Africa, Economy, Essays, Politics, Socio-cultural

The Babylon System

Brenda Wambui

We refuse to be what you wanted us to be

We are what we are

That’s the way it’s going to be.

You don’t know

You can’t educate I for no equal opportunity:

Talking ’bout my freedom, people freedom and liberty

Yeah, we’ve been trodding on the winepress much too long

Rebel, rebel!

Yes, we’ve been trodding on the winepress much too long:

Rebel, rebel!

Babylon system is the vampire,

Sucking’ the children day by day,

Me say de Babylon system is the vampire, falling empire,

Sucking’ the blood of the sufferers,

Building church and university,

Deceiving the people continually,… Read More

Essays, Politics

Political Party Nominations

Brenda Wambui

2017 is an election year, and right before the election, we have this spectacle called political party nominations. It usually looks (to outsiders like me) like a trainwreck – messy and destructive. I’ve seen pictures of all manner of campaign tactics – there’s an MP aspirant for Bureti called Kibet Komingoi who has his face and hopeful title on a packet of salt and a bag of sugar.

Why are party nominations important? We all know that certain parties are more popular in certain regions because of the tribal nature of our politics, and the fact that political parties here … Read More

Essays, governance, Politics, Socio-cultural

On Resistance

Brenda Wambui

On March 7th, Uhuru Kenyatta pulled his worst bad faith move yet. After the government and the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU) failed to reach an agreement on a return-to-work formula to end the seemingly never-ending doctors’ strike, he took his best offer off the table, stopped negotiations, and instead threatened doctors to go back to work or risk disciplinary action for not attending to patients. He also threatened to deregister the KMPDU. Like clockwork, the media reported gross misrepresentations of KMPDU’s position, no doubt intended to make the doctors seem unreasonable, like they were … Read More

Africa, Economy, Essays, Politics

Unravelling the African Union Elections

Brenda Wambui

We have been treated to weeks of intrigue following Kenya’s failed campaign for its current foreign affairs cabinet secretary, Amina Mohammed, to become the next chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC). The AUC is the executive arm of the African Union (AU). The election was instead won by Chad’s foreign minister, Moussa Faki Mahamat.

Our response this loss has been anything but diplomatic, with Aden Duale, who is the National Assembly majority leader, blaming Kofi Annan, a former United Nations (UN) Secretary General for manipulating the elections, and Amina Mohammed, the failed candidate, said that we should investigate… Read More

Essays, governance, Politics

On Voting

Brenda Wambui

Every four to five years, we suffer campaigns by people vying to win seats and represent us after the general election, many of whom harp on and on about how it is our civic duty to vote. That if we don’t vote, we must not complain about “poor leadership” and the thieves that will get into power. This year, the man leading this hype train is Uhuru Kenyatta, the president, who has never missed an opportunity to insult Kenyans when he sees it.

He was in Meru County when he said that billions of shillings go to the county governments … Read More

Economy, Essays, Politics, Security, Socio-cultural

The Rise and Rise of Nationalism

Brenda Wambui

Depending on your school of thought, you may believe that globalization has its roots in the modern era due to international commodity trade, which experienced an uptick in the 1750s. Or, like Adam Smith, you may attach huge significance to Vasco Da Gama’s and Christopher Colombus’ campaigns around the world in the 1490s, and even claim that this truly set off globalization. If you’re Thomas Friedman, you may believe in three waves of globalization: Globalization 1 (1492 to 1800, a la Adam Smith), Globalization 2 (1800 – 2000, a la O’Rourke and Williamson), and Globalization 3 (2000 … Read More

Africa, Essays, governance, Politics, Socio-cultural

Dear Uhuru Kenyatta

Brenda Wambui

I hope this finds you in good health. It has been a while since I addressed you directly, but I have been busy with work, and life, you know how these things are.

I saw you in the news recently, looking visibly frustrated and complaining about corruption, as you like to do. I must say, you have really nailed the act. Well done. The delivery was quite sympathetic, and for a moment there, I almost fell for it. Allow me to quote you for reference.

“As president, if there is one issue that has frustrated me, it is … Read More

Environment, Essays, governance, Politics

The Northern Collector Tunnel

Brenda Wambui

For lovers of drama, Kenya’s politics never seem to disappoint, and yesterday was no different. On 10th October 2016, Raila Odinga, Kenya’s former Prime Minister, held a press conference to reveal the details of a project he says the current government has been hiding from Kenyans.

Mr. Odinga said that just above the Murang’a region, in the Aberdares, there was a tunnel, known as The Northern Collector Tunnel, and that its effects would be some of the worst the country and the continent have seen. The source of many rivers is the Aberdares, and he says that this tunnel … Read More

Essays, Legal, Politics, Security, Socio-cultural

The Dangers of Speech

Brenda Wambui

In the aftermath of the 2007 general election that ended in violence and the death of over 1,000 Kenyans, we decided “never again” and set up the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC), to promote ethnic harmony and investigate complaints of ethnic or racial discrimination or any issue affecting ethnic and racial relations. The National Cohesion and Integration Act (2008), which sets up the commission, in Section 13 criminalizes the use of hate speech and stops the use of threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour in any medium if they are intended to spur ethnic hatred.

We would therefore … Read More

Africa, Economy, Essays, governance, Politics, Security

The Wrath of the Gods

Brenda Wambui

“You could hear women lamenting, children crying, men shouting. Some were calling for parents, others for children or spouses; they could only recognize them by their voices. Some bemoaned their own lot, others that of their near and dear. There were some so afraid of death that they prayed for death. Many raised their hands to the gods, and even more believed that there were no gods any longer and that this was one last unending night for the world. Nor were we without people who magnified real dangers with fictitious horrors. Some announced that one or another part of … Read More