THE POWER OF AN IDEA WHOSE TIME HAS COME

From: Benson Ojuju

In the dark days of prior to the kleptocracy proper after the '82 abortive coup , our now president, then the veepee, seconded Charles Njonjo's move to declare Kenya a de jure one party state. This led to detention without trial, political repression and entrenched tribalism among other evils that still bedevil this beloved country.

Just prior to forming DP, he waxed lyrical saying that those who want to fell Kanu are like a man felling a mugumo tree with a razor blade.

In 2002, we overlooked all these and voted overwhelmingly for him only to shortly have the suddenly (and suspiciously!!) rich vomiting their extra rich food on our bare feet. We were reminded vividly of the satirical timeless poem "Building the Nation" in Poems From East Africa edited by David Rubadiri and Cook and George Orwell's Animal Farm. The man locked himself in state house only to come out now and play catch up game. Will somebody tell him it's too late? Ever seen a general without an army behind or around him? The teams to campaign for him disappeared into thin air. When was the last time you saw Nyachae , Tuju, Soita Shitanda, Mwakwere, Kamanda, Nyaga the mapengo etc hit the campaign trail for the president? Actually the only visible one is Uhuru who knows what he will reap if (and that's a big if) all goes well. Mummy (Lucy) and son (Jimmy) and daughter (Jude) have been roped in since the rest of the foot soldiers will need a miracle to sail through in their respective constituencies. Moi has confined his campaigning for Kibaki in his Baringo area only to be heckled by ODM youths young enough to be his grandkids. Maybe Mandela set too high a standard for the likes of Moi to follow!!

Today, we are on the verge of determining the destiny of this nation.

We pray for a Leader who will not be terrified of the trappings of powers as to invisible to the hoi polloi who elected him. This includes women, the youths and the residents of the arid and semi arid regions. No more white highlands versus the rest of the republic. No more measly budgetary allocation in dry Makueni yet rain drenched Nyeri get 100% more in water!!

- A leader who will make all communities, races, creed, persons of all political persuasions, etc feel part of this great nation

- A leader who will make Kikuyus not suffer from the siege mentality that the first and current presidents have imposed on them against the rest of Kenyans by the manner in they have led this country. If the truth be said, some of the poorest people in Kenyans are Kikuyu. Kikuyus are the most atomistically individualistic Kenyans partly because of history (their stolen lands, Mau Mau struggle and Mungiki menace) and also hard economic times)At the end of the day, poverty and hunger know no tribe nor skin colour. Inauma equally.

- A leader whose wife will dignify the role of a First Lady. We only need and applaud the pugilistic skills of Conjestina and Zarika Mohammed in the boxing ring and not elsewhere else, especially not in the State House. This nation can ill afford another rogue First Lady!!

- A leader who will not feel emasculated when he shares powers with a Prime Minister, a Cabinet and other arms of the government.Devolution must take place of the ulafi of winner takes it all. The latter only happens among cannibals and in the jungle among the lowly animals.

- A leader who will not fear speaking, and more, importantly taking action when that becomes necessary as was in the case of Anglo Fleecing, Goldenberg, Artur conmen, the bleeding Kuresoi and Mt Elgon areas and illegal deportation of Muslims.

- A leader who will not deny his own flesh and blood on a nationally televised address even if she is the wife number 700th like was the case with ancient Israel's King Solomon. At the same time , the leader should make sure his descendants know their being there is a priviledge bestowed on them for a time and they must behave themselves. They can borrow a leaf from our next door neighbour's Mwalimu Nyerere's down to earth children.

- A leader who will link us with the East African Community, COMESA, African Union and mainstream Kenya into the global community as a competitive and attractive place for investors both (especially) local and foreign as well as tourists.

This time is NOW.
No Army can stop this FUTURE.
HIGH LEVEL ESTATE SOCIAL HALL HERE I COME TO USHER IN THE NEW ERA, THE TRUE DAWN.

OJ