Quest for ‘generational change’ lacks fresh ideas

By JUMA KWAYERA
Senior writer
The new electoral boundaries row and looming indictment of the 2008 post-election violence suspects have intensified the Kibaki succession battle.
Youthful MPs are now calling on the old guard to retire from active politics. Last Sunday, generational change of guard proponents who attended the Kass Marathon in Kapsabet, told leaders aged over 60 years to quit, arguing they were out of depth and should retire with Kibaki in 2012.
As the agitation for the ouster of the old guard becomes a major campaign theme ahead of the first General Election under a new constitutional order, the MPs face a daunting task to back up their campaign with fresh ideas. Apparently, the younger generation is inspired by the sweeping to power by former US President Bill Clinton, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair in the 1990s and lately President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron who are aged 48 and 43 years.
But Youth and Sports Minister Paul Otuoma says age alone does not bring about change. He says political changes in the US and Europe are a product ideology and consistency.
‘KKK’ alliance"Clinton, Blair, Obama and Cameron did not harp on age to get to power. They challenged their parties with new ideas. These leaders grew up in their parties and came up with their fresh ideas that appealed to party supporters before they ran for national leadership," says Dr Otuoma.
In an apparent reference to calls to strengthen the Kikuyu, Kamba and Kalenjin (KKK) alliance, the minister says the country is likely to be worse of than it was at Independence, as the bloc is not inspired by the intellectual resourcefulness of its promoters.
"When you analyse the comments and profiles of those calling for generational change it is obvious they share a streak that is likely to take us backwards. If we are to make quantum leap into the future, we should not revert to tribal alliances," says the minister.
Political activist Ngunjiri says age, political alliances and the debate on generational change are dangerous camouflages of ethnicity to block reform-minded leaders from ascending to power.
He says: "Where we had once thought that a new generation of leaders would get us out of tribal politics, a Rift Valley politician leads a pack of fellow young politicians building their leadership credentials on being undisputed heads of specific communities. They are using this as the leverage of negotiating for national leadership, as they work towards creating the next government."