(Re)membering Kenya Vol 1
(Re)membering Kenya Vol 1

Author: wa-Mungai Mbugua

Publisher: African Books Collective

Published: 2010-11-01

Total Pages: 262

ISBN-13: 996602820X

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One of the critical questions that Kenyans have continuously asked is what went wrong in January and February 2008 with the peace they had hitherto enjoyed. There have not been readily available answers to this fundamental question. The collection of papers presented in this book attempt to provide, as a starting point, possible explanations for the events of early 2008 including key background issues in Kenyan history since pre-independence times. Based on a series of public lectures titled (Re)membering Kenya organized by the volume editors together with Twaweza Communications and sponsored by the Goethe-Institut Kenya, the Institute for International Education and The Ford Foundation the lecture series became a way of trying to get scholars to engage meaningfully with the Kenyan public on critical matters pertaining to their nationhoodeven if this entailed first calling to question the lie about the very ideas and practices upon which that nationhood is assumed to stand. A key lesson drawn from the unfolding discussions at the Goethe-Institut Kenya was that the 2007 elections debacle was merely the cusp of momentous crises to do with among other issues, governance, law and order, Parliaments abdication of its role in ensuring accountability from the Executive, dilemmas of identity and socio-economic marginality. The book is the first of three volumes under the (Re)membering Kenya series whose overall objective is to cast some new light on the various trajectories that informed the happenings of January 2008. The present volume brings together some of the best interpretative writing and suggestions on pertinent questions, past and present, ranging from the architecture of Kenyas ethnicity, Kenyanness, generational competition, socialization and violence, iconic representations of identity to the ongoing debate on the efficacy of the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC). It is hoped that the issues debated during the public lectures and documented herein will spur further discussions in other spaces within civil society organizations, among activists and in newspapers where the public might continue to expand their thinking on the complex task of (Re)membering Kenya.

(Re)membering Kenya Vol 1
(Re)membering Kenya Vol 1

Author: Mbũgua wa Mũngai

Publisher: African Books Collective

Published: 2010

Total Pages: 262

ISBN-13: 9966724478

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One of the critical questions that Kenyans have continuously asked is what went wrong in January and February 2008 with the "peace" they had hitherto enjoyed. There have not been readily available answers to this fundamental question. The collection of papers presented in this book attempt to provide, as a starting point, possible explanations for the events of early 2008 including key background issues in Kenyan history since pre-independence times. Based on a series of public lectures titled (Re)membering Kenya organized by the volume editors together with Twaweza Communications and sponsored by the Goethe-Institut Kenya, the Institute for International Education and The Ford Foundation the lecture series became a way of trying to get scholars to engage meaningfully with the Kenyan public on critical matters pertaining to their nationhoodóeven if this entailed first calling to question the "lie" about the very ideas and practices upon which that nationhood is assumed to stand. A key lesson drawn from the unfolding discussions at the Goethe-Institut Kenya was that the 2007 elections' debacle was merely the cusp of momentous crises to do with among other issues, governance, law and order, Parliament's abdication of its role in ensuring accountability from the Executive, dilemmas of identity and socio-economic marginality. The book is the first of three volumes under the (Re)membering Kenya series whose overall objective is to cast some new light on the various trajectories that informed the happenings of January 2008. The present volume brings together some of the best interpretative writing and suggestions on pertinent questions, past and present, ranging from the architecture of Kenya's ethnicity, Kenyanness, generational competition, socialization and violence, iconic representations of identity to the ongoing debate on the efficacy of the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC). It is hoped that the issues debated during the public lectures and documented herein will spur further discussions in other spaces within civil society organizations, among activists and in newspapers where the public might continue to expand their thinking on the complex task of (Re)membering Kenya.

(Re)membering Kenya Vol 2
(Re)membering Kenya Vol 2

Author: George Gona

Publisher: African Books Collective

Published: 2013-12-29

Total Pages: 234

ISBN-13: 9966028455

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Out of the first series of public lectures titled (Re) membering Kenya organised by the Volume editors together with Twaweza Communications and supported by the Goethe Institut Kenya, The Ford Foundation and the Institute for International Education, and whose key outcome was the publication of Remembering Kenya Vol.1 (2010) grew a second round of lecture series. The second series took cognisance of the fact that the problems that bedevil Kenya as a nation go far beyond questions of culture and identity that Volume 1 dealt with. Thus, the second presentations revolved mainly around issues of economics, governance and power. The awareness of the role and/or lack of equity and social justice in causing Kenyas persistent problems informed all these presentations. Issues of how to bring marginalised groups into the mainstream were discussed. This Volume, in part, arises from the second presentations. The authors of chapters attempt to provide answers to the question: what entails (re)membering in post-conflict Kenya? From their work, it is clear that there is a lot to (re)member in Kenya, and many ways in which to reconfigure project Kenya. (Re)membering is re-thinking and re organising our ways of doing things. It entails a juggling of priorities; between peace and reconciliation, peace and justice, and seeking justice and reconciliation without undermining peace, all of which are arduous exercises. Reconciling misconceptions about places, issues and people is part of this reconstitution too. New pathways require being embraced, past mistakes (individual and collective) acknowledged and giving earnest meaning to the vow never again! Yet, as observed in this Volume, Kenyans must be vigilant against individuals and groups that have often resisted change. There are also material constraints to the achievement of the various economic activities that come with reconfiguring the Kenyan nation. Worse still there exist certain cultural underpinnings that continue to have a debilitating effect on efforts to forge a sustainable peace after conflict. These aspects require deep reflection and honest work. In part, the contributors to this Volume suggest how it can be done. There is a hint in these chapters that we need to find new organizing spaces and principles on which a new Kenya can move forward. Equally, debating the very meanings of social justice and reconciliation against the background of potential conflict should be a project of this endeavor. Questioning and identifying where impunity begun is key to this process. In doing so, we begin liberating ourselves from Kenyan societys deep-rooted impunity. (Re)membering Kenya, after all, calls for a reconstruction of the journey to the conflict in order to find the right balance between the right of remembrance and the duty of forgetfulness.

(Re)membering Kenya Vol 2
(Re)membering Kenya Vol 2

Author: Gona, George

Publisher: Twaweza Communications

Published: 2014-01-16

Total Pages: 234

ISBN-13: 9966028404

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Out of the first series of public lectures titled (Re)membering Kenya organised by the Volume editors together with Twaweza Communications and supported by the Goethe Institut Kenya, The Ford Foundation and the Institute for International Education, and whose key outcome was the publication of Remembering Kenya Vol.1 (2010) grew a second round of lecture series. The second series took cognisance of the fact that the problems that bedevil Kenya as a nation go far beyond questions of culture and identity that Volume 1 dealt with. Thus, the second presentations revolved mainly around issues of economics, governance and power. The awareness of the role and/or lack of equity and social justice in causing Kenya's persistent problems informed all these presentations. Issues of how to bring marginalised groups into the mainstream were discussed. This Volume, in part, arises from the second presentations. The authors of chapters attempt to provide answers to the question: what entails (re)membering in post-conflict Kenya? From their work, it is clear that there is a lot to (re)member in Kenya, and many ways in which to reconfigure project Kenya. (Re)membering is re-thinking and reorganising our ways of doing things. It entails a juggling of priorities; between peace and reconciliation, peace and justice, and seeking justice and reconciliation without undermining peace, all of which are arduous exercises. Reconciling misconceptions about places, issues and people is part of this reconstitution too. New pathways require being embraced, past mistakes (individual and collective) acknowledged and giving earnest meaning to the vow 'never again!' Yet, as observed in this Volume, Kenyans must be vigilant against individuals and groups that have often resisted change. There are also material constraints to the achievement of the various economic activities that come with reconfiguring the Kenyan nation. Worse still there exist certain cultural underpinnings that continue to have a debilitating effect on efforts to forge a sustainable peace after conflict. These aspects require deep reflection and honest work. In part, the contributors to this Volume suggest how it can be done. There is a hint in these chapters that we need to find new organizing spaces and principles on which a 'new' Kenya can move forward. Equally, debating the very meanings of social justice and reconciliation against the background of potential conflict should be a project of this endeavor. Questioning and identifying where impunity begun is key to this process. In doing so, we begin liberating ourselves from Kenyan society's deep-rooted impunity. (Re)membering Kenya, after all, calls for a reconstruction of 'the journey to the conflict' in order to find the right balance between the right of remembrance and the duty of forgetfulness.

Historical Dictionary of Kenya
Historical Dictionary of Kenya

Author: Michael Mwenda Kithinji

Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield

Published: 2024-06-18

Total Pages: 617

ISBN-13: 1538157462

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Kenya has a rich and complex history. Due to the vast discoveries of prehistoric archaeological remains, Kenya is one of the few places in the world with the largest and most complete record of human’s cultural development. Furthermore, the country’s strategic location astride the Indian Ocean and the East African littoral attracted numerous foreigners such as the Arabs, Persians, Portuguese, Americans, British, Chinese, French, and Germans. Additionally, immigrants from throughout Africa and beyond have settled in Kenya to escape conflict or political persecution, while others wanted an opportunity to begin a new life. As a result of being a gateway to the world, the country traditionally has been one of the most important business, cultural, diplomatic, and political centers in Africa. Still, Kenya, like many other countries throughout the world, has been plagued by an increasing array of complex economic, political, and social challenges. Historical Dictionary of Kenya, Fourth Edition contains a chronology, an introduction, and an extensive bibliography. The dictionary section has more than 500 cross-referenced entries on important personalities as well as aspects of the country’s politics, economy, foreign relations, religion, and culture. This book is an excellent resource for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about Kenya.

Adjusting for Efficient Communication and Public Relations
Adjusting for Efficient Communication and Public Relations

Author: Sammy Kaunga

Publisher: IPR Journals and Book Publishers

Published: 2022-12-29

Total Pages: 124

ISBN-13: 9914728936

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TOPICS IN THE BOOK Media Strategies and their Influence in Communicating Information on Female Genital Mutilation: A Case of Meru Community in Tharaka District The Influence of Intercultural Communication on Maternal Mortality in Kibera Slum, Nairobi County Influence of Internal Communication on Innovation Performance of DTS In Kenya Hate Speech: A Derivative of Kenyan Politics? Influence of Framing of the Hashtag on Public Opinion Formation on Socio-Political Issues in Kenya

Zarina Patel: An Indomitable Spirit
Zarina Patel: An Indomitable Spirit

Author: Gona, George

Publisher: Zand Graphics

Published: 2016-01-28

Total Pages: 269

ISBN-13: 9966094504

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Zarina Patel is a writer, artist, human rights and race relations activist, environmentalist and campaigner for social justice. She is a leading authority on Kenyan South Asian history, and editor of the journal Awaaz, which focuses on South Asian history and culture in the national context. The book chronicles Zarina's multi-dimensional life. Although she was born and raised in an upper middle class family, she rejected opulence and sought personal liberty and fullfillment by identifying with multi-ethnic and multi racial groups that were struggling for human rights and freedom from exploitation and domination in Kenya. Additionally, her multi-dimensional life bears witness to the harsh realities that women in African and Asian communities face: the lack of independence to choose whom to marry, whether to have children, adherence to a particular religion, to name a few. Her dissent liberated her from the shackles of patriarchal Asian society, but also drew her to Kenyans of similar character and thinking. Zarina's biography echoes the lives of many women around the world playing a multitude of roles - as wives, mothers and professional women - who have struggled and have had to give up part of their dreams in order to succeed in each of these roles.

The Discarded Brick Volume 1
The Discarded Brick Volume 1

Author: Emmanuel N. Mukanga

Publisher: Notion Press

Published: 2021-05-14

Total Pages: 368

ISBN-13: 1638735808

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The discarded brick, a three season trilogy, in two volumes, is set in Africa, Europe and North America. It is about the travels and experiences of Emmanuel N. Mukanga who even in childhood, would be moved to a different location every three to five years. Born in the British Protectorate of Uganda, the changing political and economic fortunes of his post-independence homeland and region, led to thousands of his country people to flee and go look for greener pastures all over the world. This desire for a better and safer world, is a human desire and in Europe and North America, Emmanuel found people from other countries, in pursuit of happiness. Back home, not everyone was happy to co-exist with him. Fears and intrigue led to a family split, legal battles and irreconcilable differences. He and his siblings became a pariah to be avoided like the pest, The discarded Brick. Born in 1953, near the shores of Lake Victoria in Eastern Uganda, Emmanuel N. Mukanga was plucked from his parents at the age of three and taken to the Ugandan capital, Kampala. At age six, he was taken to a primary school, near Mbale in Eastern Uganda and at age nine transferred to Entebbe, former seat of the British Protectorate Government. At thirteen, he joined a prestigious boarding secondary school, after which he went to University to study the Arts. One of the reasons Idi Amin gave for expelling the 80,000 strong Indian Community from Uganda in 1972, was that, “they were milking the cow without feeding it,” which was not entirely true. He, who had no cow to milk, did not know that he too would have to leave his country of birth. He worked at Uganda Television, but in 1976, he fled Idi Amin’s Uganda, starting an odyssey that would take him to over 26 countries in Africa, Europe and North America. He interacted with many cultures, however, when it came to a denigration of his culture, at home, then a clash was inevitable. This awakened in him the question, “who are you, where do you come from and what do you stand for?” Cultural clashes, intrigue and legal battles follow. He has included an epilogue reflecting on his life and existence and tracing his origins among the Samia-Luhya, astride Kenya and Uganda. He started compiling this book in May 2009 and completed it in October 2020 during the great Covid 19 pandemic, and after George Floyd said twelve times, in less than 9 minutes, “Mama, I Can’t Breathe.”

Managing Heritage, Making Peace
Managing Heritage, Making Peace

Author: Annie E. Coombes

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing

Published: 2019-12-26

Total Pages: 293

ISBN-13: 0755627814

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Kenya stands at a crossroads in its history and heritage, as the nation celebrates its fiftieth anniversary of independence from Britain in 2013. At this important juncture, what parts of its history, including the Mau Mau uprising, do citizens and state wish to remember and commemorate and what is best forgotten or occluded? What does heritage mean to ordinary Kenyans, and what role does it play in building nationhood and forging peace and reconciliation? Focusing on the 1990s to the present, "Managing Heritage, Making Peace" is a timely exploration of the ways in which Kenyans are engaging with the past in the present, including such local initiatives as the community peace museums movement, local and national monuments and other notable commemorative actions. The authors show how Kenya is facing a continuing crisis over nationhood, heritage, memory and identity, which must be resolved to achieve social cohesion and peace.

Cultural Heritage Management in Africa
Cultural Heritage Management in Africa

Author: George Okello Abungu

Publisher: Taylor & Francis

Published: 2022-12-15

Total Pages: 226

ISBN-13: 1000799123

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Cultural Heritage Management in Africa explores the diversity of Africa’s cultural heritage by analysing how and why this heritage has been managed, and by considering the factors that continue to influence management strategies and systems throughout the African continent. Including contributions from prominent scholars and heritage professionals working across Africa, the volume presents critical, contemporary perspectives on the state of heritage in the area. Chapters analyse the practices that emanated from different colonial experiences and consider what impact these had – and continue to have – on the management of African heritage. It also critically examines the ideological influence of independence movements on the African continent’s management and remembering of heritage, and considers whether there are any differences in heritage management between countries that experienced armed conflicts and those that did not. The volume will be the first to critically assess the state of heritage management now, at a time when vital conversations about the balance between heritage and development is ongoing and the actions of new players have begun to impact the management and practice of heritage in the region. Cultural Heritage Management in Africa will be essential reading for those engaged in the study of museums and heritage, development, archaeology, anthropology, history and African studies. It will also be of interest to heritage and museum professionals who wish to learn more about the decolonisation of heritage.