ODM-Kenya's Big Announcement As Majimboism Makes Big Come Back In Kenya

One of the worrying things I have been observing in this blog in recent times is the radical and blind support for certain candidates by many Kenyans who have no idea what their candidate really stands for or what sort of president they would make.

Now an extremely worrying new development has emerged as all leading ODM presidential candidates have recently made an explosive announcement. This is to the effect that they are in full support of Majimboism or a federal and mostly separatist form of administration in Kenya. Their argument is that this is the only way of ensuring equitable distribution of resources.
----------------------------
Other stories published today;
Parliament re-opens for last session: what new looting schemes for greedy MPs?

Church man points to satanic symbols in parliament

Branson of Virgin fame in Nairobi
----------------------------
This announcement was big news to me and should be to every Kenyan.

The idea of majimboism or federalism is not new in Kenya. It dominated the constitutional talks in Lancaster in the 60s and in fact won the day only to be ruthlessly crashed by Tom Mboya and the Kanu government who were victorious in the general elections of 1963 and were strongly in support of a strong central government.

Majimboism was strongly supported by Kadu leaders at the time, including party leader the late Ronald Ngala and the likes of Daniel Arap Moi. The thinking then was that smaller tribes have a chance of enjoying equitable distribution of resources with a majimbo system of government. What majimbo in essence calls for is regionalism with each region (read tribe) having some sort of regional government and controlling their affairs and development in their region.

Naturally such a system would promote tribalism and the system of tribal chiefs merging in a strange coalition long before elections with the intention of winning the general elections.

One thing is for sure, this is the sort of issue that would easily tip the scales and win an election for any party. It is no secret that the distribution of the natioal cake in Kenya has been very lopsided at best and grossly unfair at worst with only a few tribes greatly benefiting at the expense of others. Take the current Kikuyu-dominated government as an example, then consider the fact that we are seeing a repeat of what happened during the administration of Kenya's first president Mzee Jomo Kenyatta. Then we had 24 years during which the Kalenjin held sway benefiting immensely simply because President Moi happens to hail from that community. In this kind of back drop, telling Kenyan voters that you will introduce a majimbo system to ensure equitable distribution will win you lots of popularity very quickly.

But there are tough political decisions where what is best for the country must prevail over sheer populist politics.

Here are the great dangers that majimboism will pose to Kenya and Kenyans;

i) It wil promote tribalism and destroy any progress that has been made towards making Kenyans view themselves as one nation and one people.
ii) There are several experiments of the past that prove that Majimbosim is no guarantee that there will be an equitable distribution of resources. One that stands out is the district focus strategy launched by President Moi earlier in his presidency that saw DCs (district commissioners) emerge as more powerful than even PCs (provincial commissioners). It al looked very practical and beautiful on paper but in reality national issues and the need for the national government to retain control and power countrywide, continued to dominate and take away resources from the districts. There are numerous other examples that clearly cry out; IT WILL NOT WORK.
iii) It will promote corruption on a massive scale as there are no checks and balances on the ground to keep a leash on the tribal/regional leader and their inevitable excesses. The problems we have seen with some MPs and the CDF funds will be greatly magnified.
iv) Anther majimbo experiment now will be fatal because it will take away attention from urgent national issues that require the whole country to be focused as one people to tackle. High on that list is the unemployment situation that has fuelled escalating crime and poverty amongst a host of other problems. It means that if for example the new government comes up with a massive energy program based in the North Eastern Province and designed to create thousands of new jobs, the efficiency and success of such a project would be greatly hindered by limitations brought about by the sort of rules that Majimboism would call for.

Being one of the most popular parties in the country currently, ODM-Kenya must denounce their majimbo policy or at least call for a national debate on the issue instead of dictating and making sweeping policy statements on crucial issues that are capable of affecting the country negatively if implemented.

Many people don't know it, but there are plenty of genuine jobs and business opportunities available online. Get details on how you too can make money on the Internet or even earn a living. It does not matter whether you live in the remotest village in Kenya or anywhere else, all you need is a computer connected to the Internet. Read Kumekucha's fascinating report; Ways To Make Money Online

Regular violent wife rape by a dutiful husband.

Parliament Reopens Today For The "Lala Salama" Session

The ninth parliament reconvenes and will officially be re-opened by President Mwai Kibaki this afternoon. This is the last session of the 9th parliament and when it ends the country will be headed for a historical general elections that will see Kenya go into a general elections with both heightened awareness amongst the voters but also tensions at unprecedented levels.

This parliament which Kenyans had great hope and expectations for in 2003 has been a great let down and started off very badly by dramatically increasing the already high remuneration and allowances of MPs making them some of the best paid legislators in the world. Today's take home for an MP is close to Kshs 1,000,000 in a country whose citizens are best described as poverty stricken.

It is for this reason that most of the legislators in the August house are seeing the inside of parliament for the last time. Many of them know this and will be keen to make the most out of their last few months in parliament and this is why this blogger will be keeping a hawkish eye on your behalf on the sort of bills and motions the crafty fellows will be trying to push through in this last session.

Many people don't know it, but there are plenty of genuine jobs and business opportunities available online. Get details on how you too can make money on the Internet or even earn a living. It does not matter whether you live in the remotest village in Kenya or anywhere else, all you need is a computer connected to the Internet. Read Kumekucha's fascinating report; Ways To Make Money Online

Regular violent wife rape by a dutiful husband.