AND TO ALL… A BLESSED CHRISTMAS

I hope that we remember that it was only this time last year that we were barely talking to each other due to divisions along tribal lines, and having heated discussions on various memorandum of promises that were being made to us left, right, and center. Little did we know the mayhem that lay ahead of us after we cast our precious votes as we’d surely taken for granted the diversity of people and opinions that exist in our beloved country; we’d also taken for granted how rich the rich are and how poor the poor are.

If we learned anything last year, is should be that however much one sweeps dirt under the imaginary carpet… one day the carpet will need to be removed and dusted outside for all to see. Basically, the more we deny that we are a tribal nation, the more we deny that there are people who barely make it through a day, that we are a promiscuous nation and that HIV/AIDS is spreading, that this centralized system of government isn’t necessary the best for our diverse nation. The more we deny the more of what happened at the beginning of the year will erupt once again without hesitance in the coming years and our dirty linen will surely be draped on the streets for all to see, as it was earlier this year.

I think it’s time we accept that serikali/the government cannot and will not take up the full burden that is moving this Nation forward. We need to accept that the man/woman you vote in to represent and defend you and your rights, will not do that 100% of the time; let alone 20%. We need to accept that most (if not all) of those individuals are in it for themselves and we need to be as selfish as they are when it comes to guarding the future of our country.

We need to be the ones to come together and see how we can accomplish Vision 2009 let alone 2030 as the global economic crunch is yet to be felt in it’s full effect come next year. Therefore the question begs, what are we doing to ensure that people don’t die of hunger or that the Matatu prices aren’t as exorbitant as they are threatening to be? How can we ensure that all Ministers function like Honorable Michuki i.e. get things done and accomplished to the betterment of our society. These and many other questions will be up for discussion come next year, and what are you willing to do to make sure that we aren’t just complaining in our homes/pubs/churches but actually doing something about it.

As we start to draft our new year’s resolutions, I hope that one of them will be the need to pray for this country, because that need is real and it needs to be real in our lives on a constant basis. So as I wish you a happy festive season, I also extend a prayer to you, your family, neighbours and our nation; that we might make it through the coming year and have God to thank for it.

GIVE US OUR DROP MR. MP

First it was the statement by Honorable Speaker Marende that equated paying tax to a charitable activity. Now it’s Honorable Khalalwe suggesting that even if MPs paid tax on their excess allowances it would only be like a drop in the ocean! I almost fell off the unstable seat in the fast moving matatu I was in when I heard that statement today morning on the news! What Mr. MP? Did you just tell us to cease making a fuss over you paying taxes on your over priced allowances just because it won’t amount to much in the greater scheme of things? 

A drop of anything can make a great deal of difference: Isn’t the whole “Kick polio out” campaign based on a drop? A drop of vital vaccine that all mothers right now are queuing to prevent their children from contracting polio? What if every drop of rain decided that there was no point of dropping because by itself, it won’t be able to make much of a difference; wouldn’t the whole world be a desert and every last human being would have died of thirst millions of years ago?

That one drop that you are denying us right now could be the camel’s straw that opens the nation’s floodgates of prosperity. That one drop that you feel won’t make much of a difference together with the other drops that we are currently visualizing for 2030; could be the stepping stone to us achieving all we dream of as a country. That drop is like the butterfly’s wing flap that could cause a tornado on the other side of the world – to put it simply – it will make a great difference.

But Mr. MP it is not only about how much of a difference paying taxes will make; it’s also about the gesture. All Kenyans pay tax. Do you consider yourself a Kenyan? If so, then tow the line with the other 30 something million Kenyans who do so every month; and stop giving us similes and analogies that don’t make sense in this day and age unless they are in an English text book published for 8-4-4 primary school education.

On that note I would like to wish all our Members of Parliament a Merry Christmas and a Happy New 2009; as you close official chamber business till March. I know it’s been a tough year of working very hard to silence demonstrators, avoid tax payments, pass contentious bills, give fake promises, and insult each other outside chambers.

I kindly request that during this season of giving, that you make time to keep at least two or three charitable visits to those who  voted you in (rather than wait for 2012 when you need their vote again) and also to those who have no chance to rest this season as life has to go on and food as to be on the table. I also request that you visit one IDP camp in your constituency; and make a fuss about dropping off some inexpensive Ugali flour so that they too can have a merry festive season.

I hope, I wish, I pray…that come March 2009 you will have rested enough to come back to work, pull up your sleeves and put in as much effort into shaping the nation’s building blocks like the rest of us do on a day to day basis.

WHO IN PARLIAMENT IS FIGHTING FOR YOU?

There is a lot of stuff going on in my country, most of which I’m not entirely sure I understand. One of them is the Media bill that has managed to cause problems at exactly the same time last year. I hear that all is good with it except for the part where the Minister of  Information has a right to raid media stations and take what they decide is banishable equipment and information. Personally, I think that’s just a bad idea because it’s tantamount to giving the estate watchman the right to come yank your TV out of your house because you are watching something that is likely to pit you against the estate management of the day. Yes that example is far fetched but it proves the point that the said clause is that ridiculous! In any case I am not expert in the matter of the said bill but I do have a heart and that’s what I am going to speak with in this post.

On the evening of February 28th 2008 we all watched in glee as President Kibaki and Right PM Raila shook hands with Kofi Annan to start the process of forming the coalition government. I’m not sure if it was because that meant the end of the fighting or because we actually believed in the new government structure. Which ever it is there are people right now in the cold and/or hot sun under flimsy structures they have called their homes for the passed 10months who can barely remember that day because they were hearing of the news from the very same flimsy structures they are in now.  Despite the fact that some might have been moved to other camps, or others tried to go back home and others did a smart thing by buying land together, either way these are people who only last year were able bodied and capable of sustaining their lives something they are dearly struggling with as I write this. These are people who believed that their vote is a guarantee of a secure future for both them and their families. These are people who today have lost all hope in a system of government that promised to ensure that their basic needs and freedom of living in this country would be catered for.  These people are Kenyans whose basic but clear lesson that is never to be forgotten is that once you become a Kenyan Member of Parliament selective amnesia checks in and it is only slightly curable come the next general elections.

The thing we didn’t realize on that 28th day of February is that with a coalition government there wasn’t any opposition. An opposition is basically supposed to fight the government of the day on issues that will affect the mwananchi both positively or negatively. There was some slight hullabaloo a few months ago about the formation of the grand opposition; and the question begs of where those that were calling for this grand idea are right now? Or have they realized the momentous task that is defending the people of Kenya? Have they realized that it is better to be ensconced in the backseat of privilege and fortune rather than on front line of making sure that every Kenyan gets his rights, gets a home, gets his maize that constitutes a major part of all the “probable” 3 square meals a day? Let it be noted that the very people in the government right now and especially the President and his Prime Minister were only less than 10 years ago fighting with Wanjiku on the various battles against the Moi Regime; and that they, especially the Prime Minister was harassed by the very same police force that was seen shutting up and beating down one Mr. Odhiambo and locking up activists, journalists and youths on our 45th birthday last Friday. But not only do those in power not empathize but they don’t sympathize at all; after all they have fought their battles and long won the war of getting them within the chambers of plenty that all know are well paying, and comfortable’ whilst escalating them into the life of being among the haves of these country.

In my suggestion if the media wanted to make itself useful they should have a media black out rather than running on the streets because the very same people they are demonstrating to are the very same ones that perfected the street battles of the 90s. Let there be a Media Black out to all MPs wherever they maybe, be it in the funerals or weddings or community activities where they are said to be generously donating money from their excess allowances or even to the Jamhuri day celebrations. Black them out till they agree to pay taxes on their allowances. Black them out till every last Kenyan citizen refugee  is back on their feet and homes eking a living like they were less than 12 months ago. Black them out till they realize that the very same Media they are attacking put them in the 222 seats they now occupy with much grandiose.

Let the media only report to us things that will help us wananchi move forward as a country. Let’s see on our TV screens and radio speakers stories about people and/or communities that have decided enough is enough let’s do it on our own – let us be the ones to cater for the future generations because no one else will. Let’s look to the private sector and learn from people who had start up companies only couple of years ago and are doing well because of sheer determination and hard work. Let’s look to those who get things done and bring benefit to the man on the street. Let’s do this because clearly we have very few if at all no role models in our current Parliament.

However, since everyone has freedom of speech (but only if you aren’t against the government) – IF you think I’m being absurd I request that you give me a name, just one, of an MP who is fighting tooth and nail for Wanjiku on the issues of the day.

I am waiting.

WHITE RIBBON CAMPAIGN

NO TAXES FOR MPS. NO TAXES FOR ORDINARY KENYANS.

Join the Partnership for Change in demanding equal treatment for all Kenyans.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

1. Attend the official Jamhuri Day celebrations and join other Kenyans in demanding for tax relief. Wear a white ribbon or black T-shirt to show support.
2. Withhold your income and other taxes until changes are made.
3. Avoid buying products from shops that have ETRs and avoid buying items that have a bar-code so that you can avoid paying VAT.
4. Reduce or avoid consumption of pre taxed products such as beer, sodas and cigarettes.
5. Reduce or avoid purchase of luxury goods until changes are made in solidarity with the poor.
6. Buy products from local kiosks that do not charge VAT.
7. Participate in prayers, demonstrations, processions and other non violent actions.
8. Give this message to other Kenyans.
9. Communicate your discontent to politicians.

On Jamuhuri Day, December 12, 2008 we shall demand:

That tax relief is given to the poor. All taxes on food, electricity are removed to reduce prices by between 30 and 60% and give relief for millions.

That all Kenyans be treated equally. Either all Kenyans, including judges and MPs are required to pay income taxes or NO KENYAN SHOULD PAY INCOME TAX. It is unfair to allow the rich and the powerful to evade tax while misusing the contributions of the poor. Even the poor have the right to withhold their tax.

That the government stops paying for corruption including Anglo-Leasing and Ken Ren Fertilizer factory immediately. That the money committed to redemption of such “debts” be reallocated to development purposes and the origin of such debts must be investigated to identify the culprits.

That the government spends at least 60% of the budget on development that will benefit all Kenyans instead of spending 85% of our budget on salaries, luxury, travel, allowances, flashy cars and fuel for a few politicians.

That the government stops borrowing money to pay for luxuries and corruption, the international community should assist the Kenyan people to clean their external debt register of bogus debts.

TAX BOYCOTT

If the government fails to do that, we ask that all patriotic Kenyans join us in refusing to pay taxes to a cruel and wasteful government that does not care about us. We must withhold our taxes. We pay the most taxes (over 70%) through VAT and we can stop or reduce our payments to the Government.

KULIPA USHURU BILA MASHARTI NI KUWEZESHA WIZI, ULAFI, UFISADI NA UMANGIMEZA!!

Ordinary Kenyans must not continue to give money to a government that does not spend the money wisely. We have enough problems to take care of with no support from the government.

Join the Partnership for Change. Visit our websites for more information:

Watch Enough is Enough (A Call to Action by the Partnership for Change Part 1-4)

OF KENYANS AND WORD OF MOUTH

Now there are some people who might get ticked off when we say, “You know we as Kenyans, we….” mainly because humanity tends to be the same across the globe. But in our defense, we as Kenyans are very special in some nuances that we poses, whether or not others across the world do the same or not – it’s not up to me to find out but only talk of what I know.

Just before I stepped out for lunch an accident occurred right outside our office on Waiyaki Way and as I type this the sound of an ambulance is rife in the air. Gladly no one died and at least the traffic jam is easing off as we speak. But what made me write this post is the fact that as soon as I heard the screeching sound I was up on my feet ready to investigate as best I could what had occurred. It’s amazing how only 2-3 split seconds after an accident or a breakdown there is a crowd which only a few seconds before was no where to be seen; and always in this crowd is a mechanic ready to offer a hand with his tools wrapped up in a tool cloth to boot.

As soon as I set foot outside the office building I spotted a watch man with a look on concern on his face, returning from the direction of the accident. I  quickly realized I could make very good use of another Kenyan tendency and save myself the trip to the scene of the accident – word of mouth. I briefly asked what happened and sure enough a quick but descriptive and accurate account of what occurred was given to me with much aplomb. I was made to understand where the car was coming from (hand gestures included), at what speed, how many passengers were present and what specifically caused the accident. The summary was that no one was hurt and it therefore seemed there was no more to report.

With such concrete information at hand I was ready to pass on the information in case anybody had the need to know… sadly there was no one so I proceeded for my lunch and decided to come share it with the world.