Friday, January 4, 2013
MY TRIBUTE TO CHRISTOPHER OWIRO ‘KARL MARX’
MY TRIBUTE TO CHRISTOPHER OWIRO ‘KARL MARX’
Karl Marx’s struggle in context
By Fwamba NC Fwamba
Ordinarily, during student gatherings famously known as Kamukunjis, it was routine for the Students Organization of Nairobi University (SONU) secretary general to speak last summarising the conclusions and resolutions of the students’ political rally.
Kamukunji was a political term coined after the dare devil rally that was organized by Forum for the Restoration of Democracy (FORD) founders under the leadership of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Masinde Muliro, Ahmed Salim Bahmariz, Martin Shikuku, George Nthenge and Philip Gachoka in November 1991 at the Kamukunji grounds where rally enthusiasts were brutally dispersed by the then President Moi regime during the agitation for multi party in Kenya. The University of Nairobi students, due to the nature of defiance of the student gatherings against the university administration likened these political gatherings to the defiant FORD rallies.
When I joined the University of Nairobi on October 16th 2000, David ole Sankok was the SONU Chairman deputized by Irungu Kang’ata. George Omondi who was the secretary General of SONU was in accordance to tradition the official spokesman of the student union.
As a first year student, I shared a room with Augustine Njuguna who had enrolled as a student of land economics while I had enrolled as a student of design in a traditionally apolitical faculty of Architecture Design and Development since the days of former SONU Chairman Tito Adungosi. As a way of knowing each other we often talked about many issues including the kind of advice we received before joining university. I was not surprised that Augustine, just like me had been warned to pursue his academic career and not to be like one ‘Karl Marx’. At that time, little did I know that in reality ‘Karl Marx’ was such an inspiration for many young people of his age that made him an envy of the old majority of whom served the Moi regime. I wondered why someone from Gatundu would be given same warnings about the same person I had been warned about all the way from Bungoma. This created more anxiety on knowing who this ‘Karl Marx’ was. Before joining university, we had heard a lot about ‘Karl Marx’s role in leading students to reclaim Karura forest .Very few knew his real name, the fame of ‘Karl Marx’ eclipsed the real identity of Christopher Owiro. I had personally read in the papers about ‘Karl Marx’’s ambition to be Kenya’s president one day.
During our orientation as freshers,George Omondi and the Main campus representative Otieno K’ojwang’ had appeared to be the most skilled orators and student politicians but I was really desperate to catch a glimpse of this enigma who today and many years later will remain a legend in student activism and pursuit of justice by any means necessary.
It however happened that more of the orientation was to come which was usually referred to as baptism with fire. Through silent talks it became apparent that every freshman wanted to know who ‘Karl Marx’ was. ‘Karl Marx’ had the fame of that student leader who was considered very radical and also very good academically.
The opportunity presented itself on the evening of 28th November 2000.I remember the then SONU Vice Chairman Irungu Kang’ata blowing a whistle calling for a Kamukunji. We as first years discovered that it was an opportunity to know who ‘Karl Marx’ was. The student leadership had decided to fight against the introduction of the parallel degree program arguing that it was not good for the quality of university education and that it took away opportunities from poor but bright students. The leaders argued that the parallel degree program was moving the country towards commercialization of education and disregard of the value of intellectual prowess. That same evening it was also rumoured that two of our students had been arrested and it was not clear whether they were being held at Central police station or at the industrial area remand prison. We did not understand why the students could be arrested yet during orientation we had been told by our student leaders that apart from the president, University students were above the law!
At the Kamukunji, I remember us being addressed by all elected student leaders outside hall nine. Some of the people who addressed that Kamukunji included Irungu Kang’ata, Otieno CD, David ole Sankok, Otieno Kenyatta and George Omondi among others .As per the tradition, George Omondi who was a very popular student leader with excellent oratory skills started the summary of the resolutions of the Kamukunji as it ended .Apparently, majority of the over 5,000 students who attended the Kamukunji wanted ‘Karl Marx’ to give the way forward. Students started shouting in chorus ‘Let ‘Karl Marx’ speak’,’ Wacha ‘Karl Marx’ aongee’.’ ‘Karl Marx’’ came to the podium and in an authoritative voice uttered one sentence. ‘Comrades, it’s now or never, we goo, we go’. The whole crowd answered in chorus responding and chanting ‘we go’. ‘Karl Marx’ became the leader of the march as the whole crowd snaked out of the venue via the state house road tunnel towards main campus and to central police where George Omondi attempted to address another Kamukunji at the central police station. A lot happened that night; lots of tear gas….The anxiety of knowing who ‘Karl Marx’ was had come to pass. The following day 29th November 2000, the University was closed.
‘Karl Marx’ had branded his politics earlier as served as Organization of Nairobi University Science Students (ONUSS) Chairman before joining SONU politics. Though he never got elected as an official of SONU, there was no doubt he was the SONU de facto leader.
When the University was reopened, in early 2001, all the student leaders including our hero ‘Karl Marx’ had been suspended, pending disciplinary action. The saddest thing was that the university administration had disbanded the student union to ensure the students had no organization through which they could channel their grievances.
To frustrate the cause, the university administration levelled trumped up charges against the leaders and through the so called disciplinary action, many were given punishments that ranged from expulsion to three years suspension. I had personally looked upon these fellows as heroes. I was convinced that an injustice had been done against them. I thought something was to be done about it. Its memorable that Lawrence Nyaguti who was the then Nairobi University Arts Students Association (NUARSA) Chairman was suspended too for six years when he questioned the Vice chancellor Prof Francis Gichaga on why the majority of the suspended and expelled students only came from one community.
In our first week of reopening university in 2001, while other student leaders who had been suspended had gone to their respective homes, ‘Karl Marx’, also known as Christopher Owiro attempted to convene a Kamukunji outside hall nine. That was on the 5th of February 2001,a time when Kanu and NDP were cooperating, a cooperation that later led to Raila Odinga being made Minister for Energy and Kanu Secretary General on the 18th March 2002 political merger.
During the time of the suspensions, I came to interact with the suspended student leaders at a more personal level because personally I considered them heroes. With all the risks associated, I could occasionally accommodate in my room in prefabs 9 room 14.That time I felt proud to have people like ‘Karl Marx’ sleep in my room.
The suspended students felt that their suspensions were an infringement on their rights and they took the matter to court. They argued that they were playing their role as representatives of the students. It was a historical moment. The current Law Society of Kenya Chairman Eric Mutua represented the leaders pro bono, while Mutula Kilonzo who was also Moi’s personal lawyer represented the University administration arguing that the University was justified to suspend the leaders. They appeared before Justice Kasanga Mulwa who ruled that the matter be settled at the University. The student leaders through Eric Mutua appealed the Kasanga Mulwa ruling arguing that they didn’t expect the University to be fair, given the trend of argument the University lawyer Mutula Kilonzo had taken in court .I made it a duty to always go with the leaders every time they were to appear in court. I remember Mutula Kilonzo making a reference; citing a case in Britain where he justified suspension of students from University for up to like 55 years. I remember Eric Mutua arguing that if a son errors, it is imprudent for a parent to punish the son by killing him. The kind of supposed punishment meted on the student leaders was something close to a death sentence to their ambitions and dreams.
The student leaders ultimately lost this case even on appeal, Justice Tonui, Justice Bosire and Justice Okubasu upheld the Justice Kasanga Mulwa ruling.
My close interaction with this group gave me an opportunity to know Christopher Owiro more closely. He argued that the courts were never going to give them justice. ‘Karl Marx’ believed that the only way to work out a method of to be readmitted was involving the students in their cause, something I totally agreed with because the courts belonged to Moi and his henchmen including the Judges.
One of his planned Kamukunjis saw him violently attacked and badly brutalised by the university security officers .Despite this ‘Karl Marx’ was resilient.
After insisting on holding Kamukunjis on campus despite the suspension and an order never to step on campus precincts, the university administration decided to give ‘Karl Marx’ an expulsion as a punishment for his defiance.
The time of suspension/expulsion destroyed ‘Karl Marx’ and reduced him to an ordinary drunkard. Sometimes he got too drunk and disorderly and could get arrested for unexplained reasons. I remember one day getting a note from him. He had sent someone to give me the note to ensure it reached Hon. James Orengo, to inform the latter that ‘Karl Marx’ was being held at industrial area prison incommunicado where he had already spent over three weeks.
‘Karl Marx’ believed that the NDP/KANU merger had a role in their political and academic tribulations.
Being close to the suspended group of student leaders who were over 100 in number inspired me to agitate for their reinstatement and the revival of SONU. This process took long for we had to organize many secret meetings for obvious reasons, that if the university administration discovered, the rest of us would be victimised.
There were mixed reactions in the student fraternity when Prof.Kiamba was appointed Vice Chancellor. While a number believed that Kiamba was going to be ruthless, many believed that Kiamba was going to be more lenient and parent like. ‘Karl Marx’ believed that exist of Kanu from power was the only saviour for him and his colleagues.
The end of the Moi regime and the NDP walkout from Kanu was a blessing in disguise. ‘Karl Marx’ and all other former student leaders believed that their reinstatement was directly attached to Moi and Kanu exiting from power. The student fraternity overwhelmingly supported Kibaki who was Kanu’s main opponent under the Narc coalition. The Kibaki youth campaign was led by Thomas Mbewa who was one of the suspended students. Kibaki’s victory on 31st December 2002 was the sweet revenge against Moi and his henchmen at the University of Nairobi.
After Kibaki’s swearing in ceremony after the 2002 election, we reactivated our secret meetings. We eventually went public. The group used State House Road hostel room F3 as the operations centre. That was where I resided, therefore I was the host. The group turned itself into a committee of seventeen people with specific responsibilities. Among others in this group was Makokha Wanjala who had been very instrumental in the campaigns of Kibaki through the now defunct Narc Youth Congress. We went public and started holding Kamukunjis with defiance.
On the 22nd January 2003, Prof .Kiamba at a Kamukunji attended by over 10,000 students at the University of Nairobi great court lifted the ban on SONU and unconditionally declared reinstatement of all students who had been suspended and been expelled for political reasons.’Karl Marx’ was among the group that was reinstated but for him, life was never the same. He had become too much addicted to alcohol. That is the time he could get drunk and address imaginary Kamukunjis.
In the subsequent election I was elected SONU vice chairman and as the executive we created an Ayatollah like structure dubbed SONU elders where ‘Karl Marx’ and other former student leaders who had served in the disbanded SONU were given quasi recognition as student leaders. The former leaders also formed a lobby named ‘Consortium of Former Expelled and Suspended Students’. This gave them a say and some critical role in student leadership.
Father Dr.Dominic Wamugunda, Prof.Godfrey Muriuki and the likes of Pastor Robert Ayonga tried to rehabilitate him.’ ‘Karl Marx’’ eventually graduated. Through, the efforts of the then Students Welfare Authority (SWA) Director, Prof Jasper Mumo (now deceased),’Karl Marx’ got an attention as a special student. Professor Mumo encouraged him and helped him enrol for post graduate studies as an actuarial science student at Chiromo campus. Prof.Mumo introduced him to his church and family. This move transformed ‘Karl Marx’ into a church going individual. Ken Orengo helped to ensure that Owiro didn’t miss church including some evening prayers. Occasionally together we would attend that church which was located in Westlands near Holiday inn.
At some point I remember ‘Karl Marx’ complaining of a lot of pain on the side of his chest. He felt like there were some injuries to his ribs. Ken Orengo, Ken Obura and Mbara Kambara intervened and prevailed upon Prof.George Magoha; the Vice Chancellor at that time to have Owiro get some medical attention. He received treatment and the doctor who attended to him said that there was nothing chronic. A number of Owiro’s friends have always suspected that something must have gone wrong with Owiro after the Nyayo era stints in police cells.
In his postgraduate studies, ‘Karl Marx’ performed very well and succeeded without even a single re-sit or supplementary. He shared the good news with all his friends; that now he was eligible for good employment. He proudly told us how Kenya has a very limited number Actuaries and he was proud to be one.
In 2007,George Nyongesa, Irungu Kang’ata, Ken Orengo and I fronted ‘Karl Marx’ in a lobby group in support of Mwai Kibaki re election. He attributed his completion of his 8-4-4 education to Mwai Kibaki’s 2003 amnesty to all suspended and expelled student leaders. We thought that could be used as an opportunity to revive our comrade to his former self. We however encountered so many obstacles including sabotage by his former University political rivals and ethnic chauvinism that compounded the Kibaki campaigns and administration. It became very hard for ‘Karl Marx’ to find his space in the campaign.
At some point he indicated that he had made contact with his friend Hon. James Orengo who had contacted somebody at the Retirement Benefits Authority (RBA) to find out a vacancy for him. Apparently, that job opportunity never landed on ‘Karl Marx’s way. Failure to get employment even with exceptional qualifications drove ‘Karl Marx’ into further frustration. He became uncontrollably too alcoholic. When sober he could listen to friends’ advice, when he was drunk, the situation was totally different. He was a disaster when drunk. That is the time you could find him addressing imaginary political crowds at Ambassador Bus stage. It was the time you could find him talking about how Raila Odinga frustrated him. Those were his words. Those are the same words he uttered when he together with, Irungu Kang’ata, Ken Orengo, George Nyongesa, Antony Nyaga, I and others addressed a press conference in support of Mwai Kibaki for president in 2007. His words were well captured by NTV’s Emmanuel Juma’s ‘Bull’z Eye’ dubbed ‘the return of ‘Karl Marx’’.
I do not share a history where his differences with Raila originated, for that people like former SONU Chairman Moses Oburu, former Secretary general Joseph Kioko, former SONU Organizing secretary general Job Wamalwa, his fellow Chiromites like Otieno Kenyatta and the rest of his peers especially those who joined the University of Nairobi in 1996 are in the best position to give that account.
Towards, the end of 2009,’Karl Marx’ had become too much of a trouble to himself. He got too drunk due to frustration. For that reason, George Nyongesa and Ken Orengo who have acted so much of a brother’s keeper on ‘Karl Marx’ decided to help him get to Kisumu. His life in Nairobi was getting too risky.
Recently, Otieno Kenyatta suggested that we look for ‘Karl Marx’, George Nyongesa and I didn’t get too much into the discussion because we knew we had tried to some level. ‘Karl Marx’ was destroyed by Kenya’s rotten political system. The political system that was destroyed by Moi, the system that gives no recognition to meritocracy, the system that destroys those who appear to be of some hope.
As Comrade Kingwa Kamnchu pointed out in a very poetic form on her face book posting on learning of ‘Karl Marx’’s death, I concur with her that we as the people of this generation have to collectively join hands and address some of the issues that make many promising people go to waste. In line with comrade Kingwa Kamenchu’s words, the Kenyan political system dehumanized Christopher Owiro. The Kenyan political system is yet to recover from Moism; it’s yet to recover from the fear of accommodating intellectual heavyweights. Little has been done in Kibaki’s ten years of supposed change.Christopher Owiro is a victim of this system, many university graduates are, some have succumbed while others have been fighting and confronting it the hard way.
According to me ‘Karl Marx’ has died several times before his actual death. The 1st January 2013 was the ultimate death, the death of his body. What I and other friends tried need not be discussed here, but all I can say is that ‘Karl Marx’ was let down by his peers; he was let down by his political associates of Muungano wa Mageuzi lobby; he was let down by the many who are purporting to be his friends now.
Rest in Peace Comrade. Rest in Peace Christopher Owiro. What we tried need not be discussed here, but all I can say is that ‘Karl Marx’ was let down by his peers; including his political associates of Muungano wa Mageuzi.
Pass our regards to Oulu GPO. R.I.P.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
DOCUMENTED BY GACHEKE GACHIHI
Dear Comrades.
For as long us the people of africa continent continue to live in poverty, another GPO oulu and Kamau kingara will be born in the same extream social conditions that have produced them, Whether, the international human rights community and established Human rights organization will question their stardard of documenting human rights violations and the source of their funding... in many time to obscure the forces that created the enviroment of the existence of Oscar foundation , Kamau Kigara and the Late GPO as program officer , and many others who have worked in Oscar foundation ...but after evey death and burial new social movement will emerge more powerfull than that was lead by GPO and Kingara..out side the bearer of Human rights stardard.
For Bunge La Mwananchi we must continue to improve the work among the people, we must continue to hold meetings with our people as much as possible, our cadres must be permanent in contact with the people, in the village holding bunge meetings, disscussion and dabates to create a consciousness of liberation within the peasants and workers, in process of helping our people to govern themesleves and the proposed, Starere Wanainchi congress is in the right direction in rooting participatory democracy within the masses, on this bunge la Mwananchi and community we work with is the leading Vangurd of our people the journey will be full of ,betrayals, misundrstanding because of different level of consciousness and commitment, there will be setbacks, and great sacrifices to be made but all in all we must create a new political path in kenya and africa, and as our movement grow in resistance against neo-colonial state, it will bring more coalition of classes, the point of unity may be to bring a new democratic state in kenya,others may want to step in the shoes of Kibaki and Raila to continued with the privileleges, while keeping the system of exploitation, but our movement should remain focused on uprooting the neo-colonial order created by imperialism, that continue to maintain the system even today.
We must not mourn the death of our comrades,..no tears comrades the only action that should count is that of revolutionary action and organizing in the village, work places and our homes., to advance the course of our social movement...and a common revolutionaty theory against the reactiony forces in kenya and africa.
In africa common conditions will be creating common consciousness and in number of our east africa community there are formations that are emerging organized in the form of Bunge La Mwananchi although advanced in tapping the vibrant Fm stations they have not been invloved in direct political action but am sure in future, as cotradiction continue to shapen they will be in that point, the fears that we must gurd is when the contradiction shapen and the reactionaty political class in power and tribal chiefs take the leading role in navigating the masses , in form of lumpenization of the youth for violence to protect their interests this we must be aware of and combat ,by organizing the youth for social change within our movement as the political instrument in the grassroot level.
attached is The Martin Luther King You dont see in many of Our cerebration on his work.
Comrades.
Aluta continua.
Gacheke Gachihi.
Member Bunge La Mwananchi 31/03/09
For as long us the people of africa continent continue to live in poverty, another GPO oulu and Kamau kingara will be born in the same extream social conditions that have produced them, Whether, the international human rights community and established Human rights organization will question their stardard of documenting human rights violations and the source of their funding... in many time to obscure the forces that created the enviroment of the existence of Oscar foundation , Kamau Kigara and the Late GPO as program officer , and many others who have worked in Oscar foundation ...but after evey death and burial new social movement will emerge more powerfull than that was lead by GPO and Kingara..out side the bearer of Human rights stardard.
For Bunge La Mwananchi we must continue to improve the work among the people, we must continue to hold meetings with our people as much as possible, our cadres must be permanent in contact with the people, in the village holding bunge meetings, disscussion and dabates to create a consciousness of liberation within the peasants and workers, in process of helping our people to govern themesleves and the proposed, Starere Wanainchi congress is in the right direction in rooting participatory democracy within the masses, on this bunge la Mwananchi and community we work with is the leading Vangurd of our people the journey will be full of ,betrayals, misundrstanding because of different level of consciousness and commitment, there will be setbacks, and great sacrifices to be made but all in all we must create a new political path in kenya and africa, and as our movement grow in resistance against neo-colonial state, it will bring more coalition of classes, the point of unity may be to bring a new democratic state in kenya,others may want to step in the shoes of Kibaki and Raila to continued with the privileleges, while keeping the system of exploitation, but our movement should remain focused on uprooting the neo-colonial order created by imperialism, that continue to maintain the system even today.
We must not mourn the death of our comrades,..no tears comrades the only action that should count is that of revolutionary action and organizing in the village, work places and our homes., to advance the course of our social movement...and a common revolutionaty theory against the reactiony forces in kenya and africa.
In africa common conditions will be creating common consciousness and in number of our east africa community there are formations that are emerging organized in the form of Bunge La Mwananchi although advanced in tapping the vibrant Fm stations they have not been invloved in direct political action but am sure in future, as cotradiction continue to shapen they will be in that point, the fears that we must gurd is when the contradiction shapen and the reactionaty political class in power and tribal chiefs take the leading role in navigating the masses , in form of lumpenization of the youth for violence to protect their interests this we must be aware of and combat ,by organizing the youth for social change within our movement as the political instrument in the grassroot level.
attached is The Martin Luther King You dont see in many of Our cerebration on his work.
Comrades.
Aluta continua.
Gacheke Gachihi.
Member Bunge La Mwananchi 31/03/09
Monday, March 8, 2010
ON REMEMBERING G.P.O & OSCAR KING'ARA
On Remembering G.P.O & Oscar King’ara
By Khainga O’Okwemba
Human rights lawyer and parliamentarian Gitobu Imanyara has called on the government to investigate and bring to book the people who assassinated human rights defenders G.P.O Oulu and Oscar King’ara. “It does not matter how long it takes. Kenyans will not relent in demanding justice,” he said.
Imanyara was speaking at Freedom Corner gardens at Uhuru Park where human rights defenders gathered to mark the first anniversary of the assassination of their colleagues on March 5, 2009 along Lower State House Road .
Also murdered on that fateful day was Godwin Ogato, a university student who was the first person at the scene. Ogato was trying to mobilize university students to offer fast aid. It is believed that he was short at a “conversational distance,” or short range by a trigger happy police officer just outside the university.
G.P.O worked at the Oscar Foundation, an NGO founded by his colleague, human rights lawyer Oscar King’ara. The foundation specialized in documenting cases of extra-judicial killings and offered free legal aid to victims of police brutality. The two are said to have had information incriminating senior government officers and politicians.
The human rights activists met today under the auspices of Bunge la Mwananchi, a militant civil society organization that is known for its legendary grassroots mobilization of the masses. They planted trees and proceeded to hold a peaceful procession along Uhuru Highway to the scene of the murders where they lit candles.
Government came under strong criticism for its continued perpetuation of political impunity and the silencing of outspoken personalities. Kenya has a long history of political assassinations; beginning with Pio Gama Pinto, JM Kariuki, Masinde Muliro, Robert Ouko, et al, and a young Kenyan murdered on the day Luis Moreno-Ocampo came to Kenya last year to begin investigation into the post election violence.
Individuals who are said to have committed mass murder or sanctioned the assassination of a compatriot will never run away from the long arm of the law. Time is when Kenya is a society founded on constitutionalism and the rule of law. This seems to have been the refrain of today’s memorial.
Those present included playwright and human rights activist Okiya Omtatah Okoiti, Cyprian Nyamwamu, the Executive Director of NCEC, Fwamba NC Fwamba, blogger and PEN member, George Nyongesa , Gacheke Gachihi and several members of Bunge la Mwananchi. The human rights defenders travel this evening to Kisumu to lay wreaths on the tomb of G.P.O Oulu.
Last year PEN Kenya organised a poetry memorial as a tribute to the slain at the Kenya National Theatre. This year I was invited to the preparatory meetings and asked to do poetry on the subject of political assassination and a refusal of the individual to be muzzled. I attended today’s memorial and chose to document and preserve for tomorrow.
POEMS ON POLITICAL ASSASSINATIOS &
FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
(I salute Bunge la Mwananch for its Bravery)
By Khainga O’Okwemba
SON ET LUMIERE
And that romantic hour’s gone
After another poet’s born
Speak when there’s someone
Where there’s none refrain
Pheroz Nowrojee, Poet-Lawyer
Khainga O’Okwemba, Poet
SON ET LUMIERE
Exponent on psychological warfare
Swift slogan of a virile wordsmith
Impregnating the impotent –
Ferments a revolution, aluta continua
Masizi Kunene, Poet
Khainga O’Okwemba, Poet
PARABLE FROM DUNGEON
By Khainga O’Okwemba
I do not read this poetry
By the Orientel scribe, poet
However, it is read readily
By those who think it may confront
I do not read this poetry
That seeks a platform to speak
And to the audience, dole a pack
Full of a chaliced inventory
I do not read this poetry
That amplifies a small truth
For fear of being branded the uncouth
Like tissue paper to drain in lavatory
And that is a historical harbinger
For the ostentatious tourist, a habitual
Inhabitant in that magnificent hotel –
News filter from the dungeon, scribes tell
And their lives are measured half spoonfully
Its useless to be one of them, absolute folly
In their trail, they make all and sundry enemy
Let alone, they swam and sting like a bee army
The tourist will not want to be stung
And the shoe boots, he will surely hung
To placate the scribe and be on safe side –
The day was yesterday – to falter and slide
Now the tourist will eat in the house
He has refused to eat in the hotel
And the voice becoming hoarse
You have been denied the tale
IMMORTAL SPEECH
By Khainga O’Okwemba
Even that disquietude, and mirth
Even those unmuted soundbites, and mirth
Are borne with a sting in the tail
A seaful of young stars, moving together
Whereful dark clouds, gather
We hear footfalls of metal whips –
Footfalls forging ahead, on your way
Footfalls and metal whips
Footfalls and dark clouds
And now your arms are frozen
And your limbs are immobilized
And now they have cut your tongue
And now they have red ribboned your eyes –
Oh comrade, here is the unbridled bard
With a pen mightier than them bullets
Preserved to render this immortal speech
That it may inspire another generation
And we are made of clay.
By Khainga O’Okwemba
Human rights lawyer and parliamentarian Gitobu Imanyara has called on the government to investigate and bring to book the people who assassinated human rights defenders G.P.O Oulu and Oscar King’ara. “It does not matter how long it takes. Kenyans will not relent in demanding justice,” he said.
Imanyara was speaking at Freedom Corner gardens at Uhuru Park where human rights defenders gathered to mark the first anniversary of the assassination of their colleagues on March 5, 2009 along Lower State House Road .
Also murdered on that fateful day was Godwin Ogato, a university student who was the first person at the scene. Ogato was trying to mobilize university students to offer fast aid. It is believed that he was short at a “conversational distance,” or short range by a trigger happy police officer just outside the university.
G.P.O worked at the Oscar Foundation, an NGO founded by his colleague, human rights lawyer Oscar King’ara. The foundation specialized in documenting cases of extra-judicial killings and offered free legal aid to victims of police brutality. The two are said to have had information incriminating senior government officers and politicians.
The human rights activists met today under the auspices of Bunge la Mwananchi, a militant civil society organization that is known for its legendary grassroots mobilization of the masses. They planted trees and proceeded to hold a peaceful procession along Uhuru Highway to the scene of the murders where they lit candles.
Government came under strong criticism for its continued perpetuation of political impunity and the silencing of outspoken personalities. Kenya has a long history of political assassinations; beginning with Pio Gama Pinto, JM Kariuki, Masinde Muliro, Robert Ouko, et al, and a young Kenyan murdered on the day Luis Moreno-Ocampo came to Kenya last year to begin investigation into the post election violence.
Individuals who are said to have committed mass murder or sanctioned the assassination of a compatriot will never run away from the long arm of the law. Time is when Kenya is a society founded on constitutionalism and the rule of law. This seems to have been the refrain of today’s memorial.
Those present included playwright and human rights activist Okiya Omtatah Okoiti, Cyprian Nyamwamu, the Executive Director of NCEC, Fwamba NC Fwamba, blogger and PEN member, George Nyongesa , Gacheke Gachihi and several members of Bunge la Mwananchi. The human rights defenders travel this evening to Kisumu to lay wreaths on the tomb of G.P.O Oulu.
Last year PEN Kenya organised a poetry memorial as a tribute to the slain at the Kenya National Theatre. This year I was invited to the preparatory meetings and asked to do poetry on the subject of political assassination and a refusal of the individual to be muzzled. I attended today’s memorial and chose to document and preserve for tomorrow.
POEMS ON POLITICAL ASSASSINATIOS &
FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
(I salute Bunge la Mwananch for its Bravery)
By Khainga O’Okwemba
SON ET LUMIERE
And that romantic hour’s gone
After another poet’s born
Speak when there’s someone
Where there’s none refrain
Pheroz Nowrojee, Poet-Lawyer
Khainga O’Okwemba, Poet
SON ET LUMIERE
Exponent on psychological warfare
Swift slogan of a virile wordsmith
Impregnating the impotent –
Ferments a revolution, aluta continua
Masizi Kunene, Poet
Khainga O’Okwemba, Poet
PARABLE FROM DUNGEON
By Khainga O’Okwemba
I do not read this poetry
By the Orientel scribe, poet
However, it is read readily
By those who think it may confront
I do not read this poetry
That seeks a platform to speak
And to the audience, dole a pack
Full of a chaliced inventory
I do not read this poetry
That amplifies a small truth
For fear of being branded the uncouth
Like tissue paper to drain in lavatory
And that is a historical harbinger
For the ostentatious tourist, a habitual
Inhabitant in that magnificent hotel –
News filter from the dungeon, scribes tell
And their lives are measured half spoonfully
Its useless to be one of them, absolute folly
In their trail, they make all and sundry enemy
Let alone, they swam and sting like a bee army
The tourist will not want to be stung
And the shoe boots, he will surely hung
To placate the scribe and be on safe side –
The day was yesterday – to falter and slide
Now the tourist will eat in the house
He has refused to eat in the hotel
And the voice becoming hoarse
You have been denied the tale
IMMORTAL SPEECH
By Khainga O’Okwemba
Even that disquietude, and mirth
Even those unmuted soundbites, and mirth
Are borne with a sting in the tail
A seaful of young stars, moving together
Whereful dark clouds, gather
We hear footfalls of metal whips –
Footfalls forging ahead, on your way
Footfalls and metal whips
Footfalls and dark clouds
And now your arms are frozen
And your limbs are immobilized
And now they have cut your tongue
And now they have red ribboned your eyes –
Oh comrade, here is the unbridled bard
With a pen mightier than them bullets
Preserved to render this immortal speech
That it may inspire another generation
And we are made of clay.
THE MEMORIAL OF OULU,OSCAR AND OGATO:DOCUMENTED BY BENEDICT WACHIRA
Report on the 1st memorial commemoration of Oulu GPO, Oscar King’ara and Gordwin Ogato, held on 5th and 6th March 2010
5th March 2010
Assembly and Tree planting at freedom corner
Most people had arrived at freedom corner by 10:50am (including the media), and the tree planting event began at exactly 11:10am, with singing the National anthem, and the freedom song. The MCs were George Nyongesa and Gacheke Gachihi.
The first tree to be planting was that in memory of GPO, which was planted by Booker Ngesa, and Okoiti Omtatah, and they both paid some tribute to the fallen hero.
The second tree was planted by Benedict Wachira, Gitobu Imanyara and Wamagata. It was a tree in honor of Oscar Kamau King’ara. Gitobu Imanyara paid tribute to the three heroes.
The third tree was in memory of Gordwin Ogato, and it was planted by Clive Ombane, Keli Musyoka and George Nyongesa, they all paid their tributes.
The forth tree was the tree of the struggle. It was planted by Gacheke Gichihi, Fwamba NC Fwamba and Cyprian Nyamwamu. Nyamwamu paid tribute to all the fallen heroes in the Kenyan struggle.
Procession
Immediately after the tree planting ceremony, the peaceful procession begun, calmly taking Uhuru Highway, University way, Statehouse road and ending at the shooting site. Songs and chants during the procession were led by Nyamwamu.
At the site
The national anthem was sung again at the assassination site, and Benedict Wachira led the lighting of candles.
More songs were sung at the site, including Dr Dan’s revolution song. Larry Liza and Lydia Mathia performed some wonderful poems in honor of the heroes.
The central police station OCS appeared at the scene, and reminded the attendants that they were by then remaining with less than 20 minutes.
Makokha Wanjala read out his tribute to GPO, King’ara and Ogato. Fwamba NC, Susan Kariuki and George Omondi later reminisced about GPO.
As the event came to a close, announcements were done, and Fwamba gave out Ndung’u Wainaina’s contribution of kshs1000. Booker said that those who had pledged cash could still send the cash.
All those travelling to Kisumu rural were asked to assemble at KNT at 7:00pm.
Assembly at KNT
Travelers assembled at KNT, had some photo sessions at around 8pm, and left at 8:15. They left in a 45-seater bus from the Crown Bus company, and a 14-seater matatu from Mololine.
The voyage
Those in the crown bus travelled while rehearsing struggle and freedom songs. This was led by Sophie.
There was a 20 minute stopover in Nakuru, and the journey continued uninterrupted up to Kisumu City. The arrival time at Kisumu was 3:30am. Guys killed some time walking around in Kisumu, and later Myke Ogut appeared and announced that he had organised some place where the ladies could take some shower and freshen up. This happened (and interestingly there were no complaints or concerns raised from the men!)
Holo market
The Bus and the Matatu left for GPO’s at around 9:15am. There was a stop at Holo market, where guys sung the songs that had been rehearsed in the Bus, and later Myke and Booker spoke about GPO and our mission there, in Dholuo.
Mzee Oulu’s home
Guys were welcomed to Mzee Oulu’s home by primary school children, and led to the home where neighbours were waiting for them.
They went straight to GPO’s grave, where they held a short prayer session. Fwamba told the mourning crowd of his last discussions with GPO. Abok also spoke of the type of person that GPO was.
Later guys went back to the compound, and sat in some well arranged chairs and had some breakfast, while listening to some music.
Myke and Keli went to the market to buy some food for lunch, while Booker ,Fwamba and the lady taking care of GPO’s mother went to open a bank account for GPO’s mother at Kisumu, where they deposited kshs60, 000. The account name is 01109294810100, Magret Olisha Oulu, Cooperative bank of Kenya. (so, if anyone would like to contribute anything towards GPO’s mother’s medical expenses, they can just deposit to this account.)
GPO’s father had earlier said that there was a hospice where his wife was in the past being taken care of, but she was now at home since they could no longer afford the kshs3, 000 monthly charges. It was agreed that the process of taking her back to the hospice should begin.
As everyone else waited for them to come back, Kamotho of Bunge la mwanachi took the microphone, and began giving some civic education talk to those present.
Lunch was later served, and Myke Ogut gave a long speech in Dholuo. This was followed y more speeches from the elders in the area. A small fundraising was then held, and both GPO’s parents spoke to those present. Both their speeches were full of gratitude and happiness towards the visit.
GPO’s father said that he still wanted to know who and why his son was killed. He expressed his disappointments with how the government had since handled the issue. He expressed his love for his son, and said that he is still struggling to come to terms with the reality.
GPO’s mother, reminisced a bit about her son, saying that she was happy that her son had been doing some good work in Nairobi. She also said that GPO’s nature of courage was taken after her. She said that we were now her sons and daughters, and that the doors are always open to us. She appreciated the fact that those who at the burial had promised to go back and visit her had delivered on their promise.
She also said that she is sick but strong, and that should she pass on, we should go back and bury her, since the person who was supposed to do that had been shot and died before her.
She wound up by saying that two hens be caught and given to us, (By the side, she had proposed that one of the hens to go to hon. Orengo, and we agreed with her that the other would go to Njeri Kabeberi, we unfortunately left before the hens could be caught)
(Both their speeches were actually very deep, and are the type that makes one question himself whether it is really worth it to join/continue with the struggle for the emancipation of this country, the type of question which might break, or make one stronger.)
Finally, led by the parents, a wreath was laid at the grave, and final prayers were held.
The rest left for the buses, but a few guys remained behind, had some chat with the parents, and gave them the remaining kshs10, 000 in cash.
Departure
The buses left at around 6pm, arrived in Kisumu city before seven, and all the travelers agreed that they would meet at 10pm.
The bus left Kisumu at 10:30pm, and arrived in Nairobi at around 4am. The journey was safe and smooth.
All those who participated in one way or the other should avail themselves for an evaluation meeting, on 9th Tuesday, March 2010, at Wasanii restaurant, from 6pm. This meeting will be very important, and everyone should try their best to attend it.
Benedict Wachira
5th March 2010
Assembly and Tree planting at freedom corner
Most people had arrived at freedom corner by 10:50am (including the media), and the tree planting event began at exactly 11:10am, with singing the National anthem, and the freedom song. The MCs were George Nyongesa and Gacheke Gachihi.
The first tree to be planting was that in memory of GPO, which was planted by Booker Ngesa, and Okoiti Omtatah, and they both paid some tribute to the fallen hero.
The second tree was planted by Benedict Wachira, Gitobu Imanyara and Wamagata. It was a tree in honor of Oscar Kamau King’ara. Gitobu Imanyara paid tribute to the three heroes.
The third tree was in memory of Gordwin Ogato, and it was planted by Clive Ombane, Keli Musyoka and George Nyongesa, they all paid their tributes.
The forth tree was the tree of the struggle. It was planted by Gacheke Gichihi, Fwamba NC Fwamba and Cyprian Nyamwamu. Nyamwamu paid tribute to all the fallen heroes in the Kenyan struggle.
Procession
Immediately after the tree planting ceremony, the peaceful procession begun, calmly taking Uhuru Highway, University way, Statehouse road and ending at the shooting site. Songs and chants during the procession were led by Nyamwamu.
At the site
The national anthem was sung again at the assassination site, and Benedict Wachira led the lighting of candles.
More songs were sung at the site, including Dr Dan’s revolution song. Larry Liza and Lydia Mathia performed some wonderful poems in honor of the heroes.
The central police station OCS appeared at the scene, and reminded the attendants that they were by then remaining with less than 20 minutes.
Makokha Wanjala read out his tribute to GPO, King’ara and Ogato. Fwamba NC, Susan Kariuki and George Omondi later reminisced about GPO.
As the event came to a close, announcements were done, and Fwamba gave out Ndung’u Wainaina’s contribution of kshs1000. Booker said that those who had pledged cash could still send the cash.
All those travelling to Kisumu rural were asked to assemble at KNT at 7:00pm.
Assembly at KNT
Travelers assembled at KNT, had some photo sessions at around 8pm, and left at 8:15. They left in a 45-seater bus from the Crown Bus company, and a 14-seater matatu from Mololine.
The voyage
Those in the crown bus travelled while rehearsing struggle and freedom songs. This was led by Sophie.
There was a 20 minute stopover in Nakuru, and the journey continued uninterrupted up to Kisumu City. The arrival time at Kisumu was 3:30am. Guys killed some time walking around in Kisumu, and later Myke Ogut appeared and announced that he had organised some place where the ladies could take some shower and freshen up. This happened (and interestingly there were no complaints or concerns raised from the men!)
Holo market
The Bus and the Matatu left for GPO’s at around 9:15am. There was a stop at Holo market, where guys sung the songs that had been rehearsed in the Bus, and later Myke and Booker spoke about GPO and our mission there, in Dholuo.
Mzee Oulu’s home
Guys were welcomed to Mzee Oulu’s home by primary school children, and led to the home where neighbours were waiting for them.
They went straight to GPO’s grave, where they held a short prayer session. Fwamba told the mourning crowd of his last discussions with GPO. Abok also spoke of the type of person that GPO was.
Later guys went back to the compound, and sat in some well arranged chairs and had some breakfast, while listening to some music.
Myke and Keli went to the market to buy some food for lunch, while Booker ,Fwamba and the lady taking care of GPO’s mother went to open a bank account for GPO’s mother at Kisumu, where they deposited kshs60, 000. The account name is 01109294810100, Magret Olisha Oulu, Cooperative bank of Kenya. (so, if anyone would like to contribute anything towards GPO’s mother’s medical expenses, they can just deposit to this account.)
GPO’s father had earlier said that there was a hospice where his wife was in the past being taken care of, but she was now at home since they could no longer afford the kshs3, 000 monthly charges. It was agreed that the process of taking her back to the hospice should begin.
As everyone else waited for them to come back, Kamotho of Bunge la mwanachi took the microphone, and began giving some civic education talk to those present.
Lunch was later served, and Myke Ogut gave a long speech in Dholuo. This was followed y more speeches from the elders in the area. A small fundraising was then held, and both GPO’s parents spoke to those present. Both their speeches were full of gratitude and happiness towards the visit.
GPO’s father said that he still wanted to know who and why his son was killed. He expressed his disappointments with how the government had since handled the issue. He expressed his love for his son, and said that he is still struggling to come to terms with the reality.
GPO’s mother, reminisced a bit about her son, saying that she was happy that her son had been doing some good work in Nairobi. She also said that GPO’s nature of courage was taken after her. She said that we were now her sons and daughters, and that the doors are always open to us. She appreciated the fact that those who at the burial had promised to go back and visit her had delivered on their promise.
She also said that she is sick but strong, and that should she pass on, we should go back and bury her, since the person who was supposed to do that had been shot and died before her.
She wound up by saying that two hens be caught and given to us, (By the side, she had proposed that one of the hens to go to hon. Orengo, and we agreed with her that the other would go to Njeri Kabeberi, we unfortunately left before the hens could be caught)
(Both their speeches were actually very deep, and are the type that makes one question himself whether it is really worth it to join/continue with the struggle for the emancipation of this country, the type of question which might break, or make one stronger.)
Finally, led by the parents, a wreath was laid at the grave, and final prayers were held.
The rest left for the buses, but a few guys remained behind, had some chat with the parents, and gave them the remaining kshs10, 000 in cash.
Departure
The buses left at around 6pm, arrived in Kisumu city before seven, and all the travelers agreed that they would meet at 10pm.
The bus left Kisumu at 10:30pm, and arrived in Nairobi at around 4am. The journey was safe and smooth.
All those who participated in one way or the other should avail themselves for an evaluation meeting, on 9th Tuesday, March 2010, at Wasanii restaurant, from 6pm. This meeting will be very important, and everyone should try their best to attend it.
Benedict Wachira
BY FWAMBA NC FWAMBA:THE 1ST ANNIVERSARY
OULU GPO 1ST ANNIVERSARY...............................................................................................................................................................
Heroes never die. They just rest .It lingered in my mind as I stood at the graveside of Oulu GPO 365 days after he was assasinated. The portrait of Oulu GPO at the grave made the memories so alive that it seemed to me like we were talking to GPO only that this time round, he chose to say nothing but just listen.
Despite her pain and battling with cancer, Oulu ’s mother was happy to have us around and kept on addressing us as his sons and daughters who stand in GPO’s stead. She said GPO was her only hope, her only son. She asked one of our friends who has also been keen on assisting her since she first got hospitalized. She told him to come and occupy the house that belonged to her son, she asked him to take the piece of land that was GPO’s birthright as per Luo inheritance customs. She repeated this same line to another colleague. She said we shouldn’t leave her alone. We should stand up for her as GPO always did.
Mama Magret Olisha Oulu is a strong woman. She is an admirable person, a person who automatically makes you know that some of the greatest qualities in a person are sometimes shared with their parents.
By 4th evening, we weren’t sure whether the police were going to co-operate and allow us to do the commemorations peacefully. Dann Mwangi had been assigned the role of ensuring the notification of the police. He had done that in time. He had officially handed over the letter addressed to the OCS of Kilimani of our intentions to have the memorial at the site where GPO, King’ara and later Ogato were killed. Since the event was going to include a procession, we chose to inform the provincial police officer Mr.Kibuchi by taking the copy we had given to Kilimani Officer Commanding Station. The provincial police officer; through Mr.Mbithi instructed his juniors to approve our procession and offer us security. We congregated at freedom corner as we had scheduled.
The media had been well mobilized; Through Makeke Jeff, Nicholas Oyoo and Nancy Muigei.The day’s events were moderated by George Nyongesa in three parts; tree planting at freedom corner, procession to the site where they were killed and the commemorations through prayers, speeches, poetry and songs.
The tree planting coordination was done by Dan Otieno together with the rest of the youth group Oulu started before his demise; the Young People’s Forum. The tree dedicated to Oulu GPO was planted by Okiya Omtatah Okoiti and Booker Ngesa.Benedict Wachira, Hon .Gitobu Imanyara and Wamagata planted the tree in honor of King’ara. George Nyongesa, Clive Gisairo and Keli Musyoka planted the tree dedicated to Gordwin Ogato.in dedication to all people who have dedicated to bringing change in Kenya, the fourth tree; the tree of justice was planted by, Fwamba NC Fwamba and Gacheke Gachihi and Cyprian Nyamwamu.Speeches calling for justice were made by Cyprian,Keli,Clive,Omtatah and Hon.Gitobu Imanyara.
After speeches in dedication to the trees, the procession started from freedom corner at 11.50AM.we marched along Uhuru highway, university way, nyerere road and eventually state house road to the spot near hall 11 of the university of Nairobi where Oulu , Oscar and Ogato were gunned down. The session went on smoothly and peaceful except when the police wanted to unnecessarily provoke us, a situation Omtatah helped me handle. At the site we lit candles and spread messages. Benedict Wachira made preliminary remarks,Makokha Wanjala gave the keynote speech, Larry Liza and Lydia Mathia and Khainga O’kwemba led the poems session while Dr.Dan sang the revolutionary song dedicated to Oulu , Oscar and Ogato. After all the candles had melted down, we prayed, sang the national anthem and left to prepare to travel.
In the evening we convened to start our journey to visit comrade Oulu ’s parents .The leadership of Keli Musyoka who coordinated with Njeri Kabeberi made the transport possible. We made a resolution that as GPO’s friends we should lobby all Kenyans of goodwill and also lobby members of parliament to pursue all routes of justice including a special text message to Kenyan legislators reading:
We, friends of Oulu GPO who was shot dead along with King’ara&Ogato,on the 1st anniv.since the deaths, request u2 assist in pursuit of justice thru’ parliament
A number of legislators including Hon.Jakoyo Midiwo, Hon.Martha Karua and Hon.Mutula Kilonzo have sent positive responses. We hope they will act. Everyone is encouraged to send the same message to as many legislators as possible.
If you visit the Oulu home; you will really wonder why they decided to kill the man in his youthful days.GPO was the only hope of his family, the torch bearer, the light and the bread winner especially for his ailing mum who happened to be very close with her son.Oulu’s mother has been suffering from cancer and some of you can remember how GPO worked so hard to raise funds for her medication.
After leaving Nairobi on the evening of 5th, we arrived in Kisumu city at about 3am.we resolved to stay in town till dawn. When it dawned we left for Kadawa village where comrade Oulu rests. We had a stop over at Holo where we addressed a gathering with the main speech from Booker who was able to address locals in fluent dholuo.When we arrived home we sang and mourned as we marched slowly to the grave of Oulu GPO .At the graveside we Gacheke and I (Fwamba NC Fwamba) made speeches in honor of comrade GPO.The program here was moderated by Booker Ngesa with the help of Mike Ogut.
When we got home she was really happy. She was so delighted to meet some of our colleagues and she identified those she already knew with fondness. Among them was Booker Ngesa whom she referred to as JaGem, meaning man from Gem. Booker had visited mama Magret in hospital many times when her son was still alive and that is why she referred to him as ‘my Son, my Paul’(Paul is the preferred name that Mama Magret used to call her late son).
6TH March, 2010 was a Saturday so banks were going to close at noon.Gacheke, Booker, Dewrence (mama Magret’s kin) and I (Fwamba NC Fwamba) decided to take Oulu ’s mum to the bank, then to hospital. The program went on while we were away. Mike Ogut was in charge of the affairs at home. While on the way we discussed a lot. She told us that we shouldn’t forsake her. She kept talking about issues of her health. We encouraged her. She had a hearty chat with Gacheke.somewhere on the way after the Kisiani junction, Gacheke received a phone call from his mother (Gacheke’s mother) Gacheke explained to his mom on about his mission in Kisumu and he asked his mum to talk(the discussion of mothers)to GPO’s mum on phone. They talked with a lot of friendliness, despite them having never met. She told Gacheke’s mum that she was offering land and a house to Gacheke (the birthright that was originally entitled to GPO. She said that if should she pass on, we should ensure that she gets a decent burial and get enough food for the mourners. She said we should continue standing strong to defend justice for all people, just like Paul always did.
When we neared Kisumu town she was so tired. She kept on saying ‘aol’(meaning-‘I am tired’)she felt like throwing up but didn’t vomit. We did our best to keep encouraging her. She told us that we should continue standing by her just like her son always did. She told us not to leave her rot in a mortuary just in case she died. She talked a lot about death and the role we should play in her funeral. We assured her that we shall stand by her and do our best for her to continue getting medication until hopefully she recovers. We told her of other friends who had made significant contributions to make our journey to see her. We mentioned hon. James Orengo’s contribution of ksh.50, 000; we talked about Njeri Kabeberi’s role through CMD in helping us with transport to ensure that at least 60 of us from Nairobi were able to travel to and fro. We mentioned to her of the way you people have cared about her. We told her of how some of you like Philo Ikonya keep on enquiring about her state of health. We told her of some of you who are out of the country like (Dr.Ochuodho and Philo) but still managed to make your contributions availed to her. We shared about how a number of you have been coming to meetings, contributing money and ideas thus making our mission to meet her successful. She felt so loved that she told us to pass the message of gratitude to you. She said we should stand by her and help her in facing the challenges of losing her favorite child who happened to be her greatest hope and greatest inspiration when he was alive.
We got to Kisumu town. We entered the cooperative bank. We held her side by side since she is not able to walk alone. Gacheke was carrying the 50,000 that was given by Hon Orengo. booker withdrew the money that was meant for food at home and the additional sum that was to be given to comrade Oulu’s parents and the 10,000 that was eventually added to make the deposited sum 60,000(the contribution that came from us-friends of GPO).we were served by a guy who was in charge of account opening very well. He did. When I explained the situation to them, they understood. The accounts opening guy was privy to the circumstances of Oulu ’s death and he fast tracked the process due to the urgency to mama Magret’s state of health. After the opening account procedure we shared responsibilities so that I remained in the process of depositing the cash while Gacheke, Dewrence and booker took GPO’s mum to hospital. a young man by name of Victor Baraza processed the account opening and facilitated the deposit of 60,000.that now makes it possible for people of goodwill to assist GPO’s mum directly by depositing money on an account which she has direct control. That will also help in facilitating her medication process and we believe that if good medication (which is relatively expensive) is given, then she will get better.
Her account details are: Co-Operative Bank: Branch-Kisumu
Account Number: 01109294810100
Account Name: Magret Olisha Oulu .
We gave Dewrence, the responsibility to help her and also communicate to us whenever necessary.
All of you are encouraged to deposit your money directly on this account, but inform other group members and friends about it. The main purpose is to help mama Magret get quality medication in her battle with cancer. Those who have made the pledges can chose from now henceforth deposit on this account and or Mpesa on the mama Magret’s phone number or even communicate with her on 0710314264 just to encourage her. She is a strong woman.
When Booker, Gacheke, Dewrence and mama Magret came back, I had finished the depositing process. I did the photocopy of the deposit slip and gave her the original copy of the slip for her to keep safely.
We left Kisumu city after this. The program at home was going on as per schedule. The rest of the team proceeded to join others at home as I remained at Holo charging the camera battery. Booker dropped them at home and returned to the city to collect the wreaths.
While in Kisumu city he was joined by Makokha Wanjala who had used a different route coming. They left Kisumu together and picked me at Holo.at about 4pm, we joined others at home. When we arrived, GPO’s dad had just finished addressing the comrades we traveled with and the village friends who had joined our commemoration. When Booker, Makokha and I arrived it was GPO’s mum speaking. She asked the people to continue being close to her, she asked for the justice to be done about the people who killed her son. She offered us two chicken to go with.
After her speech we marched to the graveside with freedom songs by Sophie Dowler, Gacheke, Keli and Jacob Odipo.Mulialia Okumu and Agwambo Odera led the camera crew. DVDs of this event will be available soon.
Booker led in the laying of wreaths, with a final speech by Makokha Wanjala.
Sophie Dowler, Benedict Wachira, Booker Ngesa, Fwamba NC Fwamba, Gacheke Gachihi, and Makokha Wanjala had a short session with the parents of GPO.We handed over cash; through Booker, Ksh 5,000 to GPO’s dad and Ksh 5,000 to GPO’s mum. in Kisumu we met Otieno Aluoka who was returning from a funeral of the father of one of his friends. We relaxed in Kisumu city and at about 11pm we left for Nairobi where we all safely arrived at about 5.am.
That marked the end of the first anniversary since GPO Oulu was killed by people who have not yet been brought to justice.
Viva la Oulu GPO.La Hasta Victoria Siempre.
Fwamba NC Fwamba.
Heroes never die. They just rest .It lingered in my mind as I stood at the graveside of Oulu GPO 365 days after he was assasinated. The portrait of Oulu GPO at the grave made the memories so alive that it seemed to me like we were talking to GPO only that this time round, he chose to say nothing but just listen.
Despite her pain and battling with cancer, Oulu ’s mother was happy to have us around and kept on addressing us as his sons and daughters who stand in GPO’s stead. She said GPO was her only hope, her only son. She asked one of our friends who has also been keen on assisting her since she first got hospitalized. She told him to come and occupy the house that belonged to her son, she asked him to take the piece of land that was GPO’s birthright as per Luo inheritance customs. She repeated this same line to another colleague. She said we shouldn’t leave her alone. We should stand up for her as GPO always did.
Mama Magret Olisha Oulu is a strong woman. She is an admirable person, a person who automatically makes you know that some of the greatest qualities in a person are sometimes shared with their parents.
By 4th evening, we weren’t sure whether the police were going to co-operate and allow us to do the commemorations peacefully. Dann Mwangi had been assigned the role of ensuring the notification of the police. He had done that in time. He had officially handed over the letter addressed to the OCS of Kilimani of our intentions to have the memorial at the site where GPO, King’ara and later Ogato were killed. Since the event was going to include a procession, we chose to inform the provincial police officer Mr.Kibuchi by taking the copy we had given to Kilimani Officer Commanding Station. The provincial police officer; through Mr.Mbithi instructed his juniors to approve our procession and offer us security. We congregated at freedom corner as we had scheduled.
The media had been well mobilized; Through Makeke Jeff, Nicholas Oyoo and Nancy Muigei.The day’s events were moderated by George Nyongesa in three parts; tree planting at freedom corner, procession to the site where they were killed and the commemorations through prayers, speeches, poetry and songs.
The tree planting coordination was done by Dan Otieno together with the rest of the youth group Oulu started before his demise; the Young People’s Forum. The tree dedicated to Oulu GPO was planted by Okiya Omtatah Okoiti and Booker Ngesa.Benedict Wachira, Hon .Gitobu Imanyara and Wamagata planted the tree in honor of King’ara. George Nyongesa, Clive Gisairo and Keli Musyoka planted the tree dedicated to Gordwin Ogato.in dedication to all people who have dedicated to bringing change in Kenya, the fourth tree; the tree of justice was planted by, Fwamba NC Fwamba and Gacheke Gachihi and Cyprian Nyamwamu.Speeches calling for justice were made by Cyprian,Keli,Clive,Omtatah and Hon.Gitobu Imanyara.
After speeches in dedication to the trees, the procession started from freedom corner at 11.50AM.we marched along Uhuru highway, university way, nyerere road and eventually state house road to the spot near hall 11 of the university of Nairobi where Oulu , Oscar and Ogato were gunned down. The session went on smoothly and peaceful except when the police wanted to unnecessarily provoke us, a situation Omtatah helped me handle. At the site we lit candles and spread messages. Benedict Wachira made preliminary remarks,Makokha Wanjala gave the keynote speech, Larry Liza and Lydia Mathia and Khainga O’kwemba led the poems session while Dr.Dan sang the revolutionary song dedicated to Oulu , Oscar and Ogato. After all the candles had melted down, we prayed, sang the national anthem and left to prepare to travel.
In the evening we convened to start our journey to visit comrade Oulu ’s parents .The leadership of Keli Musyoka who coordinated with Njeri Kabeberi made the transport possible. We made a resolution that as GPO’s friends we should lobby all Kenyans of goodwill and also lobby members of parliament to pursue all routes of justice including a special text message to Kenyan legislators reading:
We, friends of Oulu GPO who was shot dead along with King’ara&Ogato,on the 1st anniv.since the deaths, request u2 assist in pursuit of justice thru’ parliament
A number of legislators including Hon.Jakoyo Midiwo, Hon.Martha Karua and Hon.Mutula Kilonzo have sent positive responses. We hope they will act. Everyone is encouraged to send the same message to as many legislators as possible.
If you visit the Oulu home; you will really wonder why they decided to kill the man in his youthful days.GPO was the only hope of his family, the torch bearer, the light and the bread winner especially for his ailing mum who happened to be very close with her son.Oulu’s mother has been suffering from cancer and some of you can remember how GPO worked so hard to raise funds for her medication.
After leaving Nairobi on the evening of 5th, we arrived in Kisumu city at about 3am.we resolved to stay in town till dawn. When it dawned we left for Kadawa village where comrade Oulu rests. We had a stop over at Holo where we addressed a gathering with the main speech from Booker who was able to address locals in fluent dholuo.When we arrived home we sang and mourned as we marched slowly to the grave of Oulu GPO .At the graveside we Gacheke and I (Fwamba NC Fwamba) made speeches in honor of comrade GPO.The program here was moderated by Booker Ngesa with the help of Mike Ogut.
When we got home she was really happy. She was so delighted to meet some of our colleagues and she identified those she already knew with fondness. Among them was Booker Ngesa whom she referred to as JaGem, meaning man from Gem. Booker had visited mama Magret in hospital many times when her son was still alive and that is why she referred to him as ‘my Son, my Paul’(Paul is the preferred name that Mama Magret used to call her late son).
6TH March, 2010 was a Saturday so banks were going to close at noon.Gacheke, Booker, Dewrence (mama Magret’s kin) and I (Fwamba NC Fwamba) decided to take Oulu ’s mum to the bank, then to hospital. The program went on while we were away. Mike Ogut was in charge of the affairs at home. While on the way we discussed a lot. She told us that we shouldn’t forsake her. She kept talking about issues of her health. We encouraged her. She had a hearty chat with Gacheke.somewhere on the way after the Kisiani junction, Gacheke received a phone call from his mother (Gacheke’s mother) Gacheke explained to his mom on about his mission in Kisumu and he asked his mum to talk(the discussion of mothers)to GPO’s mum on phone. They talked with a lot of friendliness, despite them having never met. She told Gacheke’s mum that she was offering land and a house to Gacheke (the birthright that was originally entitled to GPO. She said that if should she pass on, we should ensure that she gets a decent burial and get enough food for the mourners. She said we should continue standing strong to defend justice for all people, just like Paul always did.
When we neared Kisumu town she was so tired. She kept on saying ‘aol’(meaning-‘I am tired’)she felt like throwing up but didn’t vomit. We did our best to keep encouraging her. She told us that we should continue standing by her just like her son always did. She told us not to leave her rot in a mortuary just in case she died. She talked a lot about death and the role we should play in her funeral. We assured her that we shall stand by her and do our best for her to continue getting medication until hopefully she recovers. We told her of other friends who had made significant contributions to make our journey to see her. We mentioned hon. James Orengo’s contribution of ksh.50, 000; we talked about Njeri Kabeberi’s role through CMD in helping us with transport to ensure that at least 60 of us from Nairobi were able to travel to and fro. We mentioned to her of the way you people have cared about her. We told her of how some of you like Philo Ikonya keep on enquiring about her state of health. We told her of some of you who are out of the country like (Dr.Ochuodho and Philo) but still managed to make your contributions availed to her. We shared about how a number of you have been coming to meetings, contributing money and ideas thus making our mission to meet her successful. She felt so loved that she told us to pass the message of gratitude to you. She said we should stand by her and help her in facing the challenges of losing her favorite child who happened to be her greatest hope and greatest inspiration when he was alive.
We got to Kisumu town. We entered the cooperative bank. We held her side by side since she is not able to walk alone. Gacheke was carrying the 50,000 that was given by Hon Orengo. booker withdrew the money that was meant for food at home and the additional sum that was to be given to comrade Oulu’s parents and the 10,000 that was eventually added to make the deposited sum 60,000(the contribution that came from us-friends of GPO).we were served by a guy who was in charge of account opening very well. He did. When I explained the situation to them, they understood. The accounts opening guy was privy to the circumstances of Oulu ’s death and he fast tracked the process due to the urgency to mama Magret’s state of health. After the opening account procedure we shared responsibilities so that I remained in the process of depositing the cash while Gacheke, Dewrence and booker took GPO’s mum to hospital. a young man by name of Victor Baraza processed the account opening and facilitated the deposit of 60,000.that now makes it possible for people of goodwill to assist GPO’s mum directly by depositing money on an account which she has direct control. That will also help in facilitating her medication process and we believe that if good medication (which is relatively expensive) is given, then she will get better.
Her account details are: Co-Operative Bank: Branch-Kisumu
Account Number: 01109294810100
Account Name: Magret Olisha Oulu .
We gave Dewrence, the responsibility to help her and also communicate to us whenever necessary.
All of you are encouraged to deposit your money directly on this account, but inform other group members and friends about it. The main purpose is to help mama Magret get quality medication in her battle with cancer. Those who have made the pledges can chose from now henceforth deposit on this account and or Mpesa on the mama Magret’s phone number or even communicate with her on 0710314264 just to encourage her. She is a strong woman.
When Booker, Gacheke, Dewrence and mama Magret came back, I had finished the depositing process. I did the photocopy of the deposit slip and gave her the original copy of the slip for her to keep safely.
We left Kisumu city after this. The program at home was going on as per schedule. The rest of the team proceeded to join others at home as I remained at Holo charging the camera battery. Booker dropped them at home and returned to the city to collect the wreaths.
While in Kisumu city he was joined by Makokha Wanjala who had used a different route coming. They left Kisumu together and picked me at Holo.at about 4pm, we joined others at home. When we arrived, GPO’s dad had just finished addressing the comrades we traveled with and the village friends who had joined our commemoration. When Booker, Makokha and I arrived it was GPO’s mum speaking. She asked the people to continue being close to her, she asked for the justice to be done about the people who killed her son. She offered us two chicken to go with.
After her speech we marched to the graveside with freedom songs by Sophie Dowler, Gacheke, Keli and Jacob Odipo.Mulialia Okumu and Agwambo Odera led the camera crew. DVDs of this event will be available soon.
Booker led in the laying of wreaths, with a final speech by Makokha Wanjala.
Sophie Dowler, Benedict Wachira, Booker Ngesa, Fwamba NC Fwamba, Gacheke Gachihi, and Makokha Wanjala had a short session with the parents of GPO.We handed over cash; through Booker, Ksh 5,000 to GPO’s dad and Ksh 5,000 to GPO’s mum. in Kisumu we met Otieno Aluoka who was returning from a funeral of the father of one of his friends. We relaxed in Kisumu city and at about 11pm we left for Nairobi where we all safely arrived at about 5.am.
That marked the end of the first anniversary since GPO Oulu was killed by people who have not yet been brought to justice.
Viva la Oulu GPO.La Hasta Victoria Siempre.
Fwamba NC Fwamba.
Makokha Wanjala M’s Remarks ON OCCASION OF CELEBRATING OULU G.P.O, OSCAR KANG’ARA AND GODWIN OGATO'S FIRST ANNIVERSARY
Makokha Wanjala M’s Remarks ON OCCASION OF CELEBRATING OULU G.P.O, OSCAR KANG’ARA AND GODWIN OGATO'S FIRST ANNIVERSARY AT THE SHOOTING SITE, STATEHOUSE ROAD, NAIROBI.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Republic of Kenya
Citizen No. 22045386
For Immediate Release
March 5, 2010
Makokha Wanjala M’s Remarks
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ON OCCASION OF CELEBRATING OULU G.P.O, OSCAR KANG’ARA AND GODWIN OGATO'S FIRST ANNIVERSARY AT THE SHOOTING SITE, STATEHOUSE AVENUE, NAIROBI.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My good friend Crispus Fwamba, a faithful soldier in the struggle
My very good friends Otambo, Cyprian, Booker Ngesa, Mamluki and others
A year ago, March 5, was to be just another day. It will never be so again. This afternoon is worth of our memory for on this day 366 days ago, bullets rained at Oulu and Oscar snuffing life out of their bodies. Another Kenyan whose only crime was to see all these Godwin Ogato received the balance of bullets to turn the day into a sad reminder yet a milestone in the struggle. Oulu , Oscar and Ogato what a coincidence triple O, comrades in death.
We gather here today to remember Oulu , Oscar and Ogato these are in list of many other heroes and heroines that have fallen in the struggle for a better Kenya . In a way, our gathering mirrors the celebration in South Africa on the student uprising of 1975. Our nation suffers a collective hate to those who persevere, those who toil away, those who slave as prisoners of conscience, those who suffer broken promises, broken limps and shattered lives so that we could have a better nation. A majority of these youthful yet gallant sons and daughters of Kenya met their bullets right at or from universities, tertiary and other institutions. They spared nothing in their love for their mother land Kenya .
It is refreshing that this meeting, a congregation of largely young minds found it worth to celebrate GPO. George Paul Oulu, many of us thought it was General Post Office. We took it for granted that we had such a long time and a long company in his life. March 5, 2009 proved us wrong.
We celebrate many others who lived like these three and become compatriots in death for all of us. It is even more humbling that I was chosen to give a speech at this maiden anniversary. I am alive to the high standards expected of me so that this annual event begins to speak to our nation. In discharging this tall order I have no doubts that I fall short of your expectations but then, I am yet to see a man who pleases everyone.
Maybe I was selected to speak because at the time of GPO’s death, I was staring at another calamity at family level. News that GPO is no more reached me at the bedside of Webuye District Hospital where another fine Kenyan, the Late Charles Makokha Wambulwa lay comatose. My Dad succumbed to spinal cancer on March 7, 2009. In a way my family will always unite with GPO’s and their friends in sorrow as we commemorate these anniversaries. These twin tragedies help to explain my very loud absence at Oulu ’s graveside. I get to pay my homage to him a year later.
In the cabinet in which I served as the Secretary General, God has been so generous in calling us home. He called to his fold Onkoba Marube, a fine young Doctor and my Secretary for Health & Accommodation. He again called for his keep; no I think an assassin forced him to accept for his safe keep another patriot named GPO who was the Governor- Kikuyu Campus in my student government, SONU. Since the executive council was only 18 in number, I guess myself and the remaining 15 must always be ready. If they don’t force me or you to meet our maker that soon, let us continue to draw on God’s oasis of infinite blessings and surrender ourselves to the service of our great nation Kenya .
A good speech rarely changes a nation, a life well lived does. The life of GPO teaches all of us that you don’t have to grow to a ripe old age to contribute to your nation. If you are among the many who expect that I share much on the life of GPO; in that I am afraid I will disappoint. I knew GPO almost in the same way as you did. I may not have any special knowledge about this gallant son of Kenya . Indeed I must confess that some of you shared a life with him, lived with him, worked with him and knew him in a way none of us did. To me GPO came through as a sincere, charming and courageous young man.
He wasn’t to be cowed with his not-so –eloquent speech. In fact I believe for what he may have lacked in eloquence it was well made up by courage and lots of it.
I will return to his life shortly, but I believe in a forum like this Kenya is listening. I see in front of me the very essence of Kenya . I see the enthusiasm, the beauty and the hope of our nation. I see the energy that will take Kenya to a new level; I want to speak to this promising future of our nation. I want to be brutally honest with my audience, I do so in the firm faith that the good Lord set aside a time like this for a message like this. I am animated to be part of Kenya ’s future, I am proud to be speaking back to myself for I believe I am part of the hope that will transform our nation.
I believe this day will be wasted if we fail to talk through the struggles that GPO fought. We will have squandered this moment if we do not size up and face the challenges that pre-occupied GPO’s days. I want to look straight into our civil society; an arena in which Oulu was a lead character. Civil society plays an integral role in our society. They play watchdog and interrogate our leaderships at all levels. They demand much from those in positions of leadership and it is in the same vein that a lot must be demanded from them. Leadership is not just presidency, leadership is not only government, and leadership never ends elective, competitive and oftentimes divisive politics.
Kenya will not be changed from statehouse; In fact it won’t be changed by happenings at that prestigious address on Harambee Avenue . Kenya is unmoved by the bickering and mostly confused 220 fellows in the August house. And yet statehouse, that office on Harambee Avenue and the character of those two-hundred and twenty fellows explains much of where we are today. It explains why truthfulness and honesty are no longer hallmarks of public service. And that is why today is poignant. Today is so important to me for I get to meet the people who each day put their lives on the roll in the streets for us. I get to speak to the people who occupy the moral high ground from which they beckon at us. I get to speak to the civil society.
As I said Kenya is here, Kenya is listening and Kenya wishes to hear the brutal truth if not for anything for the sake of the life of Oulu and the suffering of Kang’ara’s widow and the grieving of Ogato’s family
Why have we not changed this nation?
Why is it taking us too long to take the leadership of this nation?
Why do Kenyans not trust our intentions to transform their lives for the better?
Is it us or is it them who are failing this nation?
In memory of a very courageous son of Kenya , why not just pick a bit of it and ask just how many of us in the civil movement have succumbed to guns-for –hire?
It should jog our minds but leave no hatred to establish how many of our demonstrations are privately funded by a select corrupt at night and aimed at other corrupt fellows during the day?
In our search for justice for our fallen brother, can’t we pose and ponder justice for those who can’t be appointed to certain positions because of their mother tongue? Is it a coincidence that 47 years after independence we have some talent that can’t be replaced occasioning grey haired pensioners in key state offices?
Can’t we as we search for justice seek justice for our primary school children whose free primary education is now very free of any meaningful education?
Does it hurt and should it hurt in asking where the truth that we so fondly announce on rooftops is?
Are we ready to choose the responsibility of a new just and prosperous nation or would we rather remain in the present confusion for which we are the architects? Would it be wrong to question an apparent government policy that talent, competence and indeed incompetence is also tribal?
If we can’t live the narrow path of accountability, we loose the moral ground to demand it from others. We have to confront the venom that constantly poisons all youth initiatives. We must confront the differences that make it impossible for the youths of this nation to speak as one voice. It is never easy but the young people of this nation must lead the way. We must ask those difficult questions, we must ask why Kenyans cannot trust us and prefer their present lives.
We have to look within and exorcise the venom that has slowly but surely de-activated the Otambo’s, Munovi’s, Khauka’s and Osido’s of student activism?
We are not going to do so if we all admire Mercedes Benz irrespective of how it was acquired.
We won’t fight corruption if we are part and parcel of ethnic cocoons that rise to defend our tribesmen whenever they are found with their hands in the honey jar. Corruption is personal and political, those telling us otherwise; we know what they are saying. I hear them. If you hear them as I do, they are asking us to trust government agencies to deal with corruption when these agencies are known more in failure than success. Trust government as presently constituted when no where else provides a fertile ground for graft to sprout than in government agencies themselves. I dare say again, if you ask us to forgo a genuine need for to step aside to allow for independent and impartial investigations, then we hear you. We know that you are asking us to burn the church so that the gospel can be preached. You are asking us to break the sanctuary of ethics as the first step in fighting corruption, you are asking us to give up virtue and replace it with value. You are asking us to doubt our education. You are asking us to re-check our civility and in all these endevours our un-equivocal answer is this. We refuse. We refuse your convenient confusion as a medium of exchange in transacting public affairs in our nation Kenya .
We will not overcome the small thinking that characterizes the leadership of our nation if we fight corruption to attract invitation to the very table of corruption. Corruption has to be fought from within. We must search within our souls and create a resolve to quickly replace the punctured tyre that keeps the youths of this country off road.
But we must ask in all honesty, is it just them? Are things, I mean everything in our national psyche going wrong because of those in leadership? We must accept our share of blame. We are to blame. Oscar, Oulu & Ogato’s lives and other lives lost are actually a loss and not an indication of progress in the struggle because of our greed. We have terribly let ourselves down. We cut deals on campaign money then dish it among ourselves in a fashion no different from the workings of the corrupt tentacles that raise campaign funds in the first place. We are the problem. I should just say it as it is, we derive comfort in company of thieves. We have fallen short of our expectations; we need to reform ourselves first.
I will not attempt a catalogue of our nation’s problems, for that is common place. I will also not detail solutions for those are never in short supply. The only worthy project for us, the only option for our nation is to invert this pyramid of leadership. I am tired; I am frustrated and am annoyed that many of our youths are being promoted on the very convoluted pyramid of leadership once they soak their hands in illicit honey. What will become of us? Are we prepared to sacrifice our ideals, our ethics and everything we hold dear so that we are allowed to climb the pyramid? The choice that Oulu made is before us today. Lets choose the way for Kenya ’s brighter future not our own. Those who pulled the trigger and took away the life of Oulu will never muster the courage to tell us why they did so. They will not tell us, what Oulu ’s life threatened in them, they will never tell us why killing him was the only option. We will never know for sure why GPO and Oscar had to die. We are left only with memories we had of them, we are only left with the impressions we had of the three comrades, with these memories we can only postulate on why they wanted them dead.
They wanted them dead for they were not part of them
They wanted them dead for they operated differently
They wanted them dead for thier thoughts were not theirs
They wanted them dead for they terrified them
They wanted them dead for it worried them, Oulu’s plans, Oscar’s dreams, his ambitions and the steadfastness of Ogato. They knew their flock will flatter, they knew in killing Oulu they will disorganize us, they knew in killing Kang’ara we will scatter. They wanted to kill Oulu’s dream, to maim Kang’ara’s ambition and frighten their disciples.
Today, I look into your eyes and I ask are we frightened? Are we cowed? Are we so afraid of them? I don’t know but for me my path is cut out. I know I have made mistakes, I have been tempted like everyone else but I refuse to form company with known thieves.
I may have sinned but I call upon all the young people of this nation to resonate to the higher calling of leadership with an affirmation that Kenya will live on.
We the youth, may have made mistakes but I refuse to be condemned by my history
We refuse the habit of mistakes
We refuse the snare of corruption
The young people of this nation have heard many things; they have been told they will lead tomorrow. Their mistake is they have accepted all this without question. They have been condemned that they are too many for the jobs in the market as if they gave birth to themselves. They have been abused and all they ever did was to accept the humiliation in silence. Of course, with rare exceptions in the mould of GPO & Oscar
It is time now, not just to say enough is enough for that has been said before. It is time not just to say, it is our turn, because as well that has been said before. It is not in order to say we will chase the corrupt out of town, for we could as well be the very corrupt. We shouldn’t say the time for roadside declarations will end, for we have seen those who condemn are the very ones who indulge.
What then is our way forth. Why then are Oscar and Oulu dead? Why then do people pay the ultimate prize in their quest for a better society? What should the young people of this nation do? What strategy will work? Will our past failure become a permanent feature of our future struggles? The genuine answer to all these is “I don’t know”
I don’t know how we will reform this country, but reform it we will
I don’t know how we will deal with a government that worships at the alter of brotherhood in thievery but deal with it we must
I don’t know how we will deal with our tribal warlords but yet we must confront them
I don’t know what we will do with our docile church whose indulgence is to forsake its people and let lies reign.
Friends, there is so much I don’t know, but the little I know is that the great future of ourselves and our children will not arrive on the shores of our nation as did the British colonialists. I don’t know how we will ensure that there is better accountable leadership for our country but what I do know is waiting patiently, obediently to the current status quo will not take us far. I don’t know just who or how we could manage our taxes better but I do know that no solutions will alight aboard a Boeing at JKIA irrespective of how well we pray. What I do know and know so well is that:
We must be heard or we will increase our voices
We must be listened to or we will break into the boardroom
We must be understood or we will take over the discussion
We must be involved or we will supplant the current leadership
But friends no one will give it to us. We will grab the leadership of this nation. We must create awareness among our people never to settle for less. We must engage in all fronts, in all ways, the young people of this nation must arise.
To do so we must live the change we wish for. We must not condemn on basis of tribe, we must never disengage however long the night might seem. We pray to God to hold the sun high so that we continue the battle. I believe from wherever he is GPO is urging us on
He is urging us on to contemplate then complete his works. We must now proceed in honesty, firm in faith that no one knows it all. We must give way for a brother who has better skill; we must leave way for a sister who is more experienced than us. We must begin to engage on the basis of truth. We must run our affairs differently; we must begin to live in the new Kenya we wish to see. We must live true to the creed that disobedience to tyranny is obedience to God. We must forge love among us.
I wish to conclude by reminding you and myself that we will not be young forever. That being young ascribes no special benefits to us for reason of age alone. I wish it dawned on all of us that this nation owes us nothing just because we are young. Youth is just a phase. It is up to us to utilize it to the greatest of benefits to our collective stay as a nation.
I pray that God keeps and blesses you. I pray that in his redemption spirit, may he allow us to live a new. May he keep in you a sense of urgency to surmount and summon all the energies for good of our nation?
Kenya is great,
Kenya is marwa
Its leaders have small heads,
And, it is so because we have accepted it to be so
To those who killed GPO, Oscar and Godwin, they messed up March 5th, their cowardice gave us yet another day on which we pause and reflect on the struggle this far. By killing the three, you made the cause louder, by killing O, O & O you made us bolder; by killing, you united us further, by their blood our resolve got even much tighter. As you stilled their voices, you made the voice of the struggle louder.
Kenyan state may never tell us the truth; it may never tell us who pulled the trigger. It remains their duty. President Kibaki and his co-principal Raila must now share information so far gathered. It was their duty to protect GPO, Oscar and Godwin, a sacred duty in name of our nation in which they failed. We ask them to attest that they indeed are not part of the conspirators by hauling before justice the real conspirators. We wait, but not forever, for sooner than later they stand guilty in the court of public opinion in a duty not to protect the killers. If they fail then we know it is not their inability to do so.
Asanteni sana
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Republic of Kenya
Citizen No. 22045386
For Immediate Release
March 5, 2010
Makokha Wanjala M’s Remarks
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ON OCCASION OF CELEBRATING OULU G.P.O, OSCAR KANG’ARA AND GODWIN OGATO'S FIRST ANNIVERSARY AT THE SHOOTING SITE, STATEHOUSE AVENUE, NAIROBI.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My good friend Crispus Fwamba, a faithful soldier in the struggle
My very good friends Otambo, Cyprian, Booker Ngesa, Mamluki and others
A year ago, March 5, was to be just another day. It will never be so again. This afternoon is worth of our memory for on this day 366 days ago, bullets rained at Oulu and Oscar snuffing life out of their bodies. Another Kenyan whose only crime was to see all these Godwin Ogato received the balance of bullets to turn the day into a sad reminder yet a milestone in the struggle. Oulu , Oscar and Ogato what a coincidence triple O, comrades in death.
We gather here today to remember Oulu , Oscar and Ogato these are in list of many other heroes and heroines that have fallen in the struggle for a better Kenya . In a way, our gathering mirrors the celebration in South Africa on the student uprising of 1975. Our nation suffers a collective hate to those who persevere, those who toil away, those who slave as prisoners of conscience, those who suffer broken promises, broken limps and shattered lives so that we could have a better nation. A majority of these youthful yet gallant sons and daughters of Kenya met their bullets right at or from universities, tertiary and other institutions. They spared nothing in their love for their mother land Kenya .
It is refreshing that this meeting, a congregation of largely young minds found it worth to celebrate GPO. George Paul Oulu, many of us thought it was General Post Office. We took it for granted that we had such a long time and a long company in his life. March 5, 2009 proved us wrong.
We celebrate many others who lived like these three and become compatriots in death for all of us. It is even more humbling that I was chosen to give a speech at this maiden anniversary. I am alive to the high standards expected of me so that this annual event begins to speak to our nation. In discharging this tall order I have no doubts that I fall short of your expectations but then, I am yet to see a man who pleases everyone.
Maybe I was selected to speak because at the time of GPO’s death, I was staring at another calamity at family level. News that GPO is no more reached me at the bedside of Webuye District Hospital where another fine Kenyan, the Late Charles Makokha Wambulwa lay comatose. My Dad succumbed to spinal cancer on March 7, 2009. In a way my family will always unite with GPO’s and their friends in sorrow as we commemorate these anniversaries. These twin tragedies help to explain my very loud absence at Oulu ’s graveside. I get to pay my homage to him a year later.
In the cabinet in which I served as the Secretary General, God has been so generous in calling us home. He called to his fold Onkoba Marube, a fine young Doctor and my Secretary for Health & Accommodation. He again called for his keep; no I think an assassin forced him to accept for his safe keep another patriot named GPO who was the Governor- Kikuyu Campus in my student government, SONU. Since the executive council was only 18 in number, I guess myself and the remaining 15 must always be ready. If they don’t force me or you to meet our maker that soon, let us continue to draw on God’s oasis of infinite blessings and surrender ourselves to the service of our great nation Kenya .
A good speech rarely changes a nation, a life well lived does. The life of GPO teaches all of us that you don’t have to grow to a ripe old age to contribute to your nation. If you are among the many who expect that I share much on the life of GPO; in that I am afraid I will disappoint. I knew GPO almost in the same way as you did. I may not have any special knowledge about this gallant son of Kenya . Indeed I must confess that some of you shared a life with him, lived with him, worked with him and knew him in a way none of us did. To me GPO came through as a sincere, charming and courageous young man.
He wasn’t to be cowed with his not-so –eloquent speech. In fact I believe for what he may have lacked in eloquence it was well made up by courage and lots of it.
I will return to his life shortly, but I believe in a forum like this Kenya is listening. I see in front of me the very essence of Kenya . I see the enthusiasm, the beauty and the hope of our nation. I see the energy that will take Kenya to a new level; I want to speak to this promising future of our nation. I want to be brutally honest with my audience, I do so in the firm faith that the good Lord set aside a time like this for a message like this. I am animated to be part of Kenya ’s future, I am proud to be speaking back to myself for I believe I am part of the hope that will transform our nation.
I believe this day will be wasted if we fail to talk through the struggles that GPO fought. We will have squandered this moment if we do not size up and face the challenges that pre-occupied GPO’s days. I want to look straight into our civil society; an arena in which Oulu was a lead character. Civil society plays an integral role in our society. They play watchdog and interrogate our leaderships at all levels. They demand much from those in positions of leadership and it is in the same vein that a lot must be demanded from them. Leadership is not just presidency, leadership is not only government, and leadership never ends elective, competitive and oftentimes divisive politics.
Kenya will not be changed from statehouse; In fact it won’t be changed by happenings at that prestigious address on Harambee Avenue . Kenya is unmoved by the bickering and mostly confused 220 fellows in the August house. And yet statehouse, that office on Harambee Avenue and the character of those two-hundred and twenty fellows explains much of where we are today. It explains why truthfulness and honesty are no longer hallmarks of public service. And that is why today is poignant. Today is so important to me for I get to meet the people who each day put their lives on the roll in the streets for us. I get to speak to the people who occupy the moral high ground from which they beckon at us. I get to speak to the civil society.
As I said Kenya is here, Kenya is listening and Kenya wishes to hear the brutal truth if not for anything for the sake of the life of Oulu and the suffering of Kang’ara’s widow and the grieving of Ogato’s family
Why have we not changed this nation?
Why is it taking us too long to take the leadership of this nation?
Why do Kenyans not trust our intentions to transform their lives for the better?
Is it us or is it them who are failing this nation?
In memory of a very courageous son of Kenya , why not just pick a bit of it and ask just how many of us in the civil movement have succumbed to guns-for –hire?
It should jog our minds but leave no hatred to establish how many of our demonstrations are privately funded by a select corrupt at night and aimed at other corrupt fellows during the day?
In our search for justice for our fallen brother, can’t we pose and ponder justice for those who can’t be appointed to certain positions because of their mother tongue? Is it a coincidence that 47 years after independence we have some talent that can’t be replaced occasioning grey haired pensioners in key state offices?
Can’t we as we search for justice seek justice for our primary school children whose free primary education is now very free of any meaningful education?
Does it hurt and should it hurt in asking where the truth that we so fondly announce on rooftops is?
Are we ready to choose the responsibility of a new just and prosperous nation or would we rather remain in the present confusion for which we are the architects? Would it be wrong to question an apparent government policy that talent, competence and indeed incompetence is also tribal?
If we can’t live the narrow path of accountability, we loose the moral ground to demand it from others. We have to confront the venom that constantly poisons all youth initiatives. We must confront the differences that make it impossible for the youths of this nation to speak as one voice. It is never easy but the young people of this nation must lead the way. We must ask those difficult questions, we must ask why Kenyans cannot trust us and prefer their present lives.
We have to look within and exorcise the venom that has slowly but surely de-activated the Otambo’s, Munovi’s, Khauka’s and Osido’s of student activism?
We are not going to do so if we all admire Mercedes Benz irrespective of how it was acquired.
We won’t fight corruption if we are part and parcel of ethnic cocoons that rise to defend our tribesmen whenever they are found with their hands in the honey jar. Corruption is personal and political, those telling us otherwise; we know what they are saying. I hear them. If you hear them as I do, they are asking us to trust government agencies to deal with corruption when these agencies are known more in failure than success. Trust government as presently constituted when no where else provides a fertile ground for graft to sprout than in government agencies themselves. I dare say again, if you ask us to forgo a genuine need for to step aside to allow for independent and impartial investigations, then we hear you. We know that you are asking us to burn the church so that the gospel can be preached. You are asking us to break the sanctuary of ethics as the first step in fighting corruption, you are asking us to give up virtue and replace it with value. You are asking us to doubt our education. You are asking us to re-check our civility and in all these endevours our un-equivocal answer is this. We refuse. We refuse your convenient confusion as a medium of exchange in transacting public affairs in our nation Kenya .
We will not overcome the small thinking that characterizes the leadership of our nation if we fight corruption to attract invitation to the very table of corruption. Corruption has to be fought from within. We must search within our souls and create a resolve to quickly replace the punctured tyre that keeps the youths of this country off road.
But we must ask in all honesty, is it just them? Are things, I mean everything in our national psyche going wrong because of those in leadership? We must accept our share of blame. We are to blame. Oscar, Oulu & Ogato’s lives and other lives lost are actually a loss and not an indication of progress in the struggle because of our greed. We have terribly let ourselves down. We cut deals on campaign money then dish it among ourselves in a fashion no different from the workings of the corrupt tentacles that raise campaign funds in the first place. We are the problem. I should just say it as it is, we derive comfort in company of thieves. We have fallen short of our expectations; we need to reform ourselves first.
I will not attempt a catalogue of our nation’s problems, for that is common place. I will also not detail solutions for those are never in short supply. The only worthy project for us, the only option for our nation is to invert this pyramid of leadership. I am tired; I am frustrated and am annoyed that many of our youths are being promoted on the very convoluted pyramid of leadership once they soak their hands in illicit honey. What will become of us? Are we prepared to sacrifice our ideals, our ethics and everything we hold dear so that we are allowed to climb the pyramid? The choice that Oulu made is before us today. Lets choose the way for Kenya ’s brighter future not our own. Those who pulled the trigger and took away the life of Oulu will never muster the courage to tell us why they did so. They will not tell us, what Oulu ’s life threatened in them, they will never tell us why killing him was the only option. We will never know for sure why GPO and Oscar had to die. We are left only with memories we had of them, we are only left with the impressions we had of the three comrades, with these memories we can only postulate on why they wanted them dead.
They wanted them dead for they were not part of them
They wanted them dead for they operated differently
They wanted them dead for thier thoughts were not theirs
They wanted them dead for they terrified them
They wanted them dead for it worried them, Oulu’s plans, Oscar’s dreams, his ambitions and the steadfastness of Ogato. They knew their flock will flatter, they knew in killing Oulu they will disorganize us, they knew in killing Kang’ara we will scatter. They wanted to kill Oulu’s dream, to maim Kang’ara’s ambition and frighten their disciples.
Today, I look into your eyes and I ask are we frightened? Are we cowed? Are we so afraid of them? I don’t know but for me my path is cut out. I know I have made mistakes, I have been tempted like everyone else but I refuse to form company with known thieves.
I may have sinned but I call upon all the young people of this nation to resonate to the higher calling of leadership with an affirmation that Kenya will live on.
We the youth, may have made mistakes but I refuse to be condemned by my history
We refuse the habit of mistakes
We refuse the snare of corruption
The young people of this nation have heard many things; they have been told they will lead tomorrow. Their mistake is they have accepted all this without question. They have been condemned that they are too many for the jobs in the market as if they gave birth to themselves. They have been abused and all they ever did was to accept the humiliation in silence. Of course, with rare exceptions in the mould of GPO & Oscar
It is time now, not just to say enough is enough for that has been said before. It is time not just to say, it is our turn, because as well that has been said before. It is not in order to say we will chase the corrupt out of town, for we could as well be the very corrupt. We shouldn’t say the time for roadside declarations will end, for we have seen those who condemn are the very ones who indulge.
What then is our way forth. Why then are Oscar and Oulu dead? Why then do people pay the ultimate prize in their quest for a better society? What should the young people of this nation do? What strategy will work? Will our past failure become a permanent feature of our future struggles? The genuine answer to all these is “I don’t know”
I don’t know how we will reform this country, but reform it we will
I don’t know how we will deal with a government that worships at the alter of brotherhood in thievery but deal with it we must
I don’t know how we will deal with our tribal warlords but yet we must confront them
I don’t know what we will do with our docile church whose indulgence is to forsake its people and let lies reign.
Friends, there is so much I don’t know, but the little I know is that the great future of ourselves and our children will not arrive on the shores of our nation as did the British colonialists. I don’t know how we will ensure that there is better accountable leadership for our country but what I do know is waiting patiently, obediently to the current status quo will not take us far. I don’t know just who or how we could manage our taxes better but I do know that no solutions will alight aboard a Boeing at JKIA irrespective of how well we pray. What I do know and know so well is that:
We must be heard or we will increase our voices
We must be listened to or we will break into the boardroom
We must be understood or we will take over the discussion
We must be involved or we will supplant the current leadership
But friends no one will give it to us. We will grab the leadership of this nation. We must create awareness among our people never to settle for less. We must engage in all fronts, in all ways, the young people of this nation must arise.
To do so we must live the change we wish for. We must not condemn on basis of tribe, we must never disengage however long the night might seem. We pray to God to hold the sun high so that we continue the battle. I believe from wherever he is GPO is urging us on
He is urging us on to contemplate then complete his works. We must now proceed in honesty, firm in faith that no one knows it all. We must give way for a brother who has better skill; we must leave way for a sister who is more experienced than us. We must begin to engage on the basis of truth. We must run our affairs differently; we must begin to live in the new Kenya we wish to see. We must live true to the creed that disobedience to tyranny is obedience to God. We must forge love among us.
I wish to conclude by reminding you and myself that we will not be young forever. That being young ascribes no special benefits to us for reason of age alone. I wish it dawned on all of us that this nation owes us nothing just because we are young. Youth is just a phase. It is up to us to utilize it to the greatest of benefits to our collective stay as a nation.
I pray that God keeps and blesses you. I pray that in his redemption spirit, may he allow us to live a new. May he keep in you a sense of urgency to surmount and summon all the energies for good of our nation?
Kenya is great,
Kenya is marwa
Its leaders have small heads,
And, it is so because we have accepted it to be so
To those who killed GPO, Oscar and Godwin, they messed up March 5th, their cowardice gave us yet another day on which we pause and reflect on the struggle this far. By killing the three, you made the cause louder, by killing O, O & O you made us bolder; by killing, you united us further, by their blood our resolve got even much tighter. As you stilled their voices, you made the voice of the struggle louder.
Kenyan state may never tell us the truth; it may never tell us who pulled the trigger. It remains their duty. President Kibaki and his co-principal Raila must now share information so far gathered. It was their duty to protect GPO, Oscar and Godwin, a sacred duty in name of our nation in which they failed. We ask them to attest that they indeed are not part of the conspirators by hauling before justice the real conspirators. We wait, but not forever, for sooner than later they stand guilty in the court of public opinion in a duty not to protect the killers. If they fail then we know it is not their inability to do so.
Asanteni sana
Monday, February 1, 2010
BY JEFF MAKEKE:TRIBUTE TO GPO
GPO, SINCE YOU LEFT.......
The world you left still wallows on, recklessly tittering from brink to edge,
The struggle you waged still gathers storm, a storm in a tea cup to a strong hurricane,
Your smile is gone from us, but your ideals still live on,
Injustices, corruption, poverty and hunger dot the sky,
Indecision, laxity, arrogance and ineptitude still run the ground,
Your cold body, our collective tears, and endless questions....
Investigations, are still going on, ON AND ON and on....
A monotonous cacophony of lies........
Clean blood , on and on....oozing from the innocents still,
We strive to lead our lives, on and on......brushing aside the unknown,
tears, loneliness, and fear,
Koffi Anan drones on and on,..reforms, reforms..now
Our lovely MPs, live on and on,....planning for 2012.. NOW,
The Mau is still a hotbed, avoided by the 2012 team.....
Still, the Kenyans are too hungry to care...
A better country????, not yet there!!!
A TRIBUTE TO GPO
The world you left still wallows on, recklessly tittering from brink to edge,
The struggle you waged still gathers storm, a storm in a tea cup to a strong hurricane,
Your smile is gone from us, but your ideals still live on,
Injustices, corruption, poverty and hunger dot the sky,
Indecision, laxity, arrogance and ineptitude still run the ground,
Your cold body, our collective tears, and endless questions....
Investigations, are still going on, ON AND ON and on....
A monotonous cacophony of lies........
Clean blood , on and on....oozing from the innocents still,
We strive to lead our lives, on and on......brushing aside the unknown,
tears, loneliness, and fear,
Koffi Anan drones on and on,..reforms, reforms..now
Our lovely MPs, live on and on,....planning for 2012.. NOW,
The Mau is still a hotbed, avoided by the 2012 team.....
Still, the Kenyans are too hungry to care...
A better country????, not yet there!!!
A TRIBUTE TO GPO
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