Palaver

Prime minister Raila Odinga was not meant to touch the solid gold World Cup Trophy because it is meant to be held aloft by Head of States only.

But when it landed at JKIA and Kibaki held it, the crowd shouted "Agwambo, Agwambo!" and PM walked up, first held Kibaki’s hand which bore the trophy and innocently curved his right hand on it.

 Hey, did I see one of those chaps carrying it around yank away Raila’s hand? Maybe the sponsors forgot Kenya’s, Zimbabwe’s and Madagascar’s peculiar power-sharing structure.

Despite the hue and cry over sourcing of VW Passats for Ministers and top government officials there is sunny side to it. The cars all come in silver colour and there are not as many Passats in this country as there are Toyotas, Nissans and Mercedes Benzes. Our ministers are literally tagged, you can pick out their cars outside any bar, lodge or shopping centre. Now, you can be sure you will not be seeing them trawling Koinange Street or any of our popular beer gardens after midnight, where they go to shake a leg.

Jomo Kenyatta had his way with words and obscenity at old age was part of his generational heritage. Like our grandfathers, it was more of a rebuke and reprimand than an insult. He never entertained the analogous expression of loyalty by politicians tuko nyuma yako! (We are behind you). He would take the microphone and angrily ask the speaker what he is doing on his back! Those who saw him in this mood report he was no-nonsense and you could easily taste his bakora (walking stick) for saying so.

Men who have heard about the coming of male birth-control pills, special gel, injection and patches, must be shocked and awed. It has always been the preserve of women and men view any form of birth control as a neutering process and grudgingly use them only to avoid diseases and paternity suits. But the honeymoon seems about to end and women could soon be sitting by the bedside as her man takes a glass of water and gulps down the pills. Only then can the cage of passion be unlocked. Will it fly in Kenya? Let’s wait and see.

And finally...

Here is something to remember late US Senator Edward Kennedy, as we clamour for reforms: "The Constitution does not just protect those whose views we share; it also protects those with whose views we disagree."
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