Of recent I have been drawn into this world cup thing until I haven't had time to watch news. That reflects the irresponsibility of my juvenile self in overlooking matters of National importance. But forgive for neglecting my duties as a sovereign citizen, its only that news time in Kenya has turned out to be episodes of sad unfolding and heartbreaking revelation not mention the careless political rhetoric that we experience each unfolding day. To say the least am a very sad Kenyan, not because we ve been denied the hopes to live the beauty of our dreams but because we fail to confront that which threatens our very existence.
Ooh wait a minute, let me take this opportunity to condemn the terror attack on the residents of Mpeketon town. My heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the victim that succumbed to both death and Injury. It is unfortunate that the enemy has continuously and consistently been advancing and killing our synergy as a united nation. The objectives might be profound than that which meets our eyes, the consequences more dire than expected. We continue to toil, sweat and bleed in our own motherland and live as slaves full of fear and disillusionment in a place we have resiliently build for the last 50 years. How sad.
But worst still our careless utterance can just be one of the objectives of this enemy. The blame game is an indication that the battle we lost long time ago. A nation that stands divided is united in defeat. You now see my point, by the time we perfected the blame game, we actually affirmed to Al-shabaab that we were a prey that was so ripe for an attack. Needless still is the rhetoric of the security apparatus, their conspicous incompetency, their silent indecision and their inability to restore the confidence of Kenyans in their efforts to revert an already ailing security situation.
Have I already started blaming? oooh! so am just a typical Kenyan who cannot drive a point home without pointing a finger. Consider this, when Shabaab descended on westgate and massacred over 65 innocent lives, the infamous westage SIEKE report is yet to be brought to the public limelight. To make matters worse, a report by Journalist Mohammed of Jicho Pevu that exposed the rot that the security personnel engaged in including stealing of goodies from shops and supermarkets at the mall left a lot of Kenyans wondering the heartless and irresponsibility of those mandated to safeguard and protect our lives. Worse still was the stalemate characterised by conflicting operations by the Kenya Police, the Recce squad and the Kenya Defence Forces that paralysed the entire operation. According to Moha's report, the war against the militants at the mall was lost the moment there was miscommunication among the security operatives.
The unfortunate Westgate SIEKE was followed by revelations by the Nairobi senator that he had shared intelligence information on a looming terror attack with the relevant security agencies only for them to remain in their comfort Zone.
The Mpeketoni incidents is here and is rekindling memories of a defunct security apparatus. Witness say the siege lasted 7 hours before any security reinforcement was deployed. Leave alone the brave police who became victims of the attack, it is actually so heartbreaking to discover the attack was preventable but because of negligence now more than 60 innocent Kenyans lie lifeless. You can Imagine if two matatus were Hijacked two hours before the attacked, Imagine again the police were informed that militants had hijacked two matatus and yet, 9 hours after the siege is when there was police response. The Intelligence service has now come clean to say that actually they informed the government about a looming terror attack at the coastal region way before the militants attacked. But now the question is, the militants walked casually out of the .......I cant just finish this blog, I have just read this statement from Uhuru's facebook post 'Fellow Kenyans, I am satisfied that, for the most part, our security agencies have performed well and thwarted innumerable terrorist and other criminal conspiracies and attempts.' This guy is just....argggh....nkt
Tuesday 17 June 2014
Monday 16 June 2014
The Letter to Governor Lusaka
Honourable Ken Lusaka, I greet you in the name of our lord Jesus. I come in peace honourable. To be sincere, I have met you once, and to be sincere again, I cannot recollect how many feet tall you are. In short, it is long since we engaged and it is long since I could put my issues on your table. Thanks to technology, this letter will reach you, and thanks to the vibrant County 411 forum, your moles will bring you to the attention of this letter. I am a proud son of Bungoma county, raised and bred in Chwele division.
The first time I met you, honourable, it was a university's student's forum in Lunar park Nairobi. I must thank you for the kes 250 you gave us, I afforded some chicken and bhusuma in town on my way back to college. But most importantly, I shall thank you for providing a platform where young and promising leaders like we could share our opinion with how the silent generation can run matters. By then, it was a campaign mood and at least we were sure, honourable, you were going to go to the books of history as the first governor of Bungoma county. It came to pass, and there you are, in the big office, managing budgets in billions, enjoying the glory of fuel guzzlers complete with a security detail, ooh Mr. Governor, you are really rolling big, how I envy your position.
Forgive me for being critical, it is human nature. I remember, when you were declared winner of the Bungoma gubernatorial position, I could not hide my joy, I knew that the lives of my people will be turned around, our hopes rekindled and the synergy to build this nation re-energized. This was premised on the belief that you had no background in politics and thus, you were not yet corrupted by the absolute power. A week later, in a conversation with my boss, one Mr. Patrick, he left me thinking, is it possible that you were a good choice but not a very good one. Mr. Patrick told me, a politician and bureaucrat are both poor choices for the gubernatorial position. Of course at first, I had to challenge his perspective, I really thought he was taking his criticism too far.
But I came to think of it, you were serving in the former provincial administration right? Am also aware you served as a permanent secretary before we endorsed you as our governor. Maybe my boss was right? Sometimes I tend ignore his perspective especially that he just wants to be smarter than me. But I guess this time he was right. Yes he was right, a bureaucrat, especially one with a background in the provincial administration was not the best choice for a governor. I stand to be corrected honourable governor. Not like you lack the aptitude for that position, but because you have been bred in a culture away from wealth maximization and rich with expenditure maximization. Of course, you do have a mindset, a right mindset for that matter, but in our context the mindset is in a wrong position. This was a hard fact that I had to stomach once I learnt that so far one year down the line, your development track record was below average.
Mr. Governor, I am not sceptical about your ability to deliver, I am sceptical about your ability to make Bungoma a commercial capital of western Kenya. Development in the sense of the old Provincial administration was all about, constructing roads, donating desks to schools, connecting electricity to this and that village, going for fundraising in schools. That remains part of the fundamental parts of our development, that I do not dispute, because we can't move forward without accomplishing this. I am informed Mr. Governor, you ve done a good job, improving the road network within our county, congratulation for the work well done. However, I need more profound solutions to the problems bedevilling this county. Personally I come from Chwele and the state of the market is not worthy the stature of a second largest open air market in east and central Africa. the Place is actually more of a dump-site than a market place. What about the facility you started way back in 2011, the chicken facility to be precise, am still waiting to see any smoke of hope from that facility ever since you came into office.
Mr. Governor, it is my belief that your office needs the mindset of a technocrat. This is a mindset of doing this differently, the mindset of creating utility where there was none, the mindset of wealth maximization, reformation and restructuring of structure, the mindset of innovating new ways of doing things and breaking away from the orthodox of complacency. Honourable sir, I would wish that you have the mindset of an entrepreneur and not just a governor, the mindset of a manager and not an administrator, I would also wish that you have the mindset of a consultant and not a ruler for I believe these are some of the underlying contemplations of devolution. Now that you are our governor we cannot change that for sure, but I choose to support you both critically and morally. I ain't a sycophant to flirt you with congratulatory comment event in the event you ve failed.
My input is, beyond construction of roads can we also construct parks as public utilities and invite private investors to develop restaurants and recreational facilities, it will create jobs. Beyond construction of poultry facilities, is it possible we establish marketing agencies to engage both the local and international marketing clients. What if we revamp our dairy industry by bringing on board conglomerates, establish collection centres in each village with complete structures including coolants. If community participation in such conglomerates is an issue, then your government can tailormake a shareholder's agreement for the interest of the locals and the investor. Is it possible you engage consultants to crack down on how best we can lengthen the value chain of our products including onions, tomatoes, sunflower, coffee and even tea in Mt. Elgon.
Is it possible Mr. Governor that you be on the front-line for capacity building to empower the farmer and in the long run realize full commercialization of agriculture. If the external market won't be easy to crack, can we preach the purchase of Bungoma products to support and promote the Bungoma producer. Am just thinking loudly, honourable governor, can resource mobilization be narrowed down to the village level. Is it possible the economic stimulus programme can be materialized at the village level to realize full exploitation of potentail. Can you leverage this by engaging consultants to educate the residents on basic issues in entrepreneurship, agribusiness and business management.
Your excellency, sorry for downgrading your bureaucratic ability, but i just hope that you see my point. That actually, we can generate revenue not from central government allocations only, but from our ability to mobilize resources at the grass root level. That we can innovate ways of creating wealth for the common good and set a precedent for the other counties. That we can see Bungoma County as a business entity and not a political jurisdiction. Your excellency, I hope you get my point that all we need is to reform, restructure, refabricate, rebuild and reorganize and we shall pull out the masses from poverty.
Your Citizen Eugene Wanambisi
Friday 13 June 2014
The Letter to the President
Your Excellency, I greet you in the name of our lord Jesus. I did that purposely that you may know that I come in peace and my greetings are in good faith. Your excellency, thank you for reading this letter, thank you for sparing your precious time to listen to the sorrows of a Kenyan of my calibre. I hold you in high esteem as the head of state of this great nation and as a symbol of unity for our beloved country Kenya. I take this opportunity also to congratulate you, although it is one year down the line for your victorious emergency out of the march 4th elections 2013.
Your excellency, am a Kenyan by origin, and maybe I suppose you are not like my good friend Kalonzo Musyoka, as you read this letter, it is my hope that this opinion stands autonomous, and it is my hope that my name shall not betray me like it betrayed mureithi the journalist. I will make my self clear, am not a mole neither am I an imposter, am a young man who resiliently supported the candidature of the Rt. Honourable Raila Odinga. I also hold him in high esteem as an African statesman who has demonstrated a resolve to cultivate an open and free democracy in African society that was defined by a stampede of tyranny. Do not hate me or disregard me for being a supporter of the former premier, remember its a free democracy, it is my choice to like him.
But look here, your excellency, I am a disillusioned Kenyan, and am annoyed at the turn of events. Its not like am disgruntled because my team lost the elections but because I believe, in our context, whether you are a loser or a winner, both of us have fallen victims of your indiscretion. Your actions have been good, but not very good, your words have been inspiring but your actions remain to be counted as retrogressive and destructive. I do not to judge your person, but I shall question the authenticity of your office on matters of National importance.
Recently, I watched as your right hand man, Dennis Itumbi pulled down a post on your Facebook account. I remember, it was an update on the unfolding appointments at the National Youth Service. I cannot conclude whatever reason why the post was pulled down, but I guess the tribal venom was embarrassing, especially on a presidential wall. I spent the better part of my morning reading through the comments generated by the post. I was a sad man. Kenya was calmly rising up against its brothers and sisters. If I were a typical Kenyan political commentator, like they always do, I would say Rift Valley had decided to start cutting down the tree in which you and your deputy climbed on. How sad, we need a stable government, and we being part of the opposition, we would love to see you and your deputy deliver on your promises to Kenyans.
Your excellency, allow me to say that tribally you have performed dismally. Looking at my name, I know it betrays me, but as much most Kenyans hold in my opinion. Nothing else gives us the right to belong to your government than the constitution you declared you will uphold. Naturally, we do not deserve to belong to your government or at least demand any position, for during your trial moments, when Mr Jailer was on your neck and I suppose he is still, we disregarded your candidature and refuted any possibility of your presidency. But that was then, now it is time to focus on more important issues than personal difference. It is a collective feeling that larger part of the country, feels left out of your government. it also surprises me that the rift valley mandarins have already started crying foul on being given a raw deal. I won't speak for them, only them, know what that means.
But speaking on a perspective of a natural feeling, allow me to say that, it is too dangerous to ignore a feeling of rejection that the majority of us Kenyans are feeling. It is also dangerous to think that those who support the opposition have no intention of working with your government, we do want to work with you, our political differences notwithstanding. Your excellency, it is high time, you look into this matter and reconsider your public appointments. It will be more shameful, if again, we experience another Facebook post by your administration pulled down in broad daylight. This nation is made up of 42 tribes, and as a head of state, remember you are leading 42 tribes. You need to serve the interests of 42 tribes, defend 42 tribes, employ 42 tribes, protect 42 tribes and improve the livelihoods of 42 tribes.
Remember this your excellency, the building of this nation is a collective responsibility, but the destiny of this nation has been delegated to a few individuals, you being a pillar, so tread softly.
Your citizen Eugene Henry Wanambisi
Your excellency, am a Kenyan by origin, and maybe I suppose you are not like my good friend Kalonzo Musyoka, as you read this letter, it is my hope that this opinion stands autonomous, and it is my hope that my name shall not betray me like it betrayed mureithi the journalist. I will make my self clear, am not a mole neither am I an imposter, am a young man who resiliently supported the candidature of the Rt. Honourable Raila Odinga. I also hold him in high esteem as an African statesman who has demonstrated a resolve to cultivate an open and free democracy in African society that was defined by a stampede of tyranny. Do not hate me or disregard me for being a supporter of the former premier, remember its a free democracy, it is my choice to like him.
But look here, your excellency, I am a disillusioned Kenyan, and am annoyed at the turn of events. Its not like am disgruntled because my team lost the elections but because I believe, in our context, whether you are a loser or a winner, both of us have fallen victims of your indiscretion. Your actions have been good, but not very good, your words have been inspiring but your actions remain to be counted as retrogressive and destructive. I do not to judge your person, but I shall question the authenticity of your office on matters of National importance.
Recently, I watched as your right hand man, Dennis Itumbi pulled down a post on your Facebook account. I remember, it was an update on the unfolding appointments at the National Youth Service. I cannot conclude whatever reason why the post was pulled down, but I guess the tribal venom was embarrassing, especially on a presidential wall. I spent the better part of my morning reading through the comments generated by the post. I was a sad man. Kenya was calmly rising up against its brothers and sisters. If I were a typical Kenyan political commentator, like they always do, I would say Rift Valley had decided to start cutting down the tree in which you and your deputy climbed on. How sad, we need a stable government, and we being part of the opposition, we would love to see you and your deputy deliver on your promises to Kenyans.
Your excellency, allow me to say that tribally you have performed dismally. Looking at my name, I know it betrays me, but as much most Kenyans hold in my opinion. Nothing else gives us the right to belong to your government than the constitution you declared you will uphold. Naturally, we do not deserve to belong to your government or at least demand any position, for during your trial moments, when Mr Jailer was on your neck and I suppose he is still, we disregarded your candidature and refuted any possibility of your presidency. But that was then, now it is time to focus on more important issues than personal difference. It is a collective feeling that larger part of the country, feels left out of your government. it also surprises me that the rift valley mandarins have already started crying foul on being given a raw deal. I won't speak for them, only them, know what that means.
But speaking on a perspective of a natural feeling, allow me to say that, it is too dangerous to ignore a feeling of rejection that the majority of us Kenyans are feeling. It is also dangerous to think that those who support the opposition have no intention of working with your government, we do want to work with you, our political differences notwithstanding. Your excellency, it is high time, you look into this matter and reconsider your public appointments. It will be more shameful, if again, we experience another Facebook post by your administration pulled down in broad daylight. This nation is made up of 42 tribes, and as a head of state, remember you are leading 42 tribes. You need to serve the interests of 42 tribes, defend 42 tribes, employ 42 tribes, protect 42 tribes and improve the livelihoods of 42 tribes.
Remember this your excellency, the building of this nation is a collective responsibility, but the destiny of this nation has been delegated to a few individuals, you being a pillar, so tread softly.
Your citizen Eugene Henry Wanambisi
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