With no elections this year, let us all challenge the ethnic hunger for power

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga (centre) talks to Nairobi governor Evans Kidero (right) and Kisumu Central MP Ken Obura during the home coming party of member of county assembly for Shauri Moyo-Kaloleni ward, Ms Priscah Auma Misachi, in Kisumu on December 15, 2013. Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) youths in Nakuru County have told off Nyanza MPs and senators who are opposed to Nairobi Governor Dr Evans Kidero’s development activities in the region. PHOTO | FILE 

In Summary

• This applies to leadership in all aspects: Executive, Legislature, Judiciary, civil society, religious and the media.
• Our political leadership is the most glaring weakness.
  We ended 2013 with reports that the doyen of ideological politics in Kenya, Raila Odinga, had convened a Luo leaders meeting that among other things chided Evans Kidero and Dalmas Otieno, stressing that the Luo must remain united, speaking with one voice, and that voice must be Raila’s.
• And this was repeated to and about the Luhya by William Ruto who said lack of Luhya appointees to high office was because they were ‘not united’. A warped logic of blaming the marginalised!

By Maina Kiai
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As we start 2014, it is helpful to see how we can make this country better for all — not just a few communities or individuals.

— so it takes its rightful place among the community of democratic and successful nations.

We may have different ideas on getting there, but I hope most of us care enough for Kenya that if it meant choosing between personal success at the expense of Kenya’s survival, we would choose Kenya. I fear I may be too optimistic.

Be that as it may, Kenya’s abiding problem has always been one of leadership; leadership that cares more for itself than for Kenya and leadership that refuses to make the changes necessary — explicit though they are in our new Constitution — to move Kenya forward.

This applies to leadership in all aspects: Executive, Legislature, Judiciary, civil society, religious and the media.

Our political leadership is the most glaring weakness. We ended 2013 with reports that the doyen of ideological politics in Kenya, Raila Odinga, had convened a Luo leaders meeting that among other things chided Evans Kidero and Dalmas Otieno, stressing that the Luo must remain united, speaking with one voice, and that voice must be Raila’s.

ETHNIC HUDDLING

This is a low point for Raila who has staked his claim to leadership as a nationalist driven by social democratic values, and as a person who respects human rights — given his own history — including the right to disagree.

And this was repeated to and about the Luhya by William Ruto who said lack of Luhya appointees to high office was because they were ‘not united’. A warped logic of blaming the marginalised!

Remarks like these contravene the law.

Political opinion and ethnicity should not determine non-political public service appointments. In fact, it is a leader’s duty to ensure diversity but that is not dependent on ‘speaking with one voice!’

It is a shame that this ethnic huddling for power has become accepted as the only way to get and keep power, as well as engaging in unconstitutional ethnic patronage.

If it is not challenged politically — and this non-election year is the best time to start this challenge — Kenya will remain a fragile state, rocking back and forth depending on the solidity of particular ethnic alliances by the tribal Big Men.

Yet there are many things that link Kenyans that idealistic and nationalistic politicians can work with to begin changing politics.

Today, prices are sky-rocketing as the regime struggles to pay its bills and debts by increasing taxes. Isn’t that something every poor Kenyan can associate with?

We signed secret loan deals with China that, we are told, will benefit us all. In a country where secrecy and opaqueness is synonymous with corruption, we can all relate to political campaigns, in and out of Parliament, to expose these deals.

It is time we went back to learn from non-tribal movements that contributed to changing Kenya.

POWER OF UNITY

The 1997 NCEC campaigns for constitutional reform are an excellent example. A sceptical public soon joined these mass action campaigns, forcing Daniel Moi to capitulate.

He eventually outwitted NCEC by appealing to the greed of politicians, but it was a significant step in showing what an organised, proactive civil society could do.

Then there was James Orengo’s ‘Muungano wa Mageuzi’ of 2000 that took Kenya by storm, and showed again the power of organising outside tribes. Its inclusion of crooks and despots at the helm was its undoing.

With a bit of tinkering, a lot of energy, focus, and commitment, perhaps this is the year to again start the hard work of uniting Kenyans on issues, not as tribes.