“The day Kenya was born” by Nkwazi Mhango

No doubt. The overwhelmingly passing of the new constitution in Kenya can be termed as the rebirth of a new true Kenya that had nary existed. This, if anything, I believe, will bury the demons of tribalism, self seeking, land grabbing, dictatorship, corruption, irresponsibility and unaccountability that marred the history of Kenya.

Now that the new constitution has been promulgated, it remains to be seen when it comes to putting it to exercise. Kenya I used to know before the new one was but a loose amalgamation of tribes and other groups of interests, but not a nation though Kenyans used to believe they were a nation whilst they actually were not.

In totality, there has nary been a nation of Kenya but a country of Kenya. This needs the whole article to discuss. I, thus, will hang it hither and soldier on with the birth of the new constitution that surely will make a Kenyan nation for the first time in history.

The new constitution is not only an impetus for development and prosperity of Kenya but also the precedent for other nations in the region even in the continent. By attaining this very milestone, Kenyans, for yet another time, have led the world to a new world order based on mature and true democracy. I comfortably believe that other east African countries that are under the yoke of one-man- or one-party abracadabra such as Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda, will borrow a leaf from Kenyans. It is time for kicking old constitutions out. They’re and they have nary been ours at all. Most of them were made in Lancaster house as proxy means of elongating British colonial rule. These constitutions created vampires that have exploited our countries to the bone. We need home-made-and- grown and progressive constitutions such as those of Kenya and South Africa.

I once noted that whilst some Kenyans, especially the “NO” camp and the clergy, were hoodwinking the majority that the new constitution was hogwash allowing abortion. In other countries in the region, their constitutions are nothing but a writ of a cabal of mediocre swindlers that can tamper with them when they deem fit. Now that the new dawn’s unfold and verily it is hither with us, let us forget our differences and build a new nation steered by our views and wishes. That a new baby is born, let us stand together to see to it that the light is shinning in its life as well as ours. Let us reconcile the country and forge ahead.

Against all odds, that Kenyans have raised to the occasion, we need to congratulate them on this leap forward as we borrow a leaf from them. I understand. Kenya has been the country in big crises thanks to be manned by thieves, killers and tyrants that were empowered by archaic constitution. Refer to the grisly killings that occurred soon after disputed 2007 elections and being under one tyrant for over two decades. I, so too, understand that Kenyans lost a lot of their rights, such as true freedom to economic well-being, land, peace, security, democracy and what not. Many Kenyans were killed and tortured under the former constitutions and their rights were pushed under the carpet. Refer to the assassination of Tom Mboya, Josiah Mwangi Kariuki, Robert Ouko and many more others. Refer to the infamous Nyayo house sacrilege that left many Kenyans dead or tortured.

By ushering the new constitution in, I am sure, the buried cases of grave violation of human rights will be unearthed and being dealt with accordingly, so as to give a reprieve and redress to the families of those that were butchered or in anyway affected by blood dripping former regimes. I am sure too. The land that was grabbed since Jomo Kenyatta, Daniel Moi and their cronies will be retaken and be redistributed the landless Kenyans. What’s more, vampiric corruption scandals such as Goldenberg, Anglo-Leasing and others will be dealt with transparently and accordingly. More so, those who authored post-elections killings will now be urgently dispatched to The Hague, so that another precedent can be set where Kenya leads others.

Though there won’t be a quick fix of the rust Kenya has gone through for decades, it is upon Kenyans to patiently and united start to put the whole goodies in the new constitution in practice. Moreover, the Kenyan referendum was regarded as something normal, it was not. It is only South Africa that once attempted and successfully did this. Other African countries are still in slumber. Tanzanians, just on the next door, need a new constitution so badly that they can recapture their mojo. Ugandans, just like Rwandans, are in dire need of the same. The constitutions of the mentioned countries are just mere documents that thievish rulers can manipulate as they deem fit, at any time they deem fit, for their personal gains.

Kenyans have created a constitution that frees them from all evils of the past as it guides them to the future. Shall this being emulated by other countries in the region, even the union of the region will be easier and possible to attain even tomorrow.

I must call upon the citizenry of the countries in the region to start agitating for new constitutions. They should fear nothing when it comes to repression. No ruler can now resort in archaic means of beating protesters thanks to the fear of being delivered to The Hague. This being the year of elections in Rwanda and Tanzania, the people there should get prepared to refuse to accept cooked results resulting from the charade known as elections. We have already seen how  the just ended Rwandan elections were marred by killings and detention of opposition leaders and journalists. This proves beyond doubts that the said elections was not be free and fair by all standards. The era of one-party-cum-one-man show is over.

In Tanzania, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) just like the National Resistance Movement (NRM) In Uganda, has always manipulated elections thanks to appointing a kitchen Electoral Commission. These three countries mentioned above need to have Independent Interim Electoral Commissions (IIECs) in place to facilitate the transition. On this, Kenya can offer expertise thanks to her experience.

To cut the story short, it should be noted and appreciated that what Kenyans voted for is actually not only their constitution but also ours in the region. For the precedent they set is second to none. Importantly, we must face this challenge and vote ourselves out of tyranny be it of one party of one man. Bravo Kenyans once again for showing and leading the way.

The worst thing that tarnished the promulgation of the new constitution is the presence of Sudanese killer- Omar Bashir. This indeed, either by mistakes or calculations, showed  Kenyan rulers  as improbable. Now this being the case, will they deliver the suspects of post-election killings to The Hague as they are required by the law? This is another tough home work for ICC and UN.

Nkwazi Mhango is a Tanzanian living in Canada. He writes regularly for “The African Executive” and also has a blog entitled “Free Thinking Unabii”. He is a regular contributor to AfroSpear.

Happy 100th Birthday Mother Teresa

26 August 1910 – 5 September 1997

100 years ago this selfless humanitarian who dedicated her life to serving the poor, orphans, sick and dying  in Calcutta, India was born in Albania. In 1950 she founded the Missionaries of Charity and in 1979 she won the Nobel Peace Prize. Here is a link to her controversial acceptance speech.    

sat’day riddymz

3 Things About Islam You Didn’t Know

Someone sent me this. A further perspective on Islam:

Happy Birthday Marcus Mosiah Garvey Jr.

Jamaican National Hero, Black Nationalist, Pan-Africanist, founder of Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League (UNIA-ACL), as well as a major influence and inspiration to many of our African, African-American and Caribbean leaders and intellectuals, Marcus Mosiah Garvey Jr. was born on this date in 1887.

Click on his image above to go to his official website to know more about this exceptional man, who was also known as “Black Moses”.

Also check out this classic tune by Burning Spear below:

A Move Towards Religious Tolerance

This post was inspired by this article by brotherpeacemaker: “In The Name Of Freedom Build The Mosque” 

In regards to the controversy surrounding the building of a mosque and cultural center two blocks away from the site of Ground Zero, America has a golden opportunity to lead in the march towards religious tolerance between two of the worlds great religions. First, allow the mosque to be built. If it’s short of the needed funding, then the federal government must make up the difference to get it done.

Then Americans should propose that a church and synagogue be built in Saudia Arabia, two blocks away from the home of the Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) in Mecca. We are continually being told that the 911 highjackers don’t represent true Islam, which is a religion of peace. We are told that the vast majority of the 1.5 billion Muslims worldwide are “moderates” and tolerant of other religions. The Prophet himself referred to Christians and Jews, along with his followers, as “People of the Book” and He offered them protection with these treaties: Jews and Christians. The Qur’an itself states: “And do not dispute with the followers of the Book except by what is best, except those of them who act unjustly, and say: We believe in that which has been revealed to us and revealed to you, and our God and your God is One, and to Him do we submit.” Qur’an 29:46.

On the same site, a memorial could also be built to honor the American (and other “coalition”) soldiers, who have died over the years defending Arab/Muslim interests in the region, as well as Christian missionaries and aid wrokers who are being murdered in Muslim countries by extremists, like the 10 recently killed in Afghanistan by the Taliban, who were providing free medical services to the local population. 

These structures within New York and Mecca would prove definitely that the America is not at war with Islam and that Islam is not at war with the West. Such a joint venture would be a severe blow to the intolerant and ignorant ectremists on both sides… and who better to show leadership and spearhead this effort than President Barack Obama. When he entered office as the leader of the American empire, as well as the “free world”, he had made it his personal mission and governmenty policy objective, to reach out to the Muslim Ummah, both Shiite and Sunni, with a hand of friendship.

President Obama should contact King Abdullah Bin-Abd-al-Aziz Al Saud of Saudia Arabia and make this proposal…today! I am sure he can get it done as he is a Nobel Laureate for Peace!

I won’t hold my breath though.

Convicts as a Protected Class

Federal Agency Thinks Background Checks Can Discriminate Against Blacks, Hispanics

Op-ed submission by Project 21

Washington, D.C. – Attorneys at the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission believe new technology that makes it easier for employers to check the criminal and credit histories of applicants is also makes it harder for blacks and Hispanics to find jobs. Members of the Project 21 black leadership network fault this position, noting that it unjustly interferes with the ability of employers to build a trusted and coherent workforce.

“Background and credit checks are legitimate hiring and recruitment tools,” said Project 21 member Horace Cooper, a former visiting assistant professor of law at the George Mason University School of Law. “There is no federal law making a refusal to hire convicted felons a crime, and felon status is not a protected class under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. Especially in the midst of a recession, suits like these — which charge racial discrimination — falsely serve to only make hiring decisions unnecessarily harder and lessen the impact of real allegations of racism.”

Adrienne Hudson filed a lawsuit against First Transit after she was fired from a bus driver position with the company. She alleges her firing was due to her prior conviction for welfare fraud, and that First Transit discriminates against blacks and Hispanics when it does background checks because these minority groups have higher rates of arrest and convictions than whites. First Transit representatives would not comment.

The AP reports the EEOC believes background checks can have a disparate impact on blacks and Hispanics, and quotes EEOC assistant legal counsel Carol Miaskoff saying “the problem is snowballing because of the technology” that is making it easier to do such checks.

Last fall, the EEOC filed a class-action lawsuit against the Freeman Companies event-planning company that claimed the company’s background checks discriminated against blacks, Hispanics and men.

“Once again, the liberal legal theory of ‘disparate impact’ is trotted out. This time, it is by the bean-counters at EEOC. They are now arguing that if an employer conducts background checks on employees they are, in effect, discriminating against black and Latino applicants. But shouldn’t employers have the right to set standards for those they seek to employ and reject those who have criminal records?” said Project 21 member Joe Hicks, host of “The Hicks File” at PJTV.com “Americans strongly believe in the concept of redemption, but there must be consequences for illegal behavior. To claim otherwise suggests that employers should ignore employment standards and simply hire people based on some ideological concept of ‘social justice.’ The notion that criminal background checks disadvantage blacks and Latinos is based in the reality that blacks are 38 percent of the prison population but only 12 percent of the general population. This shouldn’t be used as an argument for eliminating employment standards, but a reason to understand and combat the dysfunction and violent criminality that’s an all-too-real part of poor black urban life.”

Project 21, a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization sponsored by the National Center for Public Policy Research, has been a leading voice of the African-American community since 1992.

sat’day riddymz