Leaders must not shout, but talk to each other

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga returned home from the US to a rousing welcome yesterday, culminating in a well-attended public rally at Nairobi’s Uhuru Park.

In a democracy, an effective Opposition has a major role to play in checking real and/or potential excesses of the government of the day. In essence, the Opposition is perceived to be the government-in-waiting and must necessarily offer alternative leadership and try to outdo the incumbent government in order to win support from the electorate.

And so, it is within the mandate of the CORD to call national, indeed global, attention to problems and challenges facing ordinary Kenyans.

But demands made by the Opposition, in our case CORD, must be founded on solid grounds and made purely in the best interest of all citizens.

The CORD leadership must move beyond populist political rhetoric and grandstanding and offer more robust policy challenges through statutory structures that exist within the National Assembly and the Senate. This will allow Kenyans to benefit from the enactment of progressive laws in the National and County assemblies or from the oversight role that the Senate plays to protect the rights that counties enjoy.

CORD has often been accused of failing to live up to its billing as the official Opposition given Jubilee’s control of both the National Assembly and Senate owing to its numerical strength. It is, therefore, incumbent upon the Official Opposition to change the course of debate through sound argumentation and rallying the country together on matters of national importance without regard to region, religion or any other subjective consideration.

On issues and in areas where a bipartisan approach is required to engineer solutions to the country’s pressing problems, both the Opposition and the ruling coalition must close ranks to confront common enemies and move this country forward.

This requires greater statesmanship and political maturity from our leaders. Sadly, we are living at a time when mutual respect and decorum expected from our leaders across the political divide is woefully lacking.

Truth be said, the venue and manner in which CORD is calling for a national dialogue conference would serve to cheapen and politicise an otherwise very important conversation between the Government and Opposition.

The venue and manner in which the Deputy President dismissed the demand does not make matters any better for the suffering people of this country. This is the point at which we must state categorically that Kenya is bigger than CORD and/or Jubilee. Our country is bigger than the politicians in whatever political party or coalition. In fact, our country is bigger than all the political parties, coalitions and their leaders put together.

Kenyans need leadership at the top for a better tomorrow. That leadership must be seen both at the very top of government and equally at the very top of the Opposition. Let us face it, this country is suffering mostly on account of failure in leadership. When Kenyans voted in March 3, 2013, they exercised both their right and civic duty to put in place leaders at the county and national levels. They did their part. The remaining duty up to the date of the next General Election is for the leaders, whether in Government or in Opposition, to act genuinely in the best interest of Kenyans.

Whether or not IEBC as currently constituted should oversee the next General Election is a moot point looked at in the context of runaway insecurity, a looming food crisis and the ever-rising cost of living.

It is in order to raise these issues at political rallies. But it does not add value to anyone if such conversations are not escalated at decision-making levels where leaders forget their political differences and political scores to seek lasting solutions to problems facing this country. Our leaders must stop shouting at one another and begin talking to each other.