Musalia Mudavadi: I was a toddler when Kenya gained its independence

FormerDeputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi Photo: Courtesy

On December 12, 1963, I a was three-year old toddler having been born September 21, 1960. My parents were either in Baringo or Mululu in the current Baringo and Vihiga counties.

My memories of independence are therefore stories I heard from adults and from the media.

In a way, I am literary as old as independent Kenya. I have factually grownup with Kenya. One can actually write the story of Kenya@50 by mirroring the life experience, ups and downs of some individuals in my generation.

Our achievement is that we are celebrating Kenya@50 as one country. Whatever the downsides, it is a joyous occasion.

We must remain strong in the belief that we can create an equitable society. That is why we must not take our eyes off devolution.

We must encourage each other to do what is right for devolution to work. Devolution has no other alternative for the next 50 years.

In a way, it is quite an achievement that we are celebrating Kenya@50 with a totally new crop of young leaders who never experienced colonialism directly.

The burden on their shoulder is heavier because they cannot afford regaling anyone with tales about colonialism. The have grown up in independent Kenya, are attuned to realities and must
deliver.

But there is this inherent problem of young leaders but old habits and ideas. Our Parliament, Judiciary and Executive have never been as youthful and professional as they are today.

Yet you get the feeling that we are more attuned to memories and practices of the past. We seem to encourage and applaud ethnic hegemonic competition.

A young generation of leaders hold the promise of renewal. We must figure out what inspired our technocratic age mates of their time in the independence cabinet.

We ought to figure out why youth is associated with greatness in the leadership of JF Kennedy, Bill Clinton and now Barrack Obama of the US and Cameroon in Britain. We must eschew “mob culture” in politics and apply the rigour of our intellectual and professional calling into institutional development.