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Showing posts from 2013

An Open Letter to President UHURU KENYATTA

Dear Sir, I have been dreaming of a nation with huge freedom of the press... but what am getting from the Social Media today is shocking. Today, i enjoy the practice of my career not because it pays me but because thats what i Dreamt of attaining. i have seen the evolution of the media freedom in kenya through the last 15years to what we have attaine d in the recent past. As a journalist i am forced to pose this serious question, Is it necessary for the government of the day to impose turf rules and regulations to this field that involves self denial and compassion to undertake? Is the 4th arm of the government under threat and eventual attack? As a journalist who has worked in Both Kenya and Uganda, I have come to believe that however we embark on professionalism there are certain busy bodies in the leadership who would love to use the pre existing laws and legislations to hide their dirty profiles. At 24years i Managed to do many stories for my country and the region, I follow the ca...

Not yet Uhuru in Kenya

When I look at the Ukambani region, I see not only unexploited potential but also the land that has been neglected since independence. I see a vast land full of fertility to feed Kenya and booster the fertility of the country. But successive regimes have left the region to waste since independence for reasons best known to them. The only question that begs to be answered is that, why Kenyan development agenda has has only revolved around the ‘who is who’ in leadership. Back in 2012, I spend my entire industrial attachment in the vast county of Kitui where I was privileged to visit the Malalani in Endau in the Mutito Sub-County where the century old conflict between the Kamba and the Somali has continued despite the existence of security apparatus in the area. What amazed me most was the fact that the area did not have GSM connectivity leave alone the outdated landline. I happened to represent the Ministry of Information in the DSIC (District Security and Intelligence Committ...

Lets Give Justice a Chance

With lack of able and responsible leadership in the African Union, the fight against impunity and corruption may not be won. The recent utterances by African head of states over the ICC question is on of the very many problems the continent may continue to experience perhaps for the  next 50 or so years. From time to time we have argued that everyone is equal before the law in regardless of creed or believe. What I don’t understand and most probably will not agree is, is the case in the international Criminal Court a case between the PEV victims and the state of Kenya? Are the victims guaranteed of their justice if the cases are brought back home? Who does the Kenyan attorney General of Kenya represent at the ICC, is it Kenya or Kenyatta? The recent development of the ICC trials if put in to context show exactly serious the court is in the business of fighting impunity and the culture of some people being the so called untouchable. I was among those who pushed for the ICC pro...

Nothing to celebrate on Kenya at 50

What is democracy on the perspective of Africa? What is ‘the rule of law’ when it pertains the administration of justice in the continent? Who do we blame for the negative ethnicity that has divided countries into farther tribal cocoons? Africa has for ages been termed as continent of dark minds, tyrannical regimes, full of impunity and so divided. Africa has on a lighter note been termed as cradle of mankind. We as African continent have from time to time became slaves of few leaders who have always treated their countries as private entity that requires only them to rule till death do them apart. When I look at the Kenyan I government, I see a union of two major tribes that want to rule over the rest and fill all the government position with their tribal lieutenants. When I see this I ask, is the presidency the only way for the tribal chiefs to get recognised by those in power? It’s only in Africa where one’s name is an added advantage in the job market. Theref...

Burundi democracy the aftermath and the fragility

In the first part of this inside story we talked about the ceasefire and commitment of the cease fire documents signing Do you think recent attacks allegedly by Rwasa Agathon forces of national liberation (FNL) will affect the A tenuous peace reached in 2005? And Finally, what is the stand the head of the Government of The CNDD-FDD Excellency Pierre Nkurunziza on NL rebels who did not signed a cease-fire in 2005?   According to Evelyn the fragility of the peace is often threatened by the rampant rebels who have threatened the peace of the people of the country. She said in a one to one interview “I think the FNL only now does not have sufficient force to cause a release any BUT very sure that yes, the fragility of peace is already assigned!”, she adds, “I know not if you live here in Burundi but I'd say that there are no security.  People are killed from day to day especially those belonging to opposition political parties by whom it is said by the police, I ...

Day of African Child: AU should wipe out NGOs who use orphans as Bridges

As Africa marks the Day of the African child today the 16 th June the main challenge that has continued to pressure the African leadership is the unchartered for orphans who have been used as a bait by NGO’s. Many orphans have been registered by the so-called NGO’s with the aim of purportedly assistance for them to access basic needs like any other child in the continent. Just the other day, I was having a conversation with my grandmother who is 83. She is the one who brought me up since I was 2yrs old and took charge of me when I lost my mother in 2000. I was 10 then and she had a huge role of ensuring that I had education and later get my dream career. She asked me, “Do you think this people who enroll our children to their organizations with the aim of helping them do so?” I understood what she meant and it was rather tricky to answer. But on a journalistic point of view I gave her my opinion. It is the same opinion I wish to share with you. My cousin was registered in the NGO whic...

Kenya Needs Change In Electoral Laws

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Tweet                                             Tweet to @Starkolix                       Follow @Starkolix   (Felix Kilonzo) Kenyans and Africans have several lessons to learn in the just concluded general elections in Kenya where Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta was declared winner. - See more at: According to an article [BBC] by Calestous Juma an International development professor at Harvard University, Africa's democratic transition is back in the spotlight. The concern is no longer the stranglehold of autocrats, but the hijacking of the democratic process by tribal politics. It was evident that Kenyans defied the issues and the policies put forward by the ...

Uganda Budget deviate to domestic borrowing

The scandal at the office of the Prime Minister in Uganda may be seen as insignificant but the truth that lies underneath is that the fact that the country that relied on donor funding may be preparing to deviate further to local or domestic borrowing to suppress the fiscal budget of the next year. As a preparedness measure the Finance Minister Maria Kiwanuka will increase the domestic borrowing by 0.7 per cent of the GDP after 5 crucial donors withdrew their budgetary support for the country that saw the embezzlement of close to $13million meant for reconstruction. The donors are said to have withheld their $282million in budget support and what does that mean for Uganda? It will be noted that EAC member states deviated to domestic borrowing in the ongoing financial year which began in July 2012 and its ending in June 2013. The FY2012/13 was meant so because of the ongoing euro zone crisis that according to Mario Draghi who is the president of the European Central Bank, the Euro econo...