" The Lies "...

WE GET DUPED ALL THE TIME WITH TOWN HALLS _ the Riggy G tale and all..

Fmr vice-president Rigathi Gachagua aka Riggy G

Here’s the script typically used for these DIASPORA TOWN HALL meetings: community leaders gather to deliver speeches and pose their questions, after which Fmr vice-president Rigathi Gachagua aka Riggy G steps in to give a speech that attempts to address their inquiries.

In this particular instance, the leaders represented

the Kisii, Maasai, Luo, Luhya, and Kikuyu communities.

However, this raises an important question: what about other communities? For instance, I represented the Coast, and there was no one speaking for the North Eastern community.

During the Q&A, they only accepted about three questions, which felt quite limited. It seems they tend to speak at length when asking questions but don’t manage to take many; as a result, genuine engagement with the audience is lacking. They insisted, "hey, they’re not going to be quiet," and "I’m going to encourage lots of participation," but that doesn't seem reflective of the reality.

I don’t want to sound biased, but I must be honest: many politicians have pursued this long-standing goal.

This reminds me of an event back in 2011 when Kalonzo Musyoka and Isak Hassan spoke at the Hilton hotel in Dallas, Texas, during the Shuttle Diplomacy era. Ahmed Isaak Hassan, then-chairman of the IEBC, told the Kenyan diaspora, "We can wait another election (2012) before we gain the right to vote," which left many of us frustrated.

It was during this event that we first heard about the victims of the 2007 election violence from George Mokuasi, also known as “Ugali Man.” His passionate account of being a victim as we faced another election was both electrifying and heartbreaking.

Additionally, a young Sudanese man expressed gratitude to the Kenyan community for its support during South Sudan’s struggle for independence, highlighting the favorable relations we built at that time, which, as we know, are quite different now. These testimonies came from random individuals in the audience, while additional questions were sidelined that could have enriched the discussion.

One tactic that stood out was their lengthy speeches, which seemed designed to stretch the time so that not many more questions could be addressed. There are no moderators to step in and help keep the discussion on track, which might make them feel pressured or even diminish their confidence in their positions.

In my view, ( MINE ) this kind of approach needs to end as we move into a new generation. People are savvy and can easily see through these tactics whenever politicians visit. Just as we witness Town Hall meetings at CNN maximize participation, we should also be allowed to voice our questions without having so-called "community" leaders speak on our behalf.

We have the right—and the responsibility—to bring up our inquiries, whether they seem relevant or not.

This perceived connection is why we take the time to attend these events, especially considering how challenging it can be to manage our busy schedules (watu wa 3 jobs). Arriving at these meetings often feels like a marathon, and the perennial issue of starting late only adds to the frustration.

It's a pet peeve of mine and many others who are weary of the belief that our meetings must always kick off later than scheduled. We need to improve this. I bet you my kaploti back home when these organizers attend events planned by “Muzungus,” they make sure to be punctual.

So what sets us apart? Let’s show each other respect by being mindful of time management. (More on this another time.)

Done with my rant... moving on swiftly...

Following these experiences, we had a conversation about what would best serve Kenyans during Town Hall meetings, and we discussed it within the OneMicFanClub WhatsApp group, which is associated with the well-known OneMic show/podcast/videocast.

Here’s the proposed format for a NEW LOOK DIASPORA TOWNHALL:

- Encourage Public Participation (ample time allocation)

- Combine planned verbal questions with random inquiries

- Include a Moderator alongside an MC (facilitators)

- Facilitate Remote Participation

- Balance engagement (90:10 vs. 10:90)

- Ensure Proper Media Coverage for the event (Analysis & Content beyond livestream)

- Create Follow-Up points of contact after the Townhall

- Concentrate on Thematic areas rather than just speeches

- Involve non-Traditional Groups in the planning (Born in the US, Entertainment promoters, etc.)

( Note: This was suggested by Ali Baadawiy from OneMicShow Radio Station. )

But ...

Let’s be honest: Fmr Vice prez. Gachagua was here to launch a party, not to conduct an actual Town Hall.

Ms. Valarie Githae certainly made an impression on him; it felt as though she lived rent-free in his head, as evidenced by how often he referenced her during his speeches.

It was particularly revealing when we were asked not to record the Q&A. (smiling) she rattled a lot of feathers I see.

Now we are here… so what’s next? 

Shall we see this new format? 

Shall these organizers respect our time? 

Shall they take our suggestions and put this in place going forward and be progressive? 

We are Diaspora! We carve our path through experiences foreign… back to you..