A CLENCHED FIST (and a mother's obsession)

I don't normally watch local news on TV simply because it is so depressing watching news. I always feel like punching the TV screen in fury. Yesterday I was watching news (actually forced to since I had no choice!) and I saw one of our minister saying the country doesn't need the ICC (International Criminal Court) anymore in terms of seeking justice for those who suffered and died during the post election violence after the chaotic 2007 general elections. He was echoing the Justice Minister who maintains the new constitution will take care of what the ICC is supposed to be doing.

These are some of the things that make me stop being patriotic. I mean how can this be? How can we just stand aside and listen our politician claim they have the answers to our collective problems? How can I feel proud when the new constitution doesn't put a limit to the kind of evil salary the MPs still earn in parliament?

It is true that those who lost their lives after 2007 won't come back to life. It is also true that those who lost their limbs, property, land and lives won't regain them. But then again telling them a new constitution will take care of the wrongs done is not acceptable. It is like telling a person who needs an outlet for their anger, frustrations and disappointment to seek a redress from the same person they see as their enemy.

I think we should be wise and sober enough as a country to allow the ICC (since we had allowed them to have the mysterious envelope) to go on with their work without any interference. We should seek to listen to every complain, disagreement, hidden national secrets and allow everyone to shed a tear, divulge a secret and get everything off their chest. I think ICC should be given a free hand to help us create a new Kenya where my mother won't ask for my wife's second name in order to place a tribal tag on her. This is the only way a new Kenya can be realized. That is what I want to see on the evening news.

There..... I think I have made my point about why I don't watch the news.