Christianity the Mother of Islam the Grandkid of PAGANISM

 

Raila Odinga makes history – again

Azimio P Presidential Candidate Raila Odinga and his running mate Martha Karua Evans Habil | Nation Media Group

 By Makau Mutua

   Professor at SUNY Buffalo Law School and Chair of the KHRC.

I’ve written before that Azimio’s flagbearer – the ODM’s Raila Odinga – has an uncanny knack for going where others haven’t gone before. He is a man of many historic, even epochal, firsts. But his choice of Senior Counsel Martha Karua as his nominee for Deputy President may turn out to be his most significant yet. With the stroke of a pen, or the pronouncement of three names – Martha Wangari Karua – Mr Odinga has totally transformed the history of Kenya. That choice will reverberate for millennia in the annals of history. It’s not possible to overestimate the impact of Mr Odinga’s choice for running mate. If you don’t know why yet, allow me to peel your eyes, and arouse your noggin.

        The choice of Ms Karua to deputise Mr Odinga is transformational by itself. But the kicker doesn’t reside there alone. It is the full weight and incalculable significance of the entire ticket which is nuclear – atomic. There has never been, in the storied political history of Kenya, and the whole region, such a beautifully explosive political couple.

         Since Mr Odinga’s announcement, leading political figures in the larger East African region have lauded his choice with the loftiest of praises. This alone is unprecedented and underscores the breakthrough nature of the choice. It’s inspirational. As if one, the peoples of Kenya and East Africa have exploded in delirium and celebrations not seen before. That’s because it’s truly magnificent.

        Let me tell you why. Mr Odinga is the most important democrat in Kenya, and the region. No one else comes even close. No one. The man’s political and personal resume speak of a soul and a spirit that visits the earth only once in many generations. He is a man who has made history, again and again. He’s been relentless in his pursuit of democracy, human rights, and of good government. He’s done these things at great personal cost to himself and family, especially his stoic wife, Ida Odinga. Among Kenyan men, he stands the tallest as a feminist. His choice of Ms Karua has cemented his credentials as a true believer in gender equity and equality.

        Women and girls all over Kenya today see themselves in Ms Karua. The office of President is no longer just a dream for them, but a distinct probability. Ms Karua completes the Azimio ticket in a way never seen before. In Kenya, and the region, Ms Karua is of the first rank among women politicians. I daresay she’s the region’s most progressive woman leader. Her history reads like a poem to the most elegant reformer and champion of social justice. She’s resolute, courageous, and unimpeachable in her ethics and integrity. If you are in a tough fight, you want her in the foxhole with you. She doesn’t know the words surrender, or retreat. She’s an implacable fighter.

        The Odinga-Karua duo is the most formidable team assembled this side of the Sahara. I don’t think Kenyans have fully digested what the duo’s ticket means for the future of this country. I know folks are obsessed with how the ticket will uproot UDA and DP William Ruto from the Mount Kenya region. I take that as a forgone conclusion. Ms Karua and Mr Odinga have already crumbled Mr Ruto’s support among Gema. I predict that come August 9, Mr Odinga will carry the Mountain with percentages north of 60 per cent. Regionally, I believe now there’s no doubt Ms Karua will succeed Jubilee’s Uhuru Kenyatta as Gema “queenpin”. She’s the new sheriff in the Mountain. She’s the return of Mumbi.

        The Odinga-Karua ticket has gender, regional and national import. Kenya is a deeply patriarchal country. We haven’t as a people always loved girls and women. Facts and statistics bear me out in virtually every sector of society, including the home. It’s not guaranteed that a woman in the inner sanctum of the state, including the very top, always positively impacts the lot of the female gender.

Balancing the scales

Ms Karua will be different as DP. Her entire history has been dedicated to balancing the scales of gender to give women and girls a fair shake. At Fida, the League of Women Voters, as MP, and as minister, she was an ardent champion of the equal rights of women and men.

        Finally, Mr Odinga’s choice of Ms Karua has discombobulated UDA and Mr Ruto, whose choice of Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua appears now to be the biggest and costliest miscalculation of the decade. The contrast of the Azimio and UDA tickets couldn’t be starker. UDA’s team is a scandal-ridden pair. Mr Gachagua has never stood for anything, except his own interests. He’s facing multiple criminal charges. Mr Ruto is no better. He’s never sacrificed once for Kenya. His criminal scandals are a matter of public record. He bears one conviction for land grabbing. It’s a contest of reformers against scoundrels. I know what Kenyans will do on August 9. I can’t wait!

Makau Mutua is SUNY Distinguished Professor and Margaret W. Wong Professor at Buffalo Law School. He’s chair of KHRC. @makaumutua

Source: Sunday Nation today.

Song of the Week Where We Were almost 25 Years ago

 

Tumeishiwa hadi kutozana madarajani?

Juzi nilikuwa nikiangalia clip niliyotumiwa na rafiki yangu toka Kenya ikionyesha namna wakenya wanavyolipia expressway iliyojengwa hivi karibuni jijini Nairobi. Mradi huu uliozamisha mabilioni ya shilingi unapigiwa upatu kama game changer kuhusiana na msongamano wa magari jijini Nairobi. Mradi huu ni sawa na ule wa Dar Rapid Transit au Daraja ka Kigamboni hata la Tanzanite jijini Dar. Hii ni miradi ya kimkakati na kimaendeleo ingawa nikiangalia namna ya baadhi inavyoendeshwa, sioni mantiki ya maendeleo au umkakati. Nina sababu zifuatazo:
        Mosi, je ni halali wananchi kulipia matumizi ya vitu kama barabara na madaraja yaliyojengwa kwa fedha ima yao ya kodi au mikopo iliyochukuliwa kwa jina lao na kulipwa kwa fedha zao? Mfano mdogo ni hapa Kanada ninapoishi. Japo kuna mataifa yana mfumo wa barabara na madaraja ya kulipia, je hili lina tija kwa nchi maskini kama zetu? Mfano, kuna mantiki gani kwa watanzania kulipia daraja la kigamboni wakati uwepo wake ni sawa na huduma ya kuuganisha maeneo ya Kigamboni sawa na tulivyojenga barabara kwenda mikoani na nchi za nje?
        Pili, kwanini badala ya kuwaumiza maskini ambao wanapata taabu kutumia, mfano, Daraja la Kigamboni, wasitozwe kodi matajiri na kuwaacha maskini waendelee na kuhangaikia maisha  yao bila tozo ambazo zinaepukika kama mamlaka zitasimamia mapato na matumizi ya serikali kwa umakini mkubwa bila kusahau kupambana na ufisadi na ufujaji? Nadhani swali kuu tunalopaswa kuuliza, kuulizwa, hata kujiuliza, (kwa wale walioko madarakani) ni kwanini watu wetu maskini walio wengi wanatozwa kodi na vitu kama hivi vinajengwa kwa fedha yao ima kwa njia ya mikopo, ukasimishaji madaraka ni hao hao ambao ima wao au watoto wao kama siyo kodi zao zitalipia madeni ya ujenzi wa miradi hii tunayowatoza. Inakuwaje watozwe mara ya pili?
        Tatu, je hii modeli ya biashara inawanufaisha watu wetu maskini walio wengi au ni kwa ajili ya wachache ambao wengi wao ima ni wale wanaoishi kwa kuwanyonya au kuwaibia walio wengi au matajiri ambao nao wengi wao wanapata utajiri kutokana na kufanya biashara zenye utata na baadhi ya watendaji wa umma wasioaminika wala kuwa waadilifu wanaoweka maslahi binafsi mbele na wakashindwa kusimamia vilivyo mapato na maslahi ya umma?
        Nne, je hii miradi ni mali ya nani? maana, inapoanza kujengwa miradi kama hii utasikia wakubwa wakisema kuwa wanalenga kupunguza msongamano kwenye majiji,  kuokoa fedha inayopotea tokana na misongamano na kuwaletea maendeleo wananchi. Je msongamano unasababishwa na wananchi au mipango mibaya ya serikali zetu? Je kweli kwa kuwatoza gharama za kutumia hata madaraja na barabara wananchi, mtapunguza misongamano au ni biashara na siasa za majaribio?
  Tano, mbona madaraja tunayovuka kwenye barabara za kawaida hatuyalipii zaidi ya nauli ya kawaida kwa chombo cha kusafiria? Je hapa tofauti yake ni ipi hasa kwa mwananchi, kwa mfano, anayeishi Kigamboni ambaye anakwenda kwenye shughuli zake za kila siku mjini saw ana wale wanaoishi maeneo mengine ya mji ambapo vyombo vya usafiri kama Bodaboda na magari havitozwi tozo kwa kutumia barabara husika? Tunasema haya kwa sababu ukivitoza tozo vyombo hivi, navyo vinahamishia mzigo kwa mlaji ambaye ni raia maskini asiye na uwezo wa kuwa na usafiri wake. 
Sita, je hii ndio njia pekee na sahihi ya kupunguza misongamano au kupiga fedha na kuwaumiza maskini ukiachia mbali kuwabagua kwa kuwazuia kutumia miradi ambayo mingi imekopewa fedha kwa jina lao? Je tumeisha ubunifu hadi kuwalangua wananchi wetu bila ulazima?
Je inahitaji shahda katika mambo ya uchumi kujua kuwa wananchi maskini sasa wana maisha magumu kuliko wakati wowote? Mafuta yamepanda bei kiasi cha kuathiri bei za karibu kila kitu. Inakuwaje mnawatwisha tena mzigo wa kulipia vitu ambavyo vilipaswa kuwa huduma za kawaida kama kweli tungekuwa na maono na utukutu wa kutumia fedha, mali na raslima za umma? Nasema tunawatwisha mzigo usiowahusu hasa ikizingatiwa kuwa: a) tulipodai uhuru, tuliwaaminisha wananchi wetu kuwa tutawaletea maendeleo. Je haya ndiyo maendeleo?, b) pili, wao wanatimiza wajibu wao kama vile kufanya kazi, kulipa kodi na kutii serikali. Je watawala tunatimiza wajibu wetu? Kama tunatimiza, inakuwaje mambo kama haya yanatokea?
Saba, je nini kifanyike kuepuka kadhia hizi ambayo ni ubaguzi wa wazi kwa baadhi ya wananchi hasa wa kipato cha chini? Nadhani yapo mengi yakufanya japo hapa nitataja machache. 

        Mosi, tuwe wabunifu na wenye kujali wananchi wetu. Mfano, tusimamie fedha, mali na raslima za umma vilivyo. Maana, ukiangalia kiasi cha fedha zinazopotea kwenye ufisadi, uzembe, wizi na matumizi mabaya ya umma, utakuta ni nyingi kuliko tunayowakamua wananchi maskini. Je tunafanya hivi kwa sababu maumivu yatokanayo na tozo za vitu ambavyo wananchi hawapaswi kulipia hayatugusi? Je kuna mahali tumekosea?
        Pili, walioaminiwa madaraka watimize wajibu wao kwa wale waliowaamini madaraka huku wakijua kuwa bila kufanya hivyo, wanatengeneza mabomu yanayoweza kuzamisha nchi. Rejea, mfano, kuanza kurejea kwa panya road. Huu ni ushahidi kuwa mambo siyo sawa. Kuna wanaoshiba na wanaolala njaa.
        Mwisho, kwa wale walio madarakani, wajue kuwa wapo ndugu zao wanaoumia. Pia, wajitahidi kuvaa viatu vya maskini wetu walio wengi na kuona kama wangekuwa wao wangetaka wafanyiwe nini.
Leo tutaachia hapa ili kutoa fursa kwa wahusika yaani waathirika, wasomaji na watawala kufanya tafakuri ya kina na kujaribu kuyaangalia madhara ya mambo yanayoendelea ambayo siyo kama vile kuwatoza watu tozo ya kutumia barabara na madaraja.

Chanzo: Raia Mwema leo.

Weusi unapogeuka dhambi ya mauti!

Kwa mara nyingine, tarehe 15 Mei, ilifichua ukaburu, unafiki na uoza wa taifa linalojiita kubwa kuliko yote huku likijifanya mwalimu wa haki za binadamu, usawa na ustaarabu wakati ni taifa la hovyo na ovu, yaani Marekani. Ni pale mbaguzi wa kunuka Payton Gendron, kijana wa miaka 18 mbaguzi na mjinga alipowamiminia watu zaidi ya 20 waliokuwa kwenye duka la Superstore na kuua watu watu 10 nane wakiwa weusi huko Buffalo Marekani ambako alikwenda kwa dhamira ya kuua weusi au watu wasio wazungu ambao anadhani wanachukua nafasi ya wazungu kwa wingi. Hivyo, kutishia maslahi ya weupe huko Marekani.                 Kijana huyu ni mmoja wa wahafidhina wanaoamini katika nadharia njama na uchwara ya replacement theory au nadharia mbadala ambao weupe wanaamini na kutaka kuwaaminisha wengine kuwa watu wa rangi au wasio weupe wanazidi kuchukua nafasi zao kwa wingi kiasi cha kutishia madaraka na ulaji wao wa kujipatia kupitia ubaguzi na ukoloni na mifumo mingine fichi na habithi kama vile ubepari, ubeberu na ukoloni mamboleo. 

        Hawa pamoja na kuwalaumu mahabithi wenzao kama akina Adolf Hitler na Benito Mussolini, wamekuwa wakifanya mambo yale yale wanayolaani kwa kisingizio cha ustaarabu wakati wanachofanya ni ushenzi. Hivi kweli ukoloni na utumwa navyo vilikuwa ni aina ya ustaarabu? Je ustaafrika nao uko wapi hadi Afrika itegemee ustaarabu ambao nao ni matokeo ya utumwa wa kiakili wa kudhani kuwa kuelimika au kusonga mbele kitabia na kimila lazima vipimwe na uarabu.
        Kuonyesha kuwa ubaguzi si wa Marekani tu bali mpango wa wazungu wengi wanaojiona kama ndiyo wenye haki ya kuwa binadamu kuliko wengine, hata hapa Kanada baadhi ya vyombo vya habari vilikuwa vikilipoti tukio bila kutaja jina la muuaji wakati anajulikana kuwa ni Payton Gendron. Hii inakumbusha kisa kimoja nchini Marekani ambapo mswahili mmoja aliua mtu mmoja na kuwekwa ukurasa wa mbele wakati muuaji mweupe aliyeua watu sita kipindi hicho hicho kuwekwa kurasa za ndani tena kwa kichwa cha habari chenye umbo dogo ikilinganishwa na mswahili.
        Hata pale Python au chatu (namuita hivyo maksudi) alipoua waswahili nane, hakupigwa risasi alipojitokeza mbele ya polisi. Angakuwa mswahili au mtu wa rangi, angemiminiwa risasi kwa madai kuwa alikuwa hatarishi kwa jamii na polisi. Siku chache kabla ya mauaji haya ya kibaguzi na kishenzi, mtanzania mmoja Rogers Kyaruzi alionekana, eti akionyesha tabia zenye kutia shaka kwenye maegesho na kuishi kupigwa risasa na kufariki hapo hapo.                     Angekuwa mzungu, angepelekwa hospitalini kuangalia ni kwanini alikuwa anaonyesha tabia zenye kutia shaka. Sitashangaa huyu muuaji mbaguzi Payton Gendron kama hatutaambiwa kuwa ana matatizo ya kiakili au alikuwa na utoto mbaya wa manyanyaso japo nyaraka alizorusha kwenye mtandao zinamuonyesha kama mhafidhina anayechukia watu wasio wazungu.
        Juzi juzi tu majeshi ya Israel yalimpiga risasi na kumuua mwandishi wa Al Jazeera wa kipalestina Shireen abu Akler. Pamoja na kujulikana kuwa muuaji ni majeshi ya Israel, vyombo hivi baguzi havitaji hivyo kwa kuogopa kumuudhi kibaraka wao. Akiuawa mwarabu si habari, japo mwarabu akiua muisrael, ni habari kubwa na tishio kweli kweli.
        Japo waarabu walio wengi, kama wamarekani, wamekuwa wakijitahidi kujionyesha kama wapenda usawa na haki tokana na kunyanyaswa na Israel, nao wanashiriki au kufumbia macho dhuluma, udhalilishaji, unyonyaji na mauaji ya wafanyakazi wa ndani huko Mashariki ya kati. Hii yote inatokana na imani iliyojikita kwenye dini nyemelezi za kigeni ambazo humuona mtu mweusi ima kama aliyelaaniwa au mtumwa wa mtu mweupe japo wengine wanaojiita weupe kama waarabu na wahindi wakija huku nao wanaitwa weusi kiasi cha wazungu kushindwa hata kuwatofautisha. 

        Hivyo, kuwabagua, kuwadharau na kuwanyonya sawa na waswahili wanaowabagua na kuwanyonya nao wakijidanganya kuwa ni weupe kama wazungu. Hivi kweli kuna binadamu mweupe? Kama wazungu ni weupe, maziwa na chaki vitakuwa nini? Haya ni maswali ambayo waswahili wanapaswa kujiuliza na kuyapatia majibu sahihi hata kama kufanya hivyo kunaumiza vichwa. Tuumize vichwa ili tujikomboe na kuachana na ujinga wa kuendelea kutumikia ubaguzi tena kwa kujibagua, kuruhusu kubaguliwa au kubaguana wenyewe.
        Kwa wabobezi wa lugha ya kiingereza ambayo ni lugha ya watu wabaguzi kuliko wote, kila kitu kibaya ni cheusi. Siku ikiwa mbaya utaambiwa black day, black summer, black spirit na mengine mengi. Na kila kitu kizuri ni cheupe katika lugha hii.
        Sambamba na kiingereza, hata kwenye vitabu vya dini kama Biblia, utakuta laana, utumwa na ubaya vyote ni vyeusi. Mfano ukisoma namna watoto wa Ham walivyolaaniwa na kugeuka weusi, utaona mzizi wa kadhia hii inayoanza kuwa tishio duniani. Ham alipolaaniwa alipewa adhabu mbili kuwa mtumwa kama Wamisri, Waethiopia na wahindi na mweusi kama wao.
        Kwenye Quran Surat al Imran (3:106) nayo inasema wale watakaoingia motoni sura zao zitageuka nyeusi na wataulizwa kwanini hawakuamini hadi wapate adhabu ya kutoamini. Kwa watakaoingia peponi, sura zao zitakuwa nyeupe.
        Mbali na dini, hata baadhi ya lugha kubwa za kiulaya kama vile kiingereza, kwake kila kitu kibaya ni cheusi na kila cheupe ni kitakatifu. Utasikia black Friday, black sheep, black summer na mengine mengi. Kujitenga na dhambi ya weusi, usishange kuona watajwa hapo kama vile Waethiopia wakiwabagua wengine huku wahindi wakijiita weusi japo wazungu wanaowaona wote ni weusi au watu wa rangi ambao ni tishio kwa mafanikio na maisha yao.
        Tumalizie kwa kuwahimiza waswahili kujitambua, kuwatambua maadui zao, kujuana, kujaliana na kuthaminiana pia kushirikiana kupambana na huu ubaguzi wa wazi dhidi yao kwa vile ni weusi. Hapa ndipo jibu mujarabu kwa tatizo la weusi kugeuka adhabu tosha ya kifo mbele ya wabaguzi wa kunuka kama ilivyotokea huko Marekani juzi. Tieni akilini.

Chanzo: Raia Mwema jana.

Turasimishe na Kuthamini Vyetu Vyote si Gongo tu

Japo si wengi waliomwelewa––––na sijui kama ameeleweka vilivyo­­­­––––Mbunge wa Chomba, Mheshimiwa Kondesta Sichalwe. Japo si wa kwanza kufanya hivyo––––amewafumbua macho wenye akili na kujithamini huku wakishuku uhohehahe na uhovyo na uoza wa mambo na mifumo yetu tuliyorithi na kupwakia bila kufirikiri toka kwa mabwana zetu na watesi wetu waliotutawala na kuendelea kufanya hivyo kwa visingizio mbali mbali. Kwa fahari na ushufaa, tunaongea lugha zao na kupwakia kila ujinga wao tokana na upumbavu wetu huku tukizikimbia na kuzidharau na kuziogopa zetu tuzijuazo vilivyo. Tunaabudia imani na miji yao kana kwamba hatuna vitu hivi. Tunaita miji na nchi zao takatifu kana kwamba zetu ni chafu. Ukiuliza wapi ni mahali patakatifu, utaambiwa ima Jerusalemu, Makka au Roma wakati hakuna utakatifu wowote zaidi ya longolongo na propaganda za kijamii tokana na ukoloni wa kimila.

            Baya zaidi, hata mamlaka na serikali zetu zilichaguliwa na watu wetu (washenzi), zinaapishwa kwa kutumia dini na imani za kigeni huku tukijiumiza kwa kudharau, kudhalilisha na kuhujumu vilivyo vyetu. Je serikali zinazoapishwa na kuamini kwenye imani za kigeni zinaweza kututumikia kweli bila kutuuza? Viongozi ima wanaapa kwa Biblia au Kurani. Je nini nafasi ya imani zetu na viongozi wake wa kimila? Hili linaweza kuonekana kama jambo dogo na jepesi tena chokonozi na la kuudhi, linatuvua nguo na kuaonyesha utumwa wa kiakili na kiimani hata kiutawalatulivyo navyo kwa maangamizi yetu na vizazi visivyo na hatia vijavyo.

Tumegeuzwa mabunga na mazuzu kwa kupewa maneno matamu. Hatujui tofauti kati ya halali na haramu (japo yote ni maneno ya kuletewa na kupandikizwa bila kuyachunguza maana na undani wake. Tunadharauliana kwa dini za kuazima. Tunaitana majina ya hovyo kama vile makafiri, waliopotea, wasiookoka, wasio wastaarabu na mengine mengi ya kishenzi, majina ambayo tuliitwa na kupewa na watesi wetu nasi tukayaamini na kuyapwakia bila kuhoji. Wengine wanatoa kafala ya binadamu wakati sisi ni wanyama. Na wengine wakitoa wanyama kama sisi wanatwamba ni matoleo kwa Mungu. Je sisi­­­­––––kabla ya ujio wao na dini zao––––tulikuwa tukitoa kafala gani zaidi ya wanyama?  Tunaongelea ustaarabu ila si ustaafrika. Tunaongelea pepo za kigeni huku tukiita amali zetu kama mila vitu vya motoni na udhambi. Tunaahidiwa madangulo na kwaya kwa kisingizio cha pepo. Tunashindwa kuitambua leo tukiifia kesho ya kitapeli japo tunajua kuwa wahenga walisema mla kala leo kesho kalani! Tunatenda dhambi ya kujibagua, kubaguana, kudhalilishana na kujidhalilisha wenyewe kwa wenyewe huku mabwana zetu wa kila aina wakicheka na kutushangaa nani alituloga. Tumeahidiwa pepo na upuuzi wa kila aina ili tujipeleke kwenye majili (kinyongeo) yetu ya kujitakia. Lini Waafrika tutakengeuka na kukua kutambua na kujithamini huku tukiamini na kuamini na kupenda vilivyo vyetu?

Tunasifia na kutukuza lugha na mila za kigeni tukidhalilisha zetu.  Msomi lazima aongee kiingereza kana kwamba kiingereza ndiyo usomi. Tunaona aibu kuongea lugha zetu huku wengi––––hata wasiojua kitu––––wakihangaika kutuaminisha kuwa wamesoma wakati ni wajinga wa kawaida. Ukiwasikia wakiongea, wanachanganya kimombo na kibatu (Kiswahili). Tunashindana kuibiwa na kuharibu watoto wetu kwa kuwapeleka kwenye shule za kizungu huku tukiua zetu. Ukifanya kitu cha maana wanasema ni uzungu. Ukifanya kisichostahiki wanakwambia ni uswahili.

Vyakula bora vinaitwa vya kienyeji au kishenzi huku majank ya kigeni yakiitwa vyakula bora. Utasikia ‘kuku wa kizungu na kuku wa kienyeji’ japo sisikii bata wa kizungu.’ Waonje uone yupi mtamu na mwenye viini safi kati ya hawa wawili. Hichi ndicho kiini macho na utapeli wa kujaza maduka ya vyakula vya hovyo na majunk kama vile Burger King, KFC, MacDonald (yote ya kigeni) kati ya mengi yanayoanza kutapakaa Afrika bila sababu ya msingi zaidi ya ujinga hata upumbavu mbali na ulimbukeni. Yako wapi maduka ya vyakula safi na tamu vya kiafrika? Ni bahati mbaya hata wasomi na wanasiasa wetu ima hawajui au hawataki kutwamba ukweli. Kwa wanaofikiri sawa sawa, wajikumbushe kitabu cha Tendehogo kinachochamba ujinga huu wa pamoja au collective imbicilization.

 Tunapwakia gongo ya kigeni iitwayo konyagi, brand, au whisk huku tukiita pombe zetu tunazojua formula na siri za utengenezaji wake kwa kukumbatia na kutukuza ulevi ule ule wa kigeni. Tunapenda na kununua vitu vya kigeni na kutajirisha wageni huku tukiua uchumia wetu. Tukizidiwa, tunaenda kule kule kuomba pesa ile ile tuliyoibiwa kimila!  Tunachukia vyakula vyetu na kupenda vya kigeni bila kujua vimezalishwa wapi na vipi na nani.  Tunajenga viwanda vya wenzetu na kubomoa na kufilisi vyetu!

Walevi wetu wanatajirisha wengine huku wakijifilisi na kujigeuza ombaomba na kopa kopa wakati Mungu aliwajaalia kila kitu! Je hili linahitaji wafadhili kulienga na kuelewa?

Tumedhalilishwa, kujidhalilisha na kudhalilishana na kuijikimbia kuanzia kukana majina yetu tukikumbatia ya kigeni bila kujua hata maana wala sababu zake, kutukana mila zetu na kukumbatia na kushambikia za kigeni kwa visingizio mbali mbali kama dini na ustaarabu wakati vyote ni mila. Tunaona fahari kuitwa John au Yahaya huku tukikimbia majina yetu.  Tumepewa utambulisho bandia huku tukikimbia ule wa asili yetu. Tutashindwa kujikana na kujitukana wenyewe? Adui yetu ni sisi wenyewe. Tunahitaji kukombolewa dhidi yetu wenyewe. Ajabu, ukombozi huu unategemea ubongo na mila na mifumo ya kigeni. Je tunamkomoa nani kama siyo sisi wenyewe? Tunaabudu miungu ya Israel na Kiarabu huku tukitukana na kukana yetu! Nani atusaidie kama siyo sisi wenyewe?

Tunafungishwa ndoa za kigeni huku tukiita zetu za kimila kiasi cha kutozitambua hata kisheria. Tunapewa vyeti kana kwamba upendo unahitaji na kutegemea karatasi. Muafrika akioa wanawake wengi kwa imani ya mila yake anaambiwa ni ndoa za kienyeji zisizotambulika kisheria wakati muislamu akiona wengi hao hao anaambiwa ni amri ya Mungu. Je huyu Mswahili anaona kwa amri ya nani kama siyo Mungu huyo huyo? Ni wangapi wanajiuliza maswali chokonozi na tunduizi kama haya japo yanaudhi?

Sheria zetu zinatungwa na watu wetu na kuandikwa kwenye lugha za kigeni kana kwamba hatuna lugha zetu adhimu. Hatujiamini wala kuaminiana. Tunadharauliana badala ya kuheshimiana. Tunachukiana badala ya kupendana. Tunahujumiana badala ya kujumika pamoja na kusaidiana. Mabwana zetu wa kiakili, kimila na kisiasa wametugeuza vikaragosi na askari wa kujimaliza wenyewe.

            Tunapwakia maji machafu ya chupa huku tukikimbia maji matamu na safi toka kwenye chemichemi zetu alizotujalia Mungu. Tunaletewa maji ya ‘baraka na upako’ toka nje au yale yale na matapeli wachache kana kwamba yetu si maji! Tukitaka kula au kulala tunaomba miungu ya kigeni itulinde kana kwamba kabla ya ujio wake tulikuwa hatarini.

Kwa ujinga wa maksudi na upogo, tumeua na kuchukia, kuua na kutelekeza elimu na ujuzi wetu kwa kuamini na kupwakia wa kigeni. Mtu akisoma nje anaonekana msomi kuliko yule aliyesomea nyumbani.anayesoma shule za English media anaonekana kuukata kuliko yule anayesomea shule za kata. Je viongozi wetu waliotukuka na kutukomboa au kutupigania walisoma shule na English media au nyumbani schools?

Leo sisemi mengi. Muhimu, kwa kuangalia ujasiri wa Mhe. Sichalwe, niseme––––bila wasi wasi–––tuanze kujiamini, kuaminiana, kujitathmini, kutathminiana, kujithamini, kuthaminiana, kujihoji, kuhojiana na kuhoji kila kitu na kujitambua na kutambuana bila mawenge wala miwani ya kikoloni. Bila shaka, wakati wa kuramisha, kutambua, kuthamini na kutumia vilivyo vyetu ni sasa. Saa ya ukombozi wa kimila na kulhali ni sasa.

Chanzo: Raia Mwema leo.

Nani Atapambana na Ubaguzi Kimfumo wa Kimataifa?

Ukiangalia namna mataifa ya Ulaya na Marekani (na dunia) yanavyoshughulikia mgogoro wa Ukraine na Urusi, unashangaa na kusikitika kuona namna yanayowaita wahamiaji haramu wakimbizi wanaokimbia vita kwenye nchi za Kiafrika ambao zimewafungia mipaka huku zikifungua mipaka na mikwiji kwa wakimbizi toka taifa moja la Ukraine kwa sababu tu ni weupe wenzao. Hawa hawa ndiyo wengi wao waliosababisha migogoro barani Afrika ukiacha mbali kufaidika na raslimali na malighafi zinazoibiwa toka nchi husika. Inatia kinyaa kuona mabilioni ya fedha yanayotumika kushughulikia kadhia hii wakati nchi za Kiafrika zinazoendesha dunia kwa raslimali zake zikibaguliwa wazi wazi mchana kweupe nazo zisifurukute japo kidogo lau kwa kulalamika au kulaani.

    Mgogoro wa Ukraine umefichua chuki, ubaguzi na unafiki visivyomithilika. Kuliona hili, angalia wakimbizi wanaokimbia ima mifarakano, umaskini na ujambazi wanaotaka kuingia nchini Marekani wakitokea Mexico wanavyozuiliwa mpakani hata kurejeshwa makwao kwenye hatari na vita huku wale wa Ukraine wakifunguliwa mpaka wakihimizwa na kuruhusiwa watakavyo wakati wowote. Hata huko ulaya hali ni ile ile. Wakimbizi toka Afrika na kwingineko wanaojaribu kuingia ulaya hata kwa kuhatarisha maisha yao kwa kupanda vyombo vibovu vya majini kuvuka bahari ya Meditereniani, wanazuiliwa hata kupanga kuhamishiwa Afrika. Je wale wa Ukraine wanapokelewaje? Kwa mikono miwili.

        Kwa sasa, wakimbizi toka taifa moja, tena dogo na ambao idadi yao haiwezi kulinganishwa na wale wa kiAfrika na wengine, wameonekana kuwa binadamu zaidi ya wengine ambao ima ni nusu binadamu au wanyama katika macho ya mataifa haya nafiki na baguzi. Hata hivyo, wale wanaojua namna mataifa ya kimagharibi yalivyounda mfumo koloni na baguzi unaoendesha dunia, hawatashangaa kuona kinachoendelea hasa wakijikumbusha namna yalivyosaidia utawala wa kibaguzi wa kikaburu wa Afrika ya Kusini wakati ukiwatesa na kuwaua waafrika tokana na rangi na mali zao au yanavyofumbia macho ugaidi wa Israel dhidi ya wapalestina huku yakijifanya kuhimiza kila mtu duniani kuilaani Urusi kwa kuua waukraine wenye macho ya bluu na ngozi nyeupe ambao kwao ndiyo binadamu wanaostahiki haki za binadamu lakini si wengine.

           Eneo jingine linaloonyesha ubaguzi na unafiki vya kiwango cha lami ni misaada ya hali na mali mataifa husika yanatoa kwa Ukraine ikilinganishwa na mataifa mengine yanayokumbwa na kadhia kama hii, tena kwa muda mrefu ukiachia mbali kuathiri na kuua watu wengi kuliko hawa wapendwa. Hivi karibuni, bunge la Marekani liliidhinisha jumla ya dola za kimarekani bilioni 13.6 kusaidia Ukraine kwa mujibu wa jarida la Marekani la New York Times (Machi 18, 2022) mbali na bilioni 33 ambazo rais Joe Biden ameomba zipitishwe haraka ili kwenda Ukraine (New York Times, Aprili 28, 2022). Ukijumlisha pamoja fedha ambazo zitaigia Ukraine hadi mwisho wa mgogoro, zinaweza kuwa zaidi ya nusu au sawa hata zaidi ya pato la taifa hili.

        Mbali na Marekani, Umoja wa ulaya hivi karibuni uliidhinisha Euro bilioni 1.2 kwa mujibu wa Reuters (Januari 18, 2022) na kuamua kutoa Euro Bilioni 17 kusaidia wakimbizi wanaokimbia vita huko Ukraine. Zaidi ya hapo, uliitishwa mkutano wa wafadhili uliofanyika Warsaw, Poland na kuahidi kuchangisha dola bilioni 6.5 kwa ajili ya Ukraine ambapo wakati huo huo Shirika la kuhudumia wakimbizi la Umoja wa Mataifa (UNHCR) lilikuwa likihangaika, bila mafanikio, kutafuta dola bilioni 1.2 kwa ajili ya kuhudumia wakimbizi milioni 2.3 wa Sudan ya Kusini ambao ni takriban nusu ya wakimbizi wa Ukraine waliotamalaki katika mataifa ya DRC, Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan na Uganda.

    Kwa wale ambao hawajaona huu ubaguzi na unafiki wa kunuka, wanaweza kupata jawabu toka kwa mkimbizi toka Kameruni Wilfred Tebah aliyekaririwa akisema, “sina cha ziada bali kushangaa nini kingetokea kama haya mamilioni toka mataifa ya ulaya mashariki wangekuwa ni rangi nyingine” (AP News, Aprili 11, 2022). Mbali na majibu haya, taifa la Marekani linaweza kutoa picha safi ya namna ubaguzi huu wa kimfumo na kimataifa unavyoonekana na kufanya kazi. Mfano, baada ya kuanza vita huko Ukraine, Marekani imeahidi kuchukua wakimbizi 100,000 kwa kuanzia ikilinganishwa na wakimbizi 30,000 toka Syria ambako vita imekuwa ikiendelea kwa zaid ya miaka kumi. Kanada ilishaingiza wakimbizi 73,000 toka Syria ikilinganishwa na na maombi ya waukraine 204,000 ambapo 91,500, kwa mujibu wa tovuti ya uhamiaji ya Kanada, yameishakubaliwa ndani ya kipindi cha miezi michache. Je hii ni nini?

        Pamoja na Afrika kuwa na migogoro hatarishi na mikubwa tangu miaka ya 60, mwaka 2018, Kanada iliahidi kupokea wakimbizi wa kiafrika na Mashariki ya kati 10,000 huku idadi kubwa wakichukuliwa wa Mashariki ya kati. Hii ni nini kama siyo ubaguzi tena dhidi ya Waafrika?

Ubaguzi huu wa kimataifa unawaumiza sana Waafrika kuliko wote japo bara lina wakimbizi wengi na migogoro mikubwa na mingi kuliko mabara yote. Kwa upande wa Marekani, hali ni mbaya sana. Kwani, kwa mujibu wa mtandao wa Pewresearch.org (Januari 27, 2022), kuna idadi ya watu Weusi, si waafrika 4,100,000 nchini humo idadi hii ikipanda toka wakimbizi Weusi 8000,000 miaka ya 80. Je kama tukizidisha namba ya wakimbizi wanaochukuliwa toka Ukraine kwa miaka 32 tukazidisha na kiwango cha sasa tunapata nini? Kwa ubaguzi huu kama waukraine watapigana kwa miaka 32 na wakachukuliwa kwa kiwango cha sasa, wataingia Marekani  wote na kubaki na nafasi sawa ikizingatiwa kuwa Ukraine ina idadi ya watu milioni 43.

Mbali na uchache wa wakimbizi Weusi wanaoruhusiwa kuingia Marekani, kuna juhudi kubwa za kimataifa kutaka kumaliza mgogoro wa Ukraine huku migogoro ya muda mrefu na hatarishi barani Afrika ikifumbiwa jicho. Mfano, hivi karibuni Katibu Mkuu wa Umoja wa Mataifa António Manuel de Oliveira Guterres alitembelea Ukraine na Urusi kutafuta namna ya kusaidia kumaliza mgogoro  haraka ili kunusuru uharibifu na vifo mbali na Papa Francis aliyeahidi kwenda kule kufanya kazi ile ile. Jiulize, walipouawa Wanyarwanda kwenye mauaji ya kimbari ya 1994 au yale ambayo yamekuwa yakiendelea Darfur, Sudan, hawa viongozi zaidi ya kuwa sehemu ya tatizo, walifanya nini? Wakati Umoja wa Mataifa ukilaumiwa kwa kupuuza maonyo ya kutokea kwa balaa hili, kanisa Katoliki lilishutumiwa kuhusika na mauaji na baadaye Papa aliomba msamaha kwa ushiriki huu. Gazeli la the Guardian (Machi 20, 2017) lilimkariri Papa akisema “dhambi na maanguko ya wakristo viliharibu sura ya Ukatoli.”

Kama haitoshi, muda huo huo wakati yakifanyika mauaji ya kimbari nchini Rwanda sambamba na yale ya Kosovo, Umoja wa kujihami wa Ulaya wa NATO uliingilia kati nchini Kosovo na kumaliza vita huku ukiacha Wanyawaranda wamalizane.

Kwa ufupi, hii ndiyo sura ya ubaguzi na unafiki wa kimataifa inavyoonekana. Je Waafrika tunajifunza nini tokana na jinai hii ya makusudi dhidi yetu? Ajabu ya maajabu, pamoja na kujua ukweli, bado tunaamini watesi wetu kutusaidia kuleta amani na maendeleo wakati wakitubagua, kutuchukia na kutuhujumu wazi wazi? Nani alituroga?

Chanzo: Raia Mwema jana/

THE CURRENT STATE OF POLITICS IN TANZANIA.

The political “hot  news”  at  the  beginning  of   this  month ;  was  the  information   relating  to  the  Report  of  the  ‘special  Task  Force’  which  had  been  set  up  earlier   by  President  Samia  Suluhu  Hassan,  consisting  of   representatives  from  political  parties,  civil  society  Organizations,  government  officials and   other  stakeholder  experts,  which  had  been  tasked   “to  coordinate    views   regarding  the  necessary  reforms  that  are  need,  in  order  to  provide   ‘a  fair  space’  for  all  participating  stakeholders’. Thus, the “provision  of   fair  space”   appears  to  be,  currently,  the   “greatest  need  for  the  greatest  number  of  people”   in  the  politics  of  Tanzania.
  According to the  information  reported  in  THE  CITIZEN   on  Sunday   of  1st  May,  2022;  most  of  the  views  expressed   centered  mainly   on  electoral  reform  proposals.  It was  reported  thus:-   “The  Tanganyika  Law  Society (TLS);  and  the  General  Council  of  Islamic  Communities  and  Institutions  in  Tanzania;  had  a  chance  to  present  their  views  on  Friday,  with  both  sides  providing  alternatives  to  ensuring  free  and  fair  elections”.  And further  that   the  matters  of  major  concern were  the  following:-                                                                       

(i) the  involvement  of  District  Executive  Directors  (who  are  government  employees),  as  election   Returning  Officers;  in  respect  of  which   the  spokesman  from  the  Islamic  communities  Organization  said: “DEDs  are  appointed  by  the  President,,  and  therefore  they  are  very  likely  to  alter  election  results  in  favour  of  their  boss”;   and  (ii)  the  establishment  of  “an  independent  Electoral  Commission”;  regarding  which   the  spokesman  from  TLS  said:  “we  have  suggested  an  independent  electoral  commission,  whose  supervisors  should  not  be  among   the  government  employees,  so   as  to  avoid  conflict  of  interest  and  bias”.  

(iii)  The urgent need  for  a  “new  constitution”;  a  point  which  was “hammered  home”  by CHADEMA  Chairman Freeman  Mbowe,  in  his  speech  during  the  opening  of  that  party’s  meeting    of  its  Baraza  Kuu.    
        I was moved  to  write  this  article,   primarily  for  two  reasons:-                       
(a)  to examine the  rationale  of  associating  these  purely  electoral  reforms  with  the  need  for  a  new  constitution;                                                                
 (b)  to provide a helpful   reminder,  that  the  need  ‘for  fair  space’  applies  not  only  to  political  parties;  but  also  to   the  equally  important  women  sector   of  our  society,  who  are  also   entitled   to  be  considered  for  this  “fair  space”
Electoral   reforms do   not   require a new constitution.  
Any   country’s   Constitution is   the   fundamental   law   of   that   country.  It is  a  very  special  legal  document  which   is   clothed  in  a  special  form  of  sanctity,  aimed  at  protecting  it  from  any   ‘casual’  encroachments. Such protections include restrictions  placed  on  the  kind  of  issues  which   qualify  for  inclusion  therein;   the  special  way  in  which  the  constitution  is  enacted  (which  is  totally  different  from  the  way  the  ordinary  laws  of  the  land  are  enacted);  and   even   the  procedure  for  its  amendment,  is  demonstrably  different  from  that  which  is  followed  in  amending  the  ordinary  laws  of  the  land.
        That is  actually  what  explains  why  the  Constitutions  of   older  countries,  like  that  of  the  United  states  of  America,  has  survived  for  centuries  without  being  replaced  with  new  constitutions.  But whenever   the  need  arises  for  reforms  to  be  made  thereto,  that  is  done   simply  through  amendments.                                             

        Thus, it  is  my  strong  contention,   that   such  purely   electoral   issues,  are  not  the  kind  of   matters  that   are  not  governed  by  the  country’s  Constitution;  since  they  are  governed  by  the  country’s  electoral   laws. However, for entirely  different,  and  cogent  reasons,   we  certainly  do  need  a new  Constitution  which  will  rectify  many  areas,  including:-                     
The issue  of  providing  ‘fair  space’  for  women’s  participation.
This is one  of  the  issues  which  can  be  effectively  handled  only   through  the making  of  appropriate   reforms  to  the  Constitution,  as  clearly  evidenced  by  our  own  constitutional  history.    I am here   referring   to the   particular   issue  of  “women  in  Parliament”.
The introduction of  the  women’s  ‘special  seats’.
It may presumably be remembered by some  of  our  readers, that the main  purpose  for  the introduction   of such ‘special seats’ for  women; was to address  the gender impediment to women’s  political advancement, through   this  methodology  of   giving   them greater representation, not only in Parliament,  but  also in the Local Government Authority  Councils. 
It is for that  reason  that  the country’s  Constitution  was  amended,  initially   to include  a  new provision  for  “not less than 15%  of the total number of MPs  to be women.    And   the Local Government Laws were similarly amended to provide for  “not less than 25%  of  each  Council’s   members  to be women.   A subsequent constitutional amendment  further  raised  this percentage  point  to “not  less  that  30%.  And was further raised  in  2020 to not  less  than  40%. This provision was, however, not   intended  to  reduce ‘the open space’ which is available for competition  by  anyone  irrespective of gender,  namely  the  constituency  seats.   Instead, it was intended to   just provide for ‘extra space’  for women,  to  enter  the  Legislative  Branch  of  the  government,  and  the  Local  Authority  Councils.
But, and   indeed unfortunately, the notion  of ‘special seats’ created  two unintended   disadvantages  for the women:- One  was  there  developed  a  male  ‘conspiracy’  of   unfairly  treating  them   as  ‘preferential seats,  (with  the  negative  aim  of  lowering  their  value,  compared  to  the  regular  Parliamentary  constituency  MPs). Thus, as a consequence  thereof,  the  ‘special  seats’  MPs  tended  to  be treated   as ‘inferior class’ MPs;  a ‘male  ‘conspiracy’  which appeared  to   hurt  the  women  MPs  psychologically,   but,  to  their  great  credit,     they  bravely  continued  to  ‘soldier  on’.                

        The second disadvantage was that  this ‘special seats’ provision also  appeared to reduce  the women’s  chances of being elected  in the constituencies,  since  the  male  chauvinists  were  conspiratorially  telling    the voters  ‘not  to vote’ for any woman candidate  in  the  constituencies, “since the women have their own reserved seats in Parliament”!                                

        This deliberately crafted misleading ‘strategy’  seems to have impacted negatively  on  the   women’s  chances  of  getting  elected  in  the  constituencies. For example, in the tenth Parliament, out of 239 the   constituencies, women  candidates (of all political parties) were able to win in only 21 constituencies.  And in the eleventh Parliament, out of an increased number of 264 constituencies, women   candidates were able to win in only 26 constituencies.

The original intention was also frustrated.  
Another  unintended  outcome,  was  the  unintended  frustration  of  the  original  “intention  of  the  constitution-makers”  in  this  case, which   was  that   women   would    use  these  ‘special  seats’   only  as  “a passage  way”,   to  be  utilized  for  the  purpose  only  of  gaining  greater  confidence,  plus  experience,   which  would  equip  them  adequately  for   participation  in  the  regular   constituency  election  competitions;    for  example,   after  they  had  served  in  that  capacity  for  the  first five  years;  they  would  willingly   give  those  opportunities   to  other  women  to  enter  and  occupy  these  special  seats,  in  order  for  them  to  gain  the  same  experience;  thus  spreading  those  benefits  to  a  larger  number  of  women  in  the  community.   
However, what actually   transpired was  totally  different;  as  many  of   those  who  got  elected  to  these  ‘special seats’  did  not  want  to  leave  them;  thus   frustrating  the  good   intention  of  the  constitution-makers.         
The issue  of  the  independent  candidates’  participation in elections.
This is another matter  which  requires  a  new  Constitution,  which  will  remove  the  present  constitutional  restriction  on  the  participation  of  “private  candidates”  in  all   our  elections. These   restrictions are prescribed  in  articles  39, 47, and  67  of  the Constitution.;  and  must  have  been  introduced  for ‘good  reasons’  in  the  circumstances  of  the  times  when  they  were  imposed;  but  those   times  and  circumstances  have  now  changed.      
The issue of providing   ‘fair  space’  for  winning  elections.
         The underlying   purpose for demanding a ‘new  Constitution’,  an  ‘independent  electoral  Commission’,  etc;   is  the  desire  on  the  part  of  the  opposition  parties  to  defeat  CCM  at  a  given  general  election.  This is indeed, an entirely  valid  objective  to  be  pursued  under  the  multi-party  political  system  which  we  are  operating  in  Tanzania.     
        However, CCM’s   defeat   at past general   elections  has   not  occurred,  largely  because   of  its  inherent,  or  in-built    advantage;   namely   the  unity  of  its  very  vast  membership   population,   which  is  what  has  effectively   shielded   this  party  from  any   such  defeat.  This ‘inherent   strength’   has been  tested  twice, and  proved  to be manifestly  solid.                                                                                                                                
The first test was when   Augustine Mrema  decamped from  CCM,  just before the 1995  first multi-party general election;  with  high  expectations  of  winning     that  election  on  an  opposition  ticket.  To his great disappointment, that  did  not happen.  Which   reminds me of   the Biblical story of Samson, whose extraordinary strength lay in the hair on his head.  Mrema’s apparent   massive political strength  appears to have been rooted  in his membership of CCM;  because  soon  after  he decamped  there from,   his  political  strength  suddenly  evaporated.   
The second test came when   Edward  Lowassa, also decamped to CHADEMA  just before the 2015 general elections;   with   similarly   high  expectations  of   winning  that  election  on  an  opposition  ticket.  But, again   like  in  the Biblical Samson  story,  Lowassa’s  seemingly huge political strength  was  also embedded  in his membership of CCM,  and  similarly evaporated  when he defected to the Opposition. This evidence,  I  submit,  adequately  proves   CCM’s  inherent,  or  in-built,   institutional strength;  which  is  expressed  in its  Kiswahili slogan  of   “Chama  kwanza,   mtu  baadaye”.  
        It is conceded, however,  that  CCM  can  indeed  be  defeated  at  a general  election,   because  of  other  weaknesses,   such  as  the  following:-
The ‘self-inflicted’ injuries.   
CCM’s   biggest   election defeat threat, is  in  the area  of   “self-inflicted injuries.   These are  defined  as  ‘injuries  that  are  carelessly imposed upon itself  by  its own negligent actions’.   From my own  experience  in  the  service  of  CCM,  the   main  such   injury  has  been  its  carelessness  in the selection of its candidates  for the general elections.                            
        In my considered  opinion,   this  is  the  only  “killer  disease”  which  is  most  likely  going  to  remove  CCM  from  power;   if,  or  when,  the  party   will  fail  to select  electable   candidates.     
     The   lack of   committed   trust in  the  top  leader.
 Another   such ‘killer’ disease  that  could  cause  CCM’s  demise  from  power;    is   the  “loss  of  people’s  trust”  in  its  top  leader’.  The test of such  ‘loss  of  trust’  in   CCM’s    top-leader,  was  amply  demonstrated  during   President  Jakaya  Kikwete’s   final  term in office.  This ‘loss of  trust’   was  created  principally  by  the  emergence  of   certain   scandals,   which  were  directly  associated  with  a number  of  government leaders  in  his  government;  and,  consequently,  they   also   became  associated  with  him  as the  President.  
The said scandals  included:   
(a) the ‘Richmond scandal’,  which  eventually  led to the resignation of then Prime Minister Edward  Lowassa;  and                                 
(b)  the equally damaging scandals  which  followed  thereafter  in  very  quick  succession;   relating  to money which was allegedly  stolen from  the Central  Bank’s  External Payments Account (EPA);  scandals  which were  again  associated  with  government  leaders, including  Ministers, in   President  Kikwete’s government.  
        Naturally, such  serious   accusations   created a  great  deal  of   anger among many Tanzanians,   which  was   directed  specifically  at President  Kikwete  himself,  accusing  him of deliberately  protecting  the culprits,  in view of his alleged  failure  to take effective action against them.                      

        It is  this ‘loss of trust’  in  him,  which  drastically  reduced his election victory from  the  grand  80.25%  which he had obtained  in 2005,  down  to  61.17% , which  he received in  the  2010  Presidential  election. “Beware the ides  of  march”  (William  Shakespeare  in  Julius  Caesar,  Act  I  scene II).
piomsekwa@gmail.com/0754767576.

Source: Cde Msekwa

Of fake political debts and Ruto’s pity party

Deputy President William Ruto (fourth left) and leaders of the 12 parties that formally joined Kenya Kwanza alliance leaders after signing a coalition agreement on in Nairobi on April 12, 2022.

        Makau Mutu Professor at SUNY Buffalo Law School and Chair of the KHRC.

It’s the silly season, and so we can expect a lot of political skullduggery. In other words, anything goes. Expect a lie, or half-truth, most times when a politician, or their minion, open their mouths.

        Most educated voters will recognise an outright fib, or snake oil. But others won’t. That’s partly why democracy, as Winston Churchill famously said, is the worst form of government, except for all others. He also contemptuously opined that a five-minute conversation with the average voter is the best argument against democracy. We are stuck with those truths unless we want a dictatorship, or rule by murder. Let’s at least parse the hypocritical cries of political debts. It’s an art perfected by DP William Ruto.

        Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’I  – and I wholly agree with the one-time State University of New York employee, for which I work – that Mr Ruto is a shameless sympathy addict. I’d like to be a fly on the wall if, and when, he woos the opposite gender. The man must be a skilled pity beggar.

        You think he would be granted his heart’s desires because of the mercy of his target. That’s how Mr Ruto has approached his pleas to Kenyans for the presidency. He’s all but said that Kenyans should elect him the fifth president because they should pity him. That’s because, he says, he’s sacrificed for others who must now return the favour. Don’t shake your head.

Retinue of perks

Mr Ruto is a child of the system. He’s always suckled at the breast of the state. Even when he wasn’t in the inner sanctum of the state, he was an MP, which is part of the state. So, the man from Sugoi doesn’t know how to be out of government. The thought of being out of the state altogether completely terrifies him.

        What would he, for example, do without state protection and the retinue of perks like bodyguards, free houses and cars that come with fleecing the taxpayer? Nor would he have the ability to “eat” from public coffers. One must wonder whether he would’ve amassed his reputedly unexplained gargantuan riches without access to the state trough.

        Mr Ruto’s dependence on the state fully explains why he can’t resign as DP because he would lose all the free moolah. He would be defrocked and required to explain how he acquired it all. He doesn’t know how to live like an ordinary human being, as the rest of us do. He fakes a “hustler” tag – and a roadside chicken seller – when in actual fact he’s a political scion of the late President Daniel arap Moi. It doesn’t get any more “dynasty” than that. As the late President Mwai Kibaki would hilariously say, “Bure kabisa” [totally useless]. But Mr Ruto is a shameless political animal. He will say, or do, anything to be elected. I ain’t kidding.

        Which brings me back to Mr Ruto’s pity party. First, Mr Ruto says, without batting an eyelid, that Mr Odinga shouldn’t run against him. Instead, the right-wing conservative argues that he “made” Mr Odinga Prime Minister and, as such, the latter must endorse him for the presidency. As they say with consternation, “Awuoro!” [Mamma mia!].

        The highest office in the land isn’t a gift served on a silver platter. Only the electors can grant it, not a single person, no matter how powerful. That’s how democracy works, with all its imperfections. Mr Ruto is kvetching because of his outsized sense of entitlement. He didn’t make Mr Odinga PM, and Mr Odinga owes him zilch. His gall is appalling.

Evidence of panic

Mr Ruto should be grateful to Mr Odinga, who schooled him on a few political moves. Mr Ruto is but a political toddler to Mr Odinga. The calumny that he’s heaped on Mr Odinga – whom he must believe will eat his lunch on August 9 – is simply evidence of panic. He fears the political maestro will cannibalise him. The other person Mr Ruto seems hates with a passion is Jubilee’s Uhuru Kenyatta, his boss. Like a broken record, he and his acolytes have clung to “my 10, your 10”. This is a roadside throwaway line by Mr Kenyatta during the duo’s campaign that Mr Kenyatta would serve 10 years and pass the baton to Mr Ruto for “his 10”.

        If only wishes were horses. But they aren’t. Nevertheless, that hasn’t stopped Mr Ruto from guilt-tripping Gema with the “ten-ten” so-called community promise. Hello! What happened to democracy? Where did Mr Kenyatta get the power to auction Gema votes to Mr Ruto? And who told Mr Ruto that he could ransom Gema votes?

        This extortionist conduct is beyond the pale. Mr Odinga said “Kibaki Tosha” just as his father Jaramogi had said “Mzee Kenyatta Tosha”. Yet Mr Odinga has never claimed any debt from Gema. Mr Ruto’s hypocrisy knows no limits. I urge him to campaign without taking Gema hostage. He must stop denying individual citizens their democratic agency.

Makau Mutua is SUNY Distinguished Professor and Margaret W. Wong Professor at Buffalo Law School. He’s Chair of KHRC. @makaumutua.

Source: Sunday Nation tomorrow.

Let's democratise selection of running mate

 

                     By Makau Mutua Professor at SUNY Buffalo Law School and Chair of the KHRC.

You often have to think against the box – not outside of it – to grow an emerging democracy. They say it’s little droplets of water that make a mighty ocean. Democracy is forged one hard inch by another hard inch. It’s never achieved in miles at a stretch. And there are usually reversals in between.

        That’s because democracy is a continuous experiment, not a final destination. It’s the reason introducing the tradition of publicly vetting nominees for Deputy President of the Republic is a small step but a giant leap in Kenya’s political culture. That’s how you expand, deepen and entrench democracy in the psyches of both the hoi polloi and the elite. Let me extrapolate and elucidate.

        Azimio la Umoja One Kenya presidential candidate Raila Odinga has become the first to introduce the public vetting of DP nominees in Kenya. This isn’t unfamiliar territory for Mr Odinga. He has often gone where others haven’t gone before. And he’s done it all in pursuit of a democratic and prosperous Kenya. More than any other living Kenyan, he’s paid a heavy personal price for his courage. He’s been detained, jailed, physically beaten and exiled. I find it shocking that he doesn’t have a bone of bitterness in his body. I am not sure I would be so forgiving. He holds not a single grudge against those who’ve wronged him. He’s truly at peace, having forgiven them all.

        Mr Odinga’s towering achievements in Kenya’s political culture include his relentless leadership for the 2010 Constitution, which democratised the state, dispersed political power from the executive to other arms of the state and to the people in counties, and brought more scrutiny, accountability and transparency to governance. It’s not an exaggeration to say that he’s done more to bring democracy than any other person. That’s why it came as no surprise when he instituted a committee to publicly recommend candidates for running mate. Like every novel idea that seeks to unfreeze hierarchies of power, the idea attracted enormous support, and some opposition. The entire country was bathed in excitement. The public and the media couldn’t get enough.

        Democracy is a consequentialist system in the sense that its outcome has real-world repercussions for actual, living human beings. So, the results of the democratic franchise are extremely important. Who you elect and what policies they implement are critical. Even more important is the process of democracy itself. That’s because democracy is a process, not a result. To the extent democracy is a result, that result must affirm the legitimacy of the process itself. Legitimacy at every phase of the process. This includes the determination of candidates for public office, including the running mate. Mr Odinga’s view is that the choice of running mate shouldn’t be the exclusive preserve of one person alone, but the public’s also.

        This is why. First, the DP is a heartbeat away from being President. The DP must be ready on Day One to assume office should the need arise. That’s why involving the public in the selection gives the nominee legitimacy and wider acceptance in case they should take the reins of power. A public vetting process allows the country to give the presidential nominee wise counsel about the choices before him, or her. It widens – and deepens – the reservoir of knowledge because of disclosure of information and public debate on the suitability of those fronted as choices. How can more sunlight on the second highest officeholder be a bad thing? Knowledge and information are formidable tools in any democracy. Secondly, public vetting allows the country to debate the criteria and the requirements for the office of running mate and the candidates. Important factors such as inclusivity, the place of regional, gender, age, social status, race, and ethnicity in the selection process become poignant. Do these different demographics feel affirmed by the process? Is the process a backroom deal between powerful ethnic potentates where the one selected is only accountable to a mafia or cartels? Once in office, will the DP nominee rebel against the President or sabotage the government? What message does the selection send to little girls, or the marginalised? Does the choice bring a huge basket of votes, excite the people, or anger them?

        The public’s inclusion in the choice of running mate partially tells Kenyans the state belongs to them, not just the presidential candidate. It says the elite shouldn’t simply disregard the people when they bargain among themselves. The process shows the humility of those who’ve agreed to be publicly vetted. It affirms that no one – no matter their station in life – is too big to be “interviewed” by the people of Kenya. Importantly, it closes the door on those who argue that being publicly vetted is “humiliating”. On the contrary, it’s a rare privilege for anyone to be interviewed for the office of DP. Let’s thank Baba for growing our democratic political traditions.

Makau Mutua is SUNY Distinguished Professor and Margaret W. Wong Professor at Buffalo Law School. He’s chair of KHRC. @makaumutua.

Source: Sunday Nation today.

THIS IS A NEW YORK RACIST MONSTER PAYTON GENDRON

If there is anything I can say is racism is real and healthy. Again, why do young people show more proclivity to it than adults? Is it because they are the victims of adult racist manoeuvres taught at home? This monster was acclaimed by police after doing the right thing in the eyes of racists. If this dog were nonwhite, he'd have already been past tense. Provide that racism is enshrined in the US, this coldblooded killer is still breathing. Stupid racists hates Black Americans while they are the ones who brought them?