The Mt. Elgon Tragedy Just Gets Worse

[adongo12345]

www.eastandard.net/hm_news/news.php?articleid=1143967124

www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgcontententry.asp?category_id=1&newsid=95544


OO do you know if the KNCHR and other human rights groups are on the ground in the Mt. Elgon area.

Also can we have access to any alternative information on what is really hapenning, this thing is getting pretty nasty, we need to get some action out here as well and we need our people there to give us the real dossier.

Adongo

[aeichener]

I agree with you that the Mt. Elgon crisis is a singular example of incompetence and dereliction on part of all the Kenyan media. Just see in the Nation a certain Lucas Barasa posing as a journalist: calling other Kenyan citizens "ndorobos", this ignorant nígger. Peter Kimani is equally clueless.

Only the Standard (Amos Kareithi and Isaiah Lucheli) has today made an exception. *Sigh*

Alexander

[adongo12345]

Alex

It is also a 'singular example of incompetence and dereliction" of duty by the Kibaki government. The primary responsibility of any government is the security of its citizens.

And where is John Michuki when you need him. May be somewhere in the middle of things. ( The wrong things)

"Michuki is busy recruiting provincial administrators to campaign for Narc-Kenya, and the death of 150 people and destruction of property does not seem anything to him," added the MPs.

www.eastandard.net/hm_news/news.php?articleid=1143967122

In reality, the escalating level of "tribal clashes" (how typical in an election year) in many parts of the country as exemplified by the Mt Elgon tragedy are symptomatic of a failed state. How soon after the triumphant message of ONE NATION, Kenyans delivered to the Moi-Kanu state, also riddled with the same undercurrents?!!.

These confrontations may serve the interests of the state operatives in the short run, but eventually the underlying forces and contradictions are the worst enemies of bourgeois states in Africa and elsewhere.

But this whole problem is spreading. Here are a few more links.

www.eastandard.net/hm_news/news.php?articleid=1143967121

www.eastandard.net/hm_news/news.php?articleid=1143967119

And how is all that related to all these:

www.eastandard.net/hm_news/news.php?articleid=1143967127

A Caterpillar tractor breaks the ground for the construction of KPA Pension Scheme’s 56 apartments and 105 maisonettes at Bandari villas in Bombolulu, Mombasa. Picture by Omondi Onyango

Coming soon.

Adongo

[aeichener]

adongo12345 said:

It is also a 'singular example of incompetence and dereliction" of duty by the Kibaki government. The primary responsibility of any government is the security of its citizens.

Well, one should not forget that the causes for this insecurity were created by the Kenyan Government (decades ago), in the first places. Forced expulsion and forced resettlement make for ethnic clashes. The NARC government inherited the problem and did nothing to solve it.

Alexander

[adongo12345]

No, Alex, the Narc government did not inherit "the insecurity" nor its "causes" in the country. They were elected, precisely to end it and usher a new era. That is what they promised Kenyans to get elected. Otherwise we would have just stayed with Moi.

Narc promised, and even pretended during the campaigns, that they wanted to bring the country together, as one nation with a common destiny in the prosperity and the great opportunities that our nation is capable of offering its citizens. That is not such a hard thing to do, as willing as the nation was, to embrace that philosophy for one Kenya.

Kibaki and Narc has failed us, miserably and we intend to hold them accountable for that.

Adongo

[aeichener]

I see you are agreeing with me .

Alexander

[job]

The Kibaki government is never rattled when certain things happen in "remote" parts of the country. This consistent trend of ignoring calamities in select parts of the country calls for DEVOLUTION. This is precisely why DEVOLUTION of powers MUST be effected.
John Michuki would have instantly flown to the site if the conflict involved certain "high potential areas" to quote 1964's Sessional Paper # 10 jargonry.

Job

Job

[adongo12345]

Interesting perspective

"As a result, 40,000 people have been displaced, 24 school closed among them 20 primary schools. A total of 17, 000 pupils have been compelled to move to other towns to fend for themselves or join the “defence force”.

Apart from SLDF militia group, their exists another militant group reported to enjoy the patronage and the support of the local leadership and the security forces

This is the group that assists the police in the burning of houses of suspected members of the “defence force.”

www.timesnews.co.ke/07april07/nwsstory/opinion2.html

Adongo

[aeichener]

Devolution (or decentralization in bureaucratic parlance, federalization in public law. subsidiarity in Christian social thought) is a sound principle. And I am not one of them who believe in the power of the all-omnipresent eye. But to be feasible, devolution needs certain prerequisites. Does Kenya have them?

Firstly, the shape and size and construction of Kenya's provinces is one bad joke; they would have to be newly shaped and distributed in their entirety. Secondly, many provinces do not have the financial resources nor the (wo)manpower to deal with their own affairs. Thirdly, there is no traditional political system to speak of: unlike Uganda, unlike West Africa, where devolution could be based on the traditional powers that would be restrengthened.

Alexander

[aeichener]

Kenyans are strange animals. They are sitting perched high above the ground on the dangerously swaying and croaking branch of an already rotten tree (and every now and then, several of them fall off), and yet they are busily hacking and sawing into this very same branch.

Just a few days ago, some official buffoons announced government plans to de-gazette even further parts of Mount Elgon forest, allegedly in order to "settle" people there. Talk about self-destructionism.

Alexander

[job]

Alex,

You may have missed the entire debate on devolution. Nobody dreams of devolving power to the current provinces of Kenya, you may be the first to stipulate such a premise.
Many factors were considered when charting the proposed 14 devolution units for Kenya and don't be deceived that there's any one region that would be devoid of manpower or resourses so long as the central government exists.
Please revisit the technical presentations for devolution to appreciate the nitty gritty of the concept in Kenya's context.
Job

[adongo12345]

In the meantime;

The reality stinks



And the truth is hiding in the bushes

We have those living in denial:

www.eastandard.net/hm_news/news.php?articleid=1143967151

and pumped up stories,

www.eastandard.net/hm_news/news.php?articleid=1143967155

Adongo

[aeichener]

Why not go to the source, instead of drinking muddied water?

www.ogiek.org has several comments by Ogiek and Sengwer representatives, e.g. by Yator Kiptum and Cheruiyot Kiplagat.

Alexander Eichener

[roughrider]

Prof. Kivutha Kibwana, who is supposed to have a 'human rights and civil society' background is the Minister for Lands. He, and Mwai Kibaki spent considerable effort on clerical chores such as reading out title deeds at public barazas under the guise of 'working'. Now when we have a real job on hand they are both very silent and absent.

Why can't Mwai Kibaki show leadership for once?

How many people have to be killed? How much more blood must flow? Before that stupid, incessant denial that there is a problem in W Pokot stops and real serious work of stopping the violence and building the peace begins?

The government says that there is no army; that it is just about 2 or 3 regular criminals killing people. Really? Are we that stupid?

In fact they, Kibaki and Co. have stoked the fires of hate in hitherto quiet places like Meru/Tharaka or Gatundu or Rongo or Narok or name-it - where careless roadside creation of political districts has interfered with the delicate tapestry of community resources, divided the people and renewed resouce conflicts in their worst form.

The chickens are slowly coming home to roost.

[aeichener]

We just witnessed in the Nation a demi-évolué. a true nígger, insulting his fellow (and equal in rights and dignity) Kenyan citizens as "ndorobos". Without a grain of guilt, remarkably. Maybe a kaburu with a whip should beat such guilt into his back, in notorious Ewart Grogan style. To pathos mathei.

Anyhow, here is how a Kenyan friend (another black Kenyan - and not a nígger, evidently) interpreted it:

"Kenyans do not get discrimination; they cannot understand that something is
universally wrong; they only see it as wrong when applied against them.
Hence discrimination against Muslims or Asians."

Alexander

[adongo12345]

Alex

What is the story with calling Kenyans n'iggers. This is the second time in the thread I am seeing that word which you know has been used over time by white people to equate black people with animals and to justify mass genocide of the same (including lynching, hanging and just sport killing of African Americans).

I ignored the reference the first time, because I did not want to divert attention from the gist of the thread, but I am shocked it has become your staple vocabulary here on Jukwaa.

That is frightening in a forum populated by "*n'iggers" don't you think?

Who are these Kenyan * n'iggers* and what gives you the right to call Black people *n'ggers?

Adongo

Oh boy even typing the word in Jukwaa is an effort

[aeichener]

Use

a) your eyes (to read)
and
b) brain (to understand).

I doubt you did either; for as of presently, you seem to do your best to prove the quoted (in italics) statement right. That is indeed shameful; whereas the n* word was and is best in place in this context.

A.

[aeichener]

adongo12345 said:

Also can we have access to any alternative information on what is really happening, this thing is getting pretty nasty, we need to get some action out here as well and we need our people there to give us the real dossier.

Tolle, lege:

Firstly, the Ogiek website contains numerous articles on the Mt. Elgon clashes and its roots, e.g. by Yator Kiptum.

www.ogiek.org

and e.g. here:
www.ogiek.org/news-1/news-post-07-03-3.htm

www.ogiek.org/news-1/news-post-07-04-1.htm

A more thorough report (82 pages!) on the situation of indigenous peoples also in the Mt. Elgon region, can be found here. Click through the website until you come to "writing samples" and choose the first topic from the pull-down menu there.

www.schmidt-soltau.de/english/index.htm

Alexander

[adongo12345]

aeichener said:

Use

a) your eyes (to read)
and
b) brain (to understand).

I doubt you did either; for as of presently, you seem to do your best to prove the quoted (in italics) statement right. That is indeed shameful; whereas the n* word was and is best in place in this context.
A.

Alex

I am not big on sideshows, as a matter of fact I detest them. This thread is about the mayhem unfolding in Mt. Elgon which is getting worse everyday as Kibaki and Michuki seem to have no clue what to do. What exactly has this got to do with your "n'iggers" whether they are in Kenya or wherever?

Secondly, it is quite insulting to Black people, for someone to tell us that there is a context in which people can be called n'iggers.

I consider it an absolute waste of time in this day and age to be arguing about using words like n'igger with people who want to project themselves as intelligent and progressive. This stuff is embarrassing and quite frankly if you can't see that, It is your problem.

If I was talking to some right wing redneck, which I try to avoid, I would be okay having this discussion.

Otherwise I am sure we all have better things to do.

As to what to do with my eyes or brain, I got those instructions from my mother some forty odd years ago. I am fine. You don't need to worry about that.

Adongo

[aeichener]

adongo12345 said:

This thread is about the mayhem unfolding in Mt. Elgon which is getting worse everyday as Kibaki and Michuki seem to have no clue what to do. What exactly has this got to do with your "n'iggers" whether they are in Kenya or wherever?

It has not everything, but much do with it. No better explanation than mine own words above: "insulting his fellow (and equal in rights and dignity) Kenyan citizens". Denying a group of people equal rights and standing, first through labelling them derisively as lesser beings, then through subsequent expulsion, impoverishment, ultimately direct physical force, as we see it now around Mt. Elgon (robbery, rape, murder).

Secondly, it is quite insulting to Black people, for someone to tell us that there is a context in which people can be called n'iggers.

Wow. You are able to learn once you listen to me. Yes indeed, there is such a context, and the context is that of an insult (an erstwhile insult being rebutted, specifically; vim vi repellere licet). Glad you got the message now. The late delivery is not my fault, however; recipient was not at home first.

A.

[fanyamambo]

[
OO do you know if the KNCHR and other human rights groups are on the ground in the Mt. Elgon area.

Also can we have access to any alternative information on what is really hapenning, this thing is getting pretty nasty, we need to get some action out here as well and we need our people there to give us the real dossier.

Adongo[/quote]

I'm not OO but can tell you that KNCHR has been on the ground and we are waiting for their report. They are not releasing it for some reason.

[aeichener]

My view of KNCHR and its worth is mixed. Anyhow, the more public attention, the better. Reports are already out there, I have given the links. Of course, these reports are partial; they are on the side of the victims.

As to be expected in Kenya, the insecurity forces make everything worse. Just yesterday media reported that they have been arresting women who had been trying to enter Mt. Elgon area, in order forage some food for their starving families and children from their burned farms and fields. Rapes have also been reported. As usual and to be expected. *Sigh*

Alexander

[aeichener]

Now as to the "real dossier", the media are almost purposefully misinforming the public. The roots of the present clashes go back into the early 1970s.

Unfortunately, past wrong cannot simply be remedied by spinning back the wheel of time. Hunters and gatherers, as much as they are decorative and romantic when it comes to the abstracted image, are not actors in a open-air museum. They cannot simply go back to the forest (though as a temporary measure they now are being forced to) and live a romanticized ancestors' life, as a cursory lecture of their websites might sometimes suggest. Ogiek, Sengwer, Yaaku, Boni like everybody else are aware that they live in the 21st century, and the women (who with Ogiek as well as with most other Kenyan ethnia bear the main burden of daily life and subsistence work) are even more aware of it than the men.

Jacinta Oduor has treated the question of ethnic self-perception (and the contrast of self-image to reality) very astutely in her thesis. It was a nominally legal thesis (LL.M. in women's law, in Zimbabwe), but Jacinta employed anthropological and social science methodology. She was on the ground, she has met there and spoken the very same Ogiek people whom I also met (funny, the world is such a small village), and she maintains an astute and unfogged view for gender reality behind phrases and "produced ethnicity", occasionally and en passant deconstructing some male peacockery and chest-thumping.

Her present work unfortunately leaves her no time to continue her work with the Ogiek (about which she is very sorry), but her thesis is really worth of printing out and reading in leisure. Not a dogmatic legal masterpiece, but a very fine example of good social and gender research.

Alexander

[fanyamambo]

aeichener said:

My view of KNCHR and its worth is mixed. Anyhow, the more public attention, the better. Reports are already out there, I have given the links. Of course, these reports are partial; they are on the side of the victims.

As to be expected in Kenya, the insecurity forces make everything worse. Just yesterday media reported that they have been arresting women who had been trying to enter Mt. Elgon area, in order forage some food for their starving families and children from their burned farms and fields. Rapes have also been reported. As usual and to be expected. *Sigh*

Alexander

I expect that the KNHCR report will include the fact that women are reporting that they are being raped by GSU and other 'security forces' including the local police because this what I have heard is the case.

[fanyamambo]

Oh, Adongo I forgot to mention that the Mt Elgon area is currently sealed off so some groups (including the one I am a part of concerned with the human rights violations occuring and wanting to offer among other things treatment for rape victims) have so far not been able to get through. Even as the situation escalates we feel a bit helpless and we are still not able to do our own rapid assessments. We need to do these assessments to understand what we can do to help. Anyway I'm told negotiations are on with the a certain DC.