Nairobi and Kenya by extension was set ablaze over the the past weekend when the mayor George Aladwa came forth with the city council's proposal to legalize commercial sex work. The reaction from the church and mosque was swift with each group baying for the mayor's and commercial sex workers' blood in a baffling display of their obsession with what consenting adults choose to do with their genitals. Last year, Kenya's predominantly christian population went against the church's ruling and in an unprecedented move overwhelmingly voted to maintain Kadhi's courts in Kenya's legal system. That was the ultimate expression of the 'live and let live' mantra and muslims maintained their position as the only religious group that has a parallel court system that they can opt for to determine issues related to inheritance, marriage and the family. Today, the Supreme Council of Kenyan Muslims is leading the charge with inflammatory remarks...
Read MoreI think it is possible to have an intelligent discussion without hasty generalization, derailing the discussion or insulting religions or cultures. The fact that many people invest in thought provoking ideas and do not regurgitate the prejudices from ignorance fueled and hate filled existence is what distinguishes the sane from the others. It is possible have a discussion about how the concept of jihad has affected the world or the role of religion in our world without insulting over a billion people or engaging the lunatics in their ideological battle for front row seats in heaven and virgins. Why the fixations with what other people do with their genitalia? There are those that consider it their 'calling' to police consenting adults' bedrooms and swear this 'holy' task is governed from functional frontal lobes per the orders of their spiritual masters but I know I speak for many who know...
Read More#KOT (Kenyans on Twiitter) are Africa's 3rd most active group with the ability to have worldwide trending topics at will and hilarious tweefs with anyone that crosses their path. Twitter is an excellent tool for studying the mood of a nation or at least segments of a country's population and Kenyans live up to their agressive reputation everyday. It is perhaps why I find @Oleltumbi and his timeline rather interesting. He is confrontational, agressive and blunt or simply your typical Kenyan. He is the Kenyan version of Perez Hilton; he breaks stories first and worries about their validity later and when not tweeting up a storm about Safaricom he is picking a fight with Larry Madowo, Nation Media group or anyone out there with a following. I must admit his timeline is much more interesting than mine and he always seems to have the scoop but then again I am neither a journalist nor...
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The National Transitional Council or the Libyan rebels as we have come to know them are on a war path. Perched in his high office in London, a fire breathing representative of the rebel government does not mince his words in declaring his disdain for the poverty stricken and corrupt African countries that have sided with Muammar Gadhafi for years and on that same day had passed a resolution not to recognize the rebel government in a vote at the African Union. He goes on with a list of demands for the Sub Saharan countries in this lively exchange on Al Jazeera, the Qatari based news channel. The African Union is the highest decision making organ on the continent and it has strong ties to the Gadhafi regime thanks to his grand financial commitment to the organ and his support during the struggle for independence in many of the member countries....
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In the run up to the 2007 Kenyan presidential elections, the current vice president of Kenya, Kalonzo Musyoka who was among the aspirants, declared a miracle was in the offing. Less than 6 months before the elections, he was in a coalition with the Raila Odinga, the current prime minister but defected upon failing to clinch the coalition’s nomination and decided to vie for the top seat on his own. Many failed to understand why an aspirant with less than 5% approval rating was still in the race but the current president Mwai Kibaki knew exactly why it was necessary for Mr. Musyoka to remain in the race. It was eventually an election between Mwai Kibaki and Raila Odinga which was decided by the controversial 2% margin. Enter Raphael Tuju, also known as Kalonzo 2.0 and it is 2007 all over again. The 2012 presidential election is shaping up to be...
Read MoreAfrica is on the verge of an economic take off. That is what a majority of the optimists have decided and if the massive infrastructural projects and elaborate master plans for designer cities and resorts for the rich are the basis of their assertions, then the rich in Africa are on the verge of another economic take off. The pessimists who use every opportunity to cut short the party are quick to point to the slew of problems that the average African is faced with. They use descriptive talking points about the poor ‘African woman’ who has to walk for miles to fetch water from a crocodile infested river, the dire humanitarian crisis in the horn of Africa or the dictatorial regimes with presidents for life. It is a fact that our systems are in dire need of reform. Not a single African country can be considered prosperous and every year comes...
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To succeed and escape the poverty that has crippled much of the republic, a child born in Kenya has a few options: rob a bank, win the lottery or excel in academics; the latter being a feat that will only increase an individual’s chances of attaining the Kenyan dream and not even as reliable as securing a sizable inheritance. Ours is a capitalist’s dream gone wrong, everything is up for grabs, even that which we consider basic human rights. The ‘Uwezo Report’ an extensive review of the state of affairs in the East African education sector did not reveal anything new. The top 25 educational districts in the East African region are all Kenyan and what a boost it has been for our egos. The reality is Kenyans are ‘go- getters’. Enrolling in a public school guarantees an education and a lunch which would otherwise be a luxury for many children. The revelation...
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