Jul. 12 | Before the tournament started, grave misgivings were raised about Africa’s ability to host the World Cup. Critics were not sure if the stadiums would be completed on time and security was a sticky point.
They wondered if SA could afford such profligacy in putting up the stadiums against the backdrop of prevalent poverty and disease among its people. The cynics were proved wrong as the 88,460-seat calabash architectural masterpiece roared to life on Sunday night to mark the pinnacle of the month-long tournament.
Soccer City is located near the football-mad Soweto and I have no doubt it will be put into first-rate use even after the world’s football greats have left South Africa.
In all, there were 10 stadiums – most better than those found in Europe – that were used to host the tournament and there are concerns...
May. 24 | I read ulterior motives in the way civic education on the proposed Constitution is (not) being rolled out.
For avoidance of doubt, the civic education programme was supposed to have commenced on May 7 and end on June 5 – which is 12 days away!
Have any of you out there encountered anyone conducting civic education? (I would like to know where it’s taking place so I can attend a session at my nearest social hall).
The only tutoring on the proposed Constitution I can see taking place is in form of campaign rallies by the Yes and No rivals. Both sides have deep-seated interests and they will only give us their side of the story. The role of civic education cannot be gainsaid.
Another cause for alarm is the (un)availability of hard copies of the proposed Constitution as promised.
The document was uploaded on...
May. 18 | This is an open letter to Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka.
I sympathise with the discomfiture you had to go through on Saturday at Uhuru Park but want to point out that you have brought it upon yourself. Do not blame others for your woes.
This is what one reader on our website said after seeing your reaction to the jeers: “Hired youths? I doubt it, I’m a youth… I wasn’t at Uhuru Park but I still want to heckle you.” Quite frankly, I couldn’t have said it better.
This is the mood of the public after your double-faced public statements regarding the proposed Constitution.
I understand your predicament and want to share it with Kenyans. You see, Kalonzo is a Church man. So he is caught between a rock and a hard place. He wants to be seen to agree with the ‘No’ Christians but still...
Feb. 8 | I’d like draw the attention of Professors Sam Ongeri and Karega Mutahi to an interesting occurrence in the United Kingdom this past week.
There’s a bloke called John Terry. He happens to be the captain of the West London Chelsea Football Club but more crucially, he’s the skipper (well… until Friday last week) of the English Football team.
The reason why Terry will not captain the English team during the World Cup in June is NOT because some money has gone missing from the team, but it is over the ‘little’ matter of an affair with the ex-girlfriend of England team mate Wayne Bridge.
On Friday, Terry held a 12 minute meeting with his manager Fabio Capello after which he was hurriedly and viciously reduced to the ranks. The decision was made after Capello ruled that “Terry’s credibility and...
Jan. 25 | The government has suddenly realised that there may be a huge number of illegal immigrants in the country. It has also dawned on authorities that these illegal aliens have IDs, own property and enjoy rights that remain elusive even for Kenyans like you and I.
Put simply, the government has been caught napping. The chaps we call illegal aliens did not fall from the sky!
These immigrants did not arrive in Kenya last night. They have been trickling in small numbers over the years and someone should have seen this coming.
In other countries, it is virtually impossible for foreigner to rent (yes… rent) an apartment, open a bank account or even secure a decent job.
It you are a citizen, a foreigner cannot enjoy more rights than you do. Here, it is the exact opposite. We all know how difficult it is for youths to acquire...
Jan. 18 | As our politicians settle down this week to craft a 2012 power deal in Naivasha under the guise of enacting a new Constitution, more pressing matters continue to be disregarded.
For several weeks now, users of the ferry on the Likoni channel have been subjected to grave danger and incessant delays due to vessels that break down midstream.
Stories are told of how the ferries start drifting to the open seas before panic-stricken passengers are towed back to safety at the last minute. This is purely a disaster in the making!
It is regrettable that we have not learnt from the 1994 Mtongwe ferry tragedy. Why is the government gambling with lives of thousands of Kenyans and tourists who use the Likoni ferries on a daily basis?
The Likoni channel is the gateway to Kenya’s South Coast, famed for its unadulterated white sandy beaches. ...
Jan. 11 | Africa should be livid. But why… you may ask?
Here are the reasons:
On Friday, an unfortunate incident occurred in Cabinda – which is a province in Angola that is under dispute – involving the Togolese football team.
As the heart-rending incident unfolded, media in places like the UK turned it into a premiership issue. It is now about the safety of Adebayor, Essien, and Drogba. Are they insured to play in Africa?
One newspaper was brash enough to write: “Michael Essien flies into the death zone.” Another described it as "a disaster for the forthcoming first-ever World Cup in Africa.” Yet another said: "Africa’s dream is in tatters."
I have news for the writers: Africa is not in disarray!
The attack on the Togolese team is quite regrettable and my empathy...
Jan. 4 | With the New Year kicking off and the referendum just months away, you can expect our politicians to go into full electioneering mode.
If events of the past year are anything to go by, then you can expect the upcoming Constitution referendum to be turned into a political duel between the touted Kikuyu-Kamba-Kalenjin alliance and the Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
But that is something you and I must resist at all costs, if we are to take charge of our destiny.
Kenyans are known to make decisions then complain later that our politicians misled us. The time to give our politicians a reality check will be at the referendum. Let us make choices based on the provisions contained in the draft Constitution (which is due to be handed over to the Parliamentary Select Committee on Constitution Review this Friday).
I know the PSC comprises...
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