A sample text widget

Etiam pulvinar consectetur dolor sed malesuada. Ut convallis euismod dolor nec pretium. Nunc ut tristique massa.

Nam sodales mi vitae dolor ullamcorper et vulputate enim accumsan. Morbi orci magna, tincidunt vitae molestie nec, molestie at mi. Nulla nulla lorem, suscipit in posuere in, interdum non magna.

Update 3 from Geneva Conference

[Back home in Joburg, and playing catch-up]

Orengo speaks:

People must remember that the accord was a ceasefire document.
– At the time the State and its organs were unable to control the situation and were also engaged in the violence. The lack of confidence in the judiciary also eliminated it was an option.
– The problem has always been the State and its nature and this still remains the same.
– They tackled the composition of Cabinet but not of government and this is problematic.
– Issue of corruption / impunity the biggest challenge
– The principles are too far removed from the process
– He urged the media to take advantage of a more open parliament to really highlight the performance/non-performance of MPs

Sally Kosgei made a brief / interesting comment on how they – a group of 6 individuals including head of National Intelligence, Army Chief – managed the transition in 2002. Apparently they had been working on Moi to prepare him psychologically to hand over power since October. In her view Kibaki/PNU were never prepared to leave no matter what the results were and the “kitchen” Cabinet reinforced this.

Update 2 from Annan conference in Geneva

Following points were raised about the ICC:

– It takes long – Cambodia process started way back in 2002, that’s six years.

– The court can only handle a few perpetrators so it needs to be reserved for the big fry…what happens to middle/lower level guys?

– For many reasons (including above) it is important not to lose sight of the national process…the ICC will always be there.

– Someone made the point that the ICC process will be too detached from the average Kenya, importance of process being local with cameras in court etc. should not be underestimated.

– Someone from the ICC should speak to Kenyans about the process, they don’t want to hear from pundits (hehehe).

-Someone suggested that they should announce investigations just to make the threat real.

– Annan thinks its critical for justice to be done.

– There should be a sense of balance – not just about Eldoret, but also Kisumu, Nakuru, Naivasha, Mombasa – one side should not feel victimized.

What the ICC is saying:
– They are monitoring Kenya, O’Campo has a special adviser

– Most effective as a stick e.g. in Columbia where the threat has been used to push for local prosecutions (takes time though)

Update 1 from Geneva – KNDR (Annan) Conference

I’m tired and sleepy, but the show must go on.

I arrived in Geneva for the Annan conference on Kenya this morning and haven’t had a chance to rest…too much going on.

I’ve been invited specifically because of my role as a blogger during the post election violence – which is huge – because it means that the Kenyan blogging scene is being taken seriously as an area of influence and a source of information (yeah for bloggers!). Unfortunately, the Chatham House Rules apply to most of the sessions, so I can’t be too detailed.

I’m sure there will still be lots to report about given my peskiness. So what’s happened so far..

– Shared a cab ride with Judge Kriegler from the Kriegler Commission. Cab ride chit chat led to breakfast. Unfortunately, the Judge was tight as a clam…he must have sensed my blogging radar…hehehe. I will say he seemed super-aware of his role as a foreigner when he did his work and maybe that’s why he stopped short of doing his job kabisa, unlike Waki. Anyway, he was quite friendly, a bit condescending, and apparently very unpopular with Kenyan civil society .

– At breakfast, sighted Karua, Wangari Maathai and Wako having breakfast together. Talk about strange bedfellows.

– Ran into a number of civil society friends including Maina Kiai, who had interesting stories about interviewing for the IEC gig…his interview lasted all of six minutes and he apparently was told by a source that he’d never get the gig because he had pissed on Kikuyus while he was at KNCHR. Frontrunner is Kaparo. Seeing the civil society guys lead to me being invited to sit in on a meeting with Annan and civil society reps to hear their views on where things are one year later.

– General prognosis, things are grim. Political space is diminishing, ethnic based militias are rearming (this time with AK-47s not machetes), the people are angry and disillusioned. Several references to Madagascar and the fact that the fire next time will be class based and not ethnic based.

– Potential flashpoints: census later this year; military given what happened in Molo/El Wak can’t be presumed to be professional any more…also suspension of the Tonje rules is formenting disquiet; a police force that’s running amok.

– There’s is a sense that the political class is numb, yet there can be no movement without them because they still hold enormous sway in Kenya e.g. forests are burning on the instructions of politicians; youth in Rift Valley were ready to cause havoc if the Ruto censure had gone down.

– Quote of the morning: “Kenya does not need reform, it needs an overhaul.”

OK, gotta run and clean up and get ready for the afternoon session…next post will be on the ICC option.

Comments open for the duration of the conference…please keep it civil!

Kenyan Pundit on Twitter

After months (years actually) of fighting it, I’ve succumbed and become an active tweep, twitterer, twit?.

It’s sort of like blogging in the early days. When it was simple and you didn’t have to over think it and worry about making your blog pretty etc.

If all goes well, I’ll be in Geneva next week for the meeting to assess the status of the coalition government. The principles have refused to attend so it will be interesting to see how things pan out.

Stay tuned for updates.

Nominate Champions of Quality Education in Africa

Winners get a cash prize of $5,000, lots of exposure and other support.

Via the website:

We are building a network of innovative education entrepreneurs who are focused on improving the learning of African students. We are looking for entrepreneurial African educators and organizations who are working to ensure that pupils in Africa are learning the reading, writing, math, and critical thinking skills that they need to succeed. If you are a successful and innovative teacher, administrator, or education organization, we invite you to apply.

We are focused on learning and effectiveness. We are also looking for models that can help improve national educational systems. If you use unique instructional methods, materials, or curricula, we want to know about it. And we will encourage you to take your work to the next level, to reach more students with your innovative methods.

Public Forum on Contemporary Nairobi

Date: 27 March 2009
Venue: 680
Time: 9:00 – 4:00 (lunch served)

Jazz in the Park

Featuring the best of Afro-funk, soul and jazz.

Location: Sunken Nairobi law court parking
Date: April 12, 2009 – 11 a.m
Entrance: Packet of unga (for charity)

British High Commissioner’s Blog

The British High Commissioner to Kenya is blogging, and he’d like to know what topics you’d want him to cover.