SONG LYRICS THAT SEND PEOPLE TO JAIL.

Kenya is really a state on the path of positive transformation. Apparently, and much to the relief of most citizens, hate speeches can no longer be tolerated nor condoned. It turns out that even recording songs that carry messages that could easily be misconstrued as an incitement to sections or the entire public, will not augur well with the relevant authorities. The release of such songs, the citizenry has learnt, comes at much too high a cost.

Musician Kamande Wa Kioi when he was taken into police custody following his controversial song.

As I write this article, a famous Kenyan musician is warming the cold floors of a police cell. Thing is, he recorded and released a vernacular song that supposedly carries an incitement message. The said mantra praises Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta while it tells off Prime Minister Raila Odinga. Both are presidential aspirants in the upcoming general election.

Kenya’s National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) felt that the song would fuel ethnic hatred. The commission set out to have it translated so that they could come to terms with the full magnitude of ethnic vulgarity carried in it. This was followed by the subsequent arrest of the musician, as it turned out the song’s wording bordered on offensive.

National Cohesion and Integration Commission chair - Mzalendo Kibunjia; the commission has set out to crack the whip on songs that contain inciting messages.

Two other musicians have also found themselves in a sticky situation with the law. They too are under investigation for recording and releasing songs that allegedly carry incitement messages. As soon as the National Cohesion and Integration Commission verifies these concerns, they will be joining their colleague as guests of the state.

Musician John De' Matthew - He is under investigation over incitement and hate speech allegations in his song

Musician Muigai Wa Njoroge - He is also under investigation and risks trial if he's found with a case to answer.

The trio could face charges of incitement and hate speech, counts that attract hefty sentences and cash fines. You will agree with me, seven years as a guest of the state is no mean exploit. Cash fines could spiral as high as well over one million Kenya shillings. In a worst case scenario, a guilty verdict could see them slapped with both the jail term and cash fine. If that is not an expensive affair, I really don’t know what is.

As the democratic space in Kenya widens, citizens are reminded that abuse of the same could prove to be a curse rather than a blessing. The freedom of speech that is provided for in the new constitution should be used for national cohesion and integration. Respect for the rule of law cannot be overemphasized. No single person is above the law, be they rich or poor. No tribe is better than the other, all are equally important. And after all is said and done, we will remain citizens of Kenya.

As I pen off, I heartily applaud his Excellency the President for rejecting bills that did not reflect the wishes and views of the country’s majority. That said, I move on to express optimism that indeed better days lie ahead for Kenya. The journey of a thousand miles in the right direction starts with one step. This was indeed one of those; steps I mean!

SOCIAL NETWORKS AND THE BLOCKBUSTER RACE TO KENYA’S STATEHOUSE .

I’ve been watching the Kenyan politics playing out on the social networks with a keen eye. Interesting facts divulge that competition is intensifying, with the major presidential aspirants seeking to reach out to as many people as they can. In so doing, they hope to endear themselves to likely voters.

Apparently, social networks will largely influence who becomes Kenya’s next president. About seventy percent of the country’s voters are youths. Most of them while away their free time on the social networks, such as facebook and tweeter. It then goes without saying that reaching out to this block of voters is a wise thing for any aspirant to do.

Martha Karua carries her tablet which she uses to connect on social networks

Uhuru Kenyatta has the most followers on facebook

                 

Martha Karua is said to be the most active presidential aspirant on tweeter and facebook. She engages in question and answer sessions with citizens who bombard her with critic and praise in equal measure. She constantly updates her status and uploads photos of the various events she attends. It has also been noted that her facebook fan page was the only Kenyan personage page that had the most likes for the longest time standing.

Uhuru Kenyatta, another presidential aspirant, recently managed to surpass Karua, and he currently has the most likes on facebook. Kenyatta reaches out to his supporters through status updates, informing them of what he is up to and uploading photos of the events he attends. He too has his fair share of fans and critiques.

Both Kenyatta and Karua have followings of well over 150,000 people each and are the two aspirants with the largest followings on facebook. There is a notably big gap between them and the other candidates; Raila Odinga, William Ruto, Peter Kenneth, Kalonzo Musyoka and Raphael Tuju.

Kalonzo Musyoka

Peter Kenneth

Raila Odinga

William Ruto

Raphael Tuju

A closer look into the pages of some these aspirants will reveal a disconcerting detail. People who like the pages are mostly from the community or tribe of the aspirant. Tribal politics have cost Kenya a big deal and an intimation of gravitation towards the same is definitely distasteful.

It is however encouraging to note that the pages of some of the aspirants have people from diverse communities and tribes almost in equal numbers. This means that the hope of getting a good leader is not lost.

It is entrenched clearly in the new constitution that the person elected president of the republic must have garnered at least 50% plus 1 of the entire votes cast. Also, he/she must garner at least 25% of votes cast in 24 counties.

This provision in the constitution is out to ensure that the person who becomes president is one who is acceptable countrywide and with a national outlook. The said individual will for that reason be the president of all Kenyans and not just the tribe or region that he/she comes from.

It is disheartening to see citizens attacking each other on social networks on the basis of their tribes. The Communications Commission of Kenya has vowed to crack the whip on such individuals, so as to avoid a repeat of the 2007/2008 post poll aggression.

The political heat wave sweeping across Kenya’s social network is definitely one to look out for. The pre-election period is an especially imperative one. The fact that potential voters can engage with the aspiring leaders is a plus, as it will ensure Kenyans have an avenue to vet them. If used well, social networks will help Kenyans make informed choices. If misused however, it could prove to be very pricey to a country that needs to maintain peace and stability.

Kenyans should think about their country and what’s best for all citizens and future generations. A leader should be voted in not by virtue of their tribe, or how moneyed they are, but by virtue of their development track record, reform agenda and what good they can bring to the country.

KENYANS, even those in Diaspora, Your vote is your voice so vote wisely!!!!

 

THE WOMAN WHO WOULD BECOME KENYA’S NEXT PRESIDENT

In a developing country where the notion that “the place of the woman is in the kitchen” still holds roots, and where chauvinism cannot be wished off, one woman is standing tall against all odds. She has set out to counter any dispiriting forces as she embarks on a daring mission in the race to succeed incumbent Kenyan president; Mwai Kibaki. It has emerged, much to the dismay of her critics that her candidacy no longer can be looked down upon; she’s a force to reckon with.

Martha Karua

Martha Karua has been the Gichugu constituency legislator for the last two decades and still counting. She is indisputably one of the most powerful female politicians in Kenya and thus it was not surprising the stirrups that her declaration that she would be seeking the country’s presidency elicited.

The fifty four year old law maker has for the longest time been giving the top Kenyan political class a run for their money. Hers is a strong and matchless personality that has led to her been branded as “the iron lady of Kenyan politics”.

Her fearless persona has seen her gain prominence in the Kenyan political scene, while at the same time endearing her more to the Kenyan electorate. The most memorable of which are when she walked out on former president Moi, and in the not so distant past when she resigned from her cabinet position, citing frustration in delegation of her duties. The latter was a big blow to president Kibaki, since Karua had been very vocal in campaigning for his second term, what had seen her branded “the only man in PNU” by ODM parliamentarians.

She is renowned for strongly advocating for the rule of law in Kenya, fighting fearlessly for equality among all citizens. Another of her potency is her valiant combat of corruption in the country. She has also been a leading crusader for the widening of democratic space and gender issues in Kenya.

Karua has in recent days been engaging Kenyan citizens in her series of campaigns, as she seeks to familiarize herself with the issues on the ground. She is the most active presidential aspirant on social media, commanding well over 150,000 followers on facebook, one of the largest followings commanded by a single individual in Kenya. She comes in at a very close second to Uhuru Kenyatta, himself a presidential aspirant.

Her critiques say that being a “lone ranger” may work against her, claims that Karua has disproved saying that she is banking on the endorsement of the Kenyan electorate and not that of her fellow politicians.

Martha karua flags off a cycling event in aid of the orphans and the less fortunate

The NARC –KENYA leader promises to tackle the issue of corruption as a matter of urgency should she clinch the presidency. She blames corruption and the major cartels running the show in the Kenyan economy for making the cost living in the country rise to unmanageable levels, leaving ordinary Kenyans struggling to survive.

Martha Karua engaging with the public during her campaigns

Political analysts have observed that her proven development track record as a minister and mp coupled with the fact that her campaign is issue based and not merely political play may work in her favor. In the meantime Karua continues to engage the citizenry through tweets, status updates and establishing secretariats throughout the country ahead of the phenomenal presidential election.

Could this woman be Kenya’s next president? ......only time will tell……

THE KENYAN POLITICAL-MATURITY QUESTION.

The political heat wave is sweeping across Kenya with the flurry of presidential hopefuls trying to woo voters to their camps ahead of the country’s poll at a date yet to be confirmed. The election date had been dictated by the constitution as the second Tuesday of August every five years, but a cabinet sitting resolved that it would be impossible to hold the elections on the stipulated date, citing time constraints. The cabinet is now in the process of moving a bill to parliament that seeks to amend the election date to December.

This move has been faced with a lot of resistance by the civil society and some politicians, terming it as a plot by the government to ensure that they stay in power thereby unlawfully extending their term. This amidst recent polls show that most Kenyan’s would prefer the elections to be held in August as stipulated by the newly promulgated constitution.

What is set to be Kenya’s most historic election since her independence has attracted the largest number of hopefuls yet seen in the history of the country’s race to statehouse. The elections come in the wake of a new constitutional dispensation, which will see immense changes in the country’s system of governance.

In the race are some of Kenya’s renowned politicians as well as fresh entrants into the political scene. It is interesting though not surprising the heated debates that recent poll ratings of various candidates are eliciting from different quarters.

In a country where the voting lines are fast changing, it has become very tricky for analysts to predict exactly how Kenyans are going to elect the next holder of the country’s top office. Speculation is the best shot one can take, seeing as Kenyans have previously voted along tribal lines and from the influence of powerful politicians.

 This trend has however been seen to change during the various by-elections held in the recent past. The same was also the case during the referendum to vote in the new constitution. Kenyan’s are seen to have made their independent decision, despite all the pressure and influence  coming from powerful quarters and the religious front for a ‘NO’ vote.

It is this very factor that analysts are unsure if to interpret as political maturity on the side of Kenyans, or if the bug of tribal politics could come biting again come 2012. There are two likely scenarios to this tale, where the first could see Kenyans vote along tribal lines as was the case in previous elections. The second scenario could see the electorate, as was the case in the referendum and the by-elections; make an informed and independent decision. This will result to voting in a candidate by virtue of their impressive track- record and noble agenda for the country, as well as having an immaculate CV devoid of scandals and corruption allegations.

Whichever scenario plays out, everyone is watching with anticipation as the political drama, unfolding with every new dawn, promises to keep keen followers fascinated for quite some time.