President Mwai Kibaki today named a new cabinet at State House Nairobi. He was accompanied by Hon Raila Odinga, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kenya.
Kenyans must now turn to the delicate task of service delivery.
It is important to note that all those who have been so named as ministers, will serve the Government of Kenya, not their respective parties.
Focus must now turn immediately in solving and addressing the issue of those of our colleagues who were displaced in the internal strife that followed the stolen elections.
I am all the more happy that Hon Mutula Kilonzo has been made the Minister for Citi Hoppa Affairs, and I want to look at how he will resolve the pain those from the east of Nairobi undergo as they are dumped along Jogoo Road every morning as they go to work.
The new government must as a matter of urgency take the reform route, reforms that will ensure we have equitable distribution of services and resources across Kenya.
Besides the issue of IDPs, we want reforms at the Judiciary. This is the one singular institution that has powered all the forces of corruption in Kenya. It must be overhauled, and men who believe in law appointed to run it.
As currently constituted, Judiciary is staffed with people who pay homage to their political god fathers, and not to the law. Respect to the laws of the land must be reinvented. Only then will Kenya be able to fight corruption successfully.
The new government must also as a matter of urgency address the escalating cost of living. Prices of essential commodities have gone way beyond the reach of the common man. Measures must be put in place to mitigate the plight of this group of people.
The cost of farm inputs is also soaring. And the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon Ruto, must come up with measures that will bring succour to the oppressed.
Many Kenyan fishermen have suffered at the hands of Uganda Police for so long. Immediate attention must now be made to address their plight.
Our roads are in tatters, and the new government must as a matter of urgency build the link to Western Kenya. We must not have any more excuses.
Corruption has been a major handicap to the Government of Kenya. Immediate attention must be made to address all issues of past and present cases of corruption. In so doing, we must not play ping pong games chasing after the wind.
We all know who was behind Goldenberg, Anglo Leasing. They must be prosecuted and jailed and reparations made. With a Judiciary in place that pays homage to the law, this is possible.
Nairobi is home to a housing crisis. Immediate measures must be put in place to address the issue of adequate and spacious housing units for Kenyans. The issue of 7 storey housing units that do not comply with the by-laws of Nairobi City Council must be addressed as a matter of urgency.
In short, we must start the work of building Kenya. Not politicians using our offices to build themselves.
Odhiambo T Oketch
Komarock Nairobi
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Date: Sun, 13 Apr 2008 09:07:32 -0700 (PDT)
From: odhiambo okecth
Subject: Can we now work?