Deciphering a political situation in Africa is like taking a New Year resolution, no matter how much you try, or how hard you try, you will lose it at the end.

Africa is reminiscent of making a New Year Resolution, I swear, I had never kept one. Last year, I was so positive that I had finally got things under control, but boom the moment I closed the door behind me, got to the lobby of my apartment complex, stopped for a cup of coffee which the complex offers free every morning. Instead of one, I ended up getting two cups which I gulped before even getting to the car. What reason can I give for such a behavior? Greed! Greed! Greed! Yes, GREED! Is the problem with Africa . Whenever we think Africa is progressively heading to the right direction, bang, danger and destruction start loitering around and hitting the continent hard. None is excluded from this danger, from the remotest parts of the nation to the most sophisticated cities, are hit with economic malnutrition to poor educational system, non-existence of medical health care to under-developed infrastructure, or functioning electricity, worst hit is a doomed political system. Talking about political system, will there ever be a time when any African nation will hold a free and fair election (with exception of South Africa at least for now). Look around Africa, from Nigeria to Niger, Chad to Cameroon, Gambia to Gabon, Zambia to Zimbabwe and now Kenya , election results have always been depressing.

 Kenya , the once most stabilized democracy in Africa, has also joined the bandwagon race of political violence and brutality. I am just wondering if Africa is cursed, if so, by whom and who will save us from ourselves? What is happing in Kenya today is unforgivable, a power struggle between two powerful political bedfellows who were once partners for democratic change are now the cause of death to over 500 hundred poor innocent ordinary Kenyans. I will tell you right now that most probably few if any of the victims are family members of these politicians at the helm of cruelty. It is as always order from above. How can their children and families be victimized when they are either cozying overseas or living extravagantly in the best cities. You know why? Because they are the untouchables, no storm touches them even though their fathers started the tornado.

 But alas, the poor, oh brother, the poor, the men and women and children these leaders claim to protect and yet let them die like flies at the hands of wielders of machetes. How can that happen? In this tragic situation, the wounded lion, political opposition leader, Raila Odinga , is portraying himself as the messiah, who has come to save Kenya . At the opposite end is President Mwai Kibak , who sees himself as the messiah already at work. And as such takes no order from any one but him. If he cannot show that he cares for his subjects at these trying moments for Kenyans, when will he do that? Honestly, my suggestion would be an impartial interim government to take over while peaceful mediation is being negotiated. If anything can stop these senseless killings, then let the two Ogas do it now and talk about power later

 In any country, one of the major job descriptions for any head of state is to maintain peace and order. Peace within and peace outside, it does not matter whether that country is hit by UFO or crazy religious fundamentalists, or worst by ethnic rivalries. At this point, Kenyans would like Kibaki to find a way out of their present predicament. Failing to do so, raises doubts about his leadership qualities and competence.

 I know Africa has been written off politically long time ago as bad news. What is happening in Kenya is not really news; it is old bad news as usual from Africans doing the thing they know best; killing themselves. But this has to stop. A political crisis of the worst kind is hammering all around the country and the ‘champions of the champion-less are doing nothing to halt it. Instead of working towards peace, the government is consolidating power and forming a cabinet of ministers on the one hand, and the opposition, on the other hand, is organizing rallies against such actions.

 In my opinion, Kibaki should step down and give peace a chance. And with respect to Odinga, I would say there is not much difference between him and Kibaki in this regard. While the incumbent President is busy consolidating power and forming his cabinet ministers, the Orange Democratic Movement Opposition Leader is busy equally organizing national rallies that might claim more lives so he can become the President, of whom---the dead? Where is the decency in violent politics? Courts of law supposedly were instituted for cases like this sort. If Odinga and his party members feel there is some kind of political malpractice, why not seek judicial redress so that democracy is practiced on a dependable and viable manner, instead of taking it on the streets of Kenya pitying one ethnic group against the other. Unfortunately, as they say in East Africa , when two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers.

 If Odinga, who parades himself as the voice of the poor is committed to his words and really cares about the Kenyans, then let him stop the ethnic-cleansing that is gradually turning Kenya into Rwanda . Regardless of how one feels about the situation, Kibaki is the President of the Federal Republic of Kenya. Why can’t he do something to quell the human carnage that is going on? If he is powerless to do any thing, he is likewise powerless to be the leader.

 For Christ ’s sake, Kenya is at the brink of collapse because of the power struggle between two powerful political leaders whose political careers make strange bedfellows. At one time they shared common interest against former President Daniel Arap Moi . Yet, when they captured the spoils from the then ruling party led by Jomo Kenyatta ’s son, Uhuru Kenyatta , they broke ranks and went their separate ways. The root cause of this political imbroglio is the personal rivalry between these two men and their allies and the lack of political sincerity among them. When the two men shared common interest against former President Moi , their personal careers underscored the ironies and paradoxes that combine to make their political biographies milestones around the necks of Kenyans. Truth be told, Kibaki was in the parliament of Kenya for almost forty three years. During this period he served as Minister of Finance, Vice President and now President. He was in the party of Jomo Kenyatta as a parliamentarian; he served under President Moi as his Vice President but later fell out with him. While serving under President Moi he served as a Kikuyu defender of President Moi , the Kelenjin, against Odinga Odinga , the Luo leader and the father of Raila Odinga . From this narrative you can see the pattern of political conflict between Kibaki and Raila. He was used under Moi as a Kikuyu against the Luo challenge to a Kalenjin leadership under Moi.

 This role was played by Mr. Kibaki as Vice President and Charles Njonjo as Attorney General. These men were part of the Moi’s Kikuyu supporters who facilitated Moi’s tenure. But while this arrangement worked, it went against the interest of the political dreams and hopes of the Odinga family and their allies in Kenyan political opposition. One of the ironies of history is the fact that when Kibaki went into the opposition he found the children of Odinga Odinga as partners and allies in opposition. Real or imagined, during this period in the opposition he tried twice for the presidency and failed. He succeeded only when other opposition forces including Raila Odinga , joined him in his campaign against the successor of Moi. One could make the case that Kibaki came to the presidency because when he mobilized the dissident Kikuyu alongside the other dissatisfied Kenyan tribal groups, he commanded a dangerous alliance. Uhuru Kenyatta could not do to him what former President Moi was able to do to his opposition.

 Being a Kikuyu the odds against the Kikuyu were less serious and dangerous than a victory for another Kenyan from another tribe. I believe this was the political calculations in 2002 when he came to power. For many Kikuyus it did not matter when Uhuru or Kibaki was in power. So long as one of them helped retain Kikuyu influence the better. At that time in 2002 Kibaki was the best bet because Uhuru was widely hated by other ethnic groups and any attempt for him to keep power would have been more deathly than now. In this particular instance the Kikuyus are united behind Kibaki. This explains the gravity of the present situation.

 As I stated above, once upon a time Kibaki , the opposition leader, found in the son of his former rival, Ojinga Odinga , a useful Luo tool for political agitation against Moi or Uhuru Kenyatta . This was particularly relevant in the 2002 elections when Kibaki promised young Odinga the job of Prime Minister. This promise was never kept and the political wounds we now notice came from that act of betrayal. The failure in negotiation goes back to the lack of sincerity and trust. According to news reports, over 500 hundred people have been killed and 250,000 displaced in ethnical/ political violence.

These leaders are worried about clinging to power, but not about the death of hundreds of human lives wasted. Let’s face it, both Kibaki and Odinga are professing as saviors of the Kenyans. If I am right in my assessments of things then why are they not willing to do something to stop violence? My take is that none of them is in reality interested in the people; their concentration is on who is to have the highest realm of power. What we are witnessing in Kenya today is just what happened during the colonial time, politics of divide and rule. The irony is that Kibaki knows the risks of political opposition and political success through political agitation and potential violence; the paradox is the fact that his own political life is a living contradiction of the marriage between political deception and political sincerity. The old adage still holds: “There is no honor among thieves.” What a shame for Kenya and Africa

You can email the author @enmbachu@vowac.org

Robot  Villager

# 1 var sbtitle8979=encodeURIComponent(The Last Di...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 17.01.2008 20:52