After a long break, Maisha ni Matamu got together again this week for a special art trip. Unfortunately, our beloved van broke down on the road.
All the kids were very helpful and co-operative in getting us safely off the road and towed back home.
While we waited for Bernard to tow us, the kids all got a pack of colour pencils, a rubber, a sharpener and a ruler - courtesy of "The Chets and Sona Art Fund"
Hopefully, we'll be back next week!
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Thursday, February 19, 2009
URGENT CALL FOR ACTION
A very good friend of mine, Philo Okonya was arrested yesterday outside parliament. Last Sunday, Philo spent the afternoon with is reading in Uhuru Park from her latest book, "The Kenyan Boy Who Became President of America.". She mentors Kenyan girls raped in the post-election violence, protests government corruption, wields her pen with fierce, lyrical intelligence in the global media. Philo organizes, campaigns, writes, sings, publishes and raises her son single-handedly. Yesterday, along with other activists, she stood outside Kenya's Parliament, holding a 2-kilogram bag of maize flour in silent protest at the government corruption that has led to mass hunger in Kenya. She and two other activists, Chrispus Fwamba and Patrick Kamotho, were grabbed and manhandled by the police, and are now being held, without charges, in Nairobi police stations.
An email from the PEN Kenya treasurer, Khainga Ookwemba, says:
Philo has been physically brutalized by a police officer, who pulled her chest as she demanded the police give her a phone, which had been taken away. Lawyers Elisha Ongoya and Anne Njogu are demanding her release so that she can receive medical treatment. By the time of writing this note, they had denied her bond and release.
A press release from the Mars Kenya Group says:
Philo Ikonya's clothes were ripped off and the police have refused her access to clothing. Please ACT TODAY, to have Philo Ikonya, and the others arrested with her, released. Take the steps below. Post this call to your networks, websites, listserves.
1. Send a text message TODAY, to Kenya's President and Prime Minister. Use the one below, or craft your own.
To President Mwai Kibaki (via his spokesperson, Alfred Mutua):
Cellphone number + 254 721 240 443
To Prime Minister Raila Odinga
Cellphone + 254 733 620 736
Attorney General:
Amos Wako + 254 722 772 453
Mr. Kibaki / Mr. Odinga - we hold u accountable 4 police violence and illegal arrests of Philo Ikonya n other civil society activists. Release them NOW and fire Police Commissioner Ali!
2. Send an email
To President Mwai Kibaki president@statehousekenya.go.ke
To Prime Minister Raila Odinga railaodinga@yahoo.com
Suggested Message:
Mr Kibaki / Mr. Odinga, I urge you to act immediately to release Philo Ikonya, Fwamba Chrispus, and Patrick Kamotho from illegal police custody. Police Commissioner Ali must be fired for presiding over escalating police violations of civil and human rights in Kenya.
Signed: Name, Organization / Affiliation (if any), City, Country
3) If you are a Kenyan repeat steps 1) and 2) with your own MP and other parliamentarians. Contact details for Kenyan MPs here or here
4) If you live outside Kenya, repeat steps 1) and 2), directing the texts and emails to the Kenyan Ambassador or High Commissioner in your country.
5) If you are a foreign national living in Kenya, repeat steps 1) and 2) with the Ambassador or High Commissioner of your country in Kenya.
6) Copy to the Feedback Form on the site of the Kenyan Police Force: http://www.kenyapolice.go.ke/contactus.asp
7) Copy Kofi Annan, in his capacity as the head of the Kenya National Dialogue and Reconciliation Process, through his spokesman: Nasser.Ega-Musa@unon.org
An email from the PEN Kenya treasurer, Khainga Ookwemba, says:
Philo has been physically brutalized by a police officer, who pulled her chest as she demanded the police give her a phone, which had been taken away. Lawyers Elisha Ongoya and Anne Njogu are demanding her release so that she can receive medical treatment. By the time of writing this note, they had denied her bond and release.
A press release from the Mars Kenya Group says:
Philo Ikonya's clothes were ripped off and the police have refused her access to clothing. Please ACT TODAY, to have Philo Ikonya, and the others arrested with her, released. Take the steps below. Post this call to your networks, websites, listserves.
1. Send a text message TODAY, to Kenya's President and Prime Minister. Use the one below, or craft your own.
To President Mwai Kibaki (via his spokesperson, Alfred Mutua):
Cellphone number + 254 721 240 443
To Prime Minister Raila Odinga
Cellphone + 254 733 620 736
Attorney General:
Amos Wako + 254 722 772 453
Mr. Kibaki / Mr. Odinga - we hold u accountable 4 police violence and illegal arrests of Philo Ikonya n other civil society activists. Release them NOW and fire Police Commissioner Ali!
2. Send an email
To President Mwai Kibaki president@statehousekenya.go.
To Prime Minister Raila Odinga railaodinga@yahoo.com
Suggested Message:
Mr Kibaki / Mr. Odinga, I urge you to act immediately to release Philo Ikonya, Fwamba Chrispus, and Patrick Kamotho from illegal police custody. Police Commissioner Ali must be fired for presiding over escalating police violations of civil and human rights in Kenya.
Signed: Name, Organization / Affiliation (if any), City, Country
3) If you are a Kenyan repeat steps 1) and 2) with your own MP and other parliamentarians. Contact details for Kenyan MPs here or here
4) If you live outside Kenya, repeat steps 1) and 2), directing the texts and emails to the Kenyan Ambassador or High Commissioner in your country.
5) If you are a foreign national living in Kenya, repeat steps 1) and 2) with the Ambassador or High Commissioner of your country in Kenya.
6) Copy to the Feedback Form on the site of the Kenyan Police Force: http://www.kenyapolice.go.ke/
7) Copy Kofi Annan, in his capacity as the head of the Kenya National Dialogue and Reconciliation Process, through his spokesman: Nasser.Ega-Musa@unon.org
And they asked him:
Why do you sing?
And he answered, as they seized him:
I sing because I sing
And they searched his chest
But could only find his heart
And they searched his heart
But could only find his people
And they searched his voice
But could only find his grief
And they searched his grief
But could only find his prison
And they searched his prison
But could only see themselves in chains
From Poem Of The Land, by Mahmoud Darwish
Why do you sing?
And he answered, as they seized him:
I sing because I sing
And they searched his chest
But could only find his heart
And they searched his heart
But could only find his people
And they searched his voice
But could only find his grief
And they searched his grief
But could only find his prison
And they searched his prison
But could only see themselves in chains
From Poem Of The Land, by Mahmoud Darwish
Sunday, February 15, 2009
The Jungle Playground
After a failed and somewhat disturbing attempt to visit this interesting art project in Kibera, we decided to go instead to the Jungle Gym Playground on Limuru Road.
Maisha ni Matamu has to take a break for a couple of weeks, but we'll be back on March 15th. And we will see the art project in Kibera!
Maisha ni Matamu has to take a break for a couple of weeks, but we'll be back on March 15th. And we will see the art project in Kibera!
Levi ponders the futility of it all:
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Uhuru Park Book Reading
Uhuru Park was buzzing when we got there. There were preachers, musicians, families, horses, boats and an endless supply of vendors trying to entice the kids into buying balloons and toys.
We were so lucky to have Philo Ikonya with us. She is the author of the children's book "The Boy Who Became President of America."
Although all the children knew of Barack Obama, they were inspired and amazed by the stories about him and his family.
A big thank you to Philo and Rene for their time and kind words.
We were so lucky to have Philo Ikonya with us. She is the author of the children's book "The Boy Who Became President of America."
Before she arrived, we begun our picnic with ham sandwiches, crisps and juice:
Although all the children knew of Barack Obama, they were inspired and amazed by the stories about him and his family.
A big thank you to Philo and Rene for their time and kind words.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Ramoma - Museum of Modern Art and Arboretum
This week, we visited the beautiful Modern Art Gallery - RaMoMA on 2nd Parklands.
After the amazing dose of artistic inspiration, we went to the Nairobi Arboretum for a picnic and some football.
Thanks to the beautiful Susan Njuhi for coming along with us!
After the amazing dose of artistic inspiration, we went to the Nairobi Arboretum for a picnic and some football.
Thanks to the beautiful Susan Njuhi for coming along with us!
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Village Market - Dreamzone
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)