This Is Our Last Chance To Get It Right

I have watched with increasing alarm the unfolding events in Kenya. On just about every front, we seem to be hurtling toward a destination no one can define with clarity right now. If ours was a stable, mature democracy, I wouldn't be too worried. I would look my two boys in the eye and tell them that at the end of this brouhaha, there will emerge a leader who will be sworn in as President in 2012. But can anyone count on such an outcome today? Therein lies my discomfort.

As this new year begins, it is time for those who love this nation and wish to see her prosper to act and say words that will enhance unity rather than act and say words that will foster hate and division. What we must all realize, as thought-leaders in the spheres God has put us in, is that we sit at the apex of a triangle whose base is made of millions of illiterate and poor Kenyans. What they are yearning for from us is hope and a sense that a better tomorrow is within reach. When what they see from us is the kind of schemes that seem to have taken center-stage in the political arena today, who can blame them for fearing that the stage is being set for intrigue and a possible repeat of the mischief in 2007?

One of the most powerful pronouncements of the Lord in the Holy Scriptures is found in the book of Genesis 1:28-31. In that text, the Lord says He gave mankind dominion over this world. You may read the four verses in the quietness of your office or home. The message is clear. God wanted man to take care of what He had created. That included animals, fish, birds and fellow man. It is crucial that those who aspire to lead this nation understand that theology of leadership. There is no way people who seek to lead this nation can want to do so by coming up with something as dreadfully divisive as the KKK Alliance. Where is God's voice in that? And there is no way a man who has failed to take a firm position on crucial national matters can now present himself as a leader; how will he lead? Like a sunflower?

Fellow Kenyans, President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga have led this nation thus far. It will be said many years to come that they tried their best...gave us better roads and set this nation on a path to expanding democratic space. It is now our time to move the ball toward the opponent's goal-post. Our opponent remains ignorance, poverty and disease. But now there is a new one. Godlessness. Could it be that our lack of seeking God's wisdom is what may lead this nation to danger again?

The time for Christians to be on our knees to seek intervention for Kenya is now. We have to plead with God to intervene as Ocampo swoops in, as alliances form, as the campaigns begin, and as voting will take place in 2012. It is my opinion that this is our chance to once and for all defeat the forces that want Kenya to permanently remain beholden to a form of politics and leadership fashioned out of tribal arithmetic and selfishness. Ideology and a sense of purpose should be the new forces that shape political discourse in this nation.

So from our airwaves to newspapers, and from our pulpits to political events, and from out funerals to weddings, let each of us tone down our rhetoric. We can discuss Raila in Nyeri without name-calling. We can disagree with Ruto in Kisumu without hurling insults at him. And we can wonder about Uhuru's intentions without seeing him as an evil man. Democracy and civility demand that we respect each other's opinions, and like my good friend Chris would always remind us, be willing to die defending their right to hold such opinions.

Where do I go wrong, my friends?

Blessings is what I wish on each of you this year and let's pray for one another!

Open Letter To Philip Ochieng Sunday Nation Columnist

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Dear Mr. Philip Ochieng,

First of all I wish to take this opportunity to thank you for your controversial yet thought provoking article titled "our people have lost their sense of heroism" which appeared in yesterday's Sunday Nation; indeed my response to you is based on that opinion piece, and through this open letter which I am sure will reach your attention courtesy of this blog which is fairly familiar in political circles, I wish to draw your attention to one or two issues you raised which i have a healthily different opinion contrary to your own

Your perspective that the only form of politics known by "your people" is empty hero-worship and this is the reason why they are among Kenya's most underdeveloped regions did not go a long way in fully addressing the link between community development,historical events occuring shortly after independence, as well as present day events, all of which have had the impact of collectively sinking Kenyans as a whole into deeper poverty. It is on this basis that you should have questioned the value of "your people's" education in contributing to their development regionally

I understand that your OP/ED was not intended to be textbook cause and effect in analysing the current status quo of your ethnic group; however, because it left alot to be desired, forgive me for going ahead and stating the following obvious observations in relation to it, which I am no doubt sure you are well familar with-

1) Kenyans survived 40 plus years of bad governance that affected the whole country negatively, and against the will of all its individual communities that make up the country.During this time all ethnic groups are guilty of sitting back in their homes and expecting their MP to "bring development" to their region.

2) During this same period of time the same ethnic groups are guilty of endlessly complaining about poor governance and corruption yet refusing to change voting patterns and allowing the same clowns back to parliament every 5 years.

These are just some of the common characteristics which which guiltily bind each and every single Kenyan together, regardless of ethnic background, and in my opinion your assessment of your people was rather symptomatic and stereotypical instead of being helpful in truly identifying the root cause of all our collective problems as a people which have left many innocent Kenyans suffering for the sins of our leaders since independence.

I am happy to note that since yesterday many Kenyans from all walks of life, and in different corners of the globe far and wide have responded passionately to your article, and I will leave them as well as others who might not have had a chance to read it, to make up their minds about whether your well written commentary is true or not.

In conclusion sir, let me thank you for your many excellent pieces faithfully written for the Sunday nation over the years which are no doubt one of the many highlights of that newspaper which many Kenyans look forward to reading every weekend. However it is important that in future anyone seeking to address issues such as the ones you brought up does so in a well balanced manner and takes into consideration that Kenya and all her people are at a delicate time in history where the truth needs to be heard now more than ever before. Afterall, it is what will set us free

signed

A regular Sunday Nation Op/Ed reader