KENYA: THE HOUSE OF WOLVES AND FOXES-THE WOLF INTENDS TO MAKE YOU HIS MEAL :BY FWAMBA NC FWAMBA(THE MESSENGER OF THE MANY)

Malcolm X had no illusions in the so-called differences between the Democrats and Republicans. “One is the wolf, the other is a fox. No matter what, they’ll both eat you.” In the 1964 presidential elections, when the US presidential candidates were Lyndon B. Johnson (the “peace” candidate) vs. Barry Goldwater (the “war” candidate), Malcolm X exposed the deceit of this phony distinction.“The shrewd capitalists, the shrewd imperialists,” he said, “knew that the only way people would run towards the fox (Johnson) would be if you showed them the wolf (Goldwater). So they created a ghastly alternative . . . And at the moment he (Johnson) had troops invading the Congo and South Vietnam.” This above analogy by Malcolm x seems to fit well in the current political situation in Kenya. Everybody seems to be fighting corruption, give them power and you will see their true coloures.Show people true coloures of ODM-K and you will see them running towards NARC-K. Corruption has so much dominated the political scene until many Kenyans feel so betrayed by leaders who have decided to feed on the sweat of poor Kenyans, since independence to date. When are we going to put this to an end? After trying all my best to avoid the raging debate on the decision of choosing between a wolf (ODM-K) and a fox (NARC-K), the temptation can’t go further than this. I strongly believe that there is need for us to be realistic and avoid running into the ideologies (if any) advanced by the two sides. I consider my approach and understanding to this game realistic. Its highest time we stopped being hypocritical about our ideological orientation. Many of our people will come up with many theories that qualify ODM-K or NARC-K to be the best parties of belonging. If you become more metaphysical, you will understand what I mean. As I have always said and believed any political equation can only be qualified on the basis of which side of the spectrum you look at it. Let us look at this historical example: In preparation of what would come to be known in history as the Russian revolution, students of Karl Marx; one group led by Lenin and another led by other communists developed two different approaches to governance. two of the main would be Lenin confidants:ie Joseph Stalin and Leon Trotsky joined the two opposing sides with what they called ideological reality according to their own respective ''schools of thought''.while Stalin followed Lenin to advocate for a leadership based on a kind of electoral college(Bolshevism)Trotsky on the other hand preferred to support the grassroots system-where leaders could be elected on the basis of getting direct peasantry vote.(Menshevism).later when the Mensheviks were defeated, Trotsky decided to realign himself with Lenin and became very loyal while still upholding his sincere ideological principles that favored grassroots involvement in the Communist party democracy. Most Bolsheviks who really looked at Lenin as a demi-god used every opportunity to sabotage Trotsky’s efforts to rise in ranks on the basis of his initial opposition to bolshevism. Stalin grew very popular in the communist party because of his hypocritical adoration of Lenin. It was too late for even Lenin himself to discover that Stalin had been only loyal because of personal selfish political reasons. Stalin was too powerful by the time Lenin discovered this and wanted Trotsky to be his political heir instead of Stalin. Therefore Stalin became the automatic heir to Lenin as the general secretary. On Lenin’s death in 1924, Stalin forged himself into leadership to later become the chairman of the people’s commissars. To me the lesson here is that gaining political power has more to do with strategy and shrewdness than the sincere ideological approach that all of us commonly wish and advocate for. If its truth, let us say it. We all, (at least those who believe in certain principles) know that we believe in certain ways that we call moral governance. Most of us adore revolutionaries, we call them heroes, and we call them all names of admiration. America calls them dictators, war criminals, we associate political prowess with great names like Castro, Che Guevara,Tupac Amaru I(the last Inca of modern Peru)&Tupac Amaru II,Simon Bolivar,Kwame Nkrumah, Thomas Sankara,Malcolm X,Marcus Garvey,William Wilberforce, Daniel Ortega, Hugo Chavez, ,Patrice Lumumba,Dubcek,Husak,Olof Palme,Steve Biko,John Okello.,Haters of imperialism. We all categorize this people differently than what the US does. To America all those names mean terrorists, communists, human rights abusers.blah blah...but for us we look at all these names differently, there are heroes, there are criminals, there are role models, there are human rights activists, but for the US...it doesn’t care. They put Hideki Tojo and Che Guevara in the same group. The same way as a young person, these political vultures will never care what you believe in. they have already made their judgement...You are a political tool to be used. Or if you pose any political threat to them, then you are their enemy to be dealt with, or to be eliminated just like JM Kariuki was. So what’s the way forward? To sit and wait to be judged? Or to move and create our own space and destiny in those ranks? I agree with all you comrades who insist that we should support or oppose such and such a party because its made up of heroes,villains,saints,sinners ,devils, angels or whatever you may call them. Have you been honored with the order of Vladmir...to sing and dance to their tune? Or you are just a well wisher, a goon or a sycophant. Being a well wisher or any of aforementioned attributes amount to serious level of political insignificance. My position is that we got to be strategic otherwise we are going nowhere. for my choice if I were to choose between the wolf and a fox, which as per now I don’t intend to do, I would prefer the sly fox than the wolf that has decided to put on a sheep skin because the chicken worthy preying on are not in the vicinity. just know that the wolf in the sheep skin intends to make you his meal…once it gets near the chicken. It’s wrong for us to start following monarchs who have presided and/or benefited from the economic atrocities committed against the people of this country for the last more than four decades of this country’s independence. lets not follow monarchs...our only way to political freedom is joining hands with self made politicians...not monarchs. Down with monarchs...If you can only be relevant in politics if your father was a president or a colonial chief, when are the sons and daughters of peasants like you and me going to rule this country? JUST TELL ME WHEN? We need to get the way out. There we are.....me and you attempting to put Jommo Kenyatta's son in power? Daniel Moi’s son in power?, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga’s son in power?. Longest serving ministers like Kalonzo who have nothing to show after 19 years in cabinet in power? Moses Mudavadi's son in power? Ruto-the political son of a corrupt regime? If we stand and pursue freedom justice and equality, then we need the land back…the land cannot be returned by land grabbers in power.Landgrabbers and pretenders to democracy can’t be reformists. What are they reforming? They have already taken part in deforming the country. If we want to achieve true change in this country we need to create a better strategy...if you read the future, then you will come to know that the only way of getting true reformists and sons and daughters of peasants to power is through NARC-K if all factors are kept constant consistent with the current prevailing conditions. To me and I don’t think any sane person will challenge that, NARC-K'S future could be us. Monarchs will never have space for us. They only have space for their sons and daughters in law. Those impoverished and deprived in the past are now we are getting into those positions.Kibaki is only but a unifying factor for NARC-K...Once he finishes his second term, then all kanu will have retired...Michuki, Karume, Nyachae,then people like Kibwana,Kituyi,Mungatana,Tuju,Kimunya,Karua,Kilemi Mwiria,Kirwa,(not necessarily them, but they are symbols of rise from ashy to classy, not from state house to state house.) ,and many of us in our age bracket who are coming up now will obviously have this space. A good number of protagonists here are the true reformists or even if they may not be according to some of the arguments some of you may advance. They at least were. and that’s why democratically we are where we are. most of you know the role played by people like Prof Kibwana and the likes of Dr.Njoya.,Henry Waruhiu,Muturi Kigano and the rest that you know who belong to this school in bringing Kenya to where it is now. We are at least where they helped us get. Its time to complete the revolution. And the revolution can’t be completed by the people we were revolting against. They are using the strategy used by Stalin to inherit Lenin’s position, but at least in a moral and democratic way, unlike Stalin. In the same vain, we need to use this strategy...that’s our only way to power. The rest are rhetorics.no monarchs please. For you who have already taken sides...that’s my analysis. However if you are a general in the wolf kingdom you are better than a foot soldier in the fox kingdom. If you got no strategic standing then I consider this as the best position to adopt so long as you are not Kenyatta’s or Moi’s son or daughter. The value of NARC Kenya to Kenyan youths as per now is that one of our own-Tedd Munovi is one of the nine national board members of the NARC-K election board. The great hope, which we are anyway yet to see, is that more positions will be allocated young people. We welcome the same or greater gesture by ODM-K or any other party with a political muscle. I personally don’t think if we should vote in a wolf or a fox. But if we got no other option which is seemingly the case, then lets learn to use the Stalin strategy. Vote for the fox that is if it’s a must for you to choose between the two. Otherwise I would advice you to join Chama Cha Mwananchi (CCM).It could be the party that has meaning for the people at the grassroots... FWAMBA NC FWAMBA Kenya Young Voter’s Alliance Box 41046, Nairobi +254721779445

2007 EQUATION:BY SERO DEPASCO,GEOFFREY MAKEKE,STELLA OPORE

Stella, It’s simply amazing the way you have a talent for spreading falsified and twisted ideologies. What one can easily read from your writings and the emails that you have sent so far is a deep seated personal vendetta against Raila. In short you are among the Railaphobics. It is your right to express any emotions whatsoever on any individuals but you have to realize that blatantly attempting to lie is wrong. Let me correct you here and as usual I will be very factual: Ngilu`s political resume is based solely on cheap opportunistic schemes. This is the proof; · She neither backed the flawed Wako constitution nor opposed it. · She only joined Kibaki`s cabinet after being offered the Ministerial positions which she wanted for herself and her cronies READ No principles as long as you are benefiting; · Currently, she is in neither ODM K nor NARK K, but is bidding her time before waiting to negotiate for her own political gains, NOT THE WHOLESOME GAIN OF THE KENYANS; · She has connections with ODM K and at the same time dances with Kibaki, this is called political indecisiveness and the strongest indicator of a weak political leader; · Ngilu did not join the Kibaki`s GNU for the sake of development, but for her own personal selfish interests; When your husband cheats on you, Stella do you just keep your silence as long as he has a perfect development plan for you? It is important for you to note that what kibaki did was to simply cheat, and it would have been abhorrent for LDP party to just sing alone, yet this man had just trashed a very binding agreement. Just as he has single-handedly appointed the ECK commissioners without even recalling that he was among the group that was forcing Moi to honor the IPPG deal, what a dictator! Hence it is neither here nor there the fact that Ngilu kept her allegiance to his government, it was for her own good, PERIOD. My take is this, When Kibaki will have officially launched his re-election bid, Ngilu will climb on the highest mountain and support him in exchange for some positions or even money. This lady is a perfect example of the Kenya politicians who do not have a slight speck of what the Kenyans think and even want. What bothers them most is how to conveniently benefit from the existing political environment. For your information, she is waiting for Kalonzo to lose the ODM ticket before she begins to publicly taunt him as a looser and with this take a huge chunk of kamba`s to Kibakis team. If however Kalonzo bags the ODM ticket she will rush to his side and thereafter become ODM by blood. This country is tired of such a crop of politicians, leaders who are neither hot nor warm but convenient opportunists waiting to prance. With the above, I vehemently dismiss Ngilu as any person who can be compared to Raila. If it was Wangari Maathai, she is a dependable and principled lady who I would vote for without even batting my eyelids. The only mistakes done by Raila is to say the truth at all times. If you think, he is not TACTFUL, then keep your eyes and ears wide open. Only time will prove who is the most tactful political player in Kenya today. Only time will prove the metal in the man, and sentiments from cowardly railaphobics like you will not hold. We pray for true liberation, but we know that Ngilu, Pattni, Muiru, and the likes can not be the forces to deliver this liberation. But what we need is a leadership that has been consistently fighting for the people. We hope 2007 will give us this leaders, but we ahev a goo idea of the individuals who can do this. Raila is central in this team. Asanteni sana, and Munovi, work to become a future member to this dream team of political leaders. Makeke G. O. ----- Original Message ---- From: Stella Opore Congratulations to Munovi ! In reply to Depasco's mail it's really sad that i have to repeat myself over and over again, i hate for you to refer to me nor even think of me as a tribalist... ....tho i understand you are only excersing one of you fundamental freedoms.... ..talk of a free Kenya :). I therefore cease from defending myself further and wish to remind you that i am not oblidged to like Raila whether he be a luo o a kamba or a luo for that matter. This is also not to say that i dnt like him ..... as a matter of fact he is an uncle to some of my very close friends....i am just indifferent about him because so far he has not inspired me. If you really need to know, am neither a Raila person nor a Kalonzo person and infact i agree with you that Ngilu would be a much better candidate than Kalonzo(only that i further think she would be the most preferred candidate if put on the same footing as both Raila and Kalonzo). My reasons would be that ....despite the MOU failure she chose to still work with the government and help develop the country ......it is her wisdom that would inspire me......you will find that the opposition in turn has supported Kibakis govt than 'his people'...akina Raila and the likes...whatever the reasons may be. Govts function is not to oppose itself ....that would be the first thing i would tell any of Raila's supporters.. ...dont you think that Ngilu was also affected as a result of the MOU being dishonoured. ...why then waste a whole five year period trying to prove to Kenyans that you were 'hurt'. Raila was supposed to pick up and move on...then he would have convinced me that he is truly a man of 'metal' (that would still not have taken away the option of him running as a presidential candidate when his time came ).... but if you choose to believe me tribalistic because he does not inspire me.....it is your choice. As a matter of fact ...i honestly believe that it is people like him who choose to make or break a nation....but once he has chosen to break a nation i shall not support him. His likes can easily transform any leader into a 'dictator'.. ..for the simple reason that he is not TACTFUL. --- Sero Depasco wrote: > Stella , > I really pity you. Your Statements seem to be very > Tribalistic in nature you have refused to see the > Truth, you are obviously anti Raila because he is > Luo. What is more Tribalistic than that??? You keep > talking about Merit, what is there that WE can > Credit Kalonzo for or with?. You obvious have not > done your research. Find out Why Moi Created Mwingi > constituencies for Kalonzo and the the Boundary was > Draw to Ensure that Kalonzo never looses that seat. > The man was and still is a Moi Protege. He leaves a > bad taste in our Mouths by how silent he was when > Tyranny and Dictatorship Reigned in Kenya Dragging > the Country to nothingness. I can assure you that he > leaned' alot from Moi and I can for see the Same > Trend with Him in terms of leadership, How do we > know that he will not be silent again when we really > need him to speak out. WE cannot leave our Kenya to > someone like that. > Most of all the man does not have any leadership > skills Even in Ukambani Ngilu is more of a Force > than Kalonzo. To me he is just like Uhuru who was > also just a Moi Creation they means that a local man > and Woman like us will never elevate ourselves to > such positions Of power unless your connected to the > President how many of you will have Kibaki create a > Constituency for you. Raila is a Self made man and > is only using what God gave him. Without the Evil > and devil of Ukabila the man should and would have > been the Man.If Kenyans open our Eyes and elect > Raila you will all see the changes and blessing God > will pour in that Country because I believe he is > the Anointed one for those who did CRE/ Religion > Please let me Know which Party or Group of Kenyans > Kalonzo has ever led in the past. These Steadman > Poll that Show Kalonzo to be favorable to Kenyans is > A Kibaki tool to Fool Kenyans once again by Giving > Kalonzo hope hence disintegration of ODM and other > less strong Parties. Mark you, Kibaki wants to > disabilise ODM by Making Kalonzo a front Runner > while Kenyans other than Kikuyus and the Rest of the > World Knows that Raila is the Man who can bring > Change to Kenya. Even Nyachae is being used by > Kibaki to down play Raila They are creating a Feud > between the Two Nyachae feel that had Raila Said > Nyachae Tosha then Nyachae would have been > President, Don't Anti Raila people see that what the > man say is what Kenyans listen to, That he is the > True leader ya wakenya, But we also know that not > everyone can love yo Even John the baptist and Jesus > were killed by their very own people at a very > tender ages of 33. All we can say is one cannot > please everyone but if Kenya truly wants > change I think at this time and Era only RAILA > AMOLLO TINGA is the one who can deliver the goods > The other Kibaki Plan is to win in 07 and make > Sure Uhuru gets it in 2012 hence house of Mumbi stay > Strong in Kenya Strong for the next 20 years We know > that if Kibaki does not Run in 2012 Uhuru will the > Kikuyu Front runner then and we also know the Kikuyu > Voting Patterns from The referendum. > Stella, do not allow yourself and others to fall > in the trap of this Short sightedness, we as Kenyans > are very notorious in Forgetting and letting go > waiting for the next ebacle, that is why the likes > of Moi stayed in Power for so long because nobody > including Kalonzo could standup for anything. > WE must also Learn to give credit where it's due, > And wacha hio UKABILA yako Steela. Kenya needs a > true leader with a track that speaks for itself. > Think of the future any your kids what Kenya are > they going to live in Tanzania and Uganda which > experience less Tribalism seem to be forging ahead > and sisi Wakenya Ukabila has, is and will always > Stagnate as until it will be too late. The rest of > the world is moving on see where you live and > surrounding, should that be how we live?? and yet we > are being lied to that the Economy is doing Great. > Just because we have more people in the Jua kali > Sector does not mean that all over a sudden job > Creating has gone up. Just because a few millionaire > who stole money from us using Goldenberg and > angloleasing are ow spending that money to buy huge > share of stock make it looks that Wakenya are > finally spending Money and getting ownership in > these Companies. It is all a fasseee. Look closely > and see who is buying these Companies and > decide fore you self if they are not elated to The > two huge scandal that nearly Ruined our Economy up > to date no one has been heal accountable na Wakenya > Kama Stella wame sahau tayari. > > Sero > > geoffrey omedo wrote: > Let me jog your memory young lady of > the historical achievements of Raila : > The country was in the control, of a despotic > tyrant called Moi, he had banned any political > parties and forced all the Kenyans to be members to > the Baba na mama party, all the cowardly leaders > were busy clapping for him for having forced the > sovereignty of the citizenry into prison. RAILA is > among the few leaders who had the knack to disagree > with Moi and this earned him fugitive status, and a > few years in the cold cells of Nyayo. Reason, he > among others in one way or the other planned for the > abortive coup de tat of 1982, a direct response to > the tyrannical order of the ruling elite then. > > The Goldenberg affair was a favorite project of > the Moi regime. Pattni dished out money to all and > sundry and even Jaramogi Oginga had a fair share of > the loot. Recall that even Muite was given a > handsome tip of 20 million. What you have failed to > recall is the fact that Raila was the first person > to ever institute private proceedings against the > government for abuse of the citizens taxes under > grand corruption. In case you want to know how the > case ended, our good old Wako produced his > characteristic nolle prosequi and the Saitoti`s were > given fresh lives again. > > During the agitation for multi party democracy in > Kenya, Raila was there at all the stages of > development of the issues and hence the Moi > government marked him. This can be attested from the > amount of years that he has been incarcerated at the > infamous torture chambers. His wife was > unceremoniously fired from her teaching job at > Pangani girls during this time, just to up the > pressure on the intimidation of this guy. Even his > father tried to make him swallow humble pie and > conform to the government of the day but he held > strong in his firm beliefs of a free society driven > by the wishes of the majority. All signs of > leadership the world over, principle. > > He broke away from the FORD Kenya party after > differing with the leadership of Wamalwa Kijana, > reason, The party had received a donation from a one > famous Patni, now known as Paul from the deep bank > vaults of Goldenberg. The new leadership after the > death of Jaramogi wanted the goldenberg issues to be > swept under the table, in order for the party to > just continue from where Jaramogi had left of, but > characteristic of his true leadership, Raila could > not take any of it, credibility and integrity had to > be respected he said and with this left for NDP. My > take, leadership skills that are to be admired by > all. > > He is the only MP in Kenya’s history who > voluntarily resigned from parliament on the FORD > Kenya ticket, and contested for his |Langata seat in > the preceding by elections on the NDP party and won > on a landslide. Reason, leadership is not about > parties, but about the individual. > > On dialogue and partnerships, Raila can’t be > compared with any one. He joined the KANU party when > he was pursuing the partnership and cooperation with > Moi, even after Moi had subjected him to grave > political tribulations. He worked with Moi honestly > and hoped to infuse KANU with real democratic > changes. I quote him, " if KANU does not respect the > wishes of the people by nominating a presidential > candidate of their aspirations, then the forces of > change will sweep the party way and leave it an > empty shell" This statement was made by Raila when > he was still the KANU Secretary General even before > Moi had nominated Uhuru for the KANU ticket. What > followed is still fresh on the minds of all of you > including Stella. > > Hence it was the single-handed effort of this guy > that brought to an abrupt end Moi`s magical hold > over the political system. I do not need to go > through the formation of NARC, the MOU, the betrayal > by Kibaki and the rest of the story. His stint in > the Roads Ministry was the shortest, yet even his > pundits have accepted the fact that he streamlined > the operations of the entire ministry in terms of > procurements and stuff. In fact all of the roads > that are currently under construction are directly > still bearing his personal signature. The cowboy > contractor’s were duly dealt with, the tendering of > road contracts made more accountable. What would > have happened if this guy was President of kenya? > > Just recently, he will be remembered for his > central leadership which culminated in the > referendum defeat of the BANANA group, a despotic > constitutional document was being forced down the > throats of the people. All of the readers in this > forum must honestly be remembering the role this guy > played in exposing the Artur Margasyan fiasco. How > he has kept the Kibaki government into firm check, > even Kiraitu`s tapes reveal the fear that he had if > Raila could have gotten wind of the Anglo-leasing > scandal. Lesson here, leadership is about bravery,

OF EXCELLENCE OF EXCELLENCIES:BY CHRISTOPHER NAICCA

Happy belated new year to all and sundry. The election year is here. Already, tension is simmering. Right here in KYVA. Debates are raging. Lets keep it going. Believe me, I am learning a lot from every one of you. I must admit, contributions from one Omedo have impressed me. And I must also admit. I agree with him that Raila deserves a chance to lead this country. I have not seen a more consistent politician in Kenya. While others say he never settles and is too much of a rubble rouser who never gets satisfied, what I see is consistency. To further their argument, such pundits mention the Ford-K walk out, the Kasarani (Kanu) walk out, the NARC walk out…yada yada yada. What I see is consistency. There was a lot happening as regards his Ford-k walk out that ultimately led to NDP, but would you fault him for refusing to accept that his father had nominated the late Wamalwa? Would you fault him for demanding that things be done democratically? Personally, I don't like this thing of an out going leader imposing someone on the people. Is that not the same thing that happened at Kasarani? Was he wrong in demanding that ex-president Moi stop imposing Uhuru? How about NARC? Were they not short changed? Did not the gentlemen he had dined with dishonored agreements? So to me, this is a consistent man. So consistent that he doesn't stay put when you try to short change the party he is in. Why do Kenyans take less than they deserve? So much so that when we see a man who settles for nothing less we vilify him. We call the person stubborn. We say the person is never satisfied. This attitude is extended even to other matters of national importance. When the likes of yours truly mention the inefficiencies and inadequacies of the government, I can't believe my ears when I hear a Kenyan say that we like complaining. I'm taken aback when I hear people say `at least' something is being done. I get astounded when people settle for less, saying we are complaining yet the economy is growing. I'm sorry, but I will never settle for less. You will not give me six while taking half a dozen. Don't expect me to vote you in if you grow the economy but fail to catch the anglo-leasing thieves and fail to show any solid commitment to fight graft. No. I will not accept that. Don't expect me to vote for you if you sort out the matatu menace but raid a media house and poach opposition MP's without consent. No. I just can't take that. I am not satisfied, if you re-open KICC but close doors to ECK nominations dialogue. Why should I settle for less? I will demand the best. I will not trust you with my security of you clear Artur as a businessman and he turns out to be a thug. Why does Africa lag behind? We are easily satisfied. A mythical story of our origin sometimes gets me thinking. A tribe in Mali has it that after God had made all races, the African had wandered off and missed the ceremony where God was giving the different races talents and gifts. On returning, God remarked `Oh, I forgot all about you!' I have given away all the technology, industries, science and all that is good, what can I give you'. `That drum right there', said the African. And off he walked. Drumming into the night. Satisfied. We take a lot of crap as Kenyans. If fuel prices go up by unreasonable margins in Europe, do I need to tell you what they do? Don't they park their cars on all major roads and paralyze the country until the prices go down? These people don't take crap. In Kenya we accept. We are satisfied if the minister just threatens. Can you imagine if it was in Britain or France that MP's had increased their salaries ten fold? I bet you they would not have managed to walk out of parliament. The public can literally camp outside and not let you walk out until you adjust. These people take nothing less than the best. No wonder they are miles ahead. So when someone says we should appreciate that `at least' something is being done, I can't take that. And especially if corruption is not being dealt with. Because that amounts to giving with the right and taking with the left. For me, everything has to be happening. We are so far behind to go slow on certain matters. We have ministries to address virtually every area. So as matatu menace is being sorted out by one ministry, I expect the one charged with security to work. One cannot ride on the success of the other. So don't expect me to be `at least' happy that transport sector is improving if security is not. I want to urge you to take nothing but the best. Settle for nothing less. Why let the politicians get off easy? More so the ones in government charged with running the country. Frankly, it makes no sense to me, if after telling you about the inadequacies of president Kibaki, you in return tell me about the inadequecies of Uhuru. Come on, Uhuru is not the president. Kibaki is. Let us all focus on the government. Why do we even look at the opposition? Let us watch the government so closely so that they have no room to mess around. Do you watch sky news and see how closely the British media keep an eye on their government? Name me the leaders of three leading opposition parties in Britain. No, really, stop and think about it… If you are very keen, you may only remember Cameron. His first name escapes me as it does you. This is because they focus on their government. Tightly. Tony Blair has to be on his toes. In Kenya when you try to focus on the government and criticize them for not doing more, proponents of the government distract you by attacking the opposition in equal measure. Why the hell would I be bothered with criticizing the opposition so frequently when it is the government that is charged with running the country? No wonder our government has room to play around and not give its best. Because we let them. Lets be tight on them. Critique everything they do. Bring the best out of them. Don't settle for less. Now lets get back to the beginning. I started by seemingly supporting Raila. Let me first say this. I have lost faith with all of the current crop of politicians. They just play power games and will not take us forward until we send them a strong message. I feel so strongly that we cannot afford to give ten years of presidency to an individual from the current crop of politicians. We shouldn't trust them yet. We may stagnate. I feel that Kenya needs dynamism. We may also send a wrong message that we are satisfied. We need to send a strong message through the ballot. The politicians need to know that getting a second term requires excellence. Not just `at least something is happening'. Let us make getting that second term so difficult, you have to out perform yourself if you are to get it. I don't think Kibaki has been excellent. If we give him another five, the politicians will think that as long as you do something small, the public is okay. If we remove him and put another, at least (I hope) they will know that we are not easy to please. If we do that, I expect that the next person will realize they have to out perform Kibaki if they are to get a second term. Now the next message that we will need to send is that out performing Kibaki is not enough. So even this next person we will remove. And we should continue doing that until the politicians realize we take nothing but the best. And getting that second term is so difficult. Maybe then they can be serious. Maybe then we can grow. Kibaki has done what he can. If he has done A, B, C someone else will do D, E, F and so on and so forth. I don't expect him to deal with corruption in his next term if he hasn't in his first. So let someone else come and do it. And then another and another. This being my school of thought, Kibaki has served his five. So for me he needs to go. He has been okay, but not excellent. My school of thought demands I pick someone else…that is how Raila comes in. I don't think anyone else deserves the chance to serve the next five. Raila being what he is will try to out perform Kibaki, but like any other member of the current crop of politicians, he will not be excellent. So we also remove him after his five. Until the message of excellence gets through. After all, they seek to be called YOUR EXCELLENCY!

JUST IMAGINE 2008-2012:BY GEOFFREY MAKEKE

If the worst is to happen, or the best if that`s what it is to some people, and Kibaki is re-elected in 2008. Then what do you members of this group think will happen under his final years in power? Do I smell an odour of shameless greed, excited plans for monetary aggrandizement by a tired gang of hasty movers ? What if the 2007 elections are captured yet again by the same pack that is today riding the tired backs of wanjiku and atieno? If the slightest provocation to a sinking ship is the crew`s bulging pockets and excess baggage, will Kibakis presidency witness a rush for final loot? Will they all begin tossing their loot aboard in order to salvage the ship or will they choose to sink with the ship, their pockets and bellies full of course? Even more pressing, will he concede defeat like Uhuru did if he by legal means told to do so by the Kenyans? Don`t I smell a whiff of intolerance, which would with abandon grow into a more resolute tight fist of despondency? Is the gentle man in Kibaki silently aggressing, his wrath being with consistent flare rekindled? To what extreams can he fight back, or rephrased, how desperate is he for the presidency? How will the Michukis and Karumes brag, and what will be their role in Kibakis final term? Will they become statesmen, seeing beyond their narrow ethnic and capitalistic demands? How will they steer and advise the president? Will they soften their hearts to the opposition then and recognize the fundamentals of democracy in any society? Will the state machinery exist for the welfare of all, or will they be converted into arsenals of protecting the ruling elite from the paranoia of their own shadows? How will times improve for the wananchi, if he is to be given another term?What hopes of promulgating a new constitution under his tenure? Even more important, will we ever carry out real national reconciliation under Kibaki? Will real truth justice and reconciliation be attained in Kenya under his presidency? What historical role will Kibakis 'development' concious government play in the 2008-2012 period? What of the monster of negative ethnicity and tribalism? Will the Dorobo, Ogiek, Luo, Luhya, feel equally Kenyan as the Gikuyu, Aembu, Ameru etc etc. This are just a number of questions that need to be considered by all the youth and kenyans at large even as we plunge ourselves into the partying mood of christmass. THANKS and keep the discussion flowing, Im still yours, the only one Makeke, the person whose love for thinking resonates with his love for Kenya. Geoffrey O.Makeke,

DOES THIS EXCERPT DISTORT HISTORY?:BY FWAMBA NC FWAMBA

She Done Him Wrong: Behind JULIUS CAESAR's Assassination A Case of Murder Most Foul. What is true is that Gaius Julius Caesar, the legendary Roman General, statesman, was assassinated because "everyone" feared his insatiable lust for power and wealth. What is false was that his wife, Calpurnia, depicted through the ages as being beyond reproach", had nothing to do with his murder. History tells us that Calpurnia had tried to save Caesar when she had "implored her husband to cancel the meeting with the Senate" (where he was supposedly killed) because "in a dream, she had seen him streaming with blood". This and other sensible advice to "beware the ides of March", Caesar chose to ignore at his peril. And so, according to the official version, in broad daylight, his noble "friends" frontally stabbed Caesar, striking him down like the tyrant he was.... That is if you believe history. However, the truth was far ignobler than this historical fiction. Throughout his spectacularly successful military career, Caesar had taken great care to assure his personal safety. Of course, there were times when he failed to take with him enough legions to assure victory. Yet Caesar himself was never without his own ultra-loyal personal guard. The only time Caesar relaxed his defenses was when he was in his own home... or in that of his mistress, the legendary Egyptian Queen Cleopatra. About two years before his death, Caesar summoned Cleopatra from Egypt to Rome. She brought her son with her and never stopped boasting that the boy, Caesarion, was the great general's child. Caesar installed his mistress in his mansion on the outskirts of the Tiber and soon openly acknowledged that the boy was his illegitimate son. Worse, Caesar lavished money and slaves on this "alien queen, incurring the greatest wrath" of the Roman aristocracy. But the "Julius cared nothing for public opinion" and in "his arrogance... he enrolled her name among the friends of the Romans". As the final insult, Caesar commissioned a statue of Cleopatra and "placed it next to the image of the goddess in the temple of Venus Genetrix". Caesar's love for Cleopatra and Caesarion was humiliating to Calpurnia. Not that she cared for Caesar the man at all. Theirs had been a highly political marriage of convenience from the start. What Calpurnia craved was the position in society that her marriage afforded her. As long as her position as the "first woman in Rome" was not threatened, Calpurnia chose to turn a blind eye to her husband's growing affection for his mistress. Her blindness came to an end when Caesar approached Calpurnia about getting a divorce. He wanted to have Cleopatra by his side all the time and was tired of "pretending" to be married to Calpurnia. Caesar was prepared to be very generous. Calpurnia could have money, houses, jewels, whatever she wanted - everything except for being the "first woman in Rome". She was devastated and begged her husband to give her some time before going public with his decision. As there were many pressing matters of state requiring his attention, Caesar reluctantly agreed. While he was busy ruling, Calpurnia was busy conspiring with other members of the aristocracy. At times, she had been useful to them in persuading Caesar to help their cause. Now she began feeding their fears of her husband. She told them a Caesar wed to a Cleopatra would be out of control. She told them he would have no need of the Senate and would install Caesarion as "Emperor". She told them whatever was needed to get them to convince them to murder Caesar. Calpurnia would rather have Caesar dead than wed to Cleopatra. So one day she invited Caesar home to discuss their divorce. The Senators had kept him long at the business of state. When he arrived, Calpurnia was waiting for him. She fed him drugged wine and, as it was late, he retired to sleep, suspecting nothing. When Caesar was unconscious, it was a simple matter for the coterie of assassins to plunge daggers into his back. As an after thought, they stabbed him in the front "in the breast" which his physician was terrified into pronouncing as the fatal wound. For multiple stab wounds in the back would have made the conspirators look cowardly. And, as history records, his body was cremated speedily, lest the actual physical evidence contradict the official version of Caesar's murder. Credits: From a servant girl who accidentally witnessed the murder and was killed as a result

KIBAKI AENDE KABISA:BY GEOFFREY MAKEKE

The piece written below is a perfect example how the Biblical sentiment of people having ears but not being capable to hear, people having a blurred vision yet they have a perfect set of eyes is being fulfilled in Kenya. Kindly comment on the following: Whose economy is growing in Kenya today, is it commensurate with the quadrupling of the price of a kilogram of sugar from a 40ksh, to the current 120 ksh per kilogram? The standards of living have actually grown by a massive 26%, how will the large rural population cope under another Kibaki presidency if a growing economy results in more problems for their kith and kin? Is the security system to blame for the incessant clan and tribal clashes that have resulted in the death of many innocent Kenyans? Examples for those who care to research, Mathare Clashes, Kuresoi Clashes, Mount Elgon Clashes, Kibera Clashes, Molo, Narok, Coast Turkana and Marsabit daylight massacres, the list is just too long. An illegal Vigilante group even had the audacity to stage a daylight demonstration within the city streets. The chaos and madness on the transport industry have infact returned with amazing gusto, get the statistics of how many people died during the just ended christmas period. While at it, try to establish how the fares to different destinations actually doubled in the very sights of the government facilities. Kibaki`s presidency has with finality shattered the dreams of a united Kenya, in which ethnicity was to serve as a rather crucial impetus to the wholesome development of the country. It has further entrenched the negative tribalistic sentiments and agenda that are with impunity being shoved down the throats of a disenfranchised majority. The constitution has become last on Kibakis wishlist for Kenyans, since he has tasted the sweet froth emanating from the descrepit, despotic shrivelled copy of the constitution that we inherited from the our colonialist masters. The referendum results did nothing to convince his government of the urgent need for reconciliation based on the promulgation of a constitution that would suit the needs and aspirations of the Kenyan people. A free primary education that is free from real planning, which results in Private Schools filling up almost all the spaces in prestigious national and provincial schools. Note, the KCPE mean of the top primary school was 410. The first public school had a mean of 387. A free primary education that does not address quality of education is a useless notion altogether. Secondary schools that charge whatever amount of fees they decide to, without due regard to the finacial hardships afflicting a majority of the parents. Lecturers who have been forced back into lecture halls without their needs and wishes even being examined, leading to further decadence of the standards of education within the universities. Do you think that the Kenyans have forgotten about Kiraitu, Murungaru, Mwiraria, Saitoti, and the ANGLO-LEASING and the GOLDENBERG saga, the we are gullible enough to even forget the ARTUS MARGASYSAN HULLABALOO, the mid night raid on the STANDARD MEDIA HOUSE by shrouded goons hired and maintained by the state on our taxes? the snake snide by Michuki, rattle rattle rattle Civil servants who have remained for long periods of time on the same cadres, without any promotion coming their way, with meagre earnings yet gigantuan responsibilities. But Kibaki`s waterloo remains, running an administration that has perfected the art of insulating itself from a large cross-section of its citizenry by endearing itself to only a single community. Then having the knack to tell us KUJIENJOY. WE ARE PATIENTLY WAITING FOR DECEMBER, TO KICK HIS TIRED ADMINSTRATION OUT. We will indeed paint this year ORANGE those who bother to join us need to do so, with express and genuine love for the greatness of being Kenyan. The future is ORANGE, GOODBYE KABISA, Kibaki Toka, Raila Tosha? Something good doing rounds in USA . Its your choice but be informed. OUR NEW SLOGAN: WACHA KIBAKI ABAKI. Dear Kenyans.. It is good to be objective. It is by being objective that we can be proud of being Kenyans. Subjectivity has turned people into pessimists who cannot see light at the end of the tunnel. This pessimism has been spread to many ignorant Kenyans who have fallen prey of selfish politicians. For example Hon. Musa Sirma was the sacarstic in his cricism of the NARC government. But today possibly he has seen that what KANU was saying was impossible e.g free pri. education is now possible. We are no longer kneeling down to donors yet every constituency including Eldama Ravine is getting something. Well done Musa. You can see this now. However there are some who still can not appreciate any of these goodies yet you cannot trace any performance record when they had a chance. For instance: (1) Hon. Kamotho was minister for education, transport, local government, trade, and environment. What legacy has he left in all these ministries? What can you remember? Coups in local authorities, chaos in transport, and Oh! What about Karura forest? Hon Michuki was in transport for only two years and he has made history although Hon. Kajwang calls him Muchuki. (2) Hon. Kalonzo Musyoka has been in parliament since 1988. When expressing himself he has always reffered to himself as a lawyer. As a lawyer he would advise Kibaki should dissolve parliament and call fresh elections. As lawyer he predicted that 2006 would be an year of elections. Kenyans need to see his legal competence in parliament. Dont forget Njoki Ndungu joined Parliament recently yet she will go into history books becauce of her contribution in parliament. Kalonzo needs to understand that kenyans need more of actions and less of empty talk. Again he was minister for foreign affairs, education, environment etc. Tell me something unique we can remember him for. (3)Hon. Raila Odinga was made minister for energy during the Moi regime. As a minister that time do you remember him beyond landing in Kisumu in a helicopter? Later he was appointed minister for public works. Do you remember him beyond brining down buildings on road reserves? Give performance a chance mheshimiwa. (4) Hon. Balala was made minister for sports and National Heritage. As minister he could not bring order to KFF. Hon. Maina Kamanda was recently appointed minister for sports and we can see what is happening to sports in this country despite being let down by indisciplined and greedy sportsmen. (5) Hon. Ruto can be best remembered in 1992 as a Kanu activist. You remember the economy came to its knees as millions of shillings were looted for campaigns and for years Kenyans has paid for this economic crime. Anything you can remember him for as minister? However within a very short time as minister, Hon. Kirwa has brought sanity in the agriculral sector. (6)Hon. William Ole Ntimama became minister in 1988. However I tend to remember him more issuing threats and insults than working as a minister. During the Narc era he was minister for public service. Do recall him beyond threatening public servants. In the short period Moses Akaranga has been Minister do you see what he has done? Actions speak louder than words. We have seen the likes of Munyes, Obocha, Tuju, Karua, Ngilu, Kagwe, Soita......their actions are louder than theit words. We are not blind we have seen and we are not deaf we have heard. Does the ODM have an agenda for Kenya or these people have an agenda for themselves. We can differentiate between competence and incompetence, selfishisness and selflessness. These people are now asking for minimum constitutional reforms yet they rejected a new constitution. Can these people be trusted in their incompetence and inconsistency? You and other kenyans should advice me. Send this to them and ask them to advise a Kenyan who wants to be proud of being a Kenyan. A sample of ten is reasonable.

BECONNING:BY MWENGI MUTUSE

Comrades,friend and foes, i'm delighted to get this opportunity to share in the thought process of growing our world.i will be,from time to time, subjecting my views here for our most able review.i'm currently invoved in community work in Kibwezi with all my soul and mind.i've now realised that there's a peoples academy out there so virgin of the western contamination that's our minds.so much so that leadership and intellectualism must now begin to educate themselves in the peoples academy lest they become illiterates.i now kno what Ngugi Wa Thiongo called illiterate Professors indeed why Mao Tsetung was honoured by the masses with the all respected title of Chairman. Interacting with our peasants makes even the simplest person in our defination to realise their sophiscation.The conscios ones shed their petty burgeir tendencies and are baptised in the name of the people. Hope this does not sound like a maiden speech of a neo-marxist crusader in the wilderness. Mwengi Mutuse

OLD MEN:BY CHRISTOPHER NAICCA

Hello KYVA members, I am delighted to be part of this group and share ideas. Ideas that will ultimately change lives. Thumbs up to Fwamba and all the other regular contributors. Your work is not and can't be in vain. The articles are refreshing and thought provoking. I would encourage everyone to provoke our thinking. As youth, we need to stimulate our brains into thinking deeply and widely. You see, these old men that are our leaders are very dangerous people. Old men can be crafty. They can manipulate. With machinations so deep the youth will barely understand. I make a point of watching most of the political themed programs on T.V. From head of state, to 24 to commander in chief to the west wing...Much as these programs are fictitious, I like them because they give you a glimpse of the goings-on in political circles. Most of the time the authors take past circumstances such as the Cuban missile crisis and twist the dynamics to suit the modern day. So Cuba would be say Iran and the missiles would be biological weapons, I'm sure you get the drift. Back to my point...in all these programs, all of the machinations and nasty political manouvres are done by old men. White haired, bearded old men.Not the youth. The youth never seem to have a plan. Neither are we able to see beyond our noses. That is why Uhuru and Ruto (if they qualify to be youth), did not see Moi, Kibaki and Biwot coming. Even in our society, its the old that make political manouvres. For example, do you think that the Mbarire's, Kimunya's, Mungatana's and other young politicians could have orchastrated the political coups? Was it young men and women that decided on the fate of Jesus or old scribes and pharisees? The youth are only used to achieve the goals of the old...from Brutus to Judas to our very own Nahashon Isaac Njenga Njoroge...he of the famous 'mbona hamuulizi mzee' phrase after he gunned down Tom Mboya. As young people, we must think beyond the obvious. We must provoke our thoughts. And I hope to be doing that every week, here at KYVA, in a weekly editorial called CONSPIRACY THEORIES. The purpose of which will be to provoke your thinking, not to influence it. Watch this space. Chris Naicca

THE SALARY CONSPIRACY :BY CHRISTOPHER NAICCA

DEC,2006: `I appreciate parliament's generous gesture to reward me a higher salary. However I am forced to decline the offer as I empathise with other hardworking and struggling Kenyans…'Thus read Kibaki's speech in part. And it reminded me of the story of the fox. `I'll take care of it' said the fox when he was given the key to the hen house. President Kibaki is taking us for fools. If he calls his political cronies `mavi ya kuku' and wapumbavu. If that is what he calls his driver, what do you think he calls us Kenyans. That is why he can conjure an elaborate plan to hoodwink Kenyans. That he has declined to take up a salary increase is laughable and can only be meant for wapumbavu's. This has conspiracy written all over it. Like a game of chess, Kibaki used his pawns to front something for him. Then made his killing move. And Kenyans from all walks of life (as they like to put it) cheered and lauded the move. The motion to increase the president's salary came from the government. From the executive to be precise. And in circumstances such as these, where the exchequer will require upto Kshs 1.3 billion to meet the proposed increases yearly, approval for such a motion ordinarily comes from the president. So today's editorial in the Nation congratulating the president for turning down the increase is nothing but a farce. Here is the theory. The executive meets in statehouse. Matha Karwa suggests that the public is disillusioned by parliaments' insensitivity as regards salary. President says its not his fault, its parliament. Karwa points out that Kenyans cant tell the difference. To them, the President has allowed it to happen. President says wapumbavu. Tunju suggests that the President should do something to give the public an impression that he does not support the arbitrary salary increases. Sitoti says that would be good considering that striking lecturers got nothing. So Karwa suggest that the govt proposes an increase for the president. Which the President will conveniently turn down. `Will the public buy that?' Kimuya asks. `Ndio. Ni wapumbavu kabisa.' Replies Prezzo. And the circus is then brought to us. Or what do you think NB/ Any name similarities with real life people is highly regretted.

WAKE UP KENYANS:BY OSCAR WAFULA

No matter what party you're belong to. No matter which tribe you belong to, at the end of the day what really divides us is the amount of money in our pockets. Politicians will cry foul about his/her tribe being left out of the national cake, a Luo will perpetually blame a Kikuyu for all his woes but at the end of the day if you analyze objectively you'll come to realize that there's one community in Kenya that hasn't even had it's representative in the cabinet but it's the richest community in Kenya. And the worst part is that they are not natives of this country. Welcome to the Asian community. It's easy to see that these guys have never occupied any influential political power in this country but are calling the shots in nearly all economic sectors in this country. If I may name a few examples; Celtel Kenya, nation media group, Yana tyres, Sarova hotels, Bidco industries, Jubilee holdings and a dozen more. They have dominated the construction industry and the manufacturing sector. Other `foreigners' from the British descent have dominated the hotel industry and other sensitive areas like security. There's also grown trend where the Chinese have started to infiltrate the core industries like construction and trade. But every day we hear of politicians fighting each other concerning how many cabinet slots have to be allocated to their communities. I'm also ashamed to hear my own MP castigating family planning and encouraging overpopulation at the expense of quality education. But who's to blame. Is it the electorate or the leaders? I think it's both. We Africans are the biggest enemies of ourselves. Since the times of slave trade to the new world order our leaders have always been putting our dignity at the expense of the highest bidder from the west. The situation has become worse with the arrival of the East (Asians). How many times have indigenous firms been denied construction contracts in favor of the Chinese, Indian and German construction companies? And the main excuse is that Kenyan contractors do a shoddy job, but that's only an excuse, some government official has to supervise the works anyway, be it a Kenyan or German contractor. There has also been a talk going round that Kikuyus have taken all prime jobs in government and parastatals. They land on every single consultancy tenders offered by the public sector. Part of the reason might be tribalism but I believe that since the days of independence these guys have ensured that their children get quality education so as to be competitive in the job market.So let's be competitive. It's also an open secret that 80% of Nairobians live on 20% of the land and vice versa. Some people find it so easy to pay Ksh 250,000 PM on rent in Runda but someone is busy dodging the landlord over a Ksh 500 rent arrears in Kibera slums. At the end of the day what we want our leaders to face is this kind of socio-economic disparity. No one is talking about flouting of the minimum wage rule by the employers while we know very well that many Kenyans take home less than $2 after a full day's work. 90% percent of goods we buy are not made in Kenya starting with your clothing to your kitchen appliances. A good leader for this country is one who is going to ensure that these socio-economic disparities are tackled, our children receive quality education and health services, raising of the minimum wage so that there's equitable distribution of wealth and sound monetary liquidity ratios, encourage consumption of Kenyan made goods so as to strengthen the growth of local industries and creation of employment. Quite frankly the Kibaki administration has failed. We need a new Kenyan order!!!!!! oscarwafula@gmail.com

ETHNIC VIOLENCE MUST BE STOPPED

THE GOVERNMENT MUST ACT TOUGH TO SUPPRESS VIOLENCE The clashes in Mt Elgon, Kuresoi, Mathare and the recent illegal public political meetings that have been taking place pose a great threat to the nation’s security especially to the common citizen. a number of lives have already been lost as a result. As we count down to 2007, the electioneering year, many people both politicians and violence mongers are bracing to attain power or maintain power by any means possible. This will definitely threaten national security as it has already been witnessed by actions of some politicians over the recent past. Some politicians and a number of criminals may want to use the electioneering process as an excuse of creating chaos and absolute pandemonium for their own advantage, not caring about lives of people they intend to lead. It’s already seen that some individuals with past criminal records are seeing politics as the only means to hood their past activities. That is making some of them to fight hard so as to make sure that they gain formal political influence by seeking parliamentary positions. By doing this they feel that- that will make them permanently protected. In Kenya it has been known that the only subject of the law of the land is the chicken kleptomaniac. It’s the highest time the state re-emphasized the importance and the value of the government to its citizenry by instilling equal application of law and order on all people, so as to protect them from falling victims of these bloody vicious political power mongers. This is the time for the government to prove its commitment to protection of individual’s rights by ensuring harmony in all corners of the republic. Full application of the law will bring peace to this country. Its time for the government to act tough otherwise this situation if not suppressed will degenerate into a more dangerous level even to its perpetrators and defenders to an extend that even whoever started it can’t be able to stop it. Nobody is safe until everyone is safe. The sentences passed on these criminals should be well publicized for others who have same intentions to learn a lesson. Every individual should be held accountable for his actions and utterances, or else anarchy may eventually reign. The only way to protect the weak in the society is giving a fair and equal application of the rule of law. It’s the only way that makes us equal. The bug stops with the government authorities.

BUKE'S TRIBUTE FOR JOHN ODONGO

Odongo: The Man Kenya is Refusing to Honour. june 4th 2004 By Wafula Buke Late last year, an Irish comrade sponsored a trip to Zanzibar for us to belatedly pay homage to a fallen hero in the struggle for the social liberation of Africa: Prof. Abdul Rahman Babu. Just as I have done on the few occasions I have been lucky to visit other countries, I went finding out how the poorest lived and being a Kenyan, where could I find out this other than in the slums? My one and a half-hour walk was unsuccessful. The worst houses that crept into my view were qualitatively miles away from the Kenyan slum version of bad houses. I had hoped that any direction I walked would lead me to a slum as was the case in Kenya. I decided to seek guidance from the ever courteous Zanzibaris. The guy I approached did not know what a slum was so I described the nature of this humble estates in terms such as "flying toilets", congestion, houses with walls that can be brought down with a horse kick etc. "Pole Ndugu," the fellow spoke. "We do not have such residences in Zanzibar. After the 1964 revolution that was led by John Okello, everybody was given five acres and I believe that's why we do not have such houses here." Incidentally, the second in command of his army was Brigadier Absolom Amoi Ingen whom Okello describes in his autobiography as "a Mluhya from Kenya." Okello himself was a Ugandan from the Acholi community. He had traversed East Africa in search of a means of livelihood for himself and his orphaned siblings. When he arrived in Zanzibar, he took the challenges that black people were facing then; racial discrimination, political and economic marginalization. He played a lead role in staging a coup that brought the order that seems to have erased slums as indicated above. John Okello's story is a sad one that deposits lorry loads of guilt in any conscience. After the revolution, Nyerere and Abeid Karume threw him out of Tanzania after branding him dangerous. On the Kenyan side, he was given six hours to leave Kenya by Kenyatta. Uganda was equally hostile. He could not land himself a job despite having been a Minister for Defence in Zanzibar for the short period his team was in power. He became a beggar to survive. On returning back to Kenya, he was given an eighteen month jail term for being illegally in Kenya. It is in Kamiti that he wrote his autobiography. He is reported to have been found murdered on the banks of a river in Uganda by the Amin regime in the 70s. Brigadier John Odongo's death on 26th this year in the D.R.C. brings to an end a life that bears amazing similarities with the 1964 Zanzibar revolutionary hero: John Okello. · Both came from an ethnic community that spans the entire East African region i.e. "Luos." And both had similar first names (John) and similar initials (J.O.) · Both left their countries of origin and settled in countries within the East African region. · Just like Okello, Odongo took up arms and joined Ugandan patriots and Tanzanian Pan Africanists in rooting out the Amin dictatorship. · Both were not formerly militarily trained prior to the rebellions they led. · Both were victims of expedient politics of their host countries. Museveni dispatched Odongo to Ghana in an effort to maintain peaceful relations with Kenya just as Okello was ordered out of the region to wear out his revolutionary influence. · Both were selfless and did not live to enrich themselves. To them individualism was the proper utilization of the whole individual at the absolute benefit of the community. · Both abandoned their families in pursuit of higher moral and societal goals whose benefits accrued to many. · Both did not acquire university education. Odongo dropped out of secondary school while Okello dropped out of primary school when his parents died. Prof. Abdul Rahman Babu is on record for dismissing Okello as a Lumpen due to his poor grasp of theory. · Both were shunned by mainstream politicians of their native countries. · The final part of their lives were miserable. · Both exhibited amazing degrees of Pan Africanism by their readiness to die for the liberation of people far from their own countries believing that liberation anywhere leads to liberation everywhere. After being thrown out of Kenya by the Kenyatta regime, Okello got a lift and headed to Mozambique where he hoped to participate in the war of liberation from Portuguese colonialism. · Both were conscious of imperialism as a fundamental cause of Africa's predicament. · Citizens of the countries that benefited from their political labor recognize and revere the two leaders(Recall Museveni's acknowledgement of Odongo after the attack on Sirisia by FERA?). Odongo died as a leader of FERA, an acronym of the February Eighteenth Revolutionary Army whose inspiration is derived from the day Field Marshal Dedan Kimathi was hanged. Yet Odongo's death did not elicit a single message of condolence from the "who is who" in Kenya. The government has no comment and has apparently no plans of facilitating the return of his remains to his relatives. Unfortunately, the social composition and the historical background of the official opposition cannot have room for him in the riches of their hearts. Our Odongo has been buried by the burial rites-fatigued Congolese having witnessed millions of funerals in the last decade. Clearly, no tear may have been shed and no eulogy delivered in what must have been handled by the "town council" as it disposed bodies of "persons of no consequence." It may not be easy to make out what the late Odongo's vision for Kenya and indeed humanity was since he was not published. However, his political association speaks volumes. He was an ally of what Kenyans have come to refer to as the doyen of opposition politics. Oginga Odinga was the architect of the first post-colonial institutional home of the Mau Mau dreams for a just society: the Kenya People's Union. Its disbandment and the ensuing crackdown on its functionaries deployed Odongo to the Ugandan front in the struggle for qualitative change in African politics. Odongo found himself exiled in Tanzania when the socialist leaning Obote was overthrown. Unlike many exiled political actors, he did not seek the politically neutralizing comfort of Western countries but instead opted to join the struggle for the liberation of the region from dictators. One is inclined to imagine that he had read Ernesto Che Guevara who said; "Each spilled drop of blood in any country under whose flag one has not been born, is an experience passed on to those who survive, to be added later to the liberation struggle for his own country…" In a continent that is rocked by ethnicity and the concomitant unity mongering, Odongo could still draw moral and spiritual upliftment from a movement that has been dubbed by neo-colonial agents as a Kikuyu peasant struggle; the Mau Mau. Odongo's and Wangamati's FERA was an attempt at talking social and economic justice. It was a revival of the "Not Yet Uhuru" of Kaggia and Oginga Odinga and the "Uhuru na Mashamba" slogan of the anti-colonial struggle. He negated the brand of politics that were espoused by political platforms such as KANU, FORD and other associated organizations which in practice defined democracy as the right of the rich to access the reigns of power through an electoral process as they continued dominating the poor. For his unshakable and deeply-rooted faith in social justice and the dignity of humanity in disregard of national boundaries, Odongo had to be hosted by the radical Jerry Rawlings, be displaced by the conservative Kofuor, be hosted again by the revolutionary Laurent Kabila and be abandoned by his European-leaning son Joseph Kabila where he succumbed to the maladies of the poor and miserable. For indeed, Odongo was never a refugee in the United Nations sense of the word. Even in exile, he was a politician, a businessman when situations demanded and a freedom fighter at best. He was never just a granary of knowledge about change for the better, he lived every idea he knew about change. As we continue hoping for the exhumation of the body of Odongo for a decent burial in Kenya, our people must be wondering why his death could not provoke even a hypocritical message of condolence from the mainstream quarters. Having been an underground politician myself, I am aware that Odongo had several contacts among people who are presently in the ruling coalition. Some were leaders of armed groups in the fight for change during the KANU leadership. Those in the civil society must keep their distance from being associated with violent forms of human rights advocacy lest the Reebok Award givers and donors spot them. As for politicians, the reason lies in the substance of his politics. He believed in the ideals of social equality and even distribution of national resources. Kenya being a country that leads in Africa with regard to the gap between the rich and the poor had to find it uncomfortable in honoring a man who spend his whole life trying to supplant architects of Kenya's social disorder. He has to suffer the fate of social transformers. And as happened to Patrice Lumumba and Che Guevara, Odongo's remains had to be thrown in an unmarked grave. Just as the ruling elite of Che's mother country Argentina celebrated his death, similarly Odongo's death can only be a subject of murmurs and may be celebration in the privacy of the ruling elite. Its only the poor of Kenya and revolutionaries all over the world who will tearfully note the death of one of their own. As the curtains close on Odongo, his sympathizers may find solace in what Lumumba wrote to his Congolose people when his own death was nigh; "History will one day have its say. It will not be the history taught in the US, UN, Washington, Paris or Brussels. However but the history taught in the countries that have rid themselves of colonialism and its puppets." wafulabuke@yahoo.com