Palaver
Strength of a woman, we love to sloganize. All power and love to Mother! When it comes to Mothers Day.
So it was no wonder that many of the people at the front of the crowds that sent former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to hospital were women. Today, women in Egypt hold just over 2 per cent of the seats in parliament, down from about 12 per cent in the last elections held under Mubarak. Today women are fighting for a piece of the state pie. In fact, there were no women involved in the constitutional amendments adopted in a nationwide referendum last year. “And there are no women among the 13 candidates who will be on the ballot today, when voting begins in the first post-Mubarak presidential election.” Tough. You ask Martha Karua how many nails they have had to bite to be where they are. Ask Wangari Maathai why only death could shame the men into recognising her global stature. I could name more...just pray for Egyptians not to make the same mistakes of exclusion that we are so fond of.
Palaver’s favourite President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is at it again. Blockade or not, sanctions or not, the man is demanding the right to attend the Olympic Games in London to support Iranian athletes. So, why are the British jittery? What ever happened to the keep your friends close and enemies closer maxim?
Kenyans will bicker over everything and anything right from the shape of the national cake to who will bake it, which tribe’s turn it is to wield the knife, the sitting arrangement at the table and even which side of the fish Migingo Island should sit. Not so the Ugandans. Our neighbours have “postponed” the national census scheduled for August for another year. Reason? They only have Sh26b of the required Sh140b. Strange fellows these Ugandans. There have been no reports of Kampala taken over by hordes demanding President museveni be impeached with Haki Yetu ! and FuluFulu Condition! No self-respecting Kenyan would take a decision not to be counted lying down. Never!
And Finally...
What would happen if Deputy PMs Uhuru Kenyatta and Musalia Mudavadi stormed the building housing the PM and demandED office space? They are the PM’s principal deputies, aren’t they?
editorial@standardmedia co.ke
