Kenyans can put politics of tribe to an end

By Mohamed Wato

Political news in Kenya is practically replacing satire comedies.

It gets comical when political campaigns are reduced into a sort of brokerage where the currency of trade is tribe. How do people feel when leaders are putting their tribes on the table in order to form government of Kenya - Isn’t this madness?

We can waste opportunity for political transformation at this rate where politics is degenerating into trivia. The political realignment taking place shows that political leaders have serious deficits in terms of values and fundamental beliefs. The behaviour they have shown is condescending for candidates seeking to lead a great nation like Kenya. 

The people of Kenya have a responsibility to exercise their democratic rights to install responsible leadership needed to transform the nation.

 Kenya is facing multiple challenges that must be tackled so as to improve the people’s standards of living. The new Government will need intellectual and strategic capacity to actualise the benchmarks of vision 2030. It must have a workable plan to protect the people, to create employment, to stimulate and grow the economy and meet development objectives.

So far, with little time left before elections, no party with exception of Peter Kenneth’s, shaky attempts have come forward with significant plans to address Kenya’s urgent needs.

Making reference to past Moi regime is not a pleasant sound bite to many people, but his philosophy of peace, love, and unity needs to be rekindled before our people can be read from the same page, to discuss matters of national development. 

Ethnic calculus and interpolations cannot be the solutions to the reforms of the future.

The advent of infamous forces such as the Al-shabaab terrorists, the MRC, or the dreaded Mungikis’ is a symbol of decaying society and actually, the event of post-election violence was a signature of our social disintegration.

The March 4^th election has two major implications. It will serve as a referendum for national unity and progress and secondly, present an opportunity for a rebirth where new Kenya establishes on the foundation of a new Constitution.

With the commencement of voter registration, the people of Kenya have the controls. Where they will steer the nation is what remains to be seen.

The writer is a Retired Army Major and author of 'Walking a Tight Rope amidst Kenya post-election Violence'.

[email protected]