Ha! That's what I want to say to our politicians, but after a weekend of disppointments for most of them (hehehehe) I can only hope that most will survive the next five years. All the same, HA!! Wasn't a memo sent to these fools after 2002 that we the electorate are no longer "simple peasants" that can be manipulated for their own enrichment? They- experts and most politicians- blame the outcome of the last General elections on euphoria; what they didn't know was that the "euphoira" disguised a very aware critical mass of the population. Their eyes have been open for the last 5 years; their ears listening to every word, even that spoken in jest; but their mouths silent, waiting to speak with a clear voice when the time is due... For those who were able to catch local news, did you see the grassroots men and women who at the primaries? These guys had pen and paper! I was sooo amused; what were they going to do with pen and paper? In the dark? (hehehehe) These guys were soo vigilante, they didn't want jokes. In most places, voters stayed overnight either to vote or to monitor the counting of the votes. And the results across the board were accepted as the voice of the people, well...except for the downed politicians...
let me explain for those who are not aware of what is going on. Party nominations were carried out throughout the country by political parties in preparation for the General elections slated for December 27, 2007. These is where different candidates are elected by party members to vie for a seat against other party opponnents. In some constituencies, candidates seeking nomination from one party for one seat numbered upto 8!
Back to my story: there were very many upset, major upsets!! So tell me, what do we say about voters who nominate a man in remand awaiting mention of his case in court? The man is in jail for allegedly fuelling conflict in the Mt. Elgon area. As for Mwenje, Embakasi's immediate former MP, (and every time I think of his loss, I burst into laughter- how the mighty have fallen) , as for him, how is life for him going to be? The man is a career political thug and only God knows the sorrow he has caused his consitutents. I guess the shock of losing the nominatioons is similar to that of the countless able bodied men and women who were retrenched without warning in the past couple of years in Kenya. I am glad he is out as are countless other Kenyans in his area.
Others who lost and elicit no remorse or sympathy from us include Chris Murungaru (Kieni), G.G. Kariuki ( Laikipia West), Morris Dzoro (Kaloleni), William Kabogo (Juja), Joseph Kamotho (Mathioya), Paddy Ahenda (the fool that said a woman's no acutally means yes when Parliament was discussing Njoki Ndung'u's Sexual Offences Bill), among many others.
I am very excited about this. On one hand, we are slowly making our self appointed leaders (tsk!) understand that we are the boss and they are the employees. Their long standing arrogance and lack of involvment in local development will quickly fade away. I foresee a day when the leaders will at least build a classroom in their area in order to show that they are working for the good of the electorate. I was frustrated for a long time that the Kenyan voter did not dare hold the politician accountable because:
a) this people had more money that they did, and in poor communities, one with economic power holds the same status with a smaller god...
b) most politicians had access to higher education and even if they did not, they could speak the queen's language which, in essence gave them status such as that the queen held
c) these smaller gods walked with, dined with, spoke with the a little bigger gods, and that made them invincible- remember Angaine and Mulu Mutisya?
But now things have changed. They reached a critical point in the year 2002 with the NARC- Rainbow coalition movement. And had been changing since 1997...But there is one thing that still disturbs me and perhaps I can develop this thought more on another posting. One of my professors calls it "Tyrany of the masses". Democracy run mad. I remember that even I was shocked and terrified that voters in Palestine democratically elected a "terrorist" group into power. It is expected that the electorate will know what is right and wrong and that they will make the "right" decision, but we know that this is not always true. For example, the young man who got nominated for the parliamentary seat in the Mt. Elgon area, what if he really is involved in the violence? What if representing his people means a perpetutation of the violence but against those perceived as the enemy?
I will follow up this thought in another posting, for now let us celebrate the fall of the wicked!!! Ha!
"When the wicked perish, the city rejoices, when the righteous prosper there are shout of joy!" The Psalms, the Bible
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4 comments:
Hi, after being pursued from 8:00 am to read this article, I finally got round to reading it despite my busy schedule. The nominations were actually a great way of saying "Enough is enough!" Gor Sunguh and Ochillo Ayacko also fell by the wayside.I am however disturbed by the fact that some crooks in the previous Moi regime have gotten their way back into parliament by riding on the "most popular" party. You know Kenyans have such short memories, and trust me, we are going to vote them in despite what we know about their past evil deeds. And there are those who were members of the 9th parliament who were on a get-rich-scheme and now come 27th Dec we are going to cast our votes and brign them back in. Anyway, I hope reason, above all else will prevail, and we will not vote euphorically, but soberly. I think it would be hilarious if more big wigs do not go through come 27th December - we will drink to that!!! How I wish reason could prevail.
Hi... I agree with 98 % of your article. Politicians like Murungaru and Kabogo should be kicked to the curb. I however think that Kenya is transitioning, and soon (maybe 10yrs) all Kenyans will hopefully get a clear understanding of what democracy is. Democracy never existed in the African culture and hence "democracy run mad" as you put it. It's better that kind of democracy than no democracy at all.
2. You said, "I was shocked and terrified that voters in Palestine democratically elected a "terrorist" group into power" - this is mere propaganda. We all know that our grandparents were once labeled terrorists for fighting for the freedom we now enjoy, Mandela, Steve Biko, Fidel Castro were all labeled Terrorists.
All in all, we are left to wonder, the old guards were once young and innocent but power turned them into political and economical criminals, will this happen to the fresh breed of leaders we will elect? Some jumping from salaries of not more than 100k which is tax deductible to 500k + that is not tax deductable. It is clear that most of those joining politics are joining politics not because they are passionate about being epitomes of change but only because being an MP has now become the easiest path to acquiring wealth. Where are the Harry Thukus, Tom Mboyas, Kwame Nkurumas and Pio Gama Pintos of today ?
(no proof reading was done so pardon me for any spelling or grammatical mistakes)
The people of Mt Elgon, like the palestinians mentioned in your article, had a reason for electing a suspected criminal. They identify with the means and ideologies that the man holds- because, in my opinion, they have given up on the current leadership style. They want change, and they want it in a radical style.
I see it as a reflection of thefailure of the leadership to bring meaninful governance to the roots. So perhaps its not so bad after all.. didn't someone at one time say''Let the people decide?" Well, they have decided.
Lets see whether we all need to follow teir example.
Thank you for enlightening your brother on the otherside of the world(U.S). The struggles of your people are the same as the struggle of mine in America. The time of the "sellout" politician has expired on all four corners of the planet. CHANGE is here to stay.
Peace!
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