DIARY WRITTEN BY A MUDACHI
Part of the Kenya I want is a Kenya where politicians will
not run rough shod over the law & the will of the people to serve
their own ends. Part of the Kenya I want is a Kenya where my
consititutional RIGHT to elect my representatives in the Government is
not stolen away from me. Part of the Kenya I want is a Kenya where
there are consequences for one’s action and people are held
accountable for what they do.
It was my first time to vote too. In 1997 I was a bit too young, in
2002 I was out of the country so in 2007 I was all bright eyed and
bushy tailed and rearing to go. Without making a political statement,
I’ll say I did not vote for Kibaki. Part of my reason for not doing so
is that I do not feel he has delivered as much as he could have. And
back to the previous paragraph I believe that our leaders NEED TO BE
HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR WHEN THEY DO NOT DELIVER!!!
My intention as I cast the ballot was that if the next guy didn’t
deliver than he too would have to go. You see it at your place of work
– you’re given your targets. If you do not meet them, with great
aplomb, then it’s not very likely that the company will keep you on
for much longer. We accept this simple truth in our corporate lives,
why are we prepared to settle for less in our country???
I agree with you when you say we should not forget who we are. We are
KENYANS and God has blessed us with much. It is said that to whom much
is given, much shall be expected. Why then do we settle for
mediocrity? I feel that there is one group of people that is to blame
for the current state of things – they are called Politicians. We know
that our politicians (from both sides of the political divide) are
bunch of lying, cheating, back-stabbing, greedy
I’ll-selll-your-mother-for-a-vote b@stards. Here’s the thing though –
And there’s no escaping this one – WE ARE RESPONSIBLE for them!!!!
They lie to us, embezzle our hard earned and hard paid taxes and we
shrug our shoulders and move on. When are we going to wake up and
realize that THEY WORK FOR US!!!! NOT the other way round? Why don’t
we DEMAND more from them? If you had an employee working for you who
operates in the same way that they do, would sit back and let him
continue or would you fire his @ss?
So what am I saying? In my long winded, apologetically verbose way?
It’s simply this.
Yes, the violence needs to stop – we’re only hurting ourselves while
they are protected in their ivory towers (which we are paying for by
the way).
Yes, we need to pool together our resources (money, time, ideas) to
pick our beloved country up from the whole they have dug for us
Yes, we need to continue with our jobs so that the country doesn’t
grind to a halt (and so that we actually have those resources to help
our brethren in need)
BUT
As we do all this,
We need to make a stand for the Kenya that we love.
We need to ‘fight’ for our rights – and by fight I DO NOT mean physically.
We need to bring our politicians in line so that they can learn that
we, the people, are the ones who hold the power and they should work
to serve our interests rather than their own.
We need to understand that this country is a great nation with great
potential AND it will only achieve that potential WHEN we take the
steps to make it do so.
The responsibility is ours!!
We need to ‘fight’ for our rights – and by fight I DO NOT mean physically.
I totally agree with that statement
Just a thought if all the registered voters (most of them) put forth a petition demanding all elected officials to boycott their salaries until the current crisis are resolved, i wonder what would happen! Better yet fire all of them and demamd a new election where none of the current MPs sees the inside of parliament. if only this could happen. We as kenyans need to start demanding politics based on issues– we need to demand political parties that woe us to their idealogies then allow us to elect our candidates for the general elections in a free and fare manner. Parties and their members should be judged by their conduct of party elections. Lastly, parties should hold their elections at least 6 months before the general election to allow incumbents to campaign.:neutral: Maybe am dreaming by my Kenya will have these things in place when we all speak with one voice!
Napcity, I agree with your suggestion about petitioning our leaders on a number of issues, including compensation for losses and damage (see my post in Diary 24). Anyone willing to suggest how we can go about this? Kenyans in the diaspora are busy petitioning their foreign offices, etc. It’s time we in Kenya did the same. Our leaders must be accountable to us but we never ‘light the fire under their feet’ as it were.
Ray
I couldn’t agree more with all the above. I’m especially cognizant of the “we†in your comments, going by the current divisions “we†is now a pretty invaluable pronoun.
As for politicians, they are a totally different breed of humans, driven by greed and power. They change positions so many times and speak from both side of their mouths so often that their lips are still twitching even when not speaking (exhibit A: – H.E.).
I’ve always wondered what happens to the activists when they get to parliament. As pointed out earlier, it would be just great to recall these phonies (MPs) – if only once – just to send a clear message that people have had enough & desire real change.
On the bright side, wananchi have now shown they can look past the big name & big money while voting, it is my hope that in due time we are going to effect some change in the crapfest that is today’s parliament.
Ory,
Thought the link below maybe helpful.
http://unosat.web.cern.ch/unosat/freeproducts/kenya/2008/UNOSAT_Kenya_Burned_Areas_Eldoret_9Jan08_Highres_v1.pdf
Aerial view of damage in Kibera & Huruma.
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/CMAS-7B5M9M?OpenDocument&cc=ken
I have just visited GoPetition and found the following pages very interesting:-
http://www.gopetition.com/online/16189.html
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/kibaki-must-step-down.html
It doesn’t matter which side of the political divide you support, just make your voice be heard by signing the available petitions or creating your own.
Who knows what could come out of this…
I’ve just realized that there are many more petitions already online on the GoPetition website:-
Go to http://www.gopetition.com/
Under “Petitions in focus” choose ‘Human Rights’ then ‘Human rights’ again.
On the new page, Quick Search “Kenya” and check out the petitions that have already been published.
I want a similar Kenya as yours plus a Kenya where
Kenyans don’t have a say just once in 5years which results to the state we are in where Kenyans are so dependent on that little card.
A Kenya where we know that we do have a voice everyday
anyday. Through the muscian the cries of the kawaida Kenya will reach state house, through the actor the ills of our politicains will be taught to a people, throuth the writer the cries of the kawaida kenyan will haunt every moment of our poiticians, the reporter that journalist holds such a huge voice if only thou would move away from those, not so helpful, everyday press confrences by the politicians and go to the people and spend more time giving the farmer, the driver, the mamaduka, the high school student etc a chance to air their ills and their praises; a chance to be heard…. a voice.
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