Bamboo Media Group(BMG) Six Months on

 by Nyagaka Nyakundi Hesborn
They came in droves to that meeting that incidentally set the stage for  a momentous and equally challenging time for an infant corporate named Bamboo Media Group(BMG).I had personally planned to attend that first meeting,but with  Stacey  effecting her plans to move to a new house I felt obligated to give a hand,missing out  what I  had expected to be an impressive meeting turn-out  out of  the curiosity  of those who would attend.

Drawn mainly from our 2011 journalism class at the Kenya Polytechnic University College,this  was a meeting that Henry Onyango ,now of The Truth Weekly, later described  to me by phone
as  mamoth.Offhead,Henry counted Edwin Tiego,Onesmus Mulinge,Maryann Ochieng',Ronald Nyakweba,Peter Mungoma,Miriam Njeri,Claire Adhiambo as present, in and endless list that only ended with the beep in my phones earpiece,a sign my airtime had come up.

It was an informal launch meeting at Uhuru  Park,and so leaders had to be picked by vote.In the ad hoc plebiscite ,Edwin Tiego was elected  chairman,much as I had  hoped,Peter Mutachi   as vice chairman although he later resigned unceremoniously at an ABC Cafe meeting citing no reasons for the action.There was also Ronald Nyakweba,Maryann Ochieng',Hellen Scandy,Claire Adhiambo and myself on the list of officials.

But to return to  Peter Mutachi's perhaps eccentric resignation.Weeks following his action our challenges intensified.Many defected from the group ,leaving a handful of us holding on to what appeared to be nothing,groping in endless darkness.More defections. So that it now came to only officials attending our fortnightly meetings.During our last meeting held in November,there was only three or four from the officials number attending.We had been toying with the idea of doing away with meetings and set about working from our homes.It was at this trying moment that an idea struck us:Drama Programme!
At that meeting I have alluded to,our script writer Ronald Nyakweba arrived  clutching scripts he had done.We agreec something had to get going!

To make the  long story trim,we closed the year last week  with auditions for two tv Programmes:Machungu and Tears of Love 
The next year -next month in fact-we hope to produce these series .
However,we desperately need funds  to facilitate our  activities.We still believe we will make it!For those of us in BMG,2012 is going to be the year of sacrifice.See our group on facebook for details

Merry Christmas and Happy 2012!

Why acute joblessness in Kenya is fresh fodder for media scammers

Just a year after he opened  an e-mail account ,James Mutua has  closed the account  cursing  those who advised him to be connected online.A month ago he received a message from a lady who identified herself as just "Blessing".In the e-mail  Blessing was asking  James to assist her  deposit some millions of dollars 'because Blessing wanted someone to transfer the money owing to the political climate in her country" and then flee to Kenya  and get married.

This was a secret  James would closely guard until recently when he heard from a friend that a person with a similar name  had contacted him and he was actually opening an account-on Blessing's advise-  to kick-start the  process.Although James was now becoming suspicious,he never opened up to the friend.He only saw a 'competitor' in him and promised himself to outdo him by talking to Blessing gently.

But all this changed when the two James Google-searched  "Blessing" only to find the name and the photo she was purporting to be hers listed among the world's deadly online scammers. It was at this point that he talked to his friend about it ,cutting short their journey to regrets.

With the advent of the internet several years ago the number of people  using it has risen from a few thousands to millions.But this is a double-edged sword.whereas the internet is a useful too,it has an ugly flip side. Scammers are now online promising  people jobs and other transactions  to make them rich.This has been compounded  by joblessness making job-seekers easy prey to this criminals.

But in the face of all this,one tip will help you:Never trust any one you don't know in person  online.For he/she might be using a  criminal pseudonym to con you.

Heroine who won Battles for Nature Succumbs to Cancer at 71

The death of prof. Wangari Maathai on Monday at Nairobi Hospital-Kenya,  brought  an end to the life    of  a symbolic figure and role model  for many  whose very portrait  told  volumes  about her love of nature and the environment.

Wangari was an icon in  her  homeland, Kenya, what with her gallant campaigns and confrontations against   those whose activities threatened  the environment.This passion led to her recognition  in 2004 with the prestigious Nobel prize,becoming the first African woman to become a Nobel laureate.


Educated in the USA and Germany Prof.Maathai had until her death become synonymous with nature and rights through her activities through The Green Belt Movement which she founded in the 70's.

At the news about her death a barrage of statements have  been issued describing Maathai as an outstanding woman whose activities can be nothing but heroic,including that of president Barrack Obama

Where is the Media's Mandela?

The world today celebrated the birthday of the world's greatest statesman alive:Nelson Madiba Mandela.This is a man who clearly broke ranks with most of his contemporaries and   to set an example of what a true statesman should be.

For starters Mandela was incarcerated for 27 years at the notorious Robben Island prison   for agitating against the racially discriminative Apartheid.A lawyer by profession ,Mandela  was deeply concerned by the plight of his people and mounted a struggle that finally  laid the foundation of  South Africa as the world knows it today .

Coincidentally,Madiba's birthday  celebration comes at a time when  the world is deep in  a controversial  discussion regarding a  media malpractice that might lay the ground  to  several  criminal prosecutions involving  journalists ,politicians the police  and even politicians and celebrities.The News Of  the World has been accused of hacking into a victim's  phone for information in  a saga that has seen a publication's folding  and a series of resignations .

But here's a quote  fom Madiba that should give us  how we should approach the media particularly in Africa"

“I have fought against white dominance and I have fought against BLACK dominance. I have kept by my ideal of a democratic and free community where everyone can live together in harmony and with the same possibilities. ”

The ideal society should be devoid of media dorminance and government dorminance.

The Great African Literary Controversy

Ngugi wa Thiong'o has been at the center of literary controversy

A few years into his career,novelist James Ngugi shocked the literary world when he stopped writing in English  to write in his Kikuyu Vernacular.He was later to follow this radical shift with changing his name to Ngugi wa Thiong'o ,scrapping the English part of his African identity.

In many of his books that followed Ngugi fought injustices and pointed out mistakes  in  his mother-tongue ,plunging into what appears to be an  endless  controversy .He has also in his  career written numerous articles and essays  advocating for what he calls "freeing culture from Ethnocentrism" .

According to Ngugi,who recently published an installment of his lengthy childhood memoir,Dreams in a Time of War,,language and culture are part of the struggles aimed at moving the center from Europe ,and decolonizing  of the minds of the people.

"The tradition of Africans writing  in European language particularly those of the former  colonizers is clearly a product of of the fatal encounter between Africa and Europe ,"argues Ngugi in  his collection  of essays  entitled Moving the Center

In the book  Ngugi discusses in detail  the motivation behind his ardent advocacy  on language suggesting that language is entrenched in   a peoples culture.


The globally renowned scholar's pressing for  use  of people's own languages in  literature   has over time drawn criticism with some literary analysts and fellow scholars  on record saying 'Ngugi is fighting a losing battle".

Ngugi  adds that   literature in African languages suffers from a lack of strong tradition.

"Everyone  in the world has a language,either the language of his  or her parents or one adopted at birth at a later  stage in life,"writes Ngugi.He continues:"So when  we consider  English  as  a language  for the world,we are all drawing  from the languages and cultures in which we are rooted."

Ngugi's position on the matter of language has attracted interesting criticisms among them respected  Nigerian novelist Chinua Achebe,and the two have had a long fight over the language in which African literature should be written.

In 1990   Achebe lashed at Ngugi  in an essay ,saying 'English is the most viable language  to represent African hopes and fears in literature.The essay ,republished in Achebe's latest book,The Education of a British-Protected Child, serves to re-affirm Achebe's unwavering stance .

As Ngugi describes Achebe's argument as 'fatalistic logic'  in Decolonizing the Mind,Achebe ,in 2009,described  Ngugi's argument as  comprising of 'fatal snags of the single-minded"


While Ngugi adfvocates for local languages only,Achebe supports  the use of English  and local languages as well.
 "The difference between  Ngugi  and myself on the issue of indigenous or European  languages is that while  Ngugi now believes it is either/or,I have always thought it was both,"Achebe said.

As the debate continues to rage,perhaps another notable difference  the two could be that while  Ngugi seems  angry and serious  in his essays,Achebe adopts irony and humor coupled with sayings and proverbs to drive his message home.

Also,Achebe's Politics and  Politicians of Language  could be a mischivous rejoinder to Ngugi's The Politics Of Language in African Literature ,a subtitle in Decolonising the Mind.

Hero Who Reclaimed Africa's Literary Desert

When Chinua  Achebe published his first novel,it suddenly occurred to the world that Africa could express herself through literature ,and in her own voice and terms.

An enduring masterpiece,Things Fall Apart ,published in 1958,received and continues to receive global acclaim


Chinua Achebe has confessed that his greatest motivation to become a writer was  the indignation he felt at  the skewed depictions of Africa by some English writers such as Joseph Conrad and Karen Blixen.


"The story of my people was not going to be like one of those written  by adventurous Europeans in which the white man was always the winner" Achebe said of  Things Fall Apart.

Before 1958 ,among others ,Joseph Conrad and Karebn Blixen  had painted Africa as  utterly exotic in what has come to be seen as  a deliberate attempt to attract European tourists and settlers to the continent,and raise financial prospects in return.

But Things Fall Apart ,which has since sold over  nine million copies worldwide  adequately told off Conrad's The Heart Of Darkness, and Blixen's Out Of Africa.

In their books both Conrad and Blixen  draw Africa as a continent without order with Blixen at one point likening her cook to her dog.

Educated in Nigeria and Britain,,Achebe read Conrad's The Heart Of Darkness for his degree,and was henceforth determined to counter the falsehoods .He would later--in an article --accuse Joseph Conrad of racism.
"The novelist  is a teacher  who needs to re-educate   people"Achebe said  in an article.

Born in 1930 among the Ibo People ,Achebe ,who also writes poetry,is probably Africa's most read and discussed writer.

During the Biafran War  that broke  out in 1966 with the abortive attempt to establish  an independent Republic of Biafra by Eastern  Ibos,Achebe put paid to  to the writing of his  sixth book,The Anthills Of  the Savanna to  publicize  his people's tribulations through poetry.His efforts culminated in  Beware Soul Brother ,a collection of poems  on the Ibo experience  in the three-year war.


The book apeared in the United States  of America as Chrismas in Biafra and Other Poems..When he published   A Man Of the People in 1966,he  was forced to flee to exile  as the novel  implicated him in a coup it preceded due to its prophetic ending.

Achebe escaped arrest narrowly and fled to The United States Of America

While in America ,he became editor of Okike,an influential  African literary magazine .He also became professor of English at Massachusetts at Amherst .

Achebe's other books include:Arrow Of God (Which he says is the novel he is most likely to be caught sitting to read again),and Chike  and The River ,which Achebe describes as 'a novel for boys'.

In 2001,Achebe published Home and Exile ,and most recently in 2010 ,The Education of a British-protected Child,in which he tells his own story growing under colonialism .

On his return to Nigeria in from exile in 1976,Achebe became professor of English at the university of Nigeria .And in 1990,he was involved in a fatal road accident  that would see him on a wheelchair for the rest of his life.

But although the tragic  accident  rendered his legs useless,Achebe continues to shake the literary world ,churning out ideas on social life politics and language.He has received dozens of accolades in international circles.

For this man ,it can be said,the center continues to hold.

Money:Solution to all problems or direction to all problems?

For a fortnight today,the media has devoted acres of space and airtime holding a spotlight to the life of a fortunate or unfortunate  millionaire,depending on your standpoint. Readers,listeners and viewers alike have  been told stories fronted  on various accounts that probably led to the demise of young,resilient Samuel Wanjiru.

While the death of Wanjiru remains shrouded in mystery, for now,money points to this death, with sociologists and editorials calling for a fresh approach in  helping people who get too  rich when they are too young to handle  the fortune.

In the build up to his death,Wanjiru's woes spilled out. Only this year,there was a divorce threat by his wife,Trizah,on grounds of a strained  relationship with her mother-in-law.However ,things appeared to cool down when,weeks ago,The couple was seen on TV and in the papers announcing their reconciliation.

In retrospect,it is now an open book that Wanjiru displayed this gesture to  save his career,nay,marriage to Triza.To me,this was done to enhance his image to the world.And soon returned to his WWW world---  wealth,women and wine.In aword,if anybody should be blamed for Wanjiru's death,it is his manager.For how could he sit and watch Wanjiru,24,get lost in money?I don't understand.I f I were he or she I would have sought out a way of helping this youngster survive in a world of wealth at a tender age.

Having said that,I think it is time closer attention is accorded to helping young people who are favored by providence to fall on fortune
cope with it.There are many in this list.Musicians,artists ,footballers,and professionals in lucrative ventures.

The Sungu Sungu Bloodbath in Kisii County

Beneath this deceptive landscape that speaks of calm,peace and plenty lie overly  heartrending stories.They are stories of pain,sorrow, and bitterness.They are stories told by different men and women here,but the subject is invariably the same---Sungusungu.

A common statement among those whose lives have taken   sad,new permanent paths ,thanks to the bloodcurdling attacks by the outlawed group here is this:"the government has neglected us",and this said in whispers---to a trusted listener.For the group is rather rash, thin-skinned to criticism and fast to anger and action.

Despite the spate of killings meted out on witchcraft and robbery suspects over the years here,the government does not--according to residents--"seem keen to help them".The residents say government officials participated in the community policing project that gave birth to Sungusungu,but has now given the victims a wide berth as things get worse by the day.And the killings continue,albeit in a measured frequency.

Established in the  late 90s in what was then intended to reduce crime levels in  the Gusii region,Sungusungu has over the years slowly but steadily spread its claws here,becoming synonymous with  terror and bloodletting across the region.It was in a secret deal between the local chiefs and residents that the group was initiated.

Residents have often woken up to scary and brutal beheading of suspects.And this is a fact that is only too well understood and known by those who have had the misfortune to experience its callous,deathly claws.  And here,no one is spared.From witchcraft and robbery suspects to those critical of the group's operations,one feeling is palpable---Fear.



Although no official record exists regarding the number of people whose deaths point back to the gang,dozens have been killed in night attacks.The only evidence fatherless homes and frustrated folks.

A source who asked the Hard-nosed Column to name her Damaris said no victim wants to talk about them(Sungusungu) for fear of reprisal attacks or victimization.

"We live in fear.Most of the people killed are obviously innocent,but we have no recourse.None.The government is just watching,"she said

Damaris,a mother of three,lost her husband in an operation that left five men beheaded and left lying on the road.She was eight months pregnant then.Letters went round warning against night vigils ,and ordering burials at cemeteries.

"It was about 3am when they came.One of them knocked at the door,calling out my husband's name.He made as if he was in distress,and so my man offered to help.He went ion to open the door,and that's how they killed him"the 20-year old widow said adding that they suspected  that  husband of robbery.

"I knew him very well.He was  very hardworking.He everyday woke up early to crash stones.That was how he started out.Later he set up a grocery before setting up shop successfully as a shopkeeper dealing in electronics",she said

Damaris story replicates itself in Gusii region,with several  households losing their loved ones in mysterious circumstances.While people here loathe Sungusungu,no one dares to challenge their operations.

Further out in the outskirts of Kisii town,we meet  Johnson* at Suneka township.He shows us deserted buildings  in what remains a constant reminder of  the 2003  crackdown by Sungusungu operatives on witchcraft suspects.In the operation,Johnson says,several people were killed with scores fleeing the area  never to return.

The people who fled this area have since come to be called "Sungusungu fugitives".Their property remains unused as forests cover the land and buildings cave in.

Years on,this group continues to visit terror and destruction of families of innocent people --all in the name of security.And the question is:for how long is this going to last?For the residents ,the government is the only savior near at hand.

Anxiety as Hague Six Jet Out

Anxiety has gripped the country firmly as suspects believed  to have engineered  the 2007 electoral mayhem  prepare to leave the country for the International Criminal Court(ICC)  at the Hague today.

The suspects who include suspended  Higher education minister William Ruto,deputy prime minister Uhuru Kenyatta,head of civil service Francis Muthaura ,postmaster general Hussein Ali and radio journalist Joshua Sang are expected at the Hague Thursday for their initial appearance.

The sextet leaves the country at a time when leaders are sharply divided over the trials with some rooting for a mechanism to try the suspects within the country.

Last week,the six were issued with special visas permitting them entry to a handful of countries in Europe.

Prime minister Raila Odinga has been on the receiving lately as politicians continue to blame him for their Hague tribulations.There have been concerns too that the six might be detained at the ICC.

However,the court has already indicated that the politicians and journalist will be free to return home after the initial appearance.

In the run-up to today's historic 78-hour journey ,the suspects exuded confidence that they will be proved innocent since they did not take part in the violence that saw over 1000 people dead and property worth millions destroyed by fire.

Defense lawyers set foot at the Hague yesterday ahead of the appearances with some promising the ICC a "real legal battle".The lawyers have also expressed confidence that their clients would be exonerated.

The team of lawyers arriving at the Hague yesterday included prof. Kithika Kindure,Kitwa Kigen, among  others ,arguably the cream of Kenya's legal brains.

The visit to the international court of justice  is significant   as it is the first of its kind in the country's history and its outcome could determine how leaders handle disputes in future

ICC Pending Trials Raise Odinga's 2012 Stakes

This ending week has seen politicians from the two factions of Kenya's coalition government engage in a war of words over the waiting trials of the suspected masterminds of the post-election violence of 2008.

Already,ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo has indicated  he has a strong case against the six suspects perceived to have had the greatest responsibility in the electoral mayhem that caused the death of over 1000 people.

There has been a lot of argument here lately among politicians with some rooting for a local tribunal to try the suspects while  others expressing confidence in  the ICC.

The trials,apart from putting key politician's careers on the line,have been seen as an  influential  factor in the  elections to be held next year  with Prime minister Raila Odinga  still topping  as the most preferred candidate ,according to surveys.

But even then ,the premier's  popularity has seemingly diminished in what can be attributed to his latest advocacy for the ICC.The Orange Democratic Movement(ODM),the Pm's party is apparently in jeopardy with many members condemning it.

The Pm said Thursday that the party was not going to foot legal expenses for its members implicated in the 2008 mayhem.On Friday the party through Ababu Namwamba said  it was to hep them.

Mr William Ruto of Eldoret North ,the most obvious of the  ODM  party rebels,and a suspect in the ICC case ,has already turned down the offer ,accusing the party of hypocrisy citing a letter allegedly written to the ICC  by the party calling for stern action.

These latest developments will in all likelihood  reduce Mr Odinga's popularity in the lead up to next years polls,making the outcome of the plebiscite  overly unpredictable.

Rail Firm Rolls out New Tarrif Frequencis

The Rift Valley Railways company has  launched new tariff  frequencies  that will in all likelihood change the landscape of the transport industry  in Kenya.Under the new scheme  set to affect  commuter trains,RVR has  increased  the trains' frequency from eight to 18  daily in what will likely  ease congestion.

This development comes at a time when Kenyans are grappling  with high costs of basic commodities and transport with recent media reports  indicating that Kenya has the highest cost of living  behind only Pakistan.

In the transport industry,matatu  owners increased  fare two weeks ago arguing  the move was meant to absorb the high cost of fuel.This has in recent days led to a large number of  passagers flocking  train stations owing to the locomotive's relatively low commuting fare.


In an announcement issued today,RVR  management said  the new  tariff   frequencies  seek to  meet passenger convenience.

Last year, the rail company announced  an intended construction of a modern network to mitigate traffic jams for which  major city roads are famous  by  a big margin.This  announcement came amid concerns that the company was insoluble.


The  company,  previously dubbed Kenya Railways  ,is currently working a strategy  to increase its profitability  .

Last year,the firm announced  losses running in millions occasioned by   widespread vandalism of rails by  vandals dealing in scrap metal.
With this latest development ,RVR is set to raise  profits and  possibly  restore clear roads in rush hours.

Political Regroupings Taking Shape in Kenya

Political temperatures are rising in Kenya ahead of general elections scheduled for next year with further new alliances clearly in the offing.

According to local media reports,Prime minister Raila Odinga is still the man to beat in the 2012 presidential race set to pit  a number of former allies against each other.

Already,several politicians have declared their interest in the topmost job,indicating a possibility of further re-alignments to capture the  top  job.

A survey conducted recently shows that none of the  contenders mentioned in connection with presidency can muster up enough votes as required by the constitution to be president if elections were called today.

But even with that,politicians have embarked on their characteristic  early campaigns  calculated to galvanize support ahead of the plebiscite that is set to  be fiercely  competitive.

It is still unclear as to whether  top politicians mentioned in the  2007 election  violence will   participate in the race.

The just-ended week saw prime minister Raila Odinga  hold rallies in various parts ,calling on citizens to reject  politicians implicated in crimes .

This remark has prompted  a war of words with  some politicians  terming the premier's  remarks as improper.Yesterday,Information minister Samuel Poghisio called om Mr Odinga to withdraw the remarks and apologize.

The    impending election has also seen strange  groupings as politicians hitherto viewed as political foes  appearing together at Rallies.

Ambience

Lessons For Africa From Uganda Election

President Museveni  has probably been re-installed as the president of Uganda,putting his rule at the second longest in Africa behind only Libya's Gaddaffi.By and large the plebiscite was marred with widespread  rigging or what the most conspicuous contender might call massive  'voter buying'

For us in Africa who want to be honest,the outcome was expected.Dr Besigye was the main competitor in the  presidential race,which is not something new.Museveni warned against protests ,this is also in a sense yesterday's news in Uganda.But aside from these there were strange developments in this election,among them the victory of the incumbent in opposition strongholds,  and  general peace in the process.Besigye can also clap hands for his former employer for not  finding himself in hospital this time round.

Analysts have already  pointed at  the apparent   lack of strategy on the part of opposition as their major Achilles heel.This is possible,but Museveni's advance scheme to steal the victory is probable.  In the run-up to the polls,Museveni exuded a  rare sort of confidence which raised eyebrows among thoughtful Ugandans and others elsewhere as his popularity was already taking a hit..His victory in  areas that the opposition commanded a considerable following can  easily  pass for the irony of the century  too.

Will Museveni run for president in the next election?Yes,and he is going to comfortably secure another term in office  if the opposition doe not regroup creatively.I want to look at it this way because we black Africans love power albeit slightly less than Arab-Africans.Tell me:who has ever won an election fairly here?Very few.Almost all presidents in this continent are illegitimate.This is not to say there are none elsewhere,but our elections are shockingly ironical.

Uganda might dislodge Museveni thus:change institutions.But who is going to do that  job when Museveni has made Uganda almost a kingdom?Well,its difficult but considering recent examples,it is very possible.I agree,Uganda needs a president with a military background.But Museveni's tenure has gone beyond what can be endured.This is unacceptable ,even if the people wanted him to stay.

To the rest of Africa Uganda should serve to remind us that  our  leaders will not give up power.We should force them to do so.

High Cost of Fuel In Kenya Consumer's Burden

                                                                                                By Nyagaka Nyakundi

Fuel prices have once again hit the roof in Kenya this ending  week,in a development that has seen business owners here offload the burden on defenseless consumers.

The business owners have now  increased prices for some essential commodities and services ostensibly to contain the increase ,but underlying is the fact that the prices have been inflated to levels that can pass for  consumer exploitation.


The most affected of these consumers are Kenyans living in the outskirts of Nairobi and thus have to commute to work daily.A spot check by The Hard-nosed Column has established that matatu operators have  increased fare by 100 per cent,an unprecedented phenomenon.


Earlier this year,a body was set up to regulate fuel prices here,but that seems to have not borne fruit as reports indicate the  recent increase is beyond  fuel prices in other international markets.

The country lacks a strong consumer-protection organization,something that exposes consumers against exploitation.

Currently,the price of unleaded petrol stands at ksh100 per liter  in many gas stations,a sh8  increase from ksh92 previous cost.

But even then consumers here are not complaining,a situation that could cause more  lethal     consumer exploitation.

The End Of Despots In africa is Approaching Fast

The End Of African Despots Is Finally Here

The recent current of  revolutions  here  in Africa should be a warning sufficient to cause both obvious and subtle African dictators  adequate jitters.Like in the olden struggles for  people- backed political systems,the latest wave of unrest here shows clearly what happens when people are fed up.They can  mount a mammoth  protestation march  that may serve to enlighten the  dictator one or two things about the source of his power.In the  effort of  revolutionaries of old ,the issue was wrenching  power from demigods claiming the power had been accorded to them by the divine.

Now it is about taking the power from  people who have made themselves gods,callously oppressing the people who have,curiously,given the power to them.

Let us begin our examination with an interesting case of a not-so-obvious dictator who was caught mid stride grooming his son to take up dictatorship from him after a three-decade stay at the helm.Folks,we are talking about President -impose  Mubarak--I forget his first name.In the past few years the signs  of an impending political upheaval has been  very apparent in Egypt.But Mubarak has always seen it as something  small.The president  has  used the country's economic strength as a justification for dictatorship.He is likely to be toppled,not by a coup,but by the people.

In Tunisia the president took to his heels after an unnerving  protestation at his leadership.Now,Am not very familiar with  Tunisia's system ,but I have it at the back of my mind that African leaders of a certain generation behave alike.They are  heroes when they are given power,but they soon become wolves when they  realize how much power they have.

Talking about generations,let's journey together to Zimbabwe.President-impose  Robert Mugabe(he has more names)will probably let go of power in his death.The only struggle he is familiar with is that against colonialism.He forgets we are now in post-colonialism or,better still,neo-colonialism.

If the things we are seeing happening here are anything to go by,Mugabe will most likely realize presently that power is not from himself but the people who  are now suffering in the name of sovereignty.These are signs of things to come.Amnesty is on offer for  Mugabe and his type now.

S.Sudan Cessation Victory Means a Lot More

                                                                                               By Nyagaka Nyakundi

If  Southern Sudan successfully pulls away from the north,, then that eventuality  would be   the  latest development in the world  history of nationalism.In many ways, the prospect is similar to the re-establishment of  Poland  years after it was  annexed by its  greedy European counterparts in the run-up to the second world war.

Further,it would sound reprieve to millions South Sudanese,scattered in all directions of the world as a result of war occasioned  by unending disputes  to become what is now euphemistically referred to as 'S.Sudanese in the diaspora'.From their horrendous accounts and testimonies it is apparent that the southerners have over the years been victims of oppression and marginalization.

The northern region ,led by President El Bashir,has been widely blamed for   using   resources to develop Khartoum at he expense of the southern part.The voting was largely inspired  by this belief.

Initial results currently indicate an overwhelming  support for a  break-up with over 70 per cent of those who cast their votes   rooting for an independent South Sudan.Asked about their feelings about the moment and the possibility of establishing their own country,the southerners display emotional optimism.They cannot imagine staying as part of the north.

While casting his vote at Juba on first referendum day,  the leader of the south briefly recounted the long journey to the cessation vote which began with the arduous negotiations in Kenya.However,it was clear that  peace cannot be compromised.

As witnessed,all eyes are now on South Sudan.And there are many reasons for this.One of the possible reasons could be the region's enormous resource endowment.Besides oil and  a myriad of other minerals,S.Sudan boasts fertile soils and a climate that supports Agriculture,putting her  at a greater possibility of becoming the latest African economic hub.


Abyei,rich in oil deposits,lies on the border between the two regions.The north has already indicated a possible war if the south does not let go of it.However,Abyei will go to the ballot soon to decide where it belongs.This is one of the hurdles the leaders of a possible independent S.Sudan are mulling over.

For the rest of the world,S.Sudan remains a pleasant anticipation that is expected to end bloodshed.,

Kenya AG Takes Uncharacteristic Decision

In a development that is in all ways unusual for Kenya's longest serving Attorney General,Mr Amos Wako has  directed the arrest and prosecution of a  high-profile politician  in  Kenya's coalition government.


Mr wako has never recommended  a prosecution of government officials at all during his time despite cases forwarded to him for approval.

 But  now Wako,who completes his tenure as stipulated in Kenya's new constitution in the course of the  year, has  given Kenya's anti- corruption  body-Kacc -the green light to charge Mr Henry Kosgey for abuse of office which  allegedly happened in his tenure as industrialization minister,taking the number of cases against the minister to two.

The case involves the importation of vehicles under Kosgey's authority , which the attorney general claims did not follow the law hence corruption.

Confirming  the  corruption case recently,Kenya's anti- corruption body  director prof. ,PLO Lumumba said Kosgey was indeed  in the number government officials with pending prosecutions waiting for the attorney general's approval for hearing in court.

The minister was also mentioned in connection with the county's post-election skirmishes that left over 1000 people dead in its wake by international court prosecutor Luis Moreno -Ocampo.According to Ocampo who has already made the names public, the  minister is among the key suspected perpetrators of the 2008 electoral mayhem.



However,Kosgey,who has served consistently as member of parliament since 1979, has dismissed both of the charges leveled against him saying  the first has no truth, and that he did nothing wrong in the latter except exercising his official discretion.


The ICC has promised to prosecute  six key suspects in two years  on account of the magnitude of their responsibility in the violence,a reality  that  late last year sparked discontent in parliament resulting in Mps passing a bill to withdraw Kenya from the Rome Statute which makes the country party to the ICC.But even then the president has not signed the bill into law.

If prosecuted,Mr Kosgey will become the first  person to be taken to court on Wako's  consent in his(Wako's) lengthy  period as the country's second attorney general.

Mr Wako faced backlash  two years ago when he acquitted a  British baron who had allegedly shot  an African mason dead citing lack of sufficient evidence.

To many,this latest action is new for Wako.Is Wako out to clear his legacy?