Fri, 25 Jan 2008 21:12:42 -0800 (PST)


The Future of Kenya with younger leadership

What is the future of Kenya? A look at the younger generation in position of leadership could give a hint as to the answer to this question. This generation of leaders affiliated to the centre of power comprise of Martha Karua, Uhuru Kenyatta, Mwangi Kianjuri,  Mutula Kilonzo, Amos Kimunya , Dunstan Mungatana , Kalonzo Musyoka and Alfred Mutua. Other than Ms. Karua, the rest never participated in anyway on the so called second liberation of Kenya even though they wallow in its short-lived gains. These leaders may be right in their belief on the election results, but their infallibility stance is devoid of any substance. Their hawkishness unfortunately, is comparable to that of Kariuki Chotara and Sharif Nassir of the Moi era.

The leaders do not believe in the rule of law but the rule by their law. For instance, in the just concluded elections, the ECK, the custodian of the elections, the non-partisan local and international observers admit that irregularities occurred that could have influenced the outcome of the presidential elections, but these leaders believe their person won fairly. Ms. Karua goes further to reason that there were irregularities on either side and since irregularities favoured their side, so be it. Morally and legally, the reasoning is wanting as wrongs add up to at least two.

What does this predict for the future of the country? Not good! These leaders have taken us to the pre-2003 era when democracy was defined as the government by the leaders, of the leaders and for the leaders. These leaders passively imbibed the misrule teachings of the Nyayo era that Kenyans wanted buried in the annals of history in December 2002. How do you expect such leaders who deny the obvious because it favours them, to fight corruption when it benefits them? How would such leaders allow the economic gains to trickle to wananchi when they (leaders) need it (economic gains) for self to consolidate power? Nevertheless, they intentionally disregard that consolidated power is normally known to suppress divergent views, while pent-off anger is usually a sequel to suppressed views. This can be very destructive to a fledgling state as Kenya.

Kenya as a state is the sum of all her many nations. Constitutional change to consider and empower all these nations within the state is the way forward. However, the younger leaders mentioned above prefer the blighted status quo. To them, opposition is not a relevant part of a functioning state but an enemy to be checked by a military force. The current upheavals are a manifestation of an inner turmoil which if left unchecked by a constitutional catharsis, the future of Kenya is bleak. These leaders do not see beyond sycophancy and cronyism. To achieve a wholesome statehood, Kenyans should ask not only for younger leaders, but rational and progressive leaders.

Okumu Kaluoch