WHAT AWAITS AFRICA'S NEWEST NATION?

Free at last! After almost a two-decade civil war,a struggle for liberation and an agitation for self-rule, Southern Sudan is now a nation reborn.

But what awaits the newest  nation in the global map?Has it yet  liberated itself from the murkiness of its dark past?Will it live to its dreams?

These are some of the numerous questions on the monumental task ahead of post-conflict reconstruction that awaits the leadership that takes over.

After attaining their independence in early 1960s,most African freedom fighters in their newly independent countries were fully optimistic that after edging out their colonial masters,they would reap the benefits of their countries' resource endowments  as they had full confidence on the homegrown leadership  in their countries.

Many of these leaders,who themselves weer leading nationalists had the support of their citizens.The countries had tattered economies owing to the destruction that had been caused by the liberation struggle.But this joy and optimism was short-lived.

These post-independence leaders turned from democrats to tyrants,from selfless statesmen nad respected nationalists to gluttonous master minders  and plunderers of their countries' fragile economies.Some became even murderers as they often detained those who criticized their  authoritarian leaderships as well as ordering controversial assassinations of their critics.

Southern Sudan is no different. Entangled in the ongoing Abyei conflict,the rush of the world's leading superpowers(China and the US) to control the oil-rich Abyei region,strained diplomatic relations with Uganda and Northern Sudan,Erittea's inordinate act of supporting the rebels opposing the Southern Sudan government among other numerous challenges,a very principled leadership  with sound diplomatic,social,political and economic-oriented policies is needed.

The leadership that takes over is greatly tasked with leading an enormous task of post-conflict reconstruction in order to make the people's dreams alive for the newly born republic.The Salva Kiir's led leadership must endeavour to resist all pressures that may sink this new republic into yet another new abyss of divided neo-colonial inclinations.

It is such divided inclinations to certain world's powers within a third world country that mothers all her socio-political and economic woes.This as  clearly seen when newly independent African countries were either forced to adopt capitalistic or socialist ideologies.This led to the ever unending internal conflicts within them,most of which had ramifications which are rife even today.

The leadership must adopt and uphold the real principles of participatory democracy where all the conflicting communities must be constituted in the national government to avert the emergence of new internal rebellions.

The diplomatic relations within Northern Sudan,dominated by Arabs is a very critical issue   that is the key determinant of the South's stable political future.

A homegrown solution over the Abyei region is the best.Regional neighbours like Kenya and other IGAD-member countries must continue to act as a watchdog  as this newest nation matures to solve its own problems.The vision that the late Dr.John Garang had for his people should not  be lost lost indeed fulfilled.

Let the dingy past fade away and look to a fulfilling future.Let the once hotbed of civil unrest be an oasis of peace,prosperity and hope for its people.We wish you well,the new republic.May you live your dreams.

Wanderi wa Kamau,

Egerton University,Nakuru.

OF GREEDY LEGISLATORS AND THEIR UNCERTAIN POLITICAL FUTURE
It is no wonder that over 60 percent of the sitting legislators would face the wrath of their electorates if an election was to be held.This is a timely research for Infotrak Kenya.
Former South African President Nelson Mandela once said that:"All great things are simple and many can be expressed in a simple word:freedom,justice,honour,

duty,mercy,hope."
Our legislators have completely failed this country,by just avoiding to do fulfil these simple obligations.No one can deny that.

When the coalition government was formed under the 2008's National Accord and Reconciliation Act,many were optimistic that even though Kenya had just come from the abyss of ethnic genocide,this would be a lesson to our new breed of leaders,most of whom are young learned elites.

But they had little to learn.Currently,the grand conflict is whether to pay taxes or not.Are our leaders neophytes to the provisions of the same law they endorsed?They seem not to be dawned by the realities of the stipulations of the new constitution.Payment of taxes is not excusable in any way.It is obligatory to any state officer.Article 210(3)(a) and (b) clearly states that no law may exclude or authorise the exclusion of a state officer from payment of taxes by the reason of office held by that state officer,or the nature of the work of the state officer.

While the other constitution put the institution of presidency above the law,the current constitution puts enough checks and balances to control the excesses of the executive.

Our legislature has demonstrated untold reluctance in the implementation process of the new law.While the transition period is almost over,the parliament has only managed to pass seven out 50 crucial bills for the full implementation of the new law.This puts to question the relevance of the recently concluded Conference on Constitutional Implementation.

According to CIC(Constitutional Implementation Commission) chairman,Simeon Nyachae,the outgoing Attorney General Amos Wako is deliberately delaying the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission bill.Under the Fifth Schedule in the constitution,this crucial commission is given a time-frame of one year for it to be in place.August is just weeks away and our legislators seem to be unmoved by this.Indeed,no elections can take place without this commission in place and this puts a lot of uncertainties on the political direction we are moving to.

Mismanagement of the CDF funds remains yet another hurdle and massive failure of the sitting MPs.Many of them have been accused of gross misappropriation of these funds to their own advantage and their cronies.For instance,how can a constituency misuse a whooping Sh.34.7 million meant for upholding the lives of the electorates at the grassroots?This is what the National Taxpayers' Association (NTA)recently revealed.

And the 'innocent' drug lords mystery.While a Kenyan-based investigation shows that MPs linked to drug-trafficking are 'innocent' and were 'maliciously implicated to indignation' by an ill-willed Michael Ranneberger,a high-profile United States intelligence has all the facts that lead to our 'innocent sons' guilt in drug trafficking.What a twist of events and an ironed scenario?

At the moment,Kilome MP, Harun Mwau is having a do-or-die battle with the mighty American superpower who brand him as who operate a 'grand drug network' in the East African region.If the whole twist of drugs saga comes out to be true,is this the picture our parliamentarians have portrayed of Kenya to the rest of the world for their inordinate avarice?

While the country is sailing through difficult economic times,with skyrocketing prices for basic commodities,inflation rate already hitting 14.5 percent,succession politics,land woes,blame-games  on constitutional implementation process...and an inconsiderate legislature,who would approve them?

Wanderi wa Kamau,
Egerton University,Nakuru.

TAIN POLITICAL FUTURE

 IS KIBAKI SYMPATHIZING WITH CORRUPTION LORDS?
When President Kibaki lifted up the document of the new constitution and waved it to Kenyans to see,it was a very symbolic gesture.
It was a gesture that heralded a new dawn.It was a farewell to a paternalistic authoritarianism,a monocephalous executive and an incompetent judiciary.It was a welcome of a people-driven governance system where transparency and accountability would reign.

But was this so?Never.These high anticipations have been hijacked by our leadership's reluctance to curb the corruption dragon.For a second time, Prof.Sam Ongeri,the education minister is in the spotlight again-the controversy surrounding the embezzlement of a whooping Sh.4.2 billion for the FPE  programme.This scam raises questions whether the President is committed to combating graft as he promised.Is he committed to adhering to the same law he held and renewed the hopes of a disillusioned populace?

The civil society actitivists have been camping at the minister's Jogoo House offices to pressurize for his resignation.So ignorant to these activists who represent the voices of millions of Kenyans,Prof.Ongeri was quick to dismiss these claims.He seem to be unaware of article 232 of the constitution on the values and principles of public office.Article 232(1)(a) states"the values and principles of public service include accountability for administrative acts"

He should resign, not on the basis of 'political responsibility' but for failed 'accountability for administrative acts' if we were to go by the stipulations of the new law.He should not use the excuse of 'political responsibility sanctify his misdeeds.

Last weekend Prof. Ongeri hosted President Kibaki in Gusii stadium and this sent mixed signals over the president's seriousness on the issue as well as his continued silence.
Firstly,this scam should not be viewed as a political contest between PNU and ODM.Innocent children are suffering because this noble idea has been abused by gluttonous officers.

If the minister is innocent,the best thing to do is to step aside and wait the findings of the  ongoing auditing process of the ministry's financial records in order to win  public confidence.

On the other hand,President Kibaki should break his long silence on the issue for the public to know exactly his stance on this scandal to correct the mixed public perceptions on the scam.

Wanderi wa Kamau,
Egerton University,Nakuru.

 LET REFORMS IN THE POLICE FORCE BEAR FRUITS
Massive reforms within the police force have been witnessed lately and this is a welcome move for Kenyans.Indeed,the recent vetting process for top-ranking officers within the force ha begun to change the Kenyans' attitude towards this crucial institution for a country's internal security.

Kenya's police force for long has been marred by high levels of corruption,nepotism,ignorance to the plight of Kenya's populace,non professionalism due to recruitment of unqualified recruits among many other negative attributes the force was engulfed in.
With the new constitutional dispensation therefore,the force is yet to fully reach the envisaged levels in the reform process.

For instance,the coming out of three young men from Nyeri to the public limelight to confess that they had wrongly been placed under 'the most wanted persons' list puts to questions the intelligence modalities that the police use to identify these suspects.

Flanked by the KNHR(Kenya National Human Rights Commission) officials and looking innocent,the three young men frankly said that they were ready to face the court and co-operate with the police force in identifying their misdeeds.

According to the new constitution section 25(a),it provides the rights and fundamental freedoms that a person is entitled to,one being the freedom from torture and cruel,inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.Contrary to this,the police have caused unnecessary psychological trauma to these young men by putting them in such a dreaded list .

For a long time,the civil society groups have been blamed to co-operate with criminals by the ploice thus becoming a' great impediment' in improving security levels in Kenya.
Since the NARC government took over power in 2003,hundreds of innocent young  men especially from Central Kenya ,have been subjected to untold torture on grounds of being Mungiki suspects.Many of these jobless youths are still languishing in Kenyan prisons and cells because their cases are still pending or were convicted on malicious grounds.

When the UN special rapporteur to Kenya,Prof.Philip Alston, compiled a report to indicate the height of extra-judicial killings in Kenya,many leaders in the government stood up with every form of condemnation to the report,many saying it was biased and shallowly researched.
It was only a short time after he had presented his report when two Oscar Foundation activists,Samuel Kamau King'ara and Paul Oula were shot dead on allegations that they were linked to Mungiki underground operations.Later media-friendly Mungiki spokes-person,Gitau Njguna was killed in cold blood.

The discontent here is that the police should carry out thorough and in-depth professional investigations before rushing to brand innocent youths 'wanted criminals' tainting their image in the public domain.

This is a key challenge to the government to honour its promises to the youths to create more job opportunities.Aristotle,a great Greek philosopher,once said that poverty is the mother of all crime.Indeed,the ever-escalating crime rate is caused by high poverty levels among the disillusioned Kenyan populace,especially the youth.This will only be achieved if transparency and accountability reigns in public institutions to coincide with the new dawn.

Wanderi wa Kamau,
Egerton University,Nakuru.

THE MISSION IMPOSSIBLE :SHUTTLE DIPLOMACY A BETRAYAL TO KENYAN CITIZENRY

The ICC(International Criminal Court) has struck at the very right time when the Kenyan citizenry has been crying foul over the squandering of taxpayer's money by the political class to salvage the suspected masterminds of post-election violence from the wrath of international law through the Mission Impossible of Shuttle Diplomacy.  These futile diplomatic efforts to see the postponement of the Ocampo Six cases at the ICC have already cost the taxpayer millions of shillings due to innumerable trips made by a diplomatic team appointed by President Kibaki to steer the deferral process wheel.  But the big question remains to as whether these efforts will succeed bearing in mind that the US and the UK have already refused the deferral efforts.  Although the suspects have said that they will indeed respect all the summons issued against to  them,the Shuttle Diplomacy efforts have revealed the government's betrayal to its citizens and its commitment to cultivate,weed and mulch the culture of impunity among the top cadre leadership.  The country's leadership has sidelined all the cries of the IDPs to fight tooth and nail for 'justice safety' of the Ocampo Six.While these suspects of crimes against humanity continue to traverse every nook and cranny of this republic fanning ethnic hatred through inciteful public outbursts,the National Integration and Cohesion Commission(NCIC) seem to just watch helplessly and issue 'warnings' to these politicians.  Before they were arraigned in court for inciting the public,legislators Wilfred Machage,Frederik Kapondi among others had not been  given any warnings.This imbalanced administration of justice portrays the NCIC as a biased institution that cannot be trusted to promote cohesion among Kenyans.  Leaders who use public platform to advance ethnic hatred  should be dealt with non-selectively as these public spats and propagandas aganist their political adversaries gravitate the country towards ethnic genocide,which maybe worse than the 2007/2008 mayhem.   This whole twist of events that has primarily been caused by the ICC threat to shatter the political ambitions of some leaders has torn the country into two castes:the opulent political class and the desperate,deserted and pessimistic populace.  The top-notch leadership class who dictate the country's social.political and economic direction languish in posh estates,drive the  best vehicle models,are treated in the best hospitals abroad and have access to the best facilities available locally.  They use their ill-gotten wealth to achieve their dreams as well as to buy and compromise the course of justice,a scenario we are witnessing in our midst.Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka's mission to lobby member-states of the UN Security Council to support Kenya's deferral bid from the ICC membership is tantamount to betraying the quest for justice for the victims of the post election violence.  This is what is characteristic of Shuttle Diplomacy,the Mission Impossible initiative to salvage the lords of impunity from the jaws of fury of the international justice.  This is a moment that right-minded and patriotic Kenyans  Kenyans should triumph  over.It is a moment when justice will justifiably take its course and the plights of the oppressed addressed  Thousands have been displaced,their homes burned,some maimed and raped.That is what characterizes the recurrent ethnic clashes since the inception of multipartyism in 1992.The sad note behind all these skirmishes is that propagators of these tribal clashes have for years been free as they take the advantage of the rottenness in our judicial mechanisms to evade justice.  It is more than evident to every Kenyan who had had the chance to have a taste of our judicial institutions that any local mechanism as advocated by some will not achieve any fruitful results.  Therefore,the ICC announcement is a ray of hope to the deserted Kenyans who for years have brazed discrimination by their leaders. 

Wanderi wa Kamau,

Egerton University, Nakuru.

*TWAREJESHWA JEHANAMU?* Wakati manabii wa ukweli na watetezi wa haki walipoipiga baragumu kwa Wakenya dhidi ya kuipitisha katiba iliyouficha ndani mfumo wa majimbo,walikejeliwa,wakaitwa wasaliti,wahafidhina na vipofu wasioona mbele. Walitengwa na jamii nzima ya Wakenya na ni wachache tu walizozisikiliza tabiri na maonyo yao dhidi ya kujitia kitanzi kwa kuunga mkono mfumo wa majimbo ambao ni mhimili dhabiti wa utawala wa ukoloni ulioyatenganisha makabila mbalimbali hapa nchini ili uweze kuupora utajiri wa kiraslimali wa nchi hii bila upinzani wa pamoja wa jamii hizi.Wakoloni walitumia mfumo wa tenga-tawala ili kuweza kuyahadaa makabila mbalimbali kuwashambulia wenzao ili kuweza kunufaika kiraslimali. Majimbo haya yanayoitwa 'kaunti' ili kutoonekana machoni mwa wengi kama majimbo ni saratani ya kiutawala tuliyojiwekea sisi wenyewe pamoja na vizazi vijavyo kwa karne nyingi zitakazokuja.Ni kosa ambalo dawa yake mujarabu haiwezi ikapatikana kiurahisi. Muungano wa kikabila unaowashirikisha Wakikuyu,Wakamba na Wakalenjin ni mwanzo tu wa vilio na kusaga meno kwa makosa tuliyoyafanya.Huku ikizingatiwa kwamba majimbo haya tayari yamegawika kwa misingi ya kikabila ambapo Wakikuyu wamepewa himaya yao,Wakalenjin vile vile,Wakamba,Wajaluo,Wakisii na kadhalika,lile tumefanyani kuibua upya dhana d za chuki za kikabila miongoni mwa jamii hizi baada ya kuipitisha katiba hii. Wakikuyu katika eneo la Mlima Kenya au Kati mwa nchi wana dhana ya kwamba hili ni eneo lao na wengine ni wageni.Waluo katika eneo la Nyanza vile vile wana dhana iyo hiyo.Makabila yote arobaini na mawili yakiwa na dhana kama hizi basi itakuwa vigumu sana kwa jamii hizi kutangamana pamoja,kuishi,kuyanunua mashamba,kufanya biashara au hata kuyatembelea maeneo ya jamii nyengine nchini kwani kwa misingi na falsafa ya nchi iliyogawika kimajimbo,ataonekana kama 'mgeni' na adui asiyestahili kamwe kuwepo katika eneo hilo.Mkalenjin anapotembelea katika eneo la Mlima Kenya,ataonekana kama ni raia wa nchi ngeni,hivyo basi atahisi kwamba kamwe hafai kuwepo wala kuwa na uhusiano wowote ule na wakaazi wa eneo hilo,iwe,kijamii,kisiasa au kiuchumi. Ikiwa hivi ndivyo itakavyokuwa,basi ni kwa nini machafuko mengine ya kikabila yasitokee hata mahakama ya kimataifa ya uhalifu wa kivita(ICC)inapopania kuwashtaki watuhumiwa wakuu wa ghasia za 2007 na tushajijengea Jehanamu tayari kwa kuukumbatia mfumo wa majimbo na kuyatupilia mbali maonyo na tabiri za watetezi wa haki na manabii wa ukweli? Nani asiyekumbuka juhudi za vuguvugu la Kadi Nyekundu lilililowashirikisha Waheshimiwa Koigi wa Wamwere,Njeru Kathangu,Wanyiri Kihoro miongoni mwa wanaharakati wengine?Vuguvugu hili lilifanya mikutano mbalimbali na kuwaonya Wakenya dhidi ya kuingia ndege inayoonesha wekundu wa moto ambapo baadaye ingelipukia hewani?Wengi waliamua kufuata upofu wa wimbi la ukabila.Waliipitisha katiba hiyo kwa sababu viongozi wao wa kijamii na kisiasa waliiunga mkono. Waliamua kutozisaliti jamii zao hivyo basi kufanya uamuzi ambao wao wenyewe hawakujua hatima yake.Kuna wale walioujua ukweli lakini wakaamua kuudumisha uzalendo wa kikabila ili kutoonekana wasaliti wakuu wa jamii zao. Mabwanyenye,mafisadi wa mibabe wa ukabila waliowachochea Wakenya kuuana,kuwachomea makao,kuwabaka na kuwafurusha kutoka makao yao hutumia usahaulifu wa Wakenya kama daraja kuu ya kuwapumbaza ili kujitakia makuu.Hili ndili dhihirisho la Muungano wa KKK.Wawili wa viongozi hawa ni watuhumiwa wa uchochezi wa mauaji,ubakaji na uporaji wakuu wa utajiri wa taifa hili. Kana kwamba Wakenya hawajifunzi na wanayoyapitia au waliyoyapitia,tayari washasahau athari za ghasia za 2007/2008 japo makovu wa athari hizi yangali machoni mwetu,kama vile wahanga wa machafuko haya,ambao bado wamo makambini wanakokufia na kutesekea kwani jamii pana ya Wakenya na hata serikali imewasahau kwa ahadi zisizotimia za kuwatafutia mashamba au makao mbadala. Japo ni ghasia zilizopangwa kabla ya uchaguzi mkuu,ndani yake kuna chocheo la tofauti za kisiasa ambacho ndicho kilikuwa kiini hasa cha ubakaji,uporaji an mauaji yaliyofanywa dhidi ya Wakenya ambao hawakuwa na hatia yoyote kuuawa au kuteketezwa wakiwa hai mbali hatia yao kuu ilikuwa kuwa aidha kuwa Wakikuyu,Waluo,Wakisii au jamii nyingine.Baada ya hatia hii ya kimaumbile,adhabu yao ilikuwa ni kuuawa kinyama na kubakwa ili kuzitosheleza hasira za mibabe hawa wa kikabila.Hili linaiafiki methali isemayo kwamba 'wapiganao fahali wawili,nyasi ndizo huumia.' Mnamo 2002,baada ya Muungano wa NARC kuung'atua utawala wa KANU,tulifumbwa macho kwamba huu ulikuwa muungano wa viongozi walioongozwa na falsafa ya utaifa.Tulisahau kwamba huu ulikuwa muungano wa mafisadi na manyapaa ambao ili kuzitimiza ndoto zao za kisiasa sharti wangeungana ili kuwapumbaza Wakenya wasahaulifu. Ndani ya muungano huu ukabila,wivu na kujitakia makuu uliwaingia baadhi ya mibabe hawa na ukabila na kuwasaliti wenzao kwa kutozingatia mikataba ya kugawana mamlaka na ndipo chombo kikaanza kuyumbayumba katikati mwa bahari lenye mawimbi. Ni hapa ambapo Waziri Mkuu Raila Odinga alijitenga na Rais Kibaki baada ya katiba iliyopendekezwa kufeli kushughulikia mikataba yao kwamba Raila Odinga angekuwa waziri mkuu mwenye mamlaka pindi tu baada ya Wakenya kuipitisha katiba hiyo. Ni hili lililosababisha uasi wa Raila na waandani wake ambapo walitemwa kutoka baraza la mawaziri lililofanyiwa mageuzi makubwa baada ya mlengo wa 'ndiyo' wa Rais Kibaki kushindwa vibaya katika kura ya maamuzi ya tarehe 27 Novemba 2005.Mvutano huu ambao uliligawanya taifa hili katika makundi mawili ndiyo ulikuwa chanzo kikuu cha machafuko ya 2007/2008,nchi ilipowaka moto na ikabidi jumuiya ya kimataifa kuingilia kati ili kuzima makali yake kwa wana wa taifa hili. Taharuki iliyozuka tangu Novemba 27 2005,ambapo bila shaka viongozi pamwe na makabila yao walidhani kwamba Rais Kibaki,chini ya ushawishi wa vyombo vya dola angefanya kila awezalo ili kushinda uchaguzi wa 2007,sharti wangefanya mikakati mwafaka ili kujitetea 'kupata haki' ambapo ilikuwa ni kufadhili mashambulizi dhidi ya wafuasi wa mlengo wa PNU. Naam,taharuki hii ya kisiasa iliyotanda na kutamalaki nchini tangu matokeo ya kura ya maoni ya tarehe 27 Novemba 2007,ndiyo iliyolipuka na matokeo yake yakawa ni machafuko ya kikabila ambayo nusura yaliingize taifa hili katika lindi la mauaji ya kimbali kama ya Rwanda mnamo 1994. Na kama vile tumeshuhudia tangu enzi za Mzee Jomo Kenyatta,miungano ya kisiasa ambayo ndani yake huficha saratani ya ukabila huwa nyenzo ya makuu ya kisiasa kwa viongozi wetu lakini laana kwa wananchi wanaowaabudu mibabe hawa wa ukabila kwa upofu bila kujua madhara ya utengano wakati mabishano yanapotokea katika kuisherehekea 'nyama' wanayoipata baada ya kuwapumbaza wananchi. Tofauti za Rais Kenyatta na Oginga Odinga ndizo zilizopelekea kuwepo kwa uhasama wa kisiasa kati ya jamii za Wakikuyu na Waluo kwa miongo minne ambapo uhasimu huu hauishi hivi karibuni kwani mbegu ya chuki za kikabila iliyopandwa na viongozi hawa imezidi kuzagaa kando kupasishwa kutoka kizazi kimoja hadi kingine huku nchi ikiendelea kuiabudu miungano ya kisiasa na kikabila na vibaya zaidi,kujitia kitanzi cha kuipitisha katiba iliyojaa mapungufu kama mfumo wa majimbo uliofichika kwa kupewa majina kama vile 'ugatuzi', 'kaunti' na kadhalika ambao unaendeleza utengano wa kikabila. Vile vile alipochukua hatamu za uongozi,Rais Daniel arap Moi aliufuata mkondo ule ule wa mtangulizi wake.Kwa mfano,aliwaangusha na kuwang'atua viongozi wengi Wakikuyu waliokuwa wamelelewa na kutunzwa na utawala wa Kenyatta hivyo basi ikawa ni zamu yake na jamii ya Wakalenjin pamwe na wandani waliomwabudu kujikuza na kusherehekea matunda ya utajiri wa nchi. Mfumo huu wa Moi uliwafanya Wakikuyu kuwa pembezoni mwa ulingo wa kisiasa na uongozi wa kitaifa uliozingatia mtindo wa kuwatunza wazalendo wa utawala huo. Chuki hii iliendelea kuwa mbaya zaidi baada ya Moi shingo upande kukubali kuifanya nchi kuwa na uhuru wa kisiasa mnamo 1992,baada ya kushinikizwa na mashirika ya umma,jumuiya ya kimataifa,watu binafsi kama vile mawakili,waandishi wa habari na wakereketwa wa mapinduzi ya kweli.Mfumo huu aidha uliifanya nchi kuziabudu siasa kwa misingi ya kikabila huku mbegu ya chuki za kikabila iliyopandwa na Kenyatta na Moi ikizidi kuyastawisha matawi yake hadi 2007 ambapo upeo wa athari ulionekana-jamii zikishambuliana zenyewe. Vivo hivo,viongozi tuliyo nao hivi sasa kama vile Kalonzo Musyoka,Uhuru Kenyatta na William Ruto wanaopania kuwania urais mnamo 2012 ni wanafunzi wa kisiasa wa marais waliotangulia na kwa hivyo,mtindo ni ule ule wa 'walimu wao wa kisiasa' utatumika hasa wanaposisitiza kubuni muungano wa kikabila unaowashirikisha Wakikuyu,Wakalenjin na Wakamba. Lakini kama kawaida,tumejitia upofu na kushangilia wanapoturejesha kwenye Jehanamu iwakayo moto lakini tumegubikwa na hamnazo kuu. Manabii wanazidi kubasihri kwamba,litakalotokea litakuwa ni gharika la kisiasa ambalo huenda likawasomba waliobaki,mashamba yao,wana waliozaliwa na damu zao kuzoleka mchangani zisiweze kurudi wala kuonekana tena.Tunajifanya hatujui madhara ya miungano ya kikabila hasa inapovunjika. Damu na roho za waliochinjwa na kuchomwa wakiwa uhai zinazidi kulia katika wafu,huku zikidai na kulilia haki.Haki ya hukumu itendeke kwa wale waliohitimisha mioyo ya wana hawa wa Mungu wasio na makosa hapa duniani kupitia madhila waliyopitia,siku yao ikiwa haijatimia. Haki itendeke kwa wanaotesekea kambini kwa miaka minne sasa huku waliowaua,kuwachinja kama wanyama,kuwabaka na kuwafurusha kutoka mashamba yao wakizidi kuachiliwa kwa ukosefu wa ushahidi. Ndimi za wahanga hawa zimechoka kwa kulilia haki.Sauti zao zimefifia kwa ukosefu wa nguvu ya kulilia haki yao kutokana na njaa,utapiamlo pamwe na baridi shadidi ya usiku ambayo hupenya ndani kwa ndani mle hemani zilizochanikachanika kwa kuangaziwa na jua pamoja na kunyeshewa na mvua kwa muda wa miaka miine. Kipindipindu kimeyachukua maisha yao kutokana na mafuriko yanayowakumba mara kwa mara na kuzisomba hema na kambi zao. Kwa sasa,wamechoka kudai haki kwa kwa manyapaa wasiojali ambao wakati huu wanabuni daraja za kubakia madarakani mnamo 2012,wakiwashajiisha wahanga hawa kuyasahau yaliyopita na kuwaunga mkono katika miungano hii ya kikabila. Na kuonyesha kiwango cha usahaulifu wa kutojali kwa viongozi hawa,wameamua kuzifuja fedha ambazo zingewasitiri wahanga hawa,angaa kuwasahalisha kwa muda njaa,baridi,maradhi na fikra za unyama walioushuhudia ukitendwa dhidi ya wenzao miaka minne iliyopita. Ni mzinduko pekee wa kimawazo,kuzisikiza nyaadhi za manabii wa ukweli zitatunusuru kutoka kwa madhara haya ya ufurukutwa wa ukabila. Hivyo basi,juhudi za Rais Mwai Kibaki kuleta uwiano na maridhiano miongoni mwa Wakikuyu na Wakalenjin mkoani Bonde la Ufa,huenda ukawa na athari za muda mfupi tu kwani unafungamanishwa na kufaulu kumpa upinzani Waziri Mkuu Raila Odinga mnamo 2012,japo makabila haya mawili bado yanaweza yakajitanzua kutoka kwa historia mbaya ya uhasama kati yao.*TWAREJESHWA JEHANAMU?* Wakati manabii wa ukweli na watetezi wa haki walipoipiga baragumu kwa Wakenya dhidi ya kuipitisha katiba iliyouficha ndani mfumo wa majimbo,walikejeliwa,wakaitwa wasaliti,wahafidhina na vipofu wasioona mbele. Walitengwa na jamii nzima ya Wakenya na ni wachache tu walizozisikiliza tabiri na maonyo yao dhidi ya kujitia kitanzi kwa kuunga mkono mfumo wa majimbo ambao ni mhimili dhabiti wa utawala wa ukoloni ulioyatenganisha makabila mbalimbali hapa nchini ili uweze kuupora utajiri wa kiraslimali wa nchi hii bila upinzani wa pamoja wa jamii hizi.Wakoloni walitumia mfumo wa tenga-tawala ili kuweza kuyahadaa makabila mbalimbali kuwashambulia wenzao ili kuweza kunufaika kiraslimali. Majimbo haya yanayoitwa 'kaunti' ili kutoonekana machoni mwa wengi kama majimbo ni saratani ya kiutawala tuliyojiwekea sisi wenyewe pamoja na vizazi vijavyo kwa karne nyingi zitakazokuja.Ni kosa ambalo dawa yake mujarabu haiwezi ikapatikana kiurahisi. Muungano wa kikabila unaowashirikisha Wakikuyu,Wakamba na Wakalenjin ni mwanzo tu wa vilio na kusaga meno kwa makosa tuliyoyafanya.Huku ikizingatiwa kwamba majimbo haya tayari yamegawika kwa misingi ya kikabila ambapo Wakikuyu wamepewa himaya yao,Wakalenjin vile vile,Wakamba,Wajaluo,Wakisii na kadhalika,lile tumefanyani kuibua upya dhana d za chuki za kikabila miongoni mwa jamii hizi baada ya kuipitisha katiba hii. Wakikuyu katika eneo la Mlima Kenya au Kati mwa nchi wana dhana ya kwamba hili ni eneo lao na wengine ni wageni.Waluo katika eneo la Nyanza vile vile wana dhana iyo hiyo.Makabila yote arobaini na mawili yakiwa na dhana kama hizi basi itakuwa vigumu sana kwa jamii hizi kutangamana pamoja,kuishi,kuyanunua mashamba,kufanya biashara au hata kuyatembelea maeneo ya jamii nyengine nchini kwani kwa misingi na falsafa ya nchi iliyogawika kimajimbo,ataonekana kama 'mgeni' na adui asiyestahili kamwe kuwepo katika eneo hilo.Mkalenjin anapotembelea katika eneo la Mlima Kenya,ataonekana kama ni raia wa nchi ngeni,hivyo basi atahisi kwamba kamwe hafai kuwepo wala kuwa na uhusiano wowote ule na wakaazi wa eneo hilo,iwe,kijamii,kisiasa au kiuchumi. Ikiwa hivi ndivyo itakavyokuwa,basi ni kwa nini machafuko mengine ya kikabila yasitokee hata mahakama ya kimataifa ya uhalifu wa kivita(ICC)inapopania kuwashtaki watuhumiwa wakuu wa ghasia za 2007 na tushajijengea Jehanamu tayari kwa kuukumbatia mfumo wa majimbo na kuyatupilia mbali maonyo na tabiri za watetezi wa haki na manabii wa ukweli? Nani asiyekumbuka juhudi za vuguvugu la Kadi Nyekundu lilililowashirikisha Waheshimiwa Koigi wa Wamwere,Njeru Kathangu,Wanyiri Kihoro miongoni mwa wanaharakati wengine?Vuguvugu hili lilifanya mikutano mbalimbali na kuwaonya Wakenya dhidi ya kuingia ndege inayoonesha wekundu wa moto ambapo baadaye ingelipukia hewani?Wengi waliamua kufuata upofu wa wimbi la ukabila.Waliipitisha katiba hiyo kwa sababu viongozi wao wa kijamii na kisiasa waliiunga mkono. Waliamua kutozisaliti jamii zao hivyo basi kufanya uamuzi ambao wao wenyewe hawakujua hatima yake.Kuna wale walioujua ukweli lakini wakaamua kuudumisha uzalendo wa kikabila ili kutoonekana wasaliti wakuu wa jamii zao. Mabwanyenye,mafisadi wa mibabe wa ukabila waliowachochea Wakenya kuuana,kuwachomea makao,kuwabaka na kuwafurusha kutoka makao yao hutumia usahaulifu wa Wakenya kama daraja kuu ya kuwapumbaza ili kujitakia makuu.Hili ndili dhihirisho la Muungano wa KKK.Wawili wa viongozi hawa ni watuhumiwa wa uchochezi wa mauaji,ubakaji na uporaji wakuu wa utajiri wa taifa hili. Kana kwamba Wakenya hawajifunzi na wanayoyapitia au waliyoyapitia,tayari washasahau athari za ghasia za 2007/2008 japo makovu wa athari hizi yangali machoni mwetu,kama vile wahanga wa machafuko haya,ambao bado wamo makambini wanakokufia na kutesekea kwani jamii pana ya Wakenya na hata serikali imewasahau kwa ahadi zisizotimia za kuwatafutia mashamba au makao mbadala. Japo ni ghasia zilizopangwa kabla ya uchaguzi mkuu,ndani yake kuna chocheo la tofauti za kisiasa ambacho ndicho kilikuwa kiini hasa cha ubakaji,uporaji an mauaji yaliyofanywa dhidi ya Wakenya ambao hawakuwa na hatia yoyote kuuawa au kuteketezwa wakiwa hai mbali hatia yao kuu ilikuwa kuwa aidha kuwa Wakikuyu,Waluo,Wakisii au jamii nyingine.Baada ya hatia hii ya kimaumbile,adhabu yao ilikuwa ni kuuawa kinyama na kubakwa ili kuzitosheleza hasira za mibabe hawa wa kikabila.Hili linaiafiki methali isemayo kwamba 'wapiganao fahali wawili,nyasi ndizo huumia.' Mnamo 2002,baada ya Muungano wa NARC kuung'atua utawala wa KANU,tulifumbwa macho kwamba huu ulikuwa muungano wa viongozi walioongozwa na falsafa ya utaifa.Tulisahau kwamba huu ulikuwa muungano wa mafisadi na manyapaa ambao ili kuzitimiza ndoto zao za kisiasa sharti wangeungana ili kuwapumbaza Wakenya wasahaulifu. Ndani ya muungano huu ukabila,wivu na kujitakia makuu uliwaingia baadhi ya mibabe hawa na ukabila na kuwasaliti wenzao kwa kutozingatia mikataba ya kugawana mamlaka na ndipo chombo kikaanza kuyumbayumba katikati mwa bahari lenye mawimbi. Ni hapa ambapo Waziri Mkuu Raila Odinga alijitenga na Rais Kibaki baada ya katiba iliyopendekezwa kufeli kushughulikia mikataba yao kwamba Raila Odinga angekuwa waziri mkuu mwenye mamlaka pindi tu baada ya Wakenya kuipitisha katiba hiyo. Ni hili lililosababisha uasi wa Raila na waandani wake ambapo walitemwa kutoka baraza la mawaziri lililofanyiwa mageuzi makubwa baada ya mlengo wa 'ndiyo' wa Rais Kibaki kushindwa vibaya katika kura ya maamuzi ya tarehe 27 Novemba 2005.Mvutano huu ambao uliligawanya taifa hili katika makundi mawili ndiyo ulikuwa chanzo kikuu cha machafuko ya 2007/2008,nchi ilipowaka moto na ikabidi jumuiya ya kimataifa kuingilia kati ili kuzima makali yake kwa wana wa taifa hili. Taharuki iliyozuka tangu Novemba 27 2005,ambapo bila shaka viongozi pamwe na makabila yao walidhani kwamba Rais Kibaki,chini ya ushawishi wa vyombo vya dola angefanya kila awezalo ili kushinda uchaguzi wa 2007,sharti wangefanya mikakati mwafaka ili kujitetea 'kupata haki' ambapo ilikuwa ni kufadhili mashambulizi dhidi ya wafuasi wa mlengo wa PNU. Naam,taharuki hii ya kisiasa iliyotanda na kutamalaki nchini tangu matokeo ya kura ya maoni ya tarehe 27 Novemba 2007,ndiyo iliyolipuka na matokeo yake yakawa ni machafuko ya kikabila ambayo nusura yaliingize taifa hili katika lindi la mauaji ya kimbali kama ya Rwanda mnamo 1994. Na kama vile tumeshuhudia tangu enzi za Mzee Jomo Kenyatta,miungano ya kisiasa ambayo ndani yake huficha saratani ya ukabila huwa nyenzo ya makuu ya kisiasa kwa viongozi wetu lakini laana kwa wananchi wanaowaabudu mibabe hawa wa ukabila kwa upofu bila kujua madhara ya utengano wakati mabishano yanapotokea katika kuisherehekea 'nyama' wanayoipata baada ya kuwapumbaza wananchi. Tofauti za Rais Kenyatta na Oginga Odinga ndizo zilizopelekea kuwepo kwa uhasama wa kisiasa kati ya jamii za Wakikuyu na Waluo kwa miongo minne ambapo uhasimu huu hauishi hivi karibuni kwani mbegu ya chuki za kikabila iliyopandwa na viongozi hawa imezidi kuzagaa kando kupasishwa kutoka kizazi kimoja hadi kingine huku nchi ikiendelea kuiabudu miungano ya kisiasa na kikabila na vibaya zaidi,kujitia kitanzi cha kuipitisha katiba iliyojaa mapungufu kama mfumo wa majimbo uliofichika kwa kupewa majina kama vile 'ugatuzi', 'kaunti' na kadhalika ambao unaendeleza utengano wa kikabila. Vile vile alipochukua hatamu za uongozi,Rais Daniel arap Moi aliufuata mkondo ule ule wa mtangulizi wake.Kwa mfano,aliwaangusha na kuwang'atua viongozi wengi Wakikuyu waliokuwa wamelelewa na kutunzwa na utawala wa Kenyatta hivyo basi ikawa ni zamu yake na jamii ya Wakalenjin pamwe na wandani waliomwabudu kujikuza na kusherehekea matunda ya utajiri wa nchi. Mfumo huu wa Moi uliwafanya Wakikuyu kuwa pembezoni mwa ulingo wa kisiasa na uongozi wa kitaifa uliozingatia mtindo wa kuwatunza wazalendo wa utawala huo. Chuki hii iliendelea kuwa mbaya zaidi baada ya Moi shingo upande kukubali kuifanya nchi kuwa na uhuru wa kisiasa mnamo 1992,baada ya kushinikizwa na mashirika ya umma,jumuiya ya kimataifa,watu binafsi kama vile mawakili,waandishi wa habari na wakereketwa wa mapinduzi ya kweli.Mfumo huu aidha uliifanya nchi kuziabudu siasa kwa misingi ya kikabila huku mbegu ya chuki za kikabila iliyopandwa na Kenyatta na Moi ikizidi kuyastawisha matawi yake hadi 2007 ambapo upeo wa athari ulionekana-jamii zikishambuliana zenyewe. Vivo hivo,viongozi tuliyo nao hivi sasa kama vile Kalonzo Musyoka,Uhuru Kenyatta na William Ruto wanaopania kuwania urais mnamo 2012 ni wanafunzi wa kisiasa wa marais waliotangulia na kwa hivyo,mtindo ni ule ule wa 'walimu wao wa kisiasa' utatumika hasa wanaposisitiza kubuni muungano wa kikabila unaowashirikisha Wakikuyu,Wakalenjin na Wakamba. Lakini kama kawaida,tumejitia upofu na kushangilia wanapoturejesha kwenye Jehanamu iwakayo moto lakini tumegubikwa na hamnazo kuu. Manabii wanazidi kubasihri kwamba,litakalotokea litakuwa ni gharika la kisiasa ambalo huenda likawasomba waliobaki,mashamba yao,wana waliozaliwa na damu zao kuzoleka mchangani zisiweze kurudi wala kuonekana tena.Tunajifanya hatujui madhara ya miungano ya kikabila hasa inapovunjika. Damu na roho za waliochinjwa na kuchomwa wakiwa uhai zinazidi kulia katika wafu,huku zikidai na kulilia haki.Haki ya hukumu itendeke kwa wale waliohitimisha mioyo ya wana hawa wa Mungu wasio na makosa hapa duniani kupitia madhila waliyopitia,siku yao ikiwa haijatimia. Haki itendeke kwa wanaotesekea kambini kwa miaka minne sasa huku waliowaua,kuwachinja kama wanyama,kuwabaka na kuwafurusha kutoka mashamba yao wakizidi kuachiliwa kwa ukosefu wa ushahidi. Ndimi za wahanga hawa zimechoka kwa kulilia haki.Sauti zao zimefifia kwa ukosefu wa nguvu ya kulilia haki yao kutokana na njaa,utapiamlo pamwe na baridi shadidi ya usiku ambayo hupenya ndani kwa ndani mle hemani zilizochanikachanika kwa kuangaziwa na jua pamoja na kunyeshewa na mvua kwa muda wa miaka miine. Kipindipindu kimeyachukua maisha yao kutokana na mafuriko yanayowakumba mara kwa mara na kuzisomba hema na kambi zao. Kwa sasa,wamechoka kudai haki kwa kwa manyapaa wasiojali ambao wakati huu wanabuni daraja za kubakia madarakani mnamo 2012,wakiwashajiisha wahanga hawa kuyasahau yaliyopita na kuwaunga mkono katika miungano hii ya kikabila. Na kuonyesha kiwango cha usahaulifu wa kutojali kwa viongozi hawa,wameamua kuzifuja fedha ambazo zingewasitiri wahanga hawa,angaa kuwasahalisha kwa muda njaa,baridi,maradhi na fikra za unyama walioushuhudia ukitendwa dhidi ya wenzao miaka minne iliyopita. Ni mzinduko pekee wa kimawazo,kuzisikiza nyaadhi za manabii wa ukweli zitatunusuru kutoka kwa madhara haya ya ufurukutwa wa ukabila. Hivyo basi,juhudi za Rais Mwai Kibaki kuleta uwiano na maridhiano miongoni mwa Wakikuyu na Wakalenjin mkoani Bonde la Ufa,huenda ukawa na athari za muda mfupi tu kwani unafungamanishwa na kufaulu kumpa upinzani Waziri Mkuu Raila Odinga mnamo 2012,japo makabila haya mawili bado yanaweza yakajitanzua kutoka kwa historia mbaya ya uhasama kati yao.

WAKEREKETWA WA HAKI NA MAGEUZI YA KWELI: AFRICA'S TURMOIL THE WEST'S LAUGHTER IN DISGUISE W...

WAKEREKETWA WA HAKI NA MAGEUZI YA KWELI: AFRICA'S TURMOIL THE WEST'S LAUGHTER IN DISGUISE
W...: "AFRICA'S TURMOIL THE WEST'S LAUGHTER IN DISGUISE When Rwanda burst in flames in ethnic genocide in 1994,the whole world watched as Hu..."

AFRICA'S TURMOIL THE WEST'S LAUGHTER IN DISGUISE
When Rwanda burst in flames in ethnic genocide in 1994,the whole world watched  as Hutus  butchered the minority Tutsi with no international intervention.Not even the world super-powers,the US included dared to hold any military response to alter this atrocity and animosity directed towards one minority group.The end of it was that over 1 million Tutsis and Hutus lost their lives in just 100 days.

In Sierra Leone,Revolutionary United Front's Foday Sankoh was just another free war lord in the eyes of the international community.Pathetic images of maimed civilians in the regional and international media was what was characteristic of Sankoh's RUF rebels in Sierra Leone.Though the then OAU(Organisation of Africa Unity)member states volunteered to send peace-keeping forces,much could have done earlier to contain the rebels' barbarism on innocent civilians.Though the ICC had issued an arrest warrant on Foday Sankoh,he died before he faced justice.

Although in  the concept of international law,it is wrong for a country to interfere with another country's internal affairs,is this the excuse of the international community to watch as countries burn without averting the civil strife in them?

The Somalia case is yet another classic example of the international community's (especially the US and its Western allies) failure to avert the situation or to give a helping hand to the AU member states a helping hand militarily.Since the downfall of dictator Mohammed Siad Barre in 1991,Somalia has become a hotbed of civil unrest.The ever unending internal feudalism between different clans has led to seceding of some parts(for instance Somaliland (which is currently pushing the UN to recognize it as a sovereign republic).The Al Shabaab militia group that has been brn out of prevailing anarchy in this amorphous republic.It has imposed draconian Sharia Laws which havve become a deathbed to civilians who fail to adhere to hem,especially women.

The situation is worse to an extent that ,even the penetration of the international media has occasionally been difficult thus making the rest of the world remain in darkness on the unfolding events in Somalia.

The height of Somalia crisis is so gigantic that it has shaken the world economy for the past two years due to ensuing piracy in the Somalian Coast.Ironically,the world's able countries militarily have ppted to send their securiy forces to contain the piracy menace rathre than double with tha AU peace-keeping forces to return Somalia to social and political sanity.This burden has been left to the unable AU forces to cool the burning Somalia.Does this not portray the West's selectivity in dealing with international crises?

Why should the UN,and specifically the US and its military allies opt to raise up and issue their stances when political upheavals  engulf  Tunisia,Libya,Egypt,Kenya,

Ivory Coast,Sudan,Madagascar and not  in Uganda or Somalia?

The US is known to establish close ties with dictators in post-independent African states.These dictators are especially those who took over power and declared themselves 'life presidents' in these states.For instance,who could question the cordial diplomatic relations between the US and DRC Congo( then Zaire) dictator Mobutu Sese Seko?

The recently deposed Egypt's Hosni Mubarak has been the US's key point-man especially in the Middlle East's peace process.Many had hoped that the Obama administration would alter the course of the US's policy in the Middle East Crisis.But it is no amazement that its favoritism on Israel hasn't changed yet even with radical changes in Israeli's political landscape.Their diplomatic tie have remained strong though with occasional lapses.

It was very ironical of the US to pressurize  Mubarak to resign when the internal and external pressure mounted on him to leave presidency after 31 years of close relations with the US.How can one turn aganist his own friend at the hour of need?

Now the global attention is on Libya's strongman Col.Muammar Gaddafi to resign as Libya's leader.Gaddafi has declared himself a 'revolutionary hero' thus there's no way he can make an exit to a helm he got by liberating Libyans
For 41 years in power,and with close ties with the United States,the very close comrade has turned aganist Gaddafi.The US has been on the front line calling for his resignation and if possible the use of military power to outs him from power.

This way,the US is hypocritically sanctifying itself in the eyes of the international community and the world at large.She  wants to be seen as an agent of social,political and economic transformation of African states.But with massive revelation of her degree of hypocrisy through the Wikileaks secret cables,she can't win the battle of sanctifying her diplomatic criminality.

The US has been known to form close friendships with leaders of countries where it has political interests in them-mostly the countries endowed with vast resource reserves,where it can use the rule in power as a shortcut to plunder its resources in return building the administration in power,only to turn their enemies once these administrations are in their worst terms with the countries' citizenry or are removed from power.

Most of the leaders who form close ties with her usually live in political isolation once out of power and even die in untold segregation and paucity.The fate that befell to Mobutu and currently Mubarak.
Indeed,it would even depend on the country's resulting social,political and economic order to benefit herself in the name of overseeing the process of institution of reforms only to take that advantage to hoodwink the world thus exploiting its resources.

What happened in Iraq?Who is now responsible of of running the country's oil reserves?These are just some of a myriad of unanswered questions on US's invasion of Iraq.
Back home.The current ICC debate has caused political shock waves and new alignments are expected.The ICC as a neo-colonial institution as argued by anti-Hague crusaders has also been linked to the US's political interests in Kenya.Firstly,she is not a signatory to the Rome Statute,they argue.

But can the ICC be used as an 'instrument of administering international justice at the expense of advancing the West's political interests in the world?It is a seemingly difficult question to answer.
Whether  the argument that President Kibaki is indirectly 'politically' being punished by the West in the camouflage of 'ICC' for his links with the Eastern Countries,is valid or not,the most important thing for Kenya is not be in the list of the countries who have fallen prey of the Wet's sycophancy only to lose their nationhood and sovereignty to the expense of the West's advantage to exploit their natural endowments

Wanderi wa Kamau,