Monday, December 12, 2011

Pledges made in 1963 unmet even as Kenya celebrates



By PETER OPIYO
December 12 Kenya marks its 48th birthday, two years short of the golden jubilee, but facing serious challenges.
Kenyan troops are engaged in a fight in Somalia against the Al Shabaab militants and spiralling inflation continues to bite.
As the leaders of the Grand Coalition Government President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga
Patients left unattended in a public hospital following the ongoing doctors’ strike. The fight against disease is one of the promises made by the independence government that remain largely unmet. [PHOTOS: FILE/STANDARD]
lead Kenyans at the Nyayo National Stadium to mark Jamhuri Day, the picture for 41 million Kenyans does not look so rosy.
The country celebrates as the doctor’s strike in public hospital enters the second week while the Matatu Welfare Association and the Union of Civil Servants have also issued strike notices (See story on page 11).
Inflation is worryingly at 18 per cent and uncertainty surrounds the shilling, which at one point sunk to is lowest, trading at 107 shillings against the US dollar. Consequently, the cost of living has become unbearable, and is demonstrated in the upsurge of industrial action by workers in almost every sector.
Though the country’s leadership vowed to fight poverty, ignorance and disease when they wrestled power from the colonialists forty-eight years ago, hunger still threatens millions, disease is prevalent and a dejected work force is in ‘strike mode.’
Imenti Central MP Gitobu Imanyara says the gap between the rich and the poor is "glaring" and it is time the oppressed are heard.
The celebrations are to be marked in all provincial headquarters, district and divisional headquarters, perhaps for the last time, before counties take over next year as the new administration units.
Raila said three main challenges currently face the country — management of our economy, our politics and corruption. "We need above all to know that our economy is in a safe pair of hands.
At the moment, this poses serious questions and challenges, and these are challenges that must be confronted, if the fall in the shilling’s value and the resulting soaring cost of living are to be arrested and reversed," said the PM.
Bleak Christmas
Raila said most people face a bleak Christmas. Food, transport to be with family, all the things that go to make up a time of celebration at the end of a difficult year, are out of reach for most people.
Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka said though the cost of living has gone up exceedingly, collective efforts are necessary to deal with the challenges witnessed in the country. "We are facing the challenge of the ever rising cost of living. During such times we must all pull together in one direction with the single-minded determination to succeed," said Kalonzo.
Imanyara, however, sees hope for a better future, saying the Judiciary is becoming more independent and Parliament is more assertive in its oversight role. "With a freed Judiciary and an assertive Parliament, things can only be better," said Imanyara.
Imanyara points to the upsurge of industrial actions among the workforce as an indicator of trust in the Judiciary. "The political class has been like parasites. The industrial actions are very good for the country because the oppressors will be forced to give in. It is proper that they get what is rightfully theirs," said Imanyara.
Nominated MP, Mohammed Affey, said the pace of development, 48 years later, is wanting as compared to other African countries like South Africa and Rwanda, but noted that the leadership must be appreciated for unifying the country.
"Even though we need to do more, the leaders must be congratulated for maintaining a united country. So we can’t say all is bad," said Affey, also the chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Equal Opportunities.
Turn for the worse
Ikolomani MP, Bonny Khalwale said though founding father Jomo Kenyatta’s leadership started off well, things took a turn for the worse the moment it changed the Lancaster House Constitution. He claimed this is what created ills, like impunity and inequality, with the Kanu regime perfecting it.
"The Kibaki Government started off well in terms of economic development but when the Grand Coalition came in, they engaged in grand corruption," said Dr Khalwale, the Chairman of Parliamentary Accounts Committee.
He called for vigilance to ensure that the Constitution is not unnecessarily amended to maintain the status quo.
Last week some 24 Kenyans died after being swept away by floods with tens of thousands uprooted from their homes, joining a long list of internally displaced people who were rendered homeless by the post-election violence of 2007/08.
Within the next 12 months, the country will face another general election, the first under the new Constitution. It must be remembered that the irregularities of the 2007 elections caused a wave of violence throughout the country.
The country faces the election with uncertainties lurking as to how many electoral seats will be in the new parliament and the registration of voters set to run-up to September 2 next year.
Contributing further to the uncertainty weighing on the political environment is the ongoing case of six high-level Kenyans at the International Criminal Court. Their fate is set be known on January 16 next year on whether charges will be dropped or confirmed.
To further dampen the birthday mood is the fact that unemployment remains high with many youth unable to secure jobs. This remains a cause for worry for the leadership.

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