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Post by destiny on Feb 22, 2012 12:27:19 GMT 3
Information I have is that Njenga Karume is critically ill, possibly in a coma at Karen Hospital. Our thoughts and prayers to his family too.
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Post by Onyango Oloo on Feb 22, 2012 12:29:32 GMT 3
Got a call from Germany about fifteen minutes ago (writing around 12 noon Kenyan time). Turned out to be the Kiswahili Service of Radio Deutche Welle who wanted to interview me about the demise of John Michuki. They are airing it today (Wednesday, February 22, 2012) at 6 pm Kenyan time. Briefly I started by saying that as a true African, I could not celebrate Michuki's death and passed my "mkono wa tanzia" (condolences) to the family and friends of the late minister. But I emphasized that I had no "machozi ya mamba" (crocodile tears) to shed. I said that many Kenyans will remember John Michuki as the torturer of the Mau Mau fighters in the 1950s; as the man who famously said that the struggle for a new constitution effectively ended when "Andu Aitu" became President; I castigated him for the 2006 raid on the Standard Group... I did add that irrespective of whichever ideological vantage one came from, Kenyans were unanimous that the late John Michuki was one of the most efficient and hard working ministers Kenya has ever had. I was asked if his death would affect positively or negatively the freedom of the press in Kenya and I said that fortunately, we had a very good constitution which buttressed these freedoms and that the Fourth Estate itself was very robust in fighting for and defending these freedoms. I was asked what impact if any would Michuki's death have on the fortunes of PNU and I said that PNU was already in a process of "kusambaratika" (disintegration) with the feuding Uhuru, Saitoti and Kalonzo factions and that Kibaki was already on his way to retirement and therefore there would be a very minimal effect in these wrangles. The most startling question I was asked to comment on was the speculation that Michuki was one of the godfathers of Mungiki. I said on the contrary, many families of alleged Mungiki members in Central Kenya were very bitter with Michuki from his stint as Internal Security minister, especially his notorious, menacing and chilling boast that there would be "many funerals of Mungiki youth" especially in his Muranga backyard long seen as a Mungiki stronghold. On a related note, I am also being interviewed by Walter Turner, the host of the Africa Today show on KPFA Radio which broadcasts out of Berkeley, California on Friday, February 24, 2012 regarding the ICC process. I also got the following message from the BBC: "Dear Onyango: FM (I have redacted the full name for privacy reasons) suggested I contact you about a newly-launched programme on BBC World Service radio, Africa Debate. It's a monthly panel debate show, recorded on location in Africa with contributions from an invited audience. In March we will be looking at the International Criminal Court, posing the question: "Is Africa on trial?" It will be recorded in Nairobi. FM felt you might be able to offer some insight into the topic, so I would love to speak to you about it - to sound out your thoughts on the topic, any suggestions you might have for panelists in Nairobi, and to see if you yourself might be available to take part. Here are some of the key points: The topic will be The ICC: Is Africa on trial? (OR International
justice: : Is Africa on trial?)The argument has been that the ICC appears to be targeting only African countries. Kenya has been chosen as a venue due to the current cases against high profile Kenyans, but the programme also aims at including participants who can draw experiences from elsewhere across the globe. The panel will include speakers arguing both in favour and against the ICC. They will speak on what the ICC is, the cases at the ICC at the moment, criticism against the ICC, praise for the ICC, alternatives to this form of justice, etc. The audience will also be drawn from across the continent. Date: Friday 30th March 2012 (Nairobi, Kenya) Venue to be confirmed.I look forward to hearing from you, when you have a moment. Many thanks and kind regards, MM" In the meantime, here is how you can access the Kiswahili Service of Radio Deutsche Welle on the internet: www.dw.de/dw/0,,11588,00.html Onyango Oloo Nairobi, Kenya
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Post by mzee on Feb 22, 2012 12:43:27 GMT 3
Michuki quotes
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Post by mzee on Feb 22, 2012 13:02:17 GMT 3
I think that one thing that we need to study aboutJohn Michuki is his ability to make things happen. Be it exterminating the mau mau and mungiki or sanitizing the transport sector.
1. Was it because of experience? 2. Was he smarter than everybody else? 3. Was he more dedicated? 4. Had he more to personally gain? 5. Was it because of his vicinity to power? 6. Was it because he wanted to pay for his not very clean past? 7. Or all of the above?
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Post by tnk on Feb 22, 2012 13:14:45 GMT 3
I think that one thing that we need to study aboutJohn Michuki is his ability to make things happen. Be it exterminating the mau mau and mungiki or sanitizing the transport sector. 1. Was it because of experience? 2. Was he smarter that everybody else? 3. Was he more dedicated? 4. Had he more to personally gain? 5. Was it because of his vicinity to power? 6. Was it because he wanted to pay for his not very clean past? 7. Or all of the above? good questions mzee my view is that michuki is representative of the old order where the one without means (money, wealth, riches, godfather, patron, etc) is relegated to cheering squad or dungeon the new order is one of personal merit we can discuss this on another new thread this one let the old man RIP
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Post by quitepotato on Feb 22, 2012 14:16:34 GMT 3
RIP Michuki. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race I have kept the faith -2 Timothy:47
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Post by wafwaf1 on Feb 22, 2012 14:32:12 GMT 3
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Post by mwalimumkuu on Feb 22, 2012 16:08:08 GMT 3
Lala salama mzee!! We shall miss you.
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Post by justfacts on Feb 22, 2012 16:45:34 GMT 3
Hitler was murderous but he gave the world the Volkswagen- the people's car.
Michuki was the same but to a smaller extent, he is associated with the anti Maumau brutality and the disappearance of youth yet he was also one of the most effective ministers.
His legacy is that he was thorough in his work in either direction, whether for the good of Kenya or against Kenya.
Would i want another like him in government.......No
A tribal chauvinist who put personality before the quest for a new constitution and openly bragged about flaunting the old one-just because he could- belongs to a past era.
Do i admire his personal traits.......Yes
To the extent that he took to his tasks with a passion widely lacking among state servants and yielded results albeit some were morally reprehensible.
Obviously he was no Hitler but on a scale with the German on one side and Mandela on the other he would tend towards the former. Both had an ethos of task effectiveness with little regard to rule of law.
It is good riddance for the bad things, but he will surely be missed for the good he brought to government.
RIP Michuki......you shall be rattled no more.
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Post by amunra on Feb 22, 2012 19:09:48 GMT 3
Beacause it is 'unafrican' to speak 'truth' of someone when they die esp when they are closer to a villian than a hero. i shall say w/out chuki RIP Mzee .Michuki
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Post by nereah on Feb 22, 2012 19:21:41 GMT 3
mwenyezi mungu amrehemu mwenda zake john njoroge wa michuki
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Post by Mobimba on Feb 22, 2012 20:01:33 GMT 3
Rest in peace chief. Condolences to the bereaved family.
I will remember him for the thousands of lives he saved via the Michuki rules. I remain grateful for his patriotic attempt to completely finish off Mungiki.
Word on the street has it that Eugene Wamalwa is already jostling to be appointed Minister of Environment.
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Post by jakaswanga on Feb 22, 2012 20:31:33 GMT 3
I remember after Njenga Karume published his memoirs and I was very dissatisfied, one of my comrades asked me what I would really want. Without hesitation I replied: John Michuki telling his story as truthfully as he can. My other comrade, a gikuyu scholar, laughed and said: why dont you guys pay me to lobby! I know people who know people who know people who know people Michuki can listen to! So we wrote a letter like this under the influence of:
Dear Michuki, it is not so difficult to nationalise the wealth you have gotten by crook, and recover it for the taxpayer. But there is something only you can give the country. Your memoirs and biography --in several kilogram volumes like Margaret Thatcher's or Andrei Sacharovs [let your PA find out who that is.]
We believe your story in full, will help understand post-colonial Kenya like no other man's tale. Please give us and the nation this story in your own words. For told it shall be told!
Very soon of course some whiteman will be writing your biography, so it is not like you wont be studied and written about. But amongst all these voices, we wish to hear YOUR OWN VOICE TOO ON YOUR OWN LIFE! And no Nyachae- nor Karume-like stuff please.
Do not know whether the letter reached destination, but I hope somewhere in his papers, lies: MY LIFE AND WORK IN MY OWN WORDS, By John Michuki. A guaranteed best-seller. Unless it is already out and I did not catch it!
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Post by gemagema on Feb 22, 2012 20:32:45 GMT 3
Kibaki announces half mast for three days for the late Michuki? Is he being over-honoured? And just remind me - did the flags also fly at half-mast upon the death of Wangari Maathai?
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Post by nok on Feb 22, 2012 20:34:00 GMT 3
Kibaki announces half mast for three days for the late Michuki? Is he being over-honoured? And just remind me - did the flags also fly at half-mast upon the death of Wangari Maathai? For Maathai , Yes they did; Emilio declared then 2 days of Mourning ; It was a Thursday and Friday.
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Post by kamalet on Feb 22, 2012 20:42:45 GMT 3
Kibaki announces half mast for three days for the late Michuki? Is he being over-honoured? And just remind me - did the flags also fly at half-mast upon the death of Wangari Maathai? Traditionally ministers have had 3 days of flags flying half mast. And if my recollection serves me right, they did fly half mast for Wangari.
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Post by Fahari on Feb 22, 2012 21:21:58 GMT 3
R.I. P Mzee Michuki this man was the best president Kenya never had. A man of steel and determination, a performer who when faced with a difficult task, did not shirk from unpopular decisions nor seek excuses as to why he could not accomplish it, instead he used all the means at his disposal to achieve his goals. The stream lined matatu industry and the clean Nairobi river are great examples. If all our leaders were like him Kenya would be miles ahead Mungu amuweke mahali pema peponi
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Post by tnk on Feb 22, 2012 21:51:45 GMT 3
really guys
after 30 years or so in various govt office, all we remember this guy for (on the plus side) is cleaning nairobi river (last engagement), and having matatu drivers obey simple traffic safety regulations for the period he was transport minister? (on the dark side) we have the other issues
sorry, but that is no legacy, that describes what is dysfunctional in kenyan society.
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Post by justfacts on Feb 22, 2012 22:37:01 GMT 3
tnk,
Right on point.
In Kenya it seems we celebrate someone for just doing his job. Says a lot about our level of expectations from leaders.
And it seems just by doing your job can wipe off all the ills from your past .
We are a nation of selective amnesia, low expectations and quasi intellectuals.
If our hero is a former collaborator who subverted press freedom and national sovereignty and displayed open disregard to the law i wonder who our villains can be.
In our Kenya even Pattni can fill up church pews!
And yes.........
Our other Heroes are currently conducting prayer rallies!
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Post by Onyango Oloo on Feb 22, 2012 23:14:11 GMT 3
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Post by hannali on Feb 23, 2012 0:09:58 GMT 3
Three days of mourning for a mass murderer, tribalist who fleeced the country after independence.
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Post by einstein on Feb 23, 2012 3:07:40 GMT 3
If life was a thing that money could buy, the rich would live and the poor would die! says, Big Youth & The Roots Connection.Rest in peace Mr. Michuki, but may The Almighty judge you according to how you lived and behaved in His own good old mother Earth. NO WOMAN NO CRY RIDDIM (TWALA MIX)
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Post by nowayhaha on Feb 23, 2012 4:26:26 GMT 3
R.I.P.
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Post by Luol Deng on Feb 23, 2012 10:53:12 GMT 3
He was a great patriot, a humanitarian, a loyal friend.....provided, of course, that he really is dead - Voltaire
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Post by Mr Defence on Feb 23, 2012 15:56:29 GMT 3
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