Post by Fahari on Jul 2, 2014 9:15:10 GMT 3
"There has not always been a latent hostility" as Lamu does not suffer from land scarcity, the population density in Lamu is 16.2 inh/km2 (inhabitants per sq km) compared to Kenya's 73.84 inh/km2 so its really not a land issue or the so called historical injustices its more like power politics at its most raw and basic form
Its interesting to note that "local grievances" did not exist before there were resources to fight over, what I mean is that for the longest time Lamu was a remote rural back water where civil servants were sent as "punishmnet". A hippy play ground where pot smoking free loving, mzungus and conservative muslim locals blissfully coexisted.
For the longest time, land in Lamu was literally given away by the locals, it was of little value to them and when sold it was at a throw away price and even then, there were no takers, I know that for a fact for I was once offered a plot for Ksh 10000 and declined, I now wish I had but then I considered it a waste of funds,
Up country settlers were welcome because they provided cheap food, mpeketoni feeds the entire county!! Lamu does not have to import food from up country as most of the coast does and is one of the areas that has never experienced the so called ethnic clashes before the mpeketoni massacres.
The real issue is the control of devolved funds and the new kid on the block, LAPSETT, suddenly upcountry people are unwelcome now that there is a piece of the national cake to be shared unfortunately the same up country folks have the fastest growing population in the region so they get to control the politics in the region by their sheer numbers and that's when machete politics comes into play. Its not about land, its about money and power!!
This reminds me of what is happening in native american reservations, many native americans are now considered "outsiders", now that there are casino profits to be shared. Its now become necessary to determine who is a real native american. The date of registration and the fraction of native american blood one carries determines who is a real "indian". The shifting parameters are set by a council whose authority is final with no appeal. Many have found themselves de registered especially those who question the wanton misuse of casino profits.
So all this is about Mpeketoni and getting the governor out? If Timamy had nothing to do with the ethnic killings in mpeketoni, why should he worry? He does not need to invoke LAPSSET as the reason for his being tormented. In any case if he is guilty of the murders on account of championing local grievances, then he cannot even invoke that as a defence leave alone a mitigating reason! Timamy is a new comer in politics having only been involved in funding it rather than participating in it. He is certainly not the mekatilili or Koitalel of the people of Lamu - so kindly let us try and keep the honour to the people that are entitled to it! The governor is collateral damage. It is about controlling the resources of the Lapsset corridor, and with LAmu as the center of the mega-port, it becomes a hot spot.
He may be a new comer to politics, but that he beat all the old-comers in more or less distant party, is a hint. A hint of independence of mind. And it is this independence, and refusal to do deals to the detriment of the local interests --with their historical baggage-- that now evolves him into martyrdom.
NB: There seems to be a rolling settlers problem ever since this Mpe-katoni camp was set up in the 60s. There always has been a latent hostility. Then a historical confluence of circumstances comes to pass, and such a thing becomes a tinderbox.
Its interesting to note that "local grievances" did not exist before there were resources to fight over, what I mean is that for the longest time Lamu was a remote rural back water where civil servants were sent as "punishmnet". A hippy play ground where pot smoking free loving, mzungus and conservative muslim locals blissfully coexisted.
For the longest time, land in Lamu was literally given away by the locals, it was of little value to them and when sold it was at a throw away price and even then, there were no takers, I know that for a fact for I was once offered a plot for Ksh 10000 and declined, I now wish I had but then I considered it a waste of funds,
Up country settlers were welcome because they provided cheap food, mpeketoni feeds the entire county!! Lamu does not have to import food from up country as most of the coast does and is one of the areas that has never experienced the so called ethnic clashes before the mpeketoni massacres.
The real issue is the control of devolved funds and the new kid on the block, LAPSETT, suddenly upcountry people are unwelcome now that there is a piece of the national cake to be shared unfortunately the same up country folks have the fastest growing population in the region so they get to control the politics in the region by their sheer numbers and that's when machete politics comes into play. Its not about land, its about money and power!!
This reminds me of what is happening in native american reservations, many native americans are now considered "outsiders", now that there are casino profits to be shared. Its now become necessary to determine who is a real native american. The date of registration and the fraction of native american blood one carries determines who is a real "indian". The shifting parameters are set by a council whose authority is final with no appeal. Many have found themselves de registered especially those who question the wanton misuse of casino profits.
Jakaswanga
So all this is about Mpeketoni and getting the governor out? If Timamy had nothing to do with the ethnic killings in mpeketoni, why should he worry? He does not need to invoke LAPSSET as the reason for his being tormented. In any case if he is guilty of the murders on account of championing local grievances, then he cannot even invoke that as a defence leave alone a mitigating reason! Timamy is a new comer in politics having only been involved in funding it rather than participating in it. He is certainly not the mekatilili or Koitalel of the people of Lamu - so kindly let us try and keep the honour to the people that are entitled to it!
He may be a new comer to politics, but that he beat all the old-comers in more or less distant party, is a hint. A hint of independence of mind. And it is this independence, and refusal to do deals to the detriment of the local interests --with their historical baggage-- that now evolves him into martyrdom.
NB: There seems to be a rolling settlers problem ever since this Mpe-katoni camp was set up in the 60s. There always has been a latent hostility. Then a historical confluence of circumstances comes to pass, and such a thing becomes a tinderbox.