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I accuse Kenya

             NEWS   
 
   Story by EMMAN OMARI, Political Editor; www.nationmedia.com
   Publication Date: 2007/07/07
             
Seventeen years ago today, a group of nine politicians began what became known as the Second Liberation.

Mr Charles Rubia in his Nairobi office.

Those who were never there should not just enjoy and think that this freedom fell from heaven like manna. Photo/JOSEPH MATHENGE

They tasked themselves to mount pressure for the opening up of the democratic space which was then a monopoly of Kanu. The ruling party had gone ahead to legislate for a one party state by Constitution.

And in more than one-and-a-half decades, the political landscape and players have undergone a metamorphosis. Present-day politicians have criss-crossed the political divide.

The ones in Government crossed over to opposition to enable them to get to power. Then, those in Opposition came from Government with a hope that they could get to power.

The older generation will remember who among the present day politicians was on which side of the political divide while the younger generation may never know what it took to bring the country to the present status where even the man on the streets can tell off President Kibaki without flinching. The proponents of change are a pale shadow of what they were at that time while fate - or is it destiny? - has put the former opponents of multi-partyism at the forefront today.

The late Achieng Oneko, the last of the Kapenguria Six, who died last month, closed the chapter of those who fought in the First Liberation but who many Kenyans always complained did not get what they deserved from successive governments. Leaders of the Second Liberation are now accusing President Kibaki's government of neglecting them and the current crop of leaders of hijacking their dream.

The nine politicians who stuck out their necks and attempted to stage the first opposition rally at Kamukunji 17 years ago - commonly known as Saba Saba (July 7, 1990) - to challenge President Moi's single party rule of Kanu have since faded out, almost to oblivion. Mr Charles Rubia and Mr Kenneth Matiba now lead a quiet life, their health having been adversely affected following their detention on July 4, 1990, just three days to the day of the Kamukunji rally.

In an interview with the Saturday Nation, Mr Rubia spoke emotionally about how the dream was hijacked by those who were opponents of change. "I am of the view that the multi-party we fought for was hijacked by people who were against it. The process was thrown out of step and taken over by opponents of change at that time who now enjoy the fruits of our struggle," he said.

He recalled with bitterness how Kanu had taken the country into "total darkness" and made people behave like robots in their own country. "It was like Kanu dictated to us what to eat for lunch and what to eat for supper," he said in reference to the then common slogan of Kanu being baba na mama (parent) party.

On this day, the nine, who had been working "underground", had organised to have a rally in Kamukunji where people would have been transported from all corners of the country to come and press for the repeal of Section 2(a) of the Constitution. Kanu was constitutionally the only party and many politicians had been expelled on flimsy reasons.

There was even a crackdown on journalists. The political temperatures had reached an all-time high and it only required a few leaders to light the flame.

Mr Rubia and Mr Matiba teamed up with seven others to lead what came to be known as the Forum for the Restoration of Democracy (Ford) pressure group which soon had the support of foreign missions. Three of them - Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Mr Masinde Muliro and Mr Philip Gachoka - have since died but their crusade transformed the country from a one party dictatorship to a multi-party democracy. Four others - Mr Martin Shikuku, Mr George Nthenge, Mr Salim Ahmed Bahmariz and Mr Salim Ndamwe - are alive but leading humble lives away from the limelight of State power.

Then, there were the Young Turks who became the Think Tank of the liberation. They included Lang'ata MP Raila Odinga, who was soon to join Mr Matiba and Mr Rubia in detention, Kabete MP Paul Muite, Trade minister Mukhisa Kituyi, former Imenti Central MP Gitobu Imanyara and Kisumu Rural MP Anyang' Nyong'o.

Three others in the group - former Vice-President Michael Wamalwa, Mr Achieng Oneko and Mr George Anyona - have since died.

The Saturday Nation traced some of those still alive to sample their views on how they see the country in comparison to the 1990s. Paul Kibugi Muite

The ideals of the second liberation were to have a new Kenya, a new political dispensation and respect for the rights of all citizens. Architects envisioned a country where politics would be conducted devoid of ethnic considerations; where it would be issue-based and for the promotion of the greatest good for all Kenyans.

The genuine reformers are now scattered in the political terrain but many of them still remain reformers. In a sense, the liberation was hijacked by non-reformers; pro status quo conservatives.

The future of the country is pursuit of the ideals of the vision of the liberation. Our economic and social policies must give a chance to all Kenyans. The economic growth rate must translate to a better quality of life for a majority of citizens and not to a small number of those who are already well endowed economically.

The dream and the vision of the second liberation lives on and will one day, be realised. Gitobu Imanyara What we are seeing today is not certainly what we fought for in the second liberation. As it happened so many times before, it was hijacked by the very opponents of change in the same way former home guards elbowed out the real fighters of the first liberation. The little we are enjoying now are the crumbs. If a true change would have happened, we would not be witnessing the present clamour of uniting to remove President Kibaki. The ruling class today is the same one that was in power when we were fighting for democracy. They are beneficiaries of a struggle they did not help in fighting.

It is best demonstrated in the ODM Kenya presidential contest where the real people who fought for it are being side-lined.

The same thing is happening within Narc Kenya where the "home guards clique" is seeking to prolong the status quo under the guise that they are helping Mr Kibaki to retain the presidency.

The gains we are seeing are not because of Kibaki but it came as part of the manifestation that Kenyans know people hold the power. Dr Mukhisa Kituyi In a way the opening of democratic change, we have realised, is basically what we fought for 16 years ago. But in many ways the waters have been muddled. Ethnic alliances and sectarian interests have taken the place for what we thought would bequeath a system of political parties with shared values. I do not feel that the struggle was in vain and the notion that it has been hijacked by those who were opposing change is subjective.

The reward for participating in a struggle is not necessarily to get to a post. It can come in many ways such as having created an environment for them to do business.