Methinks..............

Balaa ya Euro ni funzo kwa Afrika Mashariki

2011-11-16T12:22:00.000-08:00

Umoja ni nguvu na kuna udhaifu tele katika utengano.Muungano wa mataifa ya Ulaya chini ya kivuli cha sarafu moja ya Euro na kuvunjavunja mipaka ya soko zao umesifiwa kote ulimwenguni. Lakini sasa kumezuka kimbunga cha kiuchumi ambacho kinatikisa misingi ya muungano huo na kuamsha cheche cha shaka kwa hali ya kiuchumi hasa kwa mataifa yanayosaka kuungana kwa kutumia msingi wa Uropa.

Balaa ya muungano kama wa Euro ni kwamba katika umoja na nguvu zao ndiko palipo hatari na udhaifu pia. Hatari ya muungano wa sarafu moja na soko huru ni kwamba mmoja akipata homa, wote wako katika hatari ya kuambukizwa ndwele hino.

Kuna mitandao ya uwekezaji na huduma za benki inayounganisha mataifa haya na kuugua kwa sehemu moja kunaweza kuangamiza wote walio katika jumuiya. Ndwele ilianza na mataifa madogo hasa Iceland na Ireland. Lakini pigo kubwa liliibuka wakati Ugiriki ilizama kwa kushindwa kulipa madeni na kusongwa na utata wa kisiasa.

Kwa sababu ‘chako ni chetu’ Jumuiya ilifahamu fika kwamba homa ya Iceland na Ugiriki itasambaa kote barani na ndipo ikajitahidi kuingilia kati. Dawa ya Ugiriki ilikuwa katika msaada wa kigeni, msamaha wa kiasi cha deni na kukata au kupunguza matumizi ya umma. Wagiriki waliozoea huduma za umma waliamka wakapata milki yao inapewa amri kutoka Brussels, taifa lao limegeuzwa kijitoto kikembe kinachopigwa darubini na kuelekezwa katika kila hatua has na mataifa kama Ufaransa na Ujerumani.

Mojawapo ya suluhisho ni wimbi la ubinafsishaji wa huduma kadha za umma huku Jumuiya ikijitahidi kuepuka jinamizi la madeni. Ubinafsishaji na upungufu wa matumizi ya serikali kwa umma unamaanisha raia wamezamishwa kwenye lindi la mfumuko wa bei, ukosefu wa ajira huku waekezaji wakihepa na uhaba wa huduma muhimu kukithiri. Raia sasa kila uchao wako maandamanoni.

Mbele kuna miba, nyuma kuna shimo na kulia kushoto hakupitiki. Ndivyo hali ilivyo ndani ya jumuiya ya Euro. Na kabla Ugiriki kumeza kipimo chake cha dawa, Italia imeanza kugaagaa na maradhi yayo hayo. Italia ni taifa la tatu kwa ukubwa kiuchumi chini ya Euro, baada ya Ujerumani na Ufaransa. Iwapo Italia itazama kwenye madeni, hakika muungano wa Euro una hatari kusambaratika au kuzua hasara itakayodumu miongo na kujeruhi pia mataifa kadha ulimwenguni.

Wasimamizi wa Jumuiya ya Afrika Mashariki mjini Arusha wawe macho kubaini mikakati ya kuepuka hali kama ya Euro iwapo mataifa haya yataishia kuwa na sarafu moja kati yao. Mwerevu hujikaripia na kunyoosha njia zake akiona mwenzake amenyolewa.

Uwiano katika ukuaji wa kiuchumi ni muhimu katika Jumuiya kama Afrika Mashariki. Katika muungano wa Euro, ni bayana kwamba Ujerumani inabeba jukumu kuliko mataifa mengine. Iwapo ubinafsishaji utazidi, Mashirika kadha ya Ujerumani yatapenya na kutawala uchumi katika mataifa mengine wanachama. Tayari kuna hasira nchini Ugiriki kwamba taifa lao limepoteza uhuru wa kujitawala au kuamua mwelekeo wao kiuchumi.

Wachanganuzi wanasema muungano wa Euro umedhalilisha kabisa uhuru na demokrasia. Mataifa yaliyo na uwezo mkuu kama ujerumani yamepata fursa kupitia biashara na benki ya pamoja kutawala wenzao kundini.

Jumuiya ya Afrika Mashariki ilivunjika miaka ya sabini kwa sababu ya tofauti za kisiasa na kiuchumi kati ya Kenya, Uganda na Tanzania. Sasa Jumuiya imeamshwa na imeongeza Rwanda na Burundi kama wanachama. Sudan Kaskazini na Kusini zinadhamiria kujiunga pia.

Sasa mataifa haya yanadhamiria kuwa na sarafu moja, na hata utawala mmoja wa kisiasa na serikali. Katika mataifa yaliyojawa na visa vya ghasia na siasa za ubinafsi, balaa sawa na ya Euro haitasambaratisha tu ushirikiano wao bali kuna uwezekano wa kitumbua cha usalama kati ya mataifa kuingia takani na eneo zima kulipuka.

Barani Uropa, dhiki ya Euro imeibua masuala muhimu kuhusu kudhibiti madeni ya kitaifa na usimamizi ufaao wa uchumi. Sasa Italia i motoni baada ya Ugiriki na Iceland. Hofu iliyopo ni kwamba Uhispania, Ureno na hata Ufaransa watajipata wanaungua pia. Ni funzo adhimu kwa Jumuiya changa ya Afrika Mashariki. Soko likipanuka manufaa huongezeka, na hatari hufuatia!

Published by Taifa Leo on 16th Nov 2011 Pg 6

Mutua anapotoza Wakenya kuhusu ukame na njaa!

2011-08-09T17:16:00.000-07:00

Kwa Dkt Alfred Mutua.
Maoni yalichapishwa tarehe 9 Agosti 2011, TaifaLeo, Kenya.

Hujambo Dkt Alfred Mutua,

Natumai huna neno. Huu waraka ni wa kukujulia hali na kukufahamisha machache kuhusu hali ya Mkenya wa Kawaida. Kwa sababu wewe ni msemaji wa serikali nina hakika yote usemayo hutokana na itikadi iliyopo kwenye nyoyo za wanaotutawala. Ninafahamu kazi yako lakini sikuoenei kijicho, sina hakika hata hivyo kama ninaenzi utendakazi wako.

Hamna shaka kuwa mie ni Mkenya. Ningejaribu lolote, nitabakia Mkenya tu, lakini ninaona tashwishi ukiniambia nijivunie kuwa Mkenya. Mtu hujivunia aonapo mambo yakienda bam bam. Pindi yeyote akiona ziwa limevurugika, ghadhabu haikosi. Si hoja, ghadhabu hiyo haibadilishi Mkenya kuwa kitu kingine, atabakia Mkenya tu. Kujivunia uraia sio suala la lazima katika karne ya ishirini na moja,mtu hujivunia aonapo sababu ya kujivunia.

Nionavyo kazi yako, ni jukumu la kufahamisha umma tuliko na tuendako. Ninasema hivyo kwa sababu msemaji wa serikali ni msemaji wa raia pia. Ni kazi inayohitaji sio tu uungwana bali pia kuelewa na kueshimu hisia za raia wa kawaida. Ninafahamu kwamba wewe ni mbunifu sana, kuna filamu zako zinazokariri ubunifu huu. Hata hivyo naomba uweke kando ubunifu huu katika kuelezea hali ya taifa.

Utashangaa kwa nini ninanena haya bila kukujulisha umenoa wapi. Juma lililopita, ulidai kwamba hapana raia wa Kenya aliyefariki kwa sababu ya njaa na ukame. Ukweli ni kwamba maoni yako yaliudhi Wakenya wengi na hakuna utetezi unaoweza kukuondoa lawamani; Wakenya wengi wamekufa na jamaa kadha wanasubiri mauti kwa sababu ya ukosefu wa chakula.

Serikali ina jukumu kutetea maslahi ya raia wake. Nawe kama msemaji wa serikali una kibarua kueleza ukweli kuhusu hali ya raia. Ninasikitika kwamba maoni yako yamekuwa kero kwa raia na wakati mmoja Waziri Mkuu Raila Odinga alikashifu utendakazi wako akisema haelewi wewe ni msemaji wa nani!

Ninanvyokuandikia barua hii, kuna mamilioni ya Wakenya wanaokulaani. Wengi wao ni vijana wanaotumia mtandao wa mawasiliano. Kwenye kurasa za Facebook kuna zaidi ya raia elfu 27 wanaokiri ‘tunamchukia Alfred Mutua’. Kwa nini unadhani raia wengi hivi wanaweza kukariri chuki yao kwa msemaji wao? Kwa sababu msemaji huyo amepotoka.

Naelewa mjumbe hauawi lakini mjumbe pia ana akili zake. Kuna dhana kwamba msemaji wa serikali ni mjumbe tu, lakini kila mjumbe ana uwezo wa kukataa ujumbe anaodhania una hila. Iwapo kila usemalo ni ujumbe wa serikali ya Kenya, basi nina hofu taifa hili linaongozwa na viongozi waliopoteza mwelekeo.

Naelewa tayari umejaribu sana kutetea ujumbe wako. Ni kweli hukukataa kwa vyoyote kwamba kuna janga la njaa lakini lililokera wengi ni usemi wako kwamba serikali haina habari kwamba raia wake wamekufa au wanakufa kutokana na njaa. Ulilolifanya ni mithili ya mtu kwenda mazishini na kuuliza ‘mbona huyu bwana kakubali kufa, mpuuzi yeye’ . Ni tusi.

Kimsingi, serikali yoyote ina haja ya lazima kufahamu hali ya raia wake. Iwapo serikali ya Kenya haina habari kuhusu wanaofariki njaa, basi ni kweli kwamba serikali ya Kenya haijali raia wake au haina uwezo kujali.

Ningependa katika hatua hii kukukumbusha hadithi ya Joseph Goebbels. Alikuwa waziri wa propaganda nchini Ujerumani chini ya serikali katili ya Nazi iliyoongozwa na Adolf Hitler. Goebbels alikuwa stadi wa uneni na mwerevu wa kupumbaza umma. Kutokana naye kuna huu msemo kwamba urongo ukisemwa mara milioni kadhaa utageuka kuwa ukweli.

Ninasikitika kukufahamisha kwamba utendakazi wako unadhihirisha maoni ya Goebbels lakini hii ni karne tofauti. Unapoambia wakenya wajivunie uraia wao, sielewi kama ujumbe huu ni kwa wabunge matajiri wasiolipa ushuru au ni kwa mamilioni kaskazini mwa Kenya wasiofahamu watakula nini leo kwa chajio.

Goebbels aliimba wimbo wa Hitler hadi akafa. Je, wewe Dkt Mutua unadhamiria kutetea urongo na uvivu wa serikali ya Kenya hadi mwisho? Hilo linawezekana tu katika taifa la raia mazuzu lakini sio Wakenya wa sasa. Ningekuwa wewe ningejiuzulu lakini ninashuku huwezi. Hata hivyo, kumbuka usemi wa wavyele, ’fumbo mfumbie mjinga, mwerevu huling’amua’... na wakenya sio wajinga!

Wasalaam.

Mauya Omauya

Which African leader admires Mubarak's fate?--- swahili version

2011-08-09T16:38:00.000-07:00

Je, yu wapi atakayejifunza kutokana na masaibu ya Rais Mubarak?

Alipokuwa kashikilia hatamu za uongozi nchini Misri, Hosni Mubarak alifahamika kwa kubobea katika fahari, ukwasi na hadhi sawa na wafalme wa Misri ya zamani. Lakini mnamo jumatano 29 Julai, 2011, ulimwengu ulimtazama amebanwa katika karaha, maradhi, uchungu na fedheha.
Mwangaza wa ndoto yake umebadilika giza totoro litakalozamisha hata wanawe Alaa na Gamal. Ningependa kumhurumia shaibu Mubarak mwenye umri wa miaka 83 lakini nakumbuka hekima ya wazee, ‘mwiba wa kujidunga hauambiwi pole’

Hatima ya Mubarak itawafikia viongozi wengi wa Afrika wasiojanjaruka kufahamu mafunzo adhimu na hekima kutoka historia ya watawala na watawaliwa. Mifano ni mingi.
Mfalme Louis XIV wa Ufaransa (1643-1715) alijipata mamlakani akiwa na umri wa miaka minne. Aliongoza Ufaransa kwa miaka 72 na hakuna Mfalme barani Uropa anayefahamika kuongoza kwa kipindi kirefu kama hiki. Anadaiwa kutamka maneno haya, ‘serikali?, mimi ndiye serikali na taifa’. Maneno haya yananikumbusha Rais Moi wa Kenya, ‘ mtukufu baba na mama wa taifa’

Louis alipofariki, raia wengi hawakuhuzunika hata chembe. Mwandishi mmoja alikariri hisia zao, ‘macho yetu yalijaa machozi alipokuwa hai, hatuna tone la chozi lililosalia kumuomboleza’.

Mfalme wa mwisho wa ufaransa Louis XVI hakubahatika kufa katika uzee, maradhi ama ajali. Mnamo 1791 wananchi wa Ufaransa walichoka kunyanyaswa na viongozi walafi, wafisadi na wasiojali maslahi ya umma. Katika mapinduzi raia walimkamata mfalme Louis XVI na kumtia kitanzi hadharani, ukuu wake ukaishia kwenye pipa la aibu ya historia.

Karibu nyumbani, hatima ya Mobutu Sese Seko Nkuku Ngbendu wa Za Banga wa Zaire ni bayana. Alipotwaa uongozi kupitia mtutu wa bunduki alidai ‘kila kitu sasa kiko mikononi mwa Mobutu’. Waliompinga walitiwa adhabu adharani na wengi kuuawa. Utajiri wake ulishangaza wengi katika mataifa matajiri ulimwenguni. Udadisi unaonyesha alijipatia dola bilioni tano kutoka mfuko wa taifa huku raia wengi wakisalia katika umaskini.
Lakini mwisho wake ni ule ule. Alitimuliwa na akaishia uamishoni nchini Togo, halafu Morocco alikofariki kwa saratani na kuzikwa kwenye makaburi ya umma, pamoja na maskini aliowadharau, mbali na himaya yake, mbali na utajiri na Zaire aliyoifilisisha.

Simulizi kama hizi ni tele. Samuel Doe wa Liberia alianza kwa kumpindua Rais William Tolbert mnamo 1980. Doe na kundi lake waliingia ikulu na kumuua Rais Tolbert kwa kumkatakata vipande. Alipokamatwa na waasi wakiongozwa na Prince Johnson mnamo 1990, Doe naye alipitia unyama usiotajika huku maiti yake ikianikwa hadharani akiwa uchi. Yanafahamika wazi yaliyowapata Saddam Hussein wa Iraq, Mengistu Haile Mariam wa Ethiopia, Idi Amin wa Uganda, Ben Ali wa Tunisia na wengine wengi waliojiona majabali.
Tukirejelea Mubarak, ni muhimu tumchanganue ili kufahamu wengi huambulia katika balaa hii. Wema wake upo. Mubaraka alikuwa mwanajeshi na kamanda wa wanahewa, mzalendo aliyeletea nchi yake fahari hasa wakati wa vita dhidi ya Israeli mnamo 1973. Kwa jitihada zake alipewa cheo cha naibu Rais na akajipata mamlakani baada ya Rais Anwar Sadat kuuawa mnamo 1981.
Ninavyosisitiza kila mara, mamlaka na nguvu za kisiasa ni kileo. Kufikia mwaka 2011, Mubarak alikuwa kaongoza miaka alikuwa ameongoza Misri kwa miaka 29, miaka tano zaidi kuliko ile Moi aliongoza Kenya. Alikuwa ‘mtukufu’, tajiri, mwenye staha, madaha na uwezo lakini leo anajipata mahakamani hali yake mahututi na hana mbele wala nyuma, hakuna marefu yasiyokuwa na ncha.Kila nikiwaza viongozi kama Mubaraka ama Gaddafi (chuma chake ki motoni pia) ninajipata nikiwaza kuhusu Tata Nelson Mandela, kiongozi wa Afrika Kusini, kipenzi wa ulimwengu.

Mandela aliongoza Afrika Kusini kutoka 1994 hadi 1999, miaka mitano pekee. Tuna uwezo wa kushuku na tunaweza kushuku kwamba iwapo Mandela angeongoza nchi yake kwa miak 24 kama Moi wa Kenya, hadhi yake ingedidimia mno. Wako wapi viongozi wa Afrika watakaojifunza kutoka kwa kipenzi Mandela na sio kutoka kwa Mubarak, Mobutu, Doe na Wafalme Louis wa XIV na XVI wa Ufaransa? Ukiona wanakataa kulipa ushuhuru na kudhihaki wanaokufa kwa njaa nchini Kenya, elewa wamepagawa na shetani wa Mobutu

Dear Deer

2011-05-22T08:31:00.000-07:00

Dear deer,
I am the rich park!
Within these borders is nourishment enough,
here you can roam leisurely
within the borders of these arms

Here you can graze on my lips,
here you can rest and bask on taut rocks.
here you can siphon joy

and.....

when the inferno of midday stings,
you can wander down!
through green ridges,
through beautiful orchards
with ripe cherries,
then saunter down
to the sweet spring
To quench your thirst

I wonder why you wander,
Beyond this bounty park!

The Folly of Ethnic and Ancestral Land Conflicts in Kenya - The story of Mogusii and Abagusii

2010-08-23T10:13:00.000-07:00

I read with keen interest Muriithi Mutiga's article (Sunday Nation 22nd Aug 2010, p12) where he argued convincingly that Gideon Moi, the son of Kenya’s former president Daniel Moi should be arrested for claiming that The Kalenjin must never give up Nakuru/Rift Valley. I also read a rejoinder somed days later, this time from the former Bomet MP, Nick Salat where he defended Gideon and reiterated the apparent historical injustices his community has suffered as a result of land allocation to 'oustiders'.
In an annoyingly unscrupulous style, Gideon's remarks exhibited ignorance of Kenya and its communities and his remarks were bereft of any wisdom that a political leader of his calibre should possess. Such sentiments are only driven with the ill desire to exploit negative ethnicity in the country for extremely narrow and selfish political ends. His remarks indeed amount to incitement and are instrumental in fuelling ethnic animosity which has been the jinx of African politics.

I would like to trace what ancestral land could mean to the Abagusii community of Nyanza in their centuries of migration to the current counties they call home. In this short attempt I will attempt to expose the folly of remarks as those attributed to the Gideon Moi and reinforce the case of harmonious coexistence of various ethnic communities in Kenya and East Africa.

The story is long but we begin it closer to where we stand. The dispersal point taken for this is the Mt. Elgon area at the border between Uganda and Kenya. Mogusii, the founder of modern Gusii clans, and a band of clans broke off from his extended family (a longer chain of his relatives include the MoGikuyu, the MoKamba and the coastal Bantus, others include even the Shona and the Zanaki). Around the Mount (his Home), Mogusii left his closer family members who didn't want to venture out (Moragori and Bukusu are well known of Mogusii's siblings who remained near the Elgon forming part of the modern Luhya nation)

Mogusii moves and settles in Yimbo, Siaya area. He developed the area into 'home'. With the arrival of the more populous Luo, Mogusii left Yimbo and settled in Kisumu to avoid cattle raids by the Luo clans. Kisumu was then 'home' for the Abagusii and they lived there for more than 2 generations which is a very substantial period of time for them to claim Kisumu as part of their ancestral land. Kisumo (Kisumu) is in fact extremely central to the story of the Gusii people because it is there that Mogusii and Nyakomogendi (his Mother) died and were buried.

Famine in Kisumu after the death of the Great Mogusii forced his people eastwards to the Kano plains under the leadership of clan and sub-clan elders such as Mobasi, Oibabe, Mochorwa and Mogusero. Apart from Kisumu, Kano is dear to the Abagusii. It in Kano that the Gusii totems that defined Gusii clans evolved i.e Abagirango taking engo (leopard); Ababasi took enchage (zebra), Abasweta including Abagetutu, Abanyaribari and Abamachoge embracing engoge (baboon) while Abanchari identifying with engubo (hippo).

Oral and recorded history indicates that Kipkelion (Lumbwa) and Kericho were the next settlements for the Gusii.A huge group of Abagusii that had become very productive in Kano (extensively cultivating obori (wimbi) and other crops, as well as raising animals) remained and are now a ‘lost tribe’ of the Gusii. The Luo assimilated them completely!

The present Kabianga area in Kericho was named thus by the Abagusii. All their efforts to grow crops and raise animals came to nought and out of the frustration they conclude 'because they have refused (Kabianga) to thrive.... then let's move on! The following leaders of Gusii clans were residents of Kabianga and Kericho; Ogichoncho of Ababasi, Manyanta of the Abasweta and Oisukia of the Abanchari.

After the Kabianga jinx of famine and disease, Abagusii took the Sotik route while feeling the pressure from the Maasai and the Kipsigis (who later inherited Kabianga and Kericho also assimilating some Gusii groups who remained behind). The community then moved to Sotik to Gelegele to Ikorongo to Trans Mara to Migori, till the Gusii set camp at Nyangarora.

The Southern Maasai pushed them later and that is when they moved into areas such as Nyakoe, Manga and Isecha which are in Present day Gusii. A section of Basweta, Banchari, Babasi and Bagirango are believed to have remained around Trans Mara & Migori areas, and these people now form the part of the Abakuria of Kuria District.....

Imagine if the Gusii laid claim on ancestral land across the republic of Kenya? Or if the Maasai claimed Nairobi which was their home for so many decades?
Mt Elgon is now held by the Teso, Western Kenya is inhabited by the Luhyia, Kisumu where Mogusii remains buried is now a Lake side city with people of all ethnicities but mostly the Luo, so is Kano, Migori and Yimbo. The sons and daughters of Gusii left behind in these areas are no longer Abagusii in modern categorization. Kabianga, Kipkelion and Sotik where the abagusii farmed for generations are now settled by the Kipsigis while Transmara is under the Maasai. The Kuria do not count themselves as a scion of Mogusii but a distinctive ethnic community. Isn't Kenya just a Beautiful Mosaic of ethnicities, if only political vultures don't seek to use ethnicity for selfish ends?

Mr Gideon Moi needs a little learning beyond being taught to pronounce the name of his constituency, Central Baringo as Ba-ri-ngo Ka-ti and not Be-ri-ngo ya Ke-ti.

When it suits them, they lie. Look beyond their selfish lies

Time O Time!

2010-06-08T05:04:00.000-07:00

Time, that ageless gypsy that has wasted the beauty of planets
Time, that brutal bludgeon that smashes the beauty of spring
Time, that tide that wrecks the pilgrim's sails
Time, that wicked witch of the east and west
Time, that southern typhoon that blurs the glow of North
Time, that soothing tune that lulls old men to their graves
Time, that illusion of eternity that turns love sour
Time, that ray of morn that expels the pitchness of night
Time, that rythm of dreams that repairs a widow's broken heart
Time, that ancient errand-tiger that delivers the barren woman's wishes.

Time, O Time!

Time, that timeless time that tames the reckless
Time, that ruthless tsunami that sweeps away the weak
Time, that cynical angel that breaks the strong
Time, that ugly owl that mocks the poor
Time, that just angel that humbles the wicked
Time, that healer that maims its patients
Time, that magic touch that awakens eternity
Time, that humble servant of the rich and the wretched
Time, Sweet time
Time, O Time, shall Mauya wait for time?

- Mauya Omauya © 2010

Swamahani Lyn

2010-06-08T04:53:00.000-07:00

Nimekitwika ujumbe charuka hakina mbawa
Mawimbi yangu kiimbe moyoni mwako kutuwa
Na pindi nawe kiambe kutokomeza adawa
Kichu hichi kichu neno neno hili swamahani

Swamahani ewe Lyni kwa kuvunda nyonda yako
Nilidhani tu’ laini lo! Tukafanya mavuko
Tukajibwagia zani na kubananga mashiko
Ndipo kipenga kalia ikabidi nikuage

Lyn weye swamahani kumbe u wanihadaa
Ulipoapa pendoni hisia zangu katwaa
Kunienzi mahabani mahaba pasi fazaa
Sikuweki lawamani ndimi nikupa mwongozo

Lyn wangu swamahani fukia bashasha yote
Kama mivuke angani furaha huja ipite
Upweke mwangu moyoni ndicho chanzo cha yote
Wakati haukufaa mahali hapakufaa

Lyn wangu swamahani na yote fuadi yako
Nakusihi swamahani kwa kukupasha unguliko
Jinsi nilivyokuhini moyo ulipata mwako
Nilihisi na uchungu n’kashindwa kujitawala

Lyn weye swamahani kwa kuguria kwa Ryni
Talaka kwako mwendani ni uhuru aushini
Singeweza abadani shere zako mahabani
Mpende akupendaye nd’o sera nayoandama

Lyn weye tabaradi nimeshakunja jamvi
Ninafanya kujirudi mi kamange msi govi
Na kufukia madadi si kuambulia ugomvi
Sio huba tashdidi ni maonjo ya hisia

Lyn weye swamahani ja taswira akilini
Tendo ‘lipita wazoni ndipo nikala yamini
Kutorudi asilani halikubaki moyoni
Silihitaji yakini pendo lako maishani

Mauya Omauya Poetry (2000-2001) based on a true story.
Inspired and constructed around Ochieng Oloo’s ‘Forgive me Ryn’

Too Many Rogues Around the Bargaining Table

2010-04-02T10:07:00.000-07:00

A realisation of a new political code for Kenya is not only pertinent but urgent. The old constitution, terrible as it is did not only fail because of its skewed codification but more because of a political leadership bent on rubbishing the spirit contained therein.
The bill of rights of the present constitution has for over 50 years after independence not delivered the dream for a majority of Kenyans regardless of their social status and creed. The Committee of Experts -COE draft's bill of rights is even heavenly, if implemented to its nucleus could transform the Nation, the down trodden peasants and the marginalised. A good constitution however is hollow if the spirit to implement it is lacking. And this is where political will and dedication to good governance take over.

I support the passage of this constitution but still I itch with nagging dissatisfaction that it could have been made better especially in the frontiers of devolution and the complete deconstruction of the Imperial presidency. The centralisation of power and the goodies that come with it are responsible for the zero sum Realpolitik antics that characterise Kenyan politics. The Winner-takes-it-all atmosphere 'by any means necessary' is responsible for driving the East African country to the precipice after the 2007 elections. It is also responsible for the ugly gap between those that have-it-all and those who have-nothing-at-all (and are unlikely to have something by fair means soon)

This is the situation that Author Michela Wrong has aptly Captured in her book 'It is our time to eat'. The new constitution draft has attempted, albeit faintly to fix the power question. Had the drafters gone a little further, they could have transformed Kenya and set an example for most African states caught in the same muck of poor governance.

The events surrounding the upcoming elections in Sudan illustrate the ills of centralised power. President Al Bashir, wanted by the ICC for crimes against humanity in Darfur is keen to retain power and protect himself and his cohorts. The Comprehensive Peace Agreement that his government signed in Nairobi with The Juba based South Sudan SPLM is evidently headed to the guillotine. The African political dinosaurs do not seem to have a vision for the common man on whose frail backs they trample with shocking impunity. In Uganda, President Yoweri Museveni has been ruling from 1986 and is warming to go for for another term, close to Uncle Bob Mugabe who has turned his Zimbabwe state to 'a tattered doormat' having ascended to presidency in 1980.
A good constitution in 'letter' requires the 'spirit' to make it tick. While I welcome a New Constitution in Kenya, I hasten to drop in the wisdom of The Late Jamaican singer, Joseph Hill; that in Kenya, as in many other poorly governed states, there are just Too Many Rogues Around the Bargaining Table- The political class!

Of Liberators and Murderers... Afghanistan!

2010-02-11T03:37:00.000-08:00

...Hail our vendetta!
...strife and delirium
...humanity can wait
endless yearn to keep the top position
suffocating the already withered peasants
clothing them with explosions in torrents

The villagers totter, they trudge on
as the 'insurgents' rabble past
the rubble of their former homes
they ponder and wonder as they wander
by the lifeless dunes and the sultry air yonder
smutty with the stench of death
with bitter memories, they painfully writhe
as their hope ebbs away

Serenity and Tranquillity evades them
Who exactly is a terrorist? they marvel
can the world redefine terrorism?
For with scathing irony
He that injures most calls himself the comforter
'Relief Food for the Afghan'
'Transformation, rejuvenation, reconstruction, re....'

Aid so meagre for masses terribly parched
as the pursuer hotly dogs the pursued
and the pursued turns the pursuer into the pursued
like a dog chasing its tail... in circles

Oooh Superpower 'the great peacemaker'
in your quest for supremacy
humanity gripped in death's jaws
O awful war

Few...few...few shall part where several met!

- Mauya Omauya ©

Of Raila Odinga, William Ruto and Mau forest!

2009-11-28T23:49:00.000-08:00

Methinks the row between Kenya's PM Raila Odinga and Rift Valley Mps is unfolding with very informing twists on the politics of Kenya and the soul of its leaders. For those involved in keenly studying the political trends and characters of the rulers and the ruled in Kenya and Africa, this is a very incisive case study.
When the dust has settled, it will be useful for many Kenyan citizens to view with clarity the real vermin that continues to devour the society, the vicious cycle of bad governance, the stagnation of economic growth, the putrid fraud in high places, the negative ethnicity and all the related pestilent vices that trap Kenya's emergence as an 'East Coast' African tiger.

Back to Raila Odinga, ODM, William Ruto and Mau. I find Raila and Ruto very strange bedfellows; the former is a battle-hardened politician, the other a lucky duck that has tasted national limelight. Keep in mind that the Pentagon (The 5 top ODM leaders) and what it has become is Raila's creation. Kalonzo once complained that Raila told William Ruto, Najib Balala and Musalia Mudavadi all to declare their candidacy for president in 2007 thus blocking his chances. Methinks if this is true, it was a cleverly calculated move to consolidated their support before channeling them to the greater interests of his party, ODM. He basically was pumping up the waters of the streams so that when they join the river (him) they could form a formidable force, which he later described as a Kenyan political 'Tsunami'. Kalonzo Musyoka cannot forgive Raila for this and for not anointing him with his magic words 'Kalonzo Tosha'

If it is true that Raila fanned the ambitions of the Pentagon leaders to his advantage, then Raila built Ruto, he built Balala, he built Mudavadi so as to form a strong National outlook, demolish the existing ethnic kingpins and sweep his team to power. And Raila succeeded. Without Raila, there would be no Kalenjin ODM bloc and most likely a Ruto as spokesman of the Kalenjin politcs. With the ODM and Raila wave, Rift Valley was won. A winner in the Kalenjin constituencies had to be ODM or ODM allied. Without Raila's wave, you can never imagine Joshua Kutuny in Parliament. This wave has its ills. It is by this wave that we got leaders like Mr Paul Sang, who tells Mau forest settlers, "Rain comes from up and not trees" by which he means the sky 'makes rain'

Look carefully and you will see that in a state of politics where the masses coalesce around a 'person' if clever political moves were/are created even Gideon Moi, Biwott or Musa Sirma can be 'built' to become the de facto Rift Valley leader. A perfect example of how Raila makes a leader is to look at Bomet. Until the funeral of the former MP, Kipkalya Kones the contest for Bomet Constituency was open. During the funeral, Raila made a remark that changed the contest. As politics of succession sneaked into the burial service, some mourners were talking of 'Mtoto wa simba ni simba' but when Raila said 'Si hata mke was simba ni simba tuuuuu' Beatrice Kones, Kipkalya's wife had the Bomet seat in her purse. If Beatrice Kones can now stand and say she has worked hard to build Raila in Rift Valley, and Raila is ungrateful, it becomes laughable, cockeyed chest-thumping indeed.

But even when Raila the architect comes up with such grand designs, he remains a careful schemer and tactician. Raila knows that these crop of leaders - though useful to him in the ethnic driven Kenyan politics - don't share his political philosophy. If he narrates a chapter of his political experiences [e.g. from 1982 to date] to Ruto, Balala, Kutuny, Uhuru et al, they'd think he is a mad man. They never survived death in The Nyayo House torture chambers; they never used a rickety boat to run to Uganda escaping President Moi's hitmen. Travelling under different names, sometimes dressed as a priest and other times as a Sheikh, Raila staged a dramatic escape from Kenya by boat at night, through Lake Victoria to Uganda then to Norway in 1991.

They have never been battered by GSU in the streets (remember Orengo returning to the streets with his bandaged arms), they never were in Manyani and Shimo la Tewa (remember George Anyona, Ngotho Kariuki, Katama Mkangi and their fellows). In fact all that time Ruto and his entourage were in Moi's underarm, singing praises and sharing niceties with Shariff Nassir, Joseph Kamotho and the Kanu power brokers of that time.
Raila thus understands Kenyan politics from a point of view extremely diametrical to that of Kalonzo Musyoka, Uhuru Kenyatta or William Ruto.

He, like many politicians knows when to build a 'lie' and what distance to keep the lie from his soul. He can build a 'lie' for his political good but he doesn't go ahead and BELIEVE the lie himself. On that note, it is important to clarify once for all that Ruto did not deliver Rift Valley to Raila.... Raila delivered Rift Valley to Ruto! It is now for Ruto to device a scheme on how to handle Raila's cake to him, The Rift valley. It seems he is happy to share his cake with his old buddies; Uhuru Kenyatta, Cyrus Jirongo, Kalonzo Musyoka and the 'total man' Nicholas Biwott. Being such strange bedfellows politically, it is not difficult to understand why Ruto, Kalonzo and others can be in a row with the Prime Minister, unless they have undergone a complete metamorphosis.

It is Raila's political genius that, almost single-handedly, brought down the oppressive Kanu regime after 1997 (of course you know why another man, Daniel Toroitich Moi can never forgive Raila Odinga) and later in 2007 brought to extinction the political dinosaurs of the old Kenya (Simeon Nyachae, Nicholas Biwott, Moody Awori etc). His positive contributions to Kenyan politics cannot be compared to any of the current crop of politicians.

If Raila retired from politics today or he unlikely as it is lost favour in the Rift Valley because of The Mau Forest saga... methinks Kenyans if not immediately, then later, when they objectively appraise their political journey, will certainly in their collective memory immortalize and erect a monument of praise for Raila Amollo Odinga, The enigma of Kenyan politics. In the words of Philip Ochieng, if the Mau conservations costs Raila Odinga his political career, all patriots will idolise him.

Until then...........

2009-09-10T14:14:00.000-07:00

The Oasis
from whence we all drew has dried up
you are 'there' but the pungent odour
of your absence reigns
till I am cuddled in
you bounty embrace

The clarity of day is lost
and the beauty of rays blurred
the strings of obokano are toneless
because the jig steams are long dry

And when the eye of the sky
has sought refuge beyond the hills of Bogirango
a new phase of misery will commence

My pillow will be irrigated
the bed will squabble with mine restlessness
I will lament and waste the night
I will weep in darkness
before the tearstained face of this
african warrior slips into slumber

And this bitter phase will last
throughout this long night
until your succulent ebony lips
blow a breath of rejuvenation on mine
hence DAWN
O daughter of Africa!

-Mauya Omauya ©

Just another 'nigger' dead!

2009-09-10T13:45:00.000-07:00

Africa, you are pregnant again mama
Hush!
From the plains of Kano
to the bushes of Bunia
From the rocky outskirts of Addis
to the velds of Matabele
listen to the pangs of childbirth
..... the ululations of expectancy

If I were you newborn
I'd recurl back to the womb
and nullify my conception
than face this deceiving reception

I will tell you newborn
and I won't use metaphors

When your mother's groans have hushed
light will wane from your home
You will feed on the dust of rejection
and bathe in the tears of segregation
They will throttle your throat with alienation
Foreign gods shall compete for your virgin soul

Nameless vermins will haunt your spirit
Nameless viruses shall decay your brow

They will rob your mother's golden river
they will divert your diamond inheritance

You will be in the battle front
in a war you know nothing of
And in death they will mourn you
"just another nigger dead"

O newborn, now that you are here
Take your spear and defend your mother's honour!
For these too, shall come to pass!

-Mauya Omauya ©

Lila na Fila!

2009-09-10T13:11:00.000-07:00

Tara za lila na fila
lo! hawatangamani la

Fila huzumbua hila
likinyooka la lila

Ana raha fila kila
aonapo lila bila

Na lila punje akila
hulalaika tu fila

Hupigwa butwaa, ala!

-Mauya Omauya ©

The media's ills against Padre Kizito

2009-07-17T12:44:00.000-07:00

Pursuant to my previous post about Fr Kizito's case, I have keenly been following the development around the saga and it all comes out to a systematic ploy to bring the man to disrepute, without offering him a platform to tell his story. In one of the initial broadcasts the KTN television presented him plainly guilty. The commentator, Ann Ngugi reporting from Nairobi's Holy Family Basilica premises is quoted as saying in a sentence.....Kwamba hayo aliyoyatenda Kasisi Kizito... ".. that what Fr Kizito has done...."
There was a clear tone of conviction in her presentation and that of the media house she works for that the priest was deep in the muck of sexual immorality involving sodomy of children under his care. She went ahead to discuss similar events that have arose within the Catholic church in Europe and America.
Detectives who have handled the case a week ago reported that hitherto, there is no evidence has been found of sexual molestation. Infact, one of the alleged victim, an underage child told his mother and the detectives that he was NEVER molested by the priest. Medical investigations on the other "victims" have yielded no proof. Some of the alleged victims have gone to the police station and retracted their earlier statements that accused Fr Kizito.
If it is true that these victims were bribed to tarnish the name of Fr Kizito, then objectively it is possible that they can be bribed to retract their statements. However, it is the Kenyan media's role to publish the events as a follow up to the initial accusation. KTN did neither report the retraction nor acknowledge in their media platform that some of the victims have since turned around and admitted they lied.
The story of retraction of statements was published by The Daily Nation and even then, was not given the prominence as the front page splash that reported the accusations.
Methinks then, KTN has failed the Priest, damaged the principles of objective journalism and distorted perception in what can be argued as a case of character assasination!
Without a public and Kenyan arena for the Priest to defend himself, he has atleast found a platform online via his blog here where he has explained his part of the story. If the priest is found "not guilty" can we expect the journalists to be penitent enough to apologise or are we awaiting one of the biggest compensation tussles in the media industry in Kenya?
Methinks, just methinks!

Is Father Kizito innocent?

2009-06-19T21:53:00.000-07:00

The debate about the alleged sexual abuse by Father Renato Kizito continues to rage. The tragedy is that sobriety lacks and every street wag is throwing in a word or phrase, condemning the priest or defending him. Meanwhile, the accusers seem to have taken a back seat, watching the embers turn into sparks. The gravity of these accusations however means it is irresponsible to continue groping in the dark. Child abuse is criminal and so is character assasination. The Kenyan authorities must move with speed to steer this case to its logical conclusion.

Download here a Pdf document seeking to explain that Father Kizito is innocent. What we need is irrefutable evidence..... of course from the accusers!

Father Kizito's Statement

2009-06-18T02:17:00.000-07:00

PRESS STATEMENT

I have been absent from Kenya since the beginning of January. I returned yesterday morning because I was informed about what was happening and I wanted to face the situation.

Let me state very clearly. I have not sodomized any child. I am ready to face anybody who can prove the opposite.

Yesterday as soon as I was back in the country I went to Kilimani CID office to record a statement, and to deposit an affidavit in which a young man has sworn that he was offered a very substantial amount of money to bring false accusations of sexual nature against me, and when he refused to take part in the scheme, he received threats.

I am aware that some criminals do use such allegations of sexual offences to instill fear in lay and religious people working with young people, usually with the intention of extorting money. I am not ready to fall into this trap.

This particular story started last October. An anonymous email was sent out, purportedly depicting me naked with a young adult – it is impossible to say if it was a man or a woman. Those pictures were clearly doctored using photo editing software, and so I did not accord them much importance.

Unfortunately the situation deteriorated when I left the country for some rest. Little by little, I discovered that the real issue was not a simple case of attempted defamation, but it was a much bigger plan to take over the properties that Koinonia has built over the years with the help of an Italian NGO called Amani. I had never considered the monetary value of the facilities and resources we have built for the direct and indirect benefit of the destitute children under our care, but now the properties are estimated at a commercial value of about three million euros, which is more than three billion Kenya shillings.

I believe that these properties are the real target of the people behind these accusations. These were people who enjoyed my confidence, and had access to all the documents of Koinonia, and were therefore aware of its commercial value. They came very close to transferring all the properties to their names, in fact the title deeds of our properties have been removed from my office, but we reacted in a legal manner and they are no longer among the Trustees of Kononia. In fact, we have secured the properties safely in the hands of the Koinonia Community Trust.

We have more people who are ready to testify that they were bribed, threatened or tortured in order to testify falsely against me. At the moment they are scared, but in due course they will file their personal affidavits. One of them was ready to be here today, but I do not act like the other party and I do not want him or them to be traumatized for the rest of their lives. They will be undergoing proper interrogation by the police, and in case of anything they will appear in court.

I wonder whether those who are making allegations of sexual assault and indecent conduct have ever lodged a complaint with the police, accompanied with the relevant evidence.

I am suprised by the unprofessional way in which KTN journalists acted when they approached me yesterday. They only identified themselves verbally - without a press card - and their cameras and the car they were using were not marked. It was at six o’clock in the evening, and I had not rested after a long flight the previous night. When I told them I was tired and needed some rest, they switched on their cameras and started recording. I did not see the news report that was aired on KTN last night, but according to expert friends who watched it, it does not comply with minimal professional and ethical standards.

I have been in this country for more than 21 years, I have started media institutions like New People and Radio Waumini, and I have taken care of thousands of Kenyan children, yet I was not given a fair chance to clear myself from these terrible accusations. Moreover, Kenya has a police force. The policemen in Riruta would have been able to provide interesting records about the two characters that appeared in yesterday’s news report. There is also a Children’s Officer who regularly visits Koinonia’s Kivuli Centre, and probably knows more about what is going on than I do. Why wasn’t she interviewed?

Today we celebrate the Day of the African Child. Koinonia and its various institutions currently have about 250 former street children under their care, day and night, and there are hundreds more we assist while they remain living with their families. I do not ask for privileged treatment, but I believe I could have justice through the normal channels. I am afraid this sinister plot to take over the properties of Koinonia could hurt the children, and I appeal to the Kenya authorities and Kenyan citizens to continue to support the good work done by our social workers in all our children’s home.

If the accusations against me are true I am willing to face the full face of the law, and if the accusations are found to be false, those who have originated and stage-managed them should equally be prepared to face the law. Towards this end, I have recorded a statement with the Kilimani Police.

Signed: _______________

Fr. Renato Kizito Sesana
Nairobi,16 June 2009

The sight of agony

2009-06-10T11:19:00.000-07:00

Raw Pain

Every now and then, there rises a news story that arouses intense feelings of sorrow, rage, sympathy and shock. Just a few days ago, a colleague, Ann Soy of KTN brought to the eyes of Kenyans the suffering of Baby Gladys whose nasal passage was damaged in a botched CS birth at Pumwani. Then The Daily Nation Journalist Biomdo Chepng'etich highlighted this story, of Stanley Badia, a young boy living in Dandora and suffering from scary tumours on his body

Methinks while these events are commonplace among the down trodden poorest of the poor, it is the delay to address them that makes them worse. The latest story that has sent torrents of pain through my nerves is this one from a woman from my own community. The agony and the suffering of these two children here is heart wrenching. Kudos to the journalists who are going down to bring out stories of the voiceless whose voices cannot attract a press conference.

The Morgan Heritage plea

2008-11-14T12:28:00.000-08:00

The clique of power hungry inheritors of political power

in most struggling nations, including Kenya and Jamaica

have pushed the masses to the pit of misery.

To maintain the status quo, these imperialist thugs hold the equilibrium

strings that consistently ensure the poor many remain poor

or drift towards poorer. The rich few continue to loot national

resources while wearing the "custodian" mask.

Tell me how come these injustices arouses nothing in them.

Listening to Morgan Heritage sing this reality is truly wonderful.

We need more voices to fan the embers of this "Change fire"

Methinks

2008-11-12T10:36:00.000-08:00

Methinks,

When around the celestial sun you have wound several revolutions

and blind fate with no ruth hath wrinkled your visage

when timeless time hath filled your mind with painful contortions

and for youth's joy you have no vestige

When several winters have conquered thine brow

and many summers have served thee a hot blow

then death is life, and the living, dead

Methinks,

Beauty being vain, shines then dies

its lustre chides passion, wanes and fades

love being eternal, from mortal beings evades

o love, being gloss glass defies

unscrupulous touches from humans

..... lest it be smudged

Methinks,

All vows being words are but breath

and all breath being vapour vaporises

unless it be tethered by a solid deed

which deed forgetful time will forget

Methinks,

The graveyard is sadly endeared with bounties

of mankind's virgin potential

yet unfortunately, neither the dead, nor the living

can nourish themselves on potential's virginity

Methinks,

The clever's good can be bad, and the bad's good clever

the blind had better not see,

and the seeing had better not say

for in saying they sound blind

Methinks,
I should have ended this poem long ago,

for in continuing i shall be nabbed in the muck

of vanity's labyrinth

which is what it was about

Just Methinks....

The Tattered Rose

2008-11-12T09:51:00.000-08:00

Now a shattered horizon

where the stars shone

with dazzling streaks

no more starred nights

but monstrous haunting silences

this thick hopelessness

that filled the valley,
left by a fleeing love

Methinks....

- Mauya

Fie! fie! fie! an Obama holiday for Kenya?

2008-11-10T17:00:00.000-08:00

During Barack Obama's last visit to Kenya he gave a thrilling speech at the University of Nairobi, UON on Monday 28th August, 2006.
In his speech entitled, An Honest Government, A Hopeful Future, he reprimanded Kenya's corrupt leaders for being the cancer that ails Kenya.
He boldly and without batting an eyelid stated, "while corruption is a problem we all share, here in Kenya it is a crisis - a crisis that's robbing an honest people of the opportunities they have fought for - the opportunity they deserve."

He lashed at negative ethnicity, greed and tribalism that are to blame for Kenya's "a thousand millionaires and a million beggars" situation. This was while the embers of Anglo leasing and other corrupt deals in high government offices were still raging! A few hours later, Kibaki's Government through their usual parrot, Dr Alfred Mutua disowned Obama, rubbished him about his remarks and told him how unwelcome his advice and presence was! Mr. Obama was described as being ignorant and dismissed as a mere Senator from Illinois, methinks they meant an inconsequential busybody who was very low in the American pecking order.

In short, Kibaki's government actually could not stand Obama's honest opinion on the way forward for Kenya; Kibaki's regime did not listen to him and a few months later, in January 2008, Kenya plunged itself into an Armageddon; a clear result of the build-up of unresolved injustices in the nation.

Upon Obama clinching the White House on 5th November 2008, Kibaki addressed kenyans, emphasizing Obama's links to Kenya and expressing elation on his victory. http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=cpkvgG5HMTw&feature=related
For Kibaki to turn around and declare a National Holiday in honour of Obama is to exhibit narrow-mindedness because he and his political cohorts don't share Barack's spirit of governance.
Had he shared Barack's ideals, he should have implemented the great advice Obama gave in the UON speech. While it is proper for Kenyans to celebrate Obama's victory, methinks there are reasons for Kenyans to gnash their teeth in shame because Obama's victory highlights our shame as a country!!!!!

If Obama is "Luo" (he has written so his book although jestingly) then USA has just elected a Luo tribesman to the White House, the highest and most powerful office on earth currently. This answers Ali Mazrui's 2007 question; Which country between Kenya and USA will be the first to elect a Luo to the highest office. Kenya has killed all its brilliant Luos and any other bright chaps; Tom Mboya, Robert Ouko, Dr Mbai, Pinto etc. If a Luo aspired to take a high office in Kenya we would be loudmouthed about uncut penises and their love of throwing stones! The last time a Luo, Raila Odinga shook the country with his fame and won clearly in 5 out of 8 provinces in an election in Kenya (2007), the country sped towards genocide rather than see a Luo at the helm. The divisive and venomous nature of Kenyan politics deeply ingrained in ethnic discrimination should make us be ashamed to be related to Obama's message of change!
Obama's victory should be our shame because his story could not be possible in Kenya. In Kenya, I doubt if he could even become a ward councilor, maybe he could not have gone to University or even if he did, he'd have to study some subject he didn't choose because he is on Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) and the Joint Admissions Board (JAB) just allocates you a degree based on available bed space in the universities, your dream or preference doesn't count. All the good subjects or those that a student wants and has passion for would have been taken by Rich and/or Parallel students who even graduate in less time than the "common students"
Had Obama vied to be councilor in Majengo ward, Nairobi, they would sneer at him, huyu chotara anataka nini?, what does this half-breed want? If he vied for mayor in Kisii town they could have inquired "mointo ong'o are? Whose son is he?, ngesaku ki'are? Which tribe is he? And he would fail miserably in the election! His Victory in America is Kenya's shame because it could not happen in Kenya. Thank God Obama snr chose to let the boy grow in the USA rather than having dragged him to live in Shauri Moyo. Obama's story could not happen in the present Kenya's socio-political climate! It is a shame.

Kenya is ripe for a revolution led by the "common people" . These common people need to break the fetters that the power hungry wolves have used to keep them down for decades. Driven by the hunger for justice and a shared national dream of prosperity, the revolution is surely in the offing. Then a Holiday in honour of Obama shall spread hope from Kibera to Mathare, Kakuma to Namanga, Lamu to Gabrraland, Lokichogio to Shungwaya as a nation stands on its feet, not on the paupers' jiggered toes!

YES WE CAN!