Kibaki legacy more important than expediencyUpdated on: Monday, March 31, 2008 Story by: Charles Aboge ....................................................................................................................................................................................
KENYANS would do well to remember that the moment of greatest opportunity is also the moment of greatest danger.
Today, the nation is now fatigued with political stalemate that has given rise to failure to name a new Cabinet? Did President Kibaki and prime minister-designate Raila Odinga not sign a deal for power-sharing --- a deal, which unlike the 2002 MoU was witnessed by Kenyans and before the international community.
Today as operationalization of National Accord and Reconciliation Act is delayed because of power games, the country patience is being placed under severe strain as Kenyans wonder whether somebody wants a return to the chaos, the nihilism and the blood-letting that defined motherland before 28th February.
Do those putting spanner in the works not care that over 1000 have been buried and that 300,000 are still consigned to camps where they are at the mercy of the elements? If the standoff continues, there are those who are of the opinion that the only way out would be fresh presidential elections.
This scenario is of course fraught with dangers since this country is till pretty polarised. But as the President appears beholden to strange political Arithmetics, the options are getting ever thinner.
Matter of fact, the very fundamental issues that had precipitated the conflagration are still operative ---the same grievances and the sterility of ideas to change course. Sharing the trappings of power is not the reason Kenyan want power sharing and fundamental changes to be effected.
When Kenyan look back at brutal dehumanization of the poor--which found expression in mindless vent in destruction and murder, they expect that leaders would be sufficiently touched to get on with the real task a head.
Both the prime minister designate Raila Odinga and President Kibaki can not afford to keep their eyes off the ball---how forgetful can anyone get? Part of putting in place the changes Kenyans expect is real power sharing.
Those whose calculation are that Raila should be contented with trappings of power and forget why over 4,000,000 people voted for him must rethink their strategy. If he himself is of same mind, then he will have betrayed his followers. Kenyans demand a new constitution that will devolve power and enhance governance.
They are shocked that members of the Electoral Commission of Kenya are still in office and demanding to undertake self regulation and appraisal. These people belong to jail for mismanaging the election that provided the trigger to the killings and the massive uprooting of compatriots.
That the 300,000 internally displaced people are still left to their ways is crying shame. Yet as days stretch before right signals such as formation of right Cabinet is in place, resettling these people will get ever more difficult because suspicions are gaining ascendency.
Kenyan will have to be told why nobody is taking responsibility over who was compensated by British colonial for land use in “white highlands farms”.
It is all right to talk about every Kenyan having a right to settle anywhere in the republic but if a section of Kenya appear to still want to have a larger share of the national cake by sticking to all choice Cabinet posts, then how are those feeling aggrieved ever going to accept the call for harmonious existence? Our leaders since post independence have never seen the urge to act on land issues even as they mouthed phrases such as land being emotive and all.
There are less than a handful of families who own huge tracts of land at the expense of millions. The land tenure is hazy, land use policies are in disarray so those with power thrive as others are condemned to squat for lifetime and their children after them.
How can such opaqueness continue to define land policies? The reason indigenous land owners fell for majimboism is precisely because they think leaders are not interested in ensuring equity. That the government has not been as inclusive as is desirable.
Clearly Raila and Kibaki do not need Dr Kofi Annan and his team to help them name a Cabinet for Kenya. It is even insulting to their intelligence. But President Kibaki can not convince a 10-year- old primary school pupil that this country needs 44 member cabinet. If he must dole out posts to those who he must reward arising from general election, then he must be prepared to disappoint some supporters.
Kibaki must worry about his legacy---will he leave Kenya abetter place than he found ? And is this not more important than rewarding politicians and complicating matters for himself and the country ? An amicable solution to land grievances ever where but specifically in the Rift Valley can not be down played.
It must be accepted that the fringe areas and the pastoralists groups the Masaai and Kalenjin were short-changed. How to address their anger must be found. But first things first. Kibaki must keep off his hard-line allies for whom the status quo must remain.
Today, the nation is now fatigued with political stalemate that has given rise to failure to name a new Cabinet? Did President Kibaki and prime minister-designate Raila Odinga not sign a deal for power-sharing --- a deal, which unlike the 2002 MoU was witnessed by Kenyans and before the international community.
Today as operationalization of National Accord and Reconciliation Act is delayed because of power games, the country patience is being placed under severe strain as Kenyans wonder whether somebody wants a return to the chaos, the nihilism and the blood-letting that defined motherland before 28th February.
Do those putting spanner in the works not care that over 1000 have been buried and that 300,000 are still consigned to camps where they are at the mercy of the elements? If the standoff continues, there are those who are of the opinion that the only way out would be fresh presidential elections.
This scenario is of course fraught with dangers since this country is till pretty polarised. But as the President appears beholden to strange political Arithmetics, the options are getting ever thinner.
Matter of fact, the very fundamental issues that had precipitated the conflagration are still operative ---the same grievances and the sterility of ideas to change course. Sharing the trappings of power is not the reason Kenyan want power sharing and fundamental changes to be effected.
When Kenyan look back at brutal dehumanization of the poor--which found expression in mindless vent in destruction and murder, they expect that leaders would be sufficiently touched to get on with the real task a head.
Both the prime minister designate Raila Odinga and President Kibaki can not afford to keep their eyes off the ball---how forgetful can anyone get? Part of putting in place the changes Kenyans expect is real power sharing.
Those whose calculation are that Raila should be contented with trappings of power and forget why over 4,000,000 people voted for him must rethink their strategy. If he himself is of same mind, then he will have betrayed his followers. Kenyans demand a new constitution that will devolve power and enhance governance.
They are shocked that members of the Electoral Commission of Kenya are still in office and demanding to undertake self regulation and appraisal. These people belong to jail for mismanaging the election that provided the trigger to the killings and the massive uprooting of compatriots.
That the 300,000 internally displaced people are still left to their ways is crying shame. Yet as days stretch before right signals such as formation of right Cabinet is in place, resettling these people will get ever more difficult because suspicions are gaining ascendency.
Kenyan will have to be told why nobody is taking responsibility over who was compensated by British colonial for land use in “white highlands farms”.
It is all right to talk about every Kenyan having a right to settle anywhere in the republic but if a section of Kenya appear to still want to have a larger share of the national cake by sticking to all choice Cabinet posts, then how are those feeling aggrieved ever going to accept the call for harmonious existence? Our leaders since post independence have never seen the urge to act on land issues even as they mouthed phrases such as land being emotive and all.
There are less than a handful of families who own huge tracts of land at the expense of millions. The land tenure is hazy, land use policies are in disarray so those with power thrive as others are condemned to squat for lifetime and their children after them.
How can such opaqueness continue to define land policies? The reason indigenous land owners fell for majimboism is precisely because they think leaders are not interested in ensuring equity. That the government has not been as inclusive as is desirable.
Clearly Raila and Kibaki do not need Dr Kofi Annan and his team to help them name a Cabinet for Kenya. It is even insulting to their intelligence. But President Kibaki can not convince a 10-year- old primary school pupil that this country needs 44 member cabinet. If he must dole out posts to those who he must reward arising from general election, then he must be prepared to disappoint some supporters.
Kibaki must worry about his legacy---will he leave Kenya abetter place than he found ? And is this not more important than rewarding politicians and complicating matters for himself and the country ? An amicable solution to land grievances ever where but specifically in the Rift Valley can not be down played.
It must be accepted that the fringe areas and the pastoralists groups the Masaai and Kalenjin were short-changed. How to address their anger must be found. But first things first. Kibaki must keep off his hard-line allies for whom the status quo must remain.
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