Thursday, December 6, 2012

Progressive politicians, a serious let down to Kenyans

In all seriousness, this article's title should be "what if". Since December 4th, all i have been asking myself is a lot of what if's. What if the progressive forces came together like the retrogressive forces? What if the politicians had not watered down the integrity bill and the political parties act? What if Kenyans were not so stuck in the tribal ways? Since the formation of the current grand coalition, Kenyans have been looking forward to a chance to right the wrongs that happened in 2007-08. A chance to show that we are not animals that cant wait to butcher each other. And so as the next election date gets closer you can feel the excitement and the new found hope in the constitution driving kenyans to demand more and better from our ruling class. However, the coalitions created to bit the 4th of december deadline have dried up any hope of having a progressive leadership for the next 5 (May be 10) years. Im sure no kenyan needs me to justify my point, its all been laid out in black and white by the Uhuruto's and Railonzo's for us to see. So i ask, where are the progressive forces in politics? why aren't they forming coalitions to give kenyans an alternative? The answer is simple, they are not as progressive as we all thought and are more concerned about holding on to their political party positions than give kenyans an alternative. Im talking to Martha Karua, Peter Kenneth, James ole Kiyapi, and Raphael Tuju. Surely if the greedy old guards can find a common ground to agree on i dont see why you who in my opinion are our last hope cannot find a common platform through which to rally kenyans. Kenyans are stuck behind their tribal chiefs because no one has given them a better alternative. Which makes me wonder, did you join the presidential race to win or simply prepare the ground for 2017. Suddenly what Mutahi Ngunyi has been saying for months makes sense, that you joined the race to build your profiles ahead of the 2017 election. In that case make it clear so that we get on with the business of voting for the lesser evil. But as you do that, please know that in 2017 Kenyans will remember that when we needed you the most, you all sat tight and protected your own tuff. Prof Kiyapi has come out guns blazing to demonize the coalition building dismissing it as being empty of any ideology. Prof, most of Kenyans agree with you 100% but we also know that you going it alone will not dent the so called evil coalitions even for a bit. What the four of you are doing is dividing the much needed progressive votes that would have otherwise made a statement to the status quo of this country. All said and done, i will vote for one of you and so will many other desperate kenyans. But as we do that, please note that you are making the work of those trying to sway the votes away from the old guard very difficult. If only your love and commitment to see a different kenya would trump your need to be the head of your political parties? What if you all joined one party instead of creating a coalition since we have run out of time for that? Its not too late, i beseech you as a very concerned Kenyan, do something NOW.