Comments - Latest Popular Stories, Instablogs Community by Dunpresident

Duncan Mikae

Duncan Mikae — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Any country that will remain on the reformist path is the only one that is going to do much better politically and economically.

Oscar

Oscar — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Duncan:

Don’t ever GIVE UP! I too, mourn my country. We citizens, although under ”democratic law”, failed our nation.

We were dumb, deaf, blind, and mute..We allowed corruption to take hold of every aspect of our nation..Still we slempt in a sweet, conforming, slumber..Drifting in blissful, ignorance..

We can no longer hise, and play dumb.. We can no longer claim blindness as our children are shot or kidnapped by drug cartels. We can no longer fane deafness as we hear our neighbors screams..The ”little bit of wronful doing that wasn’t hurting anybody” has now taken control of ournation..The monster we created, coddled and cooed id now slaughtering us, one by one..

Citizens must take stand!!!

In the words of the late J.F.K.:

”ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.”

Abigael Nyaboke

Abigael Nyaboke — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Duncan,i think i am starting to respect your point of view,your article has made me rethink my stand in many things,never had i known that the Kenyan system was the very one that denies justice for all.

I must say you reasoning and examples have come out very strong save for a few elements that i don’t agree with.

Duncan,for your rich poems and articles, you deserve respect.

Duncan Mikae

Duncan Mikae — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Thank you Abigael for your comments,Kenya has come a long way under poor
leadership,we are not the leaders of tomorrow but today and all the youth
should know that they shouldn’t wait for leadership because the system of
waiting for leadership is long gone,the leadership that is always given
comes with attachments to old aspects like fleecing,politics for power and
all the mannerism that is in the current leadership scope.

I will always try as much as possible to post sensible articles.

Johnstone

Johnstone — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Yes Duncan you always cut a line for yourself.

Johnstone

Johnstone — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000

I wonder how this system will be tamed,you can actually imagine if all the current MPs manipulated their way back to parliament come 2012,kenya would be doomed.

Abigael Nyaboke

Abigael Nyaboke — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000

if that happened Kenya will go backwards twice as it is now because this current parliament is only enriching itself at the expense of Kenyans

Johnstone

Johnstone — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000

You are right,i don’t trust our current Mps

Johnstone

Johnstone — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000

You are right,i don’t trust our current Mps

Thomas Kanana

Thomas Kanana — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Duncan this is a voice of reason,i must say Kenya is behind because the majority believe that it is the elite who can decide for them,this so happens because many are denied opportunity to go to school and further their studies,as much as we blame the leaders when they loot national resources,we are the ones giving them an okay to do so,you will find that a man will be voted back to parliament as you have said even when the voters know clearly that the man doesn’t merit the seat,this comes majorly as a result of poverty and lack of employment whereby the youth who are Jobless will accept money from these politicians and work for them in whichever mannerism to make the win back their seats,what many forget is that immediately the politician has taken back his seat,they will remain in their poor state as the politician will now shift allegiance to the elite in his constituency,instead of helping the poor boys who helped him get to power he chooses a certain click that is educated and forgets the poor guys,what hurts most is that this is the order of the day as come the next election,the same poor,jobless fellows will be used and dumped.

From my look of things,Kenya is a state that is starting to grow now,we have never been growing,the poll violence must have regenerated the growth hormones and changes have started coming for instance we have very many women MPs and i trust that it is only they who will salvage our country because the felt the pain and the load in 9months.

Duncan Mikae

Duncan Mikae — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Thomas,times are changing as you have said,through which we should remain
consistent if we are to look back and smile.
Thanks for your contribution.

Abigael Nyaboke

Abigael Nyaboke — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000

i support your comment Thomas

Duncan Mikae

Duncan Mikae — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Not all are that Bad.

Rose Ng'ang'a

Rose Ng'ang'a — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Hi Duncan, Good article i must admit that your writeup depicts all what Kenya is about and thanks for realising how cheated we are by our leaders, i feel good whenever the youth come out strongly in emphasizing how badly we need leadership change, in my own view Kenya is in ICU but we have a chance if the youth would rise up, forget about their tribal cocoons and unite in wiping out the current selfish leadership we have, it needs a serious overhaul, i was surprised the other day when a good number of the MPs watered down a censure motion against Ruto at the expense of starving Kenyans, all in the name of 2012 machinations now that they are at the helm, they do not care on matters on the ground, they are concerned about the next election no wonder their political regroupings.

Did anyone ask themselves why all of a sudden PNU MPs became ODMs bedmates? if whatever has ever happened in Parliament is anything to go by? Kiraitu (energy minister) defended Ruto since he knew his case was somewhere in the periphery. I do not have any problem with whoever becomes a friend of who but at least important issues should be given the kind of focus they deserve. So the youth its our time to get the Kenya we want who said if its not Kibaki’s, Kenyatta’s or Odinga’s family that the country’s clock will stop to tick?

Duncan Mikae

Duncan Mikae — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Rose,let me thank you for the comment,you carry the ideologies that the
Youth of today shouldfollow,if we are to remain behind and let this tribal
leaders carry the day,then there will be no tomorrow kenya will be driving
on Autopilot with kenyan’s lives being left in Danger.
There is nothing like youths are tomorrow’s leaders we have to claim
leadership now and help build the country.
As a youth,i cry for my country because even the youthful MPs in parliament
have left a lot to be desired.
Oh my Kenya!

Harun Lumiti

Harun Lumiti — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000

The change that we desire for our country will be almost impossible to achieve if individuals keep doing things the same wrong way and expect others to do right. And it does not only apply to those in political power. When a majority of the citizenry is generally inclined towards breaking the law when no one is watching, it is no wonder they are willing to give an indulging wink to their corrupt kinsmen then put them in high public office and even commit murder to defend them.

We need to start this change with ourselves. To do the right thing all the time even/especially when no one is watching. In time, sufficient numbers of upright citizens should be achieved to tip the balance in favor of an upright Nation.

Do we have the will? Allow me, Duncan, to use your article as an example...

..The opening paragraphs of your article are the copyrighted works of another published author to whom you have not made any attribution. You surely ought to know that it is the proper and right thing to do. Are you infringing on his property rights just because he might not find out and/or sue you?... This easily translates to our new-found local jargon: culture of impunity.

To paraphrase Michael Jackson, this change has to start with the man in the mirror.

Duncan Mikae

Duncan Mikae — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000

What is your point Harun,i don’t like the way you beat about the bush
sometimes,when someone reads your comment from the starting point one
sees sense but i am surprised that actually you have a motive of
fighting my posts, i wonder why you would want to potray me the way
you want.

I realized your comment wasn’t in line with the discussion point,I
want you to know that there is not day i will be you and you me,if you
have issues you want to settle try to look for a better way of doing
that.i want to tell you this,i took reasonable time to compile this
article,and if you think that your malicious comments can deter me,i
want to say you are wrong.
why can’t you tell me who the said publisher is and quote my opening
paragraph in line with his work and then tell me whether am barred to
read history and comment upon the same?

Harun,you cannot hit below the belt and be set free.

Mathew Makori

Mathew Makori — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Harun,why can’t you also go and write your article?

Let me ask you,if Harun Lumiti is a writer with Newyork times and not many people read Newyork times and i use some of his words here to stress my point,am i trying to enhancing the culture of impunity?

Mr.Lumiti,i produce music,luckily or unluckily i am not known,i am an underground artiste but my music is all over however small it may be,it is spread by piracy,my point here is that without the piracy my music would be nowhere because nobody would market me,still my message will be spread to many and this is what is African Brotherhood,when we speak with one voice and understand each other from the begining noting where we have come from,we (Me and you) can still share a slice of bread and avert hunger even if the piece of bread belongs to you,this does not mean i will be denying you your right of eating your bread.

Harun Lumiti you disgust me day after day.

I have read your articles,’Unfit for the Nobel Peace Prize ’ and ’

Why is This Woman So Eager to Circumcise Her Kinsmen? ’

In them i have discovered only one thing with you,you never want to give other people credit,you are a man who thinks for himself by himself with himself.

I have never seen someone who is such selfish as Harun Lumiti

Abigael Nyaboke

Abigael Nyaboke — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Mathew you are right,Harun Lumiti is not satisfied with his space,he should be given more space,why isn’t he writing at instablogs in the first place?why can’t he write and prove his prowess so that he can satisfy his ego?

Harun,you have to think what drives you,as much as we all here have personal stands,i don’t know which extra agenda you have,did you come here to pull down other committed writers down?Or are you here to prove that you are the best?why then not write?

I hate to say this but i won’t be tired in telling you this,you are not fit for dialogue,discussion or call it what you may,you are a dictator who is misplaced.

Duncan,just know that we are here with you,we will always support you here even if at times we disagree Dan,we are with you,i personally love your poems and your choice of topics,for a long time i have been following your writing and i have discovered you have an extra liking for issues that affect peace,i have read your blog the peace makers and that only supports my claim.

Keep up the good work Duncan,just ignore the stereotype in Harun Lumiti.

Abigael Nyaboke

Abigael Nyaboke — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000

I have just read your article ’ Why is This Woman So Eager to Circumcise Her Kinsmen?’ After reading Mathews comment,i had not known you had writen such

”Kawango Agot is clearly getting bolder with every dollar she pockets by preying on the fears and gullibility of her kinsmen. One hopes she’ll still have her you-cannot-intimidate-me wits about her when the excitable folks wake up to find their foreskin missing for no good reason. ”

I don’t like the way you have attacked Professor Agot here,she being a woman i will defend her and i will also defend her because she is a woman who has earned her status.

You are just one of the many men i would love to hate,you don’t see the good things done by people or intended by people but you want to think using your corrupt minds basing on wrong assumptions settle your personal egos and likes with dislikes.

Shape up my brother.

Abigael Nyaboke

Abigael Nyaboke — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Duncan Mikae

Duncan Mikae — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Mathew thank you.

On 2/23/09, Mathew Makori

Wonda L

Wonda L — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Duncan

When a person doesn’t like the shine on something they try to tarnish it -thinking it makes them shine more

You still look shiny to me!

Duncan Mikae

Duncan Mikae — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Wayne,i have a problem with people who don’t face issues the way they
are,you know it is pointless to avoid issues and take courses that are
questionable as such,these are the very people who think that the are
fighting for the community yet they want to blind their eyes not to
see with false excuses.

Thank you wayne for your continued support.

Abigael Nyaboke

Abigael Nyaboke — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Wayne,you are very right,in most cases you find these people are envious,they just wish they were other people but when the realize they can’t,they decide to fight the people they envy,if at all the don’t envy them,then you will find that they fear for there status,they might be the leading players but when a new force emerges,the fear his/her rising star they know sooner or later they might be displaced so they create negative impressions around the deemed underdog who has become a threat.

To me Duncan is just as shiny as he was yesterday.

Thomas Kanana

Thomas Kanana — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000

When i commented on Duncans article ’I say no to the Hague’i avoided confronting this man as much it was clear what he stood for,but when i read his comment here,i realized that in the previous article he was not just supporting his stand as it would be for a man who wants to be heard,he was simply motivated by a personal rebellion,to me i have evaluated the the two articles and i have come to a conclusion that this guy is just after negating Duncans work.

I have been in here long enough to as one question;Who does Harun Lumiti think he is.

Thomas Kanana

Thomas Kanana — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000

’Duncan you still look shiny to me’just as Wayne had said.

Duncan Mikae

Duncan Mikae — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Thank you Abigael,it is good to have friends here.

On 2/23/09, Abigael Nyaboke

Duncan Mikae

Duncan Mikae — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Thank you thomas

On 2/23/09, Thomas Kanana

Harun Lumiti

Harun Lumiti — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Duncan, you have chosen not to see my point.

As a writer you ought to know that infringement of other people’s copyright is unlawful. It is widespread, yes, but that does not make it lawful.

You decry the disregard for the law and other ills that are rampant in our country and state that you intend to change that. I agree and intend to support you. But I insist that we cannot change the wider society if we ourselves continue to do things the wrong way (morally and legally). This starts with the things we consider ’little’ or ’inconsequential’. It is all about the principle, not the magnitude. To say that your plagiarism is excusable because it was just a few paragraphs is to adopt the same mentality as the MPs who refuse to pay their taxes because ”even if we are taxed, it will amount to only 800million”. Or like the maize racketeers who say ”it is only 100,000 bags which was mishandled”.

The book I refer to is Political Sociology - A Critical Introduction by Keith Faulks.

Even more extensive political participation is deemed desirable it’s argued to be impractical,direct or participatory.Democracy requires millions of citizens to make all important decision yet if the masses cannot be trusted because they are so emotional and ignorant , why allow them to even choose who governs? The argument against direct democracy is logically an argument against any kind of democracy. The commitment of elites to democracy is weak .Even representative democracy is conceded only on grounds of expediency. This allows for the possibility that democracy would be dispensed with altogether if another way could be found to pacify the masses demands.

The attacks against the masses competency have often been made prior to extensions of participation,rights to workers , women and minorities.

The majority of individuals in liberal democracies are passive recipients of elite decisions rather than citizens who actively shape politics . This is a dangerous state of affairs because participation is a necessary precondition for our freedom. Democratic values are provisionally optional and conditional and a means to exclusively individualistic and private ends . Instead strong democracy is something done by , not to . citizens. This means strengthening local government and extending democracy practice into the institutions of civil society, as well as increasing opportunities for the use of national referendums and citizen – led policy initiatives . In a strong democracy participation is not merely the defense of an entrenched interest, but instead is a deliberative and public process that doesn’t lay claim to any truth above what can be agreed consensually by its citizens.

The portions appear as paragraphs between pages 145 and 147 of the online edition at the links below.

First paragraph

Second paragraph

Of course no one is barred from reading or commenting on other peoples work. But you were not commenting on anyone’s work as you have presented it all as yours. And that is dishonesty, like it or not. You want to side-track into ”settling of issues” that don’t even exist when the right thing to do is simply make an attribution!

It is about respecting other peoples’ rights, whoever they are, wherever they are. I thought this is the change you’d welcome.

Duncan Mikae

Duncan Mikae — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000

And my point is,when i chose to incorporate another person’s ideas to
make myself clear or to push my agenda ahead,i had not intention
whatsoever as depicted from the article to steal KEITH FAULKS
litereature,i happen to understand that legally i am protected because
i didn’t duplicate the author’s work but used an excerpt from the
author’s work to pass my point through,more so,i wasn’t discussing
political sociology here,i was trying to use the little i have to
explain rottenness in our leadership system,if you read the book in
the link you provided very well,you will realize where you are wrong,I
had an objective topic here Harun ,and I did it with the knowledge
that teachers are there to teach us so that we can use the knowhow
input in us by them to teach others or make ourselves better people,I
love KEITH FAULKS’ work that is why i chose to use his words at some
point.

But you.........

Harun,do you think the approach you took or are taking has anything to
go by the spirit of wanting to see better things done?In normal
cases,if at all there was a wrong done as you believe,am sure you
should have contributed on the article then thereafter pointed out to
me where you think i went wrong,by doing so the debate would have been
meaningful but the way you chose to do it,you wanted to water down the
voice of the message by countering it as a failed piece,in your
approach i see no good my brother,i must say that you should have
known better than to divert the topic,practically you are hijacking my
message and this to me is exactly what you are fighting me for;you
preach water and drink wine.

I want to believe that at one point you will check you association on
this matter and make your self clear,many people would love to know
where you stand.

What i believe is that i am driven not by selfishness seeking to
redeem myself on other people’s shoulder but by an urge to see to it
that everything is done by whatever means to make Kenya a better home
for us all.

This is because i have been there:On the receiving end of all this
poor governance.

Harun Lumiti

Harun Lumiti — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Let me repeat again that there is nothing wrong with using another persons work in your articles. But the fact remains that failure to credit them, particularly for copyright material, constitutes an infringement of their property rights. And that infringement is what I was challenging you to acknowledge, if only to demonstrate your genuine commitment as a change agent.

Why should I challenge your genuineness or commitment? Because this failure by the citizenry to interrogate and audit aspiring leaders has largely contributed to the current state of poor governance. If at the individual level we can disregard the law that protects another individual, why would we do so when we get to positions that control the machinery of law?

Look at Mathew’s remarks condoning piracy! How can acceptance of theft possibly fit in the agenda for change? To promote piracy is to disregard the law with utter contempt. This is the kind of mind-set that makes our search for change ever more difficult.

I maintain that this drive for change must start at the individual level. And I cannot shy away from using your example, or Mathew’s, as immediate examples just for the sake of...”african brotherhood”. Lets be bold enough and honest as we confront these issues if we are to stand a chance of salvaging our country.

Mathew Makori

Mathew Makori — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Harun,Duncan is seeing the point because he wants you to see it but you are rigid,you cannot see anything leave alone a point.

Mathew Makori

Mathew Makori — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000

”Look at Mathew’s remarks condoning piracy! How can acceptance of theft possibly fit in the agenda for change? To promote piracy is to disregard the law with utter contempt. This is the kind of mind-set that makes our search for change ever more difficult.”

Sometimes the law kills people,the same law denies people food,let me ask you for example,isn’t Kenyan fake laws that limit trade for instance,if i wanted to sell my CDs or any small business,isn’t it the same law that has put many expenses in terms of license and so on before one product hits the shelves comfortably without interference from City council askaris?

I do not call out for people to venture into piracy,i mean that in the act of piracy,some voiceless peolple are heard and more still the jobless get something to feed their empty stomachs as the sell the pirated CDs.

Harun Lumiti

Harun Lumiti — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Mathew, hunger or joblessness may evoke sympathy but cannot justify breaking the law.

For as long as many citizens cling to this twisted belief that it is okay to break the law when doing so is to their favor, then our quest for reforming our country is futile.