Re: Moi's plan maturing; No bitterness in politics

Last night I watched Hon Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka on The Race to the Hill on the popular KTN show, and I was dissappointed.

In the recent past, Hon Kalonzo has been a bitter man. He grambles and complains all the times. He sees red in every direction he turns, and this paints him badly in his bid for the presidency.

In a democracy, you do not win by ever complaining. You woe your people, you do not chest thump in vain. I was therefore not also surprised when he ditched LDP and went to LPK.

What this move did was to instantly kill any political ambitions Hon Dr Julia Ojiambo could have had. The lady, like the daughter, have all but lost it. And that is politics. You make a move that you think is smart only to realize that you have put a noose in your own neck and pulled it up.

Kalonzo in re aligning himself politically, has hence consigned Julia to the dustbins of political history. Where does this move leave Kalonzo?

I have tried to look keenly at this, and I realize that desperate times call for desperate measures. The man is dying to be president, what for, I do not know. And in this desperation, he is loosing sight of the reform agenda.

If Kalonzo and some of his handlers believe as they do that if it is not him, then it must be Kibaki, then we get vindicated that he has been part of the problem. And the sooner Kenyans realized this, the better.

When I voted for Kibaki in 2002, it was a personal contribution to the change that we wanted in Kenya. But when Kibaki went tribal, began defending the corrupt by seeking evidence, refused to enact a new constitution, and raised the cost of essential commodities, I was personally affected.

I found that I had to pay more to take my child to school in this celebrated age of 'free' primary education.

I found that I had to pay higher fares to take me to town despite the celebrated economic growth.

I found that unga, sugar, milk, name it, were all becoming expensive by the day. Then I realized that I was being over taxed to finance the celebrated economic growth, and I made my mind that I must vote this government out. Because, Kibaki was cheating me that the economy was doing fine, yet, I was being killed alive and starved to make up for the figures.

And if Kalonzo cannot see this pain Kenyans are seeing, he can as well support Kibaki. He will realize that even the cost of living for his followers have all been affected by the same Kibaki he wants to support.

Kenyans who know the problem, who feel the problem, must not loose sight of our goals. We must all come together and join hands as Kenyans, and defeat the instigations of this clique of non reformers who thrive on the status quo. I do not get amused when I see my friend Orina being clobered in the streets of Nairobi. Kalonzo's presidency would do this over and over again, because the man is so bitter.

A democrat who believes that it is only himself, or the opponent, is no democrat. A democrat who wants support but cannot support his colleagues is no democrat.

A democrat who thrives on picking issues with colleagues is petty and a despot. A democrat who encourages a lawyer picked on trust to register a party to hold on to the party is a conniving democrat. A democrat who retreats to his tribal enclave to launch salvos at his colleagues is a looser.

And a democrat who sees a ditch and jumps head on into it thinking he is smart, needs salvation. If Kibaki has taken us this far into tribalism, Kenya does not need one who will do worse.

Kalonzo's complaint streak, in my opinion, will make him a vindictive president. His presidency would be a disaster for Kenya.

Odhiambo T Oketch
Komarock Nairobi