Sunday, February 19, 2012

TO ELECT OR NOT TO ELECT




There is a theory being propagated by some that those who voted ‘NO’ in the last Constitutional referendum cannot be trusted to manage its implementation and therefore should not be elected to any leadership position. It is argued that those who did not support the proposed Constitution are ineligible because by voting against they confirmed they had no confidence in the same and as such are unfit to lead under the new dispensation. Given a chance the proponents of this mind set would ban all those who voted ‘NO’ from participating in the elections. Obviously, such thinking belongs to the dangerous category of leaders who, in victory, would alienate, marginalize and persecute those who did not vote for or support them. An exercise of a simple democratic right to choose can thus land people in serious trouble with such leaders.

I want to state here that am among the almost three million Kenyans who voted ‘NO’ and have no regrets whatsoever. The contest was between those of us in the Red who proposed that Kenyans 'reject, amend then pass’ while the Greens proposed we ‘pass then amend later’. There was consensus that there were contentious issues that needed to be hammered out and the only difference was that the Reds wanted the issues dealt with before while the Greens insisted the issues could be handled after the passage of the new laws. The Greens won and as democrats we conceded, embraced the new set of laws as any self respecting Kenyan would. Together we began the implementation process while hoping that the contentious issues would be sorted out in due cause.

Very unfortunately there are those who suffer the hangover of the referendum contest and want to perpetuate it in an attempt to cloud the minds of Kenyans about the choice of leaders needed to take this great nation of tremendous potential to the next level. These people need to be reminded of the cardinal principle of freedom of choice enshrined sacredly in our Constitution and embedded firmly in the holy books. It was as constitutional to vote ‘Yes’ as it was to vote ‘No’. In any case the ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ were choices given and guaranteed by the constitutional review framework as legitimate options carrying no punitive consequences when exercised. To now turn around and attempt to mete out some punishment by trying to disqualify others from leadership on this account speaks volumes of the democratic credentials and tolerance to alternative views of those who embrace this unfortunate thinking. To try to assign status to Kenyans on the basis of how they voted is as myopic as it is simplistic and tyrannical. They should be told and loudly so that the referendum is over and Kenya has a new constitution for all Kenyans irrespective of how they voted. Whereas such people voted ‘for’ the Constitution, they display their ignorance of it's robust Bill of Rights including freedom of conscience, belief and expression, as well as of political choice. They either did not read it, lack understanding or are simply too dictatorial to care. It is a pity that people with such shallow and warped understanding believe that they are entitled to lead and have arrogated themselves a pedestal from which they dictate to Kenyans who and who not to elect.

The new contest in town is the contest for the leadership of Kenya. Kenyans will be looking out for men and women who will match what they say with what they do. People with demonstrated performance track records are needed take charge of their affairs. This contest is going to be about ideas, programs, and policies that will create new opportunities for millions of young people who have no jobs, no access to credit and no hope, eliminate the shame of millions who suffer and even die of hunger, and grow the economy by double digits so as to lift millions out of dehumanizing poverty.

There is no room for cheap gossip about how individuals voted in the referendum. In any case they should be reminded that ' simple minds discuss individuals, average minds discus events, but serious minds engage in ideas' . The leadership of Kenya is serious business engaging serious minds on matters ideas! Wake up, welcome to the new Kenya and be blessed abundantly!!

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