RE: A HAPPY JAMHURI DAY??

From: Sande Olocho

Dear Countrymen,

It is with the deepest respect and honour that I salute Al-Amin Kimathi. These are some of the unsung heroes of the struggle that I had written about in my Jamhuri message.

It hurts to see these gallant fighters refer to themselves as “radicals without a cause” Our system has failed these men and women.

And before we throw flak, let us reflect for a little while on what he meant. He has been very candid in his writing. He is being honest. Some of the issues he has raised were also carried by the other respondents to the ‘Jamhuri message’; the need to strengthen Human Rights Advocacy and Activism Groups at the grassroots level. This is the only way that we can be sure that as the devolution process takes effect it will honour the covenants that come with it in totality.

Not that we do not trust Tinga or anything of that sort, but we indeed hope and believe that as a product of the struggle proper, he will consciously work on strengthening these human rights and advocacy institutions.

Raila has been quoted informally as saying that he would like to be remembered very much like President Johnson of the US; for the excellent infrastructure, a result of a rolled out Marshall Plan that transformed the US transport network and buttressed her economy to become the strongest in the world.

It would be great for Agwambo to seriously consider the second point in this legacy as the strengthening of the checks and balances on the excesses of the executive and empowerment of the ordinary mwananchi through opening up of the participatory structures of governance at the grassroots.

We do believe that Raila has the will, zeal and capacity to realize a government that fits the correct as well as modern definition of government:

“Government is a participatory process through which people plan for wise use of limited resources and ways to achieve distributive as well as political justice”

Underpinning terms:

-        Participatory
-        People plan
-        Use of limited resources
-        Distribution
-        Political Justice

Most important of all, let us remain optimistic. Kenya is a great country with a resilient people.

For those who have been in the struggle, it shall be well. But do not blow out your candle just yet till you find what ye seek in the dark and the sun rises in the day and the full moon in the night. Only then .. probably..

In my view, if there is anybody who has reached that high and understands the post independence struggle then Raila does. If he ever forgets once he gets to State House, it will be the biggest tragedy for Kenya and Africa at large. Our hope and prayer is that he will live up to the golden words of Mama Rainbow - Charity Ngilu at Uhuru Park:

“The Second Mandela of Africa!”

Sande
HR Activist
VIHIGA