Why Gema politics must see Kenya as bigger than their immediate regional interests

By Public Watchdog

Last week's gathering of leaders of Mount Kenya region - characterised more as Gema - due to its historical association under Gikuyu Embu and Meru Association that served as a political and economic mobilisation vehicle after Kenya's independence has raised political curiosity.

On face value, there is nothing wrong with the grouping and the meeting ¡ª after all, it represents their constitutional, democratic right of association and choices.

However, the meeting has raised wider social and political interests across the country. Why? Not because of the proposed two million signatures to seek postponement of the International Criminal Court¡¯s hearing proceedings facing four Kenyans until after the elections.

Tribal king

But, because of a political decision to support, only, one of their own ¡ª Uhuru Kenyatta, Deputy Prime Minister ¡ª come the next elections on a political; party that is yet to be disclosed.

Even, then, there appears to be nothing wrong with Uhuru seeking support from his home ground, but everything is wrong with the manner and wider implication of him becoming a Gema project. What then, are the obvious implications of this development and the unspoken realities?

First off, Uhuru Kenyatta, a son of the first President of Kenya, the late Mzee Jomo Kenyatta who was parachuted to Kenya¡¯s political world by the second and now retired President Daniel Arap Moi would now be seen as a Gema tribal king.

This raises many pertinent questions: Does Uhuru want to be a tribal king or king of Kenya? Worsestill, does he want to be a king maker and who would, then, be his king? If he still hopes to be king and the rest of Kenya see him as a tribal king, can he still be made king?

One thing is clear, Uhuru would lose his national appeal if he allows himself to be captured in regionalism and tribal dynamism. How?

It will be remembered that Moi nominated him to parliament and proposed him against all odds as KANU¡¯s presidential candidate in a divisive succession politics. Further, that the Kalenjin voted to the last man for Uhuru during 2002 elections and was largely ignored by his now Gema backers.

What has changed?

Home loyalties

He supported President Mwai Kibaki during the 2007 General Election earning him home loyalty and alternative power of influence. How he chooses to play this card is critical with respect to inherent conflicting expectations of regionalism and nationalism.

Secondly, Gema as a region must now demonstrate that it can support and vote for a person outside the region even as a matter of tact and strategy not limited to applying the lenses of regionalism and big tribe dominance.

How does it portend to those who remain loyal political allies in their hour of need? Where is the Vice President Hon Kalonzo Musyoka in the Gema political equation? Kalonzo is the person who saved the day for President Kibaki¡¯s controversial second term.

Ruto, Eugene baskets

How about Hon William Ruto, thought to share a common plan under the G7 political alliance. Would the alliance now be seen as a Gema plan to retain political and economic power?

Can Ruto still attract all those in the Kalenjin basket in support of the Gema bandwagon? How about the Kalonzo or Eugene Wamala baskets in the political trading? Will they become empty, quarter and half full?

Thus, with emergence of Gema politics comes far-reaching dynamism and food for thought for all who are playing in the political waters. The price and trading will become complex.

Thirdly, in a way it is good that these events are coming out early in the political game, as that landscape is likely to reshape considerably as elections come closer.

However, as they say: The cat is out of the bag and only those in political denial will fail to see through the game plan of power and preservation of economic wealth.

How will the rest of the country react? Will it embrace the Gema plan of exclusion or would a new power-force emerge to counter the dynamism changing the political equation?

Can Gema rethink and, for once, support an alternative political course withput peering through the restrictive lenses of regionalism and wealth accumulation? Can Uhuru retrace his footsteps? Is it too late? How can other political master strategists workout a game-changing scenario?

It is time for all to rethink and consider what might unfold and how can we hold Kenya for Kenyans and all Kenyans.

Finally, what is not spoken but is nonetheless building is with respect to social disparities caused by poverty and unemployment, of literate youth, which remain a political timebomb of numbers running into several million. Could they seek alternative political quest?

This is not only growing in the Gema world but throughout the country and how this energy is nurtured could change the overall political equation notwithstanding election-related monies of influence.

The political class must play its cards for the wider interest of Kenya and its people as the type of change the restless youth are seeking is more radical.

Moreover, they can no longer accept to be dispensable ladders to acquisition of political power and accumulation of wealth by a few, this being a matter of compelling public interests.

The author is an opinion leader who prefers to remain anonymous.

Send observations topublicwatchdog@standardmedia.co.ke