In a few weeks, I am going to unveil what I think is a pragmatic plan to bring about change in Kenya and involve the masses in the political process. In the meantime, if you have any ideas on what you think needs to happen in Kenya to move the country forward, please send an email to future4kenya@gmail.com.
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2 comments:
The Kriegler and Waki and Ndungu reports have laid out what fundamentally needs to happen in Kenya. Note I have not (and will not) mentioned Prof. Alston's report.
So I think we should not dwell too much on the content of reforms seeing that suggestions by Ndungu, Waki and Kriegler are okay. We should focus on the HOW part as that's the sticky point.
We now have learnt that periodic elections are not the answer. The elected folks dont behave the way we want them, besides by the time the 5 year cycle is upon us we dont vote based on performance but rather on expectation, moreover the portfolio of issues is so large that it becomes difficult to vote rationally (Tuju's a case in point).
We have also learnt that the media cannot be relied upon. They have an agenda that does not include us but instead includes some kind of collusion with the political elite. They fell out late last year but are well on their way to mending fences. Just look at what makes headlines. We dont make the headlines, the political elite do. The only time we get the media eye is when we are starving or killing each other. They barely notice the everyday things we do that are hopeful, like peacebuilding (unless runburger is present), like constructing lives and livelihoods under extreme conditions, and all the brilliant little inovations....Nope--their work is to create, fan and to disseminate hatred.
Alas, our unhelpful and schizophrenoid 'civil' society, merits little mention as their allegiance is nicely split between Lindner, Runtheburger and that guy from the UK on one side and our very own political elite on the other. We, the people, are not in the picture--it is about fattening their paychecks, greasing politicians' sweaty palms and making headlines. Self-serving!
My point is becoming clear, no? The how part will most productively be a citizen's movement, unadulterated by the above mentioned three groups and likely drawing from Atwoli's outfit. It will be non-violent, democratic, focused. It will be well planned for success. Many such movements gain salience in times such as we have in Kenya rigt now. However, they also need a window of opportunity and some strong leadership. A window of opportunity is nicely opening up--see the conversation between Dalmas Otieno and Atwoli. The later may also not be a bad leader too. We have a great opportunity to turn the tables on the current political elites and we need to take it.
This may be off topic,
but can you post a video on your take with regards to the Mau forest issue and Mungiki on a killing spree issue?
most other blogs have given these two issues a wide bearth for political reasons.
thanx
Rose
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