Felix Kilonzo

Following the rejection of the infamous bill by President Yoweri Museveni came at a time when Africans are fighting to unite under the same banner of lasting peace and unity. I don’t know where to start from but the words of the Kenyan president of the Supreme Court and the chief justice, Dr. Willy Mutunga of the need for East African legislative bodies to create laws which do not contradict with the provision of the bill of rights and liberties.  Dr. Mutunga while in Uganda shortly after he was appointed as Chief Justice in Kenya, he stressed that East Africa should give a clear blueprint in the implementation of the human rights. He argued that the controversy that does exist in the individual constitutions should not be used at the expense of human rights adding that gay rights are human rights too. While working for Ugandan Media, the subject of whether Gay Rights are human rights or not was deemed as ‘not to talk about issue’.   I remember protesting to Gil...

When Uganda's president Yoweri Museveni opposes an anti-gay bill passed by lawmakers that calls for life imprisonment for gays, even as he characterizes homosexuals as "abnormal" people who should be rehabilitated, then I smell the Africa that is changed from the one which pretends to abide with the cultures which may be in one way or another outdated. When I read the letter by the president its clear that the Ugandan President has made it known that the U turn he made on the same in 2011 still stands and that he represents all Ugandans whether Gay or Straight. Museveni is a president who doesn’t give in to pressure from the so called evangelicals as well from lawmakers from his own party NRM. Although the Sexual minorities fault the president on the characterization of the homosexuals, I feel it’s the time they live with that because its better than rotting in prison. Like Museveni I wonder, what do you do with an abnormal person? “Do we kill him/her? Do we impris...

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...

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...

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...

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...