Time to DIVORCE Kibaki!

[abdulmote]

Yes, the time to do just that is now long gone! We can't wait for that move any more.

I was watching one of those 'free' movies you get from cable tv the other day on domestic violence. The story was about a married woman who had to endure a lot of physical abuse and violence from her detective husband, yet all she could do is just take it 'with love'! The woman found it very difficult to leave her husband every time her sister tried to persuade her to do so after a violent beating for the sake of her own safety but she would not have it. Every time she found herself 'black and blue', the woman kept on convincing herself that someday her husband will change for the better and that she loved him so much that she could not leave him! That I found to be very frustrating and completely irrational on her part to say the least.

Without going deep into such a common but sad story, I must mention that I could not help but compare that character's story to what is happening in our Kenyan political scene. The old routine is now becoming clearly established when people get murdered by our own police force, yet some of 'our cabinet ministers' still see it fit to remain in that very same government but only declare that they 'feel ashamed' to be part of it. That is all they can do, feel ashamed! All the time these very ministers which the public relies upon for guidance and support in opposing the heinous regime utter some words against their 'part', you will find that they will also shamelessly try to 'protect' their president and somehow exonerate him from the evil that has just unfolded by laying blames on others but the president, as well as readily pledge their support and loyalty to the very same leader who can only be said to lead us to hell through each day that passes!

I certainly find it hard to appreciate any justification that the said leaders may use as an excuse for them to keep on remaining in the same government. Many months have now passed and all the public can see is total confusion and lack of conviction amongst their very own leaders who keep on supporting the same hyena in a sheep's skin, and so continue to perpetuate the existence of the publics' miseries with total impunity as we can all see. This lack of resolve on the part of the said leaders is certainly being reflected upon the public and needless to say, acts as a large obstacle for the long overdue removal of the same, and so perpetuate our own destruction which we so much and desperately want to end. The man keeps on abusing us and violently so, and all they could say is that 'he is alright, he is going get better, just give him time to amend his ways and we love him so much that we can't leave him' and so resolutely cannot go against him! How pathetic.

Seriously speaking, I can only begin to think that these people are all taking us for a ride and its about time the people should wake up and learn to call a spade a spade. If anything, these leaders should in fact call for the president's removal by at least moving a motion of 'no confidence' in the Parliament, and that is whether that could be sustained or not! Kíbaki must be divorced right now and the said leaders must stop being hypocritical by continuing to play double standards as they seek support from the very people they purport to whole heartedly and genuinely lead out of their miseries. This they cannot do whilst at the same time they carry on contradicting themselves by endorsing the very same leader who is at the helm of their destruction and appears to be the main source of the peoples' miseries for his incapacity to lead competently as expected through the public mandate given.

[aeichener]

The problem is not the person K. He is actually better than many others, as even his detractors will admit.
The problem, rather, is an entire political class; and specifically, a Cabinet (and Kitchen Cabinet) of Criminals and Clowns.

Alexander

[kamalet]

Bendera is a blanket. These fellows I see people nearly worship are just power hungry good for nothing FOOLS.

Can they muster a vote of no confidence in Kibaki - I bet you they wouldn't if it meant dissolution of the house.

[adongo12345]

Kamale

The vote of NO CONFIDENCE is coming on Monday from the very people who elected Kibaki. If the man had any honour he would call it quits and go enjoy his wealth instead of being a lame duck president with no repsect from anywhere.

But we know he will drag on. Now you all complain about the other politicians who are no better than Kibaki but you forget we put Kibaki in power so as to get rid of all those robbers and thieves. Now look what we got. More robbers and thieves. Kibaki even has an internationally certified crook as a member of his kitchen cabinet.

Secondly Kanu has now earned the right to be a key player in the furure of Kenyan politics after that devatating defeat only 3 yeras ago.

By supporting the fight to reject the Wako rubbish which Kibaki and his cohorts wanted to impose on Kenyans to facilitate their robbery of the nation, Kanu has paid back a bit of what they owed the nation through their repression. We are going to now have to talk with the Rutos and Mois, thanks to Kibaki these guys are back in business.

I am proud of Kenyans. I know politicians are now on notice. Wananchi will still take their crap, but they have to watch their back literally. That is a good development.

[job]

Mass action looming.
--------------------------
Abdulmote,

Fair game, the point is that Kibaki was long divorced from the people of Kenya way back. However, his election in 2002, through deciept, confers him until 2007 to stay in office, if the same people who elected him don't force his removal.

To rely on Parliamentarians and his own cabinet to force him out is a little too ambitious in my view. Most of these MP's are there purely for their selfish economic prosperity and nothing for mwananchi.

Aren't these not the same people who awarded themselves hefty pay raises, endorsed Ringera who never applied- to KACC, & mutilated the Bomas draft in exchange for a few pieces of silver? Divorcing Kibaki mid-term is suicidal to their fortunes & dreams as they're still amassing change.

It is what you and me, alongside other Kenyans who want their country back, .......CAN DO,.... that matters. It's good you're already doing something to point this out to society. Even those based in the diaspora can do a lot.

Lets encourage realistic talk like this without letting paranoia and ambivalence veil our deep thoughts.

I'll not go back to the discussion about our middle class absence or weakness, neither will I dwell on Kenya's Labor force & whether it has any political impact. Not also whether we have organized rural based peasantry lobbies?

One folk at this forum, RoughRider, recently challenged me for tangible measures to correct our Kenyan societal anomalies, and I chronicled what in my view appeared logical at that time, a process that involved first rejecting the Wako draft, then forging our own people driven destiny, under our terms.

His frustration, just like yours, is coming forth to me yet again. We may be forced to make very crucial choices between; relying again on a POLITICAL LEADER'S "PROMISE" (from same elite pool) to navigate us through to "CANAAN" either in 2007 or sooner, ...or agitating for popular mobilization of masses under a common political blueprint.

My point is suppose we hash and tone down the current civilian heckles & displeasure, in the assumption that we should just hold our horses, wait for 2007 and peg our hopes on another PERSONALITY, either a Kalonzo, Raila or Uhuru to effect or facilitate change?

If we leave desired reforms solely at the discretion of a future elected President, or in the hands of his lieutenants, again, .....then..........me thinks we'll be more pumbavu than even Kibaki thinks.

I honestly gave this possibility a remote chance previously, but seeing the forces and counter forces playing out, I think it will be a waste of an opportunity not to call for mass action if any meaningful change will ever come.

The government itself has spoken to the masses well in advance. It has spoken in the language best known by Michuki, conferred to him by the British colonial masters of yesteryears.

That is,............violently pre-empt any mass action by stern and instant warnings (killings, assassinations, detentions, & creating panic ) to confuse the masses and stem any building momentum.

But does this necessarily stem civilian unrest? Not in such classic ways these people assume. Not in a desperate society like ours where > 60% survive on less than a dollar a day and where crime is very high. Where we have many potential suicide bombers walking with full blown AIDS without forseeing hope.

We are now witnessing direct incitement of masses, where heavily armed police & GSU presence is not only paraded but actually used to send warnings by actual civilian murders.

Raphael Tuju recently reminded the Luo's not to behave as cult members similar to Alice Lakwena's followers, who have been mislead that Bullets won't penetrate their bodies. That is an intimidation coded message, conveyed to the Luo, by Tuju on behalf of Michuki, which is easy to read.

Michuki's equally ruthless warning to Coast residents, through the Likoni murders was gotten clear too.

The psychological resolve of the masses has been challenged, and terrorized, well in advance.

Civilian capital is looming large now that the masses have been pushed against the wall. In a quest for chartering our own destiny, free from unsolicited prescriptions from the Murungis and Kibakis, the State has unleashed its mobilization of terror instruments on the masses to intimidate people.

How will people utilize this popular/civilian capital? Will we use it to force change? Will we squander it to opportunistic politicians? Will we demand for only short term gains or go all the way in defining our future once & for all?

Are we going to be subdued to silence? Are we going to be scared and demoralized by the falling of comrades following Shoot-to-kill orders? It is very important to sustain popular pressurization for anything to happen, even seeking mere dialogue.

Trying to play too safe each time with the government power barons who understand mass psychology very well can be dangerous sometimes.

Even if they employ the use of assassinations, or arrests on flimsy charges, of key cadres of political opposition or organization links to the masses, the people must be ready for what is now too apparent.

The air is now filled with the government's motive as we approach the referendum day. Let's not ask " Oops what happened ?" after November 21st, 2005.

The government seems to aim at either stopping the referendum in court tomorrow, or rigging it in their favour come november 21st, 2005. The people must psychologically prepare to win this battle even if it means a continued or renewed exchange.

unedited.

Job.

[abdulmote]

Asante Daktari,

But you all that you have just said left me gasping for more, like a fish starved of oxygen when exposed into the air!

Here I was just trying to state a point. The hypocrisy on the part of our beloved Orange leaders is clear and that cannot be denied. Yet sadly we seem to find ourselves desperate for their representation for want of better leadership! I weep in my heart every time I try to think of it and this is not "ambivalence". But on the contrary, "ambivalence" indeed is embedded in them! Those who know what they must do but only do what is to their own personal interest. Their resolve certainly falls far short of what is expected of them and it will certainly be futile of our hopes were we not to state the obvious.

But I can almost detect your fear. The fear of loosing 'the loving husband' although abusive, lest we are left ‘exposed’ and vulnerable to the imaginary harshness of the world out there and that is sad.

But I am not that naive. A vote of 'no confidence' is hardly something we can anticipate from the current crop of politicians. And I mean from any of them. Can't you see, even the ones we depend upon most, go on to endorse time and again the same goon who is persistently destroying us for lack of his leadership skills? Why so, I ask again?

To me, the change we so much are trying to pursue will never come or be realised simply by the change of Constitution. That I am firmly convinced but there you are, we just have to swim along because the tide currently dictates that we should do. I mean look, does this very current Constitution not allow for the vote of no confidence? Would you say that the people of Kenya still have sufficient confidence in their president as we speak?

But as I repeat, that will never be the case and the reason is so obvious! "Ambivalence" you nicely put it! Yes! And it makes angry and frustrated just at the thought of it. WHY, I ask? Why should the Orange team we are dedicated in supporting for our cause keep on remaining ambivalent in their pose while we say nothing about it and so accept it by implication? Why should our Amollo keep on endorsing Kibaki yet we categorically know that it is through Kibaki that we find our frustrations? Why can't he, for once, come out clean and decide to go all the way in lodging a fight against the status quo and then see if the led will follow suit behind him?

You see as things stand, I see no reason to be cheerful about any progress that we may achieve should the NO vote win. Yet I am also very concerned about the dangers of the YES vote if it ever wins. Did you say "ambivalence"? The word now seems to reverberate in my mind. Which way should I go that I may be assured of my hopes? But even with an attempt to deceive myself by choosing the 'obvious', the route is simply not reassuring.

Why am I doing this at such a time, you may ask.

Believe job, I am not as insensitive to our genuine and common desires as one would like to think. The passion of Kenya’s pursuit towards its wellbeing is certainly and deeply embedded in my soul. Like many others and perhaps just like yourself, I cannot wait for the day when we as Kenyans can all stand up proud knowing we are headed in the right direction like a nation of civilised people should do. But again in that desire I fear most not be led astray by my own short sightedness and that is where the trick lies.

Can you imagine what it is costing Kenyans when there is "ambivalence" within the minds of our leaders? Specifically so to speak, why can't Raila and his likes, stand up for once and make an open declaration of war against the enemy of the state and then see how long it shall take to clean the slate? On the other hand, ain't his "ambivalence" a sign of hypocrisy which is again potentially duplicated all the way down to the last man, and so directly helps to maintain the status quo? How can we painfully carry on criticising Kibaki and his government on daily bases, yet the leadership that we look up for support and sharing of the common goal does not share our concerns and is indeed contradicting our very thoughts? Huh? Would you call that prudent strategy on our part?

Noh! The constitution will not mean anything as such as far as I am concerned. For God's sake, we cannot even make use of the desperate and rare measures included in the current shallow one!

But I am indeed convinced that it will all come down to the way all the Kenyans think! And then only would we be able to call them to account for their acts. But that can only be achieved when we shall be courageous enough and be ready to criticise our own individual weaknesses of thought. That state of affairs will be achieved when we shall be ready to call a spade a spade and be willing to detach ourselves from our 'beloved' enemies! Like the abused wife, we must be soberly ready to divorce the man we keep deceiving ourselves with, that given time he will change although he repeats knocking our minds 'black and blue' on each and everyday that passes.

But that day will start to take shape only through you and me as we speak! It requires to be started and declared by ordinary people of thought who can scratch their skin and know that they are awake and aware of their surrounding.

Job my brother, I like your thinking and indeed I admire your talent and abilities as we can see them. And I call on you, to gather a little courage and join all others who share these very same views, which are nothing but absolutely necessary action towards strengthening the direction for a genuine change.

[job]

Abdulmote,

Great thoughts. I've taken your points seriously. I'll delve further at a later date.

Job.

[johns]

Abdulmote,

The birth of a movement is often compared to a religious event, forming a fund for political grace that can be dispensed over the years. The agent of every rebirth is normally an individual-------- an Nkrumah, a Toure who, as a leader of political movement, is midwife to the birth of the nation.

Like Democracy, national movement is not for the good of the people: it is for the satisfaction of the people. One Antonine emperor, one St. Louis, One Richelieu, may be worth ten democracies in point of what is called good government; but there is no satisfaction for the people in them.

Also remember that no prophet can succeed unless the circumstances are propitious. He succeeds when a potential following exists because of the problems that society face. The importance of both the leader and the context in which he moves are suggested in the conclusion of a historian of the Reformation that Martin Luther "found public opinion supersaturated with revolt; all that was needed to precipitate it was a pebble thrown in ........" That is the role the said leader of the orange movement is fullfiling at the moment. Not because he is principled and his standards are not wanting but because he is all that we have got at the moment to lead this charge.

Given the propensity kenyans have of looking at everything as a zero sum game; where we cheer the winners and villify losers in total disregard of the process applied in achieving the said results; it is nowonder we are considered spineless only mired in our parochial vomit which blind us to elevate anybody who pretend to convey relevant and meaningful messages within our social context.

[aeichener]

Excellent posting, Johns; excellent...

Alexander

[abdulmote]

johns brother,

My good wishes and greetings to your goodself and family and thank you for your input.

Here is my reaction:-

“Like Democracy, national movement is not for the good of the people: it is for the satisfaction of the people. One Antonine emperor, one St. Louis, One Richelieu, may be worth ten democracies in point of what is called good government; but there is no satisfaction for the people in them.” --- johns

I am perplexed! A national movement is not good for the people but only for their satisfaction you say? Why? Has that got to be and should that be the case? Is it the only standard achievable or are you only trying to be realistic? Yes it is such a rhetorical statement, but should we simply accept the situation implied therein blindly so and not dare to challenge the status quo? I choose to promptly say no and my reasons are simple!

When a leader is born, one is certainly being created to fill in the vacuum which has been established out of the people’s wants, most probably infused with a sense of desperation in their circumstances. That observation I have no problem of accepting. And when the led grow and become euphoric and "saturated with revolt" towards their endeavour, their vision becomes sometimes naively engulfed with expectations perhaps even unrealistic, which they may have so much faith in being delivered, to an extent of being ready to ‘blindly’ follow their leader who may be preparing them in disguise only for another slaughter to come!

But then one may wonder; what should we do in "the absense of a better alternative"? Should we grow and enhance our suspicion up to a point of rejecting everything and everyone even when we can see no other alternative in existence like your proverbial “pebble”?

I say not necessarily so. You see, leaders are creatures who grow and get nurtured by the led. And as they grow to become what they are, they tend to acquire qualities which have a great deal to do with what they have been fed by the led, by the society and partly by nature. At the same time and during this process of the leadership growth, the potential leader learns to adjust and take advantage of what is being offered to him/her, so much so in pursuit of one’s satisfaction, result of which is simply unpredictable and its secondary effect can be anything; either good or bad for the led!

Having said that, a ‘good’ leader is not entirely like a ‘runaway train’ which lacks direction of purpose and is not simply ‘addicted’ to amassing power or wealth as his sole vision and occupation. Weak as the led may find themselves to be, their ‘good’ leader will inevitably be a person who constantly and consistently tries to read the mood and the ‘nudging’ of the led, that he may find himself in reasonable harmony with his people and so continue to enjoy their critical support for his sustenance of status which may be his primary objective.

What follows out of this then is that the led, be they a small fraction of their composition, must be able to initiate a ‘secondary front’ with it's sole purpose being to try and utilise the influence of directing and ‘nudging’ the leader, and so fulfill the role of 'feeding' and 'nurturing' their leader that he may develop to a good degree, to become the type of leader they expect him and want him to be!

Simply put, the led have to lead the leader! They have to remain vigilant in their endeavour and so be ready to call their leader to account for his ‘misdeeds’ and as a result help themselves to create a leader who will properly and effectively lead them to their eventual objective!

But failure or shying away from such a critical and noble obligation upon the led brother, is to naively, “foolishly” and “blindly” accept to be led to our own slaughter and eventual destruction, and that I categorically refuse to do irrespective of otherwise insignificant consequencies.

[johns]

Abdulmote,

Let me also pass my good wishes to you and your family and say thank you for the piece you sent me, i am still digesting its content and would be glad to share with you my thoughts once i am done meditating on it.

Abdul, i think as people of good intentions for kenya we continue to misplace our priorities. Our priorities and aspirations should not be placed in the hands of our so called leaders, these are people whom we do not know in terms of agendas. Just as you said we the led MUST be the ones setting the agenda for leaders. My simple opinion tell me that this can only come about if we the led take it upon ourselves to familiarize with the agents of change therein; where the populace on their own volition seek to rise beyond self and embraces nationhood.

Again as you have alluded to many a time in the past, the case for democracy is not that it prevents tensions, but that open discussion creates a healthier society than is achieved by suppression. Each of us belongs to several groups with different interests, and the fact that we are opposed to this man on this issue but allied to him on the next issue prevents our conflicts from running away with our emotions.

Brother Abdul, as much as i find fault with those who at the moment are in the forefront leading this charge against tyrany; i chose to recognise and validate the mitigating circumstances in which these souls are operating under. I humbly state it to you that , if the playing field was levelled and parties on both sides adhered to the tenets of freedom; i would be the first one to join you in bringing these leaders to task for deviating and going off the tanget from the intended objective. Let us not forget that kenya is like a ship navigating without a compass and everyone on board is trying to find the correct bearing to bring the ship to shore.