THE KENYA WE WANT

Kenyans remember the juicy speeches that were delivered by our political leaders during the 'Kenya we want' conference. The foreign diplomats even ventilated their views on what they thought would be good for the large majority of Kenyans.

A lot was discussed about the acceleration of the implementation and achievement of Millenium Development Goals by 2015. All speakers concurred that the realization of Vision 2030 would be a milestone achievement for the future generations. The cardinal question is: Is the government living in the true spirit of that conference?

While we should never chastise and criminalize the government for everything, it would be paramount to point out that a lot needs to be done. As a matter of priority, our national unity is under a severe litmus test after the 2007 post-election crisis.

We need first to cement a strong Kenyan relationship, not based on Kikuyu-Kamba alliances or Luo-Kalenjin groupings but comprised of all kenyans. This will form the backbone our political, economic, and social stability.

Secondly, we need to treat the implementation of Agenda 4 items as postulated in the National Accord. The government must move with speed to institute constitutional, institutional, and legal reforms. We need to hasten our pace of implementing land reforms through the formulation and implementation of the National Land Use Policy. Poverty reduction through enhancement of Women's Enteprise Fund, community empowerment, and equal distribution of national income should be accelerated.

Youth unemployment should be addressed as a matter of urgency in order to ensure that a majority of young people are gainfully employed or engaged in meaningful economic activities. We need to enhance the Youth Enterprise Development and increase access to credit for the majority of young people. Youth Empowerment Centres should be established without delay, as the government pursues the revitalization of youth polytechnics for vocational training.

These are just but a few areas in which the government should urgently address if we are to make a meaningful head start. Therefore, we should not criticize and trash the draft constitution without suggesting the changes we need. The MPs should not sabotage the Special Tribunal Bill without suggesting optimal ways of ending impunity in the future.

These are the moments for constructive criticism and collective effort and action. Every single Kenyan should make a positive contribution to help procure the change we need. We cannot wait to see a repeat of 2007. Kenya can change and become the beacon of hope and prosperity for its citizens.


Chris

Tribal Chauvinism must be stopped

Tribal chauvinism is a threat to national reconciliation and stability in any given country. It happened in Rwanda and the Rwanda genocide has a left a bitter pill in the throats of the Rwandan people. In the name of a constitutional referendum in 2005, we balkanized and polarized our nation.

Two years later, poor kenyans massacred fellow kenyans in the name of a stolen general election. People were burnt in houses and churches and the images of the post-election crisis remind us of the cruelty of negative ethnicity.

This is the reason why the debate about the KKK alliance should not be given the latitude and time to take root. The architects of this alliance are mere political opportunists. Their political rhetoric is not what Kenyans want to hear. Their promise for a better Kenya in fundraising events is just but hot air.

We do not need a Kamba, Kikuyu, and Kalenjin alliance. Neither do we need a Luo, Kalenjin, and Luhya alliance. For heaven's sake, Kenya has more than 42 tribes. If we need an political alliance, then the 42 plus tribes must be represented. This is what national harmony and cohesion is all about.

While we cannot tolerate the manner in which poor Kenyans are being evicted from Mau forest, we should never politicize the environmental issue. The attempts to gang up into tribal cocoons to undermine the concerted efforts of conserving the environment lacks wisdom.

The Prime Minister should never be demonised in the implementation of government policy. Any misgivings in the way the government is manning its affairs should be addressed in diplomatic and amicable ways. The confrontational attitude of some of our leaders leaves a lot to be desired.

In the final analysis, kenyans rise and fall as one whether poor or rich, whether educated or uneducated, whether Luo, Kamba, Mijikenda, Kalenjin or any other tribe. The problems bedevilling us are many and common. When the poor folks cannot produce enough food for subsistence use, the economy suffers and the wealthy cry as a result.

We do not have a Western problem. We do have a North Eastern problem. We do not have a Rift Valley problem. Neither do we have a Nyanza or Coast problem. We have a Kenyan problem. We need a common purpose and a Kenyan solution rather than a tribal solution.

Chris
Article published in the Standard(04/12/09) and DN(05/12/09)