Let's make 2012 sing us a better song, 2011 was off-key!

Kenya has had one tragedy after another, there is no day that passes by without a new report of fatal road accidents, massive deaths from fires started at leaking fuel pipelines.  The latest has been the KCPE results fall out.  Children committing suicide because they have "failed" their end of primary school examinations.  Teachers who also do likewise, since they perceive they have failed as teachers.  Principals and teachers being chased away from schools with sticks and stones, irate parents shutting down schools.  I read in a local daily, that there was a suggestion to turn the worst performing school's facilities into a brick making business, since clearly it cannot be used as an institution of learning.

There is talk of changing the education system.  My opinion is, we must realise, when people feel the need to end their lives, it is very rarely because of one event.  Usually, the event is the final straw that breaks the camel's back.  The cost of living is so high, most of us are wound up as tight as a guitar string.  Many of the comforts we occasionally enjoyed have long been forgotten, and now even what we considered bare necessity, we have to do without.  Many families are down to one meal a day dinner.  Many now use charcoal because LPG and Electricity prices are unbelievable.  The festive season has just ended, characterised by high prices of everything, the fuel, the food, the fun, everything cost twice as much, and many did not bother to celebrate at all, they simply sat it out.

Add on top of this the threat from the Al Shabaab.  No fireworks, no street parties, because we could be bombed any time.  There are families that had Christmas without their daddies, because they are in Somalia in Operation Linda Nchi.  Now the year has begun, and we are all waiting to hear the decision from the Pre-Trial Chamber of the ICC on the fate of the "Ocampo 6" as they are now famously known.

This is an election year, parties are being formed every morning, and then there is the new Political Parties Act, (that is a whole topic on its own I tell you) that has changed the ball game completely.  Everyone is scrambling to hold party elections to remove politicians from office.  The politicians don't seem to get it, they cannot "own" or "run" parties legally anymore.  Their mistake my gain, since I belong to a newly registered party too, and all our ducks so far seem to be in a row.

We need to pray for this land.  We need a newness, a freshness, so that all we hope to achieve in the implementation of the Constitution as far as Institutional Strengthening is concerned, is actually achieved.  I voted No during the Referendum in 2010, but I have since realised, I had more interest in seeing real change than some so-called "Reformists"  who do things more out of personal gain and political expediency than real genuine love for this land.

This is the year folks, we sink or swim.  Unless we get fed up with all the man-made tragedies and disasters around us, we shall keep having the same issues plaguing us over and over again.  Let us take stock, stand up and be counted.

A prophet has no honour in his home town.

This week the Parliamentarians and other Constitutional Office Holders received a salvo from the Taxman.  Pay your taxes in arrears or we send you auctioneers!!  During the pre-referendum era, many politicians tried to encourage the Church leaders to enter an MoU with the Principals to ensure our objections are taken care of once the Constitution is passed.  This is because, they too were objecting to the passing of the Constitution, because they would be taxed.  They had a famous meeting where the President assured them that they would not be taxed until the next time round when elections are held.  Now the Tax-man is calling, and the Principals are quiet.  As the elders said it, "Wametulia kama maji ya mtungi!"

The immediate former Chief Justice is the one who swore the President into office at dusk.  The Chief Justice demoted the then Registrar Christine Meoli and sent her back to the Trenches of the Court Corridors.  He embarked on building himself a glorious court in Milimani, only now for Willy Mutunga to occupy it!  The Ocampo 6 each played a role in the getting into power of the two Principals.  Now they are facing the music alone, with their Principals safely here one dosing away in State House and the other strategising on how to get into power next year!

I'm sorry if I come across today as being cocky, and sounding very "I-told-you-so" like, it is just that sometimes, one has to be reminded, hopefully they will learn from it.  My son is very Curious George cheeky. (If you don't know Curious George, search YouTube to see him in action.)  Every time there was a black out and we would light candles, my son would always keep us busy trying to keep him from the flickering flame.  One day there was a black out so we lit a candle.  He was drawn to the flame.  I kept saying to him, "don't touch, it is hot hot hot" he would back off whilst I was looking at him.  When he thought I was looking away, he put his little finger into the flame.  Well, he got burnt.  I looked back at him.  He had folded his burnt finger into his little fist, and had bit his lower lip and tears were welling up in his eyes.  When I asked what was wrong, he could not even talk, simply shook his head.  Finally he burst into wails and ran into my arms holding his little finger up.  I kissed and made it better, and he calmed down.  Suffice it to say, to date, I have not stopped using candles, but I have never had to tell him to not put his finger in the candle, he knows what it means.

Whenever you warn someone of impending danger, sometimes they do not heed the warning, simply because they know you too well.  They have seen you in your failings and your sufferings, there is no way to convince them that there is any authority behind your warning.  I must admit, one must test every word, lest you be misguided into doing something very foolish.  However, I am now very proud of the stand the Church took.  Since this Constitution was passed, things have been unfolding and the reaction is sometimes shock and disbelief.  One of my life's mantras is "Those who fail to learn from history are duty bound to repeat it."  Whenever we raise objections or make noise, it is because we have looked at other people who had the same glorious promises being made to us made to them.  Now in hindsight, they wish they had left it alone.  The only consolation is it may be a shock to others, but for me, I simply sip my tea and look at it from a distance.  One day, they may learn to listen to my voice.

Again, time to run pick the babies, sorry, big children (the Teacher said to not call them babies so I have to retrain my head to call them children!!)  Have a blessed time y'all

Ocampo 6 at the Hague, finally

The Ocampo 6 as they have come to be infamously known have finally gone off to The Hague to stand trial.  I know the outcome may not be what most Kenyans expect, being a former magistrate, I know not all cases are cut and dry, and proving a case takes more than "everybody knows he did it!".  Some may come out of the Hague smelling distinctly of lavender, whilst others may be stripped of their designer perfume to release the honk underneath.

Whatever the outcome, one thing I am grateful for is the genius given to Judge Waki in including the Hague option.  True, as a dissenting opinion from the Pre-Trial Chamber pointed out, Kenya's case is not one that warrants the ICC, but the fact that it is there means Kenya's usual trial and error system will be spared the pressure of trying these ones.  None of their kind have ever been found on the wrong here before, let us see if someone at the Hague will say what we Kenyans have been hoping to say all along. 
"You just can't do this to someone and get away with it, you have to be held accountable."
"You may not have held the gun or the machete, but you spurred someone else on to do it, you are just as culpable."
"It doesn't matter that you have a flag on your car or that your dad was our founding father, answer the questions asked."

Finally, it is not "our people" being persecuted, it is individual names on charge sheets, in the dock.  Whatever happens, how ever it ends, as far as I'm concerned, its ended here.  Never again shall we go back.  Now, Kenya's Judiciary needs to style up to be spared the shame of having someone else do a job that you are completely capable of doing.  We do not doubt that you CAN do it, what we don't know is if you WILL do it, so its easier to outsource. 

Ocampo 6 (and all your 40 bridesmaids who have nothing better than to come wipe your sniffing noses and your trembling hands) all the best.  My prayer is that God's will for you will be done.