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Politics 101.

Wanted: Mtu Wetu politicians. Qualifications: Interested candidates should be experienced at graft and corruption, be proven purveyors of tribalism and division, show an extensive track record of non-performance in office, and above all posses a gargantuan sense of entitlement.

Kudos to the 8yr old for stepping up where he shouldn't have to. As for jerks, the good news for jerks is that no one can beat them at being jerks.

Sports history.

Sunday October 13 2024.

Subject to the usual ratification procedures of course. This is the first time in the history of the 42.195km that a woman has broken the 2hr 10 minute barrier.

And similar to other female marathon WR holders of the past such as Tigist Assefa or even Tegla Loroupe, the new WR holder presumptive was paced by a male runner throughout her run on Sunday.

Moreover, physiologically speaking it makes perfect sense that female marathon runners as compared to female sprinters are edging ever closer to running so called male times.

Meme Worthy.

Kapinto has declared that Kenya's recently impeached deputy president, should simply make peace with the idea of becoming some kind of lightning rod that Kenyans (even the ones who've always voted for idiots) can blame for all their troubles including the historical, political, and economic.

Mind you, Rigathi Gachagua is not afraid to be hated, not even by his own Mrima or Mount Kenya area tribesmen whose lil' feelings Rigathi has injured by referring to Mrimans as Mūngiki.

In addition, Gachagua is not afraid to fall out with pretenders to his Mrima throne such as Ichungwah, Kiunjuri, or Kindiki. And Gachagua could care less for the opinions of 200 venal MPs who betrayed him for a tidy bribe to the tune of millions of Kenya shillings.

Fatboy animations on Facebook & Instagram.

Isn't this the whole point of Reaganomics? You know, pauperization of the majority by trickle down?

Icons of greatness.

The 2012 Olympics Aquatics Centre. An undulating building with a wavelike aluminum roof and detachable wings that was inspired by the geometrics of water in motion.

Originally conceptualized in 2004, London's Aquatics Centre is just one of Zaha Hadid's completed projects which include railway stations, an Opera House, and a museum of art to mention but a few.

Dame Zaha Hadid. Baghdadi born architect and mathematician.

Hadid who died in 2016 aged 65 was anything but conventional. She was the first female architect to win the Pritzker Prize, and was renowned for her sometimes controversial but always modernist even futuristic interpretations of architectural geometry.

History; separating fact from fiction.

To think that an entire legend has been spun around Jomo Kenyatta, depicting Kenya's so called founding father as some kind of radical freedom fighter who helmed the struggle against British colonialism.

But in this interview (with the BBC presumably) which was held several years after independence from Britain, actual Mau Mau freedom fighters in vein of Bildad Kaggia and Fred Kubai reveal differently.

Because according to either Kubai or Kaggia it wasn't until the Mau Mau's Central Committee summoned Jomo Kenyatta to answer for one or two perceived slights, that the old man who was in no ways involved with the operations of the Mau Mau found out who its leaders were.

Apparently what's good for the goose isn't good for the gander.

Why do conservatives complain about the price of gas and groceries?

If you don't like the price of gas and groceries, just stop buying gas and groceries.

What's that? That's horrible advice?

Well, that's the exact advice you've been giving to other struggling people since the beginning of time. You've been nonchalantly defending the free market whenever it was harmful to others. You convinced yourself that those who are struggling deserve it until you became one. Then, you suddenly decided that it must be some deep state conspiracy instead of accepting that what's happening to you is exactly what you dismissed when it was happening to others.

ODM Party.

An ODM throng massed in their signature orange colours. Nairobi's Uhuru Park /Freedom Park.

It's common knowledge that Kenya's opposition parties are short term affairs, constructed mainly for the expediency of sponsoring electoral candidates for the presidency. Historically however, some opposition parties have beaten the odds of short-termism and lasted longer than others.

Take ODM for instance. ODM are a reconfiguration of an umbrella grouping called FORD or the Forum for the Restoration of Democracy. And FORD was an outfit that mid-wifed multipartyism in Kenya before splintering into several opposition parties such as FORD-Kenya, FORD-Asili, FORD-People, and of course eventually movements such as the ODM who styled themselves as agitators for constitutional reform.

But whatever their claims to reformist militantism, ODM's detractors often accuse the party of being a cult of personality that's built around one man. Party members are perceived not as ideologues, but as stone throwing protesters who engage riot police in running battles whenever their man Raila Odinga loses yet another contest for the presidency.

Some political analysts have even speculated that were ODM to ascend to power, they'd be every bit dictatorial as those whom they condemn. In fact, so far ODM haven't been above the opportunism of eating with government whenever it suits.

Nevertheless where Kenyans who aren't willing to fight for anything are liable to sponge off the political gains that others fight for, one cannot fault ODM for lacking in appetite for a fight when it comes to realizing their long held dream of acquiring Kenya's presidency.

Pseudo-Machiavellian plotters; legends in their own minds.

Just a friendly reminder that the current histrionics surrounding the impeachment of Kenya's deputy president, aren't the first time that Kenya's so called political elite have joined forces to obliterate someone's political career or even to keep someone's name off the presidential ballot.

But like professor Wandia did in 2022, year on year there are some voters who take small acts of defiance against participating in the farce of a two horse race for the presidency.👇

And in 2022, I cancelled my presidential ballot and wrote Reuben Kigame's name in it. It is one of the best political decisions I've ever made. I don't have the regrets and blaming that I see Kenyans suffering with when it comes to elections.

Politics 101.

As far as this no nonsense citizen is concerned, Kenya's self-serving parliament should impeach itself in its entirety rather than singling out one bad egg in the shape of DP Gachagua.

Meme Worthy.

October 1st 2024. Nairobi, Kenya.

The type of overzealous police who should be arresting the actual criminals who sit in parliament instead of harassing those who protest against impunity.

Meme Worthy.

If you asked the praise and worship members of William Ruto's government, they'd tell you that no one was harmed during the filming of our latest piece of skullduggery. But this guy is clearly bearing the brunt of Kenya's "new" public health insurance scheme, something that's not working for the timely delivery of services to dialysis insurees in particular.

We don't have a country here.

Meme Worthy.

Interesting meme and of those unexpected gems that you come across on social media.

The smiling giant who loved to wag a finger at his opponents has gone to be with the angels.

But Mutombo wasn't just one of the greatest NBA players of his era or even an ambassador for the game. He was also accomplished, spoke several languages, and did much not least for the people of Congo including building and equipping hospitals out of his own pocket.

Heritage & Humour.

Yes, yes. Got it Sitting Bull. There's no confusing a Native American for a Punjabi Sikh who looks like Dr Manmohan Singh for some reason.

Politics 101.

American Academy of Achievement Awards 2024.

L-R; 1500m WR holder Faith Kipyegon, 6 time Wimbledon singles Champion Billy Jean King, Beatrice Chebet 10 000m WR holder (September 22 2024).

In what was a first for Kenya's athletes, Faith and Beatrice were feted in New York as guests of the American Academy of Achievement. The two exemplars of excellence not only got to rub shoulders with past honorees, but participated in a ceremony that's been held since 1961 to recognize exceptional accomplishments in the sciences, arts, sports, entertainment, etc.

Meme Worthy.

A meme that speaks volumes. It also answers all those shoddy people who love to ask, "Yeah, but what's the solution is there a magic wand?" Ah, maybe try not to elect or to keep re-electing liars, thieves, or do-nothing politicians. Yeah, maybe that.

# Meme from Facebook page; MR Funny_mo

An American president actually thought about deploying paratroopers onto the streets of his own country- to shoot at protesters in the legs or whatever? That's some third world dictator drama right there.

In the debate, Trump claimed he fired Secretary of Defense Mark Esper because he “did a bad job.”

Trump fired the Iraq war vet and lifelong Republican by tweet on Nov 9, 2020.

Here’s the real reason:

Evolving culture.

Used to be that Maasai warriors were known for their fearlessness, especially in taking on lions armed with nothing but spears.

But guess what, there's a new type of Maasai warrior in town.

And while the Maasai still honour many aspects of their culture including male circumcision, these days thanks to the anti-FGM efforts of educated men from their community, more Maasai girls are staying in school and studying up to a university level of education.

Two legends of the middle distances in one photo.

Hicham El Guerrouj; current holder of the men's 1500m & mile world records. Faith Kipyegon; current holder of the women's 1500m & mile world records.

In addition to their fondness for the 1500m, the East African and the North African also share a passion for running the 5000m as well. In fact, Faith won double World Championship gold in the 1500m and 5000m at Budapest 2023, while Hicham won Olympic gold in both events at Athens 2004.

Preamble.

To understand a problem, sometimes you must go back to the beginning. To understand the beginnings of tribalized politics in post-independent Kenya, you must examine the ideological and personal rift that developed between two key figures in the shape of Jomo Kenyatta and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga. All other developments in Kenya's politics are incidental to that pivotal point of departure.

The beginnings of a one party state.

For many decades following its independence from Britain in 1963, Kenya was a de facto single party state where an inner clique ruled the roost and everyone else watched the show from afar.

But long before it officially embraced the novelty of multipartyism in the 1990s, Kenya was briefly a multiparty state in the 1960s.

In between times, the beginnings of the single party state were closely intertwined with the fallout between Jomo Kenyatta and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga. Something which changed the complexion of Kenya's politics forever.

A famously angry exchange between Jomo Kenyatta and Jaramogi Oginga (October 25 1969).

In fact, the Kenya People’s Union (KPU) had been formed in March 1966 by Oginga, a key figure in the independence struggle who quit the Kenya African National Union (KANU) citing major differences with KANU's leadership over land and resource allocation for instance.

Bildad Kaggia. Mau Mau freedom fighter and fiery nationalist. Later politician in post- independence Kenya.

And unlike most of Kenya's oppositionists today who can be bought for a song, Jaramogi and his friends in the KPU such as Bildad Kaggia of Kandara Constituency were men of principle who held to very specific egalitarian standards.

Of course, KANU wasn't taking all this lying down. Soon enough a comprador capitalist regime passed anti-democratic laws, not least an amendment to Kenya's constitution which required that anyone who quit KANU must seek re-election.

In the interim, KANU's ploy was to obstruct KPU and curtail Oginga's influence over Kenya's politics. In the long-term, instruments of repression were being set in motion to control future political dissent.

Over and above the usual tactics of hindering the registration of opposition parties, imposing news blackouts vis à vis the activities of oppositionists, surveillance of opposition leaders, harassment of opposition supporters, outlawing opposition gatherings, etc, the arrest and detention of opposition leaders beginning with Oginga himself became commonplace and would continue beyond Jomo Kenyatta's reign.

Finally in 1969 the KPU was banned and branded "dangerous to the good government of the Republic of Kenya," which basically meant that KANU was now free and clear to perpetrate single party authoritarianism.

Blacks for Trump sounds a lot like chickens for McNuggets.