Police aggression
I wake up thinking about what I’ve seen in the news in Kenya since I’ve been here. I’m not sure if I make the right comparison here, but I cannot reconcile the professionalism and highly advanced technology of news programming / newsnight (compared to Ghana anyway!) to the content of the news which reflects the aggressiveness and brutality of some here. For example, two days ago there were two cases of police being aggressive to civilians. There was a running battle between some car mechanics and the police. Their ‘office’ was on illegal land. One was shot dead. On the same day, teachers in Kenya went on a strike and a demonstration for better pay and services. As they stood peacefully outside one of the government offices, the police opened teargas on them. The result – a stampede. No one was hurt.
‘Locked Down’
Back to TV programmes here, I’m finding a few very interesting, educative and insightful. For example they are currently running a programme on Kenyan women in prison, ‘Locked Down’. It covers interviews with the women in Langata Prison, what crime they committed, why and how they would feel about re-entering public life, if they got the chance. Some of the stories are very touching, some rather horrific.
African Leadership
I also watch another TV programme where a female minister / politician, who is known for her controversial remarks, in particular on HIV and homosexuality. The programme was intended to win her back into the hearts of people, to portray her as a normal single woman with challenges of her own, to make her endearing to the public. Personally, by the end of the programme, I was left with little endearment for her, if any. A year or so earlier, she had implied during an interview that PLWHAs (People living with HIV Aids) were on the same level as criminals, and should be treated as such by locking them behind bars. She had also said that also said that in recent years the only people with HIV/AIDs and transmitting to their female partners are gay people who, as a result of societal stigma, are forced to marry and live with women. Her attempt to withdraw her utterances were disastrous as she simply dug a hole for herself, and said she had been ‘misquoted’. In my view, people in leadership positions have a key responsibility in shaping the minds of ordinary citizens. In developing countries, like in Kenya where illiteracy is high, most people buy into the opinions of people in power, leaders, people with responsibilities. They look up to them. It does not surprise me that stigmatisation against PLWHAs is still so high here in Kenya, and in Kibera. When Ministers make irresponsible remarks, there are those who buy into it.
Still on leadership, there is also the issue of the Ocampo 6 at the Hague who have been accompanied by 40+ MPs. All press interviews with the 6, show how focused they are on clearing their innocence. There is no mention of the victims of the 2007/8 post election violence in Kenya. It is all about them and how they are now the victims. My host mother and a few other Kenyans I have met, all find the situation embarrassing and feel annoyed with the attitude and what they call the ‘impunity’ of the 6. My host mother also says that despite the obvious ‘impunity’ people still return these MPs to their seats. I wonder if the attitude of these 6 is a reflection of the mentality of those who return them? Ie, do they condone ‘impunity’ or is that ‘leadership’ to them?
Life goes on
It’s the weekend today, I have to respond to emails, read through papers sent to me by my volunteer agency, go the mall, change currency, etc etc. Life goes on as normal for some of us.
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