ARE YOU A TRIBALIST? Do not look at her legs.....

We must continue to pursue the terrorists. We must not tire to ‘hunt down’ the criminals who regard themselves as ‘holy warriors". But who is pursuing the tribalists? Kenyans must track and pursue this threat to our security and nationhood. We must diffuse the tribalists ‘bombs’. We must ready ourselves for overt and covert operations to counter-tribalism. Young Kenyans must annihilate ethnic manipulation and assume their responsibilities. They too must appreciate the gravity of this threat. The fact that hope for nationhood rest with the young is undeniable. But the young must now rise up to the challenge.

Hassan Omar Hassan —The writer is a commissioner with the KNCHR

My grandmother is one jolly lady, I like visiting and spending time with her on the western shores of the beautiful Rusinga island. She always tells me with a light touch that I should not bring her a lady who is not endowed with fine legs. To my people, a pair of well curved calves is a beauty statement. This is usually meant to nicely discourage me from marrying my 

sisters from the slopes who in most cases are never endowed in this area.

This tribal mistrust is a fact in many people of her generation. I will be doing a disservice to my education and exposure if I flowed with her mentality. I do not condemn her, having grown up and lived her active life when information was rationed and what was served was censored, she cannot know any better. This social and security threat has spread to the younger generation. It is unfortunate that the people Hassan is calling to arise are caught up in the same trap.

I have traveled in most areas of this country and I can say without a shadow of contradiction that no region can claim superiority over another. Every region is endowed with resources that can be tapped. The poor in Central Province are so poor that the affluence among them is stained with destitution. The other regions cannot blame Kikuyus’s for their misfortune because someone will only ride your back if it is bent. The only people who need affirmative action are our people in the former Northern Frontier Districts. The rest of us  need to learn from each other more instead of hating each other.

That aside, the word of God says in Mark 12:31 “The second is this love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.” This verse reminds me that I can only love others as much as I love myself. To have a dislike or hatred for another is to first have a problem with loving and accepting yourself. It is never about the other party, like in marriage, pray for your spouse and work on yourself. It is the only way we will get Kenya out of this cancer that is eating us up slowly. Come to think of it, it takes a tribalist to elect a tribalist.

 kenyatta otieno © since 1978

Look at me, Look at yourself; Look at me again….

I had a light bulb moment when I started learning my mother tongue dholuo in depth. It is deep in such a way that speaking it is so fun you can twist it at will. One phrase I will point out is the expression for ‘I am unable’- otamo wang’a directly translates to ‘I cannot see.’ The fact that I cannot visualize the end product means that I will not be able to do it. This is my great lesson in this season; the power of vision.

There is power that vision generates is huge, it attracts people and attracts resources around it as well. My wakeup call has been in my personal life, that I need a clear vision for it. I now know why it was easy to burn the midnight oil in my pursuit for academic excellence. I had a vision of what I wanted to be after school; I need the when I grow up type of belief.

I can only handle what I can see, I will only solve a problem I can see myself in the solution. The bible has many verses that speaks about vision. The Message version in Matthew 6:22  says "Your eyes are windows into your body. If you open your eyes wide in wonder and belief, your body fills up with light. If you live squinty-eyed in greed and distrust, your body is a dank cellar. If you pull the blinds on your windows, what a dark life you will have!

It is evident in me that I have to be clear in my small visions so as to be able to be effective in my BIG visions. Do you know of anyone who ever anything outstanding without a vision? This is the reason why the gym has pictures of people with perfect chiseled bodies, so that you can conceptualize a vision in the gym if you do not have one. I HAVE OPENNED MY EYES they will not be defeated.

Politics is Kenya's Problem; Ken wa Maria vs. Kalonzo Musyoka

Chinua Achebe wrote a tiny book called 'the problem with Nigeira.' Like many story tellers he breaks down the cancer that has destroyed his country. If I was to extrapolate his book to Kenya, then our problem is bad politics. Former president Moi put it well; 'siasa mbaya, maisha mbaya.' (bad politics, bad living conditions)

Recently I watched Ken wa Maria (mutongoi wanzanze- wa wa) on TV perform during the Sakata final show and I remembered my escapedes through Ukambani. From Tsiekuru in Mwingi to the North to Emali to the South,from  Machakos to Kitui, wa Maria is a super star. He must be speaking to the core of the heart of Kamba community. I even met his look alike in Kitui, complete with artificial dreadlocks. I brought up the topic to a group of Kamba young men in my neighbourhood and they told me I can do away with Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka but should not touch Ken. (sorry Mheshimiwa)

Then why have we elevated politics and politicians to deity status? If wa Maria can wield so much influence in the Vice President's backyard, then we have hope. Politics may be a necessary evil but we need to moderate it by raising other superstars from other sectors of life.This will make politicians tone down their antics to make news and get serious about finding their place in people's hearts like Ken wa Maria has done.

The late Okatch Biggy used to make influential Luos drive from Nairobi to Kisumu every Friday afternoon for a weekend dance. If we can raise such story tellers who can speak to us in our language, then we do not need to expect heavens from politicians who think with their stomachs and keep their minds constipated. I sound harsh, yes. Kenyans deserve better, help us God.

Proverbs 28:2 and12 (The Message)

² When the country is in chaos, 
   everybody has a plan to fix it—
But it takes a leader of real understanding 
   to straighten things out. 

²⁸ When corruption takes over, good people go underground,
   but when the crooks are thrown out, it's safe to come out.

kenyatta otieno          since 1978

The Judiciary under Mutunga is about Studs and Dreadlocks

The news that Kenyan advocates and judges will not have to wear wigs and dark suits to court may have caught many except me by surprise. To add spice to it, they can wear studs and dreadlocks as long as they look smart. Though I was apprehensive of Mutunga becoming the C.E.O at The Judiciary, I welcome this new development. I am not outright conservative (do not misunderstand my earlier apprehension) but one thing I know is that I am not conventional.

There is an adage that an organization takes the shape of its C.E.O and the appointment of Willy Mutunga to the Judiciary has confirmed this. Someone’s shape is his gifts, what he is passionate about, ability, personality and past experiences. If you sum up Mutunga’s shape you get the man Kenyans see as the messiah to our legal system. He has already been to many FM stations and Korogocho slums. This tells us a lot about who he is and as they say ‘we ain’t seen nothing yet.’ He is a liberal and this will trickle down the legal system grassroots in a big way. 

This theory is best demonstrated in Kenya under Moi and Kibaki. It is surprising how ministers who served silently and loyally under Moi can publicly disagree with President Kibaki. If you have the opportunity to choose a C.E.O, whether by voting or appointing take it very seriously. Everybody has a space to offer leadership, at a family level in the minimum. You will lead from the platform of your shape which is who you are; your character. 

This brings me to the big question of who is your C.E.O?  My C.E.O is Jesus Christ.

Luke 6:43-45 (The Message)       Work the Words into Your Life

 You don't get wormy apples off a healthy tree, nor good apples off a diseased tree. The health of the apple tells the health of the tree. You must begin with your own life-giving lives. It's who you are, not what you say and do, that counts. Your true being brims over into true words and deeds.

© 8 July 2011- kenyatta otieno                  since 1978