Njoki Karuoya

The last time I checked, I was still a Kikuyu, so I was very surprised when, during the weekend, Environment Minister John Michuki went on air to declare that we the Kikuyus have appointed Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta as our de facto tribal ‘president’.

In the same vein, he went on to threaten other Kikuyu leaders who harbour the ambition of being this country’s president, which made me wonder, what happened to that outfit whose mandate is to curtail hate speech?

When Michuki made his announcement, I looked at my people and asked: "Were you guys consulted about this decision?"

They all shook their heads. I, too, was not consulted when a group of frightened leaders huddled over tea and booze and came up with this declaration.

I have nothing against Uhuru Kenyatta, but I wonder why, if he wants to be a national leader, he sees it fit to run to his tribal cocoon to seek our approval. Is he not confident about his potential? Is that why he feels he must be pushed down our throats?

Move forward

If he is this kind of national leader, then he’s not what I want, Kikuyu or not. The days of roadside declarations like the one Michuki made last weekend are long gone — but you can’t really blame the old man; I guess he’s still stuck in those ‘good old days’.

Today, Kenyans are sharp and are not afraid to express their opinion. For most, the overriding desire is to see this country move forward, not backslide into a dark past.

I plan to choose my president based on what he/she has done thus far for this country, and not because a bunch of wazees say I should vote for him. I mean, we even have a new Constitution and the last thing we should be doing as Kenyans as think along tribal lines.

I will vote for a man or woman from any county in the Rift Valley, Coast or Western Kenya if he/she can prove to me they are able to deal with corruption, take us back to respecting the rule of law, and institute sustainable economic initiatives that will create wealth, especially among the poor, to get them out of their current desperate, destitute situations.

I want a leader whose track record shows they can reduce crime, fundraise to increase health care so that every Kenyan has access to medical attention, promote education, and has instituted affordable yet profitable economic initiatives, especially among the poor, that has helped create employment and jobs. The person must also believe in equal treatment of men, women boys and girls.

Every time I try to pinpoint initiatives that Uhuru has done on his own initiative to take us forward as a country, I come up short.

So he compelled Government officials and Cabinet ministers to give up their luxury cars for Passats — has this really translated into wealth for the poor? I don’t think so. But yes, some people/companies made good money from the deal, but it had nothing to do with the poor and it didn’t improve our GDP one iota.

Budget priorities

What about prioritisation of the Budget to ensure the poor benefit most from our hard-earned tax? Again, Uhuru comes up short. Yes, he read a good Budget Speech, but how is the implementation of that coming along?

We all know Uhuru comes from a wealthy and prestigious family, which would mean he has incredible resources at his disposal to transform the lives of poor Kenyans. Has he done that?

Sadly, I associate Uhuru more with politicking than with real development. If he wants me and other Kikuyus to accept him as a tribal chieftain, then he has to pull up his socks.

If he wants to be accepted as a national, formidable leader, then he has to seriously rethink his strategies and step up his game, with the first move being to walk away from the tribal cocoon he is trying so hard to wrap himself in at the expense of other leaders whom he is annoying with his incessant engineering to be declared a tribal kingpin.

Yet again, this ruse might very well work against him.

Let all people, irrespective of tribe, wishing to lead this country be free to express their political ambitions. If specific tribes want to choose chieftains, let them call for referendums (to the amusement of other tribes) and fight it out for the public vote, including mine, fair and square.

Otherwise they should climb down from their high horses and get their hands dirty by mixing with the people, listening to them.

That is the leader we as Kenyans want.