Eric Wainaina's Official Website http://ericwainaina.com Love+Protest now available! Tue, 17 Apr 2012 19:53:59 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 GEMA Does Not Represent Me! http://ericwainaina.com/2012/04/gema-does-not-represent-me/ http://ericwainaina.com/2012/04/gema-does-not-represent-me/#comments Thu, 12 Apr 2012 17:40:17 +0000 Webmaster http://ericwainaina.com/?p=1389 GEMA does not represent me, my views or where I see us going as a country. What it does awaken in me is a feeling of guilt. In a sense the ICC got it wrong. It’s not the Ocampo 4 but more like the Ocampo 40 million. We are all on trial. We are all guilty. But now we are also guilty of wasting time!!
Allow me to tell you a story. A cab driver that we frequently use, let’s call him Peter, rushed his then 3 month-old son to Kenyatta hospital. The child was diagnosed with meningitis. The doctor looked at Peter and said, ‘You look like someone who can afford the medicine that your child needs. I can either inject your child with the medicines that we have in stock here, which won’t help- they will only make you feel like something is being done. Or you can get into your car, rush to Nairobi Hospital and buy the real meningitis medication for KShs 18,000.’ Peter did as he was advised. He returned with the medication which the doctor administered. While he had been away the child in the bed next to his own child died from meningitis. His parents had been too poor to afford the treatment.
I tell this story not to criticize Kenyatta Hospital but to illustrate a larger point. If we take the problems at Kenyatta Hospital to be indicative of the problems in Kenya we can only assume that every other sector is suffering equally. The problems we face in Kenya are huge. We need to make quality healthcare affordable or free for all Kenyans, we need to reform our education system, we need to improve housing on all levels, we need to guarantee food security, we need to invest in renewable energy, we need to safeguard the peaceful coexistence of majority Christians and minority Muslims. The task ahead and presently with us is vast.
Which is why I think the sustained debate surrounding Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto, two of the men accused of crimes against humanity, other than being divisive is actually a waste of our time. From a technical standpoint all the prayers and all the rallies can’t help. The beauty of the ICC process is that it is unaffected by all this clamour. It is blind justice, unhampered by stature of the accused, personal history or biases. Like one wise person said you can’t stop a train by shouting at it.
What’s more is that these two men are proposing running for president. Kenya is a nation of over 40 tribes. How can you be a president of a nation when you have been accused of organizing the deaths and displacement of people you are to serve? You can’t be president of the Kikuyu alone. You can’t be president of the Kalenjin alone. You have to be president of Kenya and the crimes these two men are being accused of are wholly un-presidential.
What we have to remind ourselves of as voters is that many politicians (these two included) are not in politics for service. I wish I could get people to see that. It’s about access. It’s about knowing what deals are going down where and knowing before anyone else. It’s about making sure that when the big contracts are being signed your 10% is in the mix. But we are so poor as a nation, so easily deceived. You build a bridge in a constituency you become a hero- no one asks where you got the money from. You’re suspected of dealing drugs but you pay school fees for hundreds so somehow you’re exonerated- even exalted. It doesn’t occur to anyone that building bridges and providing education is the job of the government. It is better to have a government that works than an individual who can by the wave of his wand make one of your many problems temporarily disappear. The government is the great equalizer between those who are born into privilege (and who probably work hard too) and those who are born into situations that beleaguer all attempts at self-improvement. Right now, if you are born poor in Kenya you will probably die poor. But a domestic worker needs to know that when she shows up at her local clinic her baby will get the attention it deserves. A rape victim needs to know that the courts will provide justice. A university student needs to know that a lecturer will turn up to class, teach him and judge his efforts fairly. The debate right now is about building the structures that will outlive individuals and provide for citizens in perpetuity. It’s not about Uhuru. It’s not about Ruto. They are so irrelevant to this debate. I can’t overstate it. I can’t shout it loudly enough!!
Finally, let me say that if Kenyans vote for a Kikuyu man who cares so little for members of our Kalenjin and Luo family, or for a Kalenjin man who cares so little for our Kikuyu, Luhya and Kisii family, then we should all consider, out of conscience relocating to a neighbouring country. For how can we live in a country led by these men or men like them and how can we live with people who would vote them into power?

]]> http://ericwainaina.com/2012/04/gema-does-not-represent-me/feed/ 127 LOVE+PROTEST: UNPLUGGED LIVE+ KENYA MUSIC WEEK http://ericwainaina.com/2011/12/loveprotest-unplugged-live-kenya-music-week-2/ http://ericwainaina.com/2011/12/loveprotest-unplugged-live-kenya-music-week-2/#comments Thu, 08 Dec 2011 06:44:00 +0000 Webmaster http://ericwainaina.com/?p=1374

“Kiss TV and Kiss 100 present Unplugged Live with Eric Wainaina“

Venue: Gallileo club

Day: Friday 9 December

Time: 8.00 pm onwards

Gate Charge: Ksh 1,000/- (tickets available at the door)

 

It’s an exclusive listener party with limited seating available.(Only 500 seats available.) There’ll also be free cocktails served before getting down to it.

 

The Kenya Music Week is back, and on Saturday, December 10th from 6.45pm, backed by the Best Band In Africa, I will take to the stage. (Sarit Centre, Expo Hall)

There you have it, ladies and gentlemen, yet another weekend, yet another opportunity to come out and have some fun. Will still be signing albums so bring yours along!

]]> http://ericwainaina.com/2011/12/loveprotest-unplugged-live-kenya-music-week-2/feed/ 0 LOVE+PROTEST: IN STORES! http://ericwainaina.com/2011/12/loveprotest-officially-in-stores/ http://ericwainaina.com/2011/12/loveprotest-officially-in-stores/#comments Wed, 07 Dec 2011 14:01:57 +0000 Webmaster http://ericwainaina.com/?p=1331  

 

A big thank you to everyone who made the official launch of Love+Protest the phenomenal success it was!  A special shout out to Aly Khan Satchu and Safaricom Ltd who provided Sheba and I with the unique platform to not only launch the album, but also speak on the music business in Kenya. I’d also like to thank  Nakumatt who will continue to have dedicated Love+Protest stands. The album is now available at all Nakumatt stores in Nairobi, and soon to be available at all outlets in the region! To all who came out for the performances at MindSpeak Conference, Nakumatt Embakasi, Nakumatt Mega, Nakumatt Junction and Nakumatt Westgate, I thank you!

 

A big thank you also goes out to KWELI Magazine for live streaming the Nakumatt Westgate performance and capturing some special moments on video, and to David Kiania and Paul Munene(Quaint Photography) for some amazing photos!

The plan is to sell one million copies of Love+Protest, and with your help that’s gonna happen! Physical copies of the album will continue to retail at only Kshs 399, because we want you, your relatives, friends and friends of friends to own the record! So go out and get yourself a copy! The album remains available on PewaHewa, iTunes and Amazon MP3 for digital purchase.

]]> http://ericwainaina.com/2011/12/loveprotest-officially-in-stores/feed/ 2 LOVE + PROTEST OFFICIAL LAUNCH ITINERARY! http://ericwainaina.com/2011/11/love-protest-official-launch-itinerary/ http://ericwainaina.com/2011/11/love-protest-official-launch-itinerary/#comments Wed, 30 Nov 2011 12:26:35 +0000 Webmaster http://ericwainaina.com/?p=1310

 

“At the risk of sounding ridiculous, let me say that the true revolutionary is guided by feelings of love.”

-Che Guevara.

Overwhelmed by the great response to Love+Protest. Thank you to everyone who’s written a review, tweeted, shared on FB on their take of the album.

 

This weekend sees the official launch of L+P going down, with album signings and performances  at select Nakumatt stores in Nairobi. The itinerary is as follows.

 

Saturday, Dec 3rd, 2011

9am – Mindspeak Conference at Hotel Intercontinental

3pm- Nakumatt Embakasi

6pm-Nakumatt Mega

 

 

Sunday, Dec 4th, 2011

3pm-Nakumatt Junction

6pm-Nakumatt Westgate

It’s gonna be such a fun weekend, looking forward to it! The album will be retailing at Kshs 399 only, and will be available at all other Nakumatt stores countrywide very soon!

And for those who can’t make it, or aren’t in the Nairobi area, the album is available on PewaHewa, iTunes and Amazon MP3

Check out some of the album reviews:

1..Love Even In Protest-a review by Anyiko Owoko

2.. Love+Protest: Wainaina to launch new album- review by Wanjeri Gakuru(UP Magazine)

3..Revolution Time For Wainaina- Clay Muganda (Saturday Nation)

See you all this weekend!

]]> http://ericwainaina.com/2011/11/love-protest-official-launch-itinerary/feed/ 4 LOVE + PROTEST FINALLY OUT! http://ericwainaina.com/2011/11/love-protest-finally-out/ http://ericwainaina.com/2011/11/love-protest-finally-out/#comments Fri, 18 Nov 2011 21:53:33 +0000 Webmaster http://ericwainaina.com/?p=1304

It’s been a labour of love boys and girls. In production since 2008, ladies and gentlemen- Love and Protest! (insert applause here)

Follow our updates, good moments, frustrations and road rage on Twitter: #LoveAndProgress

Ahead of the physical copies of the album, we thought we’d try for an exclusive digital release (in the spirit of embracing technology.) L+P (as we fondly refer to the album) is available for local digital purchase on PewaHewa.

I am particularly excited about this novelty, because you can purchase tracks off the album via MPESA, Airtel Money, YuCash, VISA Card and VISA Electron Card, for just Kshs 30. Yup!

L+P will be available for purchase on iTunes, Amazon MP3, Nokia and Spotify in days to come.(#LoveAndProgress I tell you!)

Come December 3rd and 4th,2011, physical copies of Love and Protest will be available for purchase at Nakumatt Stores countrywide(Kenya), coupled with performances at select stores, with the Best Band In Africa.

Super excited about this, hope you are too!!

]]> http://ericwainaina.com/2011/11/love-protest-finally-out/feed/ 2 TWENDE TWENDE LYRICS http://ericwainaina.com/2011/11/twende-twende-lyrics/ http://ericwainaina.com/2011/11/twende-twende-lyrics/#comments Wed, 16 Nov 2011 10:36:54 +0000 Webmaster http://ericwainaina.com/?p=1297 Adhiambo

Dek!Dek!Dek!

Dunia Ina Mambo

Fungeni Macho

Jana Ni Jana

Joka

Mabawa

Nani? Nani?

Miili Yetu

Ni Kii Kiega

Subhaa

Too Far From Home

Twende Twende

Ukweli

]]> http://ericwainaina.com/2011/11/twende-twende-lyrics/feed/ 0 SAWA SAWA ALBUM LYRICS http://ericwainaina.com/2011/11/sawa-sawa-album-lyrics/ http://ericwainaina.com/2011/11/sawa-sawa-album-lyrics/#comments Wed, 16 Nov 2011 10:31:34 +0000 Webmaster http://ericwainaina.com/?p=1191 Bolingo

Daima

Mashaka

Nchi Ya Kitu Kidogo

Ritwa Riaku

Sawa Sawa

Usiku Wa Manane

Who Is To Blame

]]> http://ericwainaina.com/2011/11/sawa-sawa-album-lyrics/feed/ 0 : http://ericwainaina.com/2011/08/863/ http://ericwainaina.com/2011/08/863/#comments Thu, 04 Aug 2011 15:04:55 +0000 Webmaster http://localhost:8888/ericwainaina/?p=863 http://ericwainaina.com/2011/08/863/feed/ 0 : http://ericwainaina.com/2011/08/869/ http://ericwainaina.com/2011/08/869/#comments Wed, 03 Aug 2011 15:14:07 +0000 Webmaster http://localhost:8888/ericwainaina/?p=869 http://ericwainaina.com/2011/08/869/feed/ 0 : http://ericwainaina.com/2011/07/861/ http://ericwainaina.com/2011/07/861/#comments Sun, 31 Jul 2011 14:51:19 +0000 Webmaster http://localhost:8888/ericwainaina/?p=861 http://ericwainaina.com/2011/07/861/feed/ 0