Computers for Zimbabwe’s poor

President Mugabe’s new campaign tactics reek of nothing short of clutching at straws. The Iron Man of one of Africa’s most impoverished nations, has resorted to donating computers to supporters in each of the provinces where he’s campaigning in.

I must say that in a country where the inflation rate has reached dire proportions, the last thing these people need are computers.

Well, lets admit that this whole charade stinks. Vote-buying has been the order of the day in the country; indeed this isn’t a strange phenomenon in most African nations. And his opposers are up in arms - the war drums have been sounded.

Simba Makoni and Morgan Tsvangirai are proving to be a thorn in the veteran’s flesh, but the scales are not tipping yet. Despite the fact that Makoni, a fornmer ZANU PF loyalist is now the incumbent's biggest threat, Mugabe still seems to have his cards intact. He is ready to play - and play thick and fast.

Indeed, having ruled the state for 5 consecutive terms, one can imagine how formidable Monsieur Mugabe will be yet again in the upcoming elections.

But back to the issue at hand: if Mugabe wants to extend a “helping” hand to his comrades, I suggest that he start with restoring Zimbabwe’s former status of being “Africa’s bread basket.” Because computers will not work in a country that is being harangued by shortages of food, fuel, water and a strong currency.

Mugabe needs to remember that his policies and hardline tactics have driven his country deep in the bogging mire, and a lot needs to be done to pull it out of this cess hole it finds itself in.

So please, quit the shenanigans and give the people something more valuable – a chance at a better life.

Zimbabweans deserve that.

Mungiki Menace

The sights and sounds of the Capital will never cease to amaze. And the latest events that unfolded yesterday are nothing short of amazing – and stupefying.

In their hundreds, they came, brandishing their signature flag and wielding posters of their leader, Maina Njenga.

They moved in what could only be termed as a well-orchestrated move, from street to street. From Moi Avenue, past Kenyatta Avenue, all the way to Harambee Avenue.

By God, they even had the audacity to stampede right in front of Vigilance House and Parliament!

And the police were quick to utter yet another feeble explanation; they were not aware of such a move. So Kenyans, we are faced with a glaring situation here; the police cannot and will not contain the Mungiki.

Because, never have I witnessed such a demonstration (more appropriately, a riot) that the police were incapable of quelling in the nick of time. For half an hour, they ran amok in the city streets, causing mayhem and bringing business to a grinding halt. They were even kind enough o leave behing leaflets.

The police acted after half an hour. How convenient! Surely, what was so different or so special about this demonstration, that they couldn’t be contained as fast as possible? Isnt this simply put, the biggest case of irony ever? I mean, when civil society takes to the streets, in peaceful and civilised fashion, to air their grievances, the police are quick to punce upon the demonstrators like lions hunting for game. But let the ragged, ill-mannered thugs take control of the streets and we witness a show never aired before.

Are we going to be held hostage by a bunch of ruffians?

Are we never going to know peace, simpy because a group of rag-tag hoodlums want their leader to be freed? A leader who happens to be at the helm of an illegal militia band?

Maina Njenga has been in jail since 2005, charged with mere possession of an illegal firearm.

Such idiocy! Such unfathomable leniency!

What about being the leader of an outlawed sect? What about being in charge of a group that has allegedly commited all manner of heinous crimes? Or don’t these count?

And while the gang ran about town, shouting into the TV cameras with all the audacity they could muster what were the police doing? What will the police do?

Those faces were captured by TV cameras. I bet any cameraman can easily identify the rioters in a police line-up. But will the police do a thorough investigation and arrest the felons? Or will they just sit back, after throwing a bunch of teargas cannisters, and let this one fly, just as usual?

I’ll bet you ten bucks, this one will find a comfortable position under the carpet once more.

Because the Mungiki Menace is never going to die away. Simply because they have proven to be quicker, meaner and more intelligent than the team charged with ensuring law and order in this nation.

A moment of gratitude.

Phew! Such gratitude I owe to the most reverred individual in history – Kofi Annan. Backed by his team of Emminent Persons, Mr. Annan has given Kenya a new lease in life.

With His Excellency, President Jakaya Kikwete, stepping in to remind the two leaders, Hon,. Raila Odinga and president Kibaki, that this country is much greater than either of them, the outcome was really what Kenyans had been anticipating for all this time. It was time for the ultimate sacrifice to be made. Egoes were swept aside, pride swallowed and arms extended to each other in a national show of companionship, patriotism and teamwork.

Where would we be now if Kofi Annan would have succumbed to the hardline tactics of the two negotiation teams? What would have happened if Raila had refused to step down from his erstwhile “impossible” demands? And what would have transpired had the President decided to turn away from the desperate pleas of Kenyans; pleas for a coalition Government?

I heave a huge sigh of relief; for all the mothers who were separated from their children, for all the men who lost their limbs and property in senseless violence, for all the children who couldn’t go to school for fear of meeting marauding gangs in the lonely highways…

Thank you Kofi Annan for your resilience and strength; for your belief in a better Kenya. Thank you Raila Odinga for shoing us that a nation is more important than an individual. Thank you President Kibaki for ignoring the twisted and hardline tactics of your Government, and listening to us.

Thank you Benjamin Mkapa, for your honesty and faith in Kenya.

Thank you Graca Machel; a force to be reckoned with indeed; a voice of reason and a shimmer of hope for all Kenyan women and children.

We owe you our deepest gratitude and our prayers will always remain with you.

God bless you. God bless Kenya.

A moment of gratitude.

Phew! Such gratitude I owe to the most reverred individual in history – Kofi Annan. Backed by his team of Emminent Persons, Mr. Annan has given Kenya a new lease in life.

With His Excellency, President Jakaya Kikwete, stepping in to remind the two leaders, Hon,. Raila Odinga and president Kibaki, that this country is much greater than either of them, the outcome was really what Kenyans had been anticipating for all this time. It was time for the ultimate sacrifice to be made. Egoes were swept aside, pride swallowed and arms extended to each other in a national show of companionship, patriotism and teamwork.

Where would we be now if Kofi Annan would have succumbed to the hardline tactics of the two negotiation teams? What would have happened if Raila had refused to step down from his erstwhile “impossible” demands? And what would have transpired had the President decided to turn away from the desperate pleas of Kenyans; pleas for a coalition Government?

I heave a huge sigh of relief; for all the mothers who were separated from their children, for all the men who lost their limbs and property in senseless violence, for all the children who couldn’t go to school for fear of meeting marauding gangs in the lonely highways…

Thank you Kofi Annan for your resilience and strength; for your belief in a better Kenya. Thank you Raila Odinga for shoing us that a nation is more important than an individual. Thank you President Kibaki for ignoring the twisted and hardline tactics of your Government, and listening to us.

Thank you Benjamin Mkapa, for your honesty and faith in Kenya.

Thank you Graca Machel; a force to be reckoned with indeed; a voice of reason and a shimmer of hope for all Kenyan women and children.

We owe you our deepest gratitude and our prayers will always remain with you.

God bless you. God bless Kenya.

So no woman Mayor, huh?

While everyone is going on a bender about the elimination of Madame Passaris’ name from the nomination list of councillors, I take a back bench position on this.

I will not even waste my time trying to figure out why Uhuru Kenyatta could do such a “despicable” thing. Or why a group of councillors was living it up on the white sands of an exclusive Mombasa resort…

I mean, where is erstwhile keen judgement of Nairobians? Hello? Did we actually expect the local Government Minister to let the fair lady soil her pretty toes in the murk-filled world of county politics? Perhaps he was doing her a favour. Or maybe, just maybe, he felt that the “conflict of interests” excuse he thumped on the table would wash. I don’t know – maybe he felt that taking the mater to court would simply be a waste of valuable time and taxpayers’ money.

Some argue that Uhuru’s move was unprecedented and non-judicial. That the ECK (good God, not them again!) was to deal with the situation, rather than for the Gatundu MP to call the shots.

But this whole hullabaloo gets my mind racing; if Uhuru would have let the ECK or the courts decide whether Passaris’ inclusion in the list would have amounted to a conflict of interests, then my guess is that somewhere down the line, someone e would have still tampered with that bloody list and the good lady, who by the way has done a commendable job in lighting up the streets of Nairobi, would have found herself in the same ‘ol position she’s in now…

Surely, isn’t this the Kenyan way of shoving someone out of the way to political stardom? Far be it that a woman should become Mayor of the Capital City! Over the testosterone-filled City Hall’s dead body!

Pigs will fly…

Africa is indeed growing into its own. With the resignation of the Tanzanian Prime Minister comes the dawning of yet another new realization: Africa can indeed face its own demons and deal with them. These demons are more often than not, the ogre of corruption and civil war.

I laud the PM for his bold yet difficult move. It must have been very emotional for Mr. Lowassa to tender that resignation leter to his boss, the President of Tanzania, who also happens to be a close ally. Several other Ministers, linked to the scandal which involved a massive energy deal with a US company, have also followed suit.

I dare say that pigs will fly sooner than a Kenyan Minister will dare make a similar move. Of course, we cant forget the instance when the former Internal Security, Justice and Finance Ministers did the same, some time back. But after how much clamouring and outcry did the “Honourable Waheshimiwa” do the necessary?

Indeed, Kenya has had its fair share of corruption scandals – some still too fresh to wish away – and no one has taken the daunting task of stepping aside to pave way for investigations.

Only recently, did the ECK chair comment callously that he will not resign, despite the clearly offhanded manner with which he oversaw the elections and the result as we can all recall was nothing short of disastrous.

Thousands have been displaced, hundreds killed and property worth millions of shillings destroyed. Not forgetting our dear economy which is literally buckling at the knees.

Oh dear, dear! Will Kenyan MPs, Ministers and other leaders who wield immense clout over our institutions ever borrow a leaf from our Tanzanian counterparts? Like I said, pigs will fly…

Mr. President

President Kibaki’s three statements at the AU meeting last week will forever make my eyes smart and my spine tingle with royal indignation. How could he make such callous statements in spite of Kofi Annan’s calls for careful remarks that won’t drive the mediation talks against a brick wall?

He mentioned that ODM should have its grievances addressed in a court of law. Secondly, he mentioned, quite offhandedly that the Opposition is to blame for the post election violence and thirdly, the situation in the country is well under control.

What world is Kibaki living in? Is he asleep most of the time or is he just completely cut off from what’s going on around him?

What situation is under control? Doesn’t he watch the news? And which courts are these that he’s talking of? The same courts that are under the Executive – his office? The same ones whose independence is under question?

Why then is Kofi Annan and his team here? Is he wasting their time; because clearly he shows no respect for the agreements that have been drawn up by the team! Let alone showing his commitment towards finding an amiccabler and lasting solution to all this.

This show of open carelessness for the mediation talks is really adding insult to injury. I really think that this is all a façade that the President is portraying to the former UN boss. If he isn’t committed to the talks, if he doesn’t give a damn about Kenyans and the current situation, then he should just say so and stop wasting Kofi Annan’s, the ODM and Kenyans time!

At least now we all know what he really thinks of this entire debacle that we’re in. Thanks a lot Mr. President!