UHURU and RUTO ….. If any is PRESIDENT …. That is a BAD IDEA for Kenya

The Kenyan DAILY POSTEditor's Choice07:12

By Koigi wa Wamwere

If there is a time that Kenyans needed to be told the truth, its now. Unfortunately they are so fear-ridden and intellectually blind that they can no longer face the truth.

As King Ahab refused to listen to the truth of Prophet Micaiah, leading to his death in war, Kenyans have become allergic to truth. By rejecting truth, Kenyans have lost their way and need an outsider to save them.

For God to send Koffi Annan back to Kenya, He must have noticed the country is in serious trouble. But Kenyans will not listen to him. This time, however, Koffi Annan’s salvation to Kenyans is announced in the form of a plea to seriously ponder upon consequences of electing as president, persons who have cases in The Hague, a taboo subject in Kalenjin and Kikuyu lands that few will dare address.

But Koffi Annan did not make his plea to Ruto or Uhuru. It was to Kenyan voters and courts. Though Koffi Annan did not direct his plea to Uhuru and Ruto, they were first to admonish Annan, asking him to leave Kenyans alone to elect their leaders without any interference from outside.

To admonish Koffi Annan when he asked Kenyans to ponder upon consequences of their actions can only mean Uhuru and Ruto want one of them elected but without public scrutiny.

Even if Ruto and Uhuru say it is illegitimate for Koffi Annan to advise Kenyans, the book of Judges, chapter 19 to 21 suggests otherwise.

For instance, Koffi Annan was severely criticised for refusing to use UN forces to end genocide in Rwanda. And Second World War was fought to stop Adolf Hitler killing millions of Jews.

As for the book of Judges, it narrates how in Israel, one old man traveling with his wife through the village of Gibea, was given shelter on his way home.

At night, however, some evil young men sexually assaulted his wife to death. The old man then cut up the dead wife into 12 pieces, each of which he took to every tribe of Israel that he blamed for his tragedy.

When leaders of 11 tribes of Israel learnt of this, they demanded punishment for guilty parties whom the leadership of the tribe of Benjamin sheltered.

Consequently the 11 tribes raised an army of 400,000 to do battle with the tribe of Benjamin. Ultimately, the army of the 11 tribes annihilated that of the Benjamin tribe together with its fugitives.

This story in the bible looks like that of Uhuru and Ruto versus Koffi Annan. But what consequences does Koffi Annan want Kenyans to ponder upon should they decide to elect Uhuru or Ruto as president?

First, as with the tribe of Benjamin, Kenyans could come to war with other nations over their protection of accused persons. Second, Kenya could burn if those who fight other communities to earn votes are not removed from the race for presidency. Three, victims of post-election violence might never get justice.

Four, it seems Koffi Annan feels Kenya is in danger of a civil war again. Five, Koffi Annan reiterated Hilary Clinton’s warning against electing Uhuru and Ruto, lest Kenyans forget. Six, Koffi Annan fears Kenyans don’t understand consequences of their political ignorance.

But for the following two reasons, Uhuru and Ruto don’t want to hear Kenyans being warned against their election. First, their election would carry dangers that might persuade voters against them. Second, Koffi Annan must be stopped from educating Kenyans of the dangers of electing the duo awaiting trials in The Hague.

But if Kenyans should decide to have either Ruto or Uhuru as their president, what consequences would bedevil Kenya? Hilary Clinton meant USA would impose economic, diplomatic and even military sanctions against Kenya.

If Ruto or Uhuru is elected president and refuses to go to The Hague, Kenya would have a fugitive president unable to perform his presidential functions.

Equally, if Ruto or Uhuru is elected president and goes to The Hague for trial, the trial schedule would negate his schedule as president.

Histories of Iraq, Libya and Corte de Voire demonstrate that hostilities between Kenya and western governments could lead to war that Kenya cannot afford. Same histories show that China may be a good economic partner but not a dependable military protector.

And well, ordinary Kenyans might dismiss this as nothing for them. They would be wrong. First, if there is misunderstanding between Kenya, USA and European Union, Kenyan farmers and businesses would find themselves unable to sell their goods, reducing their incomes accordingly.

Two, taxes and prices would go up to close the gap that withdrawal of aid would entail. Kenyans may not be ready for the bitter truth. But Kenya will commit suicide by electing Ruto or Uhuru as her next president.

After voting for an ICC trial, now Ruto and Uhuru also want Kenya to commit suicide, not out of love for her but self interest. Strangely, Kenyans who will bear the burden of this are hardly concerned about themselves.

As Kenya fast comes under a cloud of anxiety, fear, darkness and uncertainty, she badly needs firm leadership from President Kibaki. But that is not forthcoming. It is now the turn of the judiciary to save Kenya, Inshallah.

Koigi wa Wamwere, Leader of CCM