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Post by Onyango Oloo on Sept 22, 2005 21:56:39 GMT 3
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Post by Onyango Oloo on Sept 23, 2005 0:44:45 GMT 3
it is a commentary on the use of state resources and the prospects of a NAK led civilian coup. we have also added some new pictures. i have just added a couple of words on whether or not civil servants should be partisan.
Onyango Oloo
Toronto
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Post by Onyango Oloo on Sept 23, 2005 2:17:10 GMT 3
To Onyango Oloo -- Flying Oranges, etc.
From: Karl - karlrichard@hotmail.com Thu, Sep 22, 6:42 PMDear OO:Thank you for sharing your article on the constitutional review process. It was very interesting and worth reading. (I might also mention, for those who generally attack your writings on personal and stylistic grounds, that it is much more concise relative to many of your articles and makes its limited number of points without much digression, and is worthwhile in that sense.) For any who may be interested, here is a link that will take you directly to the article (thanks to "-"). kenya.rcbowen.com/talk/index.cgi?action=Article&article=11775&start=1&limit=50I want briefly to comment on the points you make, which seem to me to boil down to Two: (1) Presently, political debate in Kenya is overly violent; and (2) The "Wako draft" should be rejected because it is a product of the evils created during colonial and neo-colonial Kenya. And in doing so, I want briefly to describe one way in which I think every reasoning Kenyan should approach his/her decision on the referendum. It has been my intention to analyze carefully the proposed "Wako draft" and share my thoughts on this board, but it is taking me a good deal longer than I anticipated because I have been much busier on other matters, and it is a more challenging exercise than I anticipated, so I am not ready to share my thoughts because I have not completed my analysis. (1) On your first point -- about violence in the process, I agree with you. The violence that is being reported is too much. Rungus, pangas and throwing fruit and vegetables is very disappointing and damaging to Kenya. Every reasonable Kenyan and friend of Kenya will condemn it.However, I do not agree with your explication of the causes of the violence: the legacy of violent behavior from colonialism and neo-colonialism. Certainly you have some points -- there is something to such a legacy -- but I firmly believe the current violence comes from somewhere else, namely the feeling and fact of powerlessness among many of the poor and poorly educated young people, who are unfortunately left behind spiritually and economically, and are being manipulated by unscrupulous leaders lacking wisdom or character. Our difference may derive from the fact that you view these forces from a Marxist-Leninist perspective, and I do not. ( 2) On your second point, I do not express an opinion on whether or not the "Wako draft" should be accepted or rejected, and I will not do so even after my analysis is done. It is not my place to do so as a non-Kenyan. However, I disagree that one should come to an opinion YES or NO based on the idea that the "Wako draft" is a product of imperialism, colonialism or neo-colonialism.
Instead, I believe a decision should be based on a hard-headed consideration of what will be better for Kenya if the proposed constitution passes or if it does not pass. That kind of hard-headed consideration is mostly pragmatic, not ideological. It demands that one try one's best to understand the legal and political differences, for Kenya and Kenyans, if the vote is YES versus NO. This, in turn, depends to a great extent (though not entirely) on comparison of the proposed constitution with that currently in effect, and whether the proposed constitution wisely and effectively reflects the expressed needs of the people, throughout the last three or four years of the constitutional review process, better than keeping the current constitution in place. I still hope soon (in a week or two) to finish my review of the Wako draft, and to compare the Bomas draft and the current constitution, and point out my view of the differences. Even though I will not express a YES or NO opinion, such an analysis will, hopefully, be beneficial. It will be from someone who has the advantage of not being for or against any particular individuals or parties, but only for trying to understand what seems to me to be the best for Kenya and Kenyans. Before closing, I want to thank those others (e.g. "") who have shared thoughts or directed my attention to worthwhile articles on the review. I have been reading them and appreciate the sharing. Sincerely, Karl
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