On tribalism in Kenya, we miss the point.

Recently, Hon Mutula Kilonzo did a compelling article on tribalism in Kenya, and I was surprised yesterday to watch him on TV becoming a real Kenyan. He rode down the path in real Kenyan style.

Then XN Iraki, on the Sunday Standard, had a very interesting peace on the same subject. I liked his analysis because he raised issues that Kenyans thought they had dealt with conclussively in the elections of 2002 when we all voted for President Kibaki.

As good as the peace was, I find his conclusions rather misplaced, and an attempt at goal shifting.

When we voted Kibaki into office, Kenyans were united in defeating tribalism. We did not look at each other as Kamba, Kikuyu, Rendile or whatever. We looked at each other as Kenyans, and voted for a Kenyan who was going to serve all Kenyans well.

We voted for a Kenyan who was going to fix the Kenyan problem, not his personal problem and that of his kith and kin.

We were united in three cardinal issues; a] We wanted a new constitutional dispensation. And we mandated Kibaki to give us a new constitution within 100 days of taking office. It is now 5 years down the line with Kenya having no new constitution, and that fire is now dying as we approach the general elections. Is it Kenyans who have failed, or is it the person we put in office?

b] We all wanted one Kenya free of tribalism, and we put Kibaki in office to re create that Kenya that we all wanted. Honestly, we cannot appoint ourselves to all those exclussive positions. Someone must appoint you. I would want to be the MD of KenGen, but I cannot appoint myself to that position. It is the appointing authority who must see across Kenya and see talent. But when that talent becomes only limited to a small region, do we blame Kenyans for it? I bet not, and Iraki, with all respect, knows the same.

c] Kenyans wanted corruption to be dealt with. But by Kibaki creating many agencies to fight corruption, what was he telling Kenyans; it was business as usual. Can we blame Kenyans for not having done their part? I bet not.

President Kibaki has failed Kenyans and this must come out clearly. We cannot develop as a nation when we gloss over such serious issues. Kibaki has promoted tribalism to a very high level.

For tokenism, and out of desperation, he occasionally gives out some non existent jobs to a few friends of Musikari Kombo, jobs that get withdrawn as soon as the crisis is over. Ask Kepta Ombati, or Yvonne Khamati.

Iraki cannot then pretend that he does not know who promotes tribalism in this clear case. That is academic dishonesty and it does not sit pretty with me.

Soon, Anglo Leasing will be blamed on Kenyans.

We must stand up and be counted. We must wake up early that day in December, and pack this team to bus number 40 for pensionable retirement. The man deserves that, he has served Kenya for long enough.

The baton must now be passed to someone with a uniting vision for Kenya. Not people who retreat to tribal support the way I saw Hon Mutula doing on TV.

Odhiambo T Oketch Secretary; ODM-K Embakasi Constituency, Nairobi