Barbs and bouquets

14. Judge Philip Waki for rising to the occasion and giving Kenyans a chance to find the truth behind the last election debacle.

15. Pirates from Somalia for demonstrating that you do not need a submarine to hijack an ocean liner.

16. Caroline Mutoko for a year of proactive radio activism and walking the talk.

17. The most promising people’s watchman award goes to Okiya Okoiti Omtatah, the civil society activist who chained him himself to the gates of Vigilance house at the Kenya Police Headquarters.

18. Head of Public Service Francis Muthaura for keeping a protocol circus going between the PM and VPs offices.

19. The 10th Parliament for proving that a politician will do anything to retain his job. The country certainly needs more unemployed politicians to get ahead.

20. Wahu Mathenge for the best female artist prize at the inaugural MTV Africa Music Awards.

21. German ambassador Walter ‘Cool Cat’ Lindner for introducing his own version of flower power diplomacy.

22. Nairobi mayor Geoffrey Majiwa for sustaining a long tradition of toothless city fathers.

23. Activist Fred Odhiambo, he who heckled and interpreted the President’s Jamhuri day speech for reminding us that one man’s noise often represents the silence of thousands.

24. Pamela Jelimo (right) for a magical year on the track and making enough money to stop the country in its tracks.

25. Government spokesman Alfred Mutua for giving the spin a break and allowing his alter ego, the movie director, to thrive on TV.

26. The indefatigable Premier Raila Odinga for bringing a whole new meaning to the word multi-tasking.

27. Wilfred Bungei who won the 800m gold at the Beijing Olympics for running the race of life in the final laps.

28. ECK chairman Samuel Kivuitu who, despite dropping from grace to grass, is still trying to get to the bottom of the barrel.