Re: ODM: The Start Of The End?

 (sent by Odhiambo T Oketch)

In his best selling novel, Angels and Demons, Dan Brown reckons, "The age of gold comes to men when they have long forgotten gold." It's such epoch whose dawn's golden rays have shot forth and hewed out of the mountain of Kenya's ddespair a stone of hope.

Kibaki's surprises will beat even the man of valor. Next year the government will scrap tuition and fees in all public high schools in Kenya. If you belong to common scum of the land, you will never wish for better news.

It's seldom I pop a champagne, but today I did. I did because next year my account may exit the ICU, perhaps into the maternity wing for a rennaissance of increased savings.

Away in Mong'oni village, mama Nyaboke is flying on excited feet. Our children will finally complete high school education, and my mother will wear shoes and have a clothe to replace the tatters she has known since birth.

"Free at last! Free....in the old Negro spiritual, she may sing.

45 years of our political independence have been nourished by a generation of broken government promises. Today Kibaki made it possible for me to believe Kenyans have a stake in one another. What binds us together is greater than what drives us apart. If enough people believe in the truth of that proposition and act on it, then we might not solve every problem, but we will get something meaningful done.

Although the inability to appreciate politically dissenting views is a flaw that is endemic to the Kenyan character, it's also more consonant to our national character to embrace progress; to accept the age of gold when we have long forgotten it.

Just like the CDF has helped all and sundry across tribal and political divides, my pride rests on the value of education. It's the greatest legacy any leader can bequeath his subjects. Quick quip: In the Goldenberg International scandal, Kenya lost 100 billion. If the cost of tuition every year will be 4.3 billion per annum, the money stolen in the Goldenberg scandal would run free high school education in Kenya for over a quarter a century. Angloleecing and others..... Back to the basics: With such surprises, it'll be impossible to convince Mama Nyaboke not to vote for Kibaki. Not even Mama Adhiambo down in Siaya will trade her vote to ODM as to forgo the gift of free tuition in high school.

In a way, Kibaki's government will make me save over USD $3000.00 a year. It is the approximate dollars I send home for tuition and fees every year. Thousands of businesses will be started using the money parents would pay in tuition and fees. It's equitable distribution of income. It'll jump-start that economy.

It seems to me the Hummer has a limited place in this process. Let's all embrace this announcement as Kenya's greatest since independence.

Kiptenengen arap Matiangigen,
undulating somewhere in the champagne-filled alleys of Kapcheptililgeldet.

NB: It's surprising people can discuss too much about a Hummer and just shun such a great relieve for our pockets.

Long live General Kigwoya.