It's going to be an interesting Christmas. Luis Moreno-Ocampo is about to apply to the ICC for indictments against six Kenyan politicians from the ODM and the PNU. PLO Lumumba is about to forward to the Attorney-General investigation files on four Cabinet Ministers and an unknown number of 'senior' government officials. Parliament is about to initiate proceedings against the Head of the Civil Service, Ambassador Francis Muthaura. The ghost of Anglo-Leasing is about to be resurrected. And one way or the other, the IIBRC, which will be merged with the IIEC, to create the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, will publish in the Kenya Gazette the names and boundaries of 80 new constituencies.
Since the promulgation, the Constitution of Kenya has been a source of much trial and tribulation for certain members of the political class. This is a good thing. For far too long, Kenyans have lived under the illusion that politicians are free to do and say as they please, that there are no consequences for their multiple sins of commission and omission. That streak has well and truly come to an end. As is expected, Charity Ngilu will find herself out of the Cabinet, having 'stepped aide' to allow investigations of corruption to be carried out in her ministry. Hon. Ruto and Cllr. Majiwa will attempt to find new and interesting ways to ensure that the corruption charges against them are dismissed. We have the Constitution to thank for the burgeoning interest in public affairs that Kenyans continue to exhibit day after day.
This is however, a first step only. It is important that as Hon. Mudavadi's Committee drafts its report on the management of the Counties, that we take a more than casual interest in its operations. It is imperative that when the new Constituencies are finally created, we take steps to ensure that the new MPs elected to represent these political units are not the usual run-of-the-mill, hands-in-our-pockets, snake-oil salesmen that have been monkeys on our backs for dogs years. We must consciously and conscientiously begin the process of identifying, encouraging and voting for leaders who reflect our national values, who go out of their way to defuse inter- and intra-ethnic flash-points and who take time to understand the needs and priorities of their constituents so that when they rise o make their maiden speeches in the re-constituted National Assembly, they will speak with sagacity and make every effort to represent their needs and interests in the finest tradition of the House.
Dr. Lumumba gives us hope that in our perennial battle against the scourge that is corruption, it is no longer OK for the beat-cop to face the wrath of the courts while the fat-cat PS or MP walks walks away with impunity. MPs like Peter Kenneth and Mutava Musyimi show us that it is possible to run CDF Committees without offering jobs to your kith and kin at every turn. Abdikadir Mohammed shows us that it is possible to manage matters of national importance with wit and wisdom, serving the nation instead of narrow ethnic or parochial interests. Mohammed Issack Hassan shows us that it is possible to manage elections without resorting to mass ballot-staffing to favour one candidate over another. And the trials and tribulations of one Gidion Mbuvi, aka Mike Sonko, remind us that you can run, but you cannot hide in the New Kenya.
It falls on the likes of Moses Wetangula to remind us of why we loath politicians so. In a public gathering, where he vowed to return to Cabinet, he let out a truth that many politicians gloss over: he had gotten 'his' people jobs of consequence in the government. As he put it, it was by his hand that 'his' people benefitted. The implication was that if they wanted to continue benefitting by his very same hand, they were to make as much noise as possible to ensure that the 'baseless' allegations made against him were dismissed and he is restored to his rightful place as the Minister for Foreign Affairs. I say, if he never sees the inside of Kibaki's cabinet ever again, it will still be too soon.
The ever interesting Michael Ranneberger, the US Ambassador, is at it again, banning 4 'senior' politicians from ever setting foot on US soil again. Just like when he held back the names of 'senior' government officials whom the US considered persona non grata, he refuses to share what he knows of our narcotics-trafficking politicians. The US is founded on the freedom of information; I just wish he would extend us the courtesy of informing us who is on the perfidious list so that we can begin making our arrangements for their political funerals. I wonder of one of them will volunteer, Wako-style, the information that the US government considers them drug dealers! Miracles may still happen and lighting strikes twice, no?
No comments:
Post a Comment