OBAMA’S MOMENT

When America went to the poll last week Tuesday to decide between Barrack Obama and Mitt Romney, political analysts had predicted that it would be a tightly contested race. Anxiety had taken the best of both candidates supporters. And while the world observed the American election, Kenya watched with a keen eye and bated breath.  

American president elect Barack Obama.

Republican Candidate Mitt Romney.

Barack Obama was declared the winner amidst wild jubilation from his supporters. He then proceeded to give a powerful acceptance speech while Romney conceded defeat.  Back in Kenya, words alone cannot adequately paint a picture of the concurrent events. This given the ancestral ties the American president elect has with Kenya.

The Obama's acknowledge cheers from supporters.

To begin with, way before the presidential election, women groups in Kogelo, which is the ancestral land of Barack, had been holding special prayers for the incumbent president’s victory! As Americans took to the voting stations Tuesday, the villagers in Kogelo braved the morning cold to conduct a mock election, whereby “voters” cast their ballot in favor of Romney or Obama. Need I say who emerged the mock election winner?

Kogelo residents celebrating Obama's win

The villagers proceeded to spend the night glued to the television screens as the results were streamed in live by major media houses. By late morning, it was apparent that Obama had taken the lead and that marked the beginning of ecstatic celebrations across the village as people chanted the now famous slogan “four more years!” On social networking sites, congratulatory messages to the president elect stole the show.

Routine activities were shelved as the jubilant citizens celebrated the victory in the best way they knew how. Mrs. Sarah Obama, the president elect’s step grandmother was not one to be left out of such revelry. The senior Obama thanked God for Barrack’s success and said she looked forward to attending the swearing in ceremony in America early next year.

Mama Sarah Obama celebrates with other villagers.

That said, Obama has four more years at the white house. The fact that the American presidency is the most powerful political position in the world means everyone will be watching with keen interest the policies he advocates for. Given his charm and charisma, the Americans knew better than to deny him a second term in office! 

Here is to four more years!!                                                              

HOW THEY’LL TELL THE TALE OF KISMAYU’S CAPTURE.

KDF soldiers celebrate when they captured the port city of Kismayu in the year 2012.

In those days, the threat of terrorism was rife globally as thousands of innocent lives had been lost in various ghastly terrorist attacks worldwide. America, then under the leadership of the eloquent and youthful president Barack Obama, was spearheading the fight against international terrorism. The century saw a breakthrough in the fight against terror, with the killing of Osama Bin Laden, who was the leader of the deadly terrorism network Al-Qaeda. In Africa, the then lawless state of Somalia was infested with insurgents believed to have links with the Al-Qaeda, and they fronted various terror attacks in the continent.

President Barack Obama.

Osama Bin Laden.

Kenya, for sharing a border line with Somalia, suffered a great deal from her neighbor’s lawlessness. Tens of thousands of Somali citizens had fled into Kenya and settled in what was the world’s largest refugee camp. To add on to Kenya’s woes, the insurgents staged several attacks in various parts of the country including the capital Nairobi, attacks that claimed innocent lives. Resultant of these attacks was panic waves that gripped the nation prompting the stepping up of the country’s security operations. Citizens were subjected to thorough security checks in hotels, churches, mosques, shopping malls, social joints, offices and residential areas. 

Cognizant that its citizens deserved an assurance of their security, the Kenyan government, at the time led by President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga, set out to seek a lasting solution to the anarchy in Somalia. That way, the negative effects which spilled over to Kenya would be nipped at source. In a bold move that shocked many, the Kenya Defence forces (KDF), were sent on an offensive against the Al-Shabaab militia in Somalia.

President Mwai Kibaki.

Prime minister Raila Odinga.

 On the 16^th of October in the year 2011, the KDF soldiers made a grand entry into Somalia, to kick start the operation that would see them rid the country of the menacing terror insurgents. Dubbed “Operation Linda Nchi” translated to English to read “Operation Protect Our Country”, the soldiers were able to capture many Somalia towns that were previously under the Shabaab rule. Slowly but surely, order was restored in most parts of the country as the insurgents lost their grip and control over many towns.

In those days, the world had been transformed into a global village with the advancement of information technology. It was very easy to know what was happening where via social networks of the time such as twitter and facebook. As a matter of fact, Kenyans, who still had some of the continent’s largest social media communities, would follow the progress of the war from these networks. The Kenyan twitter community was always abuzz as the KDF officials updated citizens on their progress via their twitter handle. Not surprisingly, even the Al- Shabaab militia had a twitter handle which they used mostly for gloating despite their imminent defeat by the KDF.

The operation to liberate Somalia from the Al-Shabaab lasted for nearly a year. It was characterized by fierce battles whose sights and sounds the world had previously only imagined and seen in movies. Unknown to many though, this was just the tip of the ice berg, as the soldiers were advancing further into enemy territory where imminent and unprecedented fierce battles awaited them. 

KDF Soldiers during the war.

With the assistance of the Somali National Army, the Kenya Defence Forces embarked on yet another daring mission; that of capturing the Al-Shabaab stronghold city, Kismayu. At this point in time, “Operation Sledge Hammer“was launched. Owing to the gravity of the mission that lay ahead, the soldiers figured that they would need a hammer in order to accomplish it.

What followed was an attack on the sea port city of Kismayu from the air, land and sea, much to the surprise of the insurgents. The operation, which had been top secret until its execution saw the soldiers finally capture Kismayu in the wee hours of the morning of 28^th September, the year 2012. This undertaking, which was an organized military landing through a combination of the land and naval forces, was pronounced a first of its kind in Africa.

KDF Soldiers descend on Kismayu from the Indian Ocean.

Somalia then moved to rebuild herself as well as her institutions which had previously been dysfunctional, following two decades of anarchism. Those that had fled their homes to seek refuge from war went back and helped re-build the country as we know it today!! 

THE UONGOZI CAMPAIGN.

I have said before on this site, and would wish to reiterate that; a better and brighter future surely lies ahead for Kenyans if they take up the initiative to make wise and informed decisions while voting for leaders. I was really elated to learn about the noble UONGOZI campaign, an initiative that seeks to have Kenyans, as Sammy Wambua puts it, break away from a past that saddles them with questionable leadership and the resultant ills. UONGOZI is a Swahili word meaning LEADERSHIP.

CEO's Linus Gitahi of Nation Media Group and John Githongo of Inuka Kenya flag off the campaign.

The campaign, which is intended to engage Kenyans from all walks of life has its slogan as ‘’Ni Sisi!’’ translated to mean “It is Us!”. It is up to the Kenyan people to address the problems facing their nation. And what better way to do this than to start by voting in credible leaders in the upcoming elections? This means that it is up to every Kenyan to value their vote and the positive input they would contribute towards nation building.

UONGOZI seeks to invoke a frank conversation among Kenyans, which will revolve around past occurrences and experiences. It will also be a platform where the citizens can ask straightforward questions, especially those that matter most in their lives. It is from these critical questions that voters will then be motivated to vote in candidates that offer the best answers to the questions. This of course will bring about plausible solutions as opposed to voting along tribal or regional lines while neglecting the main issues.

Then here is yet another exciting twist in the campaign, and which brings a smile to my face! The campaign, which will tour the whole country, will culminate in the selection of individuals who believe they could lead Kenya to a better future. The selected individuals will be engaged in a televised debate on how to deal with the various issues facing the country, and what’s more, the programme is scheduled to run till election time. That way, Kenyans will have all the necessary information to help them make the all important decision!

The UONGOZI logo.

Behind this very noble campaign is the USAID, under the democracy and governance program, DFID (UKAID) the government of Japan in conjunction with the UNDP, the embassy of Switzerland in Kenya and the Nation Media Group. It is also in partnership with the IEBC (Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission), POSTA Kenya, AISEIC, YWCA and the Yes Youth Can Network.

“Real change is all about us and the choices we make, and actions we take as Kenyans”, says John Githongo, the CEO of Inuka Kenya Ltd, and I couldn’t agree more. I urge every Kenyan voter to take time and think about the immense power that their vote wields. That vote could change the life of every citizen for the better if and only if it is put to its best use; voting in credible leaders, who have development track records, no involvement in fraud or other integrity issues and most importantly, capable of uniting all kenyans as opposed to tribal consolidation. 

YOUR VOTE IS YOUR VOICE!!

THE SHAME OF KENYA.

Kenyans, I’m certain, have long lost count of the number of times that the country’s workforces have downed their respective tools of trade. Go slows, industrial actions and crippling strikes are seemingly the only lingo that the government of the day comprehends. Not surprisingly, the country’s economy and citizenry have had to pay the ultimate price and how the two still continue to stay afloat can only, in my opinion, be purely an act of God.

Striking teachers in Kenya hold demonstrations.

Almost every awfully important workforce you can name has had their day. Talk of teachers, those at the primary and secondary school levels. As a matter of fact, they are on strike as I write this article. Then there’re the University lecturers, who’ve recently joined the band wagon and have a history in that chapter as it were. If this next group does not send a chill down your spine; my bad! Doctors and medical staff; can you believe that?! And before you recover from that shock, add public service vehicle operators to the list.

The Medical personnel strike in Kenya in the recent past.

The principal motivation behind these most unfortunate eventualities is what the workforces’ term as “insultingly low pay packages”. They claim the government has since ceased to willingly do what is right until its personnel push it up the wall. On their part, public service vehicle operators cite harassment by police officers and rogue youth groups.  Negotiations, which are almost nonexistent, have long lost their influence in bringing the employer and the employees to an understanding.

Innocent and defenseless school going children have been caught in a major stalemate between the government and the teachers. Currently, pupils and students who attend the public schools in the country are stuck in their homes despite the start of a new school term. Thing is, the teachers have vowed not to go back to the classrooms until the government revises their perks. Rowdy demonstrations by the educators over the same have been witnessed across the country.

Demonstrations by Kenyan educators.

Similar ill fate to that which has befallen the primary and secondary school students could become a reality to the students in public universities and institutions of higher learning in the week next. This will however not be new as it has happened before. The blow suffered by the country’s education sector in the aftermath of these strikes cannot be overemphasized. You know what’s even worse?; The fact that those who suffer the most are the ordinary citizens, who are a majority, and who cannot afford to take their children to private institutions, where learning goes on uninterrupted.

Can you imagine a country where even doctors and medical personnel down their tools and take to the streets to demand their rights of a decent pay? Well, Kenya is sadly one such country. And the result of a strike by this all important group ladies and gentlemen, is not rocket science. Last time it happened, which is in the recent past, patients were left for the dead with no one to neither attend to nor treat to them! And to think that this profession was a calling and as such pay issues hardly arise!

Patients left unattended following the strike by medical personnel.

 That the figure of otherwise avoidable deaths increased is true.  It therefore comes as a shocker to the citizenry to learn that the plans to roll out another strike of the sort are at an advanced stage, and the nightmare could begin at any time. Not long ago, it was widely rumored and feared that the country’s defense forces were on a go slow. It breaks my heart so to even think about it as am sure it does you. It actually came as a relief when the police spokesperson refuted any such claims, but the fact that there was even a mention of it is bad enough!

 The message here is plain simple. Teachers have downed their tools and university lecturers as well as medical personnel are seemingly following suit. Soon all these important institutions will be unable to deliver services as expected. The government MUST take action rather than wait for the workforces to make good their strike threats. Service delivery to its citizenry is the primary role of any government and it must pursue accomplishment of the same. It is also true that most of Kenya’s workforce is grossly underpaid and the government needs to act over this as soon as yesterday rather than resulting to threats of sacking those who participate in strikes.

If all stakeholders work together, the current problems that the country is facing are nothing that good and synchronized teamwork and negotiations can’t solve. This, so we can march towards a more prosperous and democratic Kenya where everyone feels involved and their input is appreciated!! I rest my case.