Constitution Implementation Fathers

The US citizens have enormous respect for their founding fathers for the foresight and the vision they had when they founded their republic. One thing comes to mind when I read the history of US is the process of writing the declaration of independence. The base upon which US laws are based upon.

In Kenya we had a great Constitution Commission of Kenya which bequeathed us a new constitution and in their wisdom and foresight they created a Constitution Implementation Commission. The also went ahead to make sure that none of the commissioners in CCK would sit in this commission. At first I thought we would not find able bodied Kenyan’s to fit into these commissions.

Enter Charles Nyachae & his Commission

However, I was proved wrong. The constituted 8 member constitution commission has been a representation of the new Kenya. It has stood its ground on enactment of new legislations sometimes coming at odds with legislatures, hawk eyed on the time schedules spelt out in the constitution and vocal on the need to implement the letter and spirit of new law.

The commission chairman has moved out of his way to always stick out his head when key issues that are incidental to implementation of the new constitution are being addressed. Perhaps this may have rubbed those in authority in the wrong way. Given the fact that the commission are yet to be paid their dues six months on the line and despite this HUGE shortcoming from the government we came to learn of this fact a month ago when it was first reported in the blog-sphere.

The commission has placed its ‘eyes on the antelope’ as PLO Lumumba would put it despite the non payment of their dues. To add insult to injury a section of the government has been calling for the renegotiation of their pay perks downwards!

Chip of the old block?

It is worthwhile to note that most of us had not heard about Charles BUT were familiar with Simeon Nyachae the formers father who was a career civil servant in provincial administration before plunging into politics and becoming the King of Kisii land. He later served in cabinet in various positions and at one time rose to the position of Finance Minister during Moi administration. He later broke ranks with his mentor President Moi and joined the 2002 NARC and served in Kibaki’s first administration. Mr. S. Nyachae vied for the presidency under Ford People in 2007.

Gandalf the White?

I do NOT seek to judge the son Charles based on the father Mr. S. Nyachae because he has shown to us and the world that he is his own man.  

Mr Charles Nyachae, the chairman of the Commission on Implementation of the Constitution (CIC). Photo/Nation

Source: link

In fact we have come to recognise the chair of CIC by his trade mark white beard (which reminds me of Gandalf the white in the Lord of the Rings-The two towers). 

Southern Sudan. Free at last?

July is turning out to be a historic month in many fronts. Last weekend July 9, 2011 witnessed the birth of the republic of Southern Sudan. The previous day had seen the final flight of US space shuttle program. End of US monopoly in space? Well the jury is NOT yet out on this one.

Neighbourhood

Back at home (Kenya) there has been lots of discussion of what this ‘new’ neighbour (South Sudan) means to us! Kenya was the host of the negotiation for the peace process and is home to many Southern Sudan. Going by what I have been hearing we seem to be expecting too much from this young nation. Considering it said to have a huge oil wealth and lots of resources which are yet to be mined.

Resent Events

Kenya is among the first nations in the world to recognise Southern Sudan and there has been talk of Southern Sudan joining the East African Community.

It is too early to judge what role Kenya is playing in the new Salva Kiir’s administration in Juba. But going by sentiments witnessed on television, NTV (Nation Television) Kenya wants to reap the peace dividends.

Major TV broadcasters cancelled their schedules to broadcast live the happenings in Southern Sudan. In fact I had gone home early expecting to watch some bit of live TV and the usual county madness of Lolani Kalu on NTV only to realise NTV had cancelled it’s county screening and moved to juba

So we were able to watch the pre and post independence celebrations of the people of South Sudan where also Kenyan elites had gone to witness the birth of the new republic.

Political pundits were also on TV giving their views on how the unfolding events were going to impact Kenya.

The dallies were also not left behind and Kenyan political differences were put aback and the headlines focused on Southern Sudan with tag line lines ‘Southern Sudan, free at last’.

So 1960’s in the region

So all of a sudden we get a feel of what our folks felt like in 1960’s going by the celebrations emanating from South Sudan. If a global happiness index is to be conducted then Southern Sudan would top the world rankings.

The Future and Destiny of South Sudan

I am happy to see the Sudanese who have been able to fulfil ‘the right to self determination’ and thus they have become the newest member of global states (193 according to UN).

However, the hard part of nation building has began and they young nation will be confronted by key questions such as;

• How to undertake Nation building (How this new state is going to carry out the delicate process of nation building).
• How to handle the issue of Abiyei (oil rich region)
• How to use the oil resources.
• Its relation with Kenya. How the new administration in Juba views Kenya and how it interacts with Kenya.

Nobel Peace Prize

As the South try a hand in nation building it would be good for the Norwegian committee to realise they extraordinary feat and perhaps reward the parties that secured the peace in this unstable region. Perhaps, the Somali’s might have been watching the events as they unfolded and might be convinced otherwise!

Maestro Ricardo Muti in Town!

On the second weekend of July, 2011 Nairobi was treated to a rare treat of classical music when Chicago Orchestra conductor Ricardo Muti came to town for a concert and conducted Orchestra Cherubini in Uhuru Park.

New Grounds

This concert was a first of its kind in many aspects. It was the first time that Ravenna Festival's Roads of Friendship initiative was in sub-Sahara Africa having previously performed for a northern African country.

It was also a first time an orchestra which boost of over 400 pieces performed in Kenya if not in the region.

The other aspect that got me thinking during the concert was the location. Yes Uhuru park is either associated with political event (Ocampo 3 home coming party comes to mind!), Preachers who know to effectively how to use public space (who at times can be a pain in the neck with their end time gospel while asking for a quid) and lovers! Since I am based at Kilimo I am forced to pass by the hollowed grounds BUT I try to go round them less cupid whom I think might reside there may set a glimpse on me!

That said the concert showcased that indeed the grounds can be salvaged from this tag lines.

Breaking Traditions

This concert also broke other traditions which might NOT be seemingly be clear to the eye. In Kenya cultural activities are mostly a prerequisite of the French BUT the Italian staged a cultural coup at Uhuru Park!

This Festival, according to what I have read was set up by an array of many players starting with the Vice Presidents office (who graced the festival despite there being independence celebrations in Southern Sudan. Considering he was one of the mediators. This must have meant a lot to him), the Italian Embassy in Kenya, The Nuncio’s (Pope’s Representative in the country) office, Ministry of Culture and National Heritage (The Minister was conspicuously absent from this festival. The office ought to have someone younger-My opinion) and the Nairobi City Council (Finally our City fathers gather some mad love from me).

The Maestro also in his closing act incorporated our Kenyan singers as they belched out the last performance. This was the climax of the festival for me.

A Maestro’s Dream and Aspirations

In some of the introductions of the day the MC did throw quite some comparisons before the main act. One of this was the late Pavarotti. He compared and contrasted the two Italian misical figures and one thing that clearly presented itself during the performance is that Maestro Muti is soft spoken.

However, when he did speak he pointed out his vision of seeing a united and peaceful world. In fact this concert was dedicated to dwellers of the Nairobi slums.

Ravenna Festival's Roads of Friendship

This concert is part of Ravenna Festival which has an initiative Roads of Friendship, born in Sarajevo in 1997. 14 concerts in different cities of the world have been conducted to date with an eye for celebrating peace and invoking human solidarity through music.  

The 2011 Roads of Friendship Ravenna Festival was dedicated to funding educational scholarships for young people in Nairobi informal settlements (which have had success stories of transforming lives through Amani Onlus).

These scholarships are to be given to Italian missions operating in Kenya.  The concert also gave tribute to Italian missionaries who work in Kenya.

Photos

Here is a link to photo’s of the event from Quaint Photographers on Facebook.

Kenyan Twitterati

Today (June 30, 2011) is World Social Media Day and there is no better way to celebrate it than to be in the social media! One of the social media that we all like hands down is Twitter and the Foreign Policy magazine recently run the The FP Twitterati 100. However, I was surprised no one featured in the list from our part of the world apart from president Paul Kagame @PaulKagame and a few others from African continent. That is NOT to say that Twitter is not King in Africa. In Kenya we do have Twitterati. So here is my #FF. This are tweeps you need to follow!

Twitter sign in page

Geo-Politics

Aly Satchu Khan (@alykhansatchu) – He has been described as the king of twitter in Kenya. Expect to get tweets on Geo-Politics, live feed of NSE etc. A cool guy he is.

Tom Mboya (@tommboya) – A governance specialist & also Deputy CEO, Inuka Kenya Trust

CEO’s

Bob Collymore (@bobcollymore ) – Safaricom’s CEO.  He may be credited getting CEO’s on twitter in Kenya.

Chris Kirubi (@CKirubi ) – Kenyan business man connected at the right places.

Mugo Kabati (@mugokibati) – CEO of Kenya Vision 2030 (Kenya’s blue print to achieve middle income status). Learning the ropes of using twitter.

Diplomats

Amb. Scott Gration (@USembassyKenya)– Kenya’s new ambassador to Kenya. Preceded by (@Amb4reform-Michael Ranneberger)

Rob Macaire(@UKinKenya)– Tweets from the British High Commission in Kenya. Also, blogs.

Aeneas C. Chuma (@AeneasChumaUN)– Head of UN in Kenya

Jacques Pitteloud (@JHPitteloud) – Swiss Ambassador to Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi, Somalia and The Seychelles. (Former Spy!)

Politicians

Martha Karua (@Martha_W_Karua) – MP for Gichugu Constituency. Presidential Candidate for Kenya 2012.

Uhuru Kenyatta (@UKenyatta) – Kenya’s Finance Minister and deputy Prime Minister. From the sources I have he is the one behind the twitter handle.

Prof. Anyang Nyong’o (@AnyangNyongo) – Min. for Medical Services and ODM Sec. General. Recently joined twitter thanks to his youthful daughters @Zawadin and . Yet to develop the tweeting culture

Peter Kenneth (@Peter_Kenneth) –MP Gatanga constituency, Assistant Ministry of State of Planning, National Development and Vision 2030.

Presidents

Yoweri K Museveni (@KagutaMuseveni) – President of Uganda

Jacob G. Zuma (@SAPresident) – Twitter handle for the president of South Africa

Judges

Dr. Willy Mutunga (@Wmutunga) – Kenyan Chief Justice (recently joined twitter)

Techies

Erik Hersman (@whiteafrican) –Co-founder of Ushahidi, iHub Nairobi and AfriGadget

Akira Chicks (@akirachixs) –A ladies tech group with innovations such as (@mfarm_ke)

Ory Okolloh (@kenyanpundit)–Google Policy Manager Africa, co-founder Ushahidi.com & Mzalendo.com, Afropolitan

Juliana Rotich (@afromusing) –Co-Founder of Ushahidi

Kaburo (@kaburo) –Tweets from head of Tandaa (ICT Board Kenya) 

Paul Kukubo (@pkukubo)– CEO, Kenya Information and Communication Technology Board

Mark Kaigwa (@mkaigwa) – Strategist, who works with brands, agencies & nonprofits to communicate to a new generation of Africans online

Nairobi Lab (@thenailab)– Incubation Laboratory focused on I.T. Based or I.T. Heavy SMEs.

Bloggers

Bankele (@bankelele)

Kenyan Poet (@Kenyanpoet) – Performance Poet, Published Writer,Arts blogger & tech enthusiast

Cold Tusker (@coldtusker)

News Personalities

Jeff Koinange (@koinangejeff  – Host of the Capital Talk on K24

Oliver Mathenge (@OliverMathenge) – Daily Nation reporter

Dennis Itumbi (@OleItumbi) – Kenyan

David McKenzie (@McKenzieCNN) – CNN correspondent in Africa

Charles Onyango-Obbo (@Cobbo3)–Executive Editor for Africa & Digital Media Division, Nation Media Group

Personalities

John Githongo (@johngithongo) – Former anti-corruption Czar

Eric Wainaina (@EricWainaina) – Musician who deals with societal issues

Al Kags (@alkags) – An orginiser #Feb28

Buddha Blaze (@ItsBuddhaBlaze) – Connector to events

2012 Elections

The Kenyan elections are scheduled for August 2012 and with the incumbent not eligible for re-election. It means that come end of the election Kenya is poised to have a new president. Pundits are of the opinion that the man on the hill next year most probably will be a twitterati. So this has seen lots of politicians join twitter in Kenya in anticipation to woo the Kenyan’s on twitter. However, one at times does not know who is behind the twitter handle. So here are some of those that may be twitter accounts that come with the season

Team Uhuru (@TeamUhuru) – Teams managing Uhuru Kenyatta (Dep. PM) Presidential bid

Raila Odinga (@PMRailaOdinga) – Teams managing Raila Odinga (PM) Presidential bid

MP’s Budget Guide 2011/2012

The Government Financial Year 2010/11 comes to a close today June 30, 2011. Tomorrow, July 1, 2011 marks the beginning of the Financial Year 2011/12 and for those in Kenya know the Finance Minister recently read the budget for this year.

Here is a link to the MP’s Budget Guide 2011/12 prepared by the Institute of Economic affairs. Consider it  a useful resource in the new financial year. 

‘Boston Tea Party’ at the Kenyan Parliament

The Kenyan Parliamentarians are currently embattled in a war of words with the tax man on weather they ought to pay taxes on their allowances. The legislatures have ONLY been paying taxes on their basic salary and NOT paying taxes on their allowances. So as one would have it. Their basic pay or salary is minimal compared to the allowances they have given themselves.

New Beginnings

However, with the enactment of the new constitution Kenya is moving from business as usual to business unusual. The legislatures seem NOT to have read the section of the constitution or mistakenly though the section, that states ‘no one is exempt from paying taxes’ would NOT apply to them.

The legislatures were a taken by surprise when the Commissioner for domestic taxes wrote to Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC) asking them to pay the taxes on their allowances backdated from August 27, 2010. Albert the date the new constitution was ratified.

Judiciary and Taxes

To add misery to their woes, the judiciary under the new chief justice Dr. Willy Mutunga has shown willingness to pay their taxes. Judges being constitutional office holders were not subjected to payment of tax in the old constitution.

However, when Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) wrote to the new Chief Justice (CJ) who was yet to finish a week at the helm asking for the judiciary to pay their taxes he obliged to their request. He went further and called the KRA asking the taxman to help the Judiciary carry out their request!

Imposition of Taxes

The MP’s on the other hand were busy showing cause why they ought NOT to pay taxes. Arguing on flimsy grounds such as ‘an employee should not have his salary reviewed downwards while in office’ other were the opinion that this cause was not effective ‘floating clause’ which ought to be effected in the next sitting (after 2012 elections).

When this did not do the job name calling was resulted with some MP’s thinking the commissioner for domestic taxes was ‘cheeky’ because he informed the media on his cause.

Softening?

However, few MP’s have read the mood of the nation and are now coming full circle. Some have already paid their taxes (It has been reported the PM has done his duty in giving what belongs to Caesar unto Caesar and other MP’s are following suit).

It must be said there were a number of legislatures who were paying taxes on their allowances beginning with Johnston Muthama and later followed by the likes of Peter Kenneth. The speaker of the National Assembly had caused uproar to the citizens when he had remarked under the old constitution that the ‘legislatures were free to pay their taxes on their allowances if they felt reasonably philanthropic!’

So this marks another version of ‘Boston Tea Party’ only this time it is in the reverse!

My Bank, My Kiosk, My Social Friend!

A while back, Bankele blogged about the raise in number of Banks to the neighborhoods in ‘Your Bank, Your Neighbour’ where he observed rightly Banks have brought their services closer to the people.

Equity Bank Agents

This closeness to the customer seems to be taken further by Equity Bank. The Bank recently introduced agent banking where you can do some banking services in your local Kiosk under an Equity registered agent. To do this the bank gets commercial outlets to act as its Branches. This is a very innovative aspect the bank has undertaken since it will save the bank huge amounts in terms of establishing branches and this might lead to a slow down on its regional expansion.

Mobile Money

Also, the bank has been catching up on the M-Pesa (Mobile Money Transfer) services by launching on M-Kesho. Kenya has earned a place for itself by being the new Silicon Valley in terms of Mobile innovations. This has seen the setting up of i-Hub (A social gathering place for techies which has links to the big Tech companies such as Google, Microsoft and Nokia).

Equity Bank has always been in the look out for new and innovations and ways of doing business and has not been left out of the equation so to speak by foreign technology companies. The Bank partnered with Safaricom (The regional Mobile Telephone big player which has links with Vodafone) to bring into the market mobile Money transfer between the clients of Safaricom and Equity Bank.

It must be noted that Safaricom successfully incorporated M-Pesa (mobile money transfer) under Michael Joseph (first CEO of Safaricom who built the company from inception and left in 2010). It was back then a project which was being tried for viability by Vodafone funded by DFiD.

Social Media

Banks have been known to act conservatively (apart from the hedge fund practices in the western world which caused the global financial crisis). The banks in Africa have remained conservative in their practices. However, this seems to be changing because they are in the front line in defining 21 century banking.

Kenyan Banks (@barclays, @kcbgroup) have joined the social media site twitter mostly as a PR Public Relations exercise or to boost their CSR Corporate Social Responsibility. However, as banks continue to define their role on twitter I hope developers will see this and possibly come up with an application to be used by banks. T-Banking aka tweet banking where one can check their bank deposits would be a welcomed surprise!

Pivot25

During Pivot25 conference Equity Bank CEO intimated that they would be joining the social media. They also intend to start a blog! So come September I expect to be ‘friends with your bank’ and regularly comment on their blog.

Future of Equity Bank

Source: Fireside Chat

Perhaps the bank is following its customers to the social media. Considering the mean age of its customers and going with the release of statistics by Opera which indicated Kenyan’s use of one the social media platform stands at 67%.

So come the next Annual General meeting they will account in their financial statements spending on a new ‘Social Media Account!’

Expelleus Professors at the Ministry of Education

The Ministry of Education seems to resemble the works found in the fantasy novel Harry Potter written by J. K. Rowling in some ways. The Ministry has been faced with revelations that Kshs 4.2 Billion was misallocated (call it fraud). These monies were under the Kenya Education Sector Support Program (KESSP) for construction projects. Monies allocated by donor agencies to support the free primary education that won the then elected NARC government in 2002 world praise for this endeavor.

The then NARC government had assumed power with a promise of free primary education which it honored. However, it had its own challenges in the beginning such as funding of infrastructure in schools and so the donor community stepped in to fill in these gaps.

So there have been acrimonies on who should take blame since from inception 2003-2008 the Minister for Education was Prof. George Saitoti (Currently he is Minister of State & Internal Security and acting Foreign affairs Minister). This post was taken over by Prof. Sam Ongeri to date. Also, the Permanent Secretary (Chief Accounting Officer at any Ministry) from inception 2003-2009 was Prof. Kagega Mutahi (Currently Local Government PS) and his post was taken by Prof. James ole Kiyiapi 

Questions

What raises questions to me is that despite the Ministry being headed by Professors who are expected by society to know it all. They seem not to know some simple facts such as when aspersions are cast against their Ministry the best thing is to ‘step aside’ and allow for investigations. Once the investigations are done then if they are not party to the investigation the allegations raised they will resume their positions. One would expect with the coming in of the new constitutional dispensation which has a chapter that deals with ethics then such things should be of the past

One has to wonder if there is a secret order (say, order of the phoenix) that is based at the Ministry whose work is to siphon monies meant for young children education.

Civil Servant Running for President

The other shocking thing that I have noticed is that a sitting civil servant has began campaigning for the office of the president while still in office. Going by the facebook pages of Prof. James Ole Kiyiapi (they are two. One even gives his big curriculum vitae) one would expect at least one to resign so as to concentrate on the other.

There is nothing wrong running for president but for civil servants to run for the high office goes against the public office ethics act and I have not seen anyone commenting on this! Perhaps there could be a lead with missing funds and the presidency run?

In Love with Africa

Paa ya Paa are organizing an exhibition by the above name currently on going. I had a chance to attend the opening ceremony because of what I assist in co-editing.

Paa ya Paa is an exhibition space which is located on your way to Kiambu (off Kiambu road) on your way to Windsor. What makes this place so iconic is that it is the first exhibition gallery in town first situated in Nairobi town but taken to its current place due to exorbitant rents in the city.

The director is Elimo Njau is an accomplish artist in his own right having sketched the Muranga Anglican Cathedral in 1956 (During the Colonial times!) and having taught at Makerere University immediately after graduating there.

His work at the cathedral has been resembled to that in Sistine chapel in Rome which then equates him to Michelangelo

That said he is a very humble and down to earth man and the exhibition space has NOT been so lucky. It was reduced a time back by Fire which let the walls of the exhibition space so dynamic such that the phrase below was used; 

“If you want to create exhibition spaces as dynamic and exciting as the new galleries at Paa ya Paa, it could be a painful process.

For first you have to burn your house down”. - Frank Whalley (Columnist with Eastandard)

That said the exhibition at hand ‘In love with Africa’ had been influenced by young personalities Nuru Bahati and Boyd Oyier who organize events for the gallery and was staged to honour the 4^th commandment. 

The exhibiting artist is a young Ugandan Artist Kayiira Mamartyn (Owentebbe) who has done some sketches most notable of founding Presidents Jomo Kenyatta (Kenya) and Julius Nyerere (Tanzania). Also on the gallery is a portrait of Yoweri Museveni (in his typical cow boy hat). In fact the Ugandan ambassador to Kenya was the special guest who opened the exhibition.

Exhibition Poster

About the exhibition space (Paa ya Paa), it is currently being innovated thanks to friends of paa ya paa. Some of this hail as far as South America, Coastal Rica and America (USA). Not to be let behind we have Kenyans, a Kikuyu businessman has sponsored the replacement of the current roof.