Commentaries

NEW KENYA

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Published on Tuesday, 05 June 2007 20:38

Some fresh air is imminent to the Kenyan Nation as a whole. So fresh that every Kenyan citizen shall breathe in with pride. A nation is being borne in Africa; and that nation shall be christened," New Kenya".

For years now we have suffered under Moi misrule. I can not call it leadership because it wasn't. One feels like shedding tears on remembering how robust Kenyan economy was in the early years of Independence. Kenya was threatening to be a superpower in Africa. We had all it takes to be called a superpower, in spite of our reliance on agriculture. The sector has been the backborne of our economy.

Gone are the days when the agricultural sector was vibrant with produce. Gone are the days when roads were recognizable. Think of the tea sector, pyrethrum, coffee, sugar, name them. Kenya Meat commission is no more. Nothing is working. Look at KCC, Kenya Coffee Board, Pyrethrum Board of kenya, etc. Those were days when the farmer reaped the benefits of his sweat. I remember people built mabati houses in my localty with funds from coffee produce. We were on the right track then.

POLITICAL DETAINEES

Out went Kenyatta and in came Daniel T.arap Moi. All seemed okay initially. No sooner had he taken the steering wheel than hell broke loose. He started consolidating his power and forgot that he was dealing with people. All that mattered was him, himself and him. We started hearing of Mwakenya. Many people were detained without trial. It was illegal to eat nyama choma in a group of three or more people. Remember Anyona and company(Kathangu and Ngotho) at Dagorretti Corner. What about Matiba, Rubia, Raila, Shikuku, Mwandawiro Mgangha, Jaramogi Ajuma Oginga Odinga, just to name a few. What about Nyayo House torture chambers? What about Okiki Amayo's kanu disciplinary Committee during the one party era?

Those were dark ages indeed. Do you remember the famous Weekly Review? It was the only independent newsletter at that time that told us the story inside the stories. Sometimes it could be taken off the vendors' shelves as fast as it came. Sedition. Politicians of different opinions were taken care of in the best way Moi knew how.

VOID PROJECTS

The word,"project" is not new in Moi's vocabulary. Do you remember the Nyayo Milk? I took that stuff too. Moi liked school children, so we were told, maana ndio viongozi wa kesho. This fact has just dawned on him after decades. A lot of money was spent in the project. Something happened and the project gradually died. Then the Nyayo Tea Zones came. I even do not fathom what or where these zones were. Your guess as to what became of them is as good as mine. After all, it was a project. We then heard of Nyayo Bus. They swindled it and the project met its death at the expense of the Kenyan citizens. You cannot forget the flats built at Ruaraka supposedly for the workers of Nyayo Bus Corporation. They are still there, going to waste. Nyayo wards was another project. What became of them? Where are they located? I swear I have never seen one. Do you remember the arbotive construction of a sixty storey building at Uhuru Park for KTMT(Kenya Times Media Trust)? Thanks to Prof. Wangari Maathai and other activists, the project was abandoned.In all these failed projects, money changed hands in the high offices. We are now being told of Uhuru Project. Kenyans should not worry, because, like all the past projects, this one will meet the same fate, come rain or sunshine.

COMMISSIONS OF INQUIRIES

We cannot remember Moi era without bringing to light commissions of inquiries. If my memory serves me right, I first heard of this when Njonjo was named the limping sheep, attempting to overthrow the Government of kenya in early 1980s. Money was used in this inquiry so much that by the end of it all, we were talking in terms of millions. The result? Then came Ouko's death and a commission of inquiry was set up. It was disbanded halfway and arrests made to cheat us. Soon after, the men,(read Total Man) got freed of lack of evidence. Most recently, we have had commissions set up to investigate the origin of tribal clashes in the periods 1991-92 and 1997-99. The Akiwumi Commision, was finalised and the report given to His Excellency for onward release to the people who paid for it. Nothing came out in spite of court orders to have the report released. In fact, I have just learnt that it has been released by Amos Wako who immediately poured cold water on its validity and truth.We had heard of Devil Worshipping in Kenya and the commission that was set up to investigate. This was conclusively done and the report given to the President. We are still waiting. The burning question is: why waste public funds on these commissions yet no report is released to the public? There are many other commssions of inquiry like the Koech and others whose results end with Mr Moi.

POLITICAL ASSASSINATIONS

There have been political assassinations or attempts to kill people perceived to be critical of the system during Moi's reign. The intriguing disappearance and death of Dr John Robert Ouko( Bob) is still fresh in our minds. We are yet to be told who killed him. No matter how long it takes, the killers of Ouko will be brought to book one day. Bishop Alexander Muge, a stern critic of the Kenya Government met his death miraculously. I guess you can recall Peter Okondo and his tongue. Father John Kaiser is one whose death is believed to have been political. Nobody can buy the idea that the Father committed suicide. We still do not know for sure what caused the tyre burst of the vehicle in which the Bomajoge MP, the late Enock Magara died. The MP had only a few days earlier asked kenyans to pray for the death of Mr Moi. There was this world famous sniper:Patrick Show. Rumour went round linking his death to some job gone sour. What became of big names linking them with the death of Kenya's Foreign Affairs Minister( Ouko)? When Mr Moi took over, he promised to follow in Kenyatta's footsteps, popularly known as fuata nyayo. If I am asked to what existent Moi followed in his predecessor's footsteps, I could quickly say," political assassinations and silencing of his critics". This brings to light the death of the then MP for Nyandarua, Josiah Mwangi Kariuki, popularly known as JM, during Kenyatta's reign. The 1969 assassination of Tom Mboya in broad daylight is still fresh in our minds as though it happened yesterday. They killed in order to survive imagined threats to their leadership. That has been Kenya's presidents' ways of ruling.

DIVIDE AND RULE

Over the years, Mr Moi has survived by manipulations. The self proclaimed professor of politics has always had his way. He sets tribe against tribe through their leaders. This has gone on unabated till now when Kenyans seem to have said enough is enough. We hope this time around the opposition will lead the electorate to completely phase Kanu out of Kenya's politics and the perpetraters of the economic crimes, both real and imagined are brought to book. Mr Moi has not known defeat, so he says and anyone challenging his leadership from within is shown the door in a most humiliating way. He created sycophants whose job was to toe the line or else... Talk about the media. You remember Finance of Gatabaki? You can see the biased KBC whose system of reporting news is wanting, despite the IPPG agreement in the period leading to the 1997 elections.

ECONOMY

Our economy is in a sad state. Corruption is the order of the day, right from above to the common man. Police, medical treatment, job seekers and prospective employers, virtually all sectors are riddled with the vice which has threatened the very survival of Kenyans. This is an area which is the core of any nation and so much has been said in many economic forums in Kenya and abroad. Nyachae told us the truth during his brief stint in the ministry:the coffers were empty and the country was in the intensive care unit. Moi reacted angrily thus: even a doctor does not reveal to his patient that he is going to die even when it is clear the patient is breathing his last soon. Nyachae was thrown out of the ministry and he resigned in protest.Reason? Telling us the naked truth.

SECURITY

Joblesness and frustrations have contributed towards insecurity in Kenya so much that people have bought crude weapons to defend themselves with in case of any eventuality. Any unusual sound in the night makes us stay awake with pangas and acids ready because you do not know what is coming. You do not want to be caught pants down, yet we have the system which is supposed to ensure that all citizens are safe together with their property. The Police have turned against us. There is virtually nowhere one can walk without being mugged, no matter what time it is. You can not even answer a call on your mobile phone in the streets. This must stop and do so now. The army has been doing nothing ever since they were trained. They are idle in the barracks. They ought to be used to beef up security in th estates, streets, everywhere.

MOI LEGACY

Moi is now telling us we vote for Kenyatta for president. That is the legacy he wants to bequeath Kenyans...poverty, collapsed infrastucture, incompetent judiciary, cunfused education sector, etc etc. Kenyatta is supposed to perpetuate the same policies of Mr Moi. Moi knows what Kenyatta is capable of doing. That is why he went for him. He at the same time wants to appease the Kikuyu whom he tried to finish in so many areas. We want change and change is coming. The wind of change in Kenya is blowing, so mighty that it cannot be stopped.

WAY FORWARD

Fellow Kenyans, let us forget tribe and state house eating. We have to unite and bury Kanu in a concrete cemetery and throw the key in the Indian ocean. Regardless of who is mandated to carry the baton from the opposition, let us support that person with all our might. This is the chance we have and we have to use it. Opposition unity has been elusive in the past but we have to think above tribe and see ourselves as kenyans against our common enemy, Kanu.

Kenyans abroad are following the unfolding political events with much appreciation. Technology has done us a lot of good. Everyone is glued to the internet for breaking news on Nation and The E.A Standard throught the day. We are all supporting the emerging Super Alliance to counter Kanu. We gather in churches over the weekends to seek God's guidence and direction. We are proud of those who are leading the people in this crusade. History will charge them highly. As for the masses, I have this to say: Go! Go! Go! Let us all go for it. Let us liberate our beloved Nation from misrule and tyranny. Let us support the Alliance using every possible means. Positions and power sharing should not be a priority at this time. Long Live Kenya; Long Live Super Alliance.