Kaana Tenkel

The Honourable Kana Tenqel KM
Official portrait, January 2023
Keomoru'lu
Incumbent
Assumed office 20 January 2023
Monarch	Diana II
Sovereign's Representative	Ailu Apoka Semeia
Preceded by	Aniara Neileka
Leader of Mulo Uahi ma pa Kiuoa
Incumbent
Assumed office 10 March 2023
Preceded by	Party created
Member of the General Kiuva for Peka
Incumbent
Assumed office 23 January 2023 Serving with Mulone Uota
Preceded by	Boni Iasoqe
Mayor of Peka
In office 10 June 2022 – 20 January 2023
Preceded by	Office created
Succeeded by	Kolau Matau (as Atika'lu)
Leader of Future Citizens
In office 12 March 2022 – 10 March 2022
Preceded by	Party created
Succeeded by	Party dissolved (merged to form Mulo Uahi ma pa Kiuoa)
Personal details
Born	Sakana Aotola Tenqel (1977-05-12) 12 May 1977 Weia, Freice
Political party	Mulo Uahi ma pa Kiuoa (previously Future Citizens)
Domestic partner(s)	Ama Selaia (2017–present)
Education	Tespana School
Criminal details
Criminal status	Guilty
Criminal charge	Trespassing Misuse of property
Penalty	GR$50,000

This is a Freician name. The last name is patronymic, not a family name; this person is referred to by the given name Sakana

Sakana Aotola "Kana" Tenqel KM (born 12 May 1977) is a Freician politician, businessman, former teacher, former journalist, and public figure who has served as Head of the Government of Freice (alternatively known as the Keomoru'lu) and Member of the General Kiuva for Peka since January 2023. He also serves as Leader of Mulo Uahi ma pa Kiuoa since March 2022 and as mayor of Peka sine June 2022.

Kana came to national and international attention in January 2022, when Radio and Television Freice reported of a man being arrested for "lewd activity" in a concrete mixer. Public interest in the "weird" nature of the case quickly spread across the country. He was brought to trial on 21 January 2022, and eventually found guilty of trespassing and misuse of property. He announced his intention to remain in the public spotlight following his trial, and established his new political party shortly thereafter.

Since entering into Freician politics, he has become a prominent public figure, generating a significant following. He relies heavily on social media, particularly Twatter, to maintain communication with his supporters, and is the most followed Freician on the platform. He is described as a populist, adopting a broad platform that includes economic and social liberalism, civic nationalism, anti-corruption, and political reformism.

Early life and education

Kana was born on 12 May 1977 in Weia to Tenqel Meipa and Valeia Tara. His father, once a contemporary of Sema T. Anamia was a butcher, a business he owned alongside Kana's mother.

Despite his humble origins, he went to fee-paying Tespana School from 1982 until 1994. Upon leaving school, he enrolled at Portington University but dropped out after two months, instead joining Radio and Television Freice (FLP) as a researcher. He remained employed at FLP until 2022, working as a chief researcher, editor, and a radio presenter.

Concrete Mixer Man Case

Kana came to public attention following his arrest on 12 January 2022. Caught with a concrete mixer, poetry books, glue, and three stoats, he was arrested and booked for lewd activity. He was reported to have willingly surrendered himself and his possessions to the police.

Upon further investigation, it was found that the concrete mixer was stolen from a nearby construction site, with initial reports indicating that the site was Kana's place of work. It had been reported stolen three days earlier. The glue is believed to have been taken from a nearby college, as were the poetry books. However, it is unknown where the stoats came from. Some news outlets have speculated that Kana owns the stoats himself, with others speculating that they too were stolen.

On 11 February 2022, the Court of Appeal ruled that the man's name could be disclosed.

Kana was brought to trial on 21 February 2022, with details of the charges revealed publicly. Charges of endangering wildlife related to the close proximity of the stoats to the concrete mixer, whilst charges of indecent exposure were made due to Kana's thin cloak, under which he wore nothing. The charges of trespassing and the misuse of property followed the theft of property from a local school, which dropped charges of theft following the return of the property.

On 25 February, protestors belonging to the Freedom for Kana organisation protested outside the court, calling for Kana's release.

In a blog post on his website in September 2022, Kana clarified the events that led up to his arrest. He claimed that his actions were an "historical inquiry into pre-Christian religions in Freice," and that there was no malice intended. He denied any sexual aspect, claiming that he sought to imitate traditional religious practices, whilst also denying that he had stolen anything.

Response

Domestic response

The Freician government's response has largely been to support the legal process. Justice minister Taqame Natpiau said in a written statement to the Island Meeting that the government will "keep up to date" with the case where necessary, and ensure that the "the law has been followed in determining whether it has been breached."

National broadcaster Radio and Television Freice has created a separate link on its website dedicated to the case, which is reported to have upwards of 50,000 hits a week.

International response

A Gran Rugidoense politician Francisco Javier Vaquero, when asked about the case, humorously declared that a movie should be made about the unusual criminal. He later added that any movie should win awards for its storyline.

On a Hoterallian TV show, a comedy skit entitled "My Girlfriend Is A Concrete Mixer???" has gained a cult following.

When Keomoru'lu Aniara Neileka visited Gran Rugido for talks with the Rugidoan president, pranksters greeted her dressed as stoats and possessing concrete mixers.

Orajioe Daily reported that one Hoterallian man, Konoda Hajimoto, announced that he had "declare[d] war" on the justice system in Freice, due to what he perceived as a "violation of human rights". This was also reported in Freice.

Kana with Kono Takaida in Orajioe, June 2022

Copycats

The international coverage of the case has led to a number of copycat cases being reported. In Kentalis, broadcaster NRSK reported of two teenages being arrested for stealing a concrete mixer.

Early political career

On 10 March 2022, Kono Takaida, leader of Taihago, Twatted that he had spoken with Kana, describing him as "intriguing on so many levels" and "one of the greatest men I have ever met."

On 12 March 2022, Kana formally registered a new political party called Kana's Empowered Citizens, the first political party to be established since the Court of Appeal ruled that a ban on parties was unconstitutional. He announced on Twatter the founding of the party as a "mass movement" supporting "real social, economic, political, and constitutional change."

Speaking on Radio and Television Freice's radio show Tara Pona Faio (Good Day, Freice), Kana rejected claims that his party was a joke or political satire, arguing that the mass movement organised to support him in his trial convincted him of the need to "use this popular energy for good."

Kana led his party to victory in the June 2022 elections, with the party winning a plurality of the vote in the Kivunna election, winning three mayoralties, and leading three district authority administrations.

Mayor of Peka

In the 2022 Peka mayoral election, Kana was elected Mayor of the district with 55.1% of the vote.

As Mayor, he has promoted sustainable development across all areas of policy-making. He has overseen the protection of the Peka Highlands (the parts of the Sete Hills in Peka), the establishment of new rules regarding urban development, and has emphasised happiness and access to basic resources as key indicators over GDP. He has also petitioned the national government for greater powers to deal with poverty, and has sought to block plans for fracking in the district.

Kana announcing ministerial appointments, January 23 2023.

Keomoru'lu (2023-present)

Kana was elected Keomoru'lu of the Freice Government in the 2023 Freician general election, with his party winning 14 seats in the 21 seat assembly. He was also elected a Member of the General Kiuva for Peka, succeeding Boni Iasoqe. He was formally sworn in by Speaker of the General Kiuva Kiso Toma on 23 January.

On 10 March 2023, Future Citizens merged with the MURO Alliance to form Mulo Uahi ma pa Kiuoa, with Kana serving as leader of the new party. It also adopted a new logo.

Political views

Kana's political views, which have been labeled Kananism by the press, are generally characterised as libertarian, although Kana has himself defined his views as "practical libertarianism with a conscious". He supports strong civil liberties, including same-sex marriage, abortion rights, drug legalisation, free movement, and the decriminalisation of sex work. He combines individualism with a "practical" role for the state, including in the protection of the land (of which the people are stewards) and providing assistance to those who cannot help themselves.

Because of the policies he has promoted as Mayor, including an active role for the district authority in combating pollution and poverty, political opponents have described Kana's political philosophy as "ill-defined" and "fluid".

Honours

National honours

• Riamo: Queen Diana II Ruby Jubilee Medal, 2023

See also

• Future Citizens
• Mulo Uahi ma pa Kiuoa
• Aniara Neileka
• Kiso Toma