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First Lady disrupts Diop's party
Story by JOHN MUCHIRI and PHILIP MWANIKI
Publication Date: 05/01/2005    
Source: http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgcontententry.asp?category_id=1&newsid=48098
   
First Lady Lucy Kibaki


   
First Lady Lucy Kibaki dramatically disrupted a farewell party at the Nairobi home of outgoing World Bank country director Makhtar Diop on Friday night.

An angry Mrs Kibaki invaded the house demanding that the loud music be switched off.  

At that time musicians Mercy Myra, Eric Wainaina and Suzanne Kibukosya were on stage entertaining the guests.  

A confrontation ensued as Mrs Kibaki engaged Mr Diop and his wife in an angry exchange.

At one time she told Mr Diop that no man in Kenya has dared talk back to her.  

Mr Diop, who leaves the country today, is a tenant of the Kibakis in the exclusive Muthaiga neighbourhood.

He rented the house lived in by the First Family for many years until President Kibaki was elected and moved to State House.  

The family built another house in an adjacent plot where the First Lady sometimes stays.  

Mrs Kibaki was protesting that the music was too loud. First signs that there might be trouble were seen in the afternoon when technicians and musicians were setting up and testing the sound system. Mrs Kibaki came over and ordered them to dismantle everything.  

They only resumed after Mr Diop consulted State House and told them to proceed. Then at night when the party was getting into full swing, Mrs Kibaki stormed in accompanied by bodyguards, demanding that the music be switched off.  

Singer Eric Wainaina recalls: "I was still on stage preparing to do my second song when she turned up. She had like five bodyguards and ordered the music to be stopped from playing. It was so embarrassing since she is the First Lady and even diplomats had been invited.

"She could not listen to anyone, not even to Mr Diop himself. In fact she started asking irrelevant questions such as ‘who is your mother?’ It was so bad. What she was wearing was not very clear to me, but it looked more like some blue track suit or pyjamas."

Mercy Myra concurred, telling her version of the same incident, and recalling how Mrs Kibaki came in at around midnight yelling at the guests to leave.  

"She shouted at Mr Diop that he would not be allowed to disrupt her peace just because he is leaving the country," Mercy said.  

Some of those present witnessed Mrs Kibaki trying to unplug the music system and shouting that "This is Muthaiga, not Korogocho".

She told the guests that they could go and continue their party in Korogocho, one of Nairobi's biggest slums.  

She paid no heed to Mr Diop's explanations, even as the World Bank executive tried to tell her that he had informed President Kibaki about the party, and the president had no problem with it.  

Mrs Kibaki came to the residence three times, ignoring angry party goers who started singing in defiance. On her last call at around 1.00am, she was denied entry by the security guards and went away.  

Two of her children, Judy and David, were present at the party and tried to calm down their mother without success.  

Mr Diop is an amateur musician and jazz enthusiast and often joins jam sessions, with his bass guitar, at various city clubs.  

His farewell party had been billed a "wild" affair and guests included various local musicians and other celebrities, as well as World Bank staff, diplomats and NGO staff. A few government officials were also present, including Investment Secretary Esther Koimet.  

Many of the guests are regular patrons of Club Sikiliza at Gigiri area where Mr Diop plays the guitar.

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Lucy’s conduct draws public outrage, fury

Here are two views:

VIEW 1
What Lucy needs is anything but ridicule
By Jerry Okungu

THERE is a biblical story of an old man and his three sons that I intend to paraphrase to make my point on this national tragedy that is the story of our First Lady.

The story goes like this. One day a biblical old man decided to have one too many and lay by the wayside totally soaked in alcohol. When the first son came and found his old-man lying naked, he laughed and went about spreading the story around for others to come and see the spectacle. On his part, the second son came, saw, said nothing and did nothing. He was too ashamed to speak. The third son came, saw his father, quickly fetched a blanket, covered his father’s nakedness and took him in away from the glare of the laughing public.

Biblical mythology tells us that when the time came for the three sons to be blessed, the third son got the highest blessings, followed by the second with the first son who broadcast the news of his father’s shame getting the worst. He was condemned to be a slave to his two brothers to eternity. Racist interpretations have apportioned the interpretations to white people being the most blessed, the Arabs and other Asiatics as the second with the black race representing the cursed lot that have suffered at the hands of European and Arab slavers for centuries on end.

For those of us who first rushed to the press with her story they know where they belong.

They failed to cover their mother’s nakedness. Instead they broadcast her embarrassing state to the rest of the world.

It is true Lucy Kibaki invaded a revellers’ party at the home of the outgoing World Bank country chief, Maktar Diop. It is also true that the Diop family have been renting the Kibaki property for some time now and all that time there have never been any problems with either the First Lady or any member of the Kibaki family.

This time round, what triggered off Lucy Kibaki’s rage was loud music in an otherwise tranquil environment that is the Muthaiga that Lucy is accustomed to. Yes, loud music can sometimes be a nuisance to the old and the aged who have lost interest in partying all night long. Perhaps , had the party been organized in a different way, without loud bands- soft low key disco music, may be Lucy would not have jumped out of bed at 100am in her night dress to go and put sense into these inconsiderate ingrates.

But there were issues that could have been handled differently. Lucy’s invasion of the Diop farewell gig met resistance from many quarters. There were the youthful high society that included Lucy’s own children at the function, not to mention a number of high level diplomats and the political establishment.

Infuriated as she was, better judgement would have told her to either call the Police Commissioner and order him to go to Diop’s place and stop the music if the Muthaiga Police OCPD was too junior for the job.

Alternatively she could have sent any of the numerous guards at her disposal to go and have a word with Diop to tone the music down because she was unable to sleep. All these alternatives were not considered.

How about Maktar Diop? Why did he decide to have this wild party in the quiet neighbourhood he had lived in for over two years? I know Ambassadors, High Commissioners and even World Bank and UN chiefs like having receptions in their residences. This is common practice worldwide. But it is always a low noise affair, beginning with cocktails, small talk and diplomatic niceties, nothing noisy to attract anybody’s attention.

If the Nation story of Sunday was anything to go by, Diop has been a known performer at a teeny corner in the Village Market called Sikiliza Club. Surely, if he wanted a wild party to feature such greats as Mercy Myra, Eric Wainaina and Suzanne Kibukosia among others, the best venue would have been either at his favorite joint Sikiliza, Soho in Parklands or the ever lively Carnivore!

Yes, Lucy invaded Maktar Diop’s privacy in retaliation for Diop’s shortsightedness and underestimation of the level of inconvenience his party would cause to the residents of the area. Perhaps it was Lucy who had the courage to confront the party. How many local residents in the area suffered in silence because they could not afford to confront such a high level World Bank chief and a great friend of Kenya? Many, if you ask me.

On the other hand, if you want to hold a party in the neighborhood, there are two things you can do to diffuse the kind of crisis this party unleashed from Lucy Kibaki. First you inform them that you would have the kind of party you plan then extend an invitation to your neighbors. When your neighbours are in your party, they cannot invade you. Had Mrs Diop extended an invitation to Lucy, things would have been different.

Yes, we can now confirm that spats with Moody Awori, Matere Keriri, Charity Ngilu and Martha Karua way back in December 2003 were no isolated one-off cases. Other public utterances when she attacked Raila, Ochillo Ayacko and all those ‘ Mimi Kama Rais’ utterances had something to do with the judgement of our First Lady.

There is something intrinsically amiss with the Mother of the Nation. I don't want to call it a medical condition. All the same we have a serious problem here. And all this time our mother has been suffering, we have left her to suffer alone. All along we have known that she is unwell but we have been in denial. We have insisted that she is well and continued to ridicule and condemn her for her actions and utterances. Now the problem is full blown and needs urgent attention. Now we know she can listen to nobody and anybody. And according to the Sunday Nation, she is incapable of listening even to her children

This state of affairs has put her family into some kind of dilemma and helplessness. In the process they have decided to do or say nothing in the hope that everything will sort itself out and the story fade away.

The evidence that there is a deeper problem is there for all to see. All that scene caused at Muthaiga throughout the night, an early morning visit at Muthaiga Police Station, followed by a late afternoon second visit before literally laying siege at Nation Centre between 11pm and 4 am is a real cause for concern.

That is not the behaviour of a normal seventy-year old lady and wife to the head of state.

The question to ask is this; don’t we have responsible body guards that can keep First Lady in check and prevent her from self destruction and embarrassment? What kind of security can accompany the First Lady to a newsroom at 11.00pm without the consent of the Head of State and the Commissioner of Police? I want to believe that the First Lady and her careless security detail did not consult President Kibaki and Police Commissioner before they visited local newsrooms at 11.00pm. Because if they did, they would have been denied permission and if need be detained in State House until morning.

A word to our local newspapers. Yes Lucy Kibaki embarrassed us, her family, the Head of State and even the distinguished guests that gathered at Diop’s house. But did mainstream media have to report it? I don't think so. That kind of sorry story cannot be given credence by mainstream media. It belongs to the gutter and the grapevine.

Some conditions are no laughing matter. They require concern and redressing.

Whatever her condition, Mrs Lucy Kibaki is still the First Lady of this nation and wears the symbol of Mother of the Nation. We therefore owe it to ourselves to refrain from subjecting her and her family to ridicule. Because in the process we ridicule ourselves and end up being the laughing stock of the international community. Jerry@infotrak.co.ke

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VIEW 2

First Lady on the loose  
By Evelyn Kwamboka

First Lady Lucy Kibaki went on the warpath on Monday night, slapping a journalist and making shocking statements under the glare and stare of television.


The many faces of Lucy Kibaki
 
A furious Lucy landed at the Nation Newspapers newsroom with a bevy of bodyguards in tow, and went ahead to wrestle cameras, mobile phones and notebooks from journalists.

And in Parliament, MPs demanded a ministerial statement on the conduct of the First Lady from the Office of the President. The statement is expected tomorrow.

On Monday night, the First Lady’s body language, gesticulation and abrasiveness – ostensibly in defence of her family – punctured the nocturnal serenity and calm of Nairobi’s Central Business District.

A security ring was thrown around Nation Centre, whose third floor she turned into an arena for fighting back at the enemies of her "husband, children and Kenya’’.

The five-hour melodrama opened another chapter in the public scrutiny of the privacy of the First Family, a fact discernible from the outrage and shock with which Kenyans received the news yesterday morning.

Lucy declared a change of tact in her war against negative and unfair comment by journalists on her husband and children: "Everyday you write lies about me I will come to the newsrooms and you will see me in my true colours. I’m annoyed beyond control." She did not mince words about her night visit: "I’m here to protest about the information in the papers about the Government, about the President and about Lucy."

The First Lady spoke as she held a copy of The Standard firmly.

She added: "When you hurt me you hurt him, and you hurt my children. Surely Kibaki’s family is not all that bad but we are a Christian family and Kibaki is one who cannot be corrupted by anyone."

The First Lady also wanted journalists to show greater respect for the President.

"In the news you call him Kibaki as you did when he was campaigning, when will you learn to call him the President, start respecting him?" she asked.

The President’s wife threatened to also go and pitch camp at the Standard/KTN offices, on I & M Bank Tower a street away. But she would only leave after making her point sink at Nation.

She arrived at Nation Centre aboard a luxurious four-wheeler shortly after 11 pm and claimed she was on a "hunger strike" because of stories that had been carried in the media for the last three days.

"I have come here to correct the lies you write because whenever the Presidential Press Services (PPS) send statements doing that, you repeat the lies," she said.

Lucy’s security detail was forced to stand for five hours as she protested against ‘negative’ publicity about her family. "Does the Police Commissioner know that I am here protesting? Call him. He should be here with you," she told Nairobi provincial police boss King’ori Mwangi.

Mwangi who was carrying his radio call, left the newsroom and returned without Maj Gen Hussein Ali, the Commissioner.

Lucy was furious over media reports a few hours earlier that she had surfaced at Muthaiga Police Station to lodge a formal claim of disturbance by the outgoing World Bank Country Director Makhtar Diop, dressed in casual white shorts.

"You reported that I went to the police station wearing shorts what is wrong with the First Lady wearing shorts? I put on skirts and even bikinis when I go for swimming,’’ she retorted.

She added: "We are a decent family, humble and Christian who do not steal from anybody or get corrupted. Kibaki is one who cannot be corrupted by anyone. You have tried to discredit me since I became the First Lady," she said.

She was also furious at reports she was dressed in pyjamas suit when she thrice turned up at Diop’s house – which her family rented to the former Senegalese minister.

She claimed that the story regarding her going to the diplomat’s house in pyjamas was false. "I was dressed in a trouser suit and my children do not go to nightclubs. They are dignified. They only attend parties in their friends houses or invite them to State House or Muthaiga," she said.

The First Lady said the President was shocked to read newspapers about the nightclubs which those who attended the diplomat’s party frequent.

She accused the country’s top two media houses of not saying "anything good" about her, a move she said was hurting her children.

"Every week you must tell a lie. Are you Christians, Muslims or pagans? There is nothing good you tell Kenyans about me and the President," she said pointing at journalists.

Dressed in a pink blouse and a blue jeans trouser, Mrs Kibaki who was oscillating from one corner of the expansive newsroom to another, poured out her anger while sitting at the seat reserved for the chief sub-editor.

"Did Kenyans ask you to be telling them the gossip in your news? You know none of the First Ladies in the world because you only see them in pictures. I am immune and you can say anything but just know that I will be your guest," she said.

She pounced on KTN cameraman Clifford Derrick Otieno and slapped him on the face, demanding to know why he was taking her pictures.

Hearts raced as she strode towards Otieno, asking for the footage he had recorded. The country’s award-winning photojournalist however kept his camera’s rolling until she struck.

"I decided I would not stop filming under whatever circumstances, I would not have let go the film even if it meant dying, at least the world would have seen what happened,’’ said Otieno.

He described the shock of the First Lady’s grip on her arm. "I did not want to use force because I feared she would shout and it would be taken I was fighting back, it was a long and painful moment,’’ he added.

"I am waiting for my lawyer to come, so that those who wrote the story that I had gone to the station to accompany us there and identify the officer who said so in a parade. I did not go there," she shouted at one point.

She changed her statement about going to Muthaiga to press action against top Muthaiga police. She explained she had gone to find out from the Officer Commanding Station, Mr Isaiah Odhiambo, on who sent him to Diop’s house on Friday night.

"Yes. I did go to the station at lunchtime. I wanted to see the OCS (officer Commanding Station) since Friday," she said. This contradicted King’ori’s denial that the First Lady was ever at the station earlier in the day.

The First Lady said her attempt to stop music at the diplomat’s farewell party was not ill motivated, adding that she did it for the benefit of the sick, the old and the residents of Muthaiga.

"Old people had approached me because they could not sleep with all that noise. I went thrice but they refused to listen to me," she said.

According to her, the diplomat’s gate was wide open and that she just walked in "like anybody else to demand that they stop playing loud music.’’

"I walked there three times. I could not sleep comfortably because of the noise and sat next to my swimming pool," she said. She snatched cell phones from three journalists whom she claimed were sending electronic messages to people.

At one point, she ordered her bodyguards, including the King’ori, to stop standing and sit down. "Sit. You will collapse if you continue standing because we are going to be here till morning, then we go to The Standard newspaper and their KTN sister."

At this point she broke into prolonged laughter.

Turning to the welfare of her bodyguards, she asked who among them had not had dinner and ordered one to get milk for himself from the Nation canteen.

"I have not ordered any journalist to be arrested. All I want is those who wrote the story to come with us to the station and identify whoever gave them the information," she said.

"Three to four nightclubs had moved to the place and they continued playing loud music," she said. Justifying her action, the First Lady said she normally gives orders to the Kenya Power and Lighting (KPLC) to restore power whenever there is a blackout in Muthaiga.
 
Source: Standard Newspaper - http://www.eastandard.net/hm_news/news.php?articleid=19567

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Lucy could lose the little admiration she enjoys
http://www.eastandard.net/hm_news/news_s.php?articleid=19623
Lucy deserves love, understanding and respect, not condemnation
http://www.eastandard.net/hm_news/news.php?articleid=19624
This is not what Kenyans expected of the First Lady
http://www.eastandard.net/hm_news/news.php?articleid=19625
Mrs Kibaki should not have done what she did
http://www.eastandard.net/hm_news/news.php?articleid=19626
She is just a lonely woman
http://www.eastandard.net/hm_news/news.php?articleid=19627
Conflict of interest in Lucy-Diop saga
http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgcontententry.asp?category_id=25&newsid=48301