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Development Analysis Vol. 9

By: Charles Aboge (Kenya)

Title: MIXED reactions on a bloated new cabinet causing new political directions  in Kenya reports

AFTER a new bloated cabinet naming, most Kenyan publics are still worried and asking many pertinent questions unanswered to restore peace, stability and development activities that stalled due to recent post election violence and genocide. Some of the questions are –“will the new bloated cabinet present a real qualitative practical change in policies or so called continuity that failed to deliver todate? Will the new cabinet now under coalition Government work as a team for better delivery of services to Kenyans who voted for change in last Presidential Elections than empty political rhetorics?

Are our recent leaders elected still focused on  practical development issues facing Kenyans unresolved or lost political direction? How you and me will benefit from the coalition Government?

The nation still have more urgent work and sensitive issues to tackle like collapsing economy, high  inflation, corruption, tribalism, unemployment and underemployment. Others includes food security, internally and externally displaced Kenyans and insecurity across the country rather than recent rewarding of some political cronies in the name of change which made many Kenyans to die and suffer a great deal. Many Kenyans claims that “it is unfortunate that most publics are still held at ransom by arrogant politicians serving their own short term personal interests ignoring why we elected them to Parliament last year. Some of them experienced, capable leaders with sharp memories while others political turncoats who behaves like “chameleons” normally driven by hatred, lies, nepotism, tribalism, selfishness, corruption, grudge and extraordinary greed for power at the expense of their duties to serve the nation.

To sustain a bloated new cabinet is a big burden to the economy riddled with grand corruption. We now ask President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga to promote trust between them and listen to the voice of the people who they seem to ignore on many development issues including resettlement of Internally displaced persons in a new land settlement scheme like converting one of the game parks into human habitatation as a permanent solution to the land clashes in Rift Valley and other areas like Mt. Elgon and the Coast to avoid historical injustices on land ownership.

Kenyans are more than ready for fresh General Elections. The country is still faced with a myriad of problems which needs urgent Government attention as the international donor community are watching closeless in many ways. The people of Kenya  want peace and good governance. They are tired of leaders who they think are self centred and only want to loot the economy and achieve their own personal ends. They ask themselves –“why did we vote and engaged in political turmoil during post election violence and for what benefit?  There is need to have public debate on these unresolved issues to ensure Kenya unity. Our leaders need to address what caused political impasse.

Some leaders further allege that the inability of political leaders to shake off cartels who financed their election campaigns and are demanding political rewards. Prices of basic commodities have shot up including prices of fuel. Both President Kibaki and Raila Odinga are essentially programmatic politicians who have worked together before and who realized that they are accountable to the people.

They need a transparent process in place to start work on the reform agenda to be completed within a time frame including a reconciliation team to deal firmly but peacefully with havoc during recent political genocide and massive destruction of properties and loss of human lives. Leaders we have now in the coalition Government must wake up, be serious and live up to their last General Elections pledges to create jobs and boost enterprise among other needs with prudence and accountability ensuring that massive corruption and wastage are eradicated.

It has been observed by many leaders that security of Kenyan nationals in some areas in the country are still in the hands of militia groups causing mayhem. Like Rift Valley area for example, it will be very difficult to resettle displaced people unless the current politics are revised to accommodate interests of the indigenous people who feel short-changed after new cabinet naming recently through dialogue. Why naming of new cabinet causing mixed reactions in some parts of Kenya? What is special about them yet we are serving all Kenyan publics without discrimination?

Parliament should move fast to ensure the independence of the judiciary so that the people have the confidence that the institutions can resolve fundamental issues without the interference from the executive. There is need now for the Civil society and the media to take up the task of keeping politicians on their toes in delivery of services as most of them had vested interest. The media should take up that role as there was a vacuum in governance. Kenya needs a new constitution soon and among the key factors that need urgent reforms included poverty, education, judiciary, police, military, lands, and the Electoral Commission of Kenya.

Kenyan publics are optimistic that the new coalition Government would address serious issues like reducing the cost of farm inputs, fishing gears, energy, transportation, housing, famine in some parts of the country. They should emulate President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila  Odinga who buried their political differences for the sake of peace, unity and national development as the nation was bigger than an individual ambitions. Let us give them time and support.