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Post by omundu on Aug 30, 2013 22:06:47 GMT 3
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Post by omundu on Aug 29, 2013 10:16:14 GMT 3
B6k.
I am pretty sure the Syrian crisis is a continuation of the arab spring started about three years ago in Tunisia methinks when a local man burned himself next to the local council offices in protest at the corruption that was prevalent.
It eventually culminated into a revolution where the despotic leader who had thought the country is his kingdom, was ousted.
It quickly spread in many Arab countries where many despots were ousted. Some, like the Tunisian one, took the civil route and left instead of engaging his army on hapless protestors. Some despots like mubarak attempted using security forces but on a limited basis and very subtly. The situation didn't escalate to bombs and heavy artillery. You can check out the number of casualties in egypt during the revolution and compare with syria.
It then spread into libya where strong man gadaffi promised fire and brimstorm on the protestors who were unarmed initially. We saw images of people being bombed etc from libya by the gadaffi forces. Surely something had to be done...
Enter syria, did assad handle the protestors like the tunisian chap or like gadaffi. In my opinion, and several others, he had reached a point of no return when he unleashed the army on the protestors. He had arms support from russia and iran. He even got manpower from the hezbollah group. It was going to be a major massacre if the rebels were not armed with heavier weapons. Assad was not negotiating. He was out for blood. It was a good move by the west to arm the rebels to even out both sides. It was a better choice when weighed against the other prospect of total annihilation. Imagine that...
Well it has been more than two years with the east vetoing any resolution on syria, saying that they are still in talks with assad. Two years a guy, two years ?
This is not the first time chemical weapons have been used by the assad forces, reports show that he has used it about ten times before. That just goes to show the mentality of the man. He is a despot who thinks the rule of the country is his god given birthright. The revolution to bring full democracy in his country was met with brutal force. Evil.
I still believe this current chemical attack may have happened but at least it gives the west a much needed excuse to do what they should have done earlier. Intervene and change the course of the stalemate. I don't know about you but to me, one more death is more than enough. Hii mambo unasema ati carving up the country is just baseless propaganda that was even used by Gadaffi. Look at libya now...
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Post by omundu on Aug 29, 2013 0:58:45 GMT 3
The current figures look like about 100,000 killed and about 1.5 million displaced. That's "more than enough", with or without chemical weapons. Something needs to be done, and I hope Obama will quickly do that right thing. Bugger Russia and China. Obama is only forced to do some token thing. To defend his credibility about the crossed red line he had drawn in the sand. Notice that John Kerry is doing a re-run of the Collin Powel lying presentation at the UN in the run to the Iraq war, when Colin said they were proofs of 'mobile anthrax laboratories!' Kerry said he has conclusive evidence it was the Assad regime that used the gas. But he can not offer this proof for public scrutiny. Asked why, he dodged. Did he think only he has the capacity to UNDERSTAND those proofs? or did he fear those proofs would quickly be exposed as lies? [Within one hour of Collin Powel's mobile laboratory pitch: a German toxicologist and lab technician had refuted, saying the man was lying his black arz red, and the idea of mobile bio-chemical labs culturing anthrax and other 'sins' while mounted on trucks and train carriages, was insane fantasy! And he had a computer generated model to make his point! [John Kerry must have been informed of this rebuttal of old]. But they are a super=power. If they are minded to bomb, they will bomb. Is an array of corpses from a chemical gas attack in Damuscus, a greater moral obscenity than an array of corpses in a mosque from military putschist bullets, as we say in Cairo the other day? Jakaswanga I tend to be more in line with otish otish's line of thought on this. I have watched the international media and had conversations with a number of anti-intervention people. All I seem to hear from the anti-intervention crowd is "the west should back off because there is no proof yet" or "they are only doing it for the oil" angle. When I press them to offer a solution to the 100 000 , and climbing,dead and millions displaced, well, apart from the military intervention, I am met with blank stares... What has humanity been reduced to jameni. All those deaths have become just a figure like we try to balance with our budget. It has been a year and a half of massacres while 'shuttle diplomacy goes on'. Someone can finish a political science degree in that amount of time. While the diplomacy goes on, the numbers dying havnt stopped. We are currently at a stalemate and the only thing that seems to be moving is the deaths. Surely life should be at the top of reasons to intervene. Whether chemicals were used or not, there is no difference in the condition called death. Killing is killing. So once again, I beseech, anyone with a solution to reduce and eventually stop the casualties ? I am all ears.
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Post by omundu on Aug 18, 2013 19:34:00 GMT 3
I guess what I am getting at is judging the character of the man from the simplicity of his food and the closeness to his wife rather than the 80 grand it took our nation to sustain a presidential trip. The money didn't leave the country. Rather, t here is potential money coming in. Here is another take on business, on the trip to china! Ivory out, money in! Hehehe. perhaps the ivory discovered a few weeks ago that had originated from statehouse ?
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Post by omundu on Aug 18, 2013 10:58:59 GMT 3
I hear you kathure. :-)
I was just trying the other side of the coin to see what the explanation would be. Lakini nyama ya china you can get from the market thinking its beef kumbe ni punda. Hehehehe.
8 million shillings for five days is quite a tidy sum though. Kwani hiyo nyama ni gold plated. Hehehe
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Post by omundu on Aug 18, 2013 3:32:49 GMT 3
Seriously $80,000 for food for 5 days? Is there no food in China? Living here in this very diverse city, I have had the pleasure of eating food from all over the world. I say the chinese are right up there with their amazing and varied cuisine. No, you don't have to chow dog like they do, but do Kenyans need to pay that much for a man to eat? Contrast that with the hunger most kenyans endure all their lives. UHURU TAKES LAMB CHOPS ON CHINA TRIP President Uhuru Kenyatta's catering team that flew to China prior to his departure on Wednesday morning took his favourite food along with them. Lamb chops, beef steak, fish and Fanta orange were in the travelling bags of the advance team. Unlike his predecessor, Mwai Kibaki, who steered clear of red meat preferring chicken and fish, Uhuru does not like poultry. Sources close to the catering department at State House revealed the President does not leave the country without his chefs. One caterer who does not work at State House but has in the past travelled with the former and current president said it is difficult to find the foods that Uhuru prefers in Asia. “We used to carry food whenever we learned that we cannot find it in the host country. China is tricky and the President's team must have carried his favourite lamb chops, which are always served with mukimo, roast potatoes, rice or ugali,” he said. On Tuesday morning, a senior government official is reported to have made a call to The Stanley hotel to order the food. “Please include lots of fish,” the official is said to have instructed. The the total amount of the food ordered, and which was billed in US dollars, came to $80,000 (Sh7 million). The source said since Uhuru was sworn in, he served him dinner once before State House commissioned its full food and beverage unit. “Uhuru takes tea in his house in the morning. I have never served him tea for breakfast. Perhaps, he prefers to eat his wife's food,” he said. He said the State House's food and beverage department can serve a maximum of 250 people. If there are more guests than that, the official caterers, The Sarova Stanley, take over. Kibaki liked to drink Keringet water or mango or cocktail juice after a meal, our source said. “For breakfast, President Kibaki loved Weetabix cereal, croissants, tea and fruits. Kibaki is mindful of his health. We would bear this in mind when cooking for him," he said. Yesterday, the management at The Stanley said they are excited to be the official caterers of State House. “It is an honour to cater for the President. You must be consistent and be sure of what you are doing. There is no room for mistakes. We did catering during President Kibaki's time and we will also do it well for President Uhuru," said Ben Katungi, the hotel's food and beverage manager. He declined to comment on the Uhuru's menu for the China trip. The President's official visit to China, which runs from August 19 to 23, will be dominated by discussions on business and investment. A business delegation of more than 60 people will join Uhuru on this leg of his tour. Nairobi Governor Dr Evans Kidero jetted out yesterday to join the President's entourage. While in China, Uhuru will sign deals on a power transmission project for Nairobi as well as other agreements on economic and technical cooperation. The President is also expected review a number of projects under discussion between the governments of Kenya and China. Key among these are the $2.5 billion construction of a standard gauge railway from Mombasa to Malaba and the $1.75 billion multi-purpose dam, which is central to regional development plans. On his way to China, Uhuru yesterday visited Russia where he encouraged more Russian businesspeople to invest in Kenya. He said Kenya is strategically located as a gateway to the East and Central Africa region. The President said due to its strategic location, Kenya has emerged as the regional economic, trading and investment frontier. He was speaking in Moscow during a meeting with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Moscow. “I welcome Russian investors to take advantage of our strategic location as the gateway to the East African Community and the common market for Eastern and Southern Africa – which has a combined market potential of over 400 million people,” he said. Uhuru also hosted a luncheon for the Kenyan team to the World Athletics Championships. He pledged more support for the Kenyan sportsmen and women. Saying Kenyans are proud of their achievements, the President termed Kenyan athletes as gracious ambassadors of the country. He said every Kenyan celebrates their success. www.the-star.co.ke/news/article-132397/uhuru-takes-lamb-chops-china-trip Kathure Apart from the money part, this is how I see it... So long as he does not eat hizo croissants that have recently confused simple minded kenyans like me and he settles for hizo nyama chomana ugali plus preferring the food his wife cooks for him, makes him acceptable to simple kenyans like me. You know for us simple folk, our would rather have a wife who would spend 80 grand hapo gikomba or kenyatta (oops) market , buying those lamb chops or aka nyake than spending it on dogs and croissants in china... Get it ? I am sorry but the article had me at, he would rather have his wife's cooking. That's when simple men like me realize that those are my kind of peoples. You know, when I was in high school back in the day, there was a ranch we used to frequent in the nanyuki environs, where the owners (aristocracy they were) who used to feed us mguu ya mbuzi as breakfast but still use helicopters to traverse the ranch or take kids to school. Long story. I guess what I am getting at is judging the character of the man from the simplicity of his food and the closeness to his wife rather than the 80 grand it took our nation to sustain a presidential trip. The money didn't leave the country. Rather, there is potential money coming in. Though the red blooded bukusu in me would take the despise chicken part with a pinch of salt. Just saying nje!
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Post by omundu on Aug 8, 2013 22:25:44 GMT 3
NOK In any design of public buildings, there is a universal fire design handbook that ensures issues like an FHR (fire hose reel) and fire hydrants every, say, twenty meters. Did we have that ? If we did, were they in working condition ? Are our building codes being closely scrutinized and implemented, including occasional check ups ? If JKIA is in such a condition, what conditions are our other public buildings in ? Niungwana kweli haya ? Before I was interrupted by the domestics of Otishotish and family (--poor otishotish has a monosyllabic tempered son --he of a singular and fixed vocabulary of expressing disapproval) I was minded to wonder if you be a structural engineer or construction architect, after your expose. Wonder of wonders after I read you, then heard this Michael Kamau, cabinet secretary for transport and infrastructure: Now, Omundu, in the 1970s, am I to believe they designed buildings where thousands of people could congregate, without putting the eventuality of fire at the top of the priority list of possible dangers? Is the design of the building, meaning the architect, really to blame? I think Mr. Kamau is offside in his comment. Should we blame the desing of the water supply system of Nairobi too? [low pressure to fight a fire], and designs of the roads too --traffic jams that stalled fire-fighting engines, parking them forever on the roads! I personally also think, as others have said here, that apart from the technical building issues and firebrigade etc, they are at least managing to resume most flights and the co-ordination seems to be working. However, JAKASWANGA, whatever the chap talking about seventies design being a limiting factor, is talking about, is utter nonesense. He is intimating that the structural design (walls, collumns etc) blocked access for the fire brigade. Very amusing I dare say. There are many buildings from that era with lots of closed spaces that can't enable access by the fire brigade yet fire gets put out. I will get to the details later. The pentagon wasn't designed (with all those deep rooms) for quick access of the fire fighters. Yet the damage from sept. 11 was limited to one section. Same arguement can be applied to the twin towers: how would the fire fighters manage in time to get the hose reels all the way up tens of storeys ? The answer lays in overall maintenance of a structure. It lies in bringing the structure to modern standards, everything has a lifespan. The two structures mentioned above had contemporary finishes, including internal fire retardant and fighting mechanisms. You cannot put a big hose reel (like the ones used by fire fighters) within the spaces of a building. Those spaces only have smoke detectors, sprinklers, FHR's, hydrants , fire escapes, fire doors etc. Those are enough to minimise the damage while the fire fighters spray their water canons outside. In my opinion, the fact that there were lots of closed spaces should have been an advantage in minimising damage if the materials were up to standard. Concrete and brick walls don't burn. Doors, flooring and ceilings do. If those materials had been upgraded into fire rated doors and finishes and ceilings, then the fire would have not spread that fast, allowing the fire fighters time to get to the internal hydrants and fire hose reels supposed to be strategically located every few metres along the internal walls. Now, it does not take a budget akin to the laptop one to install those and make them functional does it ? Even if the building is fifty years old. Just put them on the walls with necessary signage. Then in the next budget, just refurbish the flooring and ceiling layout. And while at it, install smoke detectors and a sprinkler system. It is a very basic exercise that does not even involve any structural changes. An intern could do the design and contractual work can happen even during operational hours. I am sure many of you have seen places at the malls where they just cordon off a certain section with partition walls and the contractor goes about his business while shoppers do theirs. Even a car needs service once in a while.
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Post by omundu on Aug 8, 2013 15:33:23 GMT 3
NOK It is an embarrassing event to our country. However, I can't get my head around which is more embarrassing: the first major airport fire ever recorded worldwide or the state that our airport was/is in. Even eldoret airport is better than this relic. On 11th April, 1996, Dusseldorf Airport in Germany had a severe fire which was many magnitudes larger than JKIA’s and caused much more damage. Even though this was 17 years ago, I would bet anything that the German’s fire suppression system, fire team’s response time, and equipment were by far better than current days JKIA. Yet it happened. SourceThanks for the correction horth. Indeed it has happened before. However the german scenario was different in that it occured from wielding and the molten stuff dropped into the polystirene ceilings below. Now, two points: - polystirene is a highly flammable material and also has medical/lung implications.(That's why the material is slowly being phased out in buildings) - the polystirene drop in ceilings were spread over a very wide swath of the terminal without room walls blocking it. The above is the main reason why the fire spread inside the drop in ceiling space quickly before being detected. They didn't have smoke detectors nor fire doors or walls but even with such, it would have been hard detecting the fire within the ceiling space. However, the good thing with these wazungu is they learnt from it and re did their entire manual on design and operating airports. I can almost guarantee such may not happen again. But I could be wrong. They also have nearby international airports where flights were diverted to. We, on the other hand, do not. So we face a rather large hurdle. Are we even gonna have an inquiry ? Do we need to ? Because, as others have explained here, the issues are well known. A good thing from the article you provided is a lesson on how the germans immediately came up with short term solutions to the subsequent effects on travel: Within a short while, they had set up tents that processed travellers. The tents were subsequently converted into more stable steel structures for the duration of reconstruction of the burnt down structure. Though this may have its other complications like it and electrical cabling (considering we still use the analogue filing system as kamale says) but it is the only way to go for now. Yesterday, kenya airways shares plunged two percent. I don't think we have even seen the overall effects to the economy yet but with time we will if we don't come up with short term measures like the germans did.
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Post by omundu on Aug 8, 2013 12:29:12 GMT 3
NOK It is an embarrassing event to our country. However, I can't get my head around which is more embarrassing: the first major airport fire ever recorded worldwide or the state that our airport was/is in. Even eldoret airport is better than this relic. On electrical fires, it could be a possibility (sabotage even) but I wouldn't put it at the top of the causes for now for various reasons : - electrical fires start by arcing currents jumping thus increasing heat leading to combusting surrounding materials. Normally, this leads to blown fuses and tripped circuit breakers. The electrical supply to the whole airport would have been affected with blackouts or flickering and dimming lights. I am not sure if those things happened. - we also have outlets emitting heat and funny smells at the begining of the arcing mentioned above. So far, we havnt heard any reports of that. There are various other technical signs including the colour or lack of smoke when the fire starts etc. However, whatever the cause of the fire, the issue should not be cause, but what mechanisms are inbuilt in the structure to prevent or minimise the spread. Kamale intimates on the failed systems above. That is where the problem lies; JKIA was built decades ago. A walk through the airport will highlight the fire hazard that it is; old, wornout finishes, including timber flooring and ceilings that have outlived their fire rating. Every material (in modern design) has a fire rating of at least two hours in major transport nodes. This means that the material can withstand direct high heat for a certain specified time before combusting. This helps in reducing spread of fire thus minimising it to a specific location for easier combat. It also gives people time to evacuate. Now, with time, these materials lose their fire rating and that's why renovations (especially of major buildings)are paramount. Jkia has never had any major internal renovations since its initial construction. As mentioned above, it seems the smoke detectors didn't function. Whatever happened to the sprinkler system ? This would have also minimised the fire to its original starting point and even put it off before it spread. In any design of public buildings, there is a universal fire design handbook that ensures issues like an FHR (fire hose reel) and fire hydrants every, say, twenty meters. Did we have that ? If we did, were they in working condition ? Are our building codes being closely scrutinized and implemented, including occasional check ups ? If JKIA is in such a condition, what conditions are our other public buildings in ? Niungwana kweli haya ? An international airport does a lot to a country's image. Imagine the losses that have incurred since the incident, including the embarrassment it has caused our image. What contingencies have been put in place to ensure business as usual : we have diverted flights to mombasa and neighbouring countries but that is still a major dent to business. We have started using the cargo terminal for passenger traffic also. But all this are just short term. And for how long will we do this. Even with the laptop budget diverted to reconstruction, it will take years because we have to bring in experts to determine the structural stability of the fire damaged building before we think of refurbishing or demolishing and building anew. And with the political interference in our tender process, it may add another two years to another four years of designing and construction. It is not an easy situation and solving it will require sober minded experts. However, a blessing in disguise may be the almost completed UNIT 4. It is apparently meant to be complete this august. It's main aim was to finally enable USA planes to use our airport (imagine the traffic and the effects on our economy) but now after the fire, we are back to square one with the americans. JKIA was constructed to handle 2.5 million passengers per year. After decades (and lack of foresight by our leaders at least to expand) the airport now handles about 7 million passengers a year. Wear and tear anyone ? And imagine the deaths if the fire would have happened at peak operation ? Unit four (there is also a parkade to handle 1500 bays)was meant to increase traffic to 9 million per year. It was meant to handle international departures but I guess they will have to now make a plan and mix departures and arrivals in unit four. We also have the greenfields terminal. A whole new airport designed to world standards. Construction is meant to start in November this year. For more (including images) below the link. www.archidatum.com/greenfield-terminal-jkiagensler-architects/The new terminal, to be built adjacent to the existing one at jkia, complete with its own runways, was meant to start construction in january last year after the tender was awarded to some chinese construction company. However, politics as usual in kenya, and impunity by Kimunya et al, delayed the project by two years. Now we see the repercussions of our silliness. Hehehe. Two years would have meant that the greenfields terminal would be complete by mid or end of next year at a cost of US 655 million dollars. We all know in kenya, that amount of money attracts the most unscrupulous fellas. That's why the delay happened until parliament had to be involved. Let us wait and see how the handle this. Meanwhile, we remain a laughing stock to even our brothers in countries like rwanda and uganda.
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Post by omundu on Aug 5, 2013 15:14:05 GMT 3
NOK, OtishOtish, Omwenga and others: it seems the government is listening. Balala just today raised levies from goldmining to five percent and rare earth mining to ten percent as this reuters article says; mobile.reuters.com/article/idUSL6N0G61T520130805?irpc=932A step in the right direction I think. Now to the tax issues, ownership, transparency issues most of you folk have raised above.
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Post by omundu on Aug 2, 2013 20:35:02 GMT 3
Jakaswanga It seems kenyan civil servants are not alone. Our neighbours to the west have or are suffering a similar fate. And the governments excuse was... m.allafrica.com/stories/201306121469.html/Then at the end of the article, someone gives a hint that donors have withheld funds. Questions: do kenyan civil servants also get paid from the consolidated fund ? If so, lack of cash shouldn't be an issue because apparently the fund is always to the brim according to the article. Could our government also be cleaning out ghost workers ? If so, they would have mentioned it because that would have been plausible as an excuse. However, iregardless of whatever excuse/reason, the bellowing smoke points at something. And the smoke is not white, rather, it is black, which is unnerving to say the least. Anyways, the lessons from uganda are a pointer to what civil servants should expect if this continues. Loan sharks at 20 percent interest rates inorder to take kids to school. On an conspiratory note: how much is the monthly civil servants pay budget and if someone had a week or two to make interest off it... Well, I am not an expert at this stuff so allow me the ignorance.
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Post by omundu on Aug 1, 2013 15:03:50 GMT 3
[? Maasai mp's are threatening to defect, governors have lost faith in him, teachers, doctors, half the country has the guts to shout him down, he can't even set foot in many areas of the country, he can't visit western capitals with a delegation to beg for much needed aid while his counterpart does so with ease, china and russia appear silent and cold, ICC beckons... The list is endless. Not a situation I would like to be in. But maybe, just maybe the fact that opposition figures have had their security withdrawn will wash all those problems away and for the first time in a while, he will sleep soundly. Omundu, Did you take a look at the arson? The police actually particiapated, and gave protection to the marauding youth! Yet look at the poverty and destitution of the 'squatters' whose belongings and homes were being razed. these 'security forces', ironically under the political responsibility of a masai, Lenku I think, on whose orders were they doing this to fellow Kenyans? This is a dangerous faultline ---and I notice the dynamic and digital duo have lost the dynamism of their tongues! [/quote] I see he is at the scene of the crime today. Let's hope the maa demands are met. And also let's hope it serves as a lesson to the digital duo that kenya has changed. Moi era antics won't work. I hope they eventually start thinking things through; being more proactive rathher than reactive.
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Post by omundu on Jul 31, 2013 20:31:18 GMT 3
The son of Jommo's heart has condensed in childish rage. He has become a brooding, vindictive and infatile president. A man very emotionally disturbed. Were it not that Raila is the leader of the opposition and former PM, it would have been just another laughable juvenile tantrum. But given the definition spokesman Kariuki used, toxic, a dangerous incitement to free hands, in the sense of a fatwah sanctioned by the almighty Muthamaki, the 'widhrawal of security details' could be construed as an escalation in the 'lowering of the threshold'. ---he is now, as they say, a sitting duck! www.standardmedia.co.ke/?articleID=2000089756&story_title=lawyers-protest-withdrawal-of-cord-leaders-security-detail Jakaswanga This is the same muthamaki that was banging his fist on the table in wantonly uncontrollable rage a year or two ago. What more did people expect. That a presidency would be a magic wand that with a wave, childhood mental disturbances will be whisked away ? Hehehehe. He has become such an embarrassment to leadership with his tantrums. I am beginning to believe that all these current funny happenings in the country like naivasha, teachers debacle etc are as a direct result of this child running the country with drunken filled decrees. He misses the way his father ran things. And is very insecure as to his legitimacy. It is indeed jealous rage but then what ? Take the bodyguards and cars then ? Maasai mp's are threatening to defect, governors have lost faith in him, teachers, doctors, half the country has the guts to shout him down, he can't even set foot in many areas of the country, he can't visit western capitals with a delegation to beg for much needed aid while his counterpart does so with ease, china and russia appear silent and cold, ICC beckons... The list is endless. Not a situation I would like to be in. But maybe, just maybe the fact that opposition figures have had their security withdrawn will wash all those problems away and for the first time in a while, he will sleep soundly.
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Post by omundu on Jul 30, 2013 21:57:01 GMT 3
outlandish events to peak the peasant's interests lest they get bored and remember that they still woke up hungry the day after the celebrations. Omundu: Enlightening and educational comments. But I wouldn't worry about Kenyans going hungry: (a) The amount in question is about what the USA typically provides in a year for food aid whenever there is a famine in Kenya. (b) Kenya's long-term food-security plan is actually being developed in Washington, under the Feed The Future program. In this year's US budget, thanks to our son in the White House, Kenya is one of the largest recipients of funds in that program---at the same level as Bangladesh and Ethiopia and behind only Tanzania. So, assured of the yellow maize, let the games begin! Kolonel brisk :-)) OtishOtish You mean the Americans, those imperialists together with their civil society and NGO friends are the ones ensuring our food security ? Gosh... Hehehe. It is quite funny that a country can leave a matter of national importance in the hands of others. But I digress. The situation mainly contributing to such insecurities like food in kenya are akin to the roman times: LAND. It is still in the hands of the oligarchs. No need to go into the recent naivasha skirmish and the PEV where we still have IDP's in need of land. These are issues created by the ruling class and will eventually bite them in the behind while they splurge on statues celebrating their insecurities (is it a small man syndrome ? I wonder sometimes) Well, check this out : the UNDP ranked kenya a paltry 143 out of 187 countries in its 2011 human development index. Basically we were classified as a low human development country. Approximately 2.7 million kenyans will require humanitarian assistance this year through the american food assistance programme. Their budget this year is roughly 70 million dollars, equating to about 7 billion shillings. Yaani this 2.5 billion and some change is able to assist half that number. We can ensure we feed our own if we take other funds from elsewhere including Mpigs added costs. One important factor I noticed is that the funds from the states has been reducing gradually over the years; last year it stood at over 100 million dollars. We don't even have our own homegrown solution to the problem yet the powers that be worry why the country is angry. I even noticed that there has been a substantial decline this year in american funding to our military as well as USAID funding to the office of the president. Yet we can still afford billions in jubilee celebrations while scratching our heads on why the anger amongst wanjiku. Let me not mention the impending strikes while we sit on a 350 billion shilling deficit. Obama mentioned senegal as a good example on how Government is well on its way to achieving food security within less than a decade. Senegal had started programmes that are apparently working wonders on the ground. People scream vision 2030 whilst we are yet to achieve our african agrarian revolution. The romans we try to ape were actually better off because they produced their own food for the masses even though the emperor bought the food from the oligarchs that owned vast tracts of farmland. It still worked didn't it. As you say, we await imported yellow maize while tracts of land lay fallow as we celebrate a 2.5 billion shilling 50 year independence. Oxymoronic to say the least. Hehehehe
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Post by omundu on Jul 30, 2013 15:43:41 GMT 3
The great Roman General, Marcus Aurelius once quipped "what we do now, will echo in eternity"
He is also remembered for telling his generals that "there was once a place called Rome. It's name sent shockwaves around the world. But Rome has become but a shadow of its previous splendor. It can only be whispered, anything louder than that and... It is gone with the wind"
It was a time when Rome was under attack, both from within and without. Legions were stretched thin putting out barbarian revolts in the far reaches of its empire. Some entire legions (the ninth legion is one of them)had vanished from the face of the earth, deep in the forests of Germania under barbarian blades. (Some bones are still being found deep into the twenty first century). The legionaires had to also contend with attacks by hannibal on elephants through the alps. Internal revolts also stocked the empire. Emperors and the senate were jittery. They had to come up with a plan to appease the masses; to blind them from the day to day hunger and strife they were undergoing.
It was a situation not very different from the underpinnings of protest we are witnessing in our country centuries later. The romans came up with ways of stemming the rising tide. The question is: is our 'dynamic DIGITAL duo' copying from ceaser's political book (analogue) or are they, as their name suggests, DIGITAL ? More below.
During the steady decline of the great Roman empire, the author Juvenal (55 - 127 C.E) noted, "the people are only anxious of two things: bread and circuses" The emperors had to resort to 'panem et circenses'. That is the Latin expression equivalent to giving the poor masses bread and circuses as a political tool to quell revolt. Any further reading on this can be found in the book, hunger games. I forget the author.
As a matter of fact, the idea was not ingenious to the Roman emperors. If we dig further down history, beyond the minoan and micenean (sp) epoch, we find its source with the Etruscans of Northern Italy. They used to have public celebrations and games that they termed as Ludi. The Romans merely took a page from the ludi's and tweaked it for political expediency.
So, the Roman emperors paid for these events from public coffers. Records actually show that the events were paid for from public coffers with ceaser at once stage getting loans amounting to ten thousand barrels of gold to meet the demands. The emperors sole aim was to stem the rising revolts by keeping the poor and enemployed entertained and occupied to distract them from their poverty. Historical records show how the events eventually became more outlandish with Octavian (ceasors son) outperforming his predecessor with structures like the coliseum.
It was a smart political strategy for that time. The peasants loved the variety of pleasures like food, public baths, gladiators, exotic animals, charriot races, unveiling of the EMPEROR's STATUES etc. However, as I hinted earlier, the strategy eventually proved to be self defeating because of human nature: they had to come up with ever more outlandish events to peak the peasant's interests lest they get bored and remember that they still woke up hungry the day after the celebrations. In fact there was a stage where the celebrations happened for 123 straight days to keep the lumpen occupied.
Anyone with a grasp of history will know that it is actually those events that depleted the national coffers and on the contrary, helped in speeding up the eventual breakdown of the Roman empire into the eastern (byzantine) and western (rome) empires and eventual collapse.
Our current political climate in kenya is no different. Any keen observer can attest that there is indeed rising discontent from the public. Poverty has risen, high standard of living with petrol prices up to be followed by rising basic food costs, unemployment is high, strikes are the order of the day. We have noticed how the rising discontent is displayed. Others I am sure will brush it aside as organised by the opposition but any keen observer (including those in power) know that it is indeed discontent raising from grievances. Even if we use the arguement that it is organised, it is way harder organising protest from a people who have the basics they need. Without poverty, you won't find anyone to make noise.
How are the powers that be, reacting to the rising tide. It seems, at least to me, that the digitali's are copying exactly from ceasers political book: from pinning it to opponents (not working) to threats of force (hihihi) to promising graduates a monthly stipend until gainful employment to spending vast sums of taxpayer and borrowed money on public celebrations hoping to distract from the core problems facing the nation.
However, times have changed: the roman era, with its landowners and peasants is completely different from this post industrial revolution era, when workers moved from the farms to urban areas with its attendant rise of democracy as we know it today. We simply cannot take archaic ideas and try fit them like a square peg into a round hole. It won't work.
There is actually a lot that the billions can do to stem the rising disaffection. Imagine then, adding all those other hundreds of millions spent on houses ? I believe I don't have to give examples of where the money can be put to good use because it is a discussion we all have had before.
I believe these latest confused endevours are an indication that the ruling digitali's are lacking in digital ideas thus clutching at whatever straws may be thrown to them as a lifeline, including archaic 'panem et circenses'
Unedited.
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Post by omundu on Jul 27, 2013 18:25:11 GMT 3
Shhhhhh kamalet. Let the sleeping ones sleep. When your enemy wants to hang himself, you find a rope and a firm branch for him. Primitive mentality and a moron's attitude. This is a discussion forum, and we are frankly and openly exchanging our views on national politics. We are in the business of dispensing advice for free, for the sake of the motherland, and enjoying ourselves at it. If Kamalet thinks I am a fool going to bed with Martha, he sure must tell me, and why, and not shy sssshhhhhh like some coy cat wet in the closet; and if I think Uhuru Kenyatta should disband the house of Mpigs to reign in his 'unsustainable' public wage-bill, that is exactly what I say. So, cheshirepusi, why don't you go back to the closet, and shhhhh yourself to sleep? ---fwaking 'rented heckling' hulligoon with nothing to contribute to the debate! :-)) Jakaswanga. Someone tried punching above her weight. Don't mind me. I am enjoying this. Maybe its the strong one... Hehehehe.
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Post by omundu on Jul 27, 2013 8:48:54 GMT 3
Indeed people. It has become vioja kenyani, watching these people self destruct. The remark by uhuru's spokesman that got me giggling was that raila rented the crowd to heckle jubilee people. This man agwambo kweli has some supernatural powers. That stadium sits in the tens of thousands. That must have been some effort and quite a bit of money to rent a crowd that large and military precision planning to pack them all in the stadium to heckle in unison at appointed instances while praising agwambo. And to also achieve that feat against a state machinery with NIS at its beck and call. Some prowess indeed for this 'toxic' man to also organise a strike with teachers from all tribes. People, it is now official. The fact that a supposed government spokesman came out with all these nonesense shows that the official policy with government is RAILA. I think the script has been circulated: when or if we fail in delivering our mandate, we will blame raila... They are rattled and clueless. Rattled because it is slowly dawning on them that the country is hostile to them and their policies. Rattled because this incident is very embarrassing and is heavily watering down uhuru's legitimacy. Other regions have seen this and I am sure they will follow suit if uhuru or his minions dare set foot... How can you claim to be president of a country if various parts (many in fact) are hostile to your presence or your word. If you look at it holistically, the situation is bigger than just kisii. Yet some here have blinkers on saying raila is a non entity... They have created this monster (the past month has been headlined by raila). Let's see how the game unfolds. Hahahaaa!!! Omundu, you amaze me with your excitement, it is like Raila just emerged from somewhere and is causing all this brouhaha. Raila has owned headlines since the days of Nyayo, to Kibaki and now. There is nothing he did in Kisii that is new, at least as far as I am concerned. Remember he has even infiltrated our own military before and attempted to overthrow a seating president. What can be bigger than that, I wonder. What matters to me and I guess to UhuRuto is, what has he to show for all this? Or rather, what is he doing differently that is likely to have different results? If it is Uhuru's presidency you are fearing for, I want to ask you to relax with the confidence of Lucifer himself; we shall be on this road again with Raila after four years. ~~ Mwalimumkuu @nyumbakubwa ~~ Excitable nyumbakubwa ? Excitable you claim ? On the contrary mwalimu... I guess I could take your post and without changing anything, give it as advice to the jubilee mandarins like the supposed government spokesman and kimemia et al... If things are as you claim, that raila has done this before and it is nothing new, then why is the jubilee section frothing at the mouth attempting to pin everything on him at any opportunity ? Why don't they just ignore this nobody ? Mwalimu, if you took a bit of time to read a little more, you will realize that raila did not approach 'contacts' at the military to attempt a coup. He merely just knew about it beforehand. I guess you also believe the ICC connection with raila story.
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Post by omundu on Jul 26, 2013 23:19:20 GMT 3
Indeed people. It has become vioja kenyani, watching these people self destruct.
The remark by uhuru's spokesman that got me giggling was that raila rented the crowd to heckle jubilee people. This man agwambo kweli has some supernatural powers. That stadium sits in the tens of thousands. That must have been some effort and quite a bit of money to rent a crowd that large and military precision planning to pack them all in the stadium to heckle in unison at appointed instances while praising agwambo. And to also achieve that feat against a state machinery with NIS at its beck and call.
Some prowess indeed for this 'toxic' man to also organise a strike with teachers from all tribes.
People, it is now official. The fact that a supposed government spokesman came out with all these nonesense shows that the official policy with government is RAILA. I think the script has been circulated: when or if we fail in delivering our mandate, we will blame raila...
They are rattled and clueless. Rattled because it is slowly dawning on them that the country is hostile to them and their policies. Rattled because this incident is very embarrassing and is heavily watering down uhuru's legitimacy. Other regions have seen this and I am sure they will follow suit if uhuru or his minions dare set foot...
How can you claim to be president of a country if various parts (many in fact) are hostile to your presence or your word. If you look at it holistically, the situation is bigger than just kisii.
Yet some here have blinkers on saying raila is a non entity... They have created this monster (the past month has been headlined by raila). Let's see how the game unfolds.
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Post by omundu on Jul 25, 2013 6:29:52 GMT 3
Kweli otishotish. It is very sad indeed. No sooner had we smelt a something fishy... www.equities.com/news/latest-news/newsdetail/energy/2013-07-21/1648461It is amazing that very little noise is emanating about this impending doom/scandal. The government is hiding something. They are denying the public access to documents. If people thought goldenberg was huge, then ignore the smoke signals and see what the magicians will conjure roundi hii. Even the mpigs salaries should pale in insignificance. I demand to see pigs slaughtered by the entrance of the relevant ministry and parliament. An abomination of biblical proportions.
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Post by omundu on Jul 25, 2013 4:39:17 GMT 3
So, what does our constitution say about mineral wealth ? I managed to come across a something on the CIC website. It deals with the mining bill but I may have been overtaken by events because it is dated october 2012 and by then, CIC was yet to receive the bill from the AG for review. They were commenting based on an advanced copy they received from the ministry of environment and mineral resources. If any update, please don't hesitate. www.cickenya.org/cicoldsite/news/mining-bill-2012Key points: - the bill did not adequately address the principle of compensation as required by article 60 (1) b of the constitution. Anyone else smell a rat ? - ratification of mining licenses according to article 71 (1) (a) of the constitution: that all licenses and agreements (existing or future) to be ratified by parliament. Now here is where the debate will or should take place and where we keep our eyes and ears open. Occupy the mpigs if need be. I gather scrutiny by wananchi of the gazzette is prudent. - transparency, accountability and good governance: this is covered by article (10) 2 for good debate and dialogue to prevent confidentiality (where eating happens). A mandatory publication of anything and everything dealing with the minerals for added measure is included. So far, with the kwale mines, it is proving difficult to find (via web search) all the details relating to the minerals, agreements, shareholding etc. Or is it just me ?
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Post by omundu on Jul 25, 2013 0:52:47 GMT 3
A sad joke indeed NOK. One that has bedeviled this mama afrika since pre-colonial days. The oxymoron where our riches, our main hope to catch up with the rest of the world economically, became our worst curse. The main reason behind all those millions dead in our continent, military coups, stolen elections, hunger, rape, gruesome manslaughter where even babies have their limbs chopped off and the only option they have is short sleeve or long sleeve. I went to school with some angolans during the savimbi era and the stories they used to recount were like horror movies. Savimbi used proceeds of his mines to educate some of his conquered people so he may have educated technocrats if or when he took over the country. So you are having drinks in varsity with a young men who have seen life. They recounted tales of savimbi burning pregnant women claiming they are witches just because their husbands or fathers or brothers absconded duty while on a unita mission abroad in belgium (education related sometimes)but ended up in the press or american senate committees spilling the beans on savimbi and the west's atrocities. Stories of the young boys being given tilly lamps and AK's to stand in parallel lines on a clearing in the forest at night so that a plane, heavily laden with weapons could land for batter trade with savimbi's diamonds. Some of the things my friends went through cannot even be repeated here. And a lot of minerals have been siphoned off to the west that way. I even have first hand tales from a son of the governor of sokoto (northern nigeria). About the clandestine yet heavy handed involvement of shell bp in the running of the country. In that era, the line between government and private sector (shell) became blurred. The presidents and governors then, even took orders from the regional ceo. Anyways, that is a long story for later. I just wanted to share a link that was originally written in pambazuka related to africa's minerals and the malevolent games conjured by the fascist coperate world. www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=26663All in all, africans are F++cked. The amount of money or resources leaving the continent each year far out ratios the debt we pay yearly plus the aid we get. Yet we scream vision 2030. The way the flow of resources is skewed towards the west will leave us behind the rest of the world for eons if the trend continues. Even a supposedly far developed country like SA (with an apparently the most progressive constitution in the world)is not spared this butt-f++ck. The recent marikana incident bares remarkable witness. And the miners were not protesting against just wages, they wailed against the poor conditions they were subjected to even as they broke their backs and rotted away their lungs in the deep recesses of the mines. And it is just not about the money. The scars these mines leave in the regions they operate is an issue. The environmental impacts need to be addressed. Anyone can see what shell has done to the biodiversity in regions they operate in nigeria. The coperate fascists will collude with the politicians who then turn a blind eye. We all know how nigeria has tried to deal with MEND. We saw what they did to ken saro wiwa, just for raising his voice. I always give one example to the contrary when someone says those companies are bringing jobs yada yada: in 2006 the DRC gained only 100 000 euros as opposed to 760 million euros that was taken out as proceeds from the minerals. Currently, Botswana and Libya remain the only countries in africa that have used their mineral wealth to develop into middle income countries. The rest are still in limbo with the few at the top making the money. That said, as per last year (not sure) there were only ten african countries that were EITI compliant. Kenya is not amongst them methinks. EITI (extractive industries transparency initiative) means that the Government and involved companies in the extractive industries, explain clearly and openly, the revenues flowing from its extractive sector so that the citizens and any other concerned party can scrutinize it and openly debate the pros and cons of the contracts entered. The above has several benefits as a start; presently, it has unearthed the corruption prevalent in nigerias oil industry, a lot of scrutiny on areas like environmental and human rights and it also helps with the eventual stability of the area because the locals are heavily involved in the process as opposed to feeling left out and eventually forming movements against the companies. So this initiative is also good for the companies because stability ensures smooth business and world prices stabilise. So how do we go about it ? Well, I guess we first need visionary leaders. But that is not enough. Ask the Lumumbas of days gone, ask hugo chavez what they tried to do to him in venezuela. We need a unified front. That way you can't be the sole voice in the dark. That's why I commend the current crop of south american leaders this past decade. They worked in unity and that subcontinent is taking off leaving us clutching around clueless. But a few voices have started to be raised in africa. The anc charter on mining is a good starting point and discussions are heavily underway towards equity. There is also a recent report by the africa progress panel on such matters (chaired by koffi annan)and it is raising eyebrows. I just can't seem to get my hands on it.
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Post by omundu on Jul 22, 2013 11:07:46 GMT 3
Omundu: Yes, it does appear that the owner of the coup organization has showed up. See the pdf files here: www.kenya-today.com/politics/march-4-movement-m4m-okiya-omtatah-eliud-owalo-cidAnd I think you are spot-on in your last comment: rising discontent will be harshly dealt with, under the pretext that it is part of a plot to overthrow the government. Kenya has been there before, so I'm sure people know the drill. What I am still not getting is why the secrecy around M4M until now if indeed it was a genuine movement with honorable intentions. Why did it take for CID to bring it out to the fore ? Is it now a civil movement ? Did any in the civil society in kenya know about it ? Does this show that the civil society is inactive at the moment ? Reading through the goals, it looks like activities civil society should be involved in. Perhaps oloo or any here can explain the conundrum. Another thing I noticed is the civil society, media and politicians heavy campaign for peace during the elections. Wouldn't it be a noble goal for them to use the same energy and ferver in campaigning to end/reduce tribalism ? The social media is awash with namecalling etc based on tribe. It is a really big problem here in kenya, and one that actually led to the 2007 PEV. That in my opinion, is the root of the problem. It would even solve the 'tyranny of numbers' some purport. It is indeed shocking that not a campaign, at least none I have seen, has come out against tribalism. Awake, civil society.
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Post by omundu on Jul 21, 2013 17:06:27 GMT 3
Police set to quiz more suspects as mystery over ‘March 4 Movement’ deepens Police will interview more people this week to establish the link between former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s chief campaigner, Mr Eliud Owalo, and the little-known March 4 Movement. Sunday Nation has established that the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) has opened an inquiry file to establish the link between Mr Owalo and the alleged movement. CID has summoned Mr Owalo to appear at their offices for interrogation on Monday from 10 am. The case is being handled by Inspector Geoffrey Kinyua and Inspector David Cheruiyot of Serious Crime Unit at CID. According to a letter dated July 17 from head of Serious Crime Unit, Mr John Kariuki, Mr Owalo and others “plot to create civil unrest and plot nationwide demonstrations which will lead to discrediting government”. According to tipsters privy to investigations, the movement based in Nairobi’s Kilimani is fashioned towards Egypt’s “people power demonstrations” that deposed former President Hosni Mubarak from power two years ago. The movement was allegedly focused on tapping into discontentment of Kenyans who are unemployed and feeling the weight of high inflation and the high cost of living. Sections of trade unions and civil societies were expected to be roped in to mobilise Kenyans who would have pitched tent on the streets to achieve their means. Sunday Nation learnt that the CID accessed the information from individuals the movement was attempting to recruit. One of the tipsters claimed the movement was to be funded by foreign embassies. Also in the CID letter, it is alleged that they have information Mr Owalo was sponsoring the youths countrywide to cause chaos. Mr Owalo’s lawyer A.T. Oluoch, while replying to CID in a letter dated July 17, asked the police to name the complainant and the date he recorded a statement incriminating his client. He also sought to know whether his client was a witness or a suspect in the investigations. “Specify whether a report was made to the police in relation to the allegations against our clients, when and the occurrence book number and the person who made the report. Specify the allegations you are investigating in writing, which you never did,” said Oluoch. On Tuesday, Mr Owalo appeared at the CID offices and dismissed the claims as cheap propaganda being peddled by government. He said CID officers were upset after he penned an opinion article calling for dissolution of Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission. On Wednesday, Cord leaders led by Senator Anyang’ Nyong’o said that by interviewing Mr Owalo, the Government was targeting Cord leaders Mr Raila Odinga and Mr Kalonzo Musyoka. www.nation.co.ke/News/politics/Mystery-over-March-4-Movement-deepens/-/1064/1921288/-/72rdl9z/-/index.htmlForward to the past but in dynamic digital mode. But is it the post-1969 or post-1982 past? But they are off to a good start, along known paths. So far the "the little-known March 4 Movement" is only little-known because someone in authority has just dreamt it up. It will soon become a "well-known terrorist group", with links to Al-This and Al-That. And one can never go wrong with "funded by foreign embassies". Bloody colonial bast*rds at it again. Hehehe. Otishotish. I just read an article by okiya omtatah (sp) stating that he is part of a 'march fourth movement'. He goes on to state that it is not an illegal movement and articulates the movement's goals which are progressive. An example is doing away with the IEBC and changing sections of our electoral laws to, amongst other goals, make elections less tribal and more issue based. He further is categorical that Owalo is in no way linked to the movement. It will be interesting to see if the CID will then leave owalo alone and start questioning omtatah. Hahahaha. That's when It will be affirmed that this is indeed a witch hunt. We have the judiciary. Mutunga the wily. Can't owalo and lawyer then request willy to put an end to this 'summons' that have been explained as illegal. No written summons, no evidence etc. It reeks of the summons a certain prolific blogger got from kimemia to attend a tongue lashing by the security council. I am at pains to provide the link (I am using a mobile device and my analogue brain is yet to come to grips with these machinations)but perhaps one of you may look the article up and post it here. Nevertheless, these 'clutching at straws' antics by the Government goes to show, as many have stated here, that they are losing the propaganda war. The MSM (main stream media) that they thought would redeem them by hiding their inadequacies is not enough. Times are a changing and other alternative sources of media are fully entrenched where wanjiku is accessing contrary news. Or the truth. IEBC is a big factor in this government because questioning the electoral body is akin to questioning the duo's legitimacy. It has become a wildfire hard to control and in a bit, even the western powers may not endorse our electoral system for the next elections. They have their ways, including funding. This is just the beginning. But, one may ask: doesn't all these keleles against progressives like the supposed march fourth movement just give the movement and kina owalo more legitimacy and/or airtime ? Any publicity is good publicity. It seems that the jubilee government is playing on a field that has been chosen for them by the opposition. The opposition is controlling the script and so far, like in any script, there is always the good guy and the bad guys. I can give various examples including the vip saga, office breakins and the 'returning back to nyaoism' story. It is becoming increasingly difficult for the jubilee fans to explain these activities away. One also cannot fail to see Kimemias hands in this. The errand bwoy. There is a certain quote in the nation article posted that shows the origin of the sleepless nights. "...tapping into the discontent of the unemployed youth that are feeling the weight of high inflation and high cost of living..." That line goes to show that the executive knows there is a rising discontent in the country. It also shows that they know the reasons behind the rising discontent. They know it is reasons to do with their policies on governance and not kina owalo and agwambo. But do they know that the only way to deal with it is only to deal with the issues head on ? It seems some never learn because what they are focussing on is denying the discontented youth, a formal platform to air their grievances. Well, that may just be a brief tourniquet, but it just briefly stops the blood from flowing. It does not heal the already visible chronic wound.
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Post by omundu on Jul 16, 2013 23:24:54 GMT 3
So jakaswanga, you reckon the unyutto are planning a 'ken saro wiwa' of sorts ? Obviously with the risk of its attendant consequences to the fabric of the nation and regional/global geo-politics. (Remember the delegations, including madiba that visited abacha trying to plead with him) Well, good luck to them. They say, no guts no glory, and it seems cornered folk will resort to anything; including the thought that ateempts to silence one man will suddenly bring nirvana to dawn. Hahaha. Well, the modus operandi is well known by now: mutahi tweets a plan (perhaps in cohorts with intelligentsia), gauge public reaction, establish counter-strategies, establish other avenues (silencing or threatening vocal supporters), put plans in motion, send GSU to major towns, then initiate night of long knives, sit back and pray that the wananchi that doth protest does not reach critical mass, breath a sigh of relief that the plan worked but keep checking your back. After sometime mutahi then tweets in mockery that a revolution didn't work. It is a life of a gambler: the "let's push the envelope to establish how far..." Where is my popcorn again ? Nothing is working for the guy, he needs a war. But we already have one in Somalia. So he needs a scapegoat to deflect the harsh glare spotted on his incompetence. Yesterday the market research surfaced in conclusion: majority Kenyans conclude they are worse off under UK. The economy, hyped sky-high by the world bank and IMF, is not hoodwinking the man on the street. Fuel is up ---because of a surchage at the port whose effect was denied would be inflationary. There is something childish about sacking the whole teaching force of a country. It proves guys are in the wrong jobs. We teachers now know why the TSC wanted the court to impound the KNUT building. So that it could be sold cheap to a connected tycoon at a fixed auction. A primitive accumulation scheme. Knowing the effort it took veteran unionists like Mwalimu Ambrose Adongo [long-standing firebrand KNUT secretary] to achieve these things, and seing goons in the pocket of Uhuru Kenyatta blatantly plot to embezzle these properties, has revealed more than Jubilee would have liked. Not just trying to use the court to break KNUT, but trying to misuse the court to nyakua by confiscation. These are some of the bad news the Raila plot is meant to deflect. Otishotish. A perfect example of you theory would be bush junior's foray into iraq to complete what his father could finish. Jakaswanga. Your explanation makes sense and it goes to show how low we have sunk. It is/may be a very cold winter (next five years) Attacking raila: the mudslinging worked while he was PM. Reason being that he was part of leadership in Government. Right now, it is a completely different story because he is the opposition and nowhere, in my research, have I found such a move by uhunyutto succeeding. Nowhere in history. Anyone is welcome to research it. Basically, in political science, citizens look at the s-elected leadership when things go wrong. A perfect example is obama who won by a high percentage in 2008 but the democrats lost big time in the midterms. The people did not care whether the bad economy was due to the intransigence by the republican opposition or not. It is just human psyche. I remember seeing sossions tweet to ruto, asking him why not just simplify the matter and divert the laptop funds to the teachers. Why really go the wrong route and show people they lack ideas on governance by blaming raila and others. I guess my point is: will pointing fingers, firing teachers and other intimidation tactics work if the teachers still don't go back to work ? It won't. How about the medics joining in soon ? High prices ? Deficits etc ? If they try approach it the way they have, they. Will end up fighting everyone. Trust me, ask Morsi. What happened to him. These chaps need some lateral thinking. Not kifua tu! The contemporary world has changed. That said, am I the only one seeing some international influence in all these developments (BRETTON WOODS). Look how they started the ball rolling in egypt. Or am I just being a conspiracist ?
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Post by omundu on Jul 16, 2013 20:37:04 GMT 3
So jakaswanga, you reckon the unyutto are planning a 'ken saro wiwa' of sorts ? Obviously with the risk of its attendant consequences to the fabric of the nation and regional/global geo-politics. (Remember the delegations, including madiba that visited abacha trying to plead with him)
Well, good luck to them. They say, no guts no glory, and it seems cornered folk will resort to anything; including the thought that ateempts to silence one man will suddenly bring nirvana to dawn. Hahaha.
Well, the modus operandi is well known by now: mutahi tweets a plan (perhaps in cohorts with intelligentsia), gauge public reaction, establish counter-strategies, establish other avenues (silencing or threatening vocal supporters), put plans in motion, send GSU to major towns, then initiate night of long knives, sit back and pray that the wananchi that doth protest does not reach critical mass, breath a sigh of relief that the plan worked but keep checking your back. After sometime mutahi then tweets in mockery that a revolution didn't work.
It is a life of a gambler: the "let's push the envelope to establish how far..."
Where is my popcorn again ?
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