Category Archives: Opinion

Goosebumps, tears  and Machiavelli(2)

Goosebumps, tears and Machiavelli(2)

This is a follow up on my post a fews days ago (Please find it here) about Kenya’s invitation to invite Sudan president al-Bashir on the promulgation of Kenya’s New Constitution. Many things have been said about it, I enjoy the Freedom to add. The things we don’t see are …More

Slumhugging in hugslum Kibera

Slumhugging in hugslum Kibera

Whatever happens in Kenya, we are not there yet…. But a lot of people are working on it. Today’s Newspaper (The Daily Nation), thought me that Nairobi’s informal settlements, Kibera has between the 6000 and 15.000 active NGO’s. According to the newspaper, there might an NGO for every 15 residents. …More

Goosebumps and tears

Goosebumps and tears

Funny feelings about the historic promulgation of Kenya’s new constitution. I did hardly see any prominent ‘good’ leader at the signing ceremony. All of them at least had a disputable reputation. But my impression might be wrong. The number one among those of course is …More

Namibia / Gambling machines from Russia in Caprivi

Namibia / Gambling machines from Russia in Caprivi

On my trip through Namibia’s Caprivi Strip, I stopped at a small coffee joint to satisfy my caffeine-needs. In the end, I am still a Dutch. It was not my first time that I visited this small place in one of the poorest areas of beautiful Namibia. The type of …More

Kenya /  Promptly Establish Special Tribunal

Kenya / Promptly Establish Special Tribunal

Human Rights Watch: Government, Donors Should Support Commission’s Findings on Election Violence
[inspic=143,left,,thumb](New York, October 15, 2008) – The Kenyan government and international partners should strongly support the call by the Waki commission investigating post-election violence to create a special tribunal to end Kenya’s cycle of impunity, Human Rights Watch said …More

Kenya / Coming up: pockets of rioting youth

Kenya / Coming up: pockets of rioting youth

The morning was quiet in Nairobi. This afternoon i visited the informal settlements Mathare and Kibera. Police was around and Mathare seemed realtively quiet. Downtown Nairobi though there were pockets of rioting youth. They were dispersed by special police forces that used teargas. Less than an hour later, I witnessed …More

Kenya / Nairobi: Just outside Parliament now

Kenya / Nairobi: Just outside Parliament now

Just outside Kenyan Parlement now. It’s still quiet, riot police are around and an old lady is removing dust from the streets in front of the Parliament buildings, thus giving them a final touch. She laughs at me, I greet her and I wonder what she thinks…

Kenya / Politicians seem to come from an other planet

Kenya / Politicians seem to come from an other planet

Good morning!
I woke up this morning realising how lucky I am. I went to bed with the story of a Kenyan who arrived in Nairobi confused. He spent his last money on the bus to flee for his life, because a group of soldiers and citizens came to his home …More

Kenya / Invitation to comment on Kenyan Elections: open letter to Kivuitu

Kenya / Invitation to comment on Kenyan Elections: open letter to Kivuitu

I just got this letter from one of my friends. Agree or not: it shows how part of Kenyans feel about what is happening to the country. Please feel welcome to comment on this open letter to Samuel Kivuitu, the Chairman of the Kenyan Electoral Commission. Comments will be shown …More

Togo / Lomé Togo-complot against the West (2)

Togo / Lomé Togo-complot against the West (2)

The masses decide the direction of history. Yes it is a cliché. Thanks for observing that. At least you know your cliché’s. And also: thew image is never as bad as reality, especially if you talk about so called African countries with political tension. Examples? My first visit to Nigeria …More

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