Has God forsaken Kenyans?

Rain clouds: Now Scientists want to make rain for Kenyans

Has God forsaken Kenyans or is it vice-versa?

Updated Saturday, July 30, 2011 Story by: JOSH MEMENTO

Has God taken leave of duty on Kenya, or Kenyans have deviated from the path of righteousness and wrath of God has befallen us? James 1:2-4 “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that may be perfect and complete, lacking in anything.”

the Bible is explicit that that the people shall meet trials that will test their faith. But now it seems the tribulations have become too much to bear. Pangs of hunger are biting hard and may be God is watching from from Heaven; He has closed the flood gates of rain, now drought is more seasonal than rain; Kenyans are starving without food and God's people are dying in droves!

Have Kenyans forsaken God or God has turned a deaf ear on Kenyans? Whichever the case scientists now are seeking a man-made solution to man-made problems of droughts – making artificial rain! We must applaud the humanitarian effort to feed the starving. But this will not go on forever. We need a permanent solution to alleviate food scarcity.

Statistics show that 70 percent of rain falls in the Oceans and Seas and 15 percent falls in deserts and other other areas that are not good for farming. The command that “man shall till land” to put food on the table is no longer tenable. Due to the problem of global warming even the 15 percent that was falling in the right places at the right time is no longer falling!

The result is perennial droughts and droughts, lack of food suffering of people and animals and death. Since the problem is man-made, it deserves a man-made solutions. We cannot blame God for problems of our own creation. We must seek solutions. Aquiess Global Rain Project led by David Miles seeks to provide the solution. Through scientific magnetic technology the group will divert rain that falls in the oceans to fall on our land. Viola! The suggestions knocks down Kenyans with a feather.

While many people in Kenya and the Horn of Africa go everyday without food, changing weather patterns have definitely changed their fortunes. Now in 90 days we are sure of man-made rain for our land. Rest assured! It is not left to chance any more! But are we making God irrelevant? I do not thing  so. Genesis 1:26 says “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” In God's likeness, man is becoming artificial rainmaker!

Uhuru and Ruto: Hague drama may make or break Kalenjin-Gikuyu unity

Uhuru and Ruto: The Hague jinx

Updated: Wednesday, July 27, 2011 Story by: JOSH MEMENTO

As the country wakes up every new day, the Hague confirmation hearings are drawing near. No doubt the Hague trials will permanently alter the course of Kenyan politics and leave an indelible mark in the Kenyan political landscape.

But even as reality of confirmation hearings sinks, Uhuru and Ruto (the two gentlemen at the centre of political quagmire) continue to wield fanatical political following that has seen Uhuru's political ratings rise closing in on PM Raila Odinga as the preferred successor of President Kibaki. The two have created a perception that they are being persecuted and the man behind their woes is the PM.

Uhuru and Ruto definitely wield a lot of political influence. They have stated categorically that theirs is a mission to block Raila from becoming president. Both gentlemen have taken vantage positions to woo their communities and have conveniently exploited gullibility of their communities on effects of the trials on their political careers. In the worst case scenario, if charges against them are confirmed later in September, there is a real danger that their communities will link their trials to the PM. This is likely to deny the PM votes he desperately needs from these regions.

Coming from the vote-rich regions of Central Kenya and Rift Valley, Uhuru and Ruto cases at the Hague could dim the star of Raila succeeding President Kibaki as the fourth President of Kenya. The two communities seem to have been joined by the 2007/8 chaos that left more than 1000 people dead and 500,000 others internally displaced.

Somehow the duo has managed to convince many of their followers that their woes have something to do with Raila's influence. While the assertions are definitely untrue, the propaganda campaign seems to have achieved its objective and likely to bring home their mission of preventing Raila from assuming the presidency.

As the Hague process rolls on Central Kenya heir apparent and silently anointed successor, is rolling up his sleeves oblivious of the obstacles raised by the ICC courts. Same applies to Rift Valley de facto leader William Ruto. Strangely 2007/8 post election violence pitted the Kalenjin against the Gikuyu from where Ruto and Uhuru come from.

Both communities have a high tendency to be herded by their tribal kingpins. Moi had managed to call shots among the Kamatusa group of the expansive Rift valley while both elder Kenyatta and Kibaki have held a sway among the Gema communities of the Central region. Sentiments expressed by other leaders in support of the Uhuru and Ruto, leave no doubts that they are unperturbed by the Hague process.

As the ICC prosecutor Moreno Ocampo continues to gather evidence against the two, he has also stepped up demands to have them relieved their duties from the government. The government of President Kibaki has continued to bury its head in the sand like the proverbial ostrich on Ocampo's demands. And even went ahead to open its own miniature investigations, four years after the violence.

If the charges against the two are confirmed, it would become difficult under the new Constitution dispensation for any of them to have his name on the ballot in 2012 general elections. However, whoever they anoint are their preferred presidential contender, is likely to reap from these communities. Whether this would make true their objective of preventing Raila to become President, only time will tell. Pundits are however skeptical on whether the two communities will remain together after Hague or the magic that holds them together would be lost.

It is clear any presidential hopeful must make inroads in these two communities due to their numbers and fanatical following. The tragedy that analysts sight in case the cases against the two are confirmed is their communities would be left like a herd without a shepherd. It would be too late for any of other politicians to appeal to these communities to the level attained by these two.

Only time will bear us out whether likes of Martha Karua and Peter Kenneth in Central Kenya and Gideon Moi, Samuel Poghision or Isaac Ruto in Rift Valley are likely to reap from post-Hague tragi-drama of two political-cum-tribal kingpins.

joshmemento@yahoo.com

Affirmative action depicts women as weaker sex

Quota? Are women really a minority to deserve affirmative action?

Updated: Monday, July 25, 2011
Story by: MEEME JOSHUA

“It must be considered that there is nothing more difficult to carry out, nor more doubtful of success, nor more dangerous to handle, than to initiate a new order of things” - Niccolo Machiavelli

Nothing could be more apt and spot-on than this Machiavellian quote during this debate of women representation and proposal of quota system. But the question that we should try to answer is, are women really marginalized? Are women really a special group? Are they the minority?

Whether man or woman, right down in our hearts we know the answers. Human beings naturally dread change at a personal level but at the same time want others to change. Change creates a void of past practices and status quo, hence creates chaos as different aspects of life rush in to fill the vacuum.

When the Constitution was being changed, many people viewed the change in respect to how it was going to affect others as opposed to how the new order was going to change their systems, daily routines, way of life and sense of self-worth. Men and women are slaves of inertia. Any change that affect us must be opposed.

In highly male dominated society, women empowerment is usually vehemently opposed. Increasing women representation in elective positions has specifically rubbed men folk the wrong way. Fear and suspicion now characterize reactions we are witnessing.

No revolution, though has completed without vicious counter-reactions. Not this one. Now men folk want to sneak a progressive argument to achievement of one-third threshold of either gender to avoid legal backlash from women activists. But do women really deserve special treatment?

No doubts women have been under-represented in Parliament. But they are the majority in terms of demographical statistics. But women are their own enemies! Putting a caveat on selected constituencies would infringe on the rights of people to choose their favored candidates irrespective of gender. To achieve this constitutional quota, calls for more than just assigning particular constituencies as exclusive women areas.

The one-third threshold women must be achieved through educating more women to come out and vie. Civic education should also be directed to women folk in showing them the need to appreciate their fellow women in leadership. In reality, even in appointive posts if women fail to apply for particular position there is no way the one-third threshold can be achieved. It is time to educate women to have faith and trust on their fellow counterparts.

Women should also have a paradigm shift and break away from the the belief that they weaker sex and therefore should be treated as marginalized. Women should come out and fight for both elective and appointive positions. If women could elect their female counterparts, the representation could be much higher than one-third stipulated in the Constitution. However, women seem to know something about other women that men folk are not aware of. Could it be that women know something about their own deficiency and capacity to lead that men folk do not?

* * *

Indeed, affirmative action should be defined in terms of regions: in areas like Central Kenya and Ukambani men are the marginalized and deserve the benefit of affirmative action. Sorry women are as equal and able as men only if they change the attitude.

joshmemento@yahoo.com

Akiwumi conspiracy to reward MPs, unconstitutional

Kenyan Parliament gone berserk

Updated: Saturday, July 23, 2011 Story by: MEEME JOSHUA

When Kenyans go to the ballot next year it would be time to breathe a sigh of relief and to break from an overbearing group of 222 greedy Kenyans holding the other 40 million hostage. This bunch of rogue people are acting as if there is no tomorrow! The tragedy is if we do not tame their errant behavior, we are likely to set the wrong precedent in the implementation of New Constitution.

Am jilted by Parliament's immoral proposal to operationalize Akiwumi Report simply because they have been asked to pay taxes. The report seeks to increase Mps salaries to Sh1.1m and reward former Mps with an handsome allowance of Sh90,000 fr their entire lives. I do not understand the rationale behind burdening Kenyans with pensions of people who have nothing to show in terms of development of the constituents. Why else would people vote someone out except due to incompetence?

Kenyan Parliamentarians have been absolved in so much self-worth that it has clouded their vision and reason. Based on the recent opinion polls, two-thirds of this group won't make it back in the August House. They have schemed to employ scorched-earth policy to arm twist Kenyan taxpayers to pay them for being reminded that they have a constitutional duty to pay taxes. Why would Kenyans be burdened to pay these retired shenanigans Sh90,000 every month when they could not manage Sh850, 000?

Increase of salaries has great emotional dissonance with suffering of poor Kenyans. Mps behavior epitomizes a mole that eats plants from the roots oblivious that they need food the following day. What has one term MP done so much to deserve a lifetime monthly payment of Sh90,000? When Mps are voted out it is because they have failed their constituents. Why should the same constituents be punished for lack of performance of an individual they would rather not have as their leader? This is mind boggling!

Let us do some mathematics. We have had 10 general elections since independence. Over 60 percent of sitting Mps lose their seats on average in every election. That is 130 Mps lose their seats. In 10 elections there is an accumulated 1300 former Mps. Paying each one of them Sh 90,000 will cost taxpayers a whooping Sh117m per month and Sh1.4b every year! This money enough to employ 5,000 primary school teachers. Where are our priorities? Paying retired, useless, former Mps for sitting at home drinking changaa and imbibing busaa, when our schools are highly understaffed, when our hospitals do not have enough medicine for the sick, when Kenyans are dying of hunger, is immoral.

In its wisdom or lack of it, Akiwumi Commission recommended that Mps salaries be increased to Sh1.1m before they are subjected to taxes. With 349 Mps in the next Parliament, Sh383m will be spent on Mps salaries every month and a total of Sh4.7b every year. This money is enough to expand the entire Mombasa Highway and reduce traffic jams that eat Kenyans man-hours on the road.

To say the least, Akiwumi Report is grossly unconstitutional. According to the Constitution power to review State Officer's salaries is bestowed upon Salaries and Remunerations Commission. Article 230(4) states that, “The powers and functions of the Salaries and Remunerations Commission shall be to (a) set and regularly review the remunerations and benefits of all State Officers.” This commission has not been established. Who has given the Parliament the power to abrogate the Constitution?

Article 122(3) states that, “A member (of Parliament) shall not vote on any question in which the member has pecuniary interests.” To allow Mps to determine their salaries is like allowing a hyena to preside over a case where a goat is the accused. There would be no fairness! Article 94(1) states that, “The legislative authority of the Republic is derived from the people and, at the national level, is vested in and exercised by Parliament.” Parliamentarians act on authority entrusted to them by the Kenyan people. The question is, in whose authority are MPs seeking to increase they allowances?

This rogue Parliament is using scorched-earth policy mechanisms, not punish the Executive as they want Kenyans to believe, but to punish Kenyan people for pushing them to pay taxes. It is time to come together against that rubbish known as Akiwumi report in the interest of Kenyan people.

joshmemento@yahoo.com

PLO Lumumba, empty rhetoric won't win corruption war

PLO, win graft through action not tough arguments
Updated: Wednesday, July 20, 2011 Story by: MEEME JOSHUA

Dear Patrick Lumumba Otieno aka PLO,

I salute your, sir! When you were appointed the anti-graft czar one year ago, many people breathed a sigh of relief but an equally large number were skeptical. Now it seems the skeptical were damn right and the optimists are frustrated. Indeed you have very little to show for this period and Kenyans are getting weary of your daily presence in the media pleading with the corrupt who have looted Kenya dry. Their scotched earth policy does not require negotiations.

On the face of it, your strategy seems to be based on the principle of stirring the waters to catch the fish, both large and small. But it appears you are avoiding catching large fish. In reality corruption and the corrupt are like very, very slippery eel. Sorry if I misjudge you, but you seem to have assumed office without a concrete principle or philosophy to deal with graft. To deal with ubiquitous nature of corruption, requires more than just blabbering: it requires an equally omnipresent nature of anti-graft crusaders. Not in the media but in the battlefields.

In the realm of power, PLO, you must prejudge your actions against the effects the actions will have on the people. You seem to enjoy playing the anti-corruption game on the publicity court. Playing to the media gallery does not add value to the war but only hardens the resolve of the corrupt. You irritate most of us when you take to the streets to protest corruption in the Lands Ministry; you irritate when you tell us that you are investigating ministers but six months later, there is nothing to show; it is boring to see you on TV everyday pleading with thieves. Please, engage your brain before putting your mouth on high gear.

You say you are not a hunter and there are no witches to hunt, and therefore cannot witch-hunt! This is besides the point. Corrupt people are more than witches and should be hunted. PLO, you are an archer: take your quiver, arrows and bow and set on a long journey to hunt the ogre that is eating the Kenyan future. We the Kenyan people trusted your ability and resolve to deal with graft. One year later, reality sinks; corruption is amorphous, faceless and a monster that fight back viciously. Nothing to show!

This is the reality check, PLO. Many people have died from preventable and curable diseases because money meant to buy medicine was siphoned to private offshore accounts; many Kenyan children's future is in mortal peril after unscrupulous people looted money meant for free education for poor pupils; many more are dying of hunger in a country that has so much potential it can feed itself and its starving neighbors because money meant for irrigation landed in private hands; the dead lament in their graves as pot-bellied merchants strut their huge bodies and parade their large limousines bought with graveyard's money; and the list is long. If you can't do anything, then you are not up to task.

PLO, just want to remind you a quote from Albert Einstein “problems cannot be solved from the same level that caused them.” It is unfortunate that your actions show that you are in fact at a lower level and therefore cannot reach the might-corrupt. PLO, corruption cannot be easily deciphered because it is enmeshed in a simulation of integrity and good morals. To deal with it requires more scheming and thinking than talking.

We the Kenyan people, sent a distress call when our house(Kenya) was on fire(corruption). You came but now seem to have no instruments to extinguish the fire and you have resulted to sideshows of chasing rats escaping the raging flames. PLO, you can do better!

Frustrated Kenyan,
joshmemento@yahoo.com

Who is paying Government Printer to sabotage the New Law?

Mysterious hand of evil forces act on Government Printer?

Updated: Tuesday, July 19, 2011 Story by: MEEME JOSHUA

Situated along Haile Salesie Avenue in Nairobi, is a house that has been on the lips of many Kenyan for long; but for all the wrong reasons. Welcome to the Government Press.

According to the mission declaration of this department under Office of the President it aims, 'to provide quality printing services to the Kenyan Government promptly and at the most economical costs and to ensure adequate security and supply of all documents ...' While it is clear the Kenyan Government is entrusted in leadership by the people of Kenya, Government Printer seems to be dancing to the tune of some strange forces pulling Kenyans backwards.

Despite a clear mission statement, the department does not either offer printing promptly or with adequate security. This Government Printer seems to be working for some retrogressive forces in this country. Let us though not condemn them without a reason.

The insertion of strange clauses in the Draft Constitution in May 2010 was a case in point. Having failed to insert the draconian clause, the Government Printer has now embarked on a mission to frustrate the implementation of the Constitution that they desperately opposed.

In delaying the publishing of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission Act as was required, the Government Printer is dragging the implementation process into crisis time schedule. The question that begs an answer is: who does this Government Printer work for? Definitely not the Kenyan people! Some strange evil forces seems to have converted the Government Printer into their marionette.

In May 2010 a strange insertion of “national security” in the Bill of Rights, could have sneaked justification of human rights violations on allegations of threat to national security. Just to jog our memory back, the controversial clause had been inserted in Article 24(1)(d) on Limitations of rights and fundamental freedoms. The Article had been changed to read "the need to ensure that the enjoyment of rights and fundamental freedoms by any individual does not prejudice national security, the rights and fundamental rights of others."

The phrase “national security” was inserted by a phantom hand. The mystery surrounding the insertion has never been solved. The puzzle seems to have died a natural death. The Government Printer's version of the Bills signed into law or the Constitution is the official one and would be legally binding. This means other documents with similar text are not legitimate. Suspicions emerged on who inserted the clause when AG Amos Wako denied having any knowledge of the changes.

Fast forward, July 2010. A critical bill is signed into law after Commission on the Implementation of the Constitution raised a red flag on the delay at the AG's office after the Bill was passed in Parliament one month earlier. Lame duck excuses of unavailability of the Clerk of the National Assembly did not hold any water. When the Bill was finally signed into law July 5, 2011 the delay was shifted to its publishing. Ideally, the Government Printer's version is the legally binding. Kenyans have waited but wasted!

Despite the importance of this legislation into the preparations of the next general election, some unseen forces had delayed the publishing of the law. First copies of the legislation were received July 18, 2011, two weeks after it was signed into law. However, the Government Printer does not offer any explanation of the delay. This is a conspiracy to defeat the implementation of the Constitution.

This critical law sets in motion mechanisms to set up a new Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission. Among the issues the Commission is expected to address is carving out an additional 80 constituencies to make a total of 290 as stipulated in the Constitution, putting together a new voter register, and starting voter education to reduce voter apathy. The task ahead is enormous and delaying the establishment of the commission would crash its schedules. Am not a conspiracy theorist but my crystal ball tells me that the delay is a well orchestrated plan to delay the implementation and hence postpone the date for the general elections.

Mr Government Printer, whoever you work for, We the Kenyan people are watching your actions with keen interest. Andrew Rukaria, you owe Kenyan people an explanation.

joshmemento@yahoo.com

Is this the era of desperate married bachelors?

Couples living single-miserable-lonely lives

Updated: Monday, July 18, 2011 Story by: MEEME JOSHUA

“Marriage is an alliance entered into by a man who can't sleep with the window shut, and a woman who can't sleep with window open” (George Bernard Shaw)

Marriage is a confluence of different personality traits which mostly works best as parasitic not symbiotic relationship. Marriage is not for convenience sake or complementary purposes but selfish search for happiness. For well fitting pair, the couples must act like interlocking spurs: where there is a weakness in one partner, the other partner becomes the supporting strength. But this is not the case. In many couples when their partner errs, it is because he/she was poorly brought up, or had perverted peer groups in their youth, or they are engaging in bad company. In trying to justify the weaknesses of the other partner, rifts between them are surely widening. Two people meant to be together, are perennially quarreling and complaining of each other's behavior.

Complains is the first sign that two people are not in conformity with each other. Marriage therefore built on the wrong foundation, weak building materials by incompetent masons. First, when people get married, the famous cliche is: marriage is not a bed of roses. Publics judgment is based on other people's failure. But no one really tells you why their marriage failed. Coming with a mindset of failed marriages, can only expect theirs to follow similar path. Any natural and human mistake, is viewed as being the beginning of deviant behavior.

Secondly, people get into marriage with a lot of expectations. What follows is broken promises and frustrations. Coming from a completely different relationship of father, mother and siblings, marriage comes into existence on unbeaten path. Couples do not get into marriage union with experience. None of them has been married before and most of the time will rely on the 'wise' counsel of the best couple; who may not have experienced happy marriage either. If you are a lady they will tell you men are like that; if your are a man, your are told 'welcome to institution of nagging companionship'.

Third, when people meet nowadays they barely have time to study the other person's past lives and character. Indeed, in the olden days the role of parents was to identify the family that had good morals to have a marriage relationship with. But now grown up people meet in colleges and in towns; all with vested interests. They, more often than not, wear a camouflage for purposes of trapping the other person. After safely tying the knot and being together then separation is too costly and painful. This comfort zones reveals the true hidden character of the other person. The result is pain and betrayal.

Fourth, each person is looking for mister or madam right. With a well designed template in the mind, suitability of a person is checked against behaviors and mannerisms of perfect people we watch on soap operas. Because no one is perfect unless when they are acting, the bar is raised so high that people take many years searching for the right partner with no avail. When time catches up with them, they desperately accept any person of the opposite gender who comes their way.

People get married for their own selfish reasons and/or due to forces from without. Many marry to please their parents; many marry because their peers are married; many marry because it is a career requirement; many marry for kids; many marry for strange reasons besides being in love with each other. Due to the rush and urgency from external forces, many people make wrong choices. They have no time to learn from each other but spends time scheming how to outdo the other partner to fall into spell. Rarely do these partners seek to understand whether the other person can live with their shortcomings, for the remainder of their lives.

They say, if you want know how a woman is going to treat you after some years of marriage look at how their mother treats father; if you want to know how a guy is going to treat you after some years look at their father. But many will claim they are different persons. However, as much as we try to be different, we will always carry some of genetic traits from our parents. Many married couples have been duped by their partners that theirs will be different companionship but end up in the same rut of abuse, complains and loneliness in marriage.

What was initially sweet honey, becomes bitter pepper that the other partner want to keep away from. The love which two people shared before, becomes a case of usual man or woman in the house. Familiarity breeds conflicts. But solving these conflicts determine the future of marriage. It only through communication that the inner self opens to outside world. Engaging in communication with sole aim of understanding your partner before it is too late, is key to long happy marriage. Couples, though, do not seek explanation due to fear. The result is reserved heart and mind that conflates the wrongs and resentment swells. Because naturally a swelling has its limits, when it reaches its bursting point, the marriage cannot be salvaged without painful consequences.

The alternative is living lonely-single life in a marriage relationship

joshmemento@yahoo.com