Tuesday, March 6, 2007

NARC-KENYA AND THE POLITICS OF ARROGANCE!


Without the mandate of public support, and without legitimacy in the eyes of Kenyans the advisors of President Mwai Kibaki are simply but mistakenly pretending that such situations do not matter.

It is surprising how fast power can corrupt people. Just before the 2002 general elections in Kenya, the leaders of the original NARC seemed to understand the importance of public support and they worked hard to gain it. It gave them the desire and opportunity to interact with religious, political and business leaders whose decisions and actions impact on all humanity. It was amazing to feel and see the warmth, friendship and the spirit of solidarity with which they were received everywhere they went. In all the interactions, the leaders spoke about the challenges, the needs and hopes of the Kenyan people and those of the peoples of the rest of Africa.. They talked about Africa's pursuit of an equitable partnership with the developed world, convinced that it is in the material interest of the developed countries themselves to help create an Africa free of war, poverty and underdevelopment.

A lot of credit was given to President Kibaki because he was viewed as the gentleman who was willing to sit down with all people, his enemies included, and reach a consensus on crucial issues that would have brought down the coalition. Today, President Kibaki seems to be a totally different man. The question that boggles the minds of many is, “Have the walls of power and the prestige that comes with occupying the state house totally blinded the eyes of our leader?”Even his lieutenants in the NARC-Kenya party appear to be in a dilemma as to what to do now when ODM-Kenya seems rather firm and poised to take over the parliamentary seats in most provinces in the coming elections.

There is one simple but humbling strategy that could save President Kibaki and give NARC-K some gains in the eyes of the public. The President and his government should be willing to organize a national reconciliation congress which will address the issue of a new constitution for Kenyans. This is the most important issue for us, because all the other steps of national development depend on the success of this congress. We are expecting the government will call all the stakeholders for this discussion for reconciliation, including the civil society, the businessmen,religious leaders, the women's groups, the youth and all political parties. We are expecting that this will take place in the right place, with the involvement of the international community. It is prudent that the President establishes an advisory committee to lay the groundwork for the success of this meeting. I am positive that ODM-Kenya and all the major stakeholders are willing to work closely with the government to organize the meeting for their own "resurrection" and survival.