KIBAKI'S BOAT MUST SINK

[miguna]

KIBAKI’S BOAT MUST SINK
By MIGUNA MIGUNA* - © 8 December 2005

We will say it again so as to avoid confusion or any doubt – president Kibaki’s boat is capsizing quickly at sea, and unless there is a search and rescue team, consisting of a seaworthy ship, a strong crew with adequate equipment, those on board the capsizing boat will perish; not unless they abandon the boat and its suicidal captain, and make a dash for either the shore or the ODM Rescue and Destroyer ship, moored nearby. We hope that all the Kibaki crew are good and strong swimmers and that the sea is not infested with Sharks.

That is the sad situation that president Kibaki’s action in poking gaping credibility holes within his government has caused. Now, his government is tittering, swerving violently from side to side and hemorrhaging dangerously. And as the water fills the boat, he has taken - not to applying strong patches on the gaping walls of the boat with his crew, as we would have expected - he has been recklessly throwing away safety equipment plus his most useful crew overboard, leaving only the sick, the ill and the insane inside the boat.

Evidence show that the Captain has, on occasion, surreptitiously and erratically attempted to patch a few leaking holes inside his boat. But rather than stick, the patches have peeled off rapidly, allowing more water to enter the boat. In fact, some of the holes have become bigger and much more dangerous.

Some reports indicate that the Captain’s initial reaction to the leaks was to concentrate all his efforts at demonizing, blaming and abusing his senior crew members, calling them “pumbavu” and “mavi ya kuku”. He also blamed them for either causing or allowing the political tsunami to strike the boat at an importune time, thereby interrupting his deep sleep. At other times, he accused senior members of his crew of sabotage, treason, lies and madness. Rumours have it that he even threatened to have them arrested, prosecuted, imprisoned or detained. Rather than radio for help and assist his strong crew members to shed the boat’s weight by dropping useless items that they do not need for their journey, the Captain has had his thoughts elsewhere.

If these reports are correct, it would suggest that the Captain is in denial. He would rather cast aspersions at his loyal and senior crew; calling them insurbodinate and claiming that they are responsible for the political foul weather, in stead of taking proactive steps to deal effectively with the numerous problems he is facing.

The good news is that those watching the tumbling boat from the shorelines – the ordinary person – no longer believes the Captain’s excuses. They showed this very clearly when the political tsunami first recently struck.

In the midst of the imbroglio over his announcement of what he termed a “reorganized government”, our Captain, president Kibaki, has maintained his arrogant silence; choosing to retreat deeper inside his leaking boat rather than call for help. In fact, it appears as if the Captain has even refused to allow anyone else near or inside his sinking boat to radio for help. From all indications, the radio, telephone and other communications equipment are sound.

Although the ODM Rescue and Destroyer Ship is reportedly moored nearby, and its leading crew have indicated both their willingness and ability to rescue the sinking Kibaki boat, Kibaki is reportedly refusing to allow them on board in order for them to help. Many are now wondering whether Kibaki suffers from a unique tropical ailment called “political suicidal delusional ideation.”

Apparently, the most common symptoms of political suicidal delusional ideation are:

 Reclusive ness - or otherwise called aloofness or being suspiciously laid back with one’s ears, eyes and brains turned off most, if not all the time;

 Proclivity to show overbearing blind affection to loyalty, concentrated power and tribal kinship over any other human values;

 Promoting, encouraging and perpetuating tribalism, regionalism and the “divide and conquer” syndrome;

 Disrespect to the ordinary person or the ordinary person’s views, especially those who are economically poor, homeless, unemployed and those that do not belong to golf clubs;

 Disrespect for mutual agreements, MOUs, political entities, structures and parties;

 Disrespect for the rule of law, separation of powers, multi-party democracy, and the principle of coalition government and collegial leadership;

 Inability or refusal to keep any promises;

 The tendency to make unilateral, dictatorial and arbitrary decisions even on important matters affecting the nation;

 Tolerating, encouraging, promoting, perpetuating or refusing to combat corruption;

 Total, flagrant and persistent wastage and misuse of public resources; and

 The inability or failure to widely and broadly consult on all important matters that affect the nation.

According to those knowledgeable in this specialized area of political-medicine, the disease is catastrophic but otherwise treatable if detected early and the patient follows through with a rigorous treatment regime that involves, first and foremost, the relinquishment of all sources of stress, in particular, those of a political nature, and that he or she completely exorcised and cleansed of all the aforementioned symptoms.

Secondly, the patient must also agree to register, attend and pass a political-reorientation program involving courses such as good governance; respect for the people’s popular will or wishes; expiation of all past misdeeds such as land grabbing, corruption, human rights violations; and unilateral tendencies. The patient must also go through a course geared towards freeing them of all tribal or regional animus.

And finally, the patient must be bonded and physically chained to a plaque containing a Solemn Declaration, in which he undertakes to obey, be faithful to and be perpetually bound by all verbal and written contracts; MOUs; a people-driven constitution; court orders or judgments; principles of coalition government and multi-party democracy.

Should the patient choose to disobey any of these prescribed treatments or any term of the Solemn Declaration, he or she shall be banned from ever holding public office and forfeiting all his or her life’s worth. Essentially, the patient permits to be bonded to be chaste in all maters requiring personal and public trust, faith, confidence and integrity.

President Kibaki’s boat is fatally damaged. It has been rocking, swerving and tilting in shark-infested waters in bad weather for sometime. The boat cannot be safely rescued at this time. The suspension of parliament will not prevent the inevitable. Under the circumstances, the only option left is to let the boat sink.

______________________________________________________________________

*The writer is a Barrister & Solicitor in Toronto, Canada

[politicalmaniac]

well put

[job]

Miguna,

It is fast capsizing indeed.

Here's a reflection from the Nairobi correspondent of The Financial Times of London, take note of John Githongo's blunt and STINGING comments.


Kibaki loses credibility as politicians decline posts
*****************************************
By Andrew England in Nairobi

Published: December 8 2005 16:20 | Last updated: December 8 2005 16:20
************************************************************

The Kenyan government was lurching towards a deepening political crisis on Thursday after at least two politicians selected as ministers and over a dozen others named as assistant ministers declined to take up their appointments.

It was a further embarrassment to Mwai Kibaki, the increasingly isolated president, who had announced the appointments on Wednesday, two weeks after dismissing all his ministers following a humiliating defeat in a referendum on a new constitution.

The new cabinet was supposed to be more “cohesive”. But the rejections, attributed to Mr Kibaki’s failure to consult widely with political groups, illustrated massive political divisions, the dramatic decline in the president’s credibility and the weakness of his governing coalition.

Analysts said there were various possible outcomes: a lame duck presidency leading up to 2007 elections, a snap ballot, which some believe is unlikely because few rank-and-file parliamentarians would willingly relinquish their lucrative jobs two years early, or an attempt by the president genuinely to reach out to his opponents.

“What he’s shown is he’s refused to learn from everything that’s gone wrong in his presidency,” said Macharia Gaitho, managing editor of the Sunday Nation newspaper.
“It’s similar to what happened just ahead of the 2002 elections when people deserted (former President Daniel arap) Moi.

Politicians are jumping from a sinking ship, but now it’s happening two years before elections are due.”

When announcing the new line up, Mr Kibaki said the cabinet would be better placed to deliver services. But rather than taking the opportunity to select a fresh-looking team, the president - who seems increasingly out of touch with Kenyans’ aspirations - mostly re-appointed former ministers, surrounding himself with ageing veterans and other allies, many from his Kikuyu tribe and affiliated tribes.

“It’s astonishing. What’s sad is the arrogance it communicates to Kenyans. The arrogance of a small group of people predominantly from one part of the country who seem to believe they have a God-given right to rule and loot,” John Githongo, a former government official who resigned in February over the government’s failure to tackle graft, told The Financial Times.

The president’s most significant move was to dispense with seven former ministers who joined forces with the opposition to campaign against the proposed constitution, which Mr Kibaki, 74, had backed.

But that was no great shock given the rifts in the previous cabinet, and it was a move that would do little to appease frustrated Kenyans who overwhelmingly supported the “No” campaign.

Of those who cast ballots in the November 21 referendum, 57 per cent voted “No,” causing Mr Kibaki to sack his cabinet two days later. Parliament was also prorogued until March.

The referendum was widely seen as a protest vote against the president’s leadership and his faltering administration, which took office three years ago, ending the notoriously corrupt 39-year rule of the Kenya African National Union party.

Then, there was a wave of euphoria amid promises of reform and zero-tolerance towards the systemic corruption that devastated eastern Africa’s largest economy.
But despite improvements in some sectors, many Kenyans have become increasingly disillusioned with continued poverty, allegations of high-level graft and a political system still driven by patronage and greed.

When he fired his ministers, many saw it as an opportunity to start afresh. But the only significant sacrifice he made was not to re-appoint Chris Murungaru, a close ally tarnished with corruption allegations.

news.ft.com/cms/s/3bfb90c0-6806-11da-bfce-0000779e2340.html

[miguna]

Job & politicalmanic:

True. God-given right to rule & loot! Githongo is the second Kenyan patrick coming from the Mount Kenya slopes I am hearing that from in one year. A colleague from that region once told me that this is the main stumbling block to Kenya's cohesion. We have to stumpt it out completely - the sooner, the better.

Peace. [unedited]
-Miguna