A country created by grand theft, ruled by a clique
(Originally printed in the East African on January 14, 2008)
Robbery has thrived in Kenya for many decades now. The very creation of Kenya a century ago was an act of grand theft. Our country won its independence but has never broken free from the idea that [...]
A country created by grand theft, ruled by a clique
Lamu Calling
Word is out, the ticket is in hand, the speedo packed and the aspirin counted, I am going to The Kwani Literary Festival in Lamu from December 21st to 28th. What could be better than surf and sand and books and people who love them?
Lamu from the tourist brochures is described as ‘hypnotically exotic’ [...]
The Rule of Law (you say you want it?)
From:
To: KCL SS&PP Students (University of London, King’s College)
Sent: Tuesday, August 29, 2006 4:30:37 PM
Subject: DVD & video borrowing restriction
Dear all,
Please see the dull but important message below, which will principally
affect users at the Maughan Library.
************
Dear student,
We have recently implemented a borrowing restriction regarding the ISS
DVD/VHS collection.
In compliance with the Video Recording Act (VRA) 1984 [...]
AB&H Dictionary: Is History a god?
Late last week, I visited the Public Records Office in Kew Gardens here in the UK for some archival research. The building – which is pictured above – feels and looks so much like a church that I suspect many visitors feel impelled to speak in hushed tones once they drive into the compound. After [...]
The bitter tears shed when I compare my trip from home to Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta Airport and from London’s Heathrow to my flat.
Back to the African Bullets & Honey monster after more than a month away from its ravenous hunger. I only got back to London early this morning after a month in Nairobi. Allow me to once again – because I believe I have blogged about this before – give you a glimpse of the inevitable [...]
We’re going to get you simba, we’re going to get you! MUHAHAHA, MUHAHAHAH, MUHAHAHA!
“This is the plan: we will import 135 wild animals from Kenya, or 98% of the total, thus leaving behind only 3 old lions. Then we ship our haul to Bangkok where we will hang them from the rafters and slowly stick hot pins into their paws while depriving them of sleep. We’re going to [...]
The Love Affair Between the Maasai and the English
Colonialists like their savages savage in a romantic mould. There is a streak of masochism in having your material world dismissed by people who have little but vanity and some sick cows. Colonialists want to believe their subjugated people were worth conquering…they are also good for a shag now and then says AA Gill in [...]
The London Visit is at the Heart and Soul of Kenyan Politics
The British government has banned Transport Minister Chris Murungaru from stepping on UK soil. Joining him are a senior security official, a high-ranking civil servant at the AG’s office in a list including up to five ministers whose visas to Britain may also be revoked.
Though much of the coverage of this story has revolved [...]
“For God’s Sake, Please Stop the Aid!”
I just had to put up this interview of my good friend James Shikwati (Director of the Inter Region Economic Network - IREN) who was being interviewed by Der Spiegel on German aid to Kenya. It is not very different from the stuff that has been on these pages often in the past, but [...]
Some Combative Comments On ‘Those Who Would Steal African Humanity’ Post
I thought that some of the comments made about my last post, Live8 and Those Who Would Steal African Humanity, were provocative and fun. It proved to be quite unpopular with some readers, which is all good but I am anxious to hear what Africa means to you.
It seems to me that Africa is more [...]
The African and his Dangerous Loins
The piece below was published in the East African in the Fall of 2004. It is about a London conference that featured all the hypocrisies that I have been ranting about for the past week. It will be followed by a return to the The Matrix Redux: The African Version - stuff that [...]