Finally Ngugi wa Thiongo Speaks

[JAHAATWACH]

Finally, Wathiongo speaks. Hear him:

"Writers must sometimes feel like the Greek prophetess Cassandra, gifted to see the future but fated not to be believed.

What is unfolding in Kenya could as well have been lifted from my novel Wizard of the Crow where the ruling party and the opposition parities engaged in Western-sponsored democracy become mirror images of one another in their absurdity and indifference to the poor. The picture of men and women burnt down in a church where they had gone for refuge still haunts my mind. A child running away from the fire was caught and hurled back into the flames.

One of the few survivors was quoted as saying: "But they knew me; we were neighbours. I thought Peter was a friend - a good neighbour. How could Peter do this to me?"This crime should be investigated by the United Nations. I had heard the same puzzled cry from Bosnia. I had heard the same cry from Iraq. I had heard the same, same words from Rwanda: "We were neighbours; we'd married into each other. How could this happen?"

And now I hear the same cry from Eldoret North in my beloved Kenya. For me this burning of men, women and children in a church is a defining single instant of the current political impasse in Kenya. And this must be separated from accusations and counter-accusations of rigged elections by the contending parties. Rigged elections is one thing - it can be righted by any mutually agreed political measures - but ethnic cleansing is another matter altogether. What is disturbing is that this instant seems to have been part of a co-ordinated programme with similar acts occurring in several other places at about the same time against ordinary members of the same community.
Ordinary people do not wake up one morning and suddenly decide to kill their neighbours. Ethnic cleansing is often instigated by the political elite of one community against another community. It is premeditated - often an order from political warlords.

Or it may be the outcome of an elitist ideology of demonising and isolating another community. Either way the aim is to drive members of the targeted community from the region.Frantz Fanon, the intellectual visionary of the Third World, had long ago warned us of the dangers of the ideology of regionalism preached by an elite whose money can buy them safe residence in any part of a country.

A single instance of premeditated ethnic cleansing can lead to an unstoppable cycle of vendettas - a poor-on-poor violence - while those who tele-guided them to war through the ideology of hate and demonisation are clinking glasses in middle-class peace at cocktail parties with the elite or the supposed enemy community.

This crime should be investigated by the United Nations. If it is found that a political organisation has run a campaign on a programme that consciously seeks to isolate another community as a community, then they ought to be held fully accountable for the consequences of their ideology and actions.

It is often easier to blame a government when it is involved in massacres. This is as it should be. A government must always be held to higher standards, for its very legitimacy lies in its capacity to ensure peace and security for all communities. But what about if such a massacre is inspired by a programme of an opposition movement?

This ought to receive equally severe condemnation from all and sundry, for being in opposition does not give an organisation the right to run on an ideology of isolation and hate targeted at another community.

The world does not need another Bosnia; Africa certainly does not need another Rwanda An opposition movement is potentially a government of tomorrow. A programme that such a political organisation draws while in opposition would obviously be the programme they'll try to implement when in power.

That's why such acts must be condemned even when they are clothed in progressive, democratic-sounding words and phrases. I therefore call upon the United Nations to act and investigate the massacres in Kenya as crimes against humanity and let the chips fall where they may.

For the sake of justice, healing and peace now and in the future. I urge all progressive forces not to be so engrossed with the political wrongs of election tampering that they forget the crimes of hate and ethnic cleansing - crimes that have led to untimely deaths and the displacement of thousands. The world does not need another Bosnia; Africa certainly does not need another Rwanda.

Story from BBC NEWS:
news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/africa/7180946.stm
Published: 2008/01/10 12:00:24 GMT

© BBC MMVIII

[JAHAATWACH]

Ngugi dissapoint me by:

a) Selective Amnesia and plain hypocrisy

He wont condemn the recent Mungiki be-headings, the Ngong genocide or even Maina Kiai's indictment of Kibaki regime africa.reuters.com/wire/news/usnL09697986.html He has forgotten the killing fields of Mt.Elgon,Kuresoi,Molo, Kisumu, Laikipia and Nairobi which were not dissimilar to Eldoret massacres. THE SANCTITY OF HUMAN LIFE IS PARAMOUNT WHETHER IT IS A KIKUYU OR NON-KIKUYU. SELECTIVE CONDEMNATION IS NOTHING BUT HYPOCRISY.

www.knchr.org/dmdocuments/Execution_Disappearance.pdf

b)Trivia and reductionism

Surely Ngugi can not be right when majority of Kenyans in six of the eight provinces who consciously and overwhelmingly voted for the opposition are wrong. Has Ngugi read ODM's manifesto and any of the Mabadiliko times? Where in the ODM policies is the program of isolation.
It hurts when a man of Ngugi's calibre trivializes a just cause(Kenya's Liberation) for which he once suffered dearly and millions still suffer(from landless Kalenjins in Baringo to dirt poor in Kiambu and the marginalised in coast,north Eastern,Nyanza,Western and Rift-Valley)

Flaming Ethnic Passion

Ngugi knows too well the source and cause of problem in Kenya: constitution. He also knows that the responsibility over the lives,security and property of Kenyans is on the shoulders of the President. He took an oath and whats more, he commands Kenya's armed forces.
Ngugi should be asking how come ethnicity(or what he calls isolationism ideology) was not an issue in 2002 when all tribes voted for Kibaki? Was the 2007 vote, a vote against Kikuyus or a vote against bad governance and therefore change?
Framing the 2007 election as ethnic contest is insulting the minds of Coastals,Western,Nyanza,Nairobi and rift-valley voters who voted overwhelmingly for change not forgetting the significant votes in Central and Eastern province.

Finally, Ngugi knows the price that Kenyans have paid and continue to pay in the struggle for positive change which will only come with an acceptable new constitution that provides for equity in access to national resources.

Deaths like the Lari Massacre,the Kisumu's 1969 massacre and the countless assasinations are but just part of the price Kenyans are paying for total liberation.

also see: jukwaa.proboards58.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=general&thread=1194918599&page=1

[odmcalifornia]

Ngugi Wa Thoingo is first and foremost a Kikuyu, as is with most Kikuyus' they always assume they are the only Kenyans.

1. How did Kikuyu's end up owning large tracts of land in Kalenjin and Massai villages?
2. How many Kalenjins own land in Nyeri or Kiambu?
3. The British grabbed land from the Kalenjin and Masai of the Rift Valley.
4. Kenyatta grabbed land from the British Settlers and give it to Kikuyus.
5. Kenyatta regime imprisoned Oginga Odinga and any opposition that was there to secure the mass grabbing of British Settler lands.
6. Daniel Arap Moi was bought out by Kenyatta to shut his mouth while land grabs were going on.
7. Moi knew during his time that the issue of large tracts of land being the cause of tension, asked East African Tanning Extract Company (Lonrho) (Mark Too was a director) to sell all their large Estates as he could not guarantee in future if the local landless Kalenjin would not go in as squatters.
8. Lonrho sold all large estates in Uasin Gishu, Nandi, Marakwet, most of the land ended up with Moi and Biwott - still large number of Kalenjins had no land
9. All government owned estates in Trans Nzioa which had huge number of Kikuyu owners were also being sold - Mt. Elgon Clashes
10. How can a non native end up deep in ones village?

The issue of land rights in the Rift Valley is the root cause.
Kenyatta grabbed land which is rightfully owned by the Kalenjin.

Can Ngugi account for how 300,000 Kikuyus settled in Uasin Gishu, where as there are hardly any other tribes in Central province?
Was this only a one way migration?

Now back to the Riots in Eldoret.
1. After the Election results were announced, rumors were floating that Raila Odinga was arrested and Ruto had been shot, since the government banned all live media.
2. Luka Sang was killed by a Munguki mob of Kikuyus. Luka Sang was a well known businessman in Eldoret and had a large following
3. Police and GSU units were shooting and killing innocent un-armed protesters
4. Local people had no choice but to retaliate against those who voted for Kibaki because he was a Kikuyu.

Let there be a United Nations inquiry of what happend in Kenya from 1963! The assasinations, the killing fields, the land grabbing by Kenyatta, the rights of the people of Rift Valley to own their own villages.

The propaganda machine has started, but to alot of westerners who have worked in the Rift Valley and those who come in contact with the Long Distance Runners from the Rift Valley know that the Kalenjin and Maasai are a peaceful people, unless provoked.

[50cents]

Funny cartoon here

[denno]

If I recall it is the same Ngungi who asked the Agikuyuif they would let an Hyena herd their goats (or something to that effect).

Ngugi like the Kibwana's are a total disappointment

[JAHAATWACH]

Then he(Wathiongo) takes a cynical swipe at the Kenyan progressives:

" I urge all progressive forces not to be so engrossed with the political wrongs of election tampering that they forget the crimes of hate and ethnic cleansing - crimes that have led to untimely deaths and the displacement of thousands. "
-Ngugi wa Thiongo
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7180946.stm

[adongo23456]

A few things

I read the story about Prof. Ngugi's response to the aftermath and the chaos following presidential elections in Kenya. First I saw it on the BBC site and later in a section of the Kenyan media. I was pretty upset with Ngugi. Then I talked to a comrade in Nairobi and she was outright furious with the professor. She said it is appalling to her that Ngugi can only talk about the one horrific incident in Eldoret where kids were killed in a church and say absolutely nothing about all the other atrocities in Kisumu, in Kibera, Kisii and elsewhere.

She was outraged that Ngugi who has to some been the conscience of the nation could not bring himself to utter a word of disgust against the obvious evidence of state brutality that has led to the deaths and injury to so many Kenyans all over the country.

We both shared the sorrow that Prof. Ngugi wa Thiong'o a mentor to many of my generation who opted for the trenches with him as one of our leaders against the Moi/Kanu dictatorial regime has not up until now, and may be will never, condemn the stealing of elections by Mwai Kibaki. Even the British our perpetual tormentors have come clear to denounce the electoral fraud by Kibaki. The Americans under the ultra conservative George Bush and Condoleezza Rice have spoken out about this fraud on Kenyans whatever their motives may be.

How then are we to believe that one of Kenya's foremost progressive thinkers, intellectual giant and a revolutionary in our times has so far said nothing? It is saddening. But in reality Ngugi has said something. He has told us the electoral fraud is not important.

These are his words

" I urge all progressive forces not to be so engrossed with the political wrongs of election tampering that they forget the crimes of hate and ethnic cleansing - crimes that have led to untimely deaths and the displacement of thousands. "

Basically Ngugi is saying, "who cares if the election was stolen"! That is not fair to millions of Kenyans and I think Ngugi should be told as much.

Me and the professor go a long way.Prof. Ngugi wa Thiong'o is a visionary. He is a Kenyan patriot with few equals in the work he does. That is obvious to the world. But my involvement with his political work is what makes demands on me to say something about his position on the Kibaki coup and its aftermath. Of course we all know Ngugi supported Kibaki's re-election. That is his right. But when such election is daylight robbery against the Kenyan people we demand and expect Prof. Ngugi to denounce it in no uncertain terms. We are going to insist on that.

But back to my interactions with Ngugi's political work. Back in 1987, when many people here in Jukwaa were probably not yet born, I surprised my mother one day. I showed at at home with a friend, Comrade Omondi Obanda. It was kind of early. She was happy to see me since I spent most of my time a way from home.

She immediately dropped everything she was doing and started chasing the fattest chicken in the home. I told her to wait a minute because me and my friend were going to town first and then we will come back. She asked why it was so urgent to go to town (Bondo) when we just arrived home. Of course we looked silly. So we had to come up with something. I said, oh we have to wash some clothes and we need to go to my uncle's place to do that. She let us off. That is the last time she saw me until 1995, eight years later.

She never forgave me for not telling her where I was going. But we had gigantic laughs about the whole situation later. The trick worked perfectly. In those days we operated on something called "need to know basis". She told me that was the most stupid idea later when I explained things to her. She said it was simple torture to her not knowing where I was. Anyhow when the cops came to ask her about my whereabouts she asked them to sit down and gave them a piece of her mind. She had no idea where I was and thought the cops should know. That was the game plan all along.

That is when I left Kenya and smuggled myself to Tanzania. The journey was fun and ridiculous but is story for another day. In Tanzania we were welcomed by Kenyan compatriots who wanted to dry every bit of news from us. It was great to be together and thinking only of one thing. How do we get our country free?

I met Oloo there; actually he took us around the joint. That is where I met some of the bravest and most dedicated Kenyan revolutionaries. Many of them were members of Mwa Kenya and were doing whatever they could to support the democratic struggles back home.

Prof. Ngugi wa Thiong'o was the leader of Mwa Kenya. He came to Tanzania a couple of times to talk to the membership of the movement he led. I never met him there. Later I did in Canada and by that time we were all agreed that revolutionary underground work coupled with above surface Democratic struggles was the way to move the country forward.

I bring all these up to say that Ngugi has been and is expected to be a leader for progressive Kenyans that he spoke about in that piece to BBC. Many brave Kenyan freedom fighters have gone to their graves comforted by the belief that with people like Ngugi at the forefront our country cannot go wrong. It is therefore very disappointing that at such critical hours in the history of the nation Prof. Ngugi ignores everybody else who does not work with Kibaki as if they don't exist in his vision for Kenya.

I will say nothing about Ngugi's loud silence on the constitutional reform battle which was sabotaged by none other than Mwai Kibaki after he lied to Kenyans that he will facilitate the process and give Kenyans a constitution in 100 days. Kibaki changed his mind and people like our good professor said nothing. This in my view is not fair to all those Mwa Kenya foot soldiers who went to battle precisely so that country would have a democratic constitution. What does Ngugi say to them now?

Those are my concerns, but I think we should not tribalize Ngugi's point of view. It is bothersome yes and it fits perfectly with the Agikuyu nationalism agenda being commandeered by Kibaki and Michuki at the expense of the country. That we have to say.

It saddens me that Ngugi with all his work and attachment to the Mau Mau war for national liberation is today seemingly inspired or at least looking up to leadership from the likes of Michuki. That is a sacrilege.

My point here is that we need dialogue with Comrade Wa Thiong'o and others. We all love the same country and we need solutions now more than ever before and so all voices should be welcomed.

One thing is for sure, Kenyan progressive and democratic forces have been called to duty for country. They will rise to the challenge. The whole nation has.

adongo

[kamalet]

Typical bunch of tribalists who only attack Ngugi for being gikuyu. You hoped he would claim victory for Raila - well, he did not and neither did he do anything for Kibaki.

He is very right to point out that single incident in Eldoret which was the defining incident of the cleansing and genocide on the gikuyu by Raila and Ruto.

Those deaths will not be in vain. You heard it from Kamale.

[adongo23456]

kamalet said:

Typical bunch of tribalists who only attack Ngugi for being gikuyu. You hoped he would claim victory for Raila - well, he did not and neither did he do anything for Kibaki.

He is very right to point out that single incident in Eldoret which was the defining incident of the cleansing and genocide on the gikuyu by Raila and Ruto.

Those deaths will not be in vain. You heard it from Kamale.

Kamale

I doubt you can speak for Ngugi wa Thiong'o. May be I am wrong.

adongo

[adongo23456]

This is the thing many Kenyans are worried about!

www.eastandard.net/news/?id=1143980353&cid=4

[einstein]

kamalet said:

Typical bunch of tribalists who only attack Ngugi for being gikuyu. You hoped he would claim victory for Raila - well, he did not and neither did he do anything for Kibaki.

He is very right to point out that single incident in Eldoret which was the defining incident of the cleansing and genocide on the gikuyu by Raila and Ruto.

Those deaths will not be in vain. You heard it from Kamale.

Kamale,

And the d**ned deaths in Eldoret, Kisii, Western Kenya, Coast Province and Kisumu etc and etc too! You heard it from EINSTEIN!!!

[adongo23456]

The reality is bigger

www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgcontententry.asp?category_id=1&newsid=114518

[adongo23456]

Folks;

It is amusing if not totally perplexing that the very conservative government of the US is more willing and ready to defend the rights of Kenyans to freedom of assembly for the citizens and Prof. Ngugi wa Thiong'o refuses to address that issue. Does Ngugi agree with the attempts and actions of the Kibaki junta to forcefully deny Kenyans their right to the basic freedoms and democratic rights including the freedom of assembly? I hope NOT.

adongo

[adongo23456]

www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/chi-0112edit1jan12,0,2126153.story

Editorial

Kenya's stolen democracy

January 12, 2008

All over the Kenyan port city of Mombasa, looters who had made off with contraband -- beds, sofas, timber -- during the rioting following the country's disputed elections last month were returning the stolen goods to their rightful owners this week.

Why? Fear of a curse that could cost them health, sanity, even their lives.

But the country's biggest thief, President Mwai Kibaki, showed no remorse over stealing the Dec. 27 elections and plunging his country into violence. And the curse, in this case, is on his own people. Because even as his country burns and his fellow citizens fall to the ravages of displacement and death, Kibaki has proven to be concerned with only one thing: holding on to power.

He reaffirmed his priorities on Thursday, as he continued to stonewall mediation efforts by the African Union and the World Bank. And he further depressed hopes of a peaceful settlement to the conflict when, on Thursday, he swore in a new Cabinet packed with his allies. It was an intentionally provocative move. As Salim Lone, spokesman for challenger Raila Odinga, pointed out, "You don't pre-empt negotiations by giving away all the important posts."

Kibaki also has refused to sign an agreement, approved by the World Bank, that calls for an investigation into election chicanery, a transitional government and a potential rerun of the elections.

Ghanian President John Kufuor, head of the African Union, came to Kenya to hold talks between the two sides and help broker a peace. He already has been sent packing. Kofi Annan, the former secretary general of the United Nations, is expected to arrive early next week. It's not clear whether Annan can do any more than Kufuor.

And Kenyans, who recognize that the election of Kibaki was a fraud, show no signs of accepting his rule. More than 600 people have died in post-election rioting. As many as 250,000 have been displaced. Both numbers continue to climb.

A little background: The election leading up to the vote had been hotly contested, but generally seen as fairly fought. Kibaki, the incumbent, has overseen impressive growth in Kenya's economy -- upward of 5 percent annually in recent years. But that growth hasn't been evenly distributed among Kenya's more than 40 different tribes.

The benefits have largely been concentrated in the hands of the Kikuyu, the tribe from which Kibaki hails. Though there are many tribes in Kenya, the Kikuyu have dominated the country's politics since Jomo Kenyatta, a Kikuyu, led the country to independence from Great Britain in 1963.

The Kenyans who have tired of Kikuyu dominance helped formed the base of coalition support for Odinga, who hails from the smaller, but still prominent, Luo tribe.

Early counts showed Odinga decisively in the lead. But a late reversal in the count handed the election to Kibaki. International election observers say there is evidence of widespread mischief in counting the votes. Kibaki's party, facing an apparent loss, apparently rigged the vote to hang on to the presidency.

The chairman of the Kenyan Election Commission, Samuel Kivuitu, has said he can't be sure Kibaki actually won the election. Great Britain has decided to withhold recognition of the new government. It won't grant recognition, said Foreign Secretary David Miliband, until the Kenyan government "clearly represent a credible expression of the will of the people.

And now the process for achieving peace in Kenya is infinitely harder than simply holding a peaceful election. It will require persuading a president whose back is against the wall to conduct a new election that will in all likelihood give him the boot.

That seems an almost impossible task, given Kibaki's intransigence. But if a new election isn't held, Kenya's long-standing stability could be shattered. And the country could become as unstable as neighbors Somalia and Sudan.

Kibaki needs to follow the lead of his countrymen in Mombasa, and return what he has stolen. Otherwise, his larceny will haunt his country for generations to come.