Stop the violence!!

The joy and pride I was brimming with yesterday is sadly nowhere to be found today.

A colleague just walked in saying he had been mugged by a group of youth who inspected his ID and told him "Its good you're not a Luo. Those Luos will see us [watatuona]."

Another colleague tells us a story of his friend who escaped narrowly when he drove away from a crowd demanding to see his ID.

Who are these people? What is going on?

I'm particularly subjective today as I strongly support one side and believe that one specific party is squarely responsible for the violence and renewed tribal animosities we are witnessing today because they are refusing to take their fate like men and admit defeat.

But I won't get into that cos that storo will never end.

However, I believe it is time for those who are trying to be underhanded to stop!!! This country is much bigger than your selfish interests, you nasty bunch of losers!!

We have lived and still live side by side and your petty ambitions are irrelevant. We hang out together, we get married to each other, we work together.

Stop it and walk away. Read the writing on the wall. We are done with you. Even if you slither back, we WILL get rid of you eventually. We may fight today, we may be unreasonable and make off-hand senseless remarks about each other. But tomorrow, we will heal. We will rise above your mercenary shenanigans and then, THEN, we will have a common enemy and it will be you!!

And God help you when we set our sights on you!!

Make no mistake, we will get you.

I hope and pray that people across the country will come to their senses. Our power is not in pangas or sticks or violence, our power, our strength is our vote and our voice.

Let us not sacrifice our gains and growth at the hands of a bunch of grumpy old men who are out of touch with the times.

And I hope Odinga and Kibaki realize, and quickly, that they need to stand together and save this country before it burns.

Who will save our country? I know I sound alarmist, but my blood curled when my colleague walked in with that story. It could be me, it could be one of the people I love. And the next person will not be so lucky. And it could be you.

God bless Kenya.

Ecstatic!!!

WHAT!!! I must partake of some serious celebratory bevs today. Everytime I think about the results, I swear I get teary-eyed.

I am SO proud of Kenyans today. With turn-out set to rock over 80 %, we are making history here people!!

Need hanky for real. It’s getting real emotional for me yaani!!

Revolution!!

We all knew it was coming, but I don't think even the most ardent of those of us who were clamouring for change could have ever predicted this.

I dare say, this is a revolution we are witnessing in Kenya.

At my last count, and according to unofficial results by Kenyan media stations, atleast 12 immediate former ministers have lost their parliamentary seat. What!?

Moody Awori, Simeon Nyachae, Kipruto Arap Kirwa, Moses Akaranga, Musikari Kombo, Raphael Tuju, Mutahi Kagwe, Paul Sang, David Mwiraria, Njenga Karume, Newton Kulundu, Kalembe Ndile, Mohammed Abdi… And I fully expect a few more scalps by the end of the day.

Also, news just in, Paul Muite has lost in Kikuyu!

Unfortunately Michuki "the rattler" has managed to slither back. But the foundations have been laid.

I am overwhelmed!! Really I am. I am bursting at the seams with pride for just how far Kenyans have come. A little more than five years ago, we did not have the power to do this. We didn't even know that we could do this.

Look what God can do!!!

I am getting a bit teary-eyed right now. This is…… more, more, MORE than I ever dared to hope for.

Watching the series "Making of a Nation", has made it so clear to me, and I am sure to many others, that the time is ripe for change and we must not look back. We must not let "these people" continue to live large at our expense.

And for me, the parliamentary polls are so, SO much more important than the presidential ones. Don't get me wrong, of course the buck stops with the president, but to have a good capable and competent parliament…… so much more important to me.

I know by the end of this exercise, some good people are likely to fall by the wayside. Right now, I really want to see Patrice Lumumba, John Kiarie, Jonathan Mueke, Mutava Musyimi make it into the August House. I pray the good people in the relevant constituencies give them a chance to make their mark.

I hope this really marks the point in our nation's history when we, the people, take back control of our country. We can no longer allow an elite group to plunder and loot our future.

I hope our leaders, across the political divide, in all the different parties, are receiving us loud and clear.

"We have a vote, and we know how to use it!!"

I hope the ECK can get its act together soon. We need to start seeing some official results soon!

THIS REVOLUTION IS BEING TELEVISED!!

Update 1310 hrs

Murungaru sent packing!

Update 1430 hrs

Dzorro out

KJ with slight lead over ?Mugo

I voted!!!

I know many of you are wondering what the heck I'm so excited about, but first time voters know how I'm feeling.

Not that i just turned 18 (ha ha)!! General apathy and youthful folly made me disregard earlier elections but this time, nothing and no-one was going to stop me.

I missed the early morning crush by going later in the afternoon, and got to the polling station when things were rather calm and orderly.

I think the system of alphabetizing registers really helped, despite rejection in some polling stations.

My heart was pounding as I picked the ballot papers, but after I had done the deed, I felt an overwhelming sense of relief and joy.... followed by anxiety.

Oh Lord, I hope I marked it right. Please don't let my vote be declared spoilt. I hope he wins. Oh man, this is so cool that I'm getting to vote!!

As I walked out i did a little jig, I am so excited to have voted. My entire left pinky finger is purple. A badge of honour!!

Man, I felt so powerful in that 30 seconds!! Wish I could bottle that, and sniff it very sloooowly over the next five years!!!
People power!!
(Obviously I'm a bit delirious from my 30-second power high!)

I really believe my preferred candidate is the best choice for this country. I hope he wins.

But mostly I hope the attempts to scupper and rig the elections fail miserably!!

I vote in Langata, and I hope Stanley Livondo gets like 5 votes!!! Teach him to stick to his shady business. People like him have no place in our parliament.

I must say I am bursting with pride at the fantastic turn-out!! Kenyans have shown today that they will not be taken for granted anymore. We are here, and we are in charge. Politicians best recognize that!!

I am also sad that Kenyans have had to die because of politician's selfish interests. I hope Kenyans will be restrained and mature as results begin to trickle in. Because the fact of the matter is, after the elections, we all continue with our lives. My neighbour remains my neighbour, policemen go back to work and we all must live together. Let us shun divisive politics and show some maturity.

As much as I pray for peace, I will be at the forefront of condemning those who show no respect for our democracy by rigging or other shenanigans.

There is so much I want to say, but for now, I hope all of you got a chance to vote, and that you voted safely.

I pray that the next few days will prove that Kenyans have matured politically.

God Bless Kenya!!

Merry Christmas

Why am I in the office on Christmas day while the rest of the world (well, ok, except the guys here at work with me, and emergency services) is busy stuffing themselves?

Also on the day my chest hurts, and I'm sick, and I'm petrified I have contracted some diease with a scary name like bronchitis.... mere days before my only break in the last six months!!!

Well, at least, ceteris peribus, the constant and irritating politicking that has been going on for what seems like forever will soon be over. I do want my candidate to win, but actually, all i want is peaceful polls and most important, a leader who can heal the serious ethnic animosities that have once again emerged in the run-up to this election.

I, for one, am tired of these damn stereotypes and bloody useless animositybetween so-called rival tribes. And it disgusts me that it is the people I least expect it from, my peers, who are now spouting this nonsense.

Can we all just get along!!! God help us.

Anyway, I hope I get over this damn bug by Sunday!!

Merry Christmas all, and a happy and blessed new year to you and yours!