Sang, Ngunyi and hyperbolic positions

By SYLVESTER OLUOCH AND LAWRENCE CHITERI
Published December 8, 2009

While Kenya stands at a cross-road on matters of constitution review, human rights abuses that cry Luis Moreno-Ocampo’s patronage, and the Mau complex devastation; Mutahi Ngunyi and Paul Sang, former health minister have injected reckless hyperbole, and ill-conforming rhetoric respectively.

Sang for his part asserts that rain comes from the sky (it has been hard to respond to this, for there was no telling if it was not simple comedy) while; Ngunyi, on the other hand, envisions a magic bullet to Kenya’s problems through the sacrifice of Raila Odinga. Come on Ngunyi, do not elevate this mortal to a political Christ; he is not. Besides, it would do well to sacrifice Odinga, for a credible cause, but not to save the land grabbers their fortunes. Put plainly; the foregoing prescriptions were fallacious and malicious.

Remember when a boxer enters the dressing room; the first business is usually to undress. Ngunyi will be “undressed” like it or not. You do not touch sensitive issues and hope for sing song response. It is instructive to observe for the umpteenth time that, Nguyi is now close to a court poet. Several matters he writes on these days amount to fronting of specific notions. This writing must obliterate them.

As far as Ngunyi is concerned, the draft constitution is a non-starter, and he has taken every breath to slide it under his door, in the hope that the province he wields as a political analyst is slanted and swayed. Yet Ngunyi fails to point out specific shortcomings in the draft. Kenyans want constitutional reform and badly at that, which does not mean they should settle on any heap of writing, and surge ahead, but would do with a carefully crafted and sieved document; the draft is already far better than the current constitution, for it highlights key fundamental rights hitherto ignored.

When you rule out a prescription, you ought to prescribe a new one, and Kenyans are in the process of doing just that, Ngunyi, will you let them! Granted, some areas of the draft need to be reworked, for instance, the contradiction where it separates state from religion, yet proceeds to introduce Kadhi’s Courts.

On the Mau, the other week, Mutahi Ngunyi suggested that Raila Odinga was right, but that he needed to yield in the name of political survival (like that is all that counts). In traffic terminology, one yields because they have the right of way, but not equal to the other motorist, which in essence means that the Mau is a tussle, between two forces, one of which is definitely right.

Everybody knows who should yield here if any. Then to crown it all, Ngunyi sees the Mau as an alter on which some political sacrifice must be made. Odinga can be sacrificed yes, but does sacrificing him erase the truth of environmental degradation? Does it preclude the burial of political profligacy? Mau will be there long after we all go to our maker, but posterity should be our concern, not short-term political exigencies.

Ngunyi’s assertion that sacrificing Odinga will atone for the sins of post-election violence, and fathom a healing, was rather reckless and insensitive. The word sacrifice means, establishing communion with God, reaffirming loyalty and appreciating his providence. Kenyans are still reeling from the aftermath of post-election violence; how does sacrificing one individual help them commune with gods?

We are responsible for our transgressions- and there will never be blanket atonement! The truth is, every mortal must carry their own cross. If William Ruto, Uhuru Kenyatta and Najib Balala were in some crime,  let them carry their crosses.

Every politician is in that business for reason of ascending to the very apex. If by upholding that drive one is labeled a betrayer, then politics is about betrayal. Political realignment and strategy can be intriguing, and there are never permanent relations. In fact, astute politicians conclude deals, only when their plan “B” is in the safe. But that should be the business of politicians; ours is to hold them to account for delivery of promises, and good service delivery, not strategic positioning.

Kenya needs thorough healing, we need a constitution because we crave reforms. We want to know the perpetrators of post-election violence, even if we must begin with Odinga, and President Mwai Kibaki, bring it on! And the Mau must be resolved completely, neither exceptions nor rehearsed whining should be entertained whatsoever; not even the Noah Wekesa induced- “Kiptagich could be outside Mau”- should redraw boundaries to appease some political demigods.

Ruto and the many others, who will want our votes in 2012,  must show their credentials, and not recompense to metamorphose into later day “human rights activists”. In 1992 Ruto was younger than he is today, when he, Jirongo and others fronted a youth for KANU agenda through which, they presided over widespread plunder of this country’s resources.

The economy is still reeling from that effect; remember the  Kshs 500 note is still a “Jirongo”. What did youth have to do with that mass purchase of Kenyans’ vote in exchange for doom? Looks like the Saul-Paul transitions ended with the bible. Ruto’s transformation if ever, has been too short-lived.

Ngunyi, the Mau is raking in uncanny benefactors against a government policy. Does it puzzle you that the other day Moi’s car was in a wreck, it was found to be in Ruto’s name? Must we have our guns with nozzles pointing at ourselves, in the hope that we will have sacrificed to appease the gods? The gods of politics will not rear their heads against a people trampled on by buffoons, and hangmen.

Mau, Hague and Constitution review are issues of substantial significance, and anybody entering this public discourse should sustain focus.

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