They knocked over the bucket
Containing the bi-products
Of the prison’s cafeteria system
They were fighting for some part
Of some poor prisoner’s anatomy
My eyes adjust to the penetrating light
Brought about by the afande’s torch
I shiver as my face links up with the crystal cold waterdrops
From the iron bucket placed outside my exclusive cell

Afande leads us to the workshop
I standout…the trustee of the block
These hours they fly so fast
Like those Airforce jets on Kenyatta Day
I oversee my fellow mahabusu
Making number plates
For the KRA…the Arturs…Election campaigns
KCA…KCB…KCC…KCD
information stored on CD

This is no Grand Regency
But still my heart is at rest
Life is peaceful
Memories of your voice filter
They filter softly through my fibres

I’m well taken care of
Moody Hoppa at my disposal
I have inherited Tom Cholmondeley’s privilleges
Mobile phone, satellite phone, DSTV,
NTV, KTN , internet
In addition to the Holy Bible ..
.I daily read the Daily Nation
and on Friday I get my copy of The Pulse
My food I get on time…real food made real good

In the evenings..when the 27 men in the 2 man cell
Are fighting for some part of some poor prisoner’s anatomy
I’m watching PrisonBreak, Champions League football
News at nine…I’m doing fine
Having you here would make this setting so divine
I hear for just a few shillings
The afandes can organize a conjugal visit for us
So…what do you think?

If I had my way I would stay locked up forever
But thoughts of you…thoughts of you
Make me look forward to the day I leave here
I could go on and on
But this piece of paper… sadly is not enough
So when you get this..flash me…call me…email me
Whatever!
For I long to hear from you
pssst..get me that tiny lap top and a safaricom modem
smuggle them inside the large print bible..
I suddenly developed eye problems..
I can only read large print..like the bible..

Lovingly yours,
Smooth criminal

Kenya, independent since 1963, with seamless power transitions that have seen only three men preside over its state of affairs to date. She is an island of peace, devoid of any civil wars or coup d’états.  A stable country if you ask its leaders, a country that is progressive and sensitive to the needs of its citizens, where the quality of life is good for the citizens. The famous free primary school milk program and the free education policy are more than enough testament to this.

In the eyes of those who govern her, that is Kenya for you. They are right you know, when you compare beautiful Kenya with other countries in Africa that have had annual regime changes through coups and assassinations, Kenya is indeed a  bastion of stability, only Gabon, Zimbabwe and Libya have been led by fewer leaders over the past 40 years. In their Kenya, the leaders lead and the followers follow, no questions asked. That is their interpretation of stability. They say that instability arises when the followers start doubting the words and wisdom of those who lead. That is how they explain Somalia, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea Bissau and Cote d’ Ivoire.

Leaders in Kenya are the law, regardless of the fact that there exists a set of laws known as the Constitution of Kenya, which are meant to govern the land. In the leaders Kenya, chest thumping and arrogance is equated to power and this explains why the Constitution is treated with the dignity of a tattered pocket sized dictionary. Their edicts have seen them  carry out evictions in the name of protecting the “environment”, banning individuals from setting foot in point A or B “in the interest of public safety” and declaring themselves fit to decide the interests of the nation even when faced with scandals.

They are such warriors who would prefer fighting their battles to the end; like the late great Omar Bongo, they would rather die in power than accept any shortcomings on their part. How would we expect them to have any shortcomings when they know that they have none? They receive tax free incomes, drive top of the range cars, their lives are perfect, they are perfection personified. In their perfect world there are no crises, just small problems that need not be blown out of proportion.

With their perfect vision, they constantly neglect that tiny, minute, irritating blind spot that seems not to bother them. A blind spot consisting of inflammatory statements, corruption, insecurity, environmental degradation, poor and displaced persons. They are so decisive and divisive in their speech, as witnessed during the post election violence, so indecisive in their actions, as demonstrated by their efforts to reconcile the nation in the wake of the violence.

For four and a half years of their five year term, their Kenya is good to them. They remember our Kenya during the last six months of that term; that’s when they need us to return them to their Kenya. That’s not right.

OUR KENYA

Our Kenya is vibrant, diverse, innovative, and entrepreneurial but their Kenya impacts negatively on our Kenya. Their indecisiveness and divisive talk has the rest of the country living on the edge, debating their next move. While they are the masters of double, triple or quadruple speak, our Kenya is made up of people who walk their talk, people who know that actions speak louder than words.

With the free lessons in how not to lead a nation broadcast in the print and electronic media on a daily basis, we are learning vital lessons on how to address the issues at hand in a sober manner without reverting to our tribal and class cocoons. This may appear like a herculean task but one day we will be successful and the country will be back on the long abandoned road to prosperity. This is a respectful, god fearing Kenya where the resilient citizens toil hard everyday just to earn an income while contributing to nation building. We pay taxes, experience water shortages, mind numbing traffic jams, constant power outages but you will not hear us complaining. Instead we pick up the pieces and soldier on no matter the circumstances.

The Kenya that I live in is progressive and tolerant; its citizens view each other as brother and sister despite our different ethnic backgrounds. Having witnessed the 2008 post election violence first hand, there cannot be any room for hate or discrimination. We must all get along despite our different ethnic, political, gender and religious backgrounds.

Heck! My circle of friends is as diverse as the rainbow!

The Kenya that I live in tolerates inter ethnic marriages, allows women to be in positions of power and influence, allows the youth and society in general to think outside the box and earn a living pursuing non traditional professions related to their passions and natural talents, and not necessarily related to their educational backgrounds. This is not to say that education is not important.

Corruption is the blemish of their Kenya and they insist on passing the baton to our Kenya by reneging on their pledges to serve the nation honestly and with integrity. They pass the baton when they play the politics of greed that sees them amass wealth in embarrassing proportions. They seem to forget that leadership is servitude, well, we in our Kenya are well aware of the fact that a leader is supposed to serve and that while in a position of leadership there cannot be any room for corruption. We refuse to receive the baton of corruption and other ills being forced into our hands.

Our Kenya has a unity of purpose; together we are one and as one there is only so much we can achieve, progress. Our Kenya is one Kenya…but their Kenya bogs us down.

this is a revolution for the disillusioned youth
let down by leaders who are so uncouth
they specialize in lies..they are alien to the truth
that’s why when they’re faced with the truth
they cannot handle the truth

with extreme precision…they’ve mastered indecision
making incisions into our hearts without inhibition
selfishly in pursuit of their dreams and ambition
they are trying to mess up with our beautiful vision
but this revolution is coming to fruition

we are tired of the conniving and the contradiction
we long for the days when we were served with conviction
when honesty was such a sweet addiction
when systems worked in sync…without contradiction
when we mingled freely…without fear of eviction

this revolution is not only political
it should touch every part of our life…that is critical
because change starts within…let us not be hypocritical
if I can change…if you can change…the world would be less cynical
that’s a true revolution…a revolution that’s clinical

a revolution that preaches integrity…
a revolution that teaches us how to respect humanity
a revolution that says no to impish unity
impunity…disunity
a revolution that promotes a harmonious community

I heard them say the revolution will not be televised
but it don’t have to…
the revolution is happening right here…right now

Mstari Wa Nne/Maik Kwambo © 2009

My environment is clogged with presumptious conspiracy theorists who always believe that everything, every incident carried with it a hidden, often ulterior motive. I find myself dealing with all sorts of extremists who believe that their view alone holds water, yours means nothing at all to them.

They will speak, force you to listen to them and probably even force you to join their chain of thought. Woe unto you if you opt to go astray by standing your ground. You will be abused, belittled and accused of all sorts misdeeds. This is my Kenya. It’s not only the politicians who are filled with such bile, but the ordinary citizens too. Signs of extremism and intolerance are evident daily in online discussion forums, bar conversations to name but a few.

I find it quite ironic that we accuse our politicians of being insensitive, intolerant and extremist yet we are the worst. What does it gain us to refuse to tolerate views different from ours? What does it cost us to appreciate our diversity, the various talents and skill sets that we have? Absolutely nothing!

I cannot force everyone to be a moderate like I am. I can only urge all of us to be tolerant of each other. It’s not hard, try it and see how far we can go as a country

Vision 2030 is just the state of their eyes
it is a vision I don’t think that they shall realize
you see I’m
waking up in the morning
and the mood is like we’re mourning
has it hit them? is it dawning?
do they need so many warnings?
they spoke about
water for all by the year 2000
it is 2009 they ration water in the city..

electricity’s a good commodity to have these days
only when it’s not blacking out like the village drunk…for days

my government…it’s ministries..
they work hard..they’re full of industry
their end result…a mystery
their salaries..our misery

they amazed us the way they used public funds
to fly and watch television far away in Obama’s land
they had the audacity to appeal for famine relief
yet they wallow in opulence that simply brings us grief
they ride in fuel guzzlers..to the big house to muzzle us
they turn a blind eye…the public interest they defy
they reinstate vandals associated with scandals
they are posturing creatures who threatened striking teachers
the economy they spoil..with shortages of oil
food prices they raise..by withholding maize
waiting for disaster at Likoni to rush to the jikoni
wanatime hiyo kisanga ndiyo wanunue ferry wanga

fire fire burning in the city..many people dead..what a pity
state response..kinda shitty…death toll…nearly fifty

they sow seeds of greed..people die from this misdeed

over a hundred dead in Molo..have we buried our morals?

angry people..hungry people..state response..kinda feeble
leaders blame one another for all kinds of alleged evils

they spend their time in political prostitution
forget about things like a new constitution
they engage themselves in self gratification
they are the masters of political masturbation
blind to the facts of instability and starvation
they are extremely out of touch with the nation

vision 2030 is just the state of their eyes….