When the word politics is mentioned in Kenya, first impression of the subject is cunning maneuver to dominate prevailing advantage against an opponent. In the winding grasp of the word, one meets the vocal part of the position it takes within the nation such that profession plays its subordinate. It has become so ‘capable’ that it creates, breeds and sustains its seeds of choice. The rich and the powerful in this nation, whether professionals, investors or businessmen, must tie political strings in order to reign. In this case, pieties and impieties of the players add up to politics, and that is what one of the presidents of this nation who christened himself ‘professor of politics’, Mr. D. T. arap Moi summed as good politics ‘good life’ and bad politics ‘poor life’.
Matters have been complicating in the nation with corruption, tribalism and abuse of opportunities taking top tolls. A lot of these have been influenced by ‘who are who’ in the political ‘power’ corridors. In fact, it has been the Presidents and/or their henchmen who promote the vices either by placing their people in the line of the mess or dictating to them which highway to take ‘even if it gathers public outcry’. This kind of culture has denied the nation the wealth it deserves thereby leaving majority at the mercy of devastating poverty. A former Attorney General, Sir. C. M. Njojo once termed it ‘a dirty game’.
Kenyans have pushed for political change of will to no avail. They have cried for Constitutional empowerment but a few selfish persons have denied them access. They have tried to chart the path to civil freedom but the manipulators have blocked them. They have sought for economic space but ground has been squeezed instead.
Development partners who include Britain, US, Japan, China etc pump in a lot of material support but custodians of these connections lick the basket clean before it reaches the nation. The people hear about lump some of cash donations which they never see. They, only, deal with the mess, by way of shouts and demonstrations, long after the donors ask for accountability and press for recovery of their values.
Currently, the Minister for Finance, Hon. Uhuru Kenyatta, promises to reimburse to the donors the Free Primary Education (FPE) cash which the Ministry of Education misappropriated. He said ‘the government will catch the thieves to recover the money’. Now, where is Mr. Kenyatta going to get the donor cash from before catching the thieves? This is a ‘political corruption in exaggeration’, especially owing to the fact that the Ministry in the spotlight does not own up to the mess.
When the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga, asked the President, H.E. S.E.M. Kibaki to prevail upon the Ministry’s leadership to step down for investigations of the FPE cash, arguing that it is in order for political leadership, the Pricewatershouse Coopers (PwC) produced a report implicating the PM’s Permanent Secretary, Mr. M. Isahakia and Administrative Secretary, Mr. Caroli Omondi, Ministries of Agriculture and Special Programmes. The nation waited with abated breath to hear the PM announce that he has dismissed the two officers ‘pending investigations’ but nothing came forth. Instead, he formed a committee to advise the government and asked the nation not to ‘sacrifice innocent people’. On his part, the Agriculture Minister, Hon. W. S. Ruto, summarized that those looking for political responsibility were headed for a shock; ‘it is not there’. The Special Programmes counterpart, Hon. Dr. N. Shaban, promised cooperation.
Even though Hon. Ruto tries to dissociate politics from the cruel responsibility over economic rots and unprofessional performances that have engulfed the nation, it does not escape his secret but sound conscience that politics partake the mountain of shame on which the nation is suspended or the valley of filth in which the nation is buried. There is no word of escape on the tongue of a politician, as far as wananchi are concerned.
And the PM. Rt. Hon. Raila, must know, for sure, that he can not defend corruption in his docket and escape. We can no longer be fooled by anything. In fact we are asking, ‘What kind of government can such a leader form?’ If the PM. can not dissociate from the bandwagon, declare the war and carry on, then Kenyans are left without hopes. It is clear here; we are not going the way of politics any longer!
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