Tuesday, October 25, 2005

Entering the fray

Listening to constitutional debate on radio I just had to enter the fray!
When a provision or exception is enshrined in a constitution, it is "special".
It can't be amended or toyed around with by ordinary Act of Parliament!
When a constitutional provision donates to Parliament the power to make exceptions to it, then it's a different story!
It can be amended or toyed around with by an ordinary Act of Parliament!
In other words there is a pretty HUGE difference between exceptions expressly enshrined in a constitution (as contained in the present Kenyan Constitution) and those which a constitution leaves to Parliament to decide (as contained in the Proposed New Constitution of Kenya)
Even if (which is not the case) parliament under a proposed new constitution proceeded, on a donated power to enact the exceptions "as is" in the present Kenyan Constitution, such exceptions would only have the status of ordinary legislation easily amended by parliament on a whim.
On the other hand, exceptions expressly enacted in a Constitution are not nearly as easily amended.
So it all comes down to trust!
Are we willing to let Parliament, by simple majority, decide who lives, or would we rather the right to life was not left to the whims of the simple majority of a changing parliament?

Eye-catching post by "kenyanprodigaldaughter"

Came across this old post by the "daughter" and just had to repost it here!

Her blog is at http://kenyanprodigaldaughter.blogspot.com/

Its been 12 years, 10 months and 6 days since i first got here. yes, even me i can't believe i've been here this long. yes, even me, i was one of those who gawked, scoffed and frowned upon "those" people who'd lived out here so long, never imagining i'd become one of "them". after years of contemplating my identities as black and female and african and feminist and city bred and third world and kenyan blood and american education and christian-raised and rasta-believing and... and... and more years of constantly conjuring up ways to keep those damn karatasi's on the up and up, signing up for OPT upon certificate upon degree upon OPT upon degree, cursing tom ridge then applying for the lottery and never winning; and months of holidays at home and feeling a displaced kind of settled only to return and be mad at the whole world and swear up and down the standard "aki me i'm thru with stato! i'm moving back! i'm moving back... soon!", i'm now one of the brave/foolish ones taking the plunge/setting flight.so, this august i'm heading back home. i have TWO months.
**please excuse me while i go panic for a little bit**

Thursday, October 13, 2005

It's been awhile

It's been awhile!
Not much to say - it's past midnight and tomorrow's a working day!
Think i'll explore the world of flamenco guitar for awhile!
Till next time!
:)