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HISTORICAL WRONGS COMMITTED ON KENYANS

As I was watching "The Moment of Truth" on KBC TV pitting Koigi wa Wamwere against PLO Lumumba on the great Majimbo debate, the historical wrongs committed against Kenyans by successive governments was going through my mind.

I was listening to Koigi creating fear on Kenyans, and on analyzing him first as one of the former radical ' Bearded Sisters' then as a detainee and later as an exile of Moi's government, then as a NARC activist and now as a Kibaki apologist, I wondered whether he was debating as a nationalist or as a tribalist camouflaged as a patriot.

On the other hand I looked at the arguments raised by PLO, who was being very articulate in his Queen's English, backed by his constitutional law training, and the golden opportunity that had been thrust on him when he went round the country with the Ghai Review Commission. I realized what a contrast between the two.

As I was listening to the two and analysing their points of arguments, their body language and their demeanor, the historical wrongs were crystallizing in my mind. Thank Allah, I have had an opportunity of traveling round the country severally on my work assignments. I have seen the diversity in God's creation, the differences in terrain, the flora and fauna. The natural resources in varying shades, oh! How beautiful is this country! You will really appreciate God's art!

Then you look at the riches in some areas and poverty in others, the development in some and the squalor in others. How discriminative can a government be to its own citizens? A big contrast in infrastructures between the Central province and Rift Valley compared to North Eastern province, between the security prevailing in Kericho and Turkana, between the peace prevailing in Kisumu and that of Mt. Elgon, between the stretch of road that is continuously being carpeted and re-carpeted along Limuru and Naivasha and that totally neglected road stretch on the Nairobi - Mombasa highway between Mazeras and Miritini. You will surely wonder how the successive governments prioritized projects and Balkanized different parts of the country dependant on where the head of state is coming from.

Lets briefly look at the successive governments, their take on central system and whether there is need to continue having the same unitary system over 40 years later:

Colonial Government

• Split Kenya into tribal cocoons, favoring some areas (like the white highlands) and ignoring others (like North Eastern)

• Divide and rule system where some communities were preferred over others

• When independence was inevitable, they prepared those who will take - over from them so that their interests remain protected, and colonialism will only change colour - from white to black.

The Kenyatta Government

• Signed the first memorandum of understanding (MOU) in the tripartite agreements between the British, the Kenyan and the Zanzibar governments on the protection of the 10 Mile Coastal Strip. That MOU was never respected.

• The art of the divide and rule, the favoured against the ignored was perfected.

• The law of detention without trial continued.

• A point of departure was arrived where if you went to any government office and you did not speak a particular language you will not be properly served.

• North Eastern - baptized as NFD by the colonial government, continued to suffer under the Kenyatta government. The Shifta menace was born.

• Mpeketoni in the midsts of Lamu District became an extension of Central province.

• The two large communities - the Kikuyu and Luo became archenemies. Kikuyu children were indoctrinated to hate the Luos.

• The Kapenguria six ended up having different ideologies - no wonder Bildad Kaggia died a pauper.

• JM Kaiuki's prophecy came to pass - Kenya became a country of 10 millionaires with 10 million poor.

• Assassination germinated - Pio Gama Pinto, JM, Argwings Kothek, Tom Mboya, Ronald Ngala.

• The seeds of corruption were soared - one Minister became known as Mr. 10%.

The Moi Government

• North Eastern continued to suffer - we ended up with the Wagalla massacre and the Somali's carrying two identity cards.

• The MOU on the 10 Mile Coastal Strip that was not respected by Kenyatta, became a plundering area for those in power. Beach plots were dished out to the favoured to keep them happy as Moi's pawns.

• Even mosque plots and parcels of land were dished out e.g the Diani Mosque land. The favoured only had to send a marked plots boundary map to Moi for him to append his signatute and dish out that land.

• People traveled from remote parts of Rift Valley to take over parcels of land in Mombasa in particular and Coast in general.

• People who never went to school became board members.

• The Nyayo and Nyati house torture chambers were started.

• The art of divide and rule, the favoured against the ignored reached higher levels.

• Corruption became a norm.

• Assassinations became the preferred mode of elimination - Dr. Robert Ouko, Bishop Muga, Farther Kaiser.

• Droves of university lecturers and students were forced into exile.

• Commissions of Enquiries were formed to cheat Kenyans rather solve the issue at hand.

The Kibaki Government

• Moi claimed he was following Kenyatta's footsteps (Nyayo). It is Kibaki who is the true Nyayo follower. All the Kenyatta era leaders have been brought back to the government - John Michuki, Njenga Karume, Simeon Nyachae, and Francis Muthaura

• Even though the language that became semi-official during Kenyatta era, is not back but its people are back getting most of the government tenders including legal ones

• Corruption and tribalism has become a norm

• Commission of enquiries has become an art in placating the citizens

• Land clashes and tribal cleansing are in vogue

• For the first time in the history of Kenya, the government has rendition its own citizens to Ethiopia, Somalia and Guantanamo. Kenya government has accepted to treat its own people as second-class citizens.

• Where as Kenyan Muslims have never been treated fairly by the last successive governments, its relegation has gone a notch lower in the Kibaki government. Over 1000 Muslims have suffered torture in the hands of the police, even though the Police Commissioner is a Muslim.

• The Kibaki government has sent commandos to raid Muslim homes in Mombasa in search of alleged terrorists. Muslims have become victims of harassment everywhere in this country. When you hold a Muslim name, you immediately become a terrorist suspect. Raphael Tuju admitted in a Public Iftar in Mombasa that for the last 44 years successive governments have mistreated Muslims - (This meant to pacify the Muslims in order to buy their votes for Kibaki's re-election).

• It is said the Kibaki government refused to sign the anti-terrorism bill. What difference has it made, when the anti-terrorism police has been put in place, the US Marines are roaming Lamu district and parts of North Eastern, and the unsigned act is fully operational.

• North Eastern has continued to be ignored. The province is a police state!

Is there any difference between the colonial government's treatments in balkanization of Kenyans with that of the Kenyatta/Moi/Kibaki governments?

Is it a wonder that Moi and Uhuru Kenyatta are fully supporting Kibaki's re-election?

Can Kenyans expect Kibaki to act any differently from how he has behaved in the last 5 years of his rule?

Can Wananchi trust Kibaki to honor the current MOU when he goes back, yet he could not honor one when he expected to seek for re-election?

Is it a wonder that Koigi wa Wamwere is now a Kibaki apologist and a Majimbo war-monger?

These are personal observations made over the years. With a family political history, an experience gone through in my over 30 years employment, an exposure of what goes on in different parts of the country while visiting the areas on assignments as a parastatal employee, and an inkling into favoured tenders while employed by one of the chosen few organizations.

NEED I SAY MORE????

Really the 'Moment of Truth' has arrived for Kenyans to decide between voting in Kibaki or voting him out!

Akelo nyar Kager, jaluo@jaluo.com

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