Michael Mundia Kamau
P.O. Box 58972
00200 City Square
Nairobi
Kenya
18th September 2005
THE BULL OF NEW YORK
Ten years after the disgraceful “Bull of Auckland”
episode involving a high ranking Kenyan Government
official at the Commonwealth Heads of Government
summit in New Zealand, the pitiful baton has been
passed on to yet another high ranking Kenyan
Government official, the “Bull of New York”, following
the bizarre attempted rape incident that took place
during the just concluded 60th anniversary
celebrations of the United Nations. Eleven years after
former Nairobi Mayor John Kingori dramatically led 45
councillors in ousting then Nairobi Mayor Steve Mwangi
by way of what Mayor Kingori referred to as “Club 45”,
the 94 member Kenyan delegation to the said 60th
anniversary celebrations of the United Nations, has
taken over Mayor Kingori’s mantle through the newly
constituted “Club 94”.
Two incidents during one momentous occasion, define
the real Kenya. It is extremely difficult to take
President Kibaki and the entire Kenyan leadership,
seriously anymore.
For instance, the said 94 member Kenyan delegation to
the just concluded New York event, partly comprised
Gem MP Hon. Jakoyo Midiwo, a staunch critic of the
Kibaki Government, Hon. (Prof.) Ruth Oniango, another
staunch critic of the Kibaki administration, and
Zipporah Kittony, Chairlady of giant Maendeleo ya
Wanawake, and key operative in the previous regime.
Indeed Zipporah Kittony was one of two key operatives
then, who shed tears on the lawns of State House
Nairobi, on the day that Daniel arap Moi handed over
power on 30th December 2002. Others were a retinue of
obscure State functionaries whose role at the
occasion, is difficult to place.
The entire cost of the wasteful trip is estimated at
US $ 200,000, at a time when civil servants, teachers,
nurses, and University lecturers are being denied
salary increments, because of lack of funds, at a time
when many in this country are faced with famine
prompting an international appeal by the government,
and at a time when the country is faced with a
shortage of several key drugs, and other healthcare
facilities. Moreover oil prices have hit record highs
both worldwide and in Kenya, yet no plan of action is
forthcoming from the entire Kenyan leadership. The
Electricity Regulatory Board has indicated that power
tariffs will soon go up as a result of increased
petroleum prices, and it is just a matter of time
before similar multiplier effects begin being felt all
over the economy.
The situation begs for critical action and fore
planning, but in their place we instead have
government functionaries incapable of controlling
their loins both at home and abroad, a Kenyan
contingent of 94 that has just wasted US $ 200,000,
and opposing political camps back home who are
breaking the law with impunity, by directly
contravening a Kenya Gazette notice that states that
campaigns for the November 21st 2005 referendum, are
to commence on 21st October 2005.
We should stop lying to ourselves, and accept that
this country has become unmanageable and ungovernable.
Jungle law, cartels, anarchy, disorder, indiscipline
and abuse prevail, as the country goes to rot. This
indeed is one of the things that greatly troubled
former President Daniel arap Moi for many years.
It is extremely difficult to take the entire Kenyan
leadership seriously anymore. But then again, it is
extremely difficult to take ourselves seriously
anymore. When the late Hon. Tony Ndilinge was accused
of being the “Bull of Auckland” back in 1995, he
quickly came to his defence by declaring that he was
the “Bull of Machakos”, and not the “Bull of Auckland”
as stated. Hon. Ndilinge strongly protested the
misrepresentation, and not the representation per se.
How many high profile male Kenyans have passed away in
the recent past, occasioning the emergence of a
retinue of women credibly claiming to be either
co-wives or concubines of the deceased, and making
valid claims to the Estate? How many less prominent
Kenyans face this exact indignity on a daily basis,
following their demise? It pours scorn on both our
morals, and women’s empowerment in Kenya. Why did
parliamentarians attempt to callously sneak in a
clause into their medical covers, that catered for as
many spouses as possible, up to and including
concubines? Why did the Kenya Pipeline Corporation
streamline it’s staff medical scheme to cater for
cover of strictly one spouse for male employees,
following massive abuse? How many of us currently have
more than one wife, and a retinue of several other
girlfriends? We are just a nation of “Kenyan Bulls”,
and on this one count, the recalled Kenyan ambassador
to the US can be spared harsh criticism.
A nation with loose morals and loose loin control, is
a nation with no principles, and a nation where a 94
member government delegation can squander US $ 200,000
with impunity.
Michael Mundia Kamau