In 2003, we were voted the most optimistic people in the world. This was just after we had handed President Moi a clear defeat in the ballot.
President Moi, being the gentleman that he still is, handed over power so peacefully and the in-coming President Mwai Emilio Kibaki, told us at Uhuru Park in some thundering voice- corruption shall cease to be a way of life in Kenya, and the error of anything goes had ended.
That was then.
9 years down the line, where are we in as far as the fight against corruption is?
During his reign, and despite that promise, we have seen many scandals that have gone unpunished. We have seen him exercise the presidential prerogative on persons jailed for corruption, and now, we have seen him come out very openly in defense of corruption.
As Kenyans, what should be our stand in the current stand-off between the President and the Rt Hon Prime Minister on this matter of corruption? Should we support either based on our tribal inclinations? Or should we look at the vice as a cancer that must be rooted out for the benefit of posterity.
I tend to side with all those forces that are against corruption. I tend to believe that the buck stops with the President when it comes to eradicating corruption in Kenya. But for as long as he remains the main beneficiary of the same, for as long as he keeps protecting all those who are known to have embezzled funds in their Ministries, for as long as he will play it safe, corruption will not cease to be a way of life in Kenya, and the error of anything goes has surely not come.
It is incumbent upon all Kenyans to look at this vice in the eye and stump it out. We have the numbers and we can do it. It is also incumbent upon all journalists and political commentators to henceforth stop enjoining President Kibaki and Prime Minister Odinga in issues of success and failures. They must make it clear who has failed Kenyans where and how. No more Grand Coalition blame games. It is either Kibaki or Raila.
One man must not hold the stake and stature of all Kenyans across the world. We also need to walk tall amongst the other people of the world.
Odhiambo T Oketch
Proudly Kenyan