Michael Mundia Kamau

 P.O. Box 58972 00200

 City Square Nairobi Kenya

27th June 2004

UNCLE MOODY

The Langata Womens’ Prison beauty pageant held on 26th June 2004 is a first of it’s kind and a commendable and worthy effort at instituting meaningful reform in the Kenyan prison system. Splendidly presented in attires with an African theme, there was no way of telling that the bevy of beauties solely comprised convicts, and clearly shows that we are all capable of excelling in life if given the right opportunities. Everybody deserves a first, second or even third chance at life and the NARC government is providing a second with regard to the Kenyan prison system. This is one area where President Kibaki’s trial with delegation of powers is paying off dividends, and Vice President Moody Awori deserves high credit for this.

Every effort is being made to transform Kenyan prisons into corrective and rehabilitative institutions in tune with the fast changing times that we are living in. Nothing personifies this more than acceptance of donated computers for use by convicts in Nakuru District by Moody Awori’s Ministry of Home Affairs. Convicts have traditionally received training in masonry, carpentry and tailoring and it is gratifying to note the Kenya government’s cognisance and acknowledgement of huge global transformations. Ex-convicts will certainly be higher placed to readjust back in society with computer software and hardware skills. These are the sort of actions that Kenyans sought, expected, wanted and anticipated from the NARC government as a whole after it’s 2002 landslide election victory.

The presence of the Ministry of Home Affairs has also been felt in the rehabilitation of street children through granting of opportunities in the National Youth Service (NYS), however minimal. There are those of us who are fully committed to granting less privileged Kenyans a chance at life with the available resources, as many of us take sides in the ongoing political feuding. It is these committed Kenyans, like Moody Awori, who are keeping hope alive. It is these committed Kenyans who are keeping society secure by reassuring convicts and rehabilitated street children that society still cares. Several of us claim to be born-again Christians, but how many of us attended the Langata Womens’ Prison beauty pageant ? How many of us have attended NYS graduation parades comprising ex-street children if we are so committed to reforming society ? The truth of the matter is that we are not supporting societal reform. The truth of the matter is that the women of Langata Prison displayed a willingness to change for the better and many deserve to be discharged and the rest of us charged. We must also not forget that our founding president, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta was once a convict. Nelson Mandela was also once a celebrated inmate. It’s not over till it’s over and even then, it’s never over, because the names of Kenyatta and Mandela will live through the centuries.

 The Langata Womens’ Prison beauty pageant was a welcome relief from the unending ongoing political murk, whose protagonists need to borrow a leaf from Vice President Moody Awori. Moody Awori is focused on his job and the future of this country, which is probably the reason why is voice is seldom heard in the infighting nowadays. He is using the resources available to him and his ministry to better the lives of those under his charge, rather than take sides in unending and meaningless political battles. Yes, Moody found himself in an awkward and embarrassing situation when his ministry featured centrally in the Anglo Leasing trading company when the scandal first emerged. Moody however defended himself and his ministry in the best possible way in the prevailing circumstances, as the Anglo Leasing debacle continues to emerge as a Goldenberg like mega-scam steered by powers much bigger than Moody. Nevertheless, Moody has managed to secure modest yet monumental gains for his ministry, and other ministers must be challenged to give a similar return. If Kenyans really care about action, then Moody Awori personifies this. If Kenyans really care about hard work, then Moody Awori exemplifies this. When the Kenya Television Network featured Moody on “My Day with You”, Moody said and showed that his day begins at 4.00 a.m. Self-made, experienced and wealthy, Moody Awori is presidential material despite his advanced age, and much younger Kenyans vying for the top seat must stand cautioned. Moreover, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, Nelson Mandela and Ronald Reagan all ascended to the top seats in their respective countries at advanced years of age, but their legacies have and will endure.

 There are places in this country where one dare not soil the name of Jomo Kenyatta. There are also places in this country where one dare not soil the name of Daniel arap Moi, and there are indeed also places in this country where one dare not soil the name of Mwai Kibaki. At the rate at which things are going, there will be many places in this country where one will not dare soil the name of Moody Awori. Michael Mundia Kamau