Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Another Wednesday



I'm sure you have all seen the video above. Frankly words can hardly express what I think of Kenyan law enforcement. In this case instead of working towards containment of the demonstrators, the aim seemed to be to terminate them. I don't care what our Baghdad Bob aka Alfred Mutua says about video tampering, the video speaks for itself. Another thing that I have wondered why is it that the most lethal force is being used in Kisumu yet people have been demonstrating in Nairobi too and we aren't hearing of as many fatalities and incidences of brutality. Is it me or is a quiet but not so subtle point being made?

Someone told me a sad story the other day, we all know how the current situation in Kenya has taken an ethnic dimensions by virtue of the two prominent figures behind matters. Any Kenyan abroad knows that there are large numbers of Kenyans out here who have overstayed their visas and are here illegally. So what happened is that with all the bile and anger in the air, one large group from one tribe got together exchanged information and called the Immigration Authorities on a large number of people from their "nemesis" tribe they knew were in the country illegally. I hear that group has been arrested and is awaiting repatriation to Kenya.

I have never claimed to be the nicest person in the World but that is grade A malice. How messing up someone's life here in the States will help matters back home I have no idea.

I was talking to a friend on the phone today about how some unresolved issues like the Land Question contributed to the chaos we are experiencing today. She made this statement, " Those people sold their land 40 years ago and now they want to fight for it and chase people away, that isn't right."
I had my issues with her broad generalization of the matter, the issue is not that simple. It goes as far back as Kenya's Independence and the way land that was taken from the natives by the Europeans and then redistributed after Independence and the bumbling attempts at consequent governments to paper over the issue.
Another jewel I heard was, "There was nothing they were doing with that land, so it was given to us to farm and trade on; we shouldn't be persecuted for that.."
First things first, even if the people living in that area originally were doing nothing with their land, it still remains there land to gaze at with reckless abandon then to be taken under the pretext of eminent domain. But I'm not saying the government grabbed peoples' land nor am I supporting the forced evictions, but like I said it goes much further and much more detailed than that.

My point is that people have tried to break down the drama to its' simplest elements and in that way turned it into something else. This whole issues is more than just Luos and Kikuyus, ODM vs PNU, poor vs rich, hardworking vs lazy; it is all those things and alot more. So picking one those small elements and using it as a platform to spread half truths and bile in person, in the media or on your blog is just an indication of how some people despite their denials are part of the problem and not the solution. This writer has made an attempt to look out how these issues are being discussed online but they fall short in my opinion, the main reason being bias.

I read somewhere else online that 500,000 jobs have been lost after all the fracas that has gone down. Let's see 500,000 jobs created in Kibaki's first term, 500,000 lost at the beginning of his second term. I guess he has indeed started with a clean slate. I wonder if he can come up with a million jobs with his maf dream team behind

Wonder of wonders, our MPs are getting a full month's pay even though they have only convened once this month. Working to serve the people, you've got to love it! No wonder everyone wants to be an MP. I too want to be an MP, the work hours, benefits and the pay are great.

I for one also think that the Kenyan media has done a pathetic job of reporting during this whole drama. They dragged their feet after the election and woke up to give a half hearted effort when things had already gone down the drain. I took a look at this article, It is obvious that if you read in between the lines; the assailants came from one tribe and the victim another. Do you think that the Kenyan media should mention tribe when reporting some of these incidents or not? Just want to get people's opinions.

Anyway that's my $0.02 for today.......

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

I don't know where to start! Kisumu seems the place. The interesting this, while Kisumu has had the most destruction in property,there has been the least civilian killings there, GSU and the Police have come down heavy on them!

There is also information out there, that the business community in Kisumu are blaming the government for not protecting them. Remember how GSU guarded Nairobi CBD while the election results were being made? They anticipated mayhem, and like every government did what they should have done. So where were they? Not in Kisumu for sure, nor RV where now gangs and thugs are manning roads!

Now, the deportation story is just tragic. In fact, it seems there is more than one incidence. Now, we have to be careful who our friends are, who we trust! What have we reduced ourselves too?

Prousette said...

Mutua is a disgrace to Kenya and Kenyans especially at this time when we are looking for anything good to salvage our image.

The govt is making a point by hitting Kisumu hardest and Kibera. You know I heard rumors way before the elections on what was being done spies being sent to that part etc etc kumbe there wasa whomle lot of truth in that!

On the land question there are people who do not understand the history of Kenya and that Kenyans have very long memories of wrongs; real and perceived.

If I am doing nothing with my land does it entitle you to come and grab it, really come on!!!

Msanii_XL said...

They should probably change the definition of malice after that incident....How sad can it get? Humans man, humans....arms length treatment has never been effective.

Half n Half said...

haki that deportation story is tooo malicious for words. I know a chick here who is planning to look for asylum! AMAZING
The tribe thing is also spreading to KBW, I wonder at all those blogs I used to read whose author's words are now so skewed to one view

Pea said...

I just wanted to say.. it's SO true about the immigration thing!!! and yes, it's mean!! see what kenyans are doing to each other?

Anonymous said...

Bila words on the immigration story. Very sad, and immature.

Acolyte said...

@ Zorah
If you put it that way, it seems that the government values property more than it values people's lives.
Conflict brings the worst out of people...
@ prousette
Mutua would rather believe his script than his eyes.
From what I hear we may only be having a lull to the storm.
@ msanii
Keep your enemies even closer it seems....
@ half n half
You would be shocked the depths people can stoop to. In some ways sadly KBW is splitting into political camps.
@ pea
At this point I am really watching my back, someone could decide to target innocent old me!
@ bomseh
That is indeed a very sad story I tell you.

Seasons & Reasons said...

What?!? This is the first time an hearing about the deportations issue That is the lowest of the low in terms of human relationships which are already defined by malice.

Naming a tribe is becoming very difficult. I used crack my kids up with stereotypes of Masai's(Their mum is one. I can hardly do that now and I now also realised that Iam guilty of perpetuating these stereotypes

Anonymous said...

interesting.
the land issue is so complicated.

I just found a link to a shortened version of the Ndungu land report . I thought I understood the land issue but with whats going on in the Rift I'm deciding there is something i'm clearly not getting.
so off to the books to try and wrap my brain around this....
www.oxfam.org.uk/what_we_do/issues/livelihoods/landrights/downloads/ndungu_report_land_graft.rtf