Post by Onyango Oloo on Oct 19, 2005 21:54:30 GMT 3
By Raila A Odinga first carried in the Kenya Times, October 20, 2005
IN the ongoing draft Constitutional debate, Kenyans have been treated to varying degrees of innuendo, propaganda and outright lies spewed by those who have no capacity to discuss issues without attempting to malign both the living and the dead.
Hon. Musikari Kombo has excelled in this theme with vitriol perhaps more than others.
When Kombo claims that my father, the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga was responsible for the transfer of Trans Nzoia district to Rift Valley Province, he is not only lying, but also engaging in a superfluous commentary irrelevant to the current debate on the draft constitution thus exhibiting ignorance of Kenya’s history. But as the old adage goes, "hell hath no fury", and it is bound to checkmate those who preach lies.
Kombo cannot rewrite the political history of Kenya; neither will he be allowed to put a wedge between the Bukusus and the Luos on the pretext of reminding them of things that never occurred.
Pretensions and untruths intended to fan ethnic animosities will always remain a display of sheer irresponsibility. It further calls into question one's capacity as a leader or a lighting rod at this very critical time in our history.
Collins English Dictionary defines an ass as a ridiculously pompous person. I hate to see Hon. Kombo acquire a snug fit of the definition. By his pronouncements however, he seems to be incapable to speed govern his mouth. He needs to restrain himself from verbal exuberance, carelessly crafted to hoodwink the masses into believing a fabrication.
If Kombo wanted to look for the truth relating to his claims, he would have found it in our 1963 Constitutional provisions. Subsection (1) of section 266 of the said Constitution of Kenya provided that, any two Regions that had a “common boundary may, by agreement in writing between Presidents of the respective Regional Assemblies, alter that boundary” in accordance with the provisions of the said section. Subsection (2) of section 226 subjected such agreements to subsection (4) requiring its effect to subsequent approval by a law made by the Regional Assemblies of each of the Regions and thereafter, be followed by a resolution of each house of the National Assembly of Kenya.
It is a matter of historical fact that, on the 11th day of October 1963 Mr. Wafula Wabuge, then President of the Regional Assembly of the Western Region of Kenya entered into an agreement with Mr. Daniel Toroitich Arap Moi, the President of the Regional Assembly of the Rift Valley Region of Kenya providing for the alteration of the common boundary of the said Regions. That is how it turned out that Trans Nzoia got to be a district in the North Rift. It was a negotiated settlement between and among leaders of the time. As was required by law, the agreement was ratified, confirmed and approved and Gazetted as Regional Supplements - Enactments No. 1 of 1963 vide Kenya Gazette Supplement No. 97 dated 26 November 1963.
Surely, the agreement which resulted into Trans Nzoia being moved to the Rift Valley according to the records available was done by those duly authorized by the supreme law of the land then, to do so. The process was both legal and widely consultative. Whether or not Hon. Kombo wishes to impute injustice remains his personal pet project. But his concerted attempt to falsely draw the late Jaramogi’s name into the equation is both ill timed and advised. It is becoming clear to all that, in his propagandistic ignobleness he has chosen to resurrect Jaramogi to engage him in a false” debate. Could this be the point when he has run out of ideas with which to engage the Kenyan voters as the referendum debate heat up? He needs to come clean on this matter or be silent together with his ilk and leave Jaramogi’s soul to rest in peace.
Finally, Hon. Kombo and his colleagues in the Banana campaign have continued to accuse their opponents of following the uncircumcised. Surely, does circumcision add any value to a man?
Apostle Paul’s message to the Galatians Chapter six verses 11 to 18 explains:
No circumcision but a new creation
“See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hands! Those who want to make a good impression outwardly are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason the do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ.
Not even those who are circumcised obey the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boat about your flesh. May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, what counts is a new creation. Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule, even to the Israel of God.
Finally let no-one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers."
Amen.
The writer is Roads minister and MP for Langata
