Everybody's got the right to be happy...

Time is ticking away! Did my 45th and likely final case today. Then went souvenir shopping.


It seems silly to mention in this land of want and sacrifice, but do you know how much it killed me to miss the Emmy Awards????? I am addicted to awards shows, and not only for the fashion like some of my friends. I genuinely enjoy the bits and the speeches. If only my computer weren’t so riddled with viruses that I can’t see YouTube… Grrrrr.

Oh, and since I temporarily have unlimited internet, I attempted to access Netflix. Guess what? Can’t stream outside the US. Bummer.

Let’s see. I did promise at some point to give a quick peek at Kenyan history. This is going to be an exercise in seeing how much I retain from reading the newspaper three days ago… ;-)

Despite the timeless landscapes and rich, enduring heritage, Kenya is a fairly young country. A product of colonial expansion, the British held on to the country, for its plentiful agricultural resources until the people demanded liberation in the form of a band of rebel fighters called the Mau Mau. Though the Mau Mau was technically defeated and its leaders were forced to live in hiding in the forests, it advanced the cause of independence (the populace was straining under frank segregation in education and opportunity). The country was turned over by Governor MacDonald to the government of the nation’s first president Jomo Kenyatta in December of 1963, amid much pomp and circumstance.

Despite the takeover, the new government left many of the British political systems in place. There seems to be some element of discordance at this point, as a portion of the country reveres Jomo Kenyatta and credits him with strong leadership that allowed Kenya to come forward as an independent nation. Others feel that his party had little to do with the fight for independence, and it was simply a matter of trading one autocracy for another. To be sure, the executive branch in this government is strong, as there have only been three presidents in the 47-year history of this independent nation.

Government has been very centralized, which has led to opportunities for corruption. Many Kenyans blame their woes on this idea of “Nairobi” whether that means the central government or the governors is unclear.

However, after years of debate and revision, the country finally passed a new consititution. Among other things, it decentralizes the government. What I have found most interesting is the range of expectations this change brings. For some, it means building new offices; for others, employment opportunities cleaning those offices. For even fewer, it means taking control of community projects, being able to control local income and revenue without watching it all go into unknown pockets in Nairobi.

It was an amazing time to be in the country, listening to the fervor of a people empowered.

That’s it for Stephanie’s History Corner. Only one more blog from Kisumu!!!!