Assessing ‘Baba’

Emilio Mwai Kibaki, the current president of the Republic of Kenya, or baba wa taifa has been in power since December, 2002. He is among the pioneers of the second liberation of the country. Emilio was the presidential candidate at a time when all Kenyans were united against the oppressive KANU government led by then incumbent, Daniel Moi. On the campaign trail that year, it was easy to pinpoint that he would have a landslide victory since his team received countrywide support. After the then electoral body the Electoral Commission of Kenya (ECK) declared him winner the atmosphere was uncontainable as a result of the people’s jubilation. After a few months however, his government was faced by stiff challenges as some political big wigs felt dissatisfied with the running of affairs and some even opted out, led by Prime Minister Raila Odinga & his allies. This was just the beginning of instability in his government. A number of events have characterized the President’s rule. I divided these into: political, economic and social aspects.  

 

Political                                                  

The promise of a new constitution was one notable promise made by the National Rainbow Alliance (NARC). The process took off as delegates and experts met to discuss and review the old constitution. Halfway through Kibaki’s term, he had already faced strong resistance and this became clearly evident when the first referendum was held in 2005. His camp was for the new constitution and their symbol was the ‘banana’. On the other hand were those against the proposed constitution, symbolized by an ‘orange’. The results after the poll indicated a victory for the Orange supporters, who took a whopping 58% of the total votes. This was a wakeup call for the president in that he had lost majority support. He reacted by sacking half of cabinet-those who rejected the proposed constitution. This gave birth to the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), as a political party now, instead of a team of politicians disputing the proposed graft.

ODM took centre stage of Kenyan politics and in no time the party was a force to reckon with, keeping the president and his allies on toes as they prepared for the 2007 General Elections. After a somewhat staged preliminary stage, Raila Odinga emerged the favored candidate for presidency under the ODM ticket. Together with the pentagon, a team consisting of influential legislatures such as Henry Kosgei, Musalia Mudavadi, William Ruto, Najib Balala, Joe Nyagah  & Charity Ngilu, they managed overwhelming following throughout the country except in Central Kenya. During the pre-election, there was a lot of tension in the country as ethnic propaganda and insults were being hurled by the minute. Independent polls predicted a win for ODM and showed that it was the most popular political party. It is worth mentioning that at this point of heightened political activity, something historical happened. This was the support for the president, by then official opposition leader Uhuru Kenyatta, a move that plainly explains how terrible ethnicity is in our country. But after all this is a democracy, and he was free to support whoever he wished!

Election Day came and almost all media sources indicated that ODM’s candidate Raila Odinga was in the lead. However, that changed in the blink of an eye as Kibaki under the PNU ticket emerged the winner according to the final results, amid protest by ODM. A rather speedy swearing in ceremony followed thereafter at Statehouse, witnessed by ‘invited guests’. The country plunged into violence almost instantly as the news reported attacks from all corners of the country caused mostly by ethnicity and political allegiance. The Post Election Violence (PEV) carried on to early 2008 and claimed well over 1000 lives inflicting injuries in much higher numbers, caused mass displacement of people and other kinds of suffering. Thus far, this is the most defining moment in Kenya’s election history. At least President Kibaki gave us that! Kudos Mr. President! In all seriousness, the nation has been suffering since then. This is because the coalition government, which was meant to restore peace between the two major parties, has failed consistently in most of their duties.

The up side is that Mwai enabled Kenyans acquire the much desired new constitution. In 2010 the second referendum was held and this time round a larger number of the electorate voted in favor of the proposed law. This constitution which is already in force has rewarded us a reformed judiciary which we can actually put some trust in. Despite major challenges in implementation, the changes led to an independent judiciary, which is a major step. The political situation in Kenya however, remains unstable, dominated by refreshed ethnic animosity and the second phase of the Hague trials which Kenyans eagerly await. More proof of disoriented politics include: the UK dossier, disregard for integrity, politics based on insults and ethnic loyalty instead of issues, increased corruption cases…the list is endless! So here comes the moment of truth. Taking the above political factors into consideration, I’d give Emilio 1 out of 10 (mostly ‘coz of the constitution).

Economic

Thika Road! For those who haven’t been there you should make a point of visiting it, or even go to Google images to get a glimpse of this magnificent piece of infrastructure that makes Kenya seem to be a 1st World nation for a moment! Thika Road is not the only road that has received an extreme makeover under President Kibaki’s regime. Back in the day, the journey to my ancestral home was stressful even to think about, but today I travel there comfortably and even faster. The road networks have been dealt with accordingly by this government regardless of region. The highways in Nakuru, road to Narok, roads in Kisumu, Kericho, and Kisii among others, now appear to be decent as opposed to their dilapidated condition under the Moi era. This has assisted a number of citizens. Once movement of people and goods is made simpler and more efficient, the economy benefits as a whole and I believe improvement of our roads has made this possible.

Another identifiable area that has boosted the economy in one way or another is the development of key partnerships. Kenya has made strategic cooperation with countries such as China, South Korea, Japan, Turkey, and South Sudan. These have been done taking into consideration the future developmental and economic targets for Kenya. With vision 2030 serving as the blueprint, Kenya needs better infrastructure, more energy and development of alternative energy resources, improvement in technological capability, creation of more employment and support for innovation. This far cooperation with China has led to developing infrastructure; agreements with South Sudan may lead to easier acquisition of petroleum, while Japan and South Korea can assist our engineers in stepping up technology in the country. Such technology is useful to build know-how on how to make the oil discovered recently in Turkana useful to our growing economy.

Unfortunately, economic growth has not been realized evenly. As much as reports indicate a growth in Kenya’s economy, the effects are not being felt on the ground. Food prices are higher than ever, fuel prices change every month, and the Kenyan currency is performing poorly against major currencies. Other concerns are the marginalization of the North. It may be wise to ask why

this is happening while the president is always extolled over his remarkable economic record. So, the economy is growing but we have to dig deeper into our pockets to make ends meet. Anyway, that’s food for thought! In economics Mwai earns 5 out of 10 (am sure he scored higher in Makerere though).

Social

This is probably where our president has failed us most. First and foremost, the numbers of Kenyans living below the poverty line seem to be increasing. This is very concerning since the nation will have more problems to deal with especially since the few rich continue to have an upper hand over the poorer majority. Secondly, unemployment is still a setback for the country as even graduates find themselves unable to get into the job market. This leaves behind a growing population of people who are unable to support themselves and may be willing to do anything in order to survive. Talk about a recipe for disaster!

Gender inequality is still a problem in Kenya. Women and girls are still not able to get equal opportunities even after concentration of efforts to achieve this equality. The youth have also been abandoned and their interests trashed as the old guard have to serve themselves first. Those who claim to care about the youth do so using questionable means such as paying for organized demonstrations or buying votes. Financial power is used because the forces against youth advancement are aware of their desire to succeed.

As Mwai Kibaki’s regime comes to an end, his government appears to have run out of zip. The first evidence of the latter statement is the inability of the government to deal with the strikes of our most vital fields. The doctors, lecturers, primary and high school teachers all have grievances related to poor pay. The government has failed to address such issues, despite the fact that the students and patients are suffering. The second is related to ethnic tensions. It seems every 5 years we’ll be starting the process of seeking social cohesion all over. This is actually one area in which the KANU regime somehow managed to deal with better. The created mechanisms such as the Truth Justice and Reconciliation Commission and the National Cohesion & Integration Commission have not been able to quell the tension. This has led to the emergence of the recent 

attacks in the environs of the Tana Delta. In this case the government appeared disorganized in dealing with the issue until recently, when they acted after pressure. Socially I think ‘baba’ has totally failed hence 0 out of 10.

I have always liked President Kibaki, and not only for his funny speeches. When he came into power I always thought that he was the man to take Kenya to great heights unlike his authoritarian predecessors. Kenyans’s have a habit of settling for less and this is one reason as to why President Kibaki is lauded by many. Deep down I still know that he would have offered Kenyans much more but he did not and now his legacy is questionable.

Ungrateful Neighbors

I was disgusted when I recently heard about the killings of our fellow Kenyans in South Sudan. It is absurd that our government failed yet again when it comes to protecting its citizens, based abroad. This adds to the list the injustices faced by workers in Saudi Arabia, and harassed fishermen in Migingo islands and other parts of the world. It is however more shocking that some of the killings were conducted by the state, as security officials of South Sudan were involved in execution of Kenyans in some cases. If you are reading this you probably share the view that the previous sentence is ludicrous. I mean how can the government of South Sudan take part in inflicting suffering on Kenyans? Forget their government for a moment. The seriousness of the situation remains unchanged where South Sudanese citizens themselves are the ones killing Kenyans-no state involvement. And yes this is the same South Sudan whose refugees sought asylum in Kenya during the civil war period; the same one that Kenya assisted in brokering peace which eventually led to the much desired secession. 

For more than 20 years, Kenya has lived and interacted freely with all her neighbors. In the tensest moments of relations with her neighbors, Kenya always resorts to the most peaceful means of settling disputes as dictated by our foreign policy. I however, hold the view that this kind of lenience is what our so called neighbors are taking advantage of. “After all, the Kenyans will negotiate” (probably runs in their minds); or some top officials may be given some kind of incentive in exchange for their silence on critical issues. The point is this has to stop! As much as diplomacy is the most favored approach even internationally, in some extreme cases a state has to put its foot down and prioritize its interests first and foremost, and protecting its citizens is one of those. Bilateral relations amongst states could be compared to friendship between two individuals. Such individuals will not always have a smooth friendship. It has to be based on mutuality, and lines have to be drawn. These lines, when crossed may ruin the relationship or force a period of misunderstanding. The misunderstanding doesn’t have to be permanent though. 

When it comes to state relations, Kenya needs a system that oversees reduction of privileges and immunities for states that limit freedom and interaction in whatever way for Kenyans in the diaspora. In my opinion, Kenya is one of the most hospitable countries in the world. I say this because the treatment handed to tourists and other foreigners as well is remarkable and sometimes most Kenyans themselves are not even treated in the same way, in their own country. For example, citizens from Rwanda, Uganda, Ethiopia and even South Sudan have lived here for a long time in freedom and have been able to conduct their affairs normally, as if they were citizens. In the case of a country like South Sudan, which in all honesty owes Kenya a lot, some privileges and level of freedom for their citizens based in Kenya ought to be limited at least until they ensure the safety and wellbeing of our own in their country. Like mentioned earlier, the relationship has to be mutual. Kenyans should not be left to suffer in South Sudan while here at home the South Sudanese move around freely. 

It is very unfortunate that Kenyans have to lose their lives across the border, while pursuing other ventures and opportunities. Our government fails in so many ways and this is one area that worsens as years pass by. Most of these incidences are usually highlighted by the media and stones are left unturned after Kenyans are given something else to worry about in order to forget the prevailing issue. This is the government’s nature of deferring problems; hence they will keep arising and haunting the country from time to time. South Sudan is just one case and is the most recent. Other citizens live and work in various continents and ought to be protected as well, as indicated in the constitution, since they are still Kenyans even if based overseas. We can only hope that the government through the relevant ministries, maybe Foreign Affairs and Immigration will take effective action and reach to the bottom of this. 

The South Sudanese have to know that whatever they did wasn’t right and if reasonable should apologize and strive towards strengthening relations with Kenya, who is probably their most important partner in the region. I have to admit that the South Sudanese are the last among our neighbors I expected to be hostile to Kenya. But as the Swahili proverb goes, ‘asante ya punda ni mateke.’

Citizen responsibility: Play your part

Without a doubt, a good number of government offices and departments fail Kenyans as a result of negligence, incompetence or a combination of both. These range from the local government, to law enforcers and other civil servants. For that reason, such entities are unpopular among the masses and continue to be strongly criticized for consistently disappointing the population. I personally, have attacked these workers either in writing or verbally and am quite sure many more have done the same albeit in their own way. However, as much as they fail and as long as this will be the situation, we should always ask ourselves, what role can I play? How can I contribute? As Kenya aspires to reach certain developmental heights, the population will have to exercise their citizenship skills, for the goodies realized as a result of advancement are beneficial to all in society. 

I will briefly point out two main areas of observation that continue to puzzle me. The first is the traffic situation. I don’t travel around much but I can still conclude that Kenya, especially the capital, Nairobi is one of the worst places on earth to be a road user. The lawlessness on our roads is shocking and the matter of concern is that people have gotten used to it and accept it as normal. Take a normal weekday for instance, during ‘rush-hour’ when most are headed back home after the day’s hustle. At first, one would see a stretched convoy of vehicles along Haile Selassie Avenue all the way to Uhuru Highway. The cars do not move at all and this goes on for minutes and in worse cases like on a rainy day even hours. Luckily such busy roads are attended to by the traffic officers who control the order of the flow. Elsewhere, in other parts of Nairobi, like Racecourse along Ngong Road, or the upper parts of Lang’ata Road, the officers may be absent. This is when everyone takes the opportunity to become king of the road. Matatus overlap the rest of the traffic in an attempt to secure a spot ahead of the rest. But they are known for their notoriety, so for a Nairobi resident it’s not something new. Sadly, they are followed by drivers of personal cars, who were initially waiting in the traffic might have just been waiting for an inciter. The consequence is usually an unbearable and uncontrollable traffic since order lacks and in some cases, creation of extra lanes where they ought not to be. Everyone is in a hurry and ‘has to be somewhere’ hence safety is no longer their concern. In addition, the presence of traffic lights does not seem to intimidate such rowdiness. Those who obey the law become the offenders. I once observed a driver rudely hooting for the motorist ahead to move, despite a clear red light.

Poor policy implementations by the ‘relevant’ institutions have led to such a situation on our roads, at this time and age. It is however disheartening to study how most motorists cannot cooperate with existing laws. As per the country’s policy, only adults can acquire a driver’s license so maturity is not an excuse. It’s surprising how they have to be controlled like animals; pardon my harshness but I feel like being human means being able to reason and make critical judgment of situations. If the simple rules like obeying the lights, or just waiting in traffic were observed, the situation on the roads would improve. This means a decrease in vulnerability of accidents and a manageable and smooth flow of traffic. It is not rocket science!

The second issue is the environment. Vision 2030 is all Kenyans are reciting at the moment. But imagine a dirty, filthy Konza city; not pleasant I presume! The National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) has underperformed in formulating adequate environmental by-laws. This could be the reason why pollution is almost legal in this country. People still dump, litter, and burn whatever they wish without permission. Fruit venders for example, sell their products, even to the concerned personnel, but still dispose the waste next to their premises or area of operation. Littering is a common habit for most who are either too lazy to take the litter to a nearby dustbin or they actually know they will go away unpunished. This is why many parts of the city look like dumpsites. I personally respect the environment therefore such observations sicken me. Seeing plastic bags, maize cobs and bottles among others by the roadside reminds me of how far behind we are in terms of personal responsibilities and duty. In most cases, these involve educated people. A more notable and recent case is the Thika Highway. The standards of this road are enviable to the rest of the region. As a frequent user of the highway, I can testify that a lot has changed for the better since its completion. It is however disappointing to see how hawkers, who have invaded the pavements and footpaths as well as areas intended for gardens, have received this development. First of all, they are there illegally and second, they leave behind piles of dirt once they are done. What’s more annoying is the manner in which they feel entitled to such spaces and a pedestrian cannot even dare hit them. This leaves us with a world class road that is poorly managed and not used for its right purposes.

Yet again the citizens most of whom had been moved by Wangari Maathai’s departure go against all she worked for. The late Nobel Laureate dedicated her life to protecting the environment. It would be shameful and hypocritical to mourn her but engage in what she fought so hard to eradicate. Any normal person is responsible for their own mess. They are therefore expected to clear up such mess in the most appropriate, not convenient way. Holding onto a bottle of soda till you reach the next bin won’t hurt. Also keeping a maize cob inside the car until you reach where it may be properly disposed won’t hurt. The reason people litter is probably because they think someone else will clean up. But the environment is ours and affects us all. The same way one cleans their room is how one should treat the environment. I long for the day environmental protection will be an initiative based on combined efforts instead of us waiting to be told its benefits all the time.

We all expect the country to grow. This is achievable and will be felt through development. But cooperation is a major necessity for us to feel the impact positively. Citizens ought to play their part in ensuring effective running of affairs in their country. So as much as we bash our Members of Parliament, police officers, and the city council we have to remember change starts with us. If we exercised our simple responsibility from time to time, it would be simpler for the government to carry out theirs. Change starts with ‘I’!

Sports is proof that we can unite

It’s amazing how sports unite Kenyans despite their political affiliation and ethnic grouping. Whenever our very own Harambee Stars are hosting a foreign team or are on the road for a qualifying tie or friendly match, the support handed to them is tremendous. This is surprising as the Kenyan soccer team has not been delivering in the recent past. Game after game, hundreds and perhaps thousands of patriots match to the stadiums or are glued to their television sets, hoping their team will make them proud. However, the players do not seem to be aware of this and find a way of performing dismally and breaking the hearts of Kenyans, who still give them a chance after every game, hoping the next game will be the one. This portrays Kenyans as nationalists who are willing to give up personal or group interests, in order to prioritize national pride. This desired unity however vanishes into thin air especially during heightened political campaign seasons.

The recent 2012 Olympic Games in London also proved how our nation can bond when the interests of the country are at stake. In this particular case, Kenya’s interests are winning, and emerging on top for the gold medal is preferred by most if not all. It’s worth mentioning that during the time when the games were being held, that is between July 29 and August 12, 2012, the political tension and election fever that embraces the nation on a regular day, was set aside and not given much attention. Just like their football counterparts, our athletes’ performance was below par this time round. The nation watched their representatives lose an opportunity to win medals on the last stretch of the stadium and in some instances the athletes shockingly came last. That aside, the next event involving Kenyans gave those back home and all over the world reason to unite.

The most outstanding and remarkable trait observed when the Olympics were taking place, is the ability of Kenyans to unite. I remember once, when I was in an entertainment joint, the DJ actually stopped the music when David Rudisha was on his way to break the 800 meter record. After he did it, the atmosphere was dreamy because screams, cheers and toasts amongst strangers filled the room. The friendly surrounding was contributed to by only one factor: everyone celebrating was a Kenyan citizen. I was probably the only one puzzled by this reaction as in my mind I questioned whether the same could be replicated in other events, not involving sports.

Relating it to the 2007-2008 Post Election Violence, I wonder what went wrong? The same people who once resorted to animosity, be it physical or verbal as a result of differing political affiliations can actually stand each other, where the nation’s interests are greater than those of individuals. No doubt that pride through sports such as football, athletics and volleyball among others shows us how much our country is important to us. Our athletes serve as ambassadors and reflect Kenya’s position in international competitions. When our national anthem plays in international arenas, citizens from other states stand and respect the brilliance of our athletes and our country as a whole.

If we can all extend such an attitude beyond sports, and in the same spirit unite in harmony whenever our country needs us most, we’ll have a bright future as a nation. This means that political and ethnic differences will never come in the way to ruin our nation through unreasonable conflict and wrangles. Currently Kenya needs peace, unity and cohesion as these are key conditions that will make the nation work towards reaching set developmental standards. A country full of opportunity is what we need, thus we ought to get rid of ills such as bad governance, negative ethnicity, and corruption. I am quite sure that once Kenyans are aware of the factors that serve as setbacks, they will defer from them and focus on how the country can move forward and succeed.