House on fire? Is finger pointing the way forward to restore Kenya to its former excellence?
Watching Kenya go up in flames is comparable to a house go up in flames? The initial reaction is always to put out the fire first or help the victims and only after the fire is out is the problem analysis done. Why are we doing it differently this time? Why start with the fingerpointing other than handling the problem at hand? Ethnic violence.
Many would want to say that the flawed election is the core source of all this but we all know that it was only a catalyst to an already existing problem.
Every one who calls themselves learned are saying that they cant shed blood. You know, stuff like “An, I CANT KILL YOU,NEVER!” I believe we are all responsible for what’s happening to Kenya in different ways.
Last year during the campaigns I was the office head of the PNU camp and my office mate the ODM camp and it being our first day at work this year we naturally started talking politics.
Since the election I have had this attitude that the whole electoral system needs an overhaul,rigging was done but we need to embrace peace since Kenya as a country is greater than any one of us. So that is the message I started preaching…you know not defending Kibaki or the ECK.
But my colleagues do not believe me,me the extremist in Kikuyu politics they believe I am simply pretending. This is because I boldly stated last year that my camp would win even if it meant rigging. The comment was only based on previous history,no incumbent has ever been voted out of office while still running. Kibaki had to win.
I was wrong. This was made clear to me by my niece who is 5 years and was wondering what the hulabaloo was all about Kibaki and Raila. When we pointed out that Raila was angry because he was number 2. She stated that he shouldn’t cry because if he tried harder he will be number 1 next term. When we informed her that Kibaki had copied the exam, hell broke loose! She named all her classmates who allengedly copied exams and how she believes they will never rightfully be number 1. That evening I was nursing a head ache and severe post election depression. I learnt my lesson. Thus the change.
We open up and start wondering what could be the way forward. No body is for the government of national unity because it can’t function.
Tribalism is entrenched so deep in us, very hard to uproot.
Is it possible introducing yourself to people as name and Kenyan and ignore your tribe just within the Kenyan borders. How many times have you introduced yourself as name and Kenyan fullstop! Some even include the tribes they are from in their resume!
Back to the office,I state that PNU is not the only one that rigged,the whole election was rigged from grassroot by the 3 main parties PNU,ODM,ODMK everyone rigged to the best of their capabilities. The only problem was that PNU rigged by the thousands while the others by the hundreds. Thats the truth. ODM rigged as well but with a plan. PNU didn’t have a plan and that’s why we got caught!
Most ODM supporters actually agree. Up to this point almost all of us agree except 2 people who have have no tribal identity,one because her father was a cross of a Tanzanian and a Luhya and he married a Kikuyu,her mother. She has no tribe to identify with,she says she is a Kenyan. The other guy is of Arab descent with over 4 generations in this country.
One says that Kikuyus are feel goods,they think they are the only ones who can rule this nation,her mother is a Kikuyu.
The other says they own most of the businesses,they are the richest! We are back to square one.
My defence is that I am the poorest Kikuyu working person I know,I live way beyond my means, don’t own any land or business but I am a Kikuyu. Why is then the success,the wrongdoing of other Kikuyus being heaped on innocent people?
Its only then that you realise that the clashes are not about Kibaki,the election or Raila. These were just a catalyst to an already existing disaster in waiting. In 1992 and1997 elections massive rigging was witnessed. We didn’t go killing Kalenjins because of MOI. Why kill each other now?
The moment the Rift Valley violence began, it ceased being a post election violence but a long tribal feud that must be solved.
We as Kenyans must start identifying ourselves as Kenyans first and foremost whether at the expense of loosing our cultural identity and values because it may be the only way forward. I wont vote for Kibaki because he happens to be from my tribe or stone Raila because he is opposed to my choice but choose our leaders according to their ideals.
That must start from the parliament,trickle down to all organizations. It now looks very petty,when tribal heads demand the president elects someone from their tribe to a certain ministrial post because they influenced their tribe to vote him in, irrespective of his qualifications for the post.
It didn’t last year,you see we have always been tribal deep within us,only this was watered and fertilised during the campaigns. What more did we expect? If Raila had won the skirmishes would still have happened.
It is a wake up call.
Dialogue must take place between our leaders. They are our tribe chiefs and the people down in the villages will listen to them. It doesn’t make sense but that’s the reality. They were elected along the tribal lines.
As for the national unity, for the first time we have to put the needs of others and those of Kenya above our own. Its a challenge for all Kenyans. We all have to participate a piece and help in mending us.
Someone, Tony Gachoka a politician said that blood bath is one of the paths to true democracy.
I believe its one we can choose to avoid.
from An, Nairobi
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Dear An,
thank you for shareing your thoughts. As a Kikuyu who was campaigning for Kibaki 5 years ago and voting for him this time, and now being shocked about what is happening in my beloved country, I feel in many aspects the same way as you. Yes, I voted for Kibaki, because I do not trust Odinga either, and I thought that Odinga would polarize to much.
But I have to disagree with your conclusions. Yes, the house is on fire, but it will not be stoped from burning if we just call upon our leaders and insist not to point the finger at someone.
I think it is important to name the facts: After this election with all the rigging, it is imposible to tell who the Persident ist. Kibaki took the power by nameing himself President after pressure has been made on the ECK. That makes him a Dictator with the control over the armed forces.
Of course, with the unrest in the country and people dieing, I do not care what he is, as long as he does everything to stop the killing.
Odinga showed more reason than I thought by canceling the Protest in order to have peace talks. And now Kibaki just dumped a whole truck load of fuel on the burning house, by nameing his cabinet, leaving ODM no other choise, but to cancel the peace talks.
At the same time the Kibaki goverment insults everyone who tries to mediate in order to stop the killing. Goverment called Tutu a not invited Person, therefore he is a “tourist”. Yesterday Mutua said, that there is nothing to mediate and that “They [Kufuor and Kibaki] are age-mates and friends and Kufuor is coming to have a cup of tea with him,”
How will there ever be peace with a goverment that is not caring about their own people anymore? Kibaki betrayed us Kenyans, but most of all he betryaed the people most loyal to him: Us Kikuyus. We are the ones who are suffering from his policies, we are the ones getting killed, we are the 300.000 people on the run, loosing everything, and this goverment says there is nothing to mediate?
The only option I see, is that Kibaki steps down under the condition of an interim goverment, led by a differnt person than any of the Persidential constestens in the than upcoming elections under a new costitution.
And I do not think this can be setteled by to “tribal-chiefs”. This can only be setteled, if we as Kenyans stand up and raise our voice, not in favour of Odinga, Kibaki, ODM or PNU, but in the name of peace, demacracy and fair elections.
As the summery of Kenyan history “Unearthing of the sources of tribal disagreements and ethno-politics in Kenya” http://eyesonkenya.org/blog/?p=27 shows, tribalism hahas its roots. We have to face them, and start to rethink Kenya as Kenyans.
With respect and love,
JoMo
Comment: JoMo – 09. January 2008 @ 11:10 am
@Jomo
I agree and totally.
Why the tribe chiefs?Because they are the ones who can stop the killings faster.The idiots in the fields listen to them.
Again that maybe giving them another dose of fuel.PHEW.
Its a very bleak situation.
As for Kibaki, that was a move I only expected from Lucy. Maybe Lucy has started pulling the shots. He is so drunken with power he cant see sense.
Kalonzo is so predictable its pathetic.The snake!
Raila…I need help. I still dont trust him,his ideals.
Afresh start is most welcome. A new election now looks acceptable.
Comment: an – 09. January 2008 @ 1:59 pm
CAN PEACE REALLY PREVAIL WITHOUT JUSTICE?
Let me start by saying that all Kenyans regardless of their ethnicity, tribe, colour or background MUST accept the fact that what happened during our 2007 general elections was absolutely and totally wrong. Unfortunately, so many of us are in denial yet all Kenyans saw, heard, and know deep down their hearts what happened. Can you imagine sitting for an examination that you have prepared for and that which will determine your future being rigged. Can you imagine your marks given to someone else. How do we all cry for peace yet no one cries for justice. WITHOUT JUSTICE HOW DO WE GO ABOUT PREACHING FOR PEACE. I unfortunately did not vote this time. At first I was very bitter and regretted having not voted but now I’m so glad I didn’t because even if I did I don’t think it would have made a difference. To be honest I am a Raila die hard supporter but that doesn’t mean I hate any of his competitors. I might not like they way they conducted themselves or maybe I didn’t like some of their policies mentioned in their respective manifestos but that would NEVER make me hate them to a point where I’d want to shed blood. If I was to make a decision for this country I would get rid of everyone. Kibaki and his team, Raila and his team and most definitely Kalonzo and his team. After all they say a good politician is a dead one. Its so sad for me to say this, that we have gone back to the dictatorship era where we the people who are actually the bosses of these politicians are suppressed. Our voices are not strong enough to change things. Can you imagine how it is for a poor man? The statue of justice should be blind-folded but our statue seems to have her eyes wide open. I strongly feel that the Kikuyu community should have spoke against what Kibaki did especially the way he declared himself the 4th president of Kenya in such an unjust manner. Whenever I talk to my close Kikuyu friends about this their response is always ” kila mtu ali iba” ” sisi tuli iba mta fanya nini” I mean if Raila or Kalonzo rigged did Kibaki have to do the same? Do two wrongs make a right??? No one cares about honour and respect everyone is just so power hungry, Why??? Its merely because when ones is rich their past is forgotten. Its so unfortunate in todays world that a rich man who steals, who’s corrupt and who sins gets respected so much more than a poor man who’s clean in deeds. Do these guys forget that when one dies they go with nothing except with their deeds which will play a great part as far as God’s judgement is concerned. Let us all be truthfull fair and just as the world goes around. It might be Raila today, tomorrow it will definitely be someone else. Look around the world in all war torn countries. What causes violence, death and destruction? The lack of justice. If today i was robbed by someone who i knew and i went to the courts or any other justice department and i was denied justice i would certainly take the issue into my own hands and so would every other human being. In conclusion id like to say that peace is one the most wonderful things a country could have but in order to have this peace we MUST have justice. May Allah (s.w.t) Bless Kenya. ONE LOVE
Comment: HASSAN – 10. January 2008 @ 12:18 am