The monkeys remain the same

The three bye-elections results are instructive if only because they confirm that the so-called party leaders of ODM, Narc-K, PNU and ODM-K have nothing fresh to offer in light of the recent promulgation of our new Constitution. The candidates who have made it to Parliament are reflections of the political leadership of Kenya, demonstrating forcefully that Martha Karua and Prime Minister Odinga are determined to capture ultimate political power by any means possible. Indeed, the Prime Minister's party participated in a charade when it offered the now discredited Reuben Ndolo 'direct nomination' to contest the Makadara Parliamentary seat.

The election of William Kabogo (Narc-K, Juja), Gideon Mbuvi Kioko (Narc-K, Makadara) and Margaret Wanjiru (ODM) demonstrate that come 2012, Kenya may be bereft of any fresh ideas as it attempts to implement one of the most progressive constitutions anywhere in the world. The promises that are held within this draft will be betrayed if the same types of political leaders are offered as candidates for the various public offices that will be up for grabs. The devolution of power and resources to the Counties will be a charade if the likes of the three candidates are elected in 2012 to Governorships, Senate seats, County Assembly seats or National Assembly seats.

It is moot that men and women in Kenya stand for elections not to further the interests of the people who vote for them, but to further their own. The naked exploitation of Wanjiku will not end if all we have on offer are businessmen with shady business practices and politicians known more for the level of vitrion they are capable of spewing against their perceived enemies. Poverty, ill-health and disease will continue to blight the landscape because we are unwilling to admit to ourselves that our leaderships have failed us. They will keep on failing us unless we hold them to account; we must compel them to fulfill their campaign promises. If not, we have no one to blame but the faces we see in the mirror every morning. As PLO Lumumba may have put it, the forest may have changed but the monkeys remain the same.