Gowi Odera organized a peaceful street demonstration to protest the recent move by Kenyan MPs to increase their salary – a move that has been met with condemnation from many corners. We talked to Gowi and some of the protestors who turned up. What do YOU think? Is there anything you feel strongly enough to take to the streets for?
We visited the Majengo and Ziwani neighborhoods some time last week and asked people we met all kinds of random questions. Two of the questions we asked everyone were, “Do you think your vote counts?” and “Are you planning on voting again?”. This is a collection of what people had to say. The guy at the end – he’s just joking… 
We stopped by the July 2010 Blankets and Wine Festival to ask random strangers what they love and hate about this country.
In Part Two of our interview with John Githongo (See Part One here), John describes how “Kenyans crave normality”, yet “very few of us can afford that normality. The vast majority of Kenyans are living a much more complicated and difficult life.”
Get the transcript here. [Adobe PDF]
John Githongo has been an anti-corruption campaigner for many years. He recently founded Inuka Kenya – a trust that aims to recapture the powerful moment of hope felt by all Kenyans in 2003 and convert it into lasting change created by and for Kenyans.
In Part One of a 2-part interview, he shares his thoughts on – among other things – a thriving ‘gloom industry’, and how “It’s possible for people to talk themselves into a war.”
Get the transcript here. [Adobe PDF]
Michael Soi is a visual artist based in Kenya. He graduated from art school in 1996, and has been making visual commentary on Kenyan social and political trends. We sat down with him one rainy afternoon and discussed what he thinks Kenyans need to do in 2012.
Get the transcript here. [Adobe PDF]
The Revised Harmonized Draft (presented to the Committee of Experts on 29th January, 2010) DID retain the ‘right of recall’ clause that Soi refers to. However, the clause was rewritten to allow Parliament itself to legislate the rules of the recall.
Download the Revised Harmonized Draft here, and read the report detailing all the changes made to the Committee of Experts Draft. Also, keep up with what the Committee of Experts are up to on their website and on (shock!) their Facebook group!
UPDATE [FEBRUARY 25, 2010]: The Committee of Experts re-inserted the ‘recall clause’, ignoring recommendations from the PSC noted above.
Njoki Ngumi – who wrote “Someone Lied to you, Mwananchi” – explains why she doesn’t like to read newspapers, and wonders what will happen to us all in 2012.
Get the transcript here. [Adobe PDF]