Moi and his cronies introduced the constitutional amendment requiring a president to garner at least 25 per cent of the votes cast in 5 provinces out of the total of 8 as an extra safety valve and precaution against losing the presidential elections. This amendment was clearly targeted at the feared Kikuyu vote in the opposition. The arithmetic clearly showed that a Kikuyu candidate who could get the support of the entire community was capable of getting enough votes to win the presidency. This is further evidence that Moi must have rigged both the 1992 and 1997 elections in his favor. The truth is that Matiba won in 1992 and Kibaki won in 1997.
Now Raila and company want to introduce yet another anti-Kikuyu law. This time the 50 per cent plus one amendment. It is clear that under the current law all the president needs is for the Kikuyu to vote as a bloc with minimal support from a few communities, and he will romp back to State House without breaking into a sweat. There is also enough Kikuyu influence in Central province, Nairobi, Rift Valley, Eastern province to give him his 25 per cent (is this the same calculation Moi did to arrive at 5 provinces instead of 4?). The President would therefore need only one more province. He can use the provincial administration to guarantee 25 per cent in North Eastern or he can distribute title deeds in Coast province to get his 5th province there.
Whatever your views are on the Kikuyu the fact still remains that they are Kenyans and the motive behind the proposed new law is WRONG. Kenyans need to sit down and openly discuss this issue and find a long-term solution, otherwise it will forver come back to haunt us.
The way to do it is NOT to play dangerous cards under the table while you smile warmly to each other above the table. That is called hypocrisy. Kenyans, it seems, love playing the hypocrite.
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Chris, I totally disagree with you on this 50+ 1 requirement on reforms.
ReplyDeleteFirstly, this requirement was in the Bomas, Naivasha and Kilifi Drafts. Prior to that, it was in recommendations by the then leader of official opposition - Mwai Kibaki - to the Ghai commission. He also happened to be chairman of Democratic Party. It was also in the zero draft. Its obvious the provision has been there before ODM started talking about it.
Secondly, 50+1 constitutional reform is an essential piece of legislation that is aimed at ensuring a level electrol field for all contestants. With the advantages of the incubent, this has always been a nightmare for divided opposition politicians. Moi had all along been leading Kenya on a minority win, in comparison to total opposition vote.
Thirdly, it is not an anti-Kikuyu provision that "Raila and Co" want to introduce. This was originally introduced by the Parliamentary Committee on Justice was back in early 2005/6, after the referendum vote. The Chairman of this committee is Hon Paul Muite.
Fourthly Chris, this provision is deemed by all as a further development of our democracy. It has recently been applied successfully and legitimately in General Elections in Liberia and DRC. It leaves no room for rigging claims. An coalition arrangment can always be reached before the GE so that people do not experience bizzare politics that is similar to what Narc-Kenya loves to call Government of national Unity, where a minority government poaches from opposition members and creates a mammoth cabinet so as to ensure its survival in parliamentary business.
If you want to appease your Kikuyu readers because of your recent anti-Kikuyu posts, Chris - please try another.
Constitutional reforms are one of the most glaring and most important failures of President Kibaki's government, and I would rather you dont reduce it to tribal politics. This country is in the mess it is because of inadequacies of the current constitution which has only but benefited a few individuals.
Chris you seem not to finding any formula soon to win. One time all Gema guns come blazing at your face and now you have invited Phil's acidic wrath. But one attribute you seem consistent with is the audacity to stick your neck out in the political murk to stir emotions. In my book that is unparalleled courage that will eventually pay big time albeit by instalments. The ultimate price lies in us addressing our problems without blinkers.
ReplyDeleteThe debate a bout 50% + 1 is neither here nor there. No tribe is superior to the others and to even entertain the thought is naivity at its best and self destructive at its worst.
The genesis of all our problems lies with visionless and cheap politics. The inexcusable failure to realiize a comprehensive consitutional review is at the heart of all our problems.
All the present talk is akin to fire fighting and we seem comfortable with burning the whole building just to smoke out the manacing rat. Our selfish politicians will do anything including supping with the devil to remain relevant. In the process they will readily stroke our tribal emotions to pamper their political egos.
No Kenyan politician is objective and propaganda seem to be their common gel that we all buy and fall to head over heels. Behind each of their moves lurks selfishness that we end up picking and shamelessly attempt to sanitize. We must look the king straight in the eye and tell him he is nude and stop clamouring for excuses as he shames all and sundry with his unsightly undressed anatomy.
We better start walking the talk otherwise we get out of the kitchen (read whining) if we can't stand the heat (truth). We seem contented with correct diagnosis of our problems and must go a step further to offer commensurate prescription that we must insist to be taken by politicians in our (and not their) interests.
Phil!
ReplyDeleteOuch!!!
I am not trying to appease anybody, least of all some ignorant selfish young Kikuyus who are not interested in what happened earlier than 2002 or are too lazy to find out.
Still, my writing must be getting rusty because my points are not hitting home like they used to.
My point here is that if the motive for pushing for a certain piece of legislation is selfish, then it is wrong. It does not matter how good the proposed law is. This is the approach in law making that has gotten us into today's mess and we must put a stop to this kind of selfish thinking.
Phil. hiyo ilukua ngumi chini ya mshipi but I haven't taken it personally. Thank you for your comments and please keep commenting brother.
-Kumekucha-
Show me ANY legislation ANYWHERE in the world that is not selfish, and I will show you a country run by angels, for angels. The truth is legislation arises ALWAYS to raise a barrier and defend the defenceless (good legislation) against some rapacious wolves or prevent others from reaching the goodies (bad legislation).
ReplyDeleteLegislation therefore must ALWAYS be selfish from that point of view, there is therefore no neutral or "selfless" legislation. What crime is there if other Kenyans have decided to ask that more consensus be obtained in their governorship? What funny games are you playing here by telling us Matiba won? Kibaki won? Does it matter?
What matters is that Kenyans are demanding a greater degree of consensus in the way they elect their leader. In the sixties and seventies a tiny clique of Kikuyus ran the country and did not care about what anybody else said or did. "Kura yangu na ya mama Ngina inatosha" was not spoken in jest!!! When we legislate against this, all of a sudden it's anti-kikuyu!!!
What did you really expect? Should rapists also complain the law against rape is designed specifically against them and thus needs to be off the books??? I personally think your logic on this post is immature and way way below your standard. It may make me stop reading your posts and assume youre just another heckler trying to please your Kikuyu kin. A VERY selfish motive I must add.