Give thanks but vow never to walk on edge precipice again

Kamotho Waiganjo

It has been two years since the horrific events of 2008 and the subsequent, and I dare say miraculous, political settlement that has given this country the opportunity to renew itself.

In the midst of the national self-examination that is hopefully ongoing it is fitting that we take a moment to appreciate the miracles that this country has been the beneficiary of, even prior to the 2008 events. Such reflection is critical in cautioning us not to take our numerous near misses and the accompanying grace for granted.

We would never assume that we are somehow entitled to political miracles. That we would recognise that many countries that contain the ingredients of disharmony, inequity, and disenchantment that Kenya possesses are actual failed states. Our miracles started earlier, but I will only go back to 1992. Notwithstanding the vibrant fight by the second liberation heroes, any honest observer of Kenya’s political dynamics will accept that by the time Moi conceded to multipartyism in 1991, he was hardly spent.

Indeed the Kanu delegates’ conference that acceded to the repeal of Section 2(a) had rejected multipartyism until Moi, in a well-choreographed script, disagreed with the delegates. Moi could have held on, even at the risk of complete economic and social breakdown. Indeed his peers like Bob Mugabe have held on 20 years later. And yet it is the opening of the democratic space in 1992 that eventually birthed 2002.

Fast-forward to 2002, another watershed miracle. Who can doubt that if Moi had sought a further term (which any determined African president always gets) and been the Kanu presidential candidate he would not have won in 2002?

Moi still controlled the instruments of state, still had the capacity to divide the opposition, and still had significant support across Kenya. Amazingly, this professor of politics quietly retired to Kabarak, and this country got an opportunity to recreate itself.

Since then we have had miracles galore. In 2005, a government in power lost a referendum; the entire government collapsed and had to be reconstructed. Somehow Kenya continued to thrive, with serious contestations, but fairly robustly for another two years.

Come January 2008 and the country almost went to civil war ostensibly due to disputed elections. Three months later all the competitors in the disputed elections were sharing power in a fairly stable coalition.

In 2010, this squabbling coalition oversaw one of the most revolutionary constitutional changes in the continent, guaranteeing the demise of the Kenya they knew.

It is easy to take these, and many more events, for granted. It is easy to assume that we can mess our nation, and that somehow Kenya has inexhaustible supply of grace. That is a fatal error. We must remain thankful but we must also invest all our energies in ensuring that we never walk on the edge of a precipe again.

The writer is an advocate of the High Court of Kenya