Kaana Tenkel

Kana Tenqel KM
Official portrait, January 2023
Keomoru'lu
Incumbent
Assumed office 20 January 2023
Monarch	Diana II
Representative of the Sovereign	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)
Spouse	Ama Selaia (m. 2023)
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 Freiian politicial who currently serves as Keomoru'lu since January 2023. He graduated from Queen Diana University in 1998 and worked as a civil engineer until 2023, when he was fired after being embroiled in what became known as the "Concrete Mixer Man Case". Kana entered politics following his trial, founding a political party and serving as Mayor of Peka from 2022 to 2023. He was elected Keomoru'lu (head of government) in 2023, succeeding Aniara Neileka.

Considered the most well-known Freician, Kana has been credited with raising the international profile of Freice. He is seen as a maverick politician and a populist, having largely shunned the conventions of political leadership and taking advantage of social media. As Keomoru'lu, he has earned international praise for his handling of the HIV/AIDS crisis, and has been celebrated at home as a protector of Freician sovereignty in his dealings with the Riamese federal government. He has, however, faced criticism from some quarters for his unionist and monarchist stance, and amongst commentators for his perceived political naivety and amateurism.

Early life and education

Kana Tenqel was born on 12 May 1977 in Weia to Tenqel Meipa and Valeia Tara. His father was a businessman and briefly a representative in the local village council. He has five siblings (one older brother, one older sister, a younger brother, and two younger sisters). Kana has referred to himself as coming from a "loving but disfunctional family", his parents separating when he was 10. Because of this separation, he was required to start working at 12 to provide additional income in his father's absence.

At 18, he won a scholarship to Queen Diana University, where he studied civil engineering. He graduated in 1998 and returned to Freice, where he took several jobs with construction firms in Sekapa. In 2001, he joined Calley and Lionel as a senior engineer, working on a number of projects, including the refurbishment of Kaimo Potio'i.

In 2009, he was contracted to work with the Ministry of Infrastructure, Transport, Public Works, and the Environment on the expansion of Freice's road network. He left employment with the government in 2010 and returned to the private sector.

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. It was found that the concrete mixer was stolen from a nearby construction site, whilst the glue and books were believed to have been taken from a nearby school. The stoats were of unknown origin.

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

He was brought to trial on 21 February 2022 on charges of endangering wildlife and indecent exposure. 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.

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 Anáhuaca 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 Anáhuac 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'se (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 promoted sustainable development across all areas of policy-making. He oversaw the protection of the Peka Highlands (the parts of the Sete Hills in Peka), the establishment of new rules regarding urban development, and emphasised happiness and access to basic resources as key indicators over GDP. He 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 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.

Kana's government became embroiled in the Freician Issue, which saw international condemnation of the Riamese government following its condemnation of Anáhuac and Hoterallia for sending medical aid to Freice. As a result of the ongoing crisis, Kana's, and Freice's, profile was raised, with a significant increase in followers of Twatter profiles for Kana and for Freice government and civic organisations.

On 18 April 2023, his government passed the "landmark" Public Order (HIV/AIDS) Act, which prohibits discrimination on grounds of having HIV/AIDS.

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