Prof. Philip Alston the United Nations special rapportuer on extra-judicial killings has come at the right time, when the country is torn between taking the post elections violence perpetrators to Hague or form a local tribunal.
He asked for the sacking of Police Commissioner Major General Hussein Ali, during whose watch a special police death squads were set up in the force and resignation of Attorney General Amos Wako who he referred to as the “embodiment of the phenomenon of impunity” in Kenya. He also criticized the judiciary and described it as “bankrupt and an obstacle to justice”.
True to his description, the judiciary in Kenya is bankrupt and an obstacle to justice. That is why after the rigged elections, opposition could not present their case to them. Police also went ahead and executed those they arrested without trial because they believe that the courts will set them free even when guilty. However that is not reason enough to kill suspects, where is the justice? Our national anthem says “justice be our shield and defender”, but it’s just a song sung on an occasion and words are of no consequence to many.
As usual the coalition government received the report differently with some rejecting and some welcoming it. It is sad that people lost their sons and husbands, most of them without trace after being arrested by police. As much as mungiki sect was a menace beheading people and police, police did not have the right to arrest people, label them as mungiki and execute them without trial.
The Hague should take over the cases as he suggests because a local tribunal will be composed of members of the “bankrupt judiciary”.
Friday, February 27, 2009
DR. DENIS MUKWEGE
I read about this Doctor in the Special Publication, in Thursday’s Daily Nation, story by Khamis Ramadhan a journalist who specializes in photography and is based in Nairobi.
I was really touched by the story about “The Man Who Saves Women”. The doctor works in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). He has set up a fully-fledged hospital that helps women and girls, who most of them have been raped in this war torn country. The stories of these women is very scary, women raped by a group of men, then other objects inserted in their private part and left for the dead. The men don’t care about the age of their victims when they even rape their grandmother’s age mates.
African women have suffered a lot in such war torn countries, so Africa needs many more like Dr. Denis Mukwege’s, may God bless him. He says at the end “The demand for such services is increasing and it will only end when men start to respect the female species”. However I wonder how these incidents in African can be contained or stopped. These male species also need help they are inhuman and act like they are demon possessed. We only hear of NGO’s, Governments, religious and other organizations mainly handling women issues in such cases. I think it is high time some of them start addressing men issues. Poor governance by most of African leaders leads to war and because a big number of the population lack education and employment, mostly male citizens will agree to be used by rebel leaders. Hence there is need to address these issues to save female species who suffer most when a country is at war.
I was really touched by the story about “The Man Who Saves Women”. The doctor works in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). He has set up a fully-fledged hospital that helps women and girls, who most of them have been raped in this war torn country. The stories of these women is very scary, women raped by a group of men, then other objects inserted in their private part and left for the dead. The men don’t care about the age of their victims when they even rape their grandmother’s age mates.
African women have suffered a lot in such war torn countries, so Africa needs many more like Dr. Denis Mukwege’s, may God bless him. He says at the end “The demand for such services is increasing and it will only end when men start to respect the female species”. However I wonder how these incidents in African can be contained or stopped. These male species also need help they are inhuman and act like they are demon possessed. We only hear of NGO’s, Governments, religious and other organizations mainly handling women issues in such cases. I think it is high time some of them start addressing men issues. Poor governance by most of African leaders leads to war and because a big number of the population lack education and employment, mostly male citizens will agree to be used by rebel leaders. Hence there is need to address these issues to save female species who suffer most when a country is at war.
MIGINGO ISLAND IS IN KENYA
For many years, Kenyan’s of the Luo community have lived on Migingo Island as their home. Now the situation has suddenly changed when Uganda government sent its soldiers to take over the Island. They have also hoisted their flag there to mark it as Ugandan property.
This is very strange, how come President Museveni’s men have suddenly realized, after all these years that Migingo Island is in Uganda side. On several occasions, Kenyan fishermen have also been harassed and arrested by Ugandan authority while fishing on this part of Lake Victoria, yet the government has done very little to protect Kenyan fishermen on Lake Victoria. If Kenyan government took care of its citizen’s on Lake Victoria, Ugandan soldiers would not have taken over.
This will be viewed by the Luo community who live near the lake as political. This is because, during post election violence, many Kenyan’s in Luo Nyanza complained that a force was sent to the villages to harass them. These people could not speak Kiswahili and were believed to be from Uganda. There were rumors that President Museveni was ready to support President Kibaki to get to power, even if he didn’t win the elections against Hon. Raila who had an early lead. Hence the presence of these soldiers confirmed these rumors. Therefore I believe like many Luo’s do, that President Museveni has something against Luo’s and not Kenyan’s in general.
As reported in Thursday’s Daily Nation, “The Kenya National Archives and Documentation Service said a 1948 map in its possession showed the small Island fell in Kenya’s territory”. Hence the government should treat this issue seriously, because this is “uchokozi” and negotiations by Kenya government officials led by PM Raila Odinga to talk to Ugandan President will not help.
If Kenyan government cannot protect its citizen’s, who will???
This is very strange, how come President Museveni’s men have suddenly realized, after all these years that Migingo Island is in Uganda side. On several occasions, Kenyan fishermen have also been harassed and arrested by Ugandan authority while fishing on this part of Lake Victoria, yet the government has done very little to protect Kenyan fishermen on Lake Victoria. If Kenyan government took care of its citizen’s on Lake Victoria, Ugandan soldiers would not have taken over.
This will be viewed by the Luo community who live near the lake as political. This is because, during post election violence, many Kenyan’s in Luo Nyanza complained that a force was sent to the villages to harass them. These people could not speak Kiswahili and were believed to be from Uganda. There were rumors that President Museveni was ready to support President Kibaki to get to power, even if he didn’t win the elections against Hon. Raila who had an early lead. Hence the presence of these soldiers confirmed these rumors. Therefore I believe like many Luo’s do, that President Museveni has something against Luo’s and not Kenyan’s in general.
As reported in Thursday’s Daily Nation, “The Kenya National Archives and Documentation Service said a 1948 map in its possession showed the small Island fell in Kenya’s territory”. Hence the government should treat this issue seriously, because this is “uchokozi” and negotiations by Kenya government officials led by PM Raila Odinga to talk to Ugandan President will not help.
If Kenyan government cannot protect its citizen’s, who will???
Thursday, February 19, 2009
INTERESTING LIVE PARLIAMENT PROCEEDINGS
It is interesting to watch members of parliament discuss motions live on TV. This is a good opportunity for us citizens, to get first hand information than to rely on other media.
Today’s motion on Interim Independent Electoral Commission caught my attention, when a nominated MP Ms. Milly Odhiambo, said she has withdrawn her support for one candidate, Justice Cecil Miller because he is a wife batterer. Her statement caused a commotion that made the speaker shout Order! Order!, Many times. He thereafter asked Hon. Milly Odhiambo to withdraw her statement, because it was against the house rules. Most MPs (most of them are men) agreed with the speaker, I think it because the character of a fellow man was being reported by a woman.
However, I wonder whether it is in order for someone’s personal character, to be discussed in parliament and aired in public, when he is applying for, or is to be appointed to a public post. I would also not want to support such a person but I don’t think, I can say so in public.
Yesterday’s motion brought to the house by Hon. Bonny Khalwale, to censor Minister for Agriculture Hon. William Ruto, over maize scandal was another interesting motion. Many thought this would sail through but at the end of the day, Hon. William Ruto was cleared. This was one motion that Kenyans followed keenly, because it was about maize, a very important meal to many Kenyan’s. I like many Kenyan’s now wonder what direction this maize scandal issue will take, with those supporting the motion not ready to give up, in the meantime maize prices are still going up and common mwananchi still suffering!!
Today’s motion on Interim Independent Electoral Commission caught my attention, when a nominated MP Ms. Milly Odhiambo, said she has withdrawn her support for one candidate, Justice Cecil Miller because he is a wife batterer. Her statement caused a commotion that made the speaker shout Order! Order!, Many times. He thereafter asked Hon. Milly Odhiambo to withdraw her statement, because it was against the house rules. Most MPs (most of them are men) agreed with the speaker, I think it because the character of a fellow man was being reported by a woman.
However, I wonder whether it is in order for someone’s personal character, to be discussed in parliament and aired in public, when he is applying for, or is to be appointed to a public post. I would also not want to support such a person but I don’t think, I can say so in public.
Yesterday’s motion brought to the house by Hon. Bonny Khalwale, to censor Minister for Agriculture Hon. William Ruto, over maize scandal was another interesting motion. Many thought this would sail through but at the end of the day, Hon. William Ruto was cleared. This was one motion that Kenyans followed keenly, because it was about maize, a very important meal to many Kenyan’s. I like many Kenyan’s now wonder what direction this maize scandal issue will take, with those supporting the motion not ready to give up, in the meantime maize prices are still going up and common mwananchi still suffering!!
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