Everyone should carry their own cross

After the promulgation of a new constitution, we now see a lot of action/changes taking place. The Kenya Anti Corruption Commission (KACC) under the new boss Prof. PLO Lumumba is now more active, taking those accused of graft to court and the Government sacking those accused. The latest notable ones are MP William Ruto and Mayor Majiwa. As usual people have started getting tribal and accusing the President and PM of being against their people. We should put behind such tribal sentiments and whining, instead we should support the Government in fighting graft to get rid of all with “Dirty hands”, for a better Kenya.

Those using their tribal or regional numbers to threaten leaders, they will not support them in 2012 are living in the past and should wake up! We are in a new Kenya.

Hongera! Mashujaa wetu

Kenya is celebrating it’s first heroes day called Mashujaa Day in kiswahili. This is in recognition to all Kenyans who have brought honour and glory to our country. This includes entrepreneurs, religious leaders, politicians, sportsmen/women, journalists, farmers, NGO etc……

I take this opportunity to congratulate Kenyans who have made a difference to bring honour to our Country. Those who feature more in the media will be recognised for their achievements. However there are the common wananchi(citezens) in villages and slums who have achieved a lot to improve the lives of poor Kenyans. I congratulate the women and youth groups who together form groups (merry-go-rounds) contributing as little as Kshs.20 per day from their small earnings to support one another financially. They have also joined micro-finance organisations that support them with small loans to boost their small business. This way they have gone a step ahead to eradicate poverty in the villages and slums. They are the unsung heroes.

I also take this opportunity to honor organisations that have volunteered to save the lives of abandoned children, orphans, the girlchild, abused girls and women. The Women’s Hospital and the doctors involved in treatment and counselling of abused children and women. Nyumbani Children’s home taking care of abandoned HIV positive babies and all those taking care of orphans, homes and schools taking care of girls who have run away from early marriages, you are heroes and may God bless you.

The alarming new trend in Kenyan politics

From the just concluded by-elections in Juja, Makadara and Starehe, I have realized Kenyans have decided they are tired of the old political class of well educated individuals from Makerere, Harvard, Nairobi University etc..., or from CEOs and Directors of reputable organizations of Government institutions. Kenyans are now going for whoever is loaded with lots of cash. We care little of political parties, how the individual became rich, his/her background and the kind of business these people are involved in. All we know they are business men and women.

These so called businessmen/women know how to lure hungry Kenyans by “putting a meal on their table”. Some even boast women's small scale businesses because they know women have a lot of influence. I wonder if this trend is going to improve the lives of Kenyans, however am worried because these kinds of leaders cannot be good role models for the society and especially for our children.

We should look deeper into this trend before getting over excited that Kenyans are changing the political scene in Kenya by bringing in a new crop of leaders from the young generation and do not care about political parties. May be I should have written this before the by-elections but it is not too late, we have two years to the coming elections of 2012. Let us watch out before we ruin our country's reputation by electing leaders with questionable backgrounds.

A dream comes true

It was like a dream come true,something we thought could not be achieved in Kenya,Kenyans arrived early yesterday at Uhuru Park for the Promulgation of a New Constitution; a big crowd attended the historical ceremony that was also attended by dignitaries from other countries, notably the former Secretary General of UN Dr. Koffi Annan and one unexpected guest who surprised many is Sudan’s President Omar El-Bashir (many just wondered what Ocampo/ICC is waiting for). This occasion was so significant that the President, Prime Minister and Vice President were sworn in, later in the day the Speaker of Parliament and members of parliament were also sworn in again.

This is like the second liberation of Kenya, since we were governed by the Colonial constitution and now we have changed to a constitution made in Kenya by Kenyans. Many activists struggled, underwent detention and torture for Kenya to get a new constitution and now their tireless efforts have bore fruit.

Many of us Kenyans believe our problems were caused by being governed by the old constitution, so we have so much hope with this new one. It may not be 100% perfect but at least it is better than the old one.

Hongera Wakenya!