From: Mugo Muchiri
Los Angeles, CA
June 1, 2013
THE MUGO REPORT – May 2013
Q: Good morning Bwana Mugo, nice to see you. Another month gone by, can you believe this?
Mugo: Good morning ndugu and asante. Yep, as they say in the song, ‘life is a-fleeting!” Tell me about your clan, how are they doing?
Q: Actually pretty good, considering. I’ve been trying to sell them on the turmeric tip we talked about last time. Asked them if they can ‘kusindikisha’ me. Well, we’ll see how that goes. Any tip for this month?
Mugo: Ground spices in cooking. When I saute my food, I use a combination of turmeric, fennel, cumin, coriander, mixed in a 1:4:2:3 ratio respectively. Try using a teaspoon in either ghee (clarified butter) or olive oil when sauteing. This is a secret of Maharishi Ayurveda, India’s ancient system of developing and maintaining perfect health as revived by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in the 80s. You’ll notice that Kenyan Indians use plenty of spices in their cooking. Infact the curries which are a hallmark of their cuisine have found great favor with many a Kenyan urbanite.
Q: Share with us the benefits of cooking with spices?
Mugo: They’re wide-ranging. Turmeric is considered a liver detoxifier, is known to tame high cholestrol levels, boost immunity and aid skin complexion so that you can, according to Mulu Mutisya, ‘ng’alang’ala like a tomato.’ Both turmeric and cumin are antioxidants, meaning they scavenge free radicals in the system. Fennel of course is excellent for good digestion, while coriander acts as a blood purifier. Used together, an immune system-boosting synergy is further created. This, in Maharishi Ayurveda, contributes to balancing the doshas that underlie one’s constitution.
Q: Sawa. Let’s turn our eyes now on Kenya this past month of May and do some reviewing.
Mugo: Am ready when you are.
GOVERNANCE & DEMOCRACY
Q: Trans Nzoia Governor Patrick Simiyu Khaemba was unhappy with the revenue collection from markets, PSVs etc. One of his first acts upon assuming office was to dismiss the officials responsible for collections. The very next day, revenues went up from SHS 200,000 to SHS 1,000,000 a day, representing a 500% increase. Why do we still have our hats on?
Mugo: It’s a great start. You have drama, you have impact…….I mean these pistons are not waiting for a committee, they’re firing on all cylinders! What I worry about though is consistency. Reform is a journey. We don’t need one-hit wonders. It’s the sustainability that’s key. I just loved reading that story! If this is what ugatuzi or devolution is all about, then let the inspiration spreads to other counties.
Q: Let’s talk a little about democracy and free speech. I’m concerned about what I see as a creeping tendency to stifle free expression among, surprisingly, reasonably well-educated Kenyans? And here’s exhibit A to prove my point: I love following Professor Mutua Makau, the famous Nation newspaper columnist who does a weekly piece there and is, very notably, dean of SUNY Buffalo School of Law. What concerns me is the manner in which the guy gets slaughtered by his readers, judging from their comments. I mean, it’s not just swipes, it’s a freeking bloodbath! Are your eyes seeing the same thing as me?
Mugo: Well first of all, like you, I admire Makau. His voice is singularly unique. Where many vacillate on modes of expression, lucidity has found a home in his pen. In Makau World, boldness and incisiveness runneth over, spontaneously oozing wits in his writings. But his most prized possession in his arsenal, if you asked me, is his love of country so vividly discernible from every piece he crafts. These attributes haven’t stopped many of his readers from spitting venom at him when their views are divergent. Their level of rage and detestation has a personal element that’s clearly uncalled for and quite disturbing. Is it not possible to disagree without being disagreeable? I think the answer should be ‘yes,’ if education works.
AFRICA AND THE ICC
Q: Sawa. I’ve noticed that the closer we get to the trial dates of President Uhuru Kenyatta and deputy President William Ruto at the Hague, the more the flurry of activities to either delay, derail or even stop the judicial proceedings from commencing. First we heard submissions at the United Nations in New York by both Kenya’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Macharia Kamau, and his deputy, Koki Muli. Notably, African Heads of States just concluded their annual summit in Addis Ababa with a resolution to request a referal of the cases back to Kenya. What do you make of these moves?
Mugo: 1133 Kenyans were viciously killed simply because someone’s tribal arithmetic didn’t tally the way they thought it should. Someone needs to answer for that!!!!!
Of the 600,000 Kenyans displaced from their homes, many continue to languish in IDP camps. I actually saw a good number of them when I visited the Nakuru Pipeline IDP camp last December. Someone needs to answer for that!!!!!
There was a rapefest, burnings, forced circumcisions and just about everything that would describe a Hell on earth. Someone needs to answer for that!!!!
The Head of State must comport him or herself as the embodiment of the collective consciousness of his or her nation, and not one of an elitist subset. To me, the AU Heads of States resolution is a lagging indicator of an Africa that’s sick to her core, where food is regarded as poison, and poison as food. We need a savior and thank God we have one in Ms. Fatou Bensouda. The Jesus’ and Mohameds of their day led tortured lives precisely because tough medicine rarely finds a welcoming ingester. Appreciations and worldwide acclaim become latter-day developments.
Now Uhuru and Ruto have multiply attested to their innocence and must be so considered before their trials. Many Kenyans believe them. Moreover, they themselves have repeated many times ‘Shetani atashindwa.’ So why all the behind-the-scenes efforts to prevent them from giving Kenyans and the world an opportunity to prove their innocence? Why scuttle a process whose benefit to their co-presidency would essentially be of a liberative nature?
Or is this to continue being an Africa where the champion swimmer tells everyone that winning the race is a foregone conclusion, but alas his coterie of trainers and aides does everything to prevent him from even nearing the water’s edge?
And another curiosity: one of the two guys judged centrally responsible for the mayhem gets what? A retirement gift of a brand new SHS 500 million home exclusively funded by the taxpayers. Never mind that he has several palatial homes in Muthaiga, or that his land holdings put him at the second or third largest landowner in Kenya, a country where more than 60% of its population lives on less than one and a half dollars a day! Perhaps an appropriate gift should have been a tour of future digs at Kamiti, a la Emperor of China.
CHALLENGES
Q: Nimesikia hiyo mambo. The ICC is obviously a very emotive issue and I’m sure we’ll be hearing more as the trial comes closer. I’d like us to step aside for a moment and look at some challenges and opportunities for Kenya this past month.
Poaching continues to be an ever-growing menace in Kenya. Here are some statistics:
– October 2012 – Hong Kong Customs seizes 4 tons of ivory tusks; value $3.4million
– November 2012 – Dubai, UAE seizes 215 ivory tusks; value $4million
– Jan 2013 – Hong Kong Customs seizes 779 ivory tusks
– May 2013 – Dubai Customs seizes 259 tusks
– May 2013 – Hong Kong Customs seizes 113 tusks; value $400,000
Meanwhile, Liu Guangyuan issues a statement on March 12, 2013 ‘educating’ Kenyans that concerns about China’s involvement in illegal ivory are unfair and misinformed. Ati they send text messages to all Chinese tourists to Kenya “not to engage in the ivory trade,” ati “harmony between nature and humankind is the most important component of Chinese civilization,” ati “China put the African elephant on the list of first-class wildlife species under special state protection,” ati China’s only current stockpile is 62 tons of non-poached ivory. Please bwana Mugo, help me out here!
Mugo: My honest opinion: it’s sweet BULLSHIT! There’s no doubt that the Chinese are a great people with an awesome heritage and great talent. It is that part of Civilization that gave the world the art of papermaking, gunpowder, printing and the compass (used, amongst other things, for navigability). But there’s another side to the Chinese persona that can be raw, vicious, calculating and unrelenting. It has a ravenous appetite that stops at nothing to get its fill: from big ticket items like African minerals and oil; to extorting trade secrets from US China-domiciled research center; to military intelligence garnered through cyber snooping. Even comparatively smaller menu items like shark fins are not spared.
The problem with Africans in general, and Kenyans in particular is our short memories and blind trust that makes us so amenable to be taken advantage of. If you ‘escort’ an ailing heart for an operation in South Africa with $5000, then ALL GLORY to you.
WANANCHI WENZANGU, AMKENI!!! MUSIKUBALI KUFUMBWA MACHO. Wake up to the fact that if nothing is done now, if the status quo prevails, in as short a time as 10 years, we’ll have no elephants and rhinos remaining to roam our continent – a large transfer of living wealth from Africa to the dead wealth Ornament rooms across South East Asia.
Mozambique which was awash with rhinos a few decades ago now has only one or two in the whole country which are encouraged to ‘get going’ to increase numbers. Ati text messages. How come the US or European embassies don’t send text messages to their visiting countrymen and women?
Fortunately, we’re seeing signs of movement in the right direction. Just today, we’re learning that 32 senior KWS personnel have been sent home pending investigations to finger the culprits vis-à-vis the high-level collusion of poachers with senior ranks at the organization.
William Kiprono, the KWS Director needs to be singled out for special mention. He’s working with another noted Kenyan – Inspector General Kimaiyo – to remove Somali herders who’ve leased large tracts of land in Taita-Taveta obstensibly for their commercial livestock endeavors (to fatten their herds). But poachers masquerading as herders have used this cover to visit havoc of elephant and rhino stocks. ALL KENYANS MUST JOIN HANDS WITH THESE SENIOR CIVIL SERVANTS TO TURN THE TIDE ON A CALAMITY THAT HAS REACHED TRULY EPIC PROPOTIONS.
Even then, one has to realize that Kiprono and Kimaiyo’s combined efforts could not have been as bold or even evocative of hope were they launched outside the context of a reformist agenda that propelled the new Jubilee government to office. My wish is for the President to be focused on this issue and to be unrelenting in his behind and sometimes not-so-behind-the-scenes support for wildlife protection.
OPPORTUNITIES
Q: Asante. I think we should wrap this up now. But not before pointing out at least one area of Opportunity for Kenyans.
Mugo: I am impressed by K-Rep bank and its ‘Maji ni Maisha (Water is Life) project. The company has partnered with the World Bank and European Union to expand access to water in communities that suffer perennial water shortages. Reports have it that about 220,000 Kenyans have already benefited from these types of water projects. K-Rep provides 80% of funds while the communities – through funds such as CDF – come up with 20%. Where viability and sustainability are shown, the World Bank can provide up to 40% subsidies. This is a pick-up type story. You feel good because you know the right thing is being down by your fellow wananchi.
Just in closing, I urge any Kenyan of repute and influence to take 30 minutes to study the concept of Volunteerism as seen through the prism of TEACH FOR AMERICA. I say this because I’m really concerned about the demands of more and more money from so many sectors of the economy. To name a few, the JUDICIARY (can you believe this nonsense of wanting to spend 300 million to buy a new plane so Judges can be flown to remote parts???), the TRANSITION AUTHORITY, the LEGISLATURE, now TEACHERS all want more mullah.
Let’s explore how we can include the Youth on a volunteer basis in the development of our nation. It’s not a freebie. They would get vouchers for work done – whether it’s tree planting, lake cleaning (hyacinth in Lake Victoria), agriculture, etc. – which are redeemable as tuition payment at qualifying universities or tertiary institutions. Or perhaps redeemable through food via the National Cereals and Produce Board. Everything doesn’t need to be monetized.
Q: Haya ndugu, kwaheri. Mpaka next month na Asante for your participation.