THE NASA ULCER

The much-touted opposition coalition conference has just concluded at the Bomas of Kenya, Nairobi. Though much awaited, they did not pick one of their luminaries to be the flag bearer, they only managed a shaky declaration that binds them to a common goal-that of sending jubilee home.

For a coalition facing elections in 7 months, dreams of a repeat 2002 where Kibaki was unveiled 3 months to the election and went on to clinch the presidency are slowly fading. Listening to the rhetoric churned out speaker after speaker, one is left to wonder whether this is the government in waiting. You see, forming government is one thing, running it is another. This far the opposition has failed to offer policy direction and alternatives on how they would run a tight ship when they win the elections come August.

To have Ali Hassan Joho curtain raise a transformative movement launch is akin to having hyena sing of the lion’s greed. In what manner does the Mombasa governor exemplify change? For a man tainted with allegations of ineptitude and fraud he should have been the last man to speak in that forum leave alone be seen.

David Ndii finally shed off his sheep skin and revealed he has been dancing with the wolves all along. To be recognized as an expert economist, one must have studied and qualified to be regarded as an authority. It is a pity that a man who has attracted a religious following through his supposed expert articles in the Saturday Nation can belittle his stature by attending the highly charged political meeting. A man of figures and words, who has been hell bent on painting all Jubilee projects and programs black, today was his ‘coming out’ day. I wonder who will read his propaganda come this Saturday.

All in all, the script and the cast was reminiscent of 2007 and 2013. One constant player who has earned fame for his indecisiveness today repeated his trademark statement that he shall sacrifice for this country. When asked why he joined government in 2008, he says that he did it out of sacrifice for Kenya. The butt of jokes on the internet, a Kenyan wrote: Things are rosy until Kalonzo bolts and registers NASA-K like he did with ODM-K. In short these same faces paraded today are the farthest from transformative leadership that Kenya requires. It is just a matter of time before they retreat to their clansmen and decide to go with their individual selfish goals.

Jubilee government has come out the winner in today’s popularity contest. If the yard stick was unity, then Kenyans feel safer with Jubilee than these bunch of recycled leaders whose main drive is to run away from the ‘cold’ they have experienced outside government. We had hoped to hear calls of uniting Kenyans but instead we were treated to endless whining against the Jubilee government. Does being in the opposition a ticket to divisive rhetoric and threats? Is there any policy alternatives that have been put forward by the opposition which can help the sitting government improve service delivery? The answer is no. Today at Bomas we developed an ulcer in the name of NASA. Let us suffer in silence as we are treated to sideshows and

Does being in the opposition give one a ticket to divisive rhetoric and threats? Is there any policy alternatives that have been put forward by the opposition which can help the sitting government improve service delivery? The answer is no. Today at Bomas we developed an ulcer in the name of NASA. Let us suffer in silence as we are treated to sideshows and non-issues but deep down we know who is working and who can deliver more.