Nowruz

Yesterday, I participated in the New Year celebration of our Iranian brothers which was held at the Nairobi National Museum, Louis Leakey auditorium. We were treated to some unique Iranian traditional music courtesy of Hamnawa music band.
I also had a chance of learning a thing or two about this festival such as:
• That the United Nations passed an endorsement of a resolution on February 23, 2010 to designate Nowruz as an International Day for its ancient roots and for its celebration in most of the eastern Muslim world.
I also learnt some of the practices that accompany Nowruz. Such as:
• House cleaning.
• Looking into the needs of the poor and helping them.
Other traditions practiced are:
• Spreading the Haftseen tablecloth and adorning it with fruits, dry nuts, coolies, flowers and a copy of the Holy Qur'an.

The Power and Purpose of Kenya India Bond

This blog is as a result of the above titled public lecture which I attended yesterday (28/03/2010) at the Oshwal Auditorium. The keynote speaker was M. Gandhi's grandson Prof. Ramjohan Gandhi.
The public discourse started at 1830 hrs by a brief introduction from the chairlady of the Karuna Trust who gave a brief overview of what the trust is involved in. There after she invited the Indian High commissioner to Kenya who gave a written speech.

The diplomat highlighted in passing about the keynote speaker. For (many of) us who were hearing about Prof. Ramjohan Gandhi for the first time. Here are the few things I was able to pick about Gandhi's grandson (Keynote speaker):
1. He is a historian
2. He is an author and biographer having written his grandfather's biography, "The Good Boatman: A Portrait of Gandhi." Other major publications he has penned include biographies of Indian freedom fighters and a recent study of Hindu-Muslim relations
3. was a member of Indian parliament (Upper house). While in Parliament was member of reconciliation team between Pakistan & India
4. He is a honorary visiting professor and director of Global Crossroads at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign.
5. He is a member of a leading think tank (Center for South Asian Studies)and his research interests include the history and current state of South Asia.
6. Last and MOST important is that He is a family man and travel's with his wife in all his journey's he undertakes.

Thereafter, Julius K. the head of Moral realignment in Kenya spoke and introduced the Keynote speaker.

Prof. R. S. Gandhi began by informing us that he was on a voyage of discovery that will take him to 14 countries. So far he has visited 3 countries and the country he was was before he came to Kenya was South Africa.
He introduced the people he was taking this journey with (from different backgrounds i.e. Australia, Lebanon, USA) to give us a number (song). Which they executed with such ease and finesse despite having landed into the country a few hours ago!
Thereafter, Prof. R. S. Gandhi went straight to the gist of the public discourse. As he pointed out 'i do not wish to talk about trade and Investment between the two countries because the High commissioner is here and his office is better qualified in this matters than I and can make available this information to those who wish to have the same'
His lecture was going to be premised on how Gandhi was able to unite the Nation (India). This was well suited considering what happen in Kenya after the 2007 election. So his lecture gave accounts of Gandhi I had not known before. He occasionally read quotes from his book to drive the point home.
After this lecturer I felt like I knew so little about the father of non-violence principle and I am now searching for Sir. Ben Kingsley movie Gandhi and books on Gandhi to update me. At the end of the evening it was a worth while indulgence.

This public discourse was organised by the office of the Indian high commissioner, Karuna Trust, Moral Realignment and the Oshwal community.

Acrobatic Performance by China's Hunan Province National Art Troupe

I got a rare chance to experience Chinese culture at same time celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year also known to them as Spring Festival yesterday 10/02/2010 at the K.I.C.C. Ball room.
The 14 of February will mark the most important festival for the Chinese people as they usher in 'The year of the Tiger'. In my case, it will be business as usual (read valentine and the mandatory mass attendance!). However, the Chinese will get to celebrate both as the Chinese ambassador to Kenya put it 'it will be a an ideal moment for the young men in China to celebrate their new year at same time for those with girlfriends to propose.'
You will be living in Mars if you have not noticed the many Chinese in town. We have three categories in my opinion. The workers assisting us in building our highways, the businessmen and we have the tourists. In fact huge hotels in town such as The New-Stanley have a Chinese Restaurant i.e. Tai-Chi restaurant. It is also a common occurrence to see Chinese Tourists taking snaps in front of Nairobi's Landmarks areas such as KICC and City's view site in community.
So the Embassy of the people's Republic of China did put up a very successful performance which was attended by among other the government officials led by the PS in Ministry of Culture, Diplomatic community (I did see the Japanese envoy and other whom I did not recognize), the Chinese community working in Kenya and many Kenyan's wishing to know the ways of our 'friends, partners, brothers'.
The thing I took notice is that China really views Africa as a strategic partner. The ying-Yang sign with one part China and the other Africa caught my attention and the well choreographed acrobatic performance that at times left me breathless. Plus, folk songs from Mao's birth place!
The national Troupe took the peoples hearts with short Swahili composition which shows that they had seriously planned for this occasion.
In sum I clearly enjoyed my evening thanks to the Chinese and look forward to the year of the Tiger!

Copenhagen Climate Conference: Which way forward?

Heinrich Boll Stiftung foundation held is it first public forum for this year on 21/01/10 at the Laico Regency. Unlike most of it’s previous public engagements which normally revolve around gender themes. Heinrich Boll Foundation this time wanted to engage the public on the number one global issue which is climate change. Coming head over heels of COP 15 it did bring a lot of stakeholders to the meeting and new faces to this public discourse.

The panelists for this discourse were;
• Dr. Alfred Omenya-Consultant & Lecturer at UoN (Architecture)
• Hon. David Koech-Chair, Parliamentary Network on Renewable Energy & Climate Change (PANERECC) & Chair, Parliamentary Select Committee on Education, Science & Technology
• Mithika Mwenda- Coordinator, Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA)
• Suresh Patel-Businessman & Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) representative on KEPSA Environment sector board
All the above speakers were delegates of COP 15 and can be considered authorities on the issue at hand.

Dr. Alfred Omenya’s presentation was very insightful and had clear grasp of issues of climate change and the politics behind climate change. I got to learn that Africa had a common negotiating platform that it had agreed on to the run-up of COP 15. This platform is Algiers negotiating platform/Africa’s common position.
This was negotiated by all African Environment Ministers in: The African Ministerial Conference on Environment which was held in Algiers and reported their deliberations back to the African Union heads of states. This was to be adopted by all African heads of states as the negotiating platform in COP15.

Hon. David Koech informed us of the meetings that were held to the run-up of COP 15.
One of this was the summit held in Nairobi tot the run-up of COP 15. This had ‘one Africa, one voice, one position’ as its clarion call. This brought about African’s to speak in one voice. What was note worth was that parliamentarians, civic society and activist were in the same bandwagon!
However, Hon. Koech was of the view that recently developing countries such as India, China & Brazil were the main obstacles of a comprehensive agreement in Copenhagen. Also, oil producing countries were a stumbling block and poor negotiating skills used by the African delegation to COP 15.

Coming back to Kenya Hon Koech had the following sentiments:
i. Environmental conservation should be mainstreamed in our constitution e.g. as is the case in Nigeria which has a National Environmental & Climate Change Commission.
ii. Have legislations on climate change.
iii. Recruit more members as champions of climate change.
iv. Focus on alternative sources of energy such as wind (key), geothermal and solar energy (as is the case in Denmark).
v. Encourage and improve negotiations
vi. Keep momentum on fight on climate change and get citizens planting trees.

Mr. Suresh Patel gave the business side of climate change. He advocated for Kenyan’s to start green industries and for business to adopt green practices in their places of work.

Mr. Mithika Mwenda gave a hawkish presentation of us against them i.e. the developing countries against developed countries and some of the policies that g77 was adopting in the run-up to the Mexico and German conferences.

Mega slumming

The book launch and public debate on the future of Africa’s shantytowns was held on Wednesday 20th January 2010, 6pm at the Nairobi National Museum.

This book launch was like no other I have attended. Well, most book launches tend to have a guest of honor who gives a brief description of the author and the book at hand. Then we have the publishers who are also present who engage in a review of their book and the all important unveiling of the book by the guest of honor. This is usually followed by signing of books by the author for those who purchase their copies of the launched book.
However, Megaslumming which was authored by Adam Parsons in collaboration with share the worlds resources, a UK based think tank, was unveiled at the National Museums of Kenya (NMK). I know you will ask why the Museums of all places but the National Museum after its renovation thanks to the EU offers space for events, may they be company events/launches or exhibitions. I understand at pretty competitive rates and the atmosphere there is great unless you have watched to many movies like The Night at the Museum!

The book launch was marked by a panel discussion which compromised of:

• Rasna Warah-Author and journalist
• Rajesh Makwana-Moderator and director of share the world’s resources
• Djemba-Young resident from Kibera
• Adam Parsons-Author of Megaslumming

This panelist did not disappoint and game their own views as to why we have slums in Kenya just like any other place in the world. How they arose, why they decided to focus on Kibera and life and times in the slums. This views as you can see from the panelist present were cross cutting views i.e. we have views from the top all the way to the bottom.

The panel discussion was followed by a public debate. The book launch had managed to bring quite a crowd. This crowd compromised of some of the best brains in Nairobi, academics. Such were; persons working for the UN, young people who maybe idealists and seek answers to present day problems. This young people are interested in finding solutions to extreme poverty (MDG 1) and how we can make life better for people who reside in the slums.
The author, Mr. Adam did give a background on how he engaged in the journey of writing this book and was at one point put to task why he choose Kibera of all the slums in the world. As opposed to the slums found in India, Brazil and San Francisco.
The author did reveal he is on a journey of documenting life in some of these places.

Megaslumming is written as an introduction to global justice issues and vividly describes life in Nairobi’s most notorious slum, Kibera and raises serious questions about the current direction of world ‘development’.
You can download the book for free or purchase a copy. So for anyone interested in this can visit:
www.stwr.org/megaslumming

Johannesburg Transitions

The opening of this exhibition on 3/12/2009 was a clearly choreographed affair just like all the events that take place at G.I. Although, I missed the speeches since I had arrived late due to some unavoidable circumstances. I try not to miss such events.
Johannesburg transition’s is a photo exhibition by a South African photographer Andrew Tshabangu. What is interesting about his work is that it is an exhibition of black and white photos. These photos are what I would call ordinary photos of South African’s captured in the streets of Johannesburg.
Some of my best pieces from this exhibition are photos that capture scenes of South Africa back in 1994. This show African’s selling apples outside a mall.
If you have listened to Yvonne Chaka Chaka’s Umqombothi then you will not fail to see a photo by the same title. It shows an old lady preparing some Umqombothi.
I got a chance to speak to Andrew and he I got first hand explanation background on some of his photos and why he produces black and white photos. I was happy to learn that the local liquor of S.A. equivalent of Chang’aa here is called Umqombothi! I could help asking him about pictures of Churches in his exhibition and he did allude that this is the project he is currently working on. Also in carrying out this project he is also trying to working on his religion.
This time around the background song, if you call an African woman, felt at home with a South African exhibiting at Goethe.
You can catch this exhibition at the Goethe-Institut Auditorium which is open until December 18th and then again between January 4th and 8th.
Monday to Saturday, 1.00pm – 6.00pm.

Political Cafe (Sarova II) On Harmonized Draft Constitution on 08/12/2009

Youth Agenda Organized another session of Political Cafe on 8/12/09 to discuss the harmonized draft constitution (HDC) so as to come up with a memorandum to present to the committee of experts on the views of the youth who participate in youth agenda forums.
This is what I would refer to as Sarova II and it was organized because it was felt Sarova I did not exhaust the issues at hand to be discussed. Therefore, this cafe was convened from 1300hrs and took the better part of the afternoon.
The agenda of the cafe was to validate the recommendations of the previous cafe (Sarova I) and to discuss on the following chapters;
• Judiciary (Lead by Priscilla Nyokabi)
• Public Finance (Lead by John Mutua)
Priscilla Nyokabi from Kituo cha Sheria and John Mutua from Institute of Economic affairs was at hand to assist us run through these chapters. This is after they gave brief presentations.

Judiciary
A suggestion of pegging a certain percentage of our revenue (GDP) to be allocated to judiciary was raised.
The issue of structure of courts was queried especially Court of Appeal and Constitution Court. It was in our opinion that the HDC has no clear cut distinction as to which court is superior of the two.
Some members had problems with Kadhi's courts. However, I am of the opinion that they should be entrenched in the constitution as is the case in HDC. However, requirements of a degree either in law or Islamic studies should be added to strengthen them.

Public Finance
John Mutua advised us that one of the things we need look at when considering this chapter is aspect of cost benefit analysis. That would be when we decide to get rid of our current structure and come up with 74 counties as proposed in the HDC.
Although, no one has come up with the cost figures of devolved government as proposed in the HDC. In my view there is need to do this so as to debate this chapter with facts. We could borrow from what the US is doing when they are overhauling their health care system. They work with figures.

Picha Mtaani

Picha Mtaani which was launched on 7/12/09 at 1000hrs outside Hilton Hotel is a collection of photos taken by Bonface Mwangi an award winning photo journalist. His photos capture the electioneering period aka campaign period, election day and post election violence that occurred after our disputed 27/12/2007 polls. Hence this pictures show a chronological account of the events before and after the polls.
I have had the occasions to see exhibition of his works before. This previous exhibitions were being held in what I would term as 'private open spaces' namely; the Alliance Francaise, Goethe Institut, The Godown and The National Museums of Kenya. Also, his pictures can be found on just a band song 2012.
However, what I like is that Picha Mtaani has embraced a new concept.This is the concept of exhibiting his photos in a public open space i.e. outside the Hilton Hotel. This gives the wider society and not the tourists or affluent persons a chance to consider his works and reflect as a nation on the events that lead to the post election violence.
This exhibition from my own perspective is that it is meant to spur us into conversations with ourselves and with one another. I could not help noticing that it had realized this objective as I went to see the exhibition on a Tuesday night (08/12/2009). I could see Kenyans from all walks of life engaging each other in conversations as to what might have possibly gone wrong.
This is a wonderful concept and I can only thank the UNDP, Picha Mtaani and the whole group behind this concept for what they are doing.

Political Café: Deliberations on harmonized draft constitution under the auspices of Youth Agenda

I had the pleasure of attending the above forum to discuss the harmonized draft constitution. From my perspective, it was a meaningful endeavor to spend my Monday evening discussing the harmonized draft constitution in the presence of one member of committee of expert Bobby M. Mkangi (Whom I must thank for being so nice as to give me his copy of the preliminary report), Hon C. Mbarire (My M.P., I must point out that it was something to be proud. It is not everyday our legislatures do anything to write home about!), Cyprian Nyamwamu, Kepta Ombati, Pastor Gowi, Rita Shiko, Collins Otieno and Nemuel Machuki.
The deliberations were to look at what the harmonized draft constitution holds for the youth but it was not exclusively about youth interests as six major points of the harmonized draft constitution we discussed. Among this were;
• Executive
• Legislature
• Land
• Bill of rights
• Decentralization

This months political cafe was full house given the big shots who attended this months meeting. Thus, I was able to gain lots of insights and now am reading the draft constitution in a better informed position.
For those not in the know the political cafe is organized by Youth Agenda monthly (subject to availability of funding) and in most cases it is held at Goethe Institute because one of the major sponsors is PLDP (Germans). It seeks to discuss youth issues in an informal forum come up with recommendations to this issues.
Am informed the deliberations of this forum will be published in the dallies in the course of this week. We can all look forward to see the final draft recommendations that we adopted at Sarova PanAfric