I HOPE YOU DONT FALL FOR THIS TOO

It has been said that one of the side effects of smoking marijuana is short-term memory loss. If this is true, my question to my fellow brothers and sisters in Kenya is where was I when this; where was I when this marijuana was being distributed to all of us, including those who have been given the mandate to serve us as our leaders?

I can understand forgiveness, but how can we forget so quickly? Do we remember when Kenya was leagues ahead of all other nations in the region? Do we remember when the US $1 was worth less than KES 20? What happened to change all that and more in less than 10 years?

It was the "nationalistic" leadership of our former president and current "envoy for peace", Mr. Moi. How can he claim to be nationalistic when he was at the forefront of promoting his tribe and people during the 24 years he ruled our nation and effectively destroyed our thriving economy?

For example, there are 2 referral hospitals in Kenya; one in Nairobi, and the other.....in Eldoret of all places!!! Nothing against Eldoret, but can he explain why that municipal town got the hospital instead of Mombasa, Kisumu or even Nakuru? Didnt these towns need it more than Eldoret? Ironically, the only two referral hospitals we have are named after the two past presidents. I believe that if the current president continues for a second term, we should be prepared for the 3rd referral hospital in Othaya/Central Province named Kibaki Teaching and Referral Hospital!!!

Another example of Mr. Moi's "nationalistic tribalism" is blatantly evident in the fact that if one was asked how many international airports there are in this country, one would be wrong if they included Kisumu, yet somewhere around Mr. Moi's home area, there is one. WHY? How did it help the country building one there?

How has he helped eradicate poverty in the country since he retired other than help increase it with the extra perks he now enjoys tax free?

Ironically, the man who is a peace envoy did nothing about the clashes that cost many lives and displaced many Kenyans during his tenure. Does this sound familiar to what is going on with the current regime?

Mr. Kibaki, either open your eyes or come clean and tell the people you lead and are supposed to serve why you would align yourself or accept the endorsement of the man you humiliated in 2002, and left you to run a country that had been in steady decline and dictated by tribalism and corruption for more than 90% of his 24 years at the helm. Explain to us why he has not been brought to book for his part in the scandals that cost this country and its hard working people billions of shillings. Explain to us why he still gets hefty perks and has been appointed as our country's envoy for peace, something he was unable to do for his own country while in power, and which I'm sure there are people who are more educated and more qualified, and have international relations qualifications and experience e.g. Bethwell Kiplagat. Explain to us how as the leader of this country and chief executive officer of this country, you get praise for the progress, but in the same ilk as your predecessor who you have turned to for "advice", the same CEO does not get vilified or replaced for the massive failures that have come during your 5 year tenure.

Your government has brought in performance contracts. Who does yours? What are the consequences of a poor performance appraisal? From the experience Mr. Kimunya had trying to get his colleagues to return their cars, a direct government order, there are no consequences if you are in government. Just call a press conference and say that as a government official, if you don't get a memo, then it is not official.

Are you not embarrassed that a country that was torn apart by genocide just in the last decade is surpassing us a country that has never experienced civil war? Their MPs are all computer literate, don't drive anything over 2000cc and corruption is negligible. No one is exempt from prosecution.

Yet the legacy you have is that the one person who brought light on the rampant thievery that was going on was forced to flee his homeland and live in exile as your government could not and would not guarantee his protection.

Explain to me and my fellow Kenyans, Mr. Kibaki, why we should give you another 5 years to give us false promises and let the status quo of the "haves" getting everything continue as was the trend with Mr. Moi? Mr. Moi's endorsement of you on flimsy grounds that you have been there before, and your acceptance of it, has solidified my resolve to ensure that you do not return to power for second term.

For helping usher in the multi-party era, you have my thanks. For taking us back to where we came from in less than 3 years, you and your government (as you are the CEO) will forever be held in disdain.

To those of you who are seeking to replace Mr. Kibaki, take heed. This is not the voice of one person, but the voice of several disgruntled Kenyans both here and in the diaspora. Rhetoric with no action will not get you a second term. An educated electorate is your biggest enemy if you follow in the footsteps of Mr. Moi and Mr. Kibaki.

You have already shown your colors with the hefty perks you have awarded yourselves yet majority of the people whose votes you are trying to woo still live in abject poverty. The title "Honorable" shall not be used to refer to anyone who continues with this trend. So, Messrs Odinga, Musyoka, Mudavadi, Balala, Ruto and the rest, you have already shown that you do not learn from mistakes made in the past (circa 1992 when Mr. Moi successfully divided the opposition to reclaim the presidency) by dividing what would have otherwise been a strong opposition to Mr. Kibaki's campaign for a second term. If this is anything to go by, then we should expect the same from your governments as we did from Mr. Kibaki's government. A second term will be something you will just dream about.

Fix our roads, create jobs for our people (both skilled and unskilled), make the investment climate in Kenya favorable, reduce government spending which in turn should help REDUCE OUR TAXES (we are tired of paying for your perks and getting nothing in return), eliminate corruption and bring to book those who are responsible for it, improve security nationwide, bring our education standards back to where they were before, be accountable for all your actions, revamp or replace the entire police force and most importantly, remember that you were elected to SERVE!!! This is a gargantuan task to accomplish. Are you up to the task?

MY FELLOW KENYANS, LETS WAKE UP AND REPLACE THE OLD GUARD WITH YOUNG, TALENTED, QUALIFIED VISIONARY LEADERS TO MAKE OUR VISION NOT 2030 BUT 2015, SO THAT WE TOO CAN ENJOY IT!!!! JITEGEMEE!!!

Dennis O.A
Umoja One