Right at the return of multiparty politics in 1992, the discussion then was that democracy would be reinstalled in Kenya to make it a prosperous nation. But Moi quickly played the tribal card and stayed in power up to 2002.
The election of 2002 saw what we could call a true revolution because it presented us with a president who, despite exercising tribalism in appointments, developed the country significantly.
The following election in 2007 presented various options, with Raila Odinga touted as the people’s president. He rallied all other tribes against one, but he still did not get to the presidency, but ended up being included in a coalition government as prime minister.
In 2013, the issue again in the contest was not what was best for Kenya, but rather the ICC case, which rallied emotions around the discourse. Raila called Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto criminals, and they called him a hypocrite. People missed the chance to consider a president who didn’t carry a burden.
To consider the most suitable individual for president, we ought to consider the most vexing needs and problems bedeviling Kenyans today. They include rampant corruption, high cost of living, unemployment, high cost of doing business, expensive healthcare and low accessibility to it, costly education and many others.
However, we must face the truth and take the bull by its horns. The thing that hurts Kenyans most is rampant corruption amidst the developmental challenges in many of Kenya’s sectors. This is one problem President Kenyatta has plainly been unable to deal with, admitting that Kenya loses over Sh2 billions daily to theft. Why would anyone disagree? We have witnessed scandal after scandal and very few convictions.
Kenyans must consider that an individual with interests in key industries in Kenya will not tackle corruption because many things are intertwined. They may be genuine but will run into headwinds. Take for instance the petroleum industry. A president will consider their private business more seriously than national interest, yet Kenyans wish for fuel prices to be considerably reduced because the impact has terrible trickledown effect. The same goes for the banking sector, where policies developed to make life easier for mwananchi might mean reduced profiteering for banks that enjoy mammoth profits at the expense of the low earning masses.
Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka does not have major interests in key sectors such as banking, energy and petroleum, infrastructure development, food and so on. Mudavadi was entangled in the Goldenberg and cemetery scandals. [Mudavadi was cleared in both cases]
Ruto has been embroiled in multiple scandals such as the Muteshi land grab, while Raila’s office as Prime Minister was tainted by the Kazi kwa Vijana scam, while the molasses one had earlier on raised eyebrows.
Kalonzo can be the lemon that clears Kenya’s corrupted throat.
Running alone in 2007, bolting out of Jubilee when Uhuru and Ruto wanted him to play ball boy, that took Kalonzo courage. Early in 2007, he was widely touted as the best compromise candidate for the opposition when Kenyans cared less about ethnicity. He has a strong character that comes nowhere near the melon a detractor once branded him. His wealth position has not ballooned as others have, despite being in government longer than them.
Kalonzo might be the apt contraption that can end the culture of corruption and take Kenya where it needs to go. He has a corrupt-free record and has not been involved in works of self-aggrandizement. He can clear the country’s throat and enable us to breathe better.
People seem to turn their heads when characters with pockets full of stolen money are mentioned. The ruling class politics such as MPs, senators and others seem to coalesce around presidential candidates who have money to finance their campaigns.
People want a lot for the little they do. Ruto and Raila are leading the pack in this regard because they have unbelievable resources and budget for the campaigns of 2022. Is this the direction we want to take where Kenya can be bought?
Our politicians from the local levels auction us at the market of selfish interest and not democracy. Kenyans must take time to reflect, overcome ethnic convictions, and settle on a good president.
