What I love most about this new constitution is that it always stirs up a topic among Kenyans whether rich or poor, young or old, male or female.
With the new constitution came arguments and discussions and even after close to two years, the country is still ripe from the promulgation with every corner etching out their sentiments and comments alike.
Equality was one major reason for the citizens to pass this document into power. Every Kenyan (majorly the poor and middle-class) saw it as an opportunity to seat at the same table with the rich and mighty. I cannot blame them because indeed that was what I also envisioned. However recent happenings have proved otherwise. It is not as I had earlier on envisioned as I cast my ballot.
In the constitution was the clause that bars any contestant of the elective posts from being nominated to any post if it so happens that he or she fails to clinch the post being vied for. This means that no political bailouts will be handed out to the losers in the coming elections. Well what a magnificent strategy to deal a blow to the political class. It is therefore certain that those who fail to clinch the vacant seats will be left in the cold for a whole five years lest they take a step into the corridors of justice to seek petition.
Enter the March date. Elections to be held in March is a simple strategy for the people behind the date to have ample time and calculate their steps as they tread the dangerous ground of seeking elective posts. The political class worked out their math and saw it best to push the date to 2013 so as to gain more time for campaigns and party popularization. Hon. Raila Odinga has his popularity at pick at the moment and for him a March election only means that his majority will be slashed a big deal. That is why the Right Hon. Prime Minister is anti-March to the bone.
Going back to the equality, you must have witnessed Hon. Uhuru Kenyatta launch his presidential bid and party on Sunday. Well if you did not witness the entire event at least you got a glimpse of the highlights. There is only one word to describe it; pompous. The event was a show of might and glamour as every cent was put to use and no effort was left unused. From camera cranes to camera rails and internet connection for journalists, the event was a replica of Obama’s victory event in Illinois, Chicago. The National Alliance had painted KICC red from the floors to the roofs onto the guests and supporters. Indeed without a doubt millions of shillings had been injected into the project.
Looking at that splendid launch, somebody explain to me how an ordinary Kenyan with the country at heart can stage such a show to woe voters. With the illiteracy rate at the moment, very few Kenyans can afford to understand ideologies therefore a patriotic citizen with good leadership abilities but no money has literally no platform to voice his desires for Kenyans. This clearly sets the stage for only the mighty financially to vie and literally fight for the top office in the land. Equality thus is thrown out through the window and the playing field remains unbalanced.
Later on that night the media houses reported on the show of might played out in the previous election and as records were showing, PNU which Kibaki rode with to state house splashed out a whooping KES. 600 million while ODM used around half a billion with Kalonzo’s ODM-K squandering close to KES 100 million.
This was an election which did not involve as much as the coming one will and thus the question is set; just how much will flow out come March 2013? With politicians not ready to loose their seats, the contest will be as hot as a volcano with money changing hands like nobody’s business. With already so much spent on launches and rallies, the common ‘mwananchi’ now known as ‘mwenyenchi’ is left to only participate in electing but not being elected. This clearly shows the amount of inequality that has set into the country.
The leaders, so to say, will never work to improve the welfare of the common man. This is so because when the common man improves literacy standards, the politician will have no way of utilizing his money to grab the positions of power instead the ideologists who happen to be ordinary Kenyans will have their grip on leadership positions. That is why the standards of education have remained deplorable because the leaders fear for their security in the top offices as they try to amass as much wealth as they can.
It is time to elect persons who will achieve equality and fairness among Kenyans, a person who will not favor on basis of social status, tribe or religion, a person who will dedicate himself or herself to fighting injustices and other social misdeeds in order to restore Kenya to the class of Malaysia and Singapore. This is a call to all Kenyans to vote wisely and ensure the top offices are occupied by different people and not the ones we have experienced over the decades and who still are fighting for the positions come next elections.
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