Dear Sir/Madam,
Quite conspicuous in an otherwise bipartisanship speech by President Kibaki during the official opening of the fourth session of the tenth parliament was the statement “We must not politicize or personalize the fight against corruption.” It is this statement that has had experts differ sharply as to the precise meaning of these words.
Much as I may want to believe that the President was rebuking those implicated in graft for seeking protection in their ethnic turfs in order to avoid taking political responsibility for their acts of commission and omission, I am also cognizant of the fact that this statement may in itself be a direct admission by the president of his drooling inability to tackle the snowballing corruption in the country. His much touted hands- off approach that had him hitherto heavily criticized may have apparently become a safe haven to his erstwhile political foes now turned bosom allies.
But perhaps a more convincing explanation would be that the president deliberately directed flak at the Prime Minister that was carefully designed to keep him off balance. This would not be strange. It is an undeniable fact that president Kibaki has never gotten over the 2007 sour grapes. It would therefore not be improbable were he to make it his sole preoccupation to torpedo the PM`s 2012 presidential ambitions knowing too well that revenge is a dish best served cold.
Why for instance, would a president whose seven years presidency has been punctuated by stunning inaction and dead silence in fighting graft suddenly find the voice to denounce the PM`s suspension of the Ministers implicated in graft followed hot on the heels with a fiery speech in parliament whose unmistakable intention was to lambast the PM? This could only be a testament to the fact that the President is least interested in converting his rhetoric on graft into action and that his sole obsession is to render the PM kaput politically. He would therefore not hesitate to pursue partisan interests in the guise of bipartisanship if only to spite the PM.
In order to forestall the PM`s ambitions, the president’s wild card, is apparently the triple “K” alliance that has the potential to offer a formidable challenge to the PM. On the face of it, this loaded statement could thus be nothing more than the ranting of a president whose intention is to protect this brood irrespective of whether it may be composed of those who are vile or corrupt to the core.
What could make it even more appealing to the President is the fact that some among this brood are more than willing to be used as stepping stones to the coveted presidency as long as they are assured that their muck will be evenly sheltered from the prying eyes of the public. Perhaps that could be the reason why the President wishes that the fight against graft remains as obscure as possible. It could also explain the rapturous foot thumping by a section of the legislators following the president’s unfortunate statement.
But as they glide and grin in this muck, perhaps the overriding question in the minds of many, is at what cost to the nation are those nursing such machinations willing to go in milking this country dry? I am sure that the President is not oblivious to the fact that it is this stance that is responsible for the suffering of the sea of humanity in this country. It is because of this that I beseech the president to let the will of the nation triumph.
TOME FRANCIS,
BUMULA.
http://twitter.com/tomefrancis
LEAVE BISHOP TUTU ALONE
Kenya Bishops, among whom Bishop Gitari is one, used to fall over one another in their challenge of President Moi. But all of a sudden Bishop Gitari has woken up to speak just as though he is a defender of justice in favour of wamnainchi this time round. Of course he seemed sincere when he used to challenge the atrocities of President Moi since the atrocities were real.
However, his silence since 2002 over the misgovernance of President Kibaki, corruption and impunity is strange. He seems to to be shamelessly moving goal posts just because President Moi was not one of ”their own”, to quote the Internal Security Minister John Michuki.
Corruption, impunity,and injustices, dear Bishop, remain the same irrespective of who is the President.
Minimum demands of any society is justice for all, equitable distribution of the national cake and respect for life of all citizens.
Archbishop Tutu in his challange of Bethwel Kiplagat,has done well in talking out in favor of justice for all Kenyans, and should be thanked rather than being told off. It is my humble understanding that a man of God should be an honest man before God and men.
Bethwel Kiplagat should stand aside, unless of course he knows something that we do not know. If we have rejected him, then for whom is he insisting to serve in the commission?
DR ODIDA OKUTHE