Making Access To the National Flag Ordinary; Singing the National Anthem in Social Events ...

[Ukenya]

Morning Friends,

First, I think its important to start by making the point that being patriotic needs to be more than just wearing 'flags'; or singing the national flag. However, for most Kenyans thats the most patriotic duty they will ever do, and it might be a good place to start. 

So, from our last conversation we seem to be in agreement that having flags (or our flag colors) easily accessible to all Kenyans is the way to go towards starting the process of instilling that 'Ukenya' feeling within more and more Kenyans. In fact, some of us have admitted to having the flag in our houses, wrists, suit jacket lapels; as dresses, etc. I assume, like me who has it as a wrist-band; lapel pin and a set of cufflinks; we do this as a sign that above all else, we are Kenyans. I also assume that those who do it, do it as a sign to show our patriotism.

Action: Could the Waheshimiwas amongst us (Sakaja, Ochieng, Neto, Abdikadir, Priscilla ... ) help us with the content of the proposed bill on the issue of the national flag; especially what it seeks to have done/stop being done. We can use this to suggest workable interventions to achieve the goal of widening accessibility.

Discussion: It would also be interesting to hear what people think about the idea of having the national anthem played/sung not just at public national events where it is a requirement; but also at public social events; i.e. Weddings, Funerals, Parties, etc. Of course I do not suggest we make it a requirement in social events but I do know that enough of us have enough social clout in such events, even just as guests, that we can always silently lobby the organizers to have this activity in the program. It happened at the beginning and end of a wedding I was at recently, and it blew my mind.

Tuendelee kuongea ... Siku Njema
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[Muchiri Nyaggah]

Hi.

So glad this space is finally up and running!

I am all for the idea of encouraging event MCs/organizers to include the singing of the national anthem in their programs. Seems like something we can all do wherever and whenever we have the opportunity.

Meanwhile, while we work towards more citizen friendly amendments to the National Flag, Emblems & Names Act I suppose the language allows me to stick the flag on my car in the meantime :-)

Best regards,

Kind regards,

Muchiri Nyaggah

@muchiri

Cell: +254 722 506400

Skype: mrmuchiri

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Lets engage on what it means to say 'I Am Kenyan' ... today
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[oder...@gmail.com]

Hi guys! 

For those who are in  the dark check out the proposed bill under the parliament bill tracker. Its no. 22. Follow this url http://www.kenyalaw.org/klr/index.php?id=794 

Sent from Samsung tablet

[Nancy Chepkoech Muigei]

Greetings to All,

Thank you for including me in this listserve.I wasn’t in the first meeting and I have gone through the Ukenya.org site so as to understand the background and purpose of the group. First, I have to acknowledge this is the way to go! Second I have been having a discussion with myself today around the issues raised by the site such as nationhood and identity

I tend to think Kenya’s issues are masked and bound within identity. Identity is the mask we wear to view our world and during convenient times the mask can be put on and sometimes left out. Within the Kenyan context I think understanding how identity and notions of nationhood has been politicized would be important. It’s also important to critically analyze and question whether singing the national anthem or using national symbols will be away to address this issues. We have to examine Kenya’s troubled identity and nationhood within its historical, political, economic, cultural and social context. What contributions have others made as regards to these? And what were the issues raised then? And what are the issues we now raise.

Identity in itself cannot be a critical lens under which we can interpret the issues in Kenya , rather we need to have a broader picture and understand how identities have become politicized, and who is politicizing them? And why they are politicizing them? And what have been the trends so far? Can we break from them?

Kind Regards

Nancy Muigei

‘'The youth must read wide, learn the history of this nation, and undertake some project that will be geared to improve the economic, social and political status of this nation.The youth must unite reform, repackage and re-launch itself, or forever lament as it drips into a web of confusion, mere statistics and weapon of self and generational destruction.''
Oulu GPO, KENYAN YOUTH MAY LAMENT FOREVER, BUT THEY REMAIN OWN ENEMY, 6th January 2009

[Wambui]

Hello Gentlemen, 

Thank you Boni for the introduction, you are a great resource! 

 It is nice to meet you Ngunjiri. 

I really appreciate not feeling alone on this cause. It is far from health and the health sector but I want my flag! 

When I lived in Nyeri two years ago, in a tiny cosy flat from the balcony on a clear day you could see Mt Kenya. I always imagined taking a picture of the Mountain with our flag in the foreground. It would have been such a great picture. 

And now in the big Nairobi city, the same craving follows me. On patriotic holidays, I would like to raise my flag outside. During meetings with KMPDU, I would like to have the flag behind us watching over our deliberations and guiding our decisions, when we win in athletics, I want to fly the flag. 

It hurts me that my flag belongs to other people. 

So not one to sit on my hands and feel sorry for myself, I got my lawyer to start interpreting the laws on the flag. He tells me, I can't wear the flag on my waist or run with it on Kenyan and this could lead to criminal charges. How crazy is that? 

The bracelets, badges and ornaments are legal. But not the entire flag? Bizarre. 

He called me recently and informs me we have a pretty good case as a matter of public interest. We would be asking the court to interpret the law in line with the bill of rights and the constitution. The attorney general would be enjoined in the matter. 

Where I get stuck, is the case needs money. I don't have money. The starting figure is Ksh 200000 for filing the case. 

Then the case requires a lot of research, consultation and review and this will cost. It also needs good young brilliant  lawyers (that is what I am calling my lawyer; good young and brilliant :-)  ). Every step in the case will probably require funds. So I am reaching out for financial support.

This is not a small matter we have taken on gentlemen. We definitely need a multi-pronged approach. 

Advocacy, legislature lobbying to draft and support an amendment of the law (I have seen you have these two covered) and judicial interpretation (which I have begun). 

Can we work together? Can we assist each other? 

Looking forward to getting our flag back. 

Kind Regards,

Dr. Wambui Waithaka 

[Mugambi Laibuta]

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I have been following this conversation on the Kenyan flag. It is a great idea with deep symbolism. Being allowed to fly the Kenyan  flag anywhere gives a sense of identity. However, in my view that identity is cosmetic. A flag does not unite a nation, just as common borders do not make Kenya a nation. We are just a collection of tribes living within a common border, we are far from being a nation.

I work in informal settlements and the rural areas, how would the right to flying a flag help my  clients mashinani? Would it help the people of Mukuru, Kibera or Korogocho? I think not. Working with people mashinani has taught me one thing, the only issue that can generate an Ukenya feeling is doing away with poverty. Economic empowerment for all would ensure participation in governance, access to basic services and economic development.

To me Ukenya should be about helping the bulk of society in entreprenuership, ensuring food security and guaranteeing access to basic services like education, health and infrastructure. With the new system of government, we have a role to play to ensure targeted and comprehensive public participation in governance processes. Once we are able to have people demand for services at the national and county level, hold them accountable, engage in policy and legislative change and create wealth mashinani, then Ukenya will thrive.

Just my 2.5 cents

Best regards,

Mugambi Laibuta 

LLM (LSE), LLB (Moi), Dip. Law (KSL)

Ethics and Sustainability Consultant. | Advocate of the High Court of Kenya. | Mediator. | Monitoring and Evaluation Professional 

Director, Ethics and Sustainability - East Africa Limited

P.O. Box 6455 00300

Nairobi

Tel: +254 722 363 247

 
P Help protect the environment, Please don't print this email unless you absolutely need to. Thank you.

[Wambui Waithaka]

Every Kenyan deserves the freedom to choose for themselves if flying their flag in Mukuru, Maralal, Mpeketoni, Miwani, Nyahururu, Karbanet, Oloitoktok and anyone else will "help" their lives and/or generate an Ukenya feeling.
Currently, this decision has been made for all of us by an archaic law.

Democracy

Democracy will not come
Today, this year
Nor ever
Through compromise and fear

I have as much right
As the other fellow has
To stand
On my two feet
And own the land

I tire so of hearing people say,
Let things take their course.
Tomorrow is another day.
I do not need my freedom when I am dead.
I cannot live on tomorrow's bread.

Freedom
Is a strong seed
Planted
In a great need.
I live here, too.
I want freedom
Just as you.
                            Langston Hughes

Let us have the freedom to define our Ukenya for ourselves.

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From: Mugambi Laibuta <mlai...@gmail.com>
To: uke...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Thursday, August 22, 2013 11:29 AM
Subject: Re: [ukenya] Making Access To the National Flag Ordinary; Singing the National Anthem in Social Events ...

[JULIANI]

Wakurugenzi,

Nimekua nikipima hii conversation. We have good intention lets look at it in another angle. If you walk to town and look around at how people dress from head to toe one way or the other there is an artistic interpretation of the flag. Lets encourage more of this.

Before we get to Kenyans putting up flags lets create and encourage platforms that enables this kinda expressions.

I am Kenyan but I have a way of expressing it and its evident in all our youths.

From getting a jacket from kigomba and customising with the kitenge print, from t-shirts to music expression.

This are the tools that will help before we get to legislature. Ama vipi? Lets make visible.

Kizungu yangu imekwama hapo...

Kutabadilishwa na nani KAMA SI SISI.

[Daniel Waweru]

On 22 August 2013 11:29, Mugambi Laibuta <mlai...@gmail.com> wrote:

A flag does not unite a nation, just as common borders do not make Kenya a nation. We are just a collection of tribes living within a common border, we are far from being a nation.

Here's way in which you can very quickly discover that there is such a thing as a Kenyan identity: live outside Kenya, preferably in an African or European country, for a year.

Just one small example. A friend was managing a small project in South Africa. She offered her employees double their usual money if they agreed to work on weekends. All the South Africans refused; all the Kenyans, of different ethnicities, ages, and genders, gladly took up the offer.

Daniel Waweru,

26 Hai Phen,

Bodoni, 

Caissa Superiore,

Republic of San Serriffe

[Wambui]

From the papers.. 

http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/mobile/?articleID=2000091736&story_title=keynan-seeks-stiff-penalties-against-those-flying-flag

Kind Regards,

Dr. Wambui Waithaka