3Z3 KENYA 1-ILFMAN RiGHTS "if COMMISSION Human Rights As Politics KENYA tE•SO LU; cN'rIE I ACCESSON No IW 32'I Kenya 1uman RIghts Commission 2003 MISSION STATEMENT The Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) is a non-governmental membership organization founded in 1992. It has an observer status with the African Comn -iission on Human and PeopIes Rights. KHRC is the 1998 winner of the MS International Award, bestowed in Denmark. The mission of the Commission is to promote, protect and enhance the enjoyment of the human rights of Kenyans. It does this through monitoring, research and documentation of human rights violations. It organises activist events and undertakes public awareness carnpagns on human rights. KHRC is committed to mainstreaming gender in all its programmes and initiatives. KHRC is committed to the realization of human rights ideals in Kenya by strengthening the human rights movement. KHRC supports sociaL political, economic, and cultural change aimed at enhancing respect for the rule of law, the development of a society that upholds democratic values, a society aware of its rights and comes to their defense whenever threatened or attacked. STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES KHRC strategic objectives are to: • Reduce human rights violations in Kenya • Strengthen the human rights movement in Kenya • Hold state, institutions and individuals accountable for human rights vIolations • Raise awareness of human rights in Kenya • Place Kenya on a truly democratic trajectory Kenya Human Rights Commission • KHRC Valley Arcade, Gitanga Road P0 Box 41079 00100 Nairobi, Kenya Acknowledgement Many individuals associated with the Kenya Human Rights Commission have contributed to the production of this compilation. The Commission is especially grateful to its staff members, directors and associates who took time from their regular schedules to commit to paper their opinions and analysis for the various issues covered by these articles. Willy Mutunga and Elena Gekas, the latter being an intern at the Commission in 2001, did the groundwork towards this compilation. Patrick Mutahi, Willy Mutunga, Mugambi Kiai and Margot Albert contributed to the editing and proofreading of the drafts. The staff of the Commission in different ways contributed in ensuring the successful completion of this project. For their efforts and dedication, the Commission is very grateful. We would also like to thank our donors, without whose assistance the production of this publication would not have been possible. -~00 - ~& 1) MI2 Contents Introduction...........................................................................................................................................1 1 . General Commentary on Kenyon Politics ............................................... 3 TheCaseforaMiddle Ground in OurPolitics ..........................................................................................4 Muinu Kiai Primitive Instinctof Tribe-Based Leadership ............................................................................................6 Mama Kii Time to Ration Powerof GovernmentThat Blames Itonthe Rain .............................................................10 Mugombi Kiai and Willy Mutunga Political Bankruptcy: A Way to Avoid the Winding up of Kenya..................................................................13 Muganibi Kini and Willy Mutunga There's Hope for Kenya yet.....................................................................................................................16 Mama Kiai The Futility of Governments Refusing to Hear.........................................................................................20 Muqombi Kial A. Political Commentary on Mail KANU Politics ...................................... 23 Slung by Opposition Coins, Kenya Regime Returnsto Politics of Intimidation ...........................................24 Makau wa Mutuo Presidential Transitions: The Time to Talk is Now .................................................................... .............. .27 Mama Kiai The Problem Is Not Miiumba' But Mitumb& Government .................................................................. ..... 33 Mugambi Kial and Willy Mutunga Testing President Mois Political Will and His Commitment to a Legacy of a United Kenya ..... ....... ............. 37 Mugambi Kini and Willy Mutunga Moi: What Would Surprise Kenyans on New Year's Day----------------------------------------------------------------------------40 Willy Mutunga Moi's Legacy Is His Road to Damascus...................................................................................................41 Mugumbi Kiai and Willy Mutunga Running a Bad Race: Sports Administration in Kenya is Oppressive .........................................................44 Mugurnbi Kiai and Willy Mutunga WhatIsihis Co-operation? ...................................................................................................................48 Mugambi Kiai Our Crisis of Political Leadership Continues ........................................................................................... 51 Mugambi Kim and Willy Mutunga k1kW Corruption in Kenyan Politics .. ..... ....., .._. .,.••••••••s• ..... ..n. ...nr.n........ 55 Youth Fund: Haram bee Spirit Has Lost Meaning ......................................................................................56 Mama Kini IllegalBan On Seminars ........................................................................................................................59 Willy Mutunga The Social-Political Dimension of Corruption in Kenya .............................................................................61 Mugarubi Kiai Corruption: The Unspoken Foreign Connection .......................................................................... .............. 63 Mugombi Kini and Willy Mutunga Commentary on Ethnic Divisions in Kenya/State Sponsored Violence ...... 67 Govt's Subtle Role in the Fighting. ....... ..................................................................................................... 68 Mama Kioi Kenya's Succession Politics and the Threat of Renewed Violence .............................................................TI MutumoRuteere Lies are Tools for Repressive Regimes ................................................................................................... /3 Mama Kioi First among Unequals: The Question of Representation in Kenya ............................................................./7 Mugarnbi Kiai and Willy Mutungo TheEthnic Dilemma in Kenya ............. ....... .............................................................................................. ED Mugombi Kiai The State Has Declared War on Kenyons .................. ....... ........................................................................ SI Willy Mutunga Opposition Politics/Alternative Leadership..........................................85 Did We Witness the Birth of a New Political Movement on Saba Saba 2001 ? .....................86 Mugombi Kioi and Willy Mijtunga In Search Of Alternativeleodership in Kenya: The Case of Ugunlo .......................................................... 89 Mugambi Kiul and Willy Mutunga Wanted: A New Vision for Kenya, a Kenya with a Vision ..........................................................................93 Mugwnbi Kiai and Willy Mutunga MyName Is Mheshimiwa ....................... ........ ....................................................................................... 96 Mugumbi Kiai Let Us Not Give Moss Action a Bad Name ............................................................................................. 100 Mugombi Kiui and Willy Mutunga Let Us Also Learn The Good Lessons From The lICA Movement Willy Mutunga and Mugambi Kini The Options for Contesting Political Power: The NCA Elections Strategy................................... Willy Mutungo ............................................. .. ................. ........... ......... ............................... Y Is Electoral Boycott An idea Whose Time Has (orne . 108 Mugambi Kiai and Willy Mutunga The New Alternative Political Leadership and Fundamental Change in kenya ............. ............................. I 12 Willy Mutunga New Form of Trade Union Movement Emerges in Kenya ........................................................................115 Muambi Kiai and Willy Mutunga The Cailfora Notional Convention ........................................................................................................ ha Willy Mutunga Election Monitoring 123 Some Thoughts on the Monitoring of the General Elections 1997............................................................ 114 Willy Muturigo TheSpiritof Kamukunli ........................................................................... .................................... ........ 130 Speech by Willy Mutunga during the launch of the hook, "Constitution making from the Middle: Transition roliticsin Kenya, 1992-1997' Konu Elecljonsjnu Rural 'ocution ........................................................................................................132 Willy Mutunga Constitutional Reform •..,J,.. 135 In Response to President Moi's Statement on Constitutional Review .......................................................136 Willy Mutungu Kenya's Regional Trade and Constitutional Reform .................................................................................138 Willy Mutunga Should the Litmus Test for the Merger Be Ufunga mono ll .....................................................................140