BY KIRATU KAMUNYA
We are indisputably in the election season! In some other parlance, this season would be called the silly season. This is the time for political intrigues to play out in the eyes of everyone who wields a voter’s card. Political operatives will fall over each other in a bid to win voters to their respective sides.
Granted that our country is aligned to democratic ideals like holding elections at regular intervals, it is both permissible and desirable for politicians to drum up support during campaigns. But since most of the voters are susceptible to political deception, it is vital to warn voters.
Every one hopes that the IEBC will quickly put its house in order as soon as possible and embark on one of its most critical mandates – voter education – together with other key players.
A good example to exemplify the nature of political stunts during campaigns is the ongoing whistle-stop tours by ODM to the homes of carefully selected national heroes.
The whole idea is to cast ODM as party which cares for the plight of the forgotten icons of our society who made contributions one way or the other in the assembly of our homeland. However, on scratching beneath the surface, certain glaring facts about the party will open the eye of the voter to see the real motivation of ODM’s sudden fondness for national heroes.
To begin with, senior ranking officials of the party have served in Government for many years. How have they participated in addressing the plight of our national heroes?
Members of the family of one of the late heroes were quoted the other day expressing a sigh of relief that finally, senior Government officials had paid them a visit since his assassination.
This was in reference to senior ODM figures present during the tour, some of who are serving in Government or have served it in the past.
Inexorably, a thinly veiled attack was being directed at the party as well.
Poisoned chalice
For ODM, it was an opportunity to apologise for individual and collective failures but instead the party chose to take the credit. Unwittingly, the party was basking in the glory of a poisoned chalice.
Secondly, ODM has never moved or sponsored a Motion in Parliament to recognise our national heroes through material support. Some current members of the party are squarely to blame for frustrating efforts towards establishing a fund to support our national heroes in 2001. These members were then serving as members of either the defunct NDP or Kanu in the Eighth Parliament.
Former Rangwe MP Shem Ochuotho had moved a Motion in September of that year seeking to honour these heroes and heroines. In his Motion, he wanted the Government to set aside a Heroes Fund to help the families of the country’s heroes and heroines who as he argued at that particular time were languishing in abject poverty.
His Motion was, however, defeated by the combined efforts of Kanu and NDP at the time. Although Dr Ochuodho was himself a member of the National Development Party, the party had de-whipped him following his resolute opposition to the merger between Kanu and NDP.
Those are the hard facts!
A good number of members from the then Kanu and NDP are serving as members of the ODM. This begs the question, why do they find it important now to looking for heroes to recognise when they have always ignored themf?
If anything had been the matter with Dr Ochuodho’s Motion other than political expediency, another motion would have been brought in substitute to try and help our heroes and heroines.
No such Motion has been presented to Parliament since then apart from setting up a Hero’s Corner at Uhuru Park and renaming Kenyatta Day Mashujaa Day.
From the foregoing, it is safe to conclude that the need to play to the gallery is behind the current efforts by the party which also comes very late in the day.
Now that ODM is part of the government, what has the party done since formation of the coalition government to help our heroes?
Our national heroes should not be toyed with for political mileage and capital. As a nation, we need to come up with a comprehensive policy on how to treat members of our society who have made unique contribution and sacrifice in the building of our nation.
Ideals and values
This way, we shall ensure that the lime light is not shone on just the more prominent heroes but on everyone especially the thousands of champions who remain unsung because they lack enough political currency.
To politicians, famous heroes are always a big catch especially during campaigns which is very unfortunate and detestable.
A voter’s eye will have to be very discerning. Parties must parade concrete strategies and roadmaps on how to effectively deal with poverty in the country for all Kenyans irrespective of their status so that when it comes to our heroes, their poverty is no longer going to be a campaign selling point.
During its impromptu tours to the homes of current and former national champions, ODM has promised to make sure that mausoleums are built and institutions are named after our national champions if it wins in the next election. While this is laudable, the best way to recognise our heroes is to live their ideals and values.
The writer is a lawyer.
waitita@live.com
