From: Ouko joachim omolo
The News Dispatch with Omolo Beste
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2013
In Greek, a tyrant, ????????, tyrannos is not only a ruler of a cruel and oppressive character but a ruler who rules without law, looks to his own advantage rather than that of his subjects, and uses extreme and cruel tactics—against his own people as well as others”.
This is what we are celebrating today, the Mashuja (heroes) days. It begins with elections held in May 1963 where KANU won 83 seats out of 124, and on June 1, 1963 when Mzee Jomo Kenyatta became the first Prime Minister of a self-governing Kenya.
On December 12, 1964, Kenya officially became a Republic within the Commonwealth with Kenyatta as its first President. Kenyatta’s major stated goals were unity, economic prosperity, and restitution.
Kenyatta exercised almost complete control over the workings of government and did not tolerate dissent. Upon his re-election in 1966 he changed the constitution to extend his already far reaching executive powers.
He outlawed most opposition parties in 1969 establishing KANU as the only viable political party, essentially making Kenya a one-party state. He ran unopposed and was re-elected in 1974.
He died in office on August 22 1978 in Mombassa at the age of 89 without telling Kenyans why his government killed Gama Pinto, Tom Mboya and JM Kariuki and why. As we celebrate his hero today Kenyans have not gotten the answer.
Even after JM Kariuki was killed when he condemned the government of Kenyatta for having 10 millionaires and 10 million beggars, Kenyans continue to languish in poverty. No enough medical personnel, medicines, enough beds and food in government hospitals.
Although Kenyatta was a great man before he took over power but power corrupted him. Power did corrupt the great man that was Kenyatta to the extent that he could order the detention of Achieng Oneko with who he had served in Kapenguria and Odinga who had refused to form a government until the release of Kenyatta.
It was under Jomo that the Lancaster constitution was raped and amendments were made to increase the powers of the president. Kenyatta had the powers to order one to life and to death- he was the absolute.
Poverty is till the norm and so is ignorance, disease and tribalism. We give people jobs because they are our friends or belong to us, ethnic, region, woman friend, so name them. The impunity that saw the murderers of J.M Kariuki and Robert Ouko and Tom Mboya remain a mystery is the same that still reigns supreme.
Then here comes Daniel arap Moi. His dreaded torture machine was commonly referred to as the Special Branch and Mr Khwatenge, who worked with the agency. Anglican bishop Alexander Kipsang Muge was one of the many marked men in his government.
But Bishop Muge was not a man to take such threats.
He was committed to the justice he lived and died for and he believed in speaking the truth. Although his death was attributed by Moi government as normal, Mr Khwatenge, who worked in Eldoret at the time, says the theory of an ordinary accident was only a cover-up.
According to Mr Khwatenge, days before the bishop died, four Special Branch officers from Nairobi arrived in Eldoret with specific orders to “finish the bishop” who was becoming a thorn in the flesh for the Moi regime.
This is not to mention what you have already known about Wagalla massacre, Dr Robert Ouko’s assassination, ethnic classes, economic crimes among other evils. Yet still, Kenya has never reformed, so whose heroes are Kenyans celebrating?
Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
E-mail omolo.ouko@gmail.com
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Twitter-@8000accomole
Real change must come from ordinary people who refuse to be taken hostage by the weapons of politicians in the face of inequality, racism and oppression, but march together towards a clear and unambiguous goal.
-Anne Montgomery, RSCJ
UN Disarmament
Conference, 2002