Drum me freedom
07/31/07
2:08 pm
Yes. I sit here at this second level of a wide flat
With a glass of hot water in my hand
It has lemon for my cleansing,
And honey for my healing and freeing.
I am looking outside at tall trees
And I get their energy that frees,
There is no sting in this bee.
If you ask, I will say it is just me.
I see the strength of the Nandi Flame tree,
I say to you who plays in my team
Drum me freedom!
Now you have got my name
There is nothing to tame,
It is I, of the family of the Mugumo.
I long for your burning flame.
I have had a tribal divorce,
But will not for that my tongue lose!
Burn this body I still feel freedom
Drum me freedom in my bosom
Drum me freedom that brings change
Drum me freedom when I wake
Drum me freedom in my choice
Drum me freedom when I sleep
Yes, drum me freedom when I swim.
Yes, I sit here and see the middle of the trees,
You have heard me of the freedom that cries,
Drum me freedom like the eagle,
That swoops and hovers over the bugle,
Drum me freedom of the little bird black blue,
That hops from branch to branch without a please.
Drum me freedom when I leap,
Drum me freedom when I dance,
Drum me freedom all the time.
Yes, drum me freedom and you will find,
All I have is freedom in me,
Freedom of colour just the ad,
Freedom within me bought with blood.
Freedom of all our people in one.
Drum me freedom so I grow,
Drum me freedom like a straw,
Drum me freedom in my voice,
I am already freedom in my choice,
I will speak politically free.
Drum me freedom when I speak.
Drum me freedom where I live,
Without a landlady Oh My Lord,
Coming to give me blows for her gold,
it is not her little money that I lack,
She will not stand the freedom of a woman,
Who says don’t paint me house am in.
She wants to drum me nose to no freedom,
Firm is my no, she cannot take it,
I dare live on a tree.
Well she would if it came from a man,
But here I am without a ban
For couloured freedom is my name
Bearing freedom was I born.
Birthing freedom my mother’s crown.
So drum me freedom with my pen
Drum me freedom in my den,
Drum me that, drum me this,
None will stand it save all my freedom.
Drum me the freedom of a victor!
Drum me freedom it’s our right!
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
reflections on Kenya, The TJRC and Civil Society
Truth must serve justice for Kenyans liberation today
By Achieng’ in Exile
“It is a basic and fundamental part of the work of civil society that we do not compromise on the threshold of impunity and also we must demand! In this we must stand united.”
Many voices have expressed lack of confidence in the leadership of Ambassador Bethuel Kiplagat as the Chairperson of the Truth Justice and Reconciliation Commission ( TJRC).
Some have gone to court against him citing that he knew of and could be implicated in human rights abuses. Kiplagat has stayed put and gone to court himself.
Cited in the arguments against for very concretely is that he served Kenya in various positions in the Moi regime. That was time when people were detained for holding dissenting in opinion.
Detention without trial and murders were common. Some of these people are actively trying to get Kiplagat off this Chairmanship. There are many other concerns and serious ones including knowledge he may have had on the assassination of Dr. John Robert Ouko Minister of Foreign Affairs when Kiplagat was serving in the same ministry and having attended a meeting that was held before the horrendous Wagalla Massacre.
Key things
The key things which should matter is that both victims and suspects should be able to come to a free and fair truth commission. For Kiplagat, beginning to seek legal protection now is to undermine the very concept of Truth and could lead to TJRC’s total loss of credibility. So Kiplagat, like Onyango Oloo, who was imprisoned and wants Kiplagat on the Chair arguing that the will deliver his much awaited for justice, should not preempt the work of the TJRC but submit themselves to it, not through the media.
Futher, the civil society, rather than expending energy consuming itself, should focus on the key priorities for the country, including seeking Truth and Justice, the constitution and the key priorities of the national Accord.
Everything else is a side show. Also, it is not unheard of for victims to begin to identify with their torturers in some kind of psychological empathy. We should all remember that Onyango is a victim as are many Kenyans.
Either we give the process credence by not undermining it and asking for it to be as transparent and above reproach, or we can start the trials by "mob lynching" with no guidelines, legitimacy or framework. This is wrong. I think if we are going to put people on trial, we should do as Professor Yash Ghai said, and form proper people's tribunals to run in parallel with the official ones.
We could also be more united in asking for the reforms that we want and which generations of Kenyans will need so badly! It is a basic and fundamental part of the work of civil society that we do not compromise on the threshold of impunity and also we must demand: That the people involved in the TJRC should be above reproach and clearly Kiplagat has failed the confidence test irrespective of what (Emeritus! ) Bishop Gitari thinks. What are they protecting? Let Kenyans be told.
We must stand united on this. Also, I believe that it would help to have internationally respected people involved in the commission. These are forgotten and we need them badly now, as all Kenyans have been implicated, one way or the other either as victims or as perpertrators.
By Achieng’ in Exile
“It is a basic and fundamental part of the work of civil society that we do not compromise on the threshold of impunity and also we must demand! In this we must stand united.”
Many voices have expressed lack of confidence in the leadership of Ambassador Bethuel Kiplagat as the Chairperson of the Truth Justice and Reconciliation Commission ( TJRC).
Some have gone to court against him citing that he knew of and could be implicated in human rights abuses. Kiplagat has stayed put and gone to court himself.
Cited in the arguments against for very concretely is that he served Kenya in various positions in the Moi regime. That was time when people were detained for holding dissenting in opinion.
Detention without trial and murders were common. Some of these people are actively trying to get Kiplagat off this Chairmanship. There are many other concerns and serious ones including knowledge he may have had on the assassination of Dr. John Robert Ouko Minister of Foreign Affairs when Kiplagat was serving in the same ministry and having attended a meeting that was held before the horrendous Wagalla Massacre.
Key things
The key things which should matter is that both victims and suspects should be able to come to a free and fair truth commission. For Kiplagat, beginning to seek legal protection now is to undermine the very concept of Truth and could lead to TJRC’s total loss of credibility. So Kiplagat, like Onyango Oloo, who was imprisoned and wants Kiplagat on the Chair arguing that the will deliver his much awaited for justice, should not preempt the work of the TJRC but submit themselves to it, not through the media.
Futher, the civil society, rather than expending energy consuming itself, should focus on the key priorities for the country, including seeking Truth and Justice, the constitution and the key priorities of the national Accord.
Everything else is a side show. Also, it is not unheard of for victims to begin to identify with their torturers in some kind of psychological empathy. We should all remember that Onyango is a victim as are many Kenyans.
Either we give the process credence by not undermining it and asking for it to be as transparent and above reproach, or we can start the trials by "mob lynching" with no guidelines, legitimacy or framework. This is wrong. I think if we are going to put people on trial, we should do as Professor Yash Ghai said, and form proper people's tribunals to run in parallel with the official ones.
We could also be more united in asking for the reforms that we want and which generations of Kenyans will need so badly! It is a basic and fundamental part of the work of civil society that we do not compromise on the threshold of impunity and also we must demand: That the people involved in the TJRC should be above reproach and clearly Kiplagat has failed the confidence test irrespective of what (Emeritus! ) Bishop Gitari thinks. What are they protecting? Let Kenyans be told.
We must stand united on this. Also, I believe that it would help to have internationally respected people involved in the commission. These are forgotten and we need them badly now, as all Kenyans have been implicated, one way or the other either as victims or as perpertrators.
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