The accompanying editorial cartoon today says quite a bit. It mocks the sweet-talking politicians who promise anything from the sun, the moon to the faraway stars. Above all, it is a red light, cautionary and even, potentially life-saving.
From mainstream media, the blogosphere, rumour-mills, places of worship, playgrounds and other public gatherings, we are daily bombarded by the sales pitch of one or other politician. Obviously, their only quest is power to control the acquisition and flow of resources. But even with this intimate and insider knowledge, voters still tend to be left holding the short end of the stick.
Automatic candidate
No amount of pre-election civic education has made a dent as voters keep recycling the same leaders to public office. Kenyans went a step further and wove into the new Constitution clauses that will lock aspirants in an integrity wind tunnel.
This, however, might just change soon following release of a picture book containing photos of Constituency Development Fund (CDF) projects in constituencies of presidential aspirants. Compiled by a non-governmental organisation the photographs are about the (mis(use) of CDF on projects in constituencies represented by eight leading presidential aspirants, it is titled The CDF Spotlight – the pleas of constituents to presidential aspirants, contains pictures of projects in eight constituencies, which presidential aspirants represent in Parliament.
As the National Taxpayers Association book also indicates the amount of money allocated to these projects in Gichugu, Gatundu South, Mwingi North, Sabatia, Langata, Eldoret North, and Gatanga represented by Musalia Mudavadi, Martha Karua, Uhuru Kenyatta, Kalonzo Musyoka, Raila Odinga, William Ruto, Eugene Wamalwa, and Peter Kenneth, a pertinent question is whether these presidential aspirants have been unfairly targeted.
We think not. They have offered to serve as this country’s next chief executive officer and therefore, their development record is an automatic candidate for scrutiny. If such examination is conducted across the board, then Kenyans can start getting the leaders they deserve. CDF is as good a gauge as any.
