the strange paradox of events in the life of an african son

2008-01-02T13:31:00.001-07:00

DUE TO THE CURRENT POLITICAL CRISIS IN KENYA, MY BLOG HAS MOVED TO

WWW.JOSEPHKAROKI.WORDPRESS.COM

SPREAD THE WORD

cowboys win

2007-10-08T22:52:00.000-06:00

Tony Romo is nothing if not resilient. And because he didn't let four interceptions in the first half, two returned for touchdowns, destroy his night, the Dallas Cowboys pulled off a stunning comeback victory.

GAME REPORT: Cowboys 25, Bills 24

MORE COVERAGE: NFL news and notes

Tony Romo is nothing if not resilient.

And because he didn't let four interceptions in the first half, two returned for touchdowns, destroy his night, the Dallas Cowboys pulled off a stunning comeback victory.

The Cowboys scored nine points in the final 20 seconds Monday night, with Nick Folk's 53-yard field goal as time expired giving them an improbable 25-24 win over the Buffalo Bills.

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Romo, after being intercepted five times and also losing a fumble, drove Dallas (5-0) 80 yards and hit Patrick Crayton with a 4-yard TD pass with 20 seconds remaining. The 2-point conversion try failed when Jabari Greer stripped Terrell Owens of the ball in the end zone.

But Nathan Jones recovered the onside kick and after two completions, Folk nailed his fourth field goal, shocking the sellout crowd that came to celebrate the first Monday night home game for Buffalo (1-4) in 13 years.

It was the second last-second loss on a field goal this season for the Bills; Denver did almost the same thing in the opener.And the win kept the Cowboys as the NFC's only unbeaten team heading into a megamatchup with 5-0 New England next week in Texas Stadium.

This latest victory was one of the most incredible in the Cowboys' illustrious history. Buffalo made nearly all the big plays, including interceptions for TDs by George Wilson and Chris Kelsay and a 103-yard kickoff runback by Terence McGee.

In position to clinch it, Trent Edwards' pass from the Dallas 11 was tipped by DeMarcus Ware and returned 70 yards by Terence Newman.

Romo looked for tight end Jason Witten, his favorite receiver. Instead, he found linebacker John DiGiorgio at the goal line and DiGiorgio returned his first career pickoff 38 yards.It was the third time a pass intended for Witten was stolen by Buffalo.

Yet the Cowboys didn't go away. And after their long drive to Crayton's touchdown, Sam Hurd deflected the onside kick ahead to Jones.Immediately, Romo hit Owens, but he couldn't hold onto a 20-yard pass to the Buffalo 25; officials needed a replay review to overturn the original call.

Romo completed two more passes and Folk, after having his first try from 53 yards negated by a Bills timeout, won it.

Folk also made field goals of 47, 29 and 37 yards.

Kikuyus should keep an open mind

2007-10-03T10:38:00.001-06:00

Growing up as a Kikuyu, it was difficult to ignore the ugly face of tribalism. It was not uncommon to hear that Kikuyus do this and luos do that and Lughyas do that. However, when I attended school at Lenana, I was no longer a kikuyu but a “changerian” proud to be from Lenana School. Tribe to many of our classmates meant nothing. Just an ignorant facet of the older generation we thought. We all got along and the differences we had, were ideological and not tribal. As a reside in the United States, I look at it in contempt if anyone asks me what tribe I am from because it flat out does not matter, I am a Kenyan. That is the way the majority of my fellow Kenyans in the Diaspora perceive it. We are all Kenyans and defined by our character and individual achievements not tribe.

Kenyans voted for Mwai Kibaki on December 27th 2002, not as a Kikuyu but as a symbol of institutional change. Kibaki as a candidate made promises not only to Kenyans but his fellow colleagues that he failed to deliver. The grave failures of Kibaki as a president are well documented and stem from his inept inability to tackle corruption to his alliance with individuals in his Cabinet that have been linked to various financial crimes against the Republic.

Kibaki’s bungles are endless. Failure to implement constitutional reforms, failure in tackling tribalism within Government, failure in dealing with Violent crime that has held Kenyans hostage. Inability to effectually deal with Mungiki, a terror organization that has grown exponentially in the Kibaki regime. In office, President Kibaki has allowed the blatant attack on independent media. In what was termed as unprecedented in Kenyan History, Authorities raided the offices of 'The Standard', arrested three journalists, damaged and confiscated equipment, burned newspapers and shut down a broadcasting station, Kenya Television Network (KTN). Attack on journalists have included the arrest of senior Kenya Times editor Onyango Omollo and writer David Ochami in September of 2005.

Ladies and Gentlemen I could go on but the list remains endless. This is not a kikuyu issue! This is a Kenyan issue. Accountability has to be in place wether the individual is a kikuyu, a luo or a pokot. Its time to change guard and get beyond the myopia of an individuals tribe. Lets get our country back and fire kibaki

2007-09-04T22:51:00.000-06:00

Bishop Thomas weeks and Juanita Bynum

2007-08-24T16:16:00.001-06:00

Just wanted to take this time to ask those of you who pray, to remember Bishop Weeks and Prophetess Juanita Bynum in prayer. For those who have been following the news, its been unbelieveably tough especially to those that are close to these wonderful people.

There are two sides to every story and then there is the truth!

Televangelist Bynum Assaulted in Atlanta
The Associated PressThursday, August 23, 2007; 2:51 AM
ATLANTA -- Police said Juanita Bynum, a televangelist who has won a national following with sermons about women's empowerment, was assaulted by her preacher husband in the parking lot of an Atlanta hotel early Wednesday.
Bynum and her estranged husband, Thomas W. Weeks III, the founder of Global Destiny churches, met at Renaissance Concourse Hotel near Atlanta's airport to try to reconcile, police said.

ATLANTA -- Police said Juanita Bynum, a televangelist who has won a national following with sermons about women's empowerment, was assaulted by her preacher husband in the parking lot of an Atlanta hotel early Wednesday.

About 4 a.m., they fought in the parking lot until a hotel bellman pulled Weeks off, Officer Ronald Campbell said.
"She was bruised up and battered," Campbell said. "She had purple bruising around her neck and upper torso."
No charges had been filed by Wednesday night against Weeks, who left the scene accordign to police.
A call to Global Destiny in suburban Duluth was answered only by a recorded message with information about the ministry, and there was no listing for Weeks in the metro Atlanta telephone directory.
Bynum, a Pentecostal evangelist who lives in Hempstead, N.Y., has administrative offices in Waycross. The former homemaker, hairdresser and flight attendant got a break when Bishop T.D. Jakes invited her to speak at one of his conferences several years ago. Her ministry blossomed further after her "No More Sheets" sermon on breaking free of sexual promiscuity at a singles event.
She writes books, records inspirational CDs and preaches to millions through televised sermons.
She married Weeks in 2002 in a televised wedding

www.mahalo.com/Bishop_Thomas_Weeks_Assaults_Juanita_Bynum

www.11alive.com/news/article_news.aspx?storyid=102111&provider=top

COjONES

2007-08-24T00:11:00.000-06:00

Today’s word of the day is "cojones".I was thinking today about taking bold steps to better your life. It takes a lot of cohones to do things outside your comfort zone and the complex and intellectual attributes that determine your character. So take the time today to think about what you need to do to improve your life. So Grab your cojones and do the right thing!

Am Back Baby!!!

2007-07-05T18:37:00.000-06:00

after a brief hiatus..more like 2 years, and a little nudging from the fans, I am back to blogging.. I'll be posting my thoughts on socio/political issues in the next few posts. glad to be back!

WHY I SUPPORT DAVID OCHAMI

2005-09-30T18:18:00.000-06:00

senior Kenya Times editor Onyango Omollo and writer David Ochami were yesterday charged with publishing an alarming article. For those not familiar with the story, David Ochami published this article http://www.timesnews.co.ke/25sep05/nwsstory/opinion.htmlon the Kenya Times in which Mr. Omollo drew parallels on why coups often occur in Africa and gave backgrounds on the aborted coup in 1982 in Kenya, thus infuriating the authorities.
Mr. Omallo's title was "Coups in Africa do not occur out of nothing"

Let me begin by saying these; the Kenyan Goverment seems to be doing an excellent job at impeding free speech and its modus operandi is reminiscent of the notorious Kanu Regime. Mr. Ochami just as any other professional journalist did not call for a coup. He did not incite anyone to have a coup, as the last time I checked the impotent Kibaki regime was still in power. Now there are some who may say that he broke the Law by "publishing an article that was likely to cause fear and alarm to the public." Lets pretend for a minute that he indeed broke the law by publishing an article that was likey to cause fear and alarm to the public. So what? What if today I published an article in the Kenya Times and claimed that I had seen aliens land in "Patch" u know..Nairobi School. What if I continued my alarming article by suggesting that half of patch was infected by an alien disease that caused alarming symptoms like hydrophobia, losersystis and the horrible ballscratchitittis. would that be considered by the kenyan goverment as publishing an article the was "likely to cause fear and alarm to the public." Would I be arrested and taken to court by 10 detectives from the Kenya Police disservice?

In short, all I am saying is that this charges are bullshit and everyone knows it. Just because a law exists does not make it a just law. Furthermore, Kenyans including journalists are not under any kind of moral obligation to heed to UNJUST LAWS!

David Ochami expressed the frustration of many kenyans that the democratic process has failed in electing a corrupt free goverment. Mwai Kibaki the president of Kenya was elected on a platform of anti-corruption. It is obvious even to the most illiterate Kenyan that his goverment has FAILED. If we as Kenyan citizens cannot recall the president in an election, or if we cannot impeach the president, then the cancer has to be removed and cancers are not removed by a democratic process!

We ought to resist oppression and bigotry. The arrest of these two exceptional journalists is unacceptable and does not in any way convince me that the colonial master has left. He is alive and well, this time in a new skin colour.

Another right-wing fool

2005-09-30T17:12:00.000-06:00

Dear friends, occasionally we are awakened from our sleepy dillusions of racism by ridiculous, ignorant fools like a fellow named by his mother, William bennet.

Former Education Secretary William Bennett on Wednesday touched off a firestorm on Wednesday when a caller to his "Morning in America" show postulated that if abortion were illegal, Social Security would remain solvent.
Bennett raised questions about the caller's premise, saying that according to that logic, the argument in the book Freakonomics — that allowing abortion reduces crime — would be equally valid.Referring to the book's hypothesis, Bennett told the caller,

"I do know that it's true that if you wanted to reduce crime, you could, if that were your sole purpose, you could abort every black baby in this country, and your crime rate would go down.
That would be an impossible, ridiculous and morally reprehensible thing to do. But your crime rate would go down."

I could not believe my friggin ears when I heard the above comments made by him. By the way this guy is not one of those "the south shall rise again" idiots. This is actually an 'educated' , self proclaimed 'moral evangelist'.

The thing that ticks me off is that he claims that he was misquoted! He deliberately linked crime to infant black babies! His comments reminded me off similar comments by barbara Bush a few days ago expressing dismay that the black New Orleans survivors were thinking of relocating permanently to texas. I hope this is a wake up call to all those who still claim that rasiscm does not exist in today's America.

Racism rears its ugly head again.

Thai Man Commits Suicide Using Super Glue

2005-06-17T18:25:00.000-06:00

June 17, 2005 9:48 a.m. EST

Hector Duarte Jr. - All Headline News Staff Reporter

BANGKOK, Thailand (AHN) - Bangkok police say a young man found dead Thursday committed suicide by applying super glue to his nose and mouth, suffocating to death.
The body is found Thursday morning in his bedroom, with a note stating, "Here is all that I have, take what you please."

The man's family tell authorities he and his sister had argued Wednesday over money she owed him. He then went into his room;his body was found dead ten hours later.
Police indicate the man suffered a history of moodiness.

time for a new broom in kenya

2005-06-17T01:22:00.000-06:00

This week, the United States and European nations decided not to forgive the financial debt Kenya owed to them. The official reason-Kenya is able to pay back the debt; the unofficial reason-the Kibaki administration’s failing war on corruption.

I mean lets be real, how many of us abroad were really surprised by the decision of the donors not to include Kenya in the debt relief? The decision was a long way coming. Unfortunately, the ordinary Kenyan is left to pay the price for a half-hearted anti-corruption effort and not the MP or Minister getting paid thousands of dollars and stipends highly incomparable to the country’s economic scope to do so. But this is what gets me; Kenyans are so used to corrupt officials raping their economy that even after this week’s decision by the United States that was in reality based on the deplorable corruption in the country, its business as usual for everybody! I mean how long are we going to loose out because of a small bunch of ever-wrangling political clowns?

Unfortunately even the patriots abroad are increasingly becoming demoralized and are unable to hold any political clout that could save our sinking ship. The KCA (the Kenyan community abroad) also known, as the Kenyan clowns abroad cannot come up with something better than ask for petitions. Petitions have never moved African Governments to do anything. Collecting petitions against the policies of an African government is like inseminating a chicken. You ain’t gonna get no eggs baby! Waste of protein thus waste of effort. Having said that; let me say that Africa’s leadership is increasingly disenfranchising young Africans abroad from a wide range of countries. Recently a group of African students and myself, here in the United States, attended a small dinner meeting that hosted a prominent Ugandan minister. The main discussion was the future of Africa and what role we had to play. I was moved by the love and patriotism that burned in the hearts of my colleagues. There is hope. We are Africa’s hope.

What we need is an assertive or better still, an aggressive, non-violent movement of young enlightened, patriotic Kenyans that will be the broom that will sweep the country cleaner. The old guard has let us down ever since our independence” more than 30 years ago! What do we have to show from the leadership of the old guard?

Before anyone gets on me about disrespecting our political elders, let me say this; looking at it from a corporate standpoint, do we really need non-performing managers? I mean that is what the Kibaki administration really is –managers. Managers are hired and fired everyday in the corporate world. Can I hear a vote of no confidence? I apologize guys; our representatives in parliament are still incensed about their cancelled trip to the coast.
So we cannot depend on the members of parliament to fire an impotent government; so what other avenues can we explore without the unpleasant risk of being thrown in jail for treason? Now I know what the old guard is going to tell us. You “young people” do not know anything about politics. Well they are right. We do not know anything about their kind of politics. In addition, let me say this; old feet do not run the arduous grounds of battle. Let me continue to further affirm the following; we “young people” did not run our country into debt. We “young people” did not create a haven of unabated graft in the corridors of our government. We “Young people” did not let criminals hold our neighborhoods on ransom. We “young people” did not allow our hospitals to become chambers of deaths for young children who died recently in the hands of their mothers because of striking nurses and doctors. I dare say this; the Kibaki government let those babies die because of their weak health and economic policies. If you look beyond the fancy language, the blood of those babies is on their hands.

"During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die."- Mandela's statement from the dock at the opening of the defense case in the Rivonia Trial, Pretoria Supreme Court, April 20th, 1964."

the stink of injustice

2005-06-17T00:45:00.000-06:00

I have been watching for sometime now with great unease as events unfold in my beloved country Kenya. With the injustices that have occurred recently, I find it difficult to even call Kenya…my beloved country for we as Kenyan Citizens in all reality seem to have lost what our ancestors and predecessors fought for. The painful question comes in mind. Did we really gain independence? If we indeed gained independence, from what or whom did we gain it from? Let me rephrase that question. Did we gain our freedom or did we simply switch masters?

I recall the late Honorable Jaramogi Oginga Odinga’s book, “not yet Uhuru” were he enumerated facts on why Kenya was still not free. Decades after the Honorable Jaramogi wrote the book, it is with immense sadness that I say today, and some may agree with me; that the chains of sadistic oppression were simply handed over to a darker-skinned colonialist.

Lately the news from the motherland that has been crossing the seven seas are the disturbing reports regarding the eccentric dramatics and may I dare to say shameful acts of the first Lady Lucy Kibaki and the criminal activities or should I say purported criminal activities of Tom Gilbert Cholmondeley. To add insult to injury the chief law enforcement of official in the republic of Kenya decided out of his own merit and discretionary powers that two individuals in the country were above the law and therefore should not be held accountable for charges ranging from public affray to trespassing to assault and battery to murder of an officer in the line of duty. There is also the seemingly uncontrollable graft, a new constitution that despite a hodgepodge of promises by the very “vibrant” Kibaki government is yet to implemented. Before I continue any further let me say this; I am not a politician, have no ambition to become one and for the Love of God hope never to become a politician. Having said that however, the issue that leaves a bitter taste in my mouth to the point of a nauseating sensation is the ridiculous and gross abuse of power by our attorney general, the Honorable Amos Wako.

In two very public criminal cases that infuriated Kenyan citizens, our honorable attorney General decided to enter a “Nolle prosecui”. Let me explain. Under the current Kenya Constitution, the Attorney General can use his discretion to halt a criminal indictment and prosecution and yes...no one apart from the president can do a goddamn thing about it. In these criminal cases, one of them involved the first Lady of the republic of Kenya assaulting a journalist who was on duty in the full glare of television cameras and a host of witnesses. Can anyone say guilty? Then there is the sickening case of Tom Gilbert Cholmondeley, who happens to be a descendant of a colonialist who shot an on duty law enforcement officer. I was even surprised that the guy managed to get arrested without getting accidentally shot while resisting arrest. If this fellow was a black Kenyan say with the last name of cheriyot he would have been dead by now while the police tried to “apprehend” him. Anyways, this guy gets arrested, after a few days gets arraigned in court and guess what ladies and gentlemen, not a visible scar on his body, he didn’t accidentally fall while in police custody. By God! He must have had his own cell while in custody! Either that or his ass would have been made into scrambled eggs by the wanugus. To top it all, while the regular suspected criminals of meager means arrived in court in prison attire, the murderer of a law enforcement officer was arraigned in court styling in a designer suit and designer eyeglasses. Nothing but the best for the grandson of a former colonialist. After all they did us such a great favor by introducing tarmac roads, hospitals and schools right?

With a surmounting amount of evidence, the attorney general of Kenya, the chief law enforcement official decides that different rules should apply to the first lady and a colonialist’s son and therefore no prosecution of criminal acts should proceed. Can you smell the stink of injustice? I doubt that the Attorney General of Kenya in his very busy schedule of enforcing the law reads my blog but if you do Mr. Wako, I have a few questions for you. How do you sleep at night Amos? Can you hear the cries of the grief stricken families of the murdered officer? Can you see his children growing up without their father who lay his life on the line in order to provide food on the table and a roof over their head? How does it feel to let a millionaire get away with murder? What about Lucy Kibaki the pride and joy of Kenyans everywhere? I mean if it is so difficult to prosecute the murder of a law enforcement officer with a bog of evidence in your face, you could at least prosecute a simple assault. As a law enforcement officer myself who has in the past made arrests for anywhere from probation violation to sexual assault and subsequently testified in court proceedings under intense cross examination from American trained attorneys, I can surely tell you that the immense evidence of audio and visual data should guarantee you a conviction and win some justice for Mr. Derrick.

I have questioned myself numerous times and wondered, what if the tables were turned? What if the nation staff and the KTN journalist had simply walked into state house and held a sit in for 5 hours. Lets take this further. What if Mr. Clifford Derrick had slapped the first lady? A cup of Nolle prosecui anyone?

Now on defense of Lucy, there may have been a host of mitigating circumstances that could have lead to the first lady having to react the way she did. The mitigating issues could have ranged from self-defense to mental health issues. Any of this could have been a possibility. Right? Either way Justice is blind and having said that, she should have been treated just like any other Kenyan. Being the first lady she is held to a higher standard of conduct. There is still time for Lucy Kibaki to redeem herself. A simple public apology to the victim and the public would go a long way. Kenyans are a loving and forgiving people and humility is a respectable trait. Wish you all the best Lucy. As for you Mr.Cholmondeley…justice will catch up to you soon. . We hope. I am not yet done with you Mr. Wako, all I can say is we once held you in high esteem and to me you may as well be a lion with no teeth. Simply a barking chiwawa.

Happy Fathers day to all dads

2005-06-14T21:18:00.000-06:00

First and foremost…happy fathers day to my own father and a big thank you to him for putting up with 3 crazy boys. Congratulations to him too for his monumental achievement of graduating with a masters degree after leaving behind a comfortable executive position in a non profit organization, and coming to the United States to hustle with the rest of us. Congrats and the boys and myself are looking forward to calling you Dr. Karoki soon.

Unfortunately in the African community we rarely acknowledge the critical roles our fathers played in raising us and even more seldom do we formally celebrate dads. The general attitude is that, it is the job of fathers to go to work, put the food on the table, push us to achieve our goals and that’s it and therefore recognizing them for their “job” is like recognizing the kidney for filtering blood, producing erythropoietin, and regulating our blood pressure after a night of idiotically saturating our body with Budweiser and tequila. After all we do not have a “happy kidney’s day “ do we?

Nevertheless, being a dad of two beautiful and wonderful kids with whom I am madly in love with, I recognize how critical my role as a father is, to two very helpless living organisms whose cerebrums and cerebellums are yet to mature. My son and daughter are dependent on me not just for their daily bread but for nurturing, mentorship, guidance, protection and sustaining a healthy development in a crazy world.

So, I would like to share some of the following statistics about children whose fathers played little to no roles in their upbringing

* 63% of youth suicides are from fatherless homes
(Source: U.S. D.H.K.S., Bureau of the Census)
* 90% of all homeless and runaway children are from fatherless homes
(Source: U.S- D.H.H.S., Bureau of the Census)
*85% of all children that exhibit behavioral disorders come from fatherless homes
(Source: Center for Disease Control)
*80% of rapists motivated with displaced anger come from fatherless homes
(Source:Criminal Justice & Behavior,Vol 14, p- 403-26, 1978
*71% of all high school dropouts come from fatherless homes
(Source: National Principals Association Report on the State of High schools)
*75% of all adolescent patients in chemical abuse centers come from fatherless homes
(Source: Rainbows For All God’s Children.)
*70% of juveniles in state-operated institutions come from fatherless homes
(Source: U.S. Dept. of justice, special Report, Sept 1988)

These statistics translate to mean that children from a fatherless home are:
*5 times more likely to commit suicide.
*32 times more likely to run away.
*20 times more likely to have behavioral disorders.
*14 times more likely to commit rape
*9 times more likely to drop out of high school.
*10 times more likely to abuse chemical substances.
*9 times more likely to end up in a state-operated institution.
*20 times more like to end up in prison.
These statistics have a way of sobering the way we think of our fathers. I am glad to have had and continue to have a father who is active in my life and I believe most of the readers had the same privilege growing up. Fatherhood is challenging. Tim Hansell said, “It takes time to be a good father. It takes effort – trying, failing, and trying again.”

Fathers are not born being good fathers, they learn from their own fathers but most of all they learn from themselves. Their successes and failures, their triumphs and their losses and the sons and daughters learn from those situations as they watch there father deal with the curve balls of life. The joys of fatherhood cannot be replaced by anything or anyone but the real joy comes in imparting part of yourself as a father to your offspring and seeing them practice what you as a father have imparted. Kathryn McCarthy Graham once said,
“My father is the standard by which all subsequent men in my life have been judged’

What a powerful statement. For those of us who are fathers, it is indeed a great task that we have ahead of us. As we celebrate father’s day I hope that you will take time to honor your father including the one who sees all things and seeks only good from he that he loves.

“For God so Loved the world that he gave his only son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life”

2005-06-08T00:39:00.000-06:00

my baby girl

2005-06-08T00:38:00.000-06:00

my angels

The complexities of being you and the pressure to conform

2005-04-30T08:46:00.000-06:00

The eagle is my favorite bird. Found only in select regions of the world and a minority in the bird population, its complexities and simplicities, modes and executions, successes and failures, intrinsic characteristics and habitual patterns many derived from ecological demands, rank it high in resilience, fortitude and aptitude within a harsh, unforgiving ecosystem. Eagles traverse where no bird has dared to explore. Flying higher than any other bird, living in harsh environments often in solitude while employing unfathomable dexterities.
I guess it would be much easier for the eagle if she lived like other birds. In pretty, untouched environments complete with a lovely nest while enjoying peace and tranquility in a beautiful rainforest. That is the dream life for a bird. No reason to worry not a care in the world. Just singing away life in a state of infinite indulgence. Oh…and don’t forget the evening cruise on cloud street with the homeboys. Flying in grandeur formations, capturing the attention of all living creatures that bother to look up. However, that’s the other birds. The eagle is in its own class. Luxury takes a back seat. Solitude is cherished rather than the company of mediocrity. Eagles choose the harshest environments; fly high above in thin air, constantly hunting and defending its eminence among the best of the best.
It is easy to conform to the norms; to wish to be like everyone else or to want to emulate someone else. We live in a society where one is expected to act in a certain way, to take certain careers. One is ranked in mediocre standards. What kind of clothes one wears, what kind of vehicle one drives, what kind of job one has, what country club membership one holds, and so on and so forth. I know of individuals who took up golfing just because it would place them in a certain "class" and would enable them to brush shoulders with the rich and affluent. In regress, this is not in any way putting down the merit and benefits of networking. Networking is important for any individual who wants to advance in life but networking to boost egos sets in new lows of mediocrity.
This author is not promoting eccentricities or extricating behaviors but rather implying that it is possible to be normal without feeling like a duplicate. The need for self-identity is mostly expressed in the adolescent years but fades as people decide to blend in with society. The unique behavioral DNA is thus bleached and fades into the darkness. The fear of being ostracized by friends and family leads many of us to living unhappy lives trying to please the influences in our lives. It is critical for us to just step back and ask us the often-difficult questions we try to avoid. For example, am I happy? Why am I in this career? What do I have to lose? Many a times it is necessary for us to take great risks to achieve personal gains and growth. To put it simply, you were not put on this earth to earn a paycheck although it many times feels that way.
The great leaders and pioneers of our times have many times grown from shoots of simplicity to monumental and influential pillars of mankind. They refused to conform and chose to break away to carve their own destinies. I am a great admire of Bill Clinton, Collin Powell, Nelson Mandela, Jomo Kenyatta, Kwame Nkrumah, Steve Biko and yes… George W Bush. Sometimes when you go through the trials of life, the bullshit falls off like dead skin. It changes your inner core and opens up your mind to a totally different dimension. One thing I despise is being inculcated as to whom I should be. I view conformity with contempt and demand only one thing- the fundamental right to have my own identity. Being yourself is not a luxury or a privilege; it’s your right. You have a right to be you. To be pressured to be anything else is a licentious and an ignominy to the human race. You are the eagle that flies in lonely skies and traverses paths that few have found. Don’t be afraid; spread your wings and fly high. Lift your head up for you are the eagle among the sparrows. As for the rest of the miserable world, they can take you as you are or leave you in their misguided opinion of who they think you should be. Kapish!

You are responsible for your own safety not the goverment

2005-04-29T01:27:00.000-06:00

Like many of the readers of this blog, I am privileged to have been born and raised in Kenya. I grew up in BuruBuru; a housing estate that comprised of hundreds of town homes compacted in a diminutive area. I remember habits that the residents formed that were birthed out of safety concerns. I remember self-imposed curfews, limiting the amount of cash one would have in their pockets, avoiding areas with poor visibility, Oh did I mention the heavily fortified homes. I am talking about thick rock walls with pieces of broken glass cemented on top and steel gates with heavy chains and padlocks on them. I remember our house. We had an interior steel door, followed by the regular wooden door, then another exterior steel door all with multiple locking mechanisms. On top of that we had two guard dogs Bosco and Ricky. Our court (block) was also converted into a gated community complete with a steel gate and a security guard. This was not an isolated scenario, countless neighborhoods in Nairobi and indeed the country took extraordinary measures to protect themselves from gun wielding, blood thirsty thugs who held human life and dignity with the same value as a roach on the street. Then there was the Police. A miserable bunch of poorly trained, poorly paid and poorly equipped men and women who were entrusted to protect the lives of Kenyans citizens and visitors. The general atmosphere then and now is one of acute fear and hopelessness in the face of a resilient enemy.
Unfortunately crime does not discriminate. Victims of violent crimes such as car jackings, robberies, rape, homicide, burglary, muggings have ranged from all sectors of society, rich and poor, old and young, the affluent and the irrelevant. Government ministers, affluent members of Parliament and Judges alike have been victims of the escalating crime in Kenya. So what happens when you have a crisis that has gripped the country by its balls? Let me encapsulate it this way, if you are a Kenyan, you whine and complain. Even the legislative and executive branch of government whine about the escalating crime. To add insult to injury, it is said and has been proved, that components of Kenya’s Police Forces have been involved in not only arming criminals with their government issued weapons but have themselves participated in high profile crimes. So you have a state of affairs where the protector of life and property has become the perpetrator. Not just your regular Bonnie and Clyde bank robber but an individual who has received paramilitary training, preying on innocent civilians who have had no defensive tactics training at all let alone combat training.
The Republic of Kenya having adopted the British Constitution, has a general ban on civilian owned firearms. Regular citizens have to go through a bureaucratic system to get licensed to carry a firearm in order to protect themselves and their families. The ordinary citizen cannot afford the application fees, which are not a guarantee that one will be able to get approved for a license in any case. Most Kenyans hate guns anyway and see guns as the enemy. But as the NRA of which I am a proud member always says, guns don’t kill people; people kill people. As a matter of fact the proliferation of illegal weapons from neighboring war torn countries like Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan and the like, have led to illegal and sophisticated firearms ending up in the hands of criminals who have turned these weapons against innocent civilians. There are horror stories from every part of Kenya about women and children being raped at gunpoint in full view of their families. Children all over Kenya have been orphaned at the pull of a trigger, Women have been left scared for life after being raped and their husbands who are the main bread winners murdered in cold blood. I do not argue the fact that the government has a role to play in protecting its citizens. In fact the highest burden placed on every government is the burden of protection of Sovereignty. Sovereignty begins in the common household. Uncontrolled crime threatens the very sovereignty of Kenya and the Kenyan government has the paramount duty to protect this sovereignty at every cost. However, having said that, the individual Kenyan citizen has the responsibility over his own safety and that of his family. When kinyanjui, Ojwang and Kipkorir knock on your door with AK-47 rifles and 9mm Berettas demanding property and threatening to rape you wife and daughters, are you going to sit back and wait for NARC to come to your rescue or are you going to fight with everything you’ve got? As a matter of fact, how well equipped is the common Kenyan home in aggressively protecting its own? Well lets see, a couple of kitchen knives, maybe a machete, a few pots and pans..you can see the problem here. Despite the high walls and the steel gates and the gated communities, Kenyan homes remain vulnerable to murder and despicable violence unless Kenyan act. The measures in place are defensive measures; Kenyans need to take assertive, proactive measures to protect the most fundamental of rights-the right to live.
I don’t see people demonstrating on the street against the government in protest of a poorly paid, poorly equipped, poorly trained, and poorly staffed Police Force? I don’t see men who are the primary defenders of their homes, stripping their clothes in Uhuru Park as Women did when they protested the illegal detention of political prisoners? I don’t see citizens arresting corrupt Police Officers? This is what I see people. I see Members of Parliament allocating a significant portion of the national Budget to extravagant salaries and benefits, Government ministers driving expensive, exotic, gas guzzling sport utility vehicles, living in Government funded Mansions while Police Officers live in structures that no living creature not even a dog should be a allowed to occupy. To be a Police inspector in the "elite" Kenya Police Force, one has to hold a Bachelor’s degree or earn promotion after many years of service yet State house dogs are better fed than Police inspectors in the Kenyan Police Force.
However Kenyans are quick to blame and pour scalding, hateful venom on Police officers for "not doing their jobs". With what equipment are the Police supposed to protect Kenyans? A G3 rifle and an aging inventory of revolvers when the average criminal is armed with automatic weapons? On February 28th 1997 an incident in Los Angeles revolutionized law enforcement procedures including what kind of weapons the law enforcement carried. A gang of bank robbers systematically shot innocent civilians and briefly seemed to overpower Police Officers trying to end their crime melee. Unfortunately the suspects were armed with sophisticated sub machine guns, M16 and AR15 rifles while the LAPD officers were armed with 9mm berettas. In the end the suspects where killed when back up units arrived with equally powered weaponry.Tactically the police were at a disadvantaged. Many of Kenya's Police officer many of them with families of their own have paid the ultimate price with their lives. The LA shootout has been used as a case study by agencies in the US. Police departments all over the United States updated their inventory of weapons and revised their training. Departments all over the United States have recruited and put in place measures to retain highly qualified Officers. All this done so that history does not repeat itself. A brief news report can be read at http://www.cnn.com/US/9702/28/shootout.update/
If Kenyans do not take significant proactive measures to protect their own country from crime, then we lose our independence all over again. A new breed of colonialists have taken over our country. But this time, they look like us, talk like us and we know who they are. Our sovereignty is at stake, our quality of life is at stake, our economy is at stake, our children are at stake, your life is at stake. You are responsible for electing greedy leaders apt on their own selfish interests. You are responsible for looking the other way when Members of Parliament-your won representatives, award themselves ridiculous salaries and perks.
In conclusion, there needs to be a momentous amalgamation of our people to combat crime and a mêlée to take control of our own safety and sovereignty. Leaders need to be held accountable by the people who elected them and we need to treat our men and women in blue with more dignity and respect. If not we might as well invite the British to colonize Kenya all over again; the British may be a better master than the Wanugus of Kenya.

Why women's attitude must be of emancipation and not empowerment.

2005-03-07T00:20:00.000-07:00

Having recieved a substantial backlash from some brothers for my views on conformist African men, I thought that it is only fair that I attempt to level the playing field. Nevertheless, this article should not be taken as a digress from my previous position.

While it is imperative to reproach conformist African men for their iniquitous actions on women, ascribing sole blame on African men for the tribulations of African women is not completely fair. The quandary on who holds the ultimate responsibility lies not on the tyrants of gender injustice but on the erudite recipients of said injustice.

It is commonly said, especially in my field of criminal justice, "don't blame the victims". However, a victim is one who is powerless over her oppresors and in this particular case erudite recipients of injustice cannot really be termed as victims. As a matter of fact, African women and all women in general should be cautious on taking on a victim mentality. Accurately speaking, a victim mentality characteristically evolves to a pusillanimous mentality, which in turn empowers the oppressor instead of the "victim". This brings us to the debate on whether women empowerment is detrimental to the progress of women and whether we should actually use the term empowerment as opposed to emancipation. There is a formula to my madness.

Empower is synonymous to approve, authorize, allow or sanction while emancipation is synonymous to liberation, set free, deliver or unshackle. Subsequently when women seek empowerment they in retrospect ask men for permission to be free of injustice and gender discrimination. This in turn bolsters the tyrannical and imperceptive attitudes of conformist African men instead of working in favor of the women seeking gender equality. Ascetically speaking, emancipation demands rather than request relief. Women should never have to ask for what justly belongs to them.

In conclusion, this writer, implores progressive women to focus on emancipation rather than empowerment in curing the ills that plague oppressed women all over the world. A special note to women in muslim societies who suffer untold misery. An emancipation outlook sets the stage for battle against gender injustice and the violence against women. Bureaucratic figures need to be held responsible for non-enforcement of civil rights and women should use the tools they already possess to fight bigotry. Remember, there is no greater resource than human resource.

Why the avante-garde African woman is fishing beyond the lakes of her race

2005-03-04T00:44:00.000-07:00

A perplexing phenomenon is happening ladies and gentlemen, the modern African woman has discovered that there are greener pastures beyond her tribe, culture and race. As a matter of fact the conformist African man is slowly becoming obsolete and ineffectual to the needs of the progressive African woman.

Make no mistake about it, we are not talking about economic refugees or unapprised women with an obtuse post-colonial mentality. We are talking about educated , informed and well cultured african women who have decided that living in a gender oppresive marriage or any other romantic amalgamation based on outdated traditions and mindsets, is not a road they plan to traverse.

Indeed the conservative or conformist African man has to re-evaluate his attitude towards women in general if he is to remain a viable suitor to any woman not just the African woman in particular. The misplaced attitude that women's role in society is limited to child bearing, domestic duties and quenching the fire in men's loins, is defunct and should be tenaciously obliterated.

As a matter of fact, the African woman has graced the isles of global economic podiums and contributed greatly to global socio-political spheres. A good example is Dr. Wangari Maathai who won the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize therefore becoming not only the first African woman but the the only black woman to have ever been awarded the coveted prize. Of course some retarded men dismissed Dr.Maathai's monumental achievements as a tree-hugger's undeserving plaque. This attitude is at the very least contemptible. It reminds me of an Aids awareness lecture I attended, that was presented by my good friends Dr. Anne Githinji and Professor Chao of the university of New Mexico, two outstanding scholars who are sending ripples through the American Southwest. In the lecture, the two female scholars shared their plans to start a tuition free school for under-priviledged HIV children. An African man who shall remain nameless, puckishly dismissed their brilliant plans by saying, "It is good to have a vision." A moment of silence while we ponder the sacarsm and foolishness of that statement. It almost seems that African men think that they deserve respect just because they are men. My dear brothers, having a stick and two balls between your legs does not add weight to your derisory status.

In closing, Hillary Clinton is quoted as having said that the greatest problem facing Africa is gender inequality. Whether or not we agree with that statement, gender inequality is a problem that is plaguing our continent. The deadly HIV Virus has been spread by the apathetic actions and primordial attitudes of African men. Practises like wife sharing, wife inheritance, pre-arranged marriages, rape, domestic abuse go on incessantly all over the African continent. Every night thousands of innocent African women are physically tortured by their husbands, many times in full view of their little children. This systematic abuse, torture and discrimination of African women needs to cease. Bigotry has no place in African society.

Fortunately or unfortunately, depending on how one looks at it, empowered African women have options that they are and already have explored. The message to the African Man is simple, loose your ways or loose your women.

The Struggle Within

2005-02-22T03:05:00.000-07:00

Gone are the days when I thought I was the epitom of holiness. An earthly angel sent to clean up the scum of the world. Reality has a way of cleaning up self righteousness. Like you my brother, I fight everyday with the inner demons, trying to make sense of life. Trying to find myself in the jungle of destiny. I think if many of us had a choice before we were born, we would have opted to stay out of this crazy world.

The biggest struggle we face is the struggle with self. I know i'm a sinner. Maybe a forgiven sinner..but still in all essence a sinner. Like my good friend Rodriguez always says, stay catholic, you'll feel much better about yourself. Sounds like a joke but try and capure the concept of the statement. All we want is to feel better about ourselves. To feel like we are good and that evil only shows its ugly head against our innermost will.

I love the bible. During the darkest moments of my life, I have found comfort in the book of psalms...and there have been quite a few dark moments. I have questioned the existance of a God. I have questioned the love of this God. I have questioned the will of this God. I keep hearing..God is in control. If he is control why doesn't he do something about all the crap in the world let alone our troubles lives? Relax...just venting.Someone once told me, if it doesn't kill you, it makes you stronger. Hmmm... maybe..maybe not.

I am the kind of person who has to be around people. My friends think seem to think that I'm the ultimate "social" creature. Maybe that's why Kwame doesn't want me to meet his girlfriend. Am not that much of a threat am I my brother? a wise man once said-trouble can find you amongst a crowd and the crowds cannot comfort your troubled soul.

2005-02-21T04:18:00.000-07:00

THE REAL THUG MANSION.

2005-02-21T03:56:00.000-07:00

do you really wanna be a thug?

BET ....the big lie.

2005-02-21T01:39:00.000-07:00

I remember when I used to be a fan of BET (Black Entertainment Television) . I loved the music videos with the ghetto booty, the bling bling, the rides, the party scenes. I was like these jamaas are trully livin' it up. That was before I met real gangstas, dope dealers and pimps...in jail. Then I hated the crap BET feeds to young black males and females.

As a matter of fact, I dare to say that the reason we got more niggas in jail is coz of BET. Young black males are exposed to a false lifestyle of luxury and whores, that life is all about getting that money, screwin' them tricks, spottin' the bling and driving a $40,000 car with $10,000 dollar rims. Don't forget smokin' it up like Snoop dogg, partyin like Nelly and of course don't forget to swipe your credit card on the girl's butt. Scary huh.

After being a cop for a while now, I can tell you that America's jails and prison are filled up with young black males who wanted the easy money and the lifestyle they see on the music videos. They not only craved the lifestyle, they sold drugs, pimped girls they grew up with and joined gangs that promised to watch their back only to end up getting busted by the popos and rotting in jail. For those of you who think I don't know what the hell am talking about, read my resume.

And to the young black males in the US and the misguided african wannabees wanting to be thugs and hustlers, the gangster life ain't pretty. Ever seen a dude get raped in prison? I have. Ever seen a nigga get his ass kicked in jail so bad that he had to hold his broken jaw to prevent it from bleeding? I have. Ever seen a nigga get shanked in jail? I have. ever thought that in prison, everyone is tough and living the thug life? wrong. Niggas stay and eat with niggas. The esses(hispanics) eat with the esses, the aryans(whites) eat with the aryans. There is no brotherhood in prison. You talk to the wrong colour and your ass is toast. literally. Ever seen a grown man cry coz he hasn't hugged his daughter in 10 years? I have. That my brother is the thug life. A life of watching your back, don't drop the soap and fight(everyday) for respect.

So next time you look at the music videos glorifying the thug lifestyle..think about the thug in prison who has someone like me telling him when to wake up, when to eat, how to walk, how many letters he can have in his property at the same time trying not be punked. yer..its real cool top be a thug.

In essence though, as a cop and a CO(corrections officer), I've developed surprisingly close relationships with the worst of the worst. I've grown to have compassion for them and see them as human beings who made a mistake and are now paying for it with their lives. All because they wanted the lifestyle that snoop has, that Dre has. What a waste of human life.

I remember arresting this guy in Carlsbad, New Mexico last year outside his house. As I put cuffs on him, I heard the agony of his crying wife and the young 8 year old son ran up to give his dad a last hug. I choked back tears. I felt angry that the people who suffered the most were the people who loved him the most. I put the guy in my unit and tried to comfort his wife by telling her when the visiting hours were in jail.

So That is why I no longer watch rap videos on BET. its all an illusion that's getting too many brothers locked up.

2005-02-19T01:12:00.000-07:00

just tryin' to hustle

2005-02-19T01:10:00.000-07:00

Kwame and I chillin'. brothers for life

2005-02-19T01:08:00.000-07:00

My Ugandan brothers..we all tryin' to look gangster. Kasmic, Solo, me and Kwame. Soloe and Kwame are brothers. Their dad is Uganda's minister of Internal Affairs. Most of all they are ma boys. love you guyz

The Joy of a Son

2005-02-19T00:47:00.000-07:00

I remember when my son was born. I remember how apprehensive I was. All kinds of thoughts went through my head. What if I'm not a good father. Will I be close to him? will he be afraid of his daddy? what is he going to look like? What is his personality gonna be?

Then I saw the nurses pull him out and he was so long and so cute. He was crying and the nurses asked me to cut his umbilical cord. Then after the nurses cleaned him up, he just lay there with his thumb in his mouth, sleeping. I had never seen something so beautiful in my life. and I thought..that is actually my son. wow! Right there and then I fell in love with James Amani Karoki.

Within the second week he was smiling and he has been smiling ever since. He loves playing the drums I got him for his birthday. He loves listening to AKON and dancing with his dad in the living room while boppin' his head. He's got the moves.

my son and I are very close. I love him more than life itself and he loves his daddy the same way. For a long time, Amani would not go to sleep unless I was home. He would wait for my shift to be over and it was wonderful seeing him after a long day of dealing with criminals. He made life seem innocent.

He cries when we say goodbye and always says, "I love you daddy." and kisses me on the lips. The joy of having a son. I could wish for nothing more.
This blog is for you Amani, I love you and may you have the best in life baby.

Love,

dad.

2005-02-19T00:45:00.000-07:00

My 2 yr old son Amani-daddy's boy

the black woman

2005-02-18T13:39:00.000-07:00

My good ugandan friend Kwame and his brother Solo love love litsening to an R&B song called " You are my african queen". The song is like an anthem to these guyz who are reputed "ladies men". The song got me thinking about the uniqueness of The Black Woman.

Kwame always tells me when he says goodbye "stay black..my brother, stay black". My friends know me to be a little harsh when it comes to women so they will be surprised that I do have something positive to say about women and in this case, The Black Woman.

Black women have endured hardship, immense suffering and untold misery at the hands of men and other races. The trials and tribulations of the black woman have forged a strong, beautiful, diligent, compassionate and ultra-confident species. I cannot help but admire The Black Woman. Now don't get me wrong, there is garbage out there however, the Black Woman in general, stands incomparable to women of other race. Black women are known to stand by their men through difficult times evn though they often settle for less when it comes to relationships. The Black Woman is not afraid to face adversity at the darkest hour and her tears have won many a battles.

Some of the high ranking individuals in my profession are Black Women. The Police Chief of one of the most dangerous cities in the US, Detroit, is a black woman. It takes a special individual to command Police Officers and for a woman to hold these position, she must have gone through the fire and tasted her own blood.

Black women have set precedence in all areas and sectors of society. In medicine, politics, law, religion, education, business, the black woman has become an overachieving, confident icon of progress. So, Kudos to The Black Woman, you trully make us proud and may your radiant power and beauty shine forever. Long Live The African Queen.

You ain't even a nigger-you're an African

2005-02-16T14:14:00.000-07:00

"You ain't even a nigger-you're an African" those were the words of UN peacekeeper Colonel Oliver in the movie 'Hotel Rwanda', encapsulating western racism and indifference. Those words were a painful reminder of how Africans are viewed by many in the "free world" including our afican-american brothers and sisters.

I don't know how many of you have ever been called "nigger". I have. The only thing about it is, it came from a criminal I had either arrested when I was a Parole Officer or from an inmate at the jail or prison as a corrections Officer. They said it coz it was the only thing they could think of, that would even the score. Prisons and jails are a whole different environment. One is defined by race, rank and physical size. If you've never been called a "nigger" thank your gods. The words echo in your head the first time you hear it. My first thought was to kill the dude. I had to pause, get on my radio and call for back up coz I was gonna kill the rat. I did settle it. Lets just say, no one calls me a nigger twice.

Anyone who thinks racism does not exist is ignorant. I've seen it in church, at work.
i take pride in being an African. I have no choice but to be proud of my heritage. I am proud of my tribe, my culture, our traditions. I hope that next time someone treats you with prejudice because of your race, you'll think about the wealth of your heritage and promptly give the guy an ass whoopin'.

2005-02-16T02:44:00.000-07:00

chillin'

2005-02-16T02:16:00.000-07:00

THE SHIELD