By Charles Ochen Okwir – 9^th-15^th Aug 2010

Mr. Okwir

Kenyans, for all their recent political troubles, achieved something truly magnificent last week.  As a people, they finally voted [in a referendum] for a new constitution which they had, rather unusually, debated and mauled over for more than two decades.  That, by any standards, must be something worth a celebratory drink for all Kenyans.

Besides, coming less than three years after the violent general elections of December 2007 that claimed the lives of over 1,000 people, the fact that this referendum passed off peacefully is another great achievement worthy of mention here.  What a contrast to the ruling NRM’s internal elections in Uganda [around the same time] that were marred by gunshots, widespread rigging, and intimidation. (more…)

By Abbey K. Semuwemba – 9^th-15^th Aug 2010

Mr. Semuwemba

I would like to agree with Daniel Kalinaki’s analysis of Timothy Kalyegira as a “conspiracy theorist” rather than a “terrorist”.  There is an old saying that one can never convince anyone who doesn’t wish to be convinced.

I therefore think whatever Kalyegira writes is up to the readers to make up their own minds on whether it’s true or not.  I don’t believe in conspiracy theories but I think it’s wrong for a government to arrest a journalist for writing something that they feel passionate about.  As long as the mainstream media continues to leave some important questions lying dormant, people will write their own opinions and there is very little the state can do about it. (more…)

By Lawrence Kasozi – 9^th-15^th Aug 2010

The recent jailing of Mr. Geoffrey Onegi Obel, the former National Social Security Fund board chairman, has greatly saddened me.  Onegi Obel was sent to Luzira prison after his bail was cancelled by the Chief Magistrate of the Anti-Corruption Court. (more…)