I sent the following to the East African Standard, after seeing Kalonzo Musyoka asking for the lifting of the travel bans. Thought I would share it.

On behalf of other Kenyans, looking for accountability in all our public servants, I am urging the international community NOT to lift any travel bans that were initiated against corrupt officials, those who tried to derail the negotiated talks, and those suspected of using violence against Kenyans seeking to assert their rights.

Mr. Kalonzo Musyoka does not represent the interests of Kenyans when he asks the international community to dismount the various “structures” of pressure that have brought us to a point where changes in government are just now being outlined. These bans should stay in effect until the President, Prime Minister, Cabinet ministers, PS, MPs, election commissioners/officials, and other government workers understand that there are repercussions to all their actions; until legal and constitutional reforms have been put in place and Kenyans are reaping the benefits of good governance; and until those who have used power structures in the past to disenfranchise sections of the Kenyan community realise that the Kenyan people, and NOT an elite group, have every right to determine their political destiny in a fair and democratic election.

Musyoka seems to believe that now that both sides have agreed to work together that a lifting of the bans will engender goodwill especially among those who feel “victimised”. Either he chooses to be very naive, or is “playing stupid”. When he and others like him promise government seats to “loyalists” who have very little to fear except the occasional reshuffle when they refuse to govern well, this sets up the foundation for a group of hard-headed, arrogant, disrespectful, power-grabbing, corrupt officials who have a sense of entitlement - the likes of whom we have seen all too many of within our government. What follows them is chaos!

Like many Kenyans, I have decided that I have learned a valuable lesson this election year - I am going to stay actively engaged in the politics of running my country until the next election year - I owe it to every Kenyan who lost their lives, and to myself. I refuse to be a victim because I didn’t care enough to ask the hard questions and to demand answers! With courage, I will stand up and speak where there is injustice, and work harder to make things better. What I won’t do is to ignore the obvious and let a few get away with their mediocre representation of the wishes of the masses. I’ve come to the conclusion that some hardliners just won’t get it. It won’t be my responsibility to “plead” with them. Instead, I am going to join the international community in telling them to, “Sit your -ss down. You are NOT going to travel the globe on my tax dollars if you don’t represent all Kenyans !”

“Kenya: Rift MPs Hail Pact, Welcome Back IDPs”
http://allafrica.com/stories/200802291023.html

http://jukwaa.proboards58.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=1204202210

Trust Annan (who has sacrificed a lot) will continue to mediate for concrete action on the displaced, opening up of “no-go zones”, poverty -the have-have-not divide, restoration of morality among /between dehumanized communities, what to do with the “free”land left in the R Valley, the imminent food shortage & high prices and many more long term issues.
We may have to brace ourselves to pay more tax to support an overweight political class in power (who unfortunately are exempt form 100% income tax) . Shouldn’t Kenyans now lobby ti ensure their elected class pays its taxes?

Cant’ help but wonder what those who killed, looted, raped, destroyed livelihoods on behalf of some party,person feel/think now? any ideas?

About opposition missing? It does not matter at least for now, although my wife thinks others wise. What we hope is that there is going to be political will to move the process towards serious reforms.

In the event the deal does not hold, PNU and Kibaki will loose out terribly because of failed MoU in 2002, dubious wako draft 2005, and election 2007. If it fails because PNU MPs do not support ODM in enacting the deal, then ODM assertion of Kibaki being untrustworthy will hold. It will be chaos for the country!

If ODM does not live up to the deal, public mistrust in political elites will vanish generally although life will go on normally. But this is not guaranteed. Hardened groups may emerge and we may nevevr like living in Kenya.

Having read the deal (as per the Nation), I think there are some legal fundamentals which MPs should not loose sight of. Eg. When the deal says that each party to appoint a deputy PM, it does not mean that the constitution will read so. This is because political parties come and go but constitutional provisions remain. So, the provision should read: ….there shall be a prime minister who should be the leader of party with majority in parliament…… (b) there shall be 2 deputy prime minister who shall be appointed by ….. The details on how the same should be shared is left to the Coalition Agreement….I may be wrong but that is what we need!

Kenya should not fall!

I am so over the moon right now, but also hav to remind myself that this is just the beginning