 5pm, I called again and he told me he was on the way. When it got late I decided to call Kamotho so that we could have coffee together. We thought of going home then while on the way along Koinange street I got a call from Kelly musyoka.So I left Orengo,Martin and jimmy then together with Kamotho we joined gaceke,odipo and Kelly whom we had been with earlier.gaceke received a phone call from George Nyongesa who informed that some people had been shot at the university. as I moved out of kikwetu I got a call from philo Ikonya who asked me if I had heard anything about GPO,I told her I had just talked to him wanted for him but I was going home because he hadn’t shown up. I assumed he got busy with something else.Philo told me Kingwa had told her GPO might have been harmed, that he might have been shot. I called Kingwa right away who told me GPO had been shot. But she didn’t sound so certain. I got worried and asked George Nyongesa who told me he was at the scene at the university and GPO had BEEN shot…DEAD!!!I broke down in town, Kamotho tried to calm me down. I was with Kamotho all that time. March 5TH 2009 was one of the worst days in my life since I was born.
, The ever happy GPO, The man full of jokes, the man full of wisdom is gone, gone.
Rest in Peace GPO, You are my man…
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
MORE FOR THE HAGUE:THE NOTORIOUS KENYA POLICE
ALWAYSMORE FOR THE HAGUE The police had rejected our plea to give us our right of reporting assault. In all police cells we had been, we constantly asked the cops on duty to record our complain. They all declined. All those days they had remained with one of Philo’s shoes. On 23rd of Feb. 2009 at 10 am, I waited for Philo at the freedom corner named after the mothers of freedom.Philo came barefooted with one shoe in a paper bag. The other shoe was still in police custody at the central police station. Therefore we started our symbolic walk (starting from freedom corner). We eventually got to the central police station where we demanded our assault case against one Mr. Richard mugwai.we made our request to the officer on duty who was in charge of making records in the occurrence book. Philo asked the cop to give her the shoe too. The cops were uncooperative. the one in charge of the occurrence book, refered us to another guy whose office was labeled O.C.crime.he explained that he had no powers of recording a complain against his senior who had battered us on the 18 feb, 2009 during and after arresting us outside the parliament buildings as we protested against rampant corruption in government, poor governance theft by members of the Kenyan executive. As we sat in that office, the policeman in charge started asking us what we wanted; when we told him he started dodging. The police officer said that his job could be in jeopardy if he allowed us to access the process of justice by recording our report against the cop who assaulted us. A number of five cops came in and stated perusing the occurrence book which we automatically sensed as diversionary tactics. it was the same strategy they used when they saw Ann Njogu going to report the same nature of crime committed by the same cop. {he also assaulted her while arresting her and other colleagues last year} thereafter the tall brown cop led us from the occurrence book desk through towards the end of the corridor where he showed us a door labeled OC.Crime.there was no one in the office. the guy had seen us and sneaked away. Same old tricks. Then by good luck the occupant of the office appeared from a distance. We asked him that his juniors had referred us to him but he just grinned and said that he could not take our reporting because the perpetrator of the crime was his senior. so the cop refused and told us arrogantly that we could go and report to the police commissioner HUSSEIN ALI.By that information we understood that the police had no intentions of allowing us to report the violation of our rights by one Richard mugwai.i know one day the chicken will come home to roost for this brute. Help us bring Mugwai to justice.
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http://kenyayoungvotersalliance.blogspot.com
http://fwambancfwamba.blogspot.com
http://fwambancfwamba.wordpress.com
http://kenyayoungvotersalliance.blogspot.com
http://fwambancfwamba.blogspot.com
Sunday, February 22, 2009
HOSPITALIZED
BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY:REAL CHANGE MUST COME.
Early in the morning at 6 am of19th Feb. 2009, Patrick Kamotho and I leave the central police cells. There seems to be no ready police van to take us to the Nairobi high court. We are scheduled to appear before the judge on duty Gilbert Mutembei in court one. at the central police doorway. The cop who is supposed to take us escorts us into a waiting matatu psv whose passengers had been arrested for failing to buckle their seat belts. So Kamotho and I enter the vehicle with its diver and conductor. They drop us at the main entrance of the Nairobi law courts. This cop seems to be kind of civilized. He hands us over to some two policemen who seem to have a lot of ‘advice’ for us…but we don’t let them we advice them instead..Tell them on how they have a responsibility to help make our country better. but they seem to be so self righteous convincing us that we should just give up about the war on corruption because we cant win. That we are only but wasting our time and unnecessarily endangering our lives. Even insinuating that it will be hard for us to get any government jobs. We challenge them but later they decide to push us into the basement police cells of the high court. There we again meet people of different characters with varying case. But we still push our anti-corruption crusade and for them they wholeheartedly get sense in what we say. at about 8.50am..we are lead to the dock awaiting the judge…who then enters and starts with our case,Philo Ikonya’s name is called and she joins us in the dock, my name is called, Patrick kamotho’s and our charges are read.mbugua mureithi pleads for a bond of 10000 per person which the judge consents our lawyer Mr.Ongoya had sent a representative but at least mbugua mureithi intervened to ask for a lesser bail and request for p3 forms because all police stations had denied as opportunity to report the police bully who had assaulted us after arrest. as we are about to be returned to the basement cells,Philo breaks down…..its because of the compassion she has been having about the hunger victims and also the inhuman way the policeman had treated us…she later tells me. She is in a sack scarf with newspaper cuttings of Nang’ole an old woman from Turkana who had three weeks before informed a media house that she hadn’t eaten in days.Philo has always been wondering whether that lady is still alive.Nang’ole is the woman whose photo is juxtaposed with Ruto’s on one of the posters Dr.Khalwale had used to persuade the conscience of the members of parliament during Ruto’s censure the previous day. my joints are in pain following Mugwai’s assault. Philo is feeling a lot of pain too as we are lead together with Kamotho out of the dock back to the basement cells as we wait for the processing of the bond for the three of us. we stay there up to very late. At some point we are separated with Philo as she is led to the female cells.Kamotho and I join other men in men’s cells. Some awaiting bonds to be processed while others wait to be taken to remand. I try to keep on calling different people and also sending Philo short messages asking when we are going to be released. at some point Kelly Musyoka informs me that they were moving together with Gacheke and others to make sure that the bail is done faster. Then after a few minutes I get information that our bails had a hitch and the process had to be restarted….its moving towards 1pm.i have not eaten since. Ken Orengo wants to bring us food but cops won’t allow. At about 3.30the process is finished. many of other civil society leaders have already left….but I can see Sophie Dowler,Wangui Mbatia,Kelly musyoka,mulielie,gacheke,Odipo and ladies who work at NCEC,we move out…I need to see I doctor…too much pain following the beatings. So does Philo.
Kamotho, Philo, Gacheke and I board Alex Kilele’s car as we head to the Nairobi women’s hospital.kilele drops us there. Hilo talks to Ann Njogu and other comrades to make a number of arrangements. After the doctor examining us.he recommends philo and I to be admitted and be observed while Kamotho is treated as an outpatient. Despite feeling so bad I decline admission at that time (6pm) because of some family issues (responsibilies).am given drugs after which I leave the hospital in company of my friends jimmy nyikuli, ken Orengo and martin nkari.i leave philo admitted at the hospital. At night I cant sleep.. Am feeling pain everywhere. Therefore early in the morning I get back to the hospital and get admission (20th FEB) .i get to the x-ray room where I spend like 3 hours. Thereafter I go to my hospital bed. Am attended to by nurses. I have visits from wanyama, george Nyongesa, wangui Mbatia, abel onkundi, Dennis Ndira, martin nkari, ken orengo,reverend mbogo among other comrades. Philo gets discharged in the evening to have bed rest at home spent the night of 20th at the hospital. at this point I get all the medication, good attention from the doctor and the nurses.
In the evening of 21st the doctor still recommends that I need to stay in hospital but other duties await me. So am discharged in the evening of 21st Feb 2009 against the doctor’s advice because I need to work on family matters.Aluta continua. Am given an appointment by the doctor but generally am feeling better. We must work together to change this country for the better….That which doent kill me only makes me stronger…
FWAMBA NC FWAMBA
a.k.a Crispus Fwamba
http://fwambancfwamba.wordpress.com
http://kenyayoungvotersalliance.blogspot.com
http://fwambancfwamba.blogspot.com
Early in the morning at 6 am of19th Feb. 2009, Patrick Kamotho and I leave the central police cells. There seems to be no ready police van to take us to the Nairobi high court. We are scheduled to appear before the judge on duty Gilbert Mutembei in court one. at the central police doorway. The cop who is supposed to take us escorts us into a waiting matatu psv whose passengers had been arrested for failing to buckle their seat belts. So Kamotho and I enter the vehicle with its diver and conductor. They drop us at the main entrance of the Nairobi law courts. This cop seems to be kind of civilized. He hands us over to some two policemen who seem to have a lot of ‘advice’ for us…but we don’t let them we advice them instead..Tell them on how they have a responsibility to help make our country better. but they seem to be so self righteous convincing us that we should just give up about the war on corruption because we cant win. That we are only but wasting our time and unnecessarily endangering our lives. Even insinuating that it will be hard for us to get any government jobs. We challenge them but later they decide to push us into the basement police cells of the high court. There we again meet people of different characters with varying case. But we still push our anti-corruption crusade and for them they wholeheartedly get sense in what we say. at about 8.50am..we are lead to the dock awaiting the judge…who then enters and starts with our case,Philo Ikonya’s name is called and she joins us in the dock, my name is called, Patrick kamotho’s and our charges are read.mbugua mureithi pleads for a bond of 10000 per person which the judge consents our lawyer Mr.Ongoya had sent a representative but at least mbugua mureithi intervened to ask for a lesser bail and request for p3 forms because all police stations had denied as opportunity to report the police bully who had assaulted us after arrest. as we are about to be returned to the basement cells,Philo breaks down…..its because of the compassion she has been having about the hunger victims and also the inhuman way the policeman had treated us…she later tells me. She is in a sack scarf with newspaper cuttings of Nang’ole an old woman from Turkana who had three weeks before informed a media house that she hadn’t eaten in days.Philo has always been wondering whether that lady is still alive.Nang’ole is the woman whose photo is juxtaposed with Ruto’s on one of the posters Dr.Khalwale had used to persuade the conscience of the members of parliament during Ruto’s censure the previous day. my joints are in pain following Mugwai’s assault. Philo is feeling a lot of pain too as we are lead together with Kamotho out of the dock back to the basement cells as we wait for the processing of the bond for the three of us. we stay there up to very late. At some point we are separated with Philo as she is led to the female cells.Kamotho and I join other men in men’s cells. Some awaiting bonds to be processed while others wait to be taken to remand. I try to keep on calling different people and also sending Philo short messages asking when we are going to be released. at some point Kelly Musyoka informs me that they were moving together with Gacheke and others to make sure that the bail is done faster. Then after a few minutes I get information that our bails had a hitch and the process had to be restarted….its moving towards 1pm.i have not eaten since. Ken Orengo wants to bring us food but cops won’t allow. At about 3.30the process is finished. many of other civil society leaders have already left….but I can see Sophie Dowler,Wangui Mbatia,Kelly musyoka,mulielie,gacheke,Odipo and ladies who work at NCEC,we move out…I need to see I doctor…too much pain following the beatings. So does Philo.
Kamotho, Philo, Gacheke and I board Alex Kilele’s car as we head to the Nairobi women’s hospital.kilele drops us there. Hilo talks to Ann Njogu and other comrades to make a number of arrangements. After the doctor examining us.he recommends philo and I to be admitted and be observed while Kamotho is treated as an outpatient. Despite feeling so bad I decline admission at that time (6pm) because of some family issues (responsibilies).am given drugs after which I leave the hospital in company of my friends jimmy nyikuli, ken Orengo and martin nkari.i leave philo admitted at the hospital. At night I cant sleep.. Am feeling pain everywhere. Therefore early in the morning I get back to the hospital and get admission (20th FEB) .i get to the x-ray room where I spend like 3 hours. Thereafter I go to my hospital bed. Am attended to by nurses. I have visits from wanyama, george Nyongesa, wangui Mbatia, abel onkundi, Dennis Ndira, martin nkari, ken orengo,reverend mbogo among other comrades. Philo gets discharged in the evening to have bed rest at home spent the night of 20th at the hospital. at this point I get all the medication, good attention from the doctor and the nurses.
In the evening of 21st the doctor still recommends that I need to stay in hospital but other duties await me. So am discharged in the evening of 21st Feb 2009 against the doctor’s advice because I need to work on family matters.Aluta continua. Am given an appointment by the doctor but generally am feeling better. We must work together to change this country for the better….That which doent kill me only makes me stronger…
FWAMBA NC FWAMBA
a.k.a Crispus Fwamba
http://fwambancfwamba.wordpress.com
http://kenyayoungvotersalliance.blogspot.com
http://fwambancfwamba.blogspot.com
THE POLICE STATE:IS THIS THE KENYA WE WANT?I HEARD SOME WHERE ABOUT FREEDOM OF SPEECH
I LATER CAME TO LEARN THAT THE BRUTE’S NAME IS RICHARD MUGWAI..ACTING OCPD CENTRAL.
18 Feb. is the day Dedan Kimathi was captured…that wasn’t in my mind as I woke up early that day of 2009. But one thing was certain that the corrupt practices of some government officials had to be rebuked at such a time when one of them was facing a censure motion in parliarment.other human rights activists and I at the freedom corner are prepared for the day. To drive the point home. .we proceeded to the parliament buildings where the Kenyans’ most corrupt fellowship. We wanted to take the message right to their doors. So it was the best venue..Philo Ikonya and I moved ahead where the visitors’ gate is towards other human rights activists. Patrick Kamotho stayed with the other group at the mps’ gate with their placards reading the message we had brought to the members of the august house who are presiding over serious corrupt practices in their ministries. ‘ `where is the maize’…one placard read…, ‘Kenyans are dying’ another one read…’unga prices are unbearable’, ‘a thief is a thief. Whether PNU or ODM’ .another one read….then Philo lashed another that summarizes all from her handbag.. .’CORRUPTION=DEATH’…that summarized everything. Our expression was symbolic and peaceful. As we moved around the parliament buildings…policemen started focusing on us. Some hired goons from Ruto’s constituency confronted Philo and started asking her whether the maize that was stolen was ours. We all flashed the newspaper images of dying Kenyans but the goons would not listen…but all other Kenyans who were passing by kept on encouraging us.
At about one oclock, one of the human rights activists who were with Patrick Kamotho comes and tells us that Kamotho had been arrested as the rest of his group scampered. He had insisted that the corrupt leaders must have an opportunity to get his message. They took him to parliament police post.
After the disruption of the majority of the protesters, we proceeded demanding the release of kamotho, and later we discovered that the police had put much focus on the two of us. So they confronted us…the guys arrested us so violently. That one senior cop whom I later came to know is called mugwai, tore Philo’s dress and dragged her on the ground..Philo couldn’t keep quiet. Neither could I. the senior cop moved to Philo and whispered to her that he knew her and wouldn’t want to arrest her…the cop snatched my placard which read. “CORRUPTION=DEATH”..and held it high unconsciously…he ordered his junior to arrest me. I continued shouting “A THIEF IS a THEIEF AND KENYANS ARE DYING OF HUNGER BECAUSE OF BAD LEADERSHIP”…the senior cop whispered to me asking me to be calm and stop embarrassing him to his seniors before the media.but this couldn’t be the case because on the other hand it was important for me to relay my message. While Philo was telling the two cops to leave me alone, the guy tried to bundle me into the police car boot but it failed to open. so he put me on the passenger seat…went back to where Philo was as she continued making anti corruption chants. The senior cop manhandled Philo and tore her dress.
PHILO COULDN’T SHUT UP….
They push her next to me in the police car and the senior cop sits on the co-drivers seat. His juniors seem to really fear him. He aint a human being. If you ever heard of Dracula. The guy starts punching us. Saying that now there are no cameras…that we are going to tell. He punches Philos face. When I ask him to behave like a human being he turns to me punches me then as Philo tells him to stop beating me he punches her in the jaws and face. They drive us from parliament road between city hall and kicc.the guy is a brute. he continues beating us as we move past Kimathi’s statue towards central police…and Philo continues telling him to see God in her eyes. The guy looks confused by Philo’s words. When he is unable to answer her questions he starts beating us again. Targeting Philo’s face and my stomach. He tried to reach for my private parts. He had an intention of sexually molesting me. But the way I was dressed under made it impossible for him to accomplish his inhuman mission.i was well prepared for the day. He tells the junior cop to destroy our phones so that we stop calling other leaders of the civil society. we had called quite a number by then. When we got to central police station the same senior cop hits me in the face.
THE GUY TAKES ME UPSTAIRS TO HIS OFFICE
I didn’t know where he was taking me to. I thought he was taking me to record a statement. That was not the case. He frog marched me to his office upstairs and started hitting me hard everywhere with his rungu(rod) and kicks and slaps. asking me if I belonged to Bunge la mwananchi…and who the lady I was arrested with (Philo) is. Asking me whether am associated with Mwalimu Mati, asking what I do, asking me what Philo does. I tell him he would not wish someone to do what he is doing to me to his son. he becomes more violent and claims that I embarrassed him before the media by shouting that corruption is killing Kenyans even when he had ordered me to keep quiet. I told him that is the only way my message could be relayed to those whom I was accusing of having failed in leadership. The guy becomes more stupidly angry…he then starts slapping my face without stopping…he hit my knees with his rungu..and the more I complained the more he beat me…then ordered me to get out with him .as we moved downstairs he warned that I shouldn’t tell anyone what happened to me…but this is a story I have to tell the whole world…that there are some cops who want to make one imagine preferring being in Zimbabwe than in Kenya.
When I come down I find Philo down at the OB desk. She was shoeless. She told the rogue cop that since had had decided to be the arresting officer, the prosecutor and the jury, he should let us go. But the rogue cop orders his juniors to trump up charges against us. Illegal assembly charges them with that…he says. The juniors obey the orders …the bad cop leaves. They take my belongings and her belongings too and book us into police custody. Inside the cells we get there many people arrested on flimsy grounds. With the police’ intention to get some bribe. Philo gets to discuss so many issues with all the ladies in there. Among them an eight month pregnant lady arrested together with her mother. She tells Philo that she had been brutalized by the police beaten up and she feels dizzy. the female policemen had even threatened to put hot pepper in her private parts in the disguise of wanting information from her(the expectant 30 year old lady)
The police work in cahoots with some hardcore criminals who behave like cell prefects. they frisk all people who come in the cells and collect”tax”for the police from within cells.
THE NIGHT
At about 4pm Philo and I are called from the cells. It was our lawyer. counsel Elisha Ongoya.we had a chat and he left to make necessary arrangements for our court appearance just incase they decided to take us to court.By evening civil society leaders and pen international leaders were all at the central police and the number was swelling each and every minute. I see Abel onkundi,Kelly musyoka,wangui mbatia,stephen musau,I see Mwalimu Mati,Oulu GPO,Cyprian Nyamwamu,Ann Njogu,George Nyongesa,Jane Mati,Kingwa Kamencu,Khainga Okwemba,Lydia..The number swells.mulielie,odipo,a…we all then come to notice that the same cop that had molested and brutalized us is the one who had sexually harassed Ann. Njogu when they protested against Kimunya and they were arrested together with George Nyongesa and Okiya Omtata and other civil society leaders.
They took our finger prints. Philo insisted that she didn’t want her finger prints to be taken by any policeman. Or woman given some police women had brutalized the expectant lady. Some policewomen eventually claimed that she had not been part of the group that had beaten the expectant lady. So she took Philo’s finger prints. We knew the die was cast. We were going to court. When the human rights people numbers continued to increase demanding our release, the police device a new method of dispersing them. They lead us upstairs as they tell the rest of our people including the lawyers to stay back. When we get to second floor, they take us downstairs again. Just Philo and I OTHER INMATES had been left in the cells. There in the backdoor they take us to a waiting police van. They were taking us to unknown place. they drove the police van which carried Philo,five policemen and I. they started talking the violent language of their boss, telling us to stop fighting the for human rights, Saying that we can never change the government. that is how it works…then we started a conversation…they softened as they continued driving us from Harry Thuku road,kijabe street, globe cinema round about,ngara,towards forest road. we weren’t certain whether they were taking us to karura,or parklands police station, or what?....but while still on the way to they told us that they have to do what they are instructed to do in order to feed their families and keep their jobs. We challenge them on brutality and they discount that every human being is different. Some police man starts some silly talks .that makes Philo to drown the stupid talk with song-religious tunes..Ave Maria. and others. Eventually they get us to Gigiri police station.
AT GIGIRI
It’s at about 1200 midnight .We are lead to a dark cell. We protest. Philo refuses to go to the female people’s cell. There is no one else there and it was dark. They open a cell for males for me to enter. I remain the corridor because I want to keep watch on Philo…so we keep on talking with Philo as I stand in the male cell corridor and her on the other side on the corridor of the female cell…we talk about power to the people…the cops switch lights on for a while…but after a few minutes the lights go off again and we suddenly are in total darkness. but these cops are insisting that I go to sleep. That I stop watching on Philo.that I leave Philo with them. I refuse but eventually when they open for Philo to go to a place with some light I go to one of the cell rooms and sleep for like 30 minutes. Then I hear a voice..Philo says there are some developments. That Ann Njogu and Florence Jaoko have come and obtained a bond for her. So I was to remain alone.Philo wants to remain in the cells in solidarity with me but the police say its illegal and she has to leave. So Philo leaves together with Jaoko and Ann .I go to sleep. I haven’t eaten since morning so I request the cop on duty to get me some tea. Because even at central the cops had refused to let us get the food other members of the civil society had brought us. We had refused the inmates food at central police because we took the threats by the senior cop whom I later came to identify as Mr. Mugwai very serious. in addition to that, the food was seriously rationed. Cabbage and boiled maize (githeri/nyoyo-so we thought it wise too to leave it to other inmates.)(REMEMBER THE LOST MAIZE)
After the departure of Philo from Gigiri, the central police OCS comes with some other police officers to pick me together with a contingent of five policemen. I thought they were transferring me to another police station or wherever. But the drive all the way back to the central police station. On the way I remember the trials of Paul the apostle of Jesus when he was moved from place to place as the authorities tried to intimidate him from spreading the gospel. When we get to central police I get Kamotho there with the inmates and we sleep on the floor with a lot of lice, mosquitoes and cockroaches in all police stations we were denied an opportunity to report Mugwai’s violence on us and the threats he made against me...The following day…19th feb, 2009..we are taken to the court early in the morning. There we are joined by Philo and charged. But the question remains. THE MPS VOTED NO, WE WERE ARRESTED AND BRUTALIZED.MAIZE FLOUR IS EXPENSIVE EACH AND EVERYDAY, WHERE IS THE MAIZE? WHERE IS THE LEADERSHIP? CORRUPTION IS RAMPANT. Watch out……..change doesn’t come easily.
Fwamba nc Fwamba..
a.k.a Crispus Fwamba
http://fwambancfwamba.wordpress.com
http://fwambancfwamba.blogspot.com
http://kenyayoungvotersalliance.blogspot.com
18 Feb. is the day Dedan Kimathi was captured…that wasn’t in my mind as I woke up early that day of 2009. But one thing was certain that the corrupt practices of some government officials had to be rebuked at such a time when one of them was facing a censure motion in parliarment.other human rights activists and I at the freedom corner are prepared for the day. To drive the point home. .we proceeded to the parliament buildings where the Kenyans’ most corrupt fellowship. We wanted to take the message right to their doors. So it was the best venue..Philo Ikonya and I moved ahead where the visitors’ gate is towards other human rights activists. Patrick Kamotho stayed with the other group at the mps’ gate with their placards reading the message we had brought to the members of the august house who are presiding over serious corrupt practices in their ministries. ‘ `where is the maize’…one placard read…, ‘Kenyans are dying’ another one read…’unga prices are unbearable’, ‘a thief is a thief. Whether PNU or ODM’ .another one read….then Philo lashed another that summarizes all from her handbag.. .’CORRUPTION=DEATH’…that summarized everything. Our expression was symbolic and peaceful. As we moved around the parliament buildings…policemen started focusing on us. Some hired goons from Ruto’s constituency confronted Philo and started asking her whether the maize that was stolen was ours. We all flashed the newspaper images of dying Kenyans but the goons would not listen…but all other Kenyans who were passing by kept on encouraging us.
At about one oclock, one of the human rights activists who were with Patrick Kamotho comes and tells us that Kamotho had been arrested as the rest of his group scampered. He had insisted that the corrupt leaders must have an opportunity to get his message. They took him to parliament police post.
After the disruption of the majority of the protesters, we proceeded demanding the release of kamotho, and later we discovered that the police had put much focus on the two of us. So they confronted us…the guys arrested us so violently. That one senior cop whom I later came to know is called mugwai, tore Philo’s dress and dragged her on the ground..Philo couldn’t keep quiet. Neither could I. the senior cop moved to Philo and whispered to her that he knew her and wouldn’t want to arrest her…the cop snatched my placard which read. “CORRUPTION=DEATH”..and held it high unconsciously…he ordered his junior to arrest me. I continued shouting “A THIEF IS a THEIEF AND KENYANS ARE DYING OF HUNGER BECAUSE OF BAD LEADERSHIP”…the senior cop whispered to me asking me to be calm and stop embarrassing him to his seniors before the media.but this couldn’t be the case because on the other hand it was important for me to relay my message. While Philo was telling the two cops to leave me alone, the guy tried to bundle me into the police car boot but it failed to open. so he put me on the passenger seat…went back to where Philo was as she continued making anti corruption chants. The senior cop manhandled Philo and tore her dress.
PHILO COULDN’T SHUT UP….
They push her next to me in the police car and the senior cop sits on the co-drivers seat. His juniors seem to really fear him. He aint a human being. If you ever heard of Dracula. The guy starts punching us. Saying that now there are no cameras…that we are going to tell. He punches Philos face. When I ask him to behave like a human being he turns to me punches me then as Philo tells him to stop beating me he punches her in the jaws and face. They drive us from parliament road between city hall and kicc.the guy is a brute. he continues beating us as we move past Kimathi’s statue towards central police…and Philo continues telling him to see God in her eyes. The guy looks confused by Philo’s words. When he is unable to answer her questions he starts beating us again. Targeting Philo’s face and my stomach. He tried to reach for my private parts. He had an intention of sexually molesting me. But the way I was dressed under made it impossible for him to accomplish his inhuman mission.i was well prepared for the day. He tells the junior cop to destroy our phones so that we stop calling other leaders of the civil society. we had called quite a number by then. When we got to central police station the same senior cop hits me in the face.
THE GUY TAKES ME UPSTAIRS TO HIS OFFICE
I didn’t know where he was taking me to. I thought he was taking me to record a statement. That was not the case. He frog marched me to his office upstairs and started hitting me hard everywhere with his rungu(rod) and kicks and slaps. asking me if I belonged to Bunge la mwananchi…and who the lady I was arrested with (Philo) is. Asking me whether am associated with Mwalimu Mati, asking what I do, asking me what Philo does. I tell him he would not wish someone to do what he is doing to me to his son. he becomes more violent and claims that I embarrassed him before the media by shouting that corruption is killing Kenyans even when he had ordered me to keep quiet. I told him that is the only way my message could be relayed to those whom I was accusing of having failed in leadership. The guy becomes more stupidly angry…he then starts slapping my face without stopping…he hit my knees with his rungu..and the more I complained the more he beat me…then ordered me to get out with him .as we moved downstairs he warned that I shouldn’t tell anyone what happened to me…but this is a story I have to tell the whole world…that there are some cops who want to make one imagine preferring being in Zimbabwe than in Kenya.
When I come down I find Philo down at the OB desk. She was shoeless. She told the rogue cop that since had had decided to be the arresting officer, the prosecutor and the jury, he should let us go. But the rogue cop orders his juniors to trump up charges against us. Illegal assembly charges them with that…he says. The juniors obey the orders …the bad cop leaves. They take my belongings and her belongings too and book us into police custody. Inside the cells we get there many people arrested on flimsy grounds. With the police’ intention to get some bribe. Philo gets to discuss so many issues with all the ladies in there. Among them an eight month pregnant lady arrested together with her mother. She tells Philo that she had been brutalized by the police beaten up and she feels dizzy. the female policemen had even threatened to put hot pepper in her private parts in the disguise of wanting information from her(the expectant 30 year old lady)
The police work in cahoots with some hardcore criminals who behave like cell prefects. they frisk all people who come in the cells and collect”tax”for the police from within cells.
THE NIGHT
At about 4pm Philo and I are called from the cells. It was our lawyer. counsel Elisha Ongoya.we had a chat and he left to make necessary arrangements for our court appearance just incase they decided to take us to court.By evening civil society leaders and pen international leaders were all at the central police and the number was swelling each and every minute. I see Abel onkundi,Kelly musyoka,wangui mbatia,stephen musau,I see Mwalimu Mati,Oulu GPO,Cyprian Nyamwamu,Ann Njogu,George Nyongesa,Jane Mati,Kingwa Kamencu,Khainga Okwemba,Lydia..The number swells.mulielie,odipo,a…we all then come to notice that the same cop that had molested and brutalized us is the one who had sexually harassed Ann. Njogu when they protested against Kimunya and they were arrested together with George Nyongesa and Okiya Omtata and other civil society leaders.
They took our finger prints. Philo insisted that she didn’t want her finger prints to be taken by any policeman. Or woman given some police women had brutalized the expectant lady. Some policewomen eventually claimed that she had not been part of the group that had beaten the expectant lady. So she took Philo’s finger prints. We knew the die was cast. We were going to court. When the human rights people numbers continued to increase demanding our release, the police device a new method of dispersing them. They lead us upstairs as they tell the rest of our people including the lawyers to stay back. When we get to second floor, they take us downstairs again. Just Philo and I OTHER INMATES had been left in the cells. There in the backdoor they take us to a waiting police van. They were taking us to unknown place. they drove the police van which carried Philo,five policemen and I. they started talking the violent language of their boss, telling us to stop fighting the for human rights, Saying that we can never change the government. that is how it works…then we started a conversation…they softened as they continued driving us from Harry Thuku road,kijabe street, globe cinema round about,ngara,towards forest road. we weren’t certain whether they were taking us to karura,or parklands police station, or what?....but while still on the way to they told us that they have to do what they are instructed to do in order to feed their families and keep their jobs. We challenge them on brutality and they discount that every human being is different. Some police man starts some silly talks .that makes Philo to drown the stupid talk with song-religious tunes..Ave Maria. and others. Eventually they get us to Gigiri police station.
AT GIGIRI
It’s at about 1200 midnight .We are lead to a dark cell. We protest. Philo refuses to go to the female people’s cell. There is no one else there and it was dark. They open a cell for males for me to enter. I remain the corridor because I want to keep watch on Philo…so we keep on talking with Philo as I stand in the male cell corridor and her on the other side on the corridor of the female cell…we talk about power to the people…the cops switch lights on for a while…but after a few minutes the lights go off again and we suddenly are in total darkness. but these cops are insisting that I go to sleep. That I stop watching on Philo.that I leave Philo with them. I refuse but eventually when they open for Philo to go to a place with some light I go to one of the cell rooms and sleep for like 30 minutes. Then I hear a voice..Philo says there are some developments. That Ann Njogu and Florence Jaoko have come and obtained a bond for her. So I was to remain alone.Philo wants to remain in the cells in solidarity with me but the police say its illegal and she has to leave. So Philo leaves together with Jaoko and Ann .I go to sleep. I haven’t eaten since morning so I request the cop on duty to get me some tea. Because even at central the cops had refused to let us get the food other members of the civil society had brought us. We had refused the inmates food at central police because we took the threats by the senior cop whom I later came to identify as Mr. Mugwai very serious. in addition to that, the food was seriously rationed. Cabbage and boiled maize (githeri/nyoyo-so we thought it wise too to leave it to other inmates.)(REMEMBER THE LOST MAIZE)
After the departure of Philo from Gigiri, the central police OCS comes with some other police officers to pick me together with a contingent of five policemen. I thought they were transferring me to another police station or wherever. But the drive all the way back to the central police station. On the way I remember the trials of Paul the apostle of Jesus when he was moved from place to place as the authorities tried to intimidate him from spreading the gospel. When we get to central police I get Kamotho there with the inmates and we sleep on the floor with a lot of lice, mosquitoes and cockroaches in all police stations we were denied an opportunity to report Mugwai’s violence on us and the threats he made against me...The following day…19th feb, 2009..we are taken to the court early in the morning. There we are joined by Philo and charged. But the question remains. THE MPS VOTED NO, WE WERE ARRESTED AND BRUTALIZED.MAIZE FLOUR IS EXPENSIVE EACH AND EVERYDAY, WHERE IS THE MAIZE? WHERE IS THE LEADERSHIP? CORRUPTION IS RAMPANT. Watch out……..change doesn’t come easily.
Fwamba nc Fwamba..
a.k.a Crispus Fwamba
http://fwambancfwamba.wordpress.com
http://fwambancfwamba.blogspot.com
http://kenyayoungvotersalliance.blogspot.com
Monday, September 29, 2008
AFFIRMATIVE ACTION SHOULD BE BASED ON ECONOMIC FACTORS
Barrack Obama argues that instead Afro Americans being beneficiaries of affirmative action on the basis of race, more sense is significant if affirmative action is applied on the basis of economic indices of affluence both in politics and employment regardless of colour.i find this argument as an answer to daily debates in some developing countries like Kenya and most of its African countecreated Kenya as a society of the poor and the rich with a wide gap in between the former and the later and due to a political and economic environment that favours those rparts, whereby we need to cease advocating affirmative action on the basis of gender or age. After colonialism, a number of families placed themselves as the heirs to the property and the political power previously held by colonialists. They who already obtained wealth, this gap has always widened with time. That therefore makes me to believe that Obama’s argument is even more practical in the third world whose corrupt indices top the world.
Since the 1990s, the debate about affirmative action has been so loud on the national platform, advanced by politicians in most cases advancing their quest to attain democratic majority on their side. The most prominent subject has always been affirmative action for women and of late, we are talking about the youth.
However, even as some politicians go to a level of attempting to walk the talk as far as affirmative action is concerned, those steps have never significantly reflected at the grassroots to the people who are purportedly represented by the beneficiaries of affirmative action. Whenever positions come up, it is still the trick of a certain economic class to advance the affirmative action equation to create positions for their relatives, cronies and loyalists. Whenever such opportunities arise, they are only shared amongst people based on nepotism or bribery. When senior politicians talk about affirmative action for women, they do it for their wives, daughters or mistresses or their cronies, when they talk about opportunities for the youth they mean their children, not chosen necessarily on the basis of merit but on the basis of the relation ships with whoever would be advancing this. I don’t know why the media never pronounces this loudly.
Kenya is going a wrong trend and affirmative action is only but one of these aspects. job opportunities both in the government, private sector and the civil society are no different. if Kenyans were to have an opportunity to dig behind a number of the activities of some civil society activities they will be surprised at the kind of corrupt activities and fiscal impropriety they will discover. Just like in government, many civil society organizations have a record in corruption, nepotism, tribalism and hypocrisy .it is so unfortunate that some members to claim to be agents of fighting corruption and yet when you get to their organizations they can not be able to account for the donor funds they get because of corruption.
Soon we are going to have the unending debate of constitutional review and Kenyans should refuse to be duped by advocates of affirmative action with personal selfish motives. if entrenched in our constitution Kenyans must only accept it in the constitution when it is well defined what it is and what qualifies one to be a beneficiary. it should not be an opportunity for the already affluent to get free positions for themselves and their families. it must define properly who should qualify for a position under this law whether its youth or women or disabled. It’s all about economic class and fair distribution of wealth and justice not about gender or age.
FWAMBA NC FWAMBA
BOX 41046, 00100,
NAIROBI
+254721779445
Since the 1990s, the debate about affirmative action has been so loud on the national platform, advanced by politicians in most cases advancing their quest to attain democratic majority on their side. The most prominent subject has always been affirmative action for women and of late, we are talking about the youth.
However, even as some politicians go to a level of attempting to walk the talk as far as affirmative action is concerned, those steps have never significantly reflected at the grassroots to the people who are purportedly represented by the beneficiaries of affirmative action. Whenever positions come up, it is still the trick of a certain economic class to advance the affirmative action equation to create positions for their relatives, cronies and loyalists. Whenever such opportunities arise, they are only shared amongst people based on nepotism or bribery. When senior politicians talk about affirmative action for women, they do it for their wives, daughters or mistresses or their cronies, when they talk about opportunities for the youth they mean their children, not chosen necessarily on the basis of merit but on the basis of the relation ships with whoever would be advancing this. I don’t know why the media never pronounces this loudly.
Kenya is going a wrong trend and affirmative action is only but one of these aspects. job opportunities both in the government, private sector and the civil society are no different. if Kenyans were to have an opportunity to dig behind a number of the activities of some civil society activities they will be surprised at the kind of corrupt activities and fiscal impropriety they will discover. Just like in government, many civil society organizations have a record in corruption, nepotism, tribalism and hypocrisy .it is so unfortunate that some members to claim to be agents of fighting corruption and yet when you get to their organizations they can not be able to account for the donor funds they get because of corruption.
Soon we are going to have the unending debate of constitutional review and Kenyans should refuse to be duped by advocates of affirmative action with personal selfish motives. if entrenched in our constitution Kenyans must only accept it in the constitution when it is well defined what it is and what qualifies one to be a beneficiary. it should not be an opportunity for the already affluent to get free positions for themselves and their families. it must define properly who should qualify for a position under this law whether its youth or women or disabled. It’s all about economic class and fair distribution of wealth and justice not about gender or age.
FWAMBA NC FWAMBA
BOX 41046, 00100,
NAIROBI
+254721779445
Friday, August 24, 2007
STUDENT UNIONS SHOULD ASSERT THEIR ROLE IN THE SOCIETY
Ernesto Che Guevara de la Serna who is probably The unquestionable most prominent revolutionary figure of the 21st century, was able to have himself legendised after his encounter with the modern world’s most authoritative symbol of communism, Cuban leader; Fidel Alejandro Castro. Fidel Castro is famed for his prominence during his days as a student leader at the University of Havana in 1940s where he studied law and graduated in 1950.Che Guevara and Castro’s focus was aimed at redeeming Cuba from the hands of dictator Fulgencio Batista who was a puppet and dictator of American imperialism and other then enslaved states of Latin America. Although the first attempt to remove Batista was thwarted, Castro together with Che Guevara and the rest of the army (Marxists) managed to wrestle Batista from power and established a communist state of Cuba. It’s widely known that the majority of the leaders of the Cuban revolution were Castro’s university alumni colleagues.
In Indonesia it’s understood that through a student power protests, Dictator Mohammed Suharto relinquished the power he had held with an iron fist for a long time. Professor Horace Campbell of Syracuse University argues that the political leadership in Africa has been developed by morally weak leaders unlike the earlier objectives set by most of the African freedom heroes. Hence the political leadership in contemporary Africa especially Kenya has thus been criminalized. He therefore argues that the major challenge to upcoming leadership is to decriminalize the African leadership institutions. My understanding is that if any fruits have to be realized, then university and college students need to sensitize themselves be on the frontline in leading the student movement and join other civil society organizations to decriminalize our institutions.
The lesson from the Cuban revolution and Suharto exit from power teaches us that an opportunity of physical nearness of intellectual minds is a great resource that must be tapped for the purposes of transforming and recreating a criminal society to a great and popular leadership. Many modernists believe that the days of violent revolutions are long gone and thus revolutions can be realized through the ballot and not necessarily the bullet.
That brings the reason as to why our universities and other institutions of higher learning have a big responsibility to transform, recreate and organize our society as themed at the third national youth convention held in august in Nairobi this year. Students form such an important youth component in modern Kenya’s move towards good governance, agitation of freedom, justice, and equality.
Unfortunately the trend and significance of students and student unions like son and others have been pushed to the periphery of irrelevance because of well orchestrated plans to shut true leadership from running the affairs of student welfare. Student leadership has been compromised through short term favors so as to ensure that the leadership remains caged and focused on petty issues and highly prohibited from making contributions to advancement of democracy and good leadership at the national level. University student leaders have been reduced to manage crisis for embattled vice chancellors at the expense of the golden opportunity and platform to advance national reform agenda. the honored revolutionary Ernesto Che Guevara once noted that
"Man really attains the state of complete humanity when he produces, without being forced by physical need to sell himself as a commodity.”
it is thus a trend that is not so new but its difficult to last in leadership for posterity with such tendencies.
It must be noted that the Kenyan youth is the main casualty and victim of bad governance, corruption, and tolerance of other forms of vices.
For example the grace period of repaying loan acquired through the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has been reduced because the government is so much constrained to fund high education. That makes it compulsory for any graduate to start paying loan as soon as he/she completes the degree. Such pressures are resultant of the corrupt systems that even students themselves have taken a back seat in criticizing with fear and intimidation by the powers that be and their agents in form of student leaders who win elections through questionable means. The continued fear will hence catch up with you when you fall victim of the evils you tolerated.
Cyprian Nyamwamu;the executive director of national convention executive council(NCEC)notes that the corrupt minds in authority have intentions and have already captured some institutions that may descent against injustices such as churches, mosques and student unions. The University of Nairobi is no exception under this category.
It must be noted that studentship is a serious opportunity that has already mobilized intellectual minds that should be able to use such opportunity to transform the society and stand to be counted.
Student organizations like SONU have a reach history with the likes of Hon. Wanyiri Kihoro,Hon.James Orengo and the late Titus Adungosi whose contribution in the student leadership of this country speaks volumes and worthy to emulate and I will not be shy to also praise the leadership up to our time. Unfortunately of late the student leadership has become another slave of the criminalized society.
That is why there is no surprise that when we protested against the media bill, members of parliaments intention to rob Kenyans 1.4 billion shillings and even Anglo leasing, no student union or its leadership came to authoritatively identify with the cause. Students must wake up indeed otherwise history will judge them by their actions.
Fwamba NC Fwamba—
A designer and defender of human rights is a former vice chairman of SONU&Chairman of the students’ parliament 2003/2004
In Indonesia it’s understood that through a student power protests, Dictator Mohammed Suharto relinquished the power he had held with an iron fist for a long time. Professor Horace Campbell of Syracuse University argues that the political leadership in Africa has been developed by morally weak leaders unlike the earlier objectives set by most of the African freedom heroes. Hence the political leadership in contemporary Africa especially Kenya has thus been criminalized. He therefore argues that the major challenge to upcoming leadership is to decriminalize the African leadership institutions. My understanding is that if any fruits have to be realized, then university and college students need to sensitize themselves be on the frontline in leading the student movement and join other civil society organizations to decriminalize our institutions.
The lesson from the Cuban revolution and Suharto exit from power teaches us that an opportunity of physical nearness of intellectual minds is a great resource that must be tapped for the purposes of transforming and recreating a criminal society to a great and popular leadership. Many modernists believe that the days of violent revolutions are long gone and thus revolutions can be realized through the ballot and not necessarily the bullet.
That brings the reason as to why our universities and other institutions of higher learning have a big responsibility to transform, recreate and organize our society as themed at the third national youth convention held in august in Nairobi this year. Students form such an important youth component in modern Kenya’s move towards good governance, agitation of freedom, justice, and equality.
Unfortunately the trend and significance of students and student unions like son and others have been pushed to the periphery of irrelevance because of well orchestrated plans to shut true leadership from running the affairs of student welfare. Student leadership has been compromised through short term favors so as to ensure that the leadership remains caged and focused on petty issues and highly prohibited from making contributions to advancement of democracy and good leadership at the national level. University student leaders have been reduced to manage crisis for embattled vice chancellors at the expense of the golden opportunity and platform to advance national reform agenda. the honored revolutionary Ernesto Che Guevara once noted that
"Man really attains the state of complete humanity when he produces, without being forced by physical need to sell himself as a commodity.”
it is thus a trend that is not so new but its difficult to last in leadership for posterity with such tendencies.
It must be noted that the Kenyan youth is the main casualty and victim of bad governance, corruption, and tolerance of other forms of vices.
For example the grace period of repaying loan acquired through the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has been reduced because the government is so much constrained to fund high education. That makes it compulsory for any graduate to start paying loan as soon as he/she completes the degree. Such pressures are resultant of the corrupt systems that even students themselves have taken a back seat in criticizing with fear and intimidation by the powers that be and their agents in form of student leaders who win elections through questionable means. The continued fear will hence catch up with you when you fall victim of the evils you tolerated.
Cyprian Nyamwamu;the executive director of national convention executive council(NCEC)notes that the corrupt minds in authority have intentions and have already captured some institutions that may descent against injustices such as churches, mosques and student unions. The University of Nairobi is no exception under this category.
It must be noted that studentship is a serious opportunity that has already mobilized intellectual minds that should be able to use such opportunity to transform the society and stand to be counted.
Student organizations like SONU have a reach history with the likes of Hon. Wanyiri Kihoro,Hon.James Orengo and the late Titus Adungosi whose contribution in the student leadership of this country speaks volumes and worthy to emulate and I will not be shy to also praise the leadership up to our time. Unfortunately of late the student leadership has become another slave of the criminalized society.
That is why there is no surprise that when we protested against the media bill, members of parliaments intention to rob Kenyans 1.4 billion shillings and even Anglo leasing, no student union or its leadership came to authoritatively identify with the cause. Students must wake up indeed otherwise history will judge them by their actions.
Fwamba NC Fwamba—
A designer and defender of human rights is a former vice chairman of SONU&Chairman of the students’ parliament 2003/2004
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