Once upon a time, a gnat flew over the meadow with much buzzing for so small a creature and settled on the tip of one of the horns of a bull. After he had rested a short time, he made ready to fly away.
But before he left he begged the Bull’s pardon for having used his horn for a resting place. “You must be very glad to have me go now,” he said. “It’s all the same to me,” replied the bull. “I did not even know you were there.”
We are living in a political environment where the opposition appears to be crying for attention by seeking extra-constitutional means to be heard.
While the opposition has agreed to bipartisan calls in Parliament, Raila Odinga has declared that his weekly demos will resume after Ramadhan.
The bipartisan talks in Parliament are one of the best ways to ensure that both sides of the divide are heard and their proposed solutions to the issues facing the country are dealt with adequately.
Bipartisan talks always succeed when both sides do not approach the discussions with conditions and hidden cards. All cards must be on the table for such an approach to solve issues to succeed.
It is therefore unacceptable that Raila can agree to talks and then call his supporters to the streets. This makes everyone think that he is not focused on getting a solution to the issues he has raised but is instead focused on sideshows and distractions.
It is time we all as Kenyans demanded that Raila stops talking from both sides of the mouth and quit the evident hypocrisy. You cannot on one side be agreeing to talk to your opponents while at the same time engaged in economic sabotage.
It is ironic that the opposition has put the economy at the centre of its so-called demos yet the same activities are preventing other Kenyans from going about their economic activities.
What we have seen in the demos is that the opposition is engaged in economic sabotage knowing very well that weekday protests disrupt the flow of business and thus the economy is affected.
We have witnessed them blocking roads and destroying property, including shops and markets that serve mwananchi. The economy has been slowing, businesses are suffering and the opposition is keen to make it worse, and then keep blaming the government.
What we have seen is an opposition that is only aimed at ensuring that its jobless leaders ascend to power by all means, even if property is destroyed and people die.
Yet, through initiatives such as the bipartisan talks, the opposition could play its minority role in Parliament well enough to influence government policy.
Instead, the opposition is crying foul at every corner claiming that the government is supported by a tyranny of numbers. The claim that some of its members have crossed over to work with the government shows how shortsighted the opposition leadership is.
Those MPs were elected by Kenyans who are looking up to them to ensure that there are practical solutions to the problems facing them. Choosing to cooperate with the government of the day is one of the smartest steps that any politician can take.
For over a decade now, Kenya has experienced a rudderless and clueless opposition and it is time those on the minority side decide that they were going to play their role to positively impact the lives of Kenyans.
Kenyans are tired of petty political theatrics and want to see their leaders focus on more important issues. Kenya needs an opposition that will have a say in ensuring that Kenyans get improved healthcare, better roads, clean water, ready markets and the highest standards of education.
This is because all Kenyans have a common aspiration of making their lives better and petty politics will not do this in 2023 and beyond.
