Thank you for your comments KSB: As you rightly pointed out, expecting a Kenyan politician to resign from office is like expecting snow-fall in the middle of a desert. Furthermore, you have correctly surmised the coalition government as a “come we survive” one where the running of the country is reduced to a business venture. However, your argument rests on the widely held belief that the election was stolen. But any astute observer of the current political situation is certainly aware that while this belief may be true, this was the cumulative result of a number of events that could not have had a different outcome.
It is not all white and black as many would have us believe, allow me to digress for a moment.
The parties of the two principles in power today engaged in massive rigging and unorthodox methods pitting Kenyans against each other, fair play where contemporary and civilized voting etiquette was thrown out of the window. This battle of personalities and for control of the most powerful seat in the country, it cannot be termed as an election where the electorate had any say, cumulated in the current President turning the tables on his rival by having himself declared winner and hurriedly sworn in. “All is fair in love and war” wrote the English Novelist Francis Smedley, as an indication to the lengths people go to win at any cost. Both the President and PM are guilty of underhanded methods in the sham of an election that resulted in the death of hundreds of politically naive and innocents Kenyans. To cry foul and say the election was stolen is like closing the barn doors when the horse has already bolted. The damage done by the PM´s “41 tribes verses 1 tribe” political gambit is irreversible and is going to echo throughout our history in our nation. Moreover, I seriously doubt any PNU supporter supports the ODM superstition of a stolen election, after all “All is fair in love and war”.
Let us be candid, the kettle cannot call the pot black. The present government does not reflect the true aspirations of the Kenyan electorate, and the “nusu mukate” solution was not about affirming a stolen election but a means of bringing to a stop the wanton killing of Kenyans countrywide. The agreement gave both the President and PM an opportunity to put aside their enmity, to work together for the Kenyan Nation. We all know that this was a pipe dream and they have squandered every opportunity since then choosing rather their closeted politics of tribalism, nepotism and encourage personality sycophancy at every turn. Even former President Moi with his politics of tribal division did not succeed in defragmenting and polarizing Kenyans to the extent this government has along tribal lines.
Historically Kenyans have looked to the President as the sole holder of executive powers and as such there is understandably a tendency to blame the holder of this office for the current state of affairs. However, both principles share and wield execute powers that could be put to use in protecting Kenya and its people. But sadly, what we see is only what we see is only favoritism and nepotism while citing political impotence due to interference from the election stealer. And yet, “nusu-mukate” is not an issue when appointments to plum government jobs are being done, by both sides of the divide. Therefore, I strongly belive that the Kenyan people should not hesitate to hold the President, PM and every Minister, the entire coalition government, accountable for the proper governance of the country and upholding their rights as citizens of Kenya.
KSB: Hatari, one point which you leave intact is that our Coalition government is not normal and cannot be compared to similar Coalition governments around the world. This was the core of my reply to your posting. Regardless of the polemics you present about the election outcome, the static point is that our Coalition government was negotiated so it cannot be compared with say, that of Tanzania or other “normal Coalitions”. The abnormal circumstances under which our Coalition was created explains why Kenya is probably the only country in the world without an Official opposition in Parliament which should have been in the fore-front in demanding for the resignation of non performers or even the dissolution of the Coalition government. Instead of PNU/ODM thieves doing so, they are actually seeking for the extension of their term in Parliament so that they can continue to steal from public coffers. Because of the nusu mukate deal, we have the most bloated Cabinet in the world. The abnormality of the Coalition government is just too conspicuous. Once again, it is business and the politicians involved will never deliver, resign or take responsibility for anything.
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Okoth Phiri how is the going in Stockholm ? I congratulate you having read your novel.You have done Ramba proud.Do ustill remember the likes of odede Achilo,Misula soka,onyango Lord and Mark Tindi.
This is Job okelo (Basanga). Also remember Oruko especially when you could drible into the box and do some nit kanshu.
Thanks Phiri Iam at Garissa – kenya as a healthcare worker.
KSB: Basanga, I do and I still have the many photos we took during them days. You forgot Odhis Pappa and Peter Dawo who later joined Gor. Get in touch so that we can touch base.