EZEKIEL MUTUA vs. CARTOONS

Digital migration might have succeeded, but the "Single-National Channel" Era lives on in the Moral Crusader!
Almost Everything Ezekiel Mutua aka 'KFCB' does that catches our attention seems to be in reaction more than action-based. The latest Cartoon stunt was no different. At what cost, though?
The only sure way to censor and monitor every single content out there is to revert back to the 1960s!
  

EZEKIEL MUTUA vs. CARTOONS (The Moral Crusader is HERE to save us!): https://t.co/JibaWYszLI 

— Camillah Agak (@KnightCamila) June 18, 2017

ICC on Katanga Case: Oh, the things I Hear!

A 131 page decision (in french) on awards to victim of crimes by Germain Katanga was delivered last month. The initial 16 year sentence was passed on March 2014. So, it took almost three years for victims to be given $250 (KSH 250,000 roughly). Now, the calendar is marked to follow up on how the awards will be implemented.
Coming from a society that is marred with a negative outlook at the existence of ICC, it is imperative that the implementation works. Or in the least, seem to work. It has to. Word on the street (well, more like_on a bus) already, is that some victims might not get their fair share as the system is bound to face some hitches either at ground level; or right from the top. The dates of the order, and decisions of the court was also thrown into the mix. Apparently, it is suspicious that the order was given over a year after the accused completed his sentence (January, 2016). But, that's not sixteen years, you say? Well, it was reduced. Years already spent in remand also deducted. Another theory was that, the good court was trying some damage control after a number of threats by African states to pull out of the Rome Statute.
 " It seems like they're all ganging up on us. Let's throw them a bone. Then again, we can't just neglect all these victims. $250 each should cover it!"

One hit that was trying the hardest was that both the sentences being in March can't have been a coincidence. That minds have already been made up on these things, and dates too. Only a naive person might take it as due process.
Next thing I know, the conductor is hitting the side of the matatu so hard and signaling me to alight. I had reached my destination.  Indeed, I was quite surprised that people were even talking of these kinds of things. Most of it was banter, but still. One of those conversations that you somewhat wish to continue with the strangers just to hear how it ends. Before Uhuru-Ruto cases were taken up by ICC, barely any ordinary mwananchi had heard of this Court. Now everyone is an expert on all-matters-ICC.

                                      (Shot of excerpt from ICC Twitter page)

I had just eavesdropped on a conversation for about 12 minutes. If those were the thoughts of two, three individuals on a random matatu, I wondered then, how people in DRC Congo felt about the outcome in Katanga. The much I know about law led me to believe that this order and earlier decisions on the case were, well, fair. Justified, maybe. Clearly its not about how I understood it. That little banter gave an insight to the perspective I had completely ignored. 

What to watch out for in 2017!!

So, 2017 is here with us! I can’t help but focus on what needs to be watched out for in the coming 12 months. Not sure what you have lined up but I have a list of my own. Note, these are not new year resolutions. Just things that anyone who lived through 2016 might keep an eye out for. Randomly listed, here goes:

1.      Kenya general elections

Will it be Jubilee or Cord, or maybe even a surprise twist president? If a fellow Kenyan is reading this, you probably know that there is a higher chance for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than anyone other than one from jubilee or cord to bag this. Of course anything can happen in a democratic society, but I wouldn’t bet on it. The incumbent, his H.E Uhuru Kenyatta is Jubilee Party’s flag bearer. CORD still insists on remaining all mysterious. At the back of our mind though, we know Hon. Raila Odinga stands a better chance than anyone else. Elections is still months away. If at all it is to happen this year.  The main players already have tricks up its sleeves (no pun intended) to favour them: an ongoing pursuit foolproof electoral laws, party alliances, mass campaign drives etc. It is going to be a busy year for #KOT, ohh the memes. After all is said and done, the most important thing is to have a fair, credible & transparent election for everyone involved to peacefully move on no matter who wins.

2.      Global war on terror!

The first headline in international news this new year was been the night club shooting in Istanbul that left at least 39 innocent people dead. Turkey has officially named it a terrorist attack. A manhunt is currently underway for the unknown attacker. Despite the fact that Turkey is vulnerable target to terrorism, it has been said time and again that it can happen to anyone. It is practically impossible to prevent every single attack but if a concerted effort is made by everyone, then a lot can be done to stop terrorist. This includes discouraging islamophobia or perpetuating notions associating terrorism with Islam. We don’t need to see media outlets trip over themselves trying to link every terrorist to ISIS or mental illness. Nub a terrorist, subject him/her to the necessary protocol and close that chapter. There will never be an excuse solid enough for anyone to walk into a crowded place and brutally murder others minding their own business.

3.      Out goes Ban Ki-Moon, in comes Antonio Guterres

After 10 years as UN Sec Gen, Ban Ki-Moon laying down his mantle of service. Mr. Guterres will have to fill really big shoes. He will get to form opinions on matters that constitute threats to maintenance of international peace and security. For the next five years, Antonio Guterres gets to act as what U.S president Roosevelt described the “world moderator”. He has notable experience working with the UN but the international community is at a place where one would need really thick skin and a lot of coffee to be handle this office. North Korea is constantly on one nuclear test after another, terrorism is taking the world by storm, refugee crisis on an all time high, and this man Donald Trump, the next president of US, so help us God. I personally feel 5 years is not really enough for such a role.

4.      Samsung mini toasters

After the Samsung galaxy S7 train wreck, waiting to see how its next upgrade will do. Seeing the expensive devices burst into flames just made me hold on tighter to my Chinese model (probably a kid’s homework). It is undeniably interesting to keep up with latest mobile tech updates especially the competition between Apple, Samsung and well, the rest <cough> infinix>> Ahem. It would really be nice Samsung tried to coming up with original innovations and not “copy paste” from competitors. What’s with the airpods?  Samsung ought to have tried some mystery for it upcoming S8, you know, maybe make one wireless earpiece for one ear and maintain the good old design for the other ear. This might have been hilarious enough to help since no one ever takes the (L) and (R) on earphones too seriously.  Now, just throw in the USB-C while you’re at it. We know the drill.

5.      ICC’s next move. Survival of the fittest

the Court had a pretty rough 2016. From, threats of withdrawal by some of its members (including Gambia, home of the current chief prosecutor); reduced confidence in its ability to execute its mandate by the allegation that it targets African countries; A tight budget in a crucial time.  It wanted a 7% increase of its annual budget so as to try to get out of the woods, but got only got 3%.  This year, we will get to see whether the withdrawal threats from Kenya, Philippines, Burundi South Africa holds water and what The Hague based Court will do to overcome these not so slight road bumps. So, what is it doing now? I understand (and you can fact check this. I don’t run a gossip blog oh) that it plans to broaden its scope to prosecute crimes that resulted from illegal land grabbing & environmental destruction. Then, there’s the recent vote by the UN for investigations (that can take months) into “possible” war crimes or crimes against humanity in Syria... which is NOT in Africa. Over 400,000 deaths later but it is still “supposed”. If they get something there, UN Security Council might refer the case to ICC. In as much as I support this whole nationalism of countries intending to withdraw, it is however hard to ignore the looming dark cloud subtly shouting that these intentions are more political than humanitarian. The fate of the ICC is not yet a cut-clear case. The challenges it is facing might have dire ramifications but hope 2017 throws it a bone.

6.      And the ramifications of a Donald J Trump presidency

There’s no way I was going to leave this one out. Am sure Trump is counting the days until he takes office. Needless to say, I’m curious to see if the constant twitter rants will be implemented. 2017 is important because it will be the ground base for what his term might look like. Am certainly not on the edge of my seat as I had been when it first dawned on millions of pro-Hillary  that the glass ceiling will remain intact a little while longer.

7.      Anything in between.

I cannot possibly exhaust this list. Awards, surprises viral internet sensations and other things not carried over from 2016.

Time to take this head-on.