Kenya a land of contrasting groups

By: Njeri Kabeberi-Kanene

[ Posted On: 2007-11-28 ]

Whenever I travel to the north or western parts of the country, there is a running 'joke.' People there ask habari ya Kenya?

At first it does seem like a joke, but then you realise that this is their reality. They live in a different Kenya and this has been so since independence. It is a reflection of neglect by successive regimes.

Then there is the Kenya of the poor and disadvantaged people — it is unimaginable what some go through and how they live. Recently, I watched two skits during the launch of the state of insecurity report by Release Political Prisoners Pressure Trust. Until then, I thought I was familiar with some of these problems, but I was wrong. By the end of it, I concluded that though we are millions living in the same country, we have two other different worlds besides the northern, eastern and western frontiers.

One territory belongs to the very poor and extremely disadvantage. The other belongs to the middle class. The other belongs to the rich.

This may be a fact that some people may not want to hear. I might be accused of malice or mischief, but the irony is baffling.

Who would not be shocked because looters of millions are treated leniently? The same justice system punishes pickpockets and other petty criminals with such vigour, energy and attention — like our lives depended on it.

I recently watched two incidents that left me wondering. One was from my office window. A mob beat a side mirror thief senselessly. The same evening, Kamlesh Pattni, who is considered the architect of the infamous Goldenberg scandal, was on TV. He was beaming with excitement as his supporters sang joyfully. He was presenting his nomination papers to contest for Westlands parliamentary seat.

Now 'converted' Pattni is nursing his new ambitions freely. Never mind that a vibrant political fighter, the late Mukaru Ng'ang'a, once led 'his' party, Kenda.

And this is how life is — a song for Pattni and kicks and blows for a side mirror thief. The worlds they come from allow them to be treated this way.

That is how we judge our leaders. It is how our justice system works — through the influence of money.

This came out very clearly during the recent muddled up party primaries. Despite how popular a candidate has been, the 'monied' person gets more 'attention.'

Never mind some of those masquerading as messiahs spent the last five years lining their pockets.

The same wananchi who made so much noise and threatened not to be influenced by cheap politicking, money and violence were the first to draw blood.

Let us come back to our different worlds. Did you know that in many slums and other disadvantaged areas, workers who spend the whole day sweating, selling sukuma wiki, fish and other jua kali wares, lose it to police officers soon after? And when they do not produce enough, they are arrested and their relatives have to buy their freedom, expensively?

Very many people are languishing in police cells. Some of them are there not because they are criminals, but because they could not buy their way out of the police cuffs.

Did you know that many girls arrested for whatever reason end up being raped by police?

The selective justice is objectionable.

The levels of poverty are unacceptable. And so is the selective service provision that increases poverty and crime.

Article Source: http://www.afroarticles.com/article-dashboard

About The Author: Njeri Kabeberi-Kanene is a board member of the Kenya Human Rights Commission and consultant for the Netherlands-Institute for Multi-Party Democracy.

| View Profile & All Articles By: Njeri Kabeberi-Kanene |

		Post Comment
		Blog This Article!
		Discuss Article in Forum(s)
		Publication \| Reprint Terms

Please Rate this Article

Not yet Rated

Click the XML Icon Above to Receive Conflict & War Articles Via RSS!

| Category Feeds | All-in-one Feed | Other Feed & Syndication Options |

Additional Articles From - Home | Society & Culture | Conflict & War

	Print This Article
	Post Comment
	Add To Favorites
	Email To Friends
	Ezine Ready \| Syndication
	Make PDF Article
	Share in FaceBook
	Post To del.icio.us
	Post To Furl
	Add To Google Bookmarks
	Submit To Propellor
	Add To Yahoo! My Web
	Add Main Feed To Outlook
	Post to BookMarks @ AfroArticles.com

	Post To BookMarkAfrica.com

| More Subscription Options |

Site Home

Article Categories

More Search Options

Site Map

Submit Articles

Top Authors

Most Recent Articles