Mixed Fortunes, Infidelities Unearthed and Faith Unfailling

The final rescue of the thirty three Chilean miners on October 14, 2010 heralded more surprises than relief.
After seventy days underground, gambling and mastering courage from the deepest of their hearts, men of fortune finally came back to the other side of the earth where fellow human beings inhabit perhaps with a totally different world view.
It was dramatic, heart rending, chilling, ecstatic and at some point orgasmic as the world turned its attention to the plight of these miners in Latin America. The media chewed the cane hard as they tried to outdo each other and scoop the competition with the latest exclusives in what was largely seen to be a godsend fortune for ratings especially after the economic slump for the last two years.

Cameras and Notebooks on the Beat: San Jose Mine.

Media houses all over the world, especially the networks trained their cameras and notebooks on the Chilean beat for the last twenty on so days as the rescue mission intensified with the prospects of a christmas day final rescue. The small media scattered the world over relied on wire services and obviously the major networks. Breaking Story, Exclusive, became the by-word as others sexed up the story to give a much more captivating view. Ratings went high. Over 2,000 journalists descended on San Jose for real-time coverage.

Of Hidden Infidelities and the Untimely Revelation

As the miners and the rest of the world crossed their fingers on what would be one of the most unnerving experience of a lifetime, one of the miners, Yonni Barrios cursed the collapse of the mines not for the unfortunate situation he was in but because of the rat squeezing itself out of the bag. One of man's most confidential secrets(even acknowledged by the law of confidence) was about to be revealed. His wife, was to learn that her husband was not only an expansionist in search of fortunes underground but also one with an ever expeditious spirit, out to conquer the world in many ways, this time round, the power of love (or its attendant-lust).
The collapse indeed proved a (mis)fortune for families as this additional report came in: One of the 33 trapped Chilean miners will have an extra family member waiting for him when he makes it to the surface. Ariel Ticona's wife has given birth to a baby girl, the couple's third child. The couple had planned to name their first daughter Carolina but will now name her Esperenza—Spanish for "Hope."

Faith Unfailling

True to their faith and believe in super natural power, the miners kept on strong, despite the nerve chilling fear of the unknown as the clock ticked. Even they, who believed not in God may have had a chance to gamble over an unforeseen force.

Another Blow to Kenyan Justice?

Kenya, or perhaps a section of governement has declared that it does not need the services of ICC after all. This comes shortly after the governement signed an agreement with the prosecutor's office at ICC which granted it (ICC) unfettered access to information, sources and victims of the post election violence(2007) in quest for the long awaited justice.
Through its justice minister, the governent has indicated that with the endorsement and subsequent promulgation of the new constitution a month ago, the government of Kenya had acquired the right and adequate instruments to met justice on its on based on the standards of the Internation Criminal Court. in what appears to be a calculated move to protect status quo or perhaps the high and mighty in and outside government, the minister noted that the Kenyan case was more complex."I am not out to undermine the ICC and its obligations, but the fact is that the Kenyan case is complex and it will be better dealt with locally," he said.
The question is, is this the final blow to attempts by ICC to hit the last nail on the coffin? Is it coincidental that Louis Ocampo, the ICC chief prosecutor is coming to town in October? Is there a conspiracy in government to frustrate Ocampo's efforts? And, doesn't this raise eye brows given that it comes barely four days after a Cabinet meeting?
All these conspiracy theories combined scare the rat out of innocent Kenyans whose property were pillaged and  lives destroyed by blood letting thugs in 2007/2008 violence.

Al Jazeera English - LISTENING POST - Media spin on the Iraqi elections

Al Jazeera English - LISTENING POST - Media spin on the Iraqi elections

Of Two Centres of Power and a Citizenry in Limbo

The recent developments in Kenya pitying a frustrated prime minister and a don't care-wait and see president last this week once more opens sour and seemingly healing wounds of indifference which characterized the political aura in 2007/09.

Kenyans though are no stranger to this tussles on who exactly wields power between the president and the prime minister but a reminiscence of the post election violence a year or so ago whose memories still linger in the minds of many is the most worrying to say the least.

The country was once more treated to the theatre of the absurd, perhaps not just a fight against corruption but an indication of a spectre which has always done rounds in government circles since the signing of the now controversial National Accord which led to cessation of hostilities by both sides of the divide and an embrace of a union which still holds fragile. 

The Honey Burger, ferocious snout and honey in plenty

The most disturbing thing though is not whether the prime minister acted ultra vires but the fate of corruption which remains the single most undoing bedeviling the coalition government. Many have argued against the prime minister's actions which perhaps hold water, much more corroborated by the Attorney General on whose backyard executive authority rests. This argument stands legitimate but one thing lost in the process of this argument is the fate of millions of school going children and the country's grains reserve system which is alleged to have been robbed of millions of dollars through phony practices in the parent ministry. It is also in order to appreciate that official corruption does not end there.  A number of ministers and other senior officials in government corporations are on an eating spree laughing all the way to the bank and driving fuel guzzlers in the name of rewarded hard work.

Laid Back, chewing Cane and Rarely Heard

One man, suggestive of innocence seats on the fence pulling strings and lavishing the dance, not disturbed and not uttering a word safe for occasional statements issued through the official media vessel. The man is the president, Mwai Kibaki. This is a politician who has thrived for long and perhaps cherished the cancer of corporate thinking and its attendant-amnesia in Kenya. Nobody seems to be questioning his position on the fight against corruption but instead the country's attention has been diverted to the prime minister who is at pains to explain to Kenyans aspects of consultation in the coalition.

Ask this man Kibaki 

It's time Kenyans demanded of political responsibility from the president since he comes in as minister number one and therefore ought to take responsibility as the PM or any other minister would. To the PM, an afternoon well spent at Nyayo stadium after cracking the whip on the two cabinet ministers and later on an official trip to Japan was the best thing to have happened to him. 

A divided government, a blood boiling party serves not as the best welcome scenario for the PM  from Japan. Be it as it may, your cards must always remain on your chest.