re: Reaction to : APN Interview with Raila by Kori in Norway

Dear Readers

In reaction to Korir, purported interview with Raila, I wish to draw your attention to the inconsistency and lack of coherence in the posted article and a possible ill motive, if not a sign of hope mediocre, we have become in the process of discussing Kenyan politics and politicians. A close look at the article date bellow (By Korir, African Press in Norway, APN http://africanpress.wordpress.com/2006/12/30/ ) suggest that it was an outdated material and therefore its posting at this moment leaves us readers of this site with a lot of questions. One wonder what Korir intends to achieve with such nonsensical piece vis-à-vis the timing of the article, or motive for its repeat if the "story" is "true" or even credibility of the contents unless APN is beginning to degenerate in its standards, leave alone ethos as a medium for information exchange or a platform for constructive discussion about issues affecting Africa and Kenya in specific.

The Editor at APN needs to rise above pettiness and avoid such level of mediocrity. He or she lives in a country where the media and politics are plyed out in an atmosphere that enhances constructive dialogue among citizens. He or she lives in a country where issues of governance are not a problem because the political system is designed to meet the needs of its people and guest residents such as Korir whereby resources are devolved to every corner of the country regardless of their political affiliation or any form of creed.

Discussing Kenyan politics with past leaders as a starting point or a measure for leaders to come is a slap in the face of many Kenyans who have suffered under those regimes (a whole generation of Kenyan children who are now grown ups, who never went to primary school for 20 years, people in Samburu, Turkana, Ukambani and Rendile areas who still live like outcasts in Kenya, with out access to the very basic needs such as water, schools, hospitals and roads after more than 40 years of so called "Independence". Kenyans who were hounded into jail, detention, torture house, some loosing their lives, others forfeiting their studies because their only sin was to ask to be governed and ruled humanely.

Freedom fighters from the Mijikenda, Kamba, Masai, Kikuyu, Kalenjin, Indians, Luos, Luhyias and many groups that participated in the struggle for the first liberation were all betrayed and that same betrayal is what we saw from 1966, up to 1978 and again from 1980 up to 2002 and most recently 2002 to 2007. Kenyans can be very blind, but they can feel things, they can be very dumb not to rise up, but it is because many value their diversity and peaceful coexistence.

Although everything has its time, including a time to be underfoot, a time for change of attitudes. But that change will only come about when people like Korir, begin to realise that anyone from any community in Kenya can lead the nation as long as the people are behind him or her. In the first place no one knew that Kenyatta would betray his comrades and the whole nation on the questions of land and freedoms, that he would kill and detain fellow fighters? Who knew that Moi with Fuata nyayo would turn into a dictator and starve many regions because they did not support KANU? Who thought that Kibaki would exacerbate tribalism even after being given a rare mandate by all tribes never received by both Kenyatta and Moi?

No Kenyan politician is holy in terms of "political party hopping". Kenyan history is full of such moves including the present occupier of the seat of power in Nairobi.

On the issue of rumours such as moving the capital city to the Lake region or anywhere in Kenya can only be peddled by people of the same ilk as the author of the above article and it is unfortunate that instead of addressing the issues around political and economic marginalisation which majority of Kenyan communities that have never accessed state power have experienced, one takes space in such a forum to discuss state capital move for political expediency.

Norwegians do not talk of moving capitals to the regions where their new prime ministers come from, there is no need for such acts unless they are informed by infrastructure and logistical aspects and not politics of “us and them”, which the author of the above interview seem to exacerbate disguised as a revelation of something new, if not expressing the usual prejudices and narrow mindedness in assessing the competence of person to lead and what that person stands for.

Unless Kenyans begin to see each other as part of that country, with everyone having a right to live a decent life, free from any form of oppression, free from poverty as result of abuse of state system, or ethnic politics of divide and rule and realise that there is need to break from this past that keep haunting Kenya, people like Korir and others in the Diaspora are likely to continue staying in western capitals from where they can express themselves freely while denying ordinary Kenyans majority who are illiterate and left at the mercy of hawkish politicians who keep using tribal diversity for political expediency and self aggrandisement.

Otieno Ong’ayo
Stockholm

http://kenya.rcbowen.com/talk/viewtopic.php?id=20525