A Human Rights Defender's Perspective

Just concluded reading King Leopold’s Ghost , a book I had heard about for such a long time, but never actually got to read. Arguably one of Adam Hochschild’s best writing, the book is as close a depiction as will probably ever be written on King Leopold II of Belgium ; his dislike for life in Belgium (a kingdom too small for his ambitions), a dislike for his role as a constitutional monarch, his obsession with the big and grandiose, and an even greater obsession with a piece of property he called his own but never set foot on – neither did he long to -    État indépendant du Congo ( Congo Free state ). Hochschild commences his writing by introducing us to the main characters involved as protagonists and antagonists. A reader is introduced to the young Leopold – a largely neglected childhood that shaped who he later grew up to be – a self-obsessed mysophobic who had a liking for very young women. Other leading characters include Henry Morton Stanley (a famous and controv...

A comment on the large crowds often witnessed at public rallies and more recently pact signings, and the continued castigation of them by a middle-class tweeting and blogging away at their businesses, in their cars and at places of work, for being unemployed idlers being misled by a political elite that feels nothing for them. Is it not a genuine concern that any leader worth his salt ought to be concerned about even while ‘pacting’ away? As they sign away to share spoils, an eager and expectant crowd watches on – chanting their names out loud.    Why are these many people here …. “well am popular and a tribal chief in my own right” … but then again; it is in the middle of the week, a Monday, a Tuesday – days that essentially ought to be the most productive days of the week, did they seek or get the day off work? They are there because like every other five years they hope that the ‘pacting’ is FOR ONCE about job creation and the general welfare of the citizenry, ...

  VIDEO:   http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=xQkEKL9aBec  As the hubbub continues about who gets to have what seat and how seats which eventually will be decided through the ballot will be shared goes on in the lead up to the March 2013 general elections, the electorate ought to be able to look through the veil of deceit and choose a leadership that respects the Constitution and has the moxie to ensure its full implementation. Chapter 6 is every leader’s night mare. They may have brushed issues of integrity aside FOR NOW but at the back of their minds they are aware that Kenyans are aware – now more than ever *Jeff Koinange’s voice* - of what they expect of their leaders. The interview captioned here was conducted some time in 2011 in a region of Kenya that is marginalized and completely neglected and is threatened by further neglect with the on-going evictions in the name of creating wildlife conservancies, meant to ben...

Turkana Mps Ekwe Ethuro and Josephat Nanok - Courtesy of The Star Online Edition As debates go on in parliament and discussions take place about what exactly transpired in Baragoi – Suguta valley, I thought I would have a look at some of the issues that emerge from the debates - some constructive, accusations – and mostly counter accusations, and the notable increase in incidents of insecurity as we fast get into campaign mode (or do we already have that as a default setting!?). The last week has seen a lot of genuine concern raised about the security sector in our country and that a lot more needs to be invested in it. Criticisms have of course been labeled against civil society about being quiet when the police suffer but extra vocal when criminals suffer at the hands of the police. Well just as a correction there, civil society as I understand isn’t limited to human rights organizations. Indeed though these issues fall squarely within the mandate of these organizatio...

It is certainly interesting to read the reactions of Kenyans to the High Court Decision by Justice Ibrahim in November, 2010 stating that Kenya had no Criminal Jurisdiction to try Suspected Pirates arrested in the Indian Ocean under Kenyan law, and that the persons ought to be handed over to the UNHCR to be treated as refugees.  One of the comments in the online edition of the 18th October, 2012 Daily Nation reads in part:  " Wonder how a thief who gets into my boma cannot face the full wrath of my blunt panga... "   Well that 'blunt' part was a little too bluntly put!... and since we are a country that is governed by the rule of law and believe in due process, we opt for the decision today of the Court of Appeal which overturned this ruling. Appellate Judges Maraga, Onyango, Vishram, Okwengu and Koome held that that Kenyan courts had jurisdiction to hear and make a determination on piracy cases that have over the years become a 'thorn in the flesh...

http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/article-89475/right-time-restructure-kws I read this article in the 13th October, 2012 online edition of the Star News Paper that sought to outline the role of the new Director of the Kenya Wildlife Services - Mr.  William Kibet,    a nd the challenges and opportunities he was likely to encounter after complaints by the IFAW that there were structural defects in the wildlife sector and more so in KWS itself.  The article sought to suggest steps that KWS should take for better wildlife management and conservation; I made a comment with the little knowledge and experience I have in Wildlife Conservation and Management issues especially those that touch on the upholding the Constitution and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms.   The Comment was as follows:    " Legislation is key, especially with the ongoing reforms in the land sector; KWS is and ought to remain a key interested party...

Seeing the pictures of the MRC President – Omar Mwamnaudzi took me aback. Many Kenyans who want the MRC menace dealt with by the 'strong arm of the government' accuse the media of displaying the images in order to evoke public sympathy for their cause.  Some questions however come to my mind. Remember the days of the struggle for multiparty democracy when people were brought to court very early morning or very late in the evening to take plea and answer to charges ranging from being in possession of seditious material to treason? Remember those men barely able walk, some on stretchers and wheel chairs, some supported by police officers and others too traumatized to even speak? Now think of the questions that have been raised by the Vetting of Judges and Magistrates Board when interviewing some of the judicial officers who condoned that system. The Constitution is very clear on due process guarantees accorded to accused persons. The criminal justice process begins at t...