Time to engage in fresh politics and break from the past is now

By Odera Outa

In his chart-bursting book, Audacity of Hope, US President Barack Obama tells of the gripping account of what inspired his entry into the politics.

It was something to do with a burning desire for a ‘new type’ of political ethos to replace the old ‘shenanigans’ of Washington.

He recalls his dramatic experience as a first time senator sitting and watching the traditional politicians go into the ‘business as usual’ mode in 2003, completely unnerved by a world literally crumbling beneath their feet.

In so many ways, Kenyan politicians need to ask the same fundamental questions that galled President Obama.

Can we try out a new type of political ethos? Can we give our children a fresh start, a fresh approach? Can, we give Kenyans what former President Ronald Reagan had called "a kinder, gentler nation", a fresh window to view and conduct inspiring national politics?

More than four decades of independence, many Kenyans are constipated with the type of politics epitomised in Eldoret North William Ruto and his allies.

My former contemporary, Mr Isaac Ruto, has progressively grown rabid in his utterances. What could have happened? Those of us who knew Isaac in the 1980s are at a loss. I am aware many compatriots reneged at the very first encounter with trappings of political power.

We used to flaunt that university education, better exposure and knowledge was all we needed to transform Kenya’s politics. But this has been debunked by numerous reckless conduct of many educated people; unfortunately many of my own class and generation, if not younger. It is unbelievable.

To be a daily witness of politics that is only remarkable for its unrelenting stupidity is regrettable. Unpretentious opportunism practiced even by senior and ‘learned’ friends; treachery and vile forms of political betrayal; shameless sycophancy and hypocrisy.

Granted, old Kanu was around for too long and many of our continuing players are its arch-disciples. Yet, one must feel that these ‘Kanu-damu’ politicians should give Kenyans a well-deserved break.

It appears Ruto and company have failed the change test even after getting a rare second opportunity. They are stuck in the rut of the old one-party state mentality under Kenya’s old constitution, complete with an imperial President. By every conduct, word and deed this group is working over-time to return Kenya to the rule by fiat and ‘mobocracy’.

You may not believe this as a level headed Kenyan, but earlier in the heady days leading to the 2007 elections, some of us had the temerity to imagine some of them had been transformed. After all, were they not supposed to be younger, better educated and more caring about the ideals of democracy and fairness?

Earlier in 2002, we had witnessed Mr Kalonzo Musyoka, now Vice President, abandon Kanu and team up with the more progressive forces to end Kanu’s decades of entrenched tyranny and misrule.

We were willing to forgive and forget because continued bitterness was not going to take the country anywhere. But then again, we were completely off radar.

Recent events suggest strongly that we still have a long way to go. It will be time before principled politics take root. The promise of 2002 has once again been scuttled. It is the same forces who squandered this opportunity in 1992 and now hell-bent on destroying all little else that was left after the 2007 electoral brouhaha.

We are stuck in the strange belief that political life can only be lived through perpetual mischief and tribe mongering.

Writer Chinua Achebe warned in that powerful treatise, The Trouble with Nigeria, that whereas you can legislate ethnicity into our constitutions, you cannot legislate it out of people’s hearts. Those running to the National Cohesion and Integration Commission are probably missing the point. It is not about law, it is about our character and sense of values.

My solemn appeal to Kenyan politicians nurtured and weaned in Kanu’s honey and milk, is that they should strive and give Kenyans a new sense of hope before it is too late.

It is possible for us to embark on a new beginning. A Kenya without myopic ethnic decibels that were wrought on us by the cruel mistakes made right from independence.

Politics focusing on how to deal with one man or one community is misguided.

—The writer is Communications Advisor in the Office of the Prime Minister. The views expressed here are personal