Kenya National Commission on Human Rights: Safeguarding Human Dignity and Human Rights in Combating COVID-19 (29.04.2020)

Keeping up with Kaguta S1E12: It’s a Stupid Virus and don’t let the daughters touch the drivers…

Twelfth Time the charm, I suppose. As the President of Uganda is addressing his nation. I will not look into it all, neither dig to deep. Just take the gist of it all, as this thing is getting old. This is the second lockdown period and surely he will micro-manage some more and someone has pick up the slack tomorrow. Someone has make press releases and configure whatever the President said today. They will call it a Presidential Directive, but God knows where it is written.

So, with this in mind. I will just take a few favourable quotes. Since, to breakdown this speech is a waste of time and take the best and memorable quotes from him. Because, even if we are under lockdown, in quarantine or staying at home. We still want to spend that time with loved ones and not listening to the old man with the hat or trying to understand the “brilliance” or “vision” from this man.

Best quotes of the evening:

In the remaining days our experts are going to study more. Either our people are not getting sick or our people are dying” – Museveni (28.04.2020).

There is a possibility that there are no new cases. It could also be that people are getting infected but don’t get sick. It means they are getting immunity. 3rd possibility is people are dying but people don’t know it’s COVID19” – Museveni (28.04.2020).

Farmers should continue. This Virus is also stupid in a way. It is attacking people who are concentrated. It forgot that there are those who are not concentrated and yet the most useful” – Museveni (28.04.2020).

Stopping cargo is suicidal and unnecessary,it is suicidal because if we stop cargo how will our coffee, cement, Sugar,Milk etc be transported to our neighboring countries” – Museveni (28.04.2020).

Our daughters, tokwata ku driver oyo ate driver takukwatako. (don’t touch the cargo driver and don’t allow him to touch you)” – Museveni (28.04.2020).

I have been in statehouse here for 34 years but I have never bought even a toilet paper because it is not my job. There is a purchasing officer” – Museveni (28.04.2020).

Not that he said anything significant today or noteworthy. He mentioned how he was viewing the East Africa as a house. Uganda as the bedroom, Tanzania and Kenya as the Sitting-room. But we don’t know what Rwanda, Burundi or South Sudan is this manner. I don’t have the perfect quote, but he did that too tonight. Which is weird one in itself.

However, the rest is very standard. Just broad stories, which isn’t directing people, but just what he wants to talk about. Like the stupid virus who get spread in crowds, but on the countryside. Where the people are further between and farming the land. They are not as hard hit as the urban areas. Just like COVID-19 is hitting the capitals and metropolis of the world. That is why in his mind its stupid.

His then speaking of suicide to stop cargo-transport and also how drivers of those cargoes should not touch girls. Because, in sense he doesn’t want the drivers to be close to his citizens, but only transport goods and move along. Not be intimate or close to Ugandans. Because, the drivers are passing through and could bring the disease and therefore, the way of stopping the spread is not touching. Paternalism is a strong force with this one.

Well, if you thought you would get enlighten. You were apparently wrong. Well, that’s about it. He will come back for another edition or episode before the lockdown. As he has a comprehensive plan. He could have given a memo on that and not held a two hour speech. With little or nothing worth noting. Unless, this is a ego boost for the old man. Bosco aka Mzee wants the public to hear his voice and cough.

This was a waste of time. Peace.

Uganda: State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SH-ACU) – Cases of Illegal COVID-19 Motor Vehicle Stickers (28.04.2020)

Opinion: Kenyatta, this was not the time to give away the rose…

A world where roses bloom

And when you speak, angels sing from above

Everyday words seem to turn into love songs

Give your heart and soul to me

And life will always be

“La vie en rose”” Louis Armstrong – ‘La Vie En Rose’ (1950)

Well, I had to do this, as the Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta had the funds, the money and time to send 300 bouquets roses to the United Kingdom in solidarity. Not only that, the President booked a flight for this and wrote a message to front-liners of the UK. It is a nice gesture, but not the right time for him to do this. As the Kenyan economy, Kenyan society and citizens needs the support, his frontliners needs this and so fourth. Not sending this to London and the former colonizers. It is just weird. Could expect Macky Sall sending flowers to Paris. He loves France, but seeing Kenyatta doing this is just weird.

Just look at this:

There have been a few moments in history when the world has faced a crisis as far-reaching and consequential as this. It is exactly at moments such as this that we must display our humanity, perseverance and hope. Whatever the adversity, no matter the foe, we shall triumph together. We stand united. Tuko Pamoja.From Kenya with love – H E Uhuru Kenyatta” (Standard Media, 25.04.2020).

It is nice with solidarity and showing goodwill. Have never really any trouble with that. That is supposed to be positive. That its happening the opposite way is also a good thing. However, I hope the frontliners of UK is happy for this. Because, this is a costly endeavour and lack of priority.

Kenyatta should focus on fixing the Health Care, Hospitals, getting PPE and ventilators. Ensuring the governors have funds to give away food for the needy. Securing the citizens with what they need during the lockdown. Not, spending a fortune on a gig and gifts to the United Kingdom. This plane and the cost of doing so could have saved more lives and food for the ones whose starving. That is what the President decided to do.

The Kenyan President is free to do this, but he should answer the Parliament for the expenditure and the costs of doing this. Yes, the flower industry is hit – worldwide. That is why the Netherlands is struggling to sell their flowers on the European continent. The same is most likely hitting the Kenyan roses too. As the worldwide lockdown is hitting the export industry. The sending of 300 bouquets is a symbolic action to remember the flower industry in Kenya. However, the UK will not resolve this quickly. They will forget this act in a swift second.

As quick as the flowers came on the tables and to the frontliners. It will be forgotten in the heartache and suffering, as the COVID-19 deaths are appearing. Kenyatta should know this, but he uses yet another Cambridge Analytica PR Stunt. Thinking this will solve things. These flowers will be gone as I write. The bouquets will be forgotten in the UK.

Instead of using this resources, paying nurses, doctors and import needed goods. He spent a small fortune export flowers. That is wrong priorities in the midsts of this crisis. Some might say in the scheme of things, hiring the plane and buying the flowers isn’t so costly. Well, for the ones living hand to mouth and waiting for help. These funds are more valuable then ever. Especially, during a global pandemic. When IMF and other international organizations starting to suspend loan interests and others to cover the expenses of this time.

That is the moment to show austerity and priority for your own. That isn’t selfish, but the right thing to do. You are not trying to give the last rose on the Bachelor. No, you giving the ugali to the one person who needed it more. The UK don’t need your flowers now. Sure, they appreciated it and enjoyed it for a brief second. However, the cost for that isn’t worth it. Especially, knowing the state of affairs at home. Peace.

Sen. George Khaniri: Statement on Actual Response of hte Kenyan Government to Citizen during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Accountability of Government Spending (28.04.2020)

Gabon: Syndicat des Medecins Fonctinnaires Gabonais – Communique de Presse (27.04.2020)

South African Youth Council – Western Cape: Maintain COVID-19 Level 5 in the Western Cape (28.04.2020)

Consortium for Refugees and Migrants in South Africa (CoRMSA): National Freedom Day 2020 Commemoration, Citizenship cannot be the grounds for survivial (27.04.2020)

Ethiopia: Notification Note on COVID-19 Situational Update (28.04.2020)

Update on the COVID-19 Outbreak in Uganda (27.04.2020)