Over the weekend the Kenyan
media was abuzz with condemnations meted towards the former Kenya vice
president over an utterance he made towards a certain journalist. I have had
time to reflect on this rather double unfortunate incident and here below is my
well considered opinion
Its double unfortunate in
this sense; first coming from the person of Kalonzo’s stature, everyone was
shocked. And secondly the reaction by the opponents there their thinly veiled
political capital leaves a lot of disgust.
It must be remembered from
the onset that the CORD quartet of Raila, Nyong’o, Kalonzo and Wetangula were
in the ‘half-carpet’ government. This is the government that shall be
remembered from entrenching corruption and negative ethnicity to the core of
its citizenry. |The argument that the ODM side was sidelined by the coalition
government is literally white lies. Having noticed the disorder that was
brought into the otherwise stable health sector, the neglect and wanton looting
presided by one of the quartette, it spell betrayal to Kenyans and simply
assuming that the populace have memory derangements. One of the persons paraded
in the press conference to condemn jubilee government was not less than the VP
in the previous regime. Surprisingly when asked what he has ever achieved, he
is always keen to recite that he was not the CIC.
Moreover, the third
principal still harbors a stone tied around his neck having been mentioned in a
myriad of scandals. While he may eventually be set free, it must be remembered
the saying that those who live in glass houses must not throw stones at their
neighbors. As far at the CORD principal, HE Raila is concerned, one can read
that he has genuine concern to deliver genuine reforms. In contrast to his
intentions, he has chosen to surround himself with a lot of political baggage
and persons long past their expiry date. Someone should be candid and tell him
so.
Matters of security must
never be politicized. As one condemns the law enforcers, they are the only
entity entrusted with ensuring that the citizens are safe and secure. Like any organization, there may be few
rotten eggs and this does not imply that all officers are bad persons. We have
witnessed police being detonated by gangs who reside amongst us. Yet we assume
a don’t-care attitude and the moment anything is done, there are clowns who
will shout themselves hoarse. This is an attempt the remain politically afloat
and relevant
Now back to the subject
matter.
While we all vilify the
former VP, let’s not be the proverbial crowd that caught a woman in bed with a
man committing fornication. And enthusiastically they brought her before Jesus.
It’s documented that He told them if indeed the prescribed penalty was by
stoning, “LET HE WHO HAS NO SIN CAST THE FIRST STONE”. The crowd one by one
dispersed having searched their hearts.
We have focused so much in
removing specs in other persons’ eyes and forgotten that indeed ours have large
planks of wound. We have become masters of double speak and selective amnesia.
We put on sheep skin yet inside we are voracious wolfs. The cancer of negative ethnicity
haunts all and sundry. It is preached in churched and other places of worship.
Here most emphasize and sugarcoat it as being proud of one’s roots. Negative ethnicity
is the most glorified vice across the nation. It is deep rooted and
unfortunate. It has been embraced by everyone. How sad.
Why
do I say so?
In the recent past, Kenyans have
turned a cold should, deaf ear to the suffering of many a Kenyan whose only
fault is to bear certain names or having been born in certain geographical
regions. Every day we witness systematic disenfranchisement of millions. We see
generalized neglect. How else should one explained kids learning in the cold
under a tree on empty stomachs, in rugs and jigger infested in a nation that
that remained an exporter of peace? Does it bother our conscience that in
certain regions becoming pregnant is almost equivalent to signing up for death
sentence? How about the high prevalence of malnutrition, anguish and chronic
hunger suffered by residents of upper rift valley and North Eastern Kenya? Such
regions are only remembered during elections often through their leaders who constantly
auction them.
When appointment for plum
jobs are skewed, and smaller groups are marginalized what can be worse than
this? A nation that does ignore the plight of the weak and down trodden and
every one pretends that all is well, does it then bother us when people walk
around with stress, heavy hearts and resentment?
So
was Kalonzo right on his ethnic slur?
This question still remains divisive.
Although circumstantially, he may be considered to have been right; the only
blunder he committed was to speak out his mind. Most of us are afraid of openly
expressing what we openly feel or thinks. Consequently we white wash tombs in order
to appear alright. If he honestly perceived that the prodding was motivate by
other factors other than knowing the truth on the part of the journalist, he
may have acted within reasonable limits. Moreover world over the role of
opposition is to poke holes in the actions of the ruling class. It have never
been the work of opposition to provide strategy to the ruling class
On the other hand if he
lumped the entire community and presumed that the journalist spoke on their behalf,
this is a gross error. He should come out and unreservedly offer and apology. Failure
to which he shall remain blacklisted and all his good deeds of the past might
as well be erased from one careless utterance.
Finally, I will take the
middle class, who have become idlers on social media seriously if they champion
for what is right in an unbiased manner. Selective noise making has never
served to build any nation. On the contrary this will segregate communities and
groups and further drive a wedge along ethnopolitical cleavage.
I stand to be corrected.
F. Kairithia
