Raila’s Roadmap lacks clarity

By Oriko Douglas Majwala.

Kenya is in December this year going to poll once again under liberal democracy and political activism has started decorating media with staggering headlines ahead of general elections next year which is being watched very strategically for the basis of the formation of East African Federation considering circumstances in relation to the defunct one.

One wonders why without Raila Odinga politics in Kenya are never tasty regardless of the aftermath. In Kenya the state of affairs is never in equilibrium for some key players missing the game, they would definitely be convinced to intervene by a cross section of their followers come what may. This has made some of them become heady and may do anything from good to worse to defend their own fame and interest bragging that Kenya’s destiny lies in their hands.

Achieving milestone one requires streamlining his/her mindset to ensure a flight from conservativeness and greediness to define way forward for the influx of not only opposed opinion but also second pragmatic opinion.

Raila Oginga Odinga a rightist dogma in the once East African strong unipolar economy has had like his own late ancestor turbulent moments which have in many occasions earned him zero achievement unlike his incumbent head of state. Other players in Kenya’s politics who resemble Raila like Prof. Wangari Maathai has played her cards with well planned strategies to an extent of winning international reputation and recognition.

Like Raila, Wangari a once painful thorn in the flesh of national cake top eaters had on different occasions been kept behind bars for reasons considered not to be of threatening state security but of difference in opinion especially on mount Kenya ecosystem which is the centrepiece of country’s hard earnings in tourism. Prof. Wangari a Nobel laureate is an architect of greenbelt campaign in Kenya.

Raila a renowned firebrand politician having hit the snag for presidency since he joined politics with quest for the highest state post, is nowadays being censured for his lack of interest in basing his career dreams in scientific politics the globe has ever gestured as the pillar for modern civilization which upholds peace and stability as a slogan for comprehensive socio-economic structures.

Raila’s unpredictable integrity has made his merger with other mediocre politicians almost impossible; some of his co-players see him as “anytime defector”. In my own view tough politics of the land have their background in colonial resistance, this unlike Tanzania Mainland, the nationals of Kenya and Uganda have strong unabated tribal values not nationalistic feelings which are sweeping across generations as is in Zanzibar.

The long tortuous and tumultuous path of Kenya’s politics has cost the country in consequent disputed assassinations that have apparently strengthened tribal feelings hence a threat to national peace, love and unity the country has ever advocated for. It should be best understood that lack of stability in individual national politics barricades formation of strong East African Federation.

Symptomatic expressions from the events suggest absolute loss of direction and total lack of interest to zero-in the trend of affairs to match that of international community, which prays for peace and development. The defunct East African Community has in its history that political destabilization in Uganda accounted for its demise among other factors.

Should un-compromising state of politics be left to steer the country into rather deadly ethnic structures that eventually may threaten polarization of the state? It is advisable that under the federation’s umbrella member state should be responsible for first hand control of her own situation before referral steps for mediation and arbitration are instituted beyond borders.

Raila like some of his colleagues is a patron of several defunct or abandoned political parties he founded and is not known yet whether he may achieve his ambitions through employing the same tactics, which have never given him victory for the state throne. He has on many occasions been accused for acts of libel and insubordination to the state leadership purportedly for political proceeds.

After possibility for climbing to the presidency melts up Raila has dead or alive battled for hypothetic politics, which have driven Kenya into very demanding moments ever experienced in her sovereignty e.g. race for unconstitutional premiership that necessitated a “breakeven-point referendum”. In life he who risks is likely to become a winner but in this case the opposite is true for Raila who if he loses again in the forthcoming endeavour likelihood is for him to join the “age disliked” which is made agenda for contemporary politics in his country and elsewhere.

Donors see political activism in Kenya as lacking ability and interest to analyse into the real roots of national misery e.g. volatile political climate, poor social set-ups, corruption and economic backwardness (Kenya is no longer the best performing economy but an economy marred by acts of fraud and depletion of the highly needed productive human resources through HIV/AIDS and brain drain).

Kenya has since post-independence multi-party democracy been at loggerheads with donor community. West sees Kenya as long-time liberal economy in the sub-continent but which lacks coherent determined leadership to show way forward.

Unlike his late father Ajuma Jaramogi Oginga Odinga (a star mathematician) who traded researched politics, Raila alias Amolo Tinga (a mechanical engineer) bases his battle for the topmost state office in seditious politicking frequented by showdown against the top brass state power and even within party which eventually leads to disintegration.

Majimboism slogan brought about by tribal selfishness and development imbalance have aggravated politics of the land to an extent that some politicians like Raila should despair to lead Kenya because his tribe mates through ballot papers alone without alliance with fellow actors in other majimbos can never ever take him to the state office because his fellow luos have of recent diminished drastically from HIV/AIDS scourge thus no longer second to kikuyu in terms of demographic density.

Raila’s colleagues in other majimbos also fear him of being opportunistic; this is justified by afore mentioned point of geo-political sessionism call it majimbo if you like, that has robbed some key actors/actress possibility for victory if they run in solitary without forming an alliance with co-runners in other majimbos.

Kenyans have had enough of economic slump, political uncertainty and social amenities creeping to doldrums. Kenyans need evidence based politics which bring along with them productive policies that ensures a growth in GDP through increased employment and controlled brain drain, modern agriculture, improved social infrastructures, an end to cattle rustling, ethnic skirmishes, post independence land alienation, controlled drought and hunger, economic diplomacy which will burry tension between government and donors, ecological conservation for agrarian extension and perhaps expedited regional integration.

Raila’s struggle has not even face lifted his home area Bondo Sakwa which is still far aback compared to others like Gathundu, Kabarak, Rusinga Island, Koru to mention but a few. One wonders how and why would you have love for liberal democracy, which does not guarantee daily bread, sustainable development, peace, love and unity? Rwanda and Burundi are talking peace and unity after bloodshed, why cannot Kenya talk the same just before dusk? (Before peace turns the opposite).

Chaotic demand for constitutional re-writing has nothing to do with reviving national economy in the eyes of wrathful donor community. It is my appeal to Kenyans to forget the awkward past for the sake of prosperous future and the radical Raila should lead his countrymen and women in realizing just that.

Elections is right on the threshold, once again Kenyans have the opportunity to decide on their destiny, let you Kenyans not be taught how to choose between destitution and prosperity, political activists who “boo at the crocodiles before crossing the river” have a bleak future but those who appreciate that “a stitch in time saves nine” have a moment of reconciliation before it is late, thus why some have started frequenting former head of state knowing that “old is gold” and or “an old broom knows dirty corners best”.

There should be absolute zero tolerance on all those who want to destabilize Kenya for ideological gains; in this the state machinery should act tough like a “sword that does not recognise the head of a blacksmith who made it”.

Dreadful politics of the land proves the saying that “solution to one problem contains the seeds for the next problem” thus why actors/actress starts united but ends disintegrated because some of them live like “fox who trusts no messenger than himself” or sees others as reaping what they did not sow. Kenyans should zero-in the situation with all the confidence because “to every desert of problems there must be an oasis of hope”.

Kenya an industrialized East African Community member state should go for civilized politics that shall fast track formation of strong Federation and not bringing the politics of the region into limbo. It is still appealing to one’s conscious minds that Kenya is yet to lose political direction to steer it to the expectations of her citizenry. After recent abortive referendum (peoples power) what next? Time is not on either side now.

Media as the mass institution has a key role in diverting the direction of the storm in Kenya and need not wait till it gets out of hand. Media has to act as a catalyst for nation’s resurgence for assured stability for the whole nation and consequently East Africa. Media must complement efforts of pressure groups to campaign for sustainability of not only peace, love and unity (Kenya’s Philosophy) but rather that of socio-economic up comings for rolling back looming apathy. Words in the national anthem of Kenya seemingly echo a message that has no recipient. Viva Nyayo.

Key: -
Kenya.
Pop. 32.8ml (UN, 2005)
Capital. Nairobi.
Area. 582,646sq km (224,961sq mile)
Maj. Languages. Swahili and English.
Maj. Religion. Christianity.
Life Expectancy. 48 yrs (Men) 46 yrs (Women) (UN)
Monetary Unit. 1 Kenya Shilling=100 cents.
Main Export. Tea, Coffee, Horticultural products, Petroleum products.
GNI per capita. US $ 530 (WB 2006)
Internet Domain. ke
International Dialling Code. +254
Source: BBC Website Country Profile.


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