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Editorial: As Nairobi Parties On |
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Monday, 18 January 2010 |
Last weekend, both the concert at the National Museum and the Fashion for Peace show were sold out. Ticket prices were from KES1,000 upwards, and you could be forgiven if you forgot for a moment that Kenya 's economy is caught between its own issues and those of a global crisis. My friend Dorothy, ever the professional, listened to the concert with only half a head – the other half was busy analysing the market potential for the events industry. Then contrast this with the killings, Mungiki and otherwise, in Central Province , that also made it onto the ‘Backstory' segment of CNN. Two different worlds. They predictably prompted the usual comments about the need to improve Kenya 's PR. Perhaps PR and perceptions would be less of a headache, though, if the actual problems were being addressed? The tension in Kenya is palpable, and the country only got a brief respite in the decision by Kenneth Marende, the speaker of parliament, to chair the House Business Committee himself until a joint candidate will be proposed to him by both ODM and PNU. A method not unlike that employed by my mother when my brother and I were fighting over a toy. She'd take it away: If we couldn't decide peacefully who got it, nobody would get it. End of. Can we now get back to business? 29 May 2009
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