Petty Theft
We had a slightly fraught evening yesterday when it was brought to our attention that somebody has been stealing. The lady who works in our house lost her salary from her locked room in the staff quarters. (She doesn't sleep there but has a private room for her rest times etc).
My first reaction was to ask, 'why was the money there?'
'I take what I need home, then keep the balance in my room here for safekeeping.'
The perpetrator had apparently been able to enter the padlocked room and then leave, locking the door behind him without anyone noticing. To be honest, though the door was locked, it would not have taken a rocket scientist to undo the screws around the bolt, then screw them back in again.
Blame was placed squarely at our night watchman's door. The gardener complained that many of his belongings that he'd left safe in his room when he left work in the evening, had also gone missing, bits of food, a new hat, 100 shillings bus fare. And I learned yesterday that this has been going on for about a year.
It was sad on a few counts. Sad that the lady that works in our house does not have a bank account - I feel slightly responsible about that - and that she feels that the safest place in the world for her to leave her cash is here, except it's not safe. More importantly, we like the night watchman. I don't like to think of him skulking about in other people's rooms at night like a fox. Having said that, it might be relevant that he hasn't asked us for a loan for school fees for quite some time.
'He'll have to be redeployed' I said to my husband.
Fortunately the night watchman is employed by an outside firm.
'What about the police?' he asked. 'What about trying to get the money back off him?'
'We don't have evidence. Don't say anything to the security firm, we don't want to get him in trouble.'
My prediction is that police involvement would result in overly harsh treatment of a hungry man who is pushing his luck.
'Please, please, please can we stop having night watchmen now?' I asked. 'It's too heartbreaking.'
'No.' was the response.
The replacement guy turned up.
'What tribe are you?' Our older housekeeper lady asked immediately.
I gently told her off but she shrugged.
'We always ask each other's tribe.' she said. 'It's fine.'
It seems things will never change.
Green Cards
Our very much ex-ex-ex nightwatchman who lives in Kibera, sent me a surprise sms a week or two ago.
'Good evening.i applied for US green card 2008.I've been lucky to win a permanent resident card in US!'
I must admit, I felt excited for him too - though unsure. I know about the green card lottery but am not sure how it works. A green card is one thing but presumably cash is needed to get over to the USA - and setting up a new life would be costly, plus, what about dependants?
Business managers we know complain that they often lose good, trained and qualified people to the green card lottery. It wasn't the first time I'd heard about a case like this.
The next text said;
'we r excited!yes I wish 2 go family, but then i want to find out requirements. i don't know where to start! send me your email address, I send, u read and advice us.'
But the next evening came the final message,
'i was at US embassy, gigiri. i went to verify docs i was sent. its FRAUD! US embassy has discovered & have list of Nigerians and r being tracked. it was a FAKE letter.'
Poor thing, I think he was gutted.
Politics
When a Nation Media news SMS came in via text message last night, stating that the ICC would definitely summon the 6 public figures perceived to be most guilty of masterminding post election violence to their courts - I was delighted. The announcement came earlier than expected and reading between the lines of the newspaper, caught everyone off guard. Kalonzo Musyoka has been busy with his shuttle diplomacy mission for months now, trying to wriggle out of Kenya being under the Hague's jurisdiction. Has he been pipped to the post? Last night I immediately had mental images of frantic phone calls exchanged between various politicians wringing their hands. Drama.
The 6 (see previous post) are due to appear at the ICC courts on the 7th April. Things are moving fast. If they fail to pitch, a warrant will be out for their arrest (not that that has made much impact on other wanted political personalities, I'm thinking Bashir?). Kenyan Civil society today called for the resignation of named MPs, there's rumour circulating that petitions by Kenyans supporting the ICC process now, collectively have over 800,000 signatures. But the corruption problem is so endemic that politicians still seem convinced that they are immune from justice forever. Or are they?
Combined with Wikileaks revelations hitting the paper most days, it makes for exciting times. In my opinion the ICC summonses are great news.
very unfortunate on the theft... tell your house lady to open an Equity account! I work for Equity -- and an account doesn't have any balance requirements, ledger fees, etc. Also, there are Equity agents being rolled out so for deposits she would not have to go all the way to a branch.
ReplyDeleteWewe ni kabila gani??? For sure the tribal thing will never end!
ReplyDeleteAbout the business managers who complain that their best workers leave for the US - you should write up a whole post on the issue. Kenya's best minds are not in Kenya, which explains a whole lot. Smart and educated Kenyans leave never to return!! And those who feel guilty about the brain drain and return (ahem!) soon get fed up with the corruption and "connection/who-do-you-know" method of getting anything done, and return to the "west".
As soon as I read your blog about your ex-nightwatchman getting a green card - fraud just jumped out at me. Why would he get a green card? They are looking for skilled people. This is Africa all over - someone always trying to scam even the poorest souls for money.
ReplyDeleteYou are not going to let the police or the security company investigate the theft? You are going to let the nightwatchman go and start stealing from someone else? Is that responsible of you? Or doesn't it matter, as long as he is not stealing from you? Re-think your actions here and advise the security company of the situation - you are telling this man that it is OK to steal as long as he doesn't get caught. What chance does Kenya stand if even educated people like you won't take action.
1. Good tip about the Equity account! I will investigate! I'd rather transfer money to an account too rather than make monthy cash withdrawals for salaries. It would save me paying a salary twice when incidents like these happen!
ReplyDelete2. Of course it is a tragedy that so many well educated Kenyans feel compelled to leave. I am from 'the west' and feel that it's much nicer here - if only it weren't just about the most corrupt country on earth.
3. We did advise the security company about the situation. They said that they would not have fired the guy without evidence anyway, but will definitely keep an eye on him at his next posting.
Its quite telling about the green cards to only skilled immigrants ,which is more of an enforced brain drain. But you will notice Kenyans love living in their own country and hardships rather than move abroad.A jobless kenyan would rather live in a slum in the city than try to go to Europe,despite having an easier route to Europe than West Africans.West Africans on the other hand,do nything they can to cross the Sahara and the Medittaranean to get to Europe. I have met Nigerians and West Africans who do not understand why east Africans are never interested in Europe and are always looking for a way to return home than live in Europe.From my experience,Kenyans living and working abroad are mostly those with Masters and PhD but the corruption and tribalism keeps them waiting abroad,until 'it is their return to eat'!.The day that the origin of my name and questions of who I know will no longer be a basis for getting jobs or doing business,I will be back in a second.We are held back by political rather than economic reasons.
ReplyDeleteKarl Marx O
Just like you, I also think it is a great thing that summons have been issued by the ICC. Kenyans have had forever to set up a local tribunal and no work has gone to that, it is high time politicians here got a message that impunity will not last forever. Concerning the green card lottery, the moment I read the first line I knew it will turn out to be a scam!
ReplyDeletethere's nothing wrong with "tribes" so why should people's identities change? I mean, you're English, right? is there anything wrong with self identifying as being English?(or maybe you think English isn't a "tribe"?). The way you speak about it is like we should all forget our identities and become "just Kenyan/African" in which case let me ask you...Would you be happy being lumped in as just like the Russians, or Germans, they're white just like you, no (that's how you seem to see our identities)?
ReplyDeleteThe watchman-greencard story had fraud written all over it. But let it be known that the green card lottery is a.....lottery! Anyone can win. In the processing stage, they do verify that the winners have at least a high school diploma. Most Kenyan green card winners are not professionals. The idea that they only look for professionals is untrue.
ReplyDeleteme too i support opening an account, also they should register with equity bank's m-kesho service(its free). that way, you can use m-pesa to send money to their bank accounts from your phone without leaving your seat and them they can withdraw from their account to their phones without leaving their beds! amazing aint it?
ReplyDeletepoint 2: if you didnt apply for green card you dont get it and surely they should have had a pin number there on the email or card which you call at green card center to confirm.
point 3: i want the hague 6 to be used as manure in the netherlands. call me barbaric i dont care. impunity gat to go and go should've been last week.
peculiar kenyan
Expat lady...how dare you harbor tribalists in your own abode (what tribe are you comment WTF??) I mean even for a kenyan, those are harsh words. I suggest you dress her down(I'm curious whether she comes from a dominant tribe to ask that).
ReplyDeleteOnto same vein, the ocampo six tribalist genociders (see how far this tribalism thing gets now?)will die a slow painful death. Many kenyans have avowed that they dont want this brand of govt...it turns the nation into a basket case like somali if left unchecked.
Finally, Green cards as stated do drain kenya mightily of talent. Ironically, the kenyan expats now send in more money to kenya via relatives more than even the aid everyone complains about. The challenge is getting these kenyans to help steer things right. In US, the world bank recognized its waning influence and is trying to get african immigrants to have funds or pools of money for development projects- a tough taks given the World bank mandate and africans own stubbroness..they carry same bias to the US and its hard to shed..so it will take time, but that is the other solution that can affect via citizens. The steps are of course dual citizenship first, then voting, then the stage will be set for kenyans abroad to wield the influence they correctly deserve. SOme may say, I'm being too vain, ego-ist? but c'mon lets be real. Since 2007 ALL pres candidates come to US to beg wealthy kenyans for money and many other MPs' Of course whether they deliver is another thing, but nonetheless, real change is going to come soon in external affairs and project work. Notice the US knows China is gobbling up africa at an alarming rate and is all too happy to let their indigineous immigrants be their proxies. Sorry Expat lady I go too far, but you see these are issues that will be with us in 10-20 years from now and we are laying the stage.