Gil Scott-Heron lyrics: The Revolution Will Not Be Televised (R.I.P)

Gil Scott-Heron, R.I.P

You will not be able to stay home, brother.
You will not be able to plug in, turn on and drop out.
You will not be able to lose yourself on skag and skip,
Skip out for beer during commercials
Because the revolution will not be televised.

The revolution will not be televised.

The revolution will not be brought to you by Xerox
In 4 parts without commercial interruption.
The revolution will not show you pictures of Nixon
Blowing a bugle and leading a charge by John Mitchell,
General Abrams and Spiro Agnew to eat
Hog maws confiscated from a Harlem sanctuary.

The revolution will not be televised.

The revolution will be brought to you by the Schaefer Award Theatre and
will not star Natalie Wood and Steve McQueen or Bullwinkle and Julia.
The revolution will not give your mouth sex appeal.
The revolution will not get rid of the nubs.
The revolution will not make you look five pounds
Thinner, because The revolution will not be televised, Brother.

There will be no pictures of you and Willie Mays
Pushing that cart down the block on the dead run,
Or trying to slide that color television into a stolen ambulance.
NBC will not predict the winner at 8:32or the count from 29 districts.

The revolution will not be televised.

There will be no pictures of pigs shooting down
Brothers in the instant replay.
There will be no pictures of young being
Run out of Harlem on a rail with a brand new process
There will be no slow motion or still life of
Roy Wilkens strolling through Watts in a red, black and
Green liberation jumpsuit that he had been saving
For just the right occasion
Green Acres, The Beverly Hillbillies, and
Hooterville Junction will no longer be so damned relevant,
andWomen will not care if Dick finally gets down with
Jane on Search for Tomorrow because Black people
will be in the street looking for a brighter day.

The revolution will not be televised.

There will be no highlights on the eleven o'clock News
and no pictures of hairy armed women Liberationists and
Jackie Onassis blowing her nose.
The theme song will not be written by Jim Webb, Francis Scott Key,
nor sung by Glen Campbell, Tom Jones, Johnny Cash,
Englebert Humperdink, or the Rare Earth.

The revolution will not be televised

The revolution will not be right back after a message
About a whitetornado, white lightning, or white people.
You will not have to worry about a germ on your Bedroom,
a tiger in your tank, or the giant in your toilet bowl.
The revolution will not go better with Coke.
The revolution will not fight the germs that cause bad breath.
The revolution WILL put you in the driver's seat.
The revolution will not be televised,

WILL not be televised,WILL NOT BE TELEVISED.

The revolution will be no re-run brothers;
The revolution will be live.

Government should expand Juja Road to ease jam

Ongoing construction at Thika road

The government should consider expanding the current construction at the junction of Juja Road with Pagani Girls to Eastlands.

 

This will not only supplement government’s road construction in the region like the Mathare North bus route commissioned by Njeru Githae the Nairobi Metropolitan minister, but ease the traffic on Thika road when finished since they run parallel to each other.

 

At this current state this important road to Eastlands is narrow causing traffic snarl up to Eastleigh , Pangani, Mathare, Huruma, Kariobangi, Dandora and Kayole areas amongst others.

 

In addition, the matatu and traffic avoiding Thika Road jam through Alsops and other ‘panya routes’ to the road add on the rush hour mess.

 

The traffic police’s attempt at controlling the traffic is overwhelmed by the narrow road especially next to Moi Air Force Base raising insecurity by thieves in the jams snatching away mobile phones from unsuspecting motorists and commuters.

 

Considering the increase in high rise buildings in the area and since the Eastlands is the first stop for rural-urban immigrants Juja road is bound to become a traffic nightmare equate to Thika Road before expansion.

 

 

To drive the point home the current state at Kariobangi roundabout next to Moi Forces Academy show the trend. The narrow roundabout connecting the City Center with four estates and Thika highway from Alsops is a mess of matatu cacophony and constant snarl up heightened by minimum police supervision.

Published in The Star 31st May 2011 and The Standard 31st May 2011

Africans should work together in the spirit of founding fathers on 48th African Day – Kalonzo Musyoka

Nairobi, May 25, 2011 VPPS

African Children, AU is still facing challenges in todays 48th aAfrican Day celebrations

Africa founding fathers and distinguished leaders are the heroes of the 48th African Day celebrating the formation of the African Union, AU on May 25th 1963, says Kalonzo Musyoka Kenyan Vice President

Mr. Kalonzo was giving a key note speech today at the Security Council Meeting of United Nation in Gigiri, Nairobi attended by the dean of The African Diplomatic Corps, George Kayonga, ambassadors, commissioners and other guests.

“Today, we pay tribute to our founding fathers who laid the foundation for Africa’s unity, integration, co-operation and removal of colonial vestiges such as apartheid” Mr. Kalonzo said.

He thanked the efforts of the continent’s founding fathers like Haille Selassie 1, Kwame Nkrumah, Abdel Nasser amongst others for forming Organization of African Unity which was proceeded by AU in 2002.

The AU, Kalonzo said, is credited in its positive effort to bring peace in war torn areas, governance and greater accountability.

“While these achievements are significant, Africans are still persisting with other challenges like poverty, unemployment and high child mortality” the leader observed saying these might hinder the attaining of MDGs.

Kalonzo also called on Africans and partners to re-double efforts to exploit available opportunities to realize goals that would improve the continent.

“I urge fellow Africans and friends of the continent to work together for lasting peace, economic integration and social development for better Africa and a better world” He said.

Kaka ti nimiya yweja (A dholuo poem from a folklore)

Eee, eee

kaka ti nimiya wouchena
kaka ti nimiyawouchena
wouchena, wouche jadoung’
jaduong’ ochamo akucha
akucha, akuch rowere
rowere otoyo tonga
tonga, tong udo
udo ochamo benda
benda bend mama
mama oturo panda
panda pand waya
waya oturo yweya
yweya ywe thim cha
to thim cha ojok bandha
to thim cha ojok bandha

Nyandoro, a Dholuo lullaby

(From a dholuo lullaby)


Nyandoro nindo otero

mama biro okello rabolo
icham te te
matindo tindo mag toto
madongo dongo mag japidi
nindo tero Nyandoro
nindo tere
nindo tero Nyandoro
nindo tere

Don’t read this if you’ve never lost a mobile phone

10 things you realize when you lose your mobile phone


A mobile phone charging booth

 I had to part ways with my mobile phone a week ago due to Nairobi matatu craze. All I knew is that I had the phone while boarding in River road, but on alighting my phone was gone.

I was escorting my cousin heading to Coast province for a work schedule.

Apart from cussing the high crime rate in the capital and your supposed carelessness, I have come to realize 10 things you learn on the loss of your phone.

You don’t have a wrist watch; and a wall clock, that is if you are still a single hustler. I realize this with the numerous times I reached in my pocket for the phone to know the time and hitting a blank.

The culmination was when I reached at the office before 7:15 to be turned away by cleaners (Since the kids were off to school I reasoned I was late for office)

You don’t know your spouse’s number; you might have exchanged steamy messages and late night flirting, and you ignored the number was just there. The category goes with your siblings, parents, friends and colleagues. A lost phone often brings rueful thoughts of lost contacts.

Prior to my ordeal I was to visit my sister and have a prospectus date the next day. Though my sister called, the date sulked for ‘shutting my phone’ on her.

So you had a radio; with a phone radio, internet and memory card with music you suddenly realize an alternative source of entertainment. For me, I had to dust and tinker with an old transistor bought in high school days till it squeaked to life.

Neighbors are the closest relatives; the occasional greetings and a genuine show of concern pays. When in trouble neighbors are the closest and first people to show concern. A little chitchat at the tap with a lady helped have a phone to receive important calls for a half a day while replacing my SIM card.

Additionally, a fellow internee in office helped me with her phone during the day.

You are still the child of the family; no matter how old you are and living in your own house, to the family you are still a child with the umbilical cord intact, to cherish and protect.

After informing my elder brother and cousin on Facebook about my predicament, a phone call through my neighbor aided everyone to pass their wishes. The thought of the family praying for you is most refreshing.

Public phones are obsolete, expensive; the remaining were set ablaze as road blocks during demonstrations with the few still standing being out of order. The Simu ya Jamii (Public phones) monopolized by Safaricom are damn expensive.

A 5 minute call did cost me Ksh. 150 making a 30 min call to be equivalent to the cheapest phone in the black market.

Don’t worry, you are still careful; there is no need to beat yourself on the head over you loss, if you friends claim of losing more expensive gadget and in sheer negligence (like dropping them in alcohol) is anything to go by you are still careful.

You never needed those numbers; it was forced down you phonebook by an acquaintance you met in a workshop and all attempts at calling them was meet with “excuse me who did you say you are.” Now at least you can excuse yourself for losing their numbers and your phone without appearing guilty.

Send an application? Move on they won’t call; you have been sitting on your phone waiting for we will call you mantra or only successful candidates will be contacted. You’ve have lost you phone and nothing has happened, it’s better to try you luck somewhere, as you hope instead of waiting.

Finally, the mobile is an extension of your personality; it was easier to lock yourself away from the world with your earpiece and social media to chat the world away. It is suddenly taken away and you realize you miss a portion of your personality.

PNU alliance should unite to win Kamukunji- Uhuru Kenyatta, Beth Mugo

Deputy Prime minister Uhuru Kenyatta

The party of national unity, PNU should unite for the success of the Kamukunji by elections scheduled for next Monday.

Mr. Uhuru Kenyatta, the DPM advised that the PNU candidate Yusuf Hassan was bound to win the election during a campaign rally yesterday.

“We support Yusuf as a national outlook in winning the 2012 elections” Mr. Kenyatta told supporters at the city Hall in Nairobi.

The Kamukunji seat felled vacant after Simon Mbugua become the eighth  MP to lose his seat over malpractices through a petion filed by  Orange Democratic Movement, ODM aspirant Ibrahim Ahmed alias Johnny who lost the poll.

In her ruling Justice Mary Ang'awa ruled that there was no valid result in the poll since it was compromised and lacked transparency.

Kamukunji by elections has turned into a battle ground for the 2012 general election.

 “The seat will aid in strengthening the PNU hand in parliament and the president (Mwai Kibaki) as the party leader is behind Yusuf” Beth Mugo, Nairobi representative of PNU and a cabinet minister said.

Mugo advised for unity to win the election.

PNU an affiliate party with ODM in the grand coalition government created after the 2007/08 PEV suffered a major loss in Nairobi legislature and civic seats and seeks this by election to boast its national outlook.

“The disarray of every member affiliated to PNU fielding their own candidate made us lose greatly to ODM in Nairobi and we should be united to win” Kenyatta said.

He added that Yusuf won the nomination as the party candidate and Uhuru advised for collective support.

The same sentiments were echoed by Ferdinand Waititu the Embakasi MP, Njeru Githae a cabinet minister, several MPs, party members and civic leaders.

Yusuf Hassan

Mr. Yusuf Hassan is counting on his track as a journalist with KBC and UN to eradicate poverty, built infrastructure and social amenities for Kamukunji.

“I will ensure I have my offices in the constituency, closer to the people to offer transparency in CDF and curb land grabbing” the candidate said.

The campaign trail made stop over at city hall in CBD, Tom Mboya social Hall in the constituency and several estates.

PNU plans a major rally today in the backdrop of a court order filled by Paul Waweru of National Vision Party, NVP who said his nomination ticket were denied by the electoral body IIEC.

High Court judge Justice Daniel Musinga issued an injunction stopping the by elections on grounds that the nomination process was flawed by IIEC.

Come on Sonko i am also a youth and don't feel represented

Yesterday the Makadara Mp Gidion Mbuvi alias Sonko led youth in protesting sgainst the deputy prime minister and minister for local governments Musalia Mudavadi at Jogoo House ‘A’ where I happened to intern.

 

Flanked by irate youths the MP who is cutting an image of representing the Kenyan youths was unruly in attacking Mudavadi with the media in tow.

 

The youths from South B were seeking redress when the city council demolished their stalls and opted to build more expensive ones which would be out of their reach.

 

Basically protesting a a means of seeking re-dress by any age group is not bad, but the hooligans accompanying Sonko yesterday were pitiable.

 

There is a thin line between peaceful demonstrations and heckling and hustling peaceful wananchi at the protest by passed this.

 

First the protesters forced their way through the gates, past the receptionists yelling obscenities before jamming the stairways and lift arrogantly.

 

Apart from defiantly littering the hall way with sugarcane peelings they went about abusing and sexually harassing females, and ‘dising’ us ‘Babylonian’ youths.

 

This went on as the MP was seeking redress with the Permanent Secretary over the issues.

 

There is nothing wrong with the MP addressing issues affecting youths in Nairobi but resorting to unethical demonstrations against the system, putting on bling and studs to parliament and focus more on putting across bills and initiatives to help youths.

 

Leadership is by example and what Sonko has done to the youth he seeks to represent amounts to nothing tangible, zeroing to a façade. These demonstrations are turning to a panacea to unemployment and unequal resource distribution affecting the youths.

 

And it’s a dearth of policies that makes opportunistic politicians like Sonko to seize an opportunity of using youths as pawns in furthering their ambitions.

 

Sonko’s numerous court appearances on charges of corruption and his alleged ties to drug trade is a far cry from change of youths but places him with the old guard marred with dirty titles to hold on public offices.

Published on Wednesday 18th May 2011 in Standard and Daily Nation. On Thursday 19th May 2011 in The People  

May someone tell Philip Kisia am Thirsty?

Hello Mr. Philip Kisia? We might have never met although now am a resident of the capital and a ‘worker’ at the CBD. Our luck of acquaintance is not attributed to whiskey or any other alcoholic drink because am a teetotaler (without qualms to any slur).

 

The reason for writing this post is to complain that am thirsty. To begin I could have written to you directly and avoid you scouring this blog but my grammar could not make me address you as the ‘Town Clerk of Nairobi City’

 

Equally, am lost to write the addressee as either ‘City Council of Nairobi’ or ‘Nairobi City Council’ even though our learned friends called to the bar (without whiskey) reasoned in the back loaded courts about the words meaning the same residence.

 

To avoid further digression, may I just bring to your attention that the watering points installed in the city center for free for Kenyans have stalled.

 

Though like all governments projects opened with fanfare before fizzling out this project was suppose to be a PR gimmick for the council and was received whole heartedly by Kenyans.

 

In particular am writing about the point next to Kencom bus station and in Tom Mboya street directly behind the Kenya National Archives. These points aided in serving the thirsty Nairobians like me.

 

Sir, now to quench my thirst I have to walk all the way to the City Hall’s along Mama Ngina drive for the precious pint.

 

The other points have been turned into benches and the Kencom one in particular turned into a pulpit by a lunch time preacher.

 

And while we are at it may you please unclog the sinks because there is nothing so ghastly than green mouth wash water next to a drinking water.

 

Before I quit and since we are at it, may someone please tell Mr. Kisia than am still thirsty?

The Vice president officially launches the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety, 2011/2020 in Kenya

A scene of accident

11/05/11

The Vice President Mr. Kalonzo Musyoka has today officially opened the country’s charter for United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety, 2011/2020 at the KICC.

The launch which was done globally by UN members is aimed at coordinating road safety at county level to avert the 1.3 million lives translating to 2% of GDP loss globally.

“With this launch Kenya will unveil a ten year programme of activities though our national road safety council” Mr. Kalonzo said at the event which was attended by His Royal Highness, Prince Michael of Kent who is the global patron.

The launch comes with the government’s effort at rehabilitating existing and new roads, and with the recent matatu self regulation through registering SACCOs to ease the carnage

Mr. Kalonzo observed that road safety is fundamental for Kenya in realizing the vision 2030 by reducing economic and psychological loss attributed to over 3,000 lost nationally.

“I now call on the National Road Safety Council to tune their programs with this global plan to reduce road carnage which is the 5th leading cause of death to citizens” He said adding that motorists should ensure they have triangle hazard signs, first aid kits and fire extinguishers as stipulated in the traffic rules.

Kalonzo thanked the support offered through the global patron Hid Highness Prince Michael of Kent, World Bank, World Health Organization amongst others in making the Kenyan roads safe

The road minister Amos Kimunya and the Permanent Secretary Silas Njiru who is also the chairman of National Road Safety council attended the function.

Manuel Odeny

Kibaki, Raila should hold the spirit brought by JSC public interviews

The Judicial Service Commission team

The ongoing public interview by the Judicial Service Commission, JSC at Anniversary Towers to pick from 18 candidates the next chief Justice, CJ is a welcome to the much needed reforms in the country. After picking the candidates from May 3-May about six candidates would be forwarded to the President and Prime Minister for consoltation.
This is very important in the following way.

First the move came after the country was polarized when President Mwai Kibaki hand picked three candidates unconstitutionally. Least Kenyans forget, the ODM party backed with civil society rallied and successfully made Kibaki to revoke the appointments.

The way the applicants have to answer on their CV will surely go ahead to give Kenya the best CJ since independence showing the mistake of hand picking buried with the new constitution.

The effect of the move is still felt in the country especially in the parliament where the coalition partners are wrangling for supremacy in the house committees.

Secondly, it brings the hope on the mess that has been the judiciary system. The judiciary has been accused of pending backloads, corruptions, poor judgments against Kenyans and political involvement.

The 2007/08 PEV offered the best example to this. To begin the ODM completely refused to go to court to contest the flawed elections asserting the poor performance. Additionally, the lack of any suspect of PEV brought to justice by Kenyan courts deepens the dearth of this important institution.

Least we forget the rot in the judiciary, which still persists with bad acquittals, was named in Waki and Alston inquiries as the caused of violence with claimed lives of about 1,500 Kenyans with others still homeless.

Through done during the weekday I have tried the best I can to catch the glimpse of the process off my office work.

Honestly, the best pleasure I get is when the applicants sweat in public to answer on their rulings,

“Ahmednasir (A commissioner) has been stressing that we have been poodles of government” I smiled at Judge Riaga Omollo exasperation after the interview when he was told to acknowledge why the former president Daniel Arap Moi used to win election petitions while he was in bench.

Since talking about court ruling is contempt this live broadcast is a refreshing emotional channel to Kenyans with unanswered questions over the ruling.

What is done by the JSC is commendable and should be replicated in other major appointments in the country. Let us just hope it was be later derailed by politicians. Kibaki and Raila should hold to the spirit brought by this inquiry when finally picking a candidate and never take us back to their coalition squabbles.

The Vice President urges graduates to be creative

06/05/11

The Kenyan Vice President Hon. Kalonzo Musyoka has urged gradates to be creative in their approach to making the world a better place. The VP was talking during the 46th annual graduation ceremony of Scott Theological College in Machakos town today.

“You should not do things the same way they were done years ago least you be certain of recording diminished results year 9in year out” the VP said.

Hon. Kalonzo also lauded the contribution of missionaries in the country in terms of higher education, infrastructure and opening greater prospects for Kenyan for the past century.

The college was started in 1895 by African Inland Mission headed by Peter Cameron Scott making it synonymous with the country’s Christian history.

“We as Kenyans should not bask in the glory of our christian values which brought salvation and good news to us” the Vp said challenging the graduands to show love and tolerance to other Kenyans.

Manuel Odeny

Day 2 in Nairobi and am lost in Eastleigh enroute to city center

Eastleigh estate. BBC online

I experienced it first hand; when it pours Nairobians have atavistic tendencies tacked away beneath their skins exposed to all and sundry. Today morning it was worse when the City woke with a down pour.

It was in this wet instigated mad rush that i ended up in Eastleigh by boarding a matatu i thought was heading to the CBD.

The mercurial fare in the capital which was 30 bob more in morning got me duped when the tout accepted the customary 30 bob in the morning rush. it was when the anticipated landmarks delayed that it did hit me that i was heading to Gikomba market and not the CBD.

The feeling of getting lost  started when i realised i was in Easleigh eastate. The Arabian perfumes from new commuters, the bushy and bearded faces, well tendeed shops sellliing carpets, clothes and perfumes, and lastly posters of Kamukunji by election campaigns confirmed the worst.

Though perplexed i dared not ask for obvious reasons.As the shops increased i new i had to think quick.

Quick calculation made me realize that in Gikomba market, a meeting point for Nairobi traders the cacophony of confusion would get me lost further so i alighted and went to board other matatus plying the opposite direction.


And that was when i made the mother of all mistakes when lost in Nairobi. Unlike up country, the matatus plying the opposite lane don't necessarily go back to where you are from!!

You further know you are in a hot soup when you share a street in the morning with street families, winos, lady's night carousers and school kids. So there was i with the rain soaking me to my bones and in the middle of God-knows-best!

I built hope that since where i was was the 'First Avenue Easleigh' then the was a chance of matatus to town. Other matatus passed back to other easates while others took traders to Ngara market next to the CBD (You can figure how many i asked before knowing this fact).

It was a veiled lady wearing an hijab who pointed to an accident further up the road that had diverted the matatus to town to another lane. I tried to look purposeful as i followed  her directions, but before reaching the destination a tout called out that a matatu was headed to town though the number wasn't 9/6 for Easich.

After a few meters and almost out of the Somali Ndogo (AS Esich is called) the tout realized there was more passengers to Ngara than Town and dumped us at a bus-stop rudely.

Sarakasi Dome and Ngara
Just ahead a group of Somalis hurdled together in cold, i walked to them and started a chat with an old Somali man about the general weather. I got relived when other passengers, mostly of Somali origin, joined in and complained of the increased fare to the CBD. Need i say i was relived!

So when the next Matatu pulled by with the tout screaming his lungs out "Tao! Tao! 80!" i was the first one in the hiked fare not withstanding. The other commuters remained behind ganging against the tout, while i stayed put.

With no respite the other passengers joined in before the old man shouted at the tout in the effect of Kikuyu's and their money. In a counter measure the tout joined by his driver went into a diatribe about terrorism, Osama's death, drug abuse and gays (the last two being thorny to Muslims especially with the Coast province vice)

Suddenly the argument turned bellicose and truculent with the rain and the hiked fare forming a perfect cocktail for a soar mood. Curse words were traded with mother's nether organs thrown about carelessly.

I slithered deep in my seat and thought ruefully of a bad day already getting worse.

To beat the traffic the driver took a panya (mouse) route to Ngara post office down the Sarakasi Dome sharing a fence with Ngara Girls before entering the Ngara market. (To digress, i couldnt stop imagining the student in prep with the Dome disco)

My first entry in the famous market and the place was muddy and trades milling about like peasant lost in the city's concrete jungle. We were further delayed with trucks haphazardly parked while off loading their products.

A matatu

This compounded the mood further with some Somali women yelling like a pack of rabid dogs called the tout and his driver morons. In anger the last duos dumped us at the fire station in Tom Mboya street opposite the Old Nation in a foul mood.

With about two and a half hours wasted, i walked the remaining distance crest fallen. I was late for scheduled attachment appointed which i had wrestled from an irate secretary.

Take it from me: No matter how smartly dressed you are, with polished shoes, smart mind and perfect attitude you would still appear stupid and dumb when rained on in Nairobi!