Let’s not ignore Matiba at this hour
Sometimes back, it was reported that Prime Minister Raila Odinga, in company of his wife Ida and Land minister James Orengo, visited the veteran politician Kenneth Matiba at his Jadini Hotel in Diani.
The leaders shared their experience recalling the sufferings, which they underwent during the clamor for multi-party democracy. Raila was upbeat after the family members briefed him that the ailing politician was responding well to treatment and was on the path to a full recovery.
The premier was on a whirlwind campaign tour of Coast when he visited the politician. Given Matiba’s history, I am sure the majority of Kenyans were also happy to receive the good news. That was in February.
Notably, as a leading light in the struggle for multi-party democracy, Matiba was among those arrested and detained without trial on July 4, 1990, three days before the bloody Saba Saba rally. Despite the arrests, plans for a rally at Kamukunji grounds that had already been declared illegal by police proceeded. The police had warned those who attend would do so at their own peril. Come the day of the rally, 20 Kenyans were shot dead. While in detention Matiba suffered a stroke, a problem that he has since been battling with.
Matiba was detained alongside Charles Rubia and Raila after they declined to drop their demand for political pluralism and instead sustained their campaigns. At the time, the leaders blamed the Government for standing in way of reforms and being the root causes of the woes Kenyans were facing. They argued it was difficult to address the challenges because the country was under single party dictatorship.
Way forward
So the way forward was to instal a new system of governance that was rooted on freedoms of expression, speech, association and movement. It is good to note the sacrifices Matiba and others made were not in vain. We are today reaping the fruits of what they sowed.
Soon after he was released, a frail looking Matiba was flown out of the country for specialised medical treatment in London. Ever since, he has been in and out of the hospitals with reports indicating he was advised by his doctors to keep away from politics and stop engaging on what would strain his brain.
Hour of need
Granted, it is painful to note Matiba is not only battling with his ill health, he is also struggling to save his business empire. Sometimes back, disturbing reports appeared in the media that plans were underway to auction Riara Group of Schools, associated with him, to recover a loan he owed a bank.
This raises questions in my mind. Why has the Kibaki regime kept mum as Matiba property is being targeted? Why would the Government, which owes its existence to the reforms Matiba championed, desert him in his hour of need? This is selfishness.
As a matter of fact, we know most of those enjoying the fruits of second liberation were either corroborators, anti-reformers or fence sitters.
For me, if the current leaders believe in the reforms the country has so far realised, it is time they should reconsider their stand on this matter. In so doing, one would hope they would appreciate the gallant role Matiba and others played. He made great sacrifices not to benefit himself but to lay the firm foundation for the current generation and generations to come.
A few days ago the country commemorated the 22nd Saba Saba day. In Murang’a, the residents marked the day in a special way. They held peaceful processions during which they called on the Government to break its silence on Matiba’s health. The youthful protesters alleged the veteran politician’s health was deteriorating.
If our Government truly believes in reforms, why would it forsake Matiba who led a popular rebellion that culminated in 2002 regime change?
{Joseph Mutua, Nairobi}
Why we can’t wait to see Kismayu captured
News of our defence forces planning to take the port of Kismayu before August is exhilarating. This assault, should, indeed, take place before African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom) completely swallows the KDF.
The move to join Amison is probably political and not necessarily influenced by military considerations. Amison has been lethargic; for the last six years or so, they have very little to show for their pain. They have not even been able to effectively control Mogadishu itself.
Yes, financially, Kenya might benefit in the long run, but the aim of Operation Linda Nchi was to rid Kenya of the irritating activities of the Al Shabaab terrorists.
Lately, there has been a series of grenade attacks in Kenya: the Machakos Country Bus Station, Mtwapa, Tononoka in Mombasa, the Assanands Music Store in Nairobi and the recent twin grenade attacks at churches in Garissa. The Garissa incident was pretty bloody with 17 people dying and scores injured. Then came the kidnapping of the foreign aid workers at the refugee camp of Dadaab. The foreigners were eventually rescued but a local driver lost his life.
All these incidents are most likely the work of Al Shabaab militiamen, some of whom are foreigners from outside Kenya and Somalia. Most of them sneak into the country through our porous border with Somalia, and the foreigners come into East Africa through the port of Kismayu. This points to the importance of taking Kismayu.
The benefits of taking and controlling Kismayu are monumental. It could cut off the nerve centre of Al Shabaab strategies focused in the East African region. The charcoal trade could also be minimised and this could encourage the reforestation of parts of Somalia. The illegal sugar smuggling into Kenya will be a thing of the past.
Rumours have it that the Minister for Defence, and now also acting minister for Internal Security, was constrained by some of his influential constituents to spare Kismayu to enable them continue with the smuggling business. This is unbelievable.
The war is being fought for the benefit of all the 42 million Kenyans and not necessarily meant to undermine the interests of North Eastern region.
{Concerned Kenyan, Via Email}
12 not ideal age to acquire national ID
Parliament should oppose a Bill seeking to change the age of acquiring national ID cards for new applicants. Currently, the age is 18 years but the Bill seeks to change it to 12.
Giving 12-year-olds national ID cards will give them a false impression they are now mature and capable of making independent decisions. This would be disastrous at the family level because, by all means, a 12-year-old cannot be independent.
Passing the Bill and making it law will also officially give the youngsters ‘permission’ to access places and information they otherwise could not as minors. Such places include the bar, clubs and disco and public cinema halls. They would also feel mature enough to access ‘adult movies’ which would bring them emotions they cannot control.
Though giving the youngsters IDs would ease a number of transactions including registration for mobile money transfer services and opening of bank accounts, 18 years remain the right age for one to own this important document.
{Omusolo Moses, Kisumu}
Resist temptations to religious rivalry
From the blasts that have rocked the country in the recent past, most Kenyans are gripped with fear and most may opt not to attend religious gatherings for fear of attacks.
However, the issue of inter-religion conflict should not arise since from the very onset, Kenyans have been living together harmoniously irrespective of their difference in religious stands. Leaders from political fronts should preach peace and avoid provocative statements that may fuel hatred among Kenyans.
Terrorism is an act everybody would condemn with every possible word.
{Salim Musa, Thika}
Self-styled reformists won’t fool the voter
Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka’s remarks that some leaders pretend to be reformers while their actions can’t justify what they claim to stand for aren’t far from the truth.
However, it is unfair for leaders to claim to be reformers but they do what is not expected of refomers. This is pretence and dishonest.
I join Kalonzo in telling leaders, including himself, to match their actions with what they publicly claim if their reform agenda has to be taken seriously.
We shall know them by their fruits and their words and deeds must reflect what they claim to be.
{John Kebut, Nakuru}
