Eyes on Kibaki as Kenya Hangs on a Cliff

A nation waits with their hearts in their hands. The threads holding the national fabric are threatening to snap. The principals on whose hands the solution lies are masters of deceit and scheming. Ours is a country crying for salvation from the bondage of lack of true leadership.

It is make or break starting tomorrow. We enter the defining week when the results of Kofi Annan’s negotiation will leave Kenya on either side of the cliff. Results will either mark the end of the clashes or the beginning of Armageddon. The previous week witnessed unrestrained window shopping. And now the real shopping commensurate with both human budget and need starts.

No glossing over tough issues because it all boils down to political solution. Pretenders used to clichés better arm themselves with feasible proposal that may convince us to temporarily look ahead as a nation before be take a hard look at the bloody past they dragged us through.

Annan has ruled out any resolution premised on either our judiciary or much-maligned ECK. That in itself is a loaded message depicting loss of faith in any our institutions. Only those suffering serious bouts of selective amnesia would vouch for respect to any existing Kenyan institution. But the element of shame is on vice that is found in abundance within our shores.

Only oonstitution, no substitute
Kenya’s future is singularly anchored on a new constitution and nothing more. Any political agreement that skirts this primary foundation will amount to appreciating a storm before a tsunami. If that comes to pass (God forbid) we would rather start taking lesson from our neighbours to the north east on how to effectively run tribal/clan fiefdoms.

The ball is squarely in Kibaki’s court. Having brought all these upon Kenya, only he can extinguish the fire so that we collectively dust ourselves from the ashes. The alternative is too grim to contemplate but not far-fetched given his past and company.

Only a structured TRANSITION government can midwife Kenya through this hell. All others are short term gimmicks that will only succeed in exterminating us sooner rather than later. And this must not be rushed lest we end up scratching the surface as the national would festers underneath.

An exhaustive national healing must begin with exorcising all our devils and skeletons. Only then will the resulting peace be sustainable on equity served with justice through an acceptable constitution.

Castles from ruins
The coming week is important like no other. Stopping the haemorrhage demands true leadership and statesmanship which has been a mirage within our borders. Brinkmanship and bravado will send all of us to hell. It is within our powers to stop press and rebuilt Kenya. But is Kibaki ready for the monumental challenge lying just hours ahead?

All eyes are singularly focussed on Kibaki. He has his hands on the switch. Whether he will go for the extinguisher or trigger only time will tell. We are watching. The whole world is watching, fingers crossed. It is within our power to tranfor this crisis into a foundation for eternal prosperity. No more games, we want our country back NOW.