HON.WANYIRI KIHORO LECTURE BY GEORGE NYONGESA

I have not had time to prepare a beter version of the Report on the Public Lecture at Bunge La Mwananchi held 24th August, 2007, just so that the news does not become outdated i give you as it is: First let me explain what Bunge La Mwananchi is all about: People’s Parliament of Kenya (Bunge La Mwananchi Kenya ) is a people’s initiative providing a platform for discussions, by ordinary members of the public of many issues including political, social and economics. It is claimed that it is the oldest gathering which has met everyday for the last 15 years at the Jeevanjee Gardens Park in Nairobi . There are other Bunge La Mwanachi in other parts of Kenya such as Mombasa , Kisumu, Eldoret and Kakamega. Bunge La Mwananchi have been holding discussions and debates on the topic: Politics, Political process and the General Election: What must the common man know? I captured the following as really issues that concern Kenyans as we approach the general Elections: it was revealed that while issues like unemployment and poverty are pressing Kenyans, this elections will be about “tribe and bribe” so after all we might not get the desired change. some speakers expressed their realization that our country is divided into 2 tribes: the rich and the poor, the rulers and the ruled, and the 42 tribes is just a buzz word used to confuse the common folk to help the political class cement their positions. We had that political class, the rich and rulers who are about 10% own 90% of Kenya resources but the 90% of us common people are forced to share the remaining 10% of the resources.so in other words if the common person was to wake then this elections is about the poor and the rich.and we could as well have the poor and rich line on their man and the longest line should enter the Statehouse.it was revealed that the dangerous lot that derails common man revolution are those people who feel they are middle class and see pseudo feeling that they are about to join the 10% lot they stifle common man’s revolution to overthrow the system.it was felt that getting afew people from the workers lot into parliament wont change much considering the cases of Prof. Kivuthas, Kiraitus and Karuas and therefore we should do A Hamas style put in a whole parliament made up of workers lot. issues of grave concern of increase in public debt which estimated at 740billion was brought up by Hon Kihoro, Kenyans wondered how they can get out of this debt? This means that the government has to be paying a tune of 52billion every week but of course they are not doing that and so in all ways they engage debts they don’t plan to be part of the paying schemes but pass on to younger generation. young people complained bitterly about unemployment and poverty in informal residences. there was a feeling that Kenyans do not have much information on Kenya ’s politics, social and economic issues and that is why they just vote for their tribe and bribes it was also suggested that someway should be found of bring back issues of grand corruption such as Goldenberg which Kibaki rode on to Statehouse into the public domain. It was also added that Ndung’u report and Anglo Leasing should be pushed back to the public so as Kenyans to be informed on the issues to vote for and that will reduce situation of voting for bribes and tribes. Kenyans talked of wanting the salaries of their MPs reduced because their high salaries widen the poor man to rich man ratios and there fore affecting commodities prices at the shop stores. Some of the interesting comments included: Goldenberg is equals to poverty; Aglo-Leasing has direct correlation to unemployment as the money that would have been used to expand infrastructure and create jobs was looted. Kenyans wondered why a few individuals own huge land while masses are landless on the streets. They wondered why Ndung’u report is gathering dust and there are people suffering. Kenyans felt that they needed to know the content of Ndung’u report and so they would like to hear those issues discussed this campaign. Hon. Kihoro talked about housing, unemployment and endemic corruption. he asserted that it will be had to realize any considerable for common man when alot of money is lost scams like Anglo Leasing, Goldenberg and scandals in the planned privatisation of Safaricom Ltd. He also intimated that Kenya need a reform centred presidency and not status quo attitude. Generally Kenyans want voter education conducted aggressively so that people can be informed on the issues they should vote for. Bunge la Mwananchi in conjuction with ABANTU plans to coordinate grass root voter education as response to the call at the public lecture. Already lined up is the Kasarani Amkeni Soccer Tournament which will mobilize at least 3000 people in the area for voter education as well as campaign against electoral violence. The exercise will be carried by Bunge La Mwananchi and MOPA (Movement for Political Accountability) . The following are some of the landmark initiatives that have been initiated by Bunge La Mwananchi in the past: 1. NILE WATERS CAMPAIGN: To create awareness about the unfair restrictions imposed on Kenyans in the management of floods and drought as a result of a treaty signed by our colonizers. 2. THE MAGADI SODA CAMPAIGN: To create awareness about the illicit exploitation of Kenya’s natural resources by the Magadi Soda Company, owned by the British Royal family. More than 100 Maasai who were protesting against the company were arrested and imprisoned. 3. THE LAND CAMPAIGN: To agitate for a better land policy that would allow landless Kenyans to access the idle arable land owned by absentee landlords in order to improve food security in the country. 4. THE CONSTITUTION CAMPAIGN: To educate the public about the need for a constitution that ensures that the human rights of all Kenyans are respected. The people’s parliament has taken an active role in the constitution review process. 5. POLICE SALARY & HOUSING: Including organizing a demonstration in 2003 to agitate for provision of better housing and an increment of the wages for police officers who were earning a paltry 3000 shillings (about $50) per month 6. OLE SISINA CAMPAIGN: In protest of the decision by the Attorney General not to charge a rich farmer who had killed a poor KWS officer in cold blood. One year later, the same farmer killed another man! Compiled by George Nyongesa +254 720 451 235