OF FAILED TRIBUNAL BILL, DEJECTED RULERS, YOUTH ISSUE AND THE DEARTH OF REPRESENTATION; WHY CHANGE WE WANT IS RIPE NOW

The Next Step Ought To Be a Peaceful Revolution


The Kenyan parliament on Thursday 12, 2009 voted to defeat a mutilated bill which sought to create a tribunal to try the war lords who organized and funded the 2007 post election violence, in the presence of the top leaders, president, PM and VP. Despite the claims of bribery an intimidation, the Backbenchers stood their ground as the bill they claim would grant the very dangerous senseless characters immunity and entrench impunity.

Therefore, they prefer the Hague to the local tribunal.
If this is the general feeling of the masses and poll victims the principle of representative democracy has it that their lack of confidence in the current system, the manipulative coalition and the arms of the government. Nairobi metropolitan minister has even called on the two principles to resign due to failure to ‘provide leadership’.

But What Should The Progressive Forces Do?


The sentiments of a public figure last week about impunity, reactive leadership that only awaits for ‘bandits to strike’, then unleash terror on every innocent village soul should act as the guidance to a peaceful revolution in Kenya today and now. The process needs not to be violent but pragmatic, stepwise, holistic, and cohesive and agenda driven. One way would be Asudism Theory of Boycott. This theory would be applied by boycotting any rally or ‘meet the poor hungry Kenyan’s tour’ and maximum media coverage of the empty applauding seats. I believe will serve as a warning. Secondly, we need massive public education to fight tribalism so that when a warlord comes to seek refuge in the tribe, I would shout; ‘THE TRIBE DID NOT EAT WITH YOU’.

Thirdly, the bold souls should tactfully and peacefully grab any opportunity to ask, meekly though about the progress and development record of the supposedly leaders. We also need to ask what became of KNCHR’s Movement for Political Accountability,(MOPA) and UNICEF’s child-commitment forms which nearly all aspirants signed before 2007 elections and the steps which they have taken to honor the MOUs with us.

Over to You Youths

I strongly believe that the Kenyan youths can do some of these activities and lead from the front in killing the Kenya we do not want including reclamation of the tainted image.

My analysis of the speech which USA President gave in Kenya, University of Nairobi in 2006, to a young audience , speech which made him to be called a mere senator by a senior government official, confirms this. In parts, President OBAMA told us, including myself: “looking out at this crowd of young people, I have faith that you will fight this [corruption] fight too. You will decide if your leaders will be held accountable, or if you WILL LOOK THE OTHER WAY. You will decide if the standards and the rules will be the same for everyone-regardless of ethnicity or wealth”.

However, the opportunity which the parliament tempo has presented may be grabbed by the very elements against a free Kenya if the Kenyans young minds and well meaning fellows fail to move fast to capitalize on it.

Yet the tribal animal, our son syndrome and it is not my concern madness still live happily in me Kenyan, so the warlords flourish.
Soon the arrows, the bullets, the clubs and swords, if we can’t wake up, will begin to flower once more as we go for 2012 elections. And flower more elegantly than the February roses.

FOOD SECURITY ( UNGA DEBATE IN KENYA ) VERSUS SECURE SECULAR KENYAN POLITICS

Following the Saturday 29th November 2008 kibera public fiasco (Raila's HOME COMING), the government seemed to portray the national unga crisis as an emergency situation. Media highlights from early this year however have consistently warmed of a looming food crisis while some hungry demonstrators , compelled by rising food prices, were teargased by the usually ready and turtle dressed paramilitary police, the GSU, FANYA FUJO UONE.

As if the new political refrain, most politicians have equated the exploitative actions cartels in the maize sector to impunity, an iniquity act to deny faithful electorate what they ought to have. Hon. Ruto in his customary assertive proclamations accepted that the back stops with him but was rather quick to turn the ball to the PM’s court during Raila’s homecoming party.

As economics student, threats to control unga prices I think will not work in the foreseeable future. We are in the free market economy where the law of demand and supply reigns. This has been the pillar and economic position of kibaki administration which even refused to devalue the local currency last year in the height of strengthening shilling to stimulate demand for Kenyan exports. Attempts to control prices may also necessitate collusion between millers and distributors in an attempt to beat the quick- fix- system.

The truth of the matter is the government may subsidize the sale of maize to milers but it lacks legal and required capacity to control the complex distribution system and channels. At the same time, it’s a common knowledge in Kenya that those in power (mis) use their influence to amass high profits by creating monopolies, shelving competitions and protecting illegal businesses. Unga business, high demands commodity cannot be exception. With the surge of globalization, price control may work against our economic system policies and VISION 2030. We will implement price ceilings and floors every time there is a stakeholders' outcry? In my view, price control is like either a philanthropic or short term charity gesture by the mandated rulers. It guarantees not sustainable food security and the current and future citizenry right to prosperity.
The seemingly viable way would be to ignore so much complex donor conditions and endless poverty reduction schemes and go the Malawian and Israel way.

We have always prided ourselves to be developed by the regional standard and even exports brains to the western world. If USA could copy Britain in mitigating the escalating knock on effects of the financial crisis, what should stop us form importing Malawian agricultural technocrats? We have to quickly get to work, subsidize farm input prices, carry out extensive research, open up dry arable land for mechanized iirigation faming, dismantle the existing cartels and educate the farmers on new farming techniques. We surely cannot achieve sucha a dream food security status with partly 4% of the budget allocated to the agriculture ministry.


However if we insist on the populist yet controversial approach of price control, as the Kenyan solution to Kenyan problem, I suggest that we “peacefully” agree to implement a pseudo-communism/socialism management of the cereals sub sector( ideology which I do not subscribe to, yet seem to be popular among price control advocates). The government would need to exert its control of the National Cereals and Produce Board , clean its image and empower the agriculture PS as the chief implementation. The government should then build to own millers and form a corporation to handle the distribution system. This would require visionary hands on leadership that is purely driven by national agendas to in attempt drive out 30 rent seeking miller billionaires.

After all, the current financial crisis has taught the world to rethink of the failures of hard to monitor-greedy cruel capitalism. This situation has necessitated debates on the roles of Private-Public-Partnership and third sector services as emerging concepts in stewardship for resources. Such corporations should be guarded from the executives’ new found appetite for Initial Public Offers as well the fiasco that bogged the Kenya seed company’s shares, one of the genesis of the impunity in the cereals’ sub sector.

Going for a quick fix may not outlast the current financial year; it may just be used as another political rhetoric in public gatherings like the infamous MPs’ allowances taxation. The should be implementers would still by next year be shouting, “bei ya unga irudi chini or else mass action……….if unga cannot cost less we have no business governing”, while behind the scenes some wine and dine with the very cartels which exploit over taxed hapless Kenyans. If we don’t act decisively it would still be like any other talk like “we MPs have no problem with being taxed”, but in the chambers bay for Hon Michuki’s blood over proposal to tax their allowances.


Asudi Michael, KU

DEATH OF MWANAWASA- BLOW TO AFRICA'S WANTING REFORMS

This a sad moment to me.

Indeed it is a sad moment for Zambia, Africa and the world over death of transformation- reformist President LEVY MWANAWASA.He was great Pan Africanist, having defied the African governance myth on 'touch not crafty mighty'.

His leadership also saw Zambia become a net exporter of foodstuffs after the successful fertilizers programme. That is leadership.We all know of his no joke stand on ZIMBABWE issues as SADC chair.

I remember when he came to KENYA IN 2002 ( BEFORE THE 2007 ELECTION FIASCO &MADNESS ) after the united opposition trounced the independence party, KANU , during swearing in ceremony. He thanked KENYANS for peaceful transition while flushing the peace symbol, TWO FINGER SALUTE.

Perhaps African leaders who now pay tribute to his achievements should rise to the occassion and tackle official corruption, nepotism, election rigging and poverty head on in his honor.

Finally, I appeal for calm in Zambia as requested by the VICE PRESIDENT as the country comes out of mourning and search to another leader.RIP PATRICK LEVY MWANAWASA

ASUDI MICHAEL



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EARMUN 2008, ARUSHA, TANZANIA

The 2008 East African MODEL UN Conferenece to be held in Arusha , Tanzania from 11th AUGUST 2008 promises to be bigger, enthusiatic , educative and more debate inclined.

The delegates will mainly come from the five EAC member states having being objectively selected through Essay writing and a desired follow up project.

The theme 'PEACE AND SECURITY presequisites for achievement of MDGs sounds timely for the region whose once peace of island in the sea of turmoil, kenya went into verge of civil war in 2007 over disputed presidential elections.

Somalia youths from more than 5 universities will also take part in the event.
Some delegates will come from Norway and Sweden.

I from Kenyatta University, together with three others, IAN from DAYSTER, SUSAN and MOKAYA from kenya schoolof law will represent Libya, a controvercial nation which has being fighting off western influence on Africa and more recently has been spreading investments across Africa in the name of PANAFRICANISM and/or need for a united states of africa.

The 2008 EARMUN forum will tackle peace , insecurity, youth, resource use and marginalisation, international relations, ethnicity and cohesion among others.
The 2008 EARMUN will also include a colorful cultural show where each honorable diplomat let loose his/her age old culture.

In the end, an outcome document in form of a draft will be written and submitted to UN , Governments and private sector as a vision for the EARMUN 2008.

SEE YOU THERE
LET THE DIPLOMATS DEBATE
LET PEACE PREVIAL

CRY OF AFRICAN MULE

Am harmless cross breed citizen,

Patriotic, proactive loyal mule

State hardly celebrated so well

As me dotted seen as doll.



Tribe-Tribe war you began,

Survive will I at late stop?

Or into horse in haste I’ll turn

When donkeys all drop dead.


Honorable thing’s inter marriage

of colour of white and black,

to melt rift left in every age,

to a honor of all divine work.


Let ‘my tribe’ bid bold bye,

When caged sense ours re-sprout

Giving blinded countrymen an eye

Who lost one God freely put.

Real men, deitify tribal heroism,

but lend me my say and way,

To shun such sad blind tribalism,

Primitivity; needless to say.

Expel you angels, your extremism,

Exile ageless sour ethnicity,

To excel a sons of pacifism

And blaze set all war weaponry.



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KENYA’S POST ELECTION VIOLENCE; ROLES OF YOUTH, MEDIA, ICT AND INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY

The violence in Kenya as reported by internationalmedia spontaneously mushroomed owing to disputedpresidential election results.
The official resultswere delayed from some areas especially where thepresident had solid support, indeed the chairman ofthe electoral commission admitted at the height oftension that ‘he could not reach some of his officersin the field.’

This, heightened tension by 30th December and later.The opposition, ODM then released it version ofresults showing that it had won as did the PNU. Theopposition the stormed the tallying centre, claimingthat the figures were being doctored. The E.C.K forexample announced that in a certain constituency,molo, kibaki had scored 75,000 votes. The oppositionprotested saying that the figures announced at thecounting centre was 59,000, a claim supported by E.U,AU and EAC observers. This was the case with over 25areas whose results brew the contention.An officialwith the EC.K who was seconded for the job byparliament then came out to own up the malpracticesclaiming ‘top up figures to narrow opposition lead’ bythen, opposition was leading by almost a millionvotes.

The opposition then produced the officer whowas responsible for MOLO at the tallying center butthe chairman refused to give him audience.I was recording the results as announced by radio stations,KBC and CITIZEN radio which had their reports all overand had all the results by the third day. Infactpresenter at radio citizen was discussing the possiblecabinet line up by the opposition.The government by then, banned live media coverageprompting media black out. Radio citizen thendenounced earlier reported results informing itsaudience to wait for the result s released by ECK.

Through the national Broadcaster, the ECK in asecret location declared Kibaki reelected by a marginof 200,000 votes. He was then hurriedly sworn in ataround 6.30 p.m on the same day when the national flaghad been lowered. This sparked immediate violence inopposition stronghold in Nairobi, Kisumu, rift valley,kakamega, Mombasa and other areas. People wereuprooted from their homes and lands in areas wherethey were considered as ‘foreigners or not natives’.All gatherings were banned, curfew imposed while thepolice shot to kill anybody. Personally I relied onBBC which was the providing a more in depth reportingof the unfolding as live coverage ban was in force.The protesters then started ethnic killings, targetingthe presidents’ tribe and Uganda’s interests.

Thepresident’s tribe then retaliated, killing any bodyfrom the opposition’s tribe prompting military to intervene, without command of the president as it wasrumored. Mobile phones and internet became ICT tools forpropagating the violence.

There were rumors of callsfor secession, economic sabotage, resignation of chiefof general staff and police commissioner, mutiny.Certain opinion leaders, wealthy and influentialbusiness mea and politicians were also reported tohave raised millions of money especially in Riftvalley and Central province to be used in buying armsto protect their kinsmen. This displaced over 400,000people with over 1000 killed; I think the number washigher.It was Dr. Annan’s tough negotiation skills andperseverance that saved the situation. The governmenthad declared that it won fairly and squarely.Infactas then AU chairman President Kuffuor was on his wayto Kenya to facilitate the talks, Kibaki named 17ministers while the government spokesman said that hewas ‘COMING FOR A CUP OF TEA’.

Meanwhile theopposition called for more protests as shops werelooted , roads blocked, colleges , schools anduniversities shut, people removed from vehicles andkilled by paid militias and supplier lines shuttered..The opposition hardened its stance claiming that itwill only negotiate when Kibaki stepped aside. Withpressure from US, EU, AU the two, were ‘forced’ toshare power in 50-50 basis.I think the violence sprung due to long standingethnic animosity necessitated by unfair resourcesdistribution, imbalanced regional development, weakinstitutions, and winner takes it all electoraloutcomes, impunity ,unresolved problems create duringcolonial period. To ne both sides and every Kenyan inaway is guilty.

Failure by the society in general and leaders andsuccessive Kenyan regimes in specific to implementpoverty reduction and youth economic empowermentstrategies are majorly to blame for the explosion of such vigilant gangs as mungiki, sungu sungu , kamjeshthat re grouped to cause terror.These gangs are knownto extort money from the public, traders and transportoperators in the name of protection fee to earn easycash. These mutative gangs do come in different colorsand forms like; conservation of traditions andculture, voice of oppressed communities, communitypolicing.

The gangs are also hardened byadministration of oaths by elders and funding fromwell to do politicians when they become gangs for hireduring electoral periods. as a youth, to resolve the conflict, there is need tocreate informal and formal employment, massive civiceducation, involvement of every opinion leader rightfrom the village to national level under truth andreconciliation forum, overhaul of the currentmutilated constitution, inter ethnic dialogue andethnic relations strategies, accountable leadership,disarmament of militias prosecution of perpetratorsand commitment to and goodwill in the coalitiongovernment.

There is also need to isolate and rehabilitate theyouths who had committed the atrocities and threatenedhuman security; a broad based emotional assistanceshould be put in place.The plain and confirmed truthis that if these groups are neglected, rejected bysociety or branded as villains after politicalsettlements and return of relative calm, they doeasily fall back to the old practice of murder andcrime.

Surprisingly though, governments, reliefagencies and the well wishers did rush to helpmaterially and emotionally the victims of violence.However, the best approach to enhance human securityand resolve the conflict should not be only to reachout to the victims and throw every suspect to policecell for four months before being taken to court butalso to counsel the very perpetrators of ethnickillings and violators of human security.

The challenges today are to overcome ethnicstereotyping, mistrusts (even in colleges , classesand work places), rehabilitating the perpetrators,long term settlement of thorny land issue, employmentcreation, dealing with those who mishandled theelections, ending will be more dangerous future voterapathy and restoring the tainted nationalism prideeven to children.










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AFRICA MUST UNITE, THE WAY IS THIRD WAY

This is a customised blog that seeks to authoritatively and independently analyse the thematic issues that relates to Africa.I strongly support the third away , social democracy , as the sure tool for globalisation and fast track development.We must not be fixed at third place, third away.

Third Way, SOCIAL DEMOCRACY is the way to rid us of ZIMBANWE of UDI and 2008 , KENYA of 2007 , RWANDA of 1994 , SOUTH AFRICA of 2008 XENOPHOBIA, SUDAN of DARFUR, SOMALIA of NO STATE and many many more..

AFRICA MUST UNITE
AFRICA MUST BE CLEAN
AFRICA MUST EXPLOIT ITS RESOURCSE
AFRICA MUST HAVE EQUITY
AFRICA MUST BE AMONG NATIONS WE ADMIRE
AFRICA MUST NOT REMAIN THIRD AWAY

SO SAYS Asudi.

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