Commentary (by Lucy Oriang') - We've spoken of democracy; it is now time to practice it

Ref:http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgcontententry.asp?category_id=25&newsid=118458

Story by LUCY ORIANG'
Publication Date: 3/7/2008

PARLIAMENT IS BACK IN business. Dare we hope that the men and women who made the cut in the last poll have learnt something about Kenya in all its nakedness? Certainly, they are making all the right noises right now.

I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’ve had a hilarious time reading statements attributed to Imenti South MP Kiraitu Murungi. He has gone on record as declaring that he will work with Prime Minister Raila Odinga. That’s good enough, but he did not stop there.

Clearly overcome by the historic moment, he recalled their times together fighting for the Second Liberation. They were so in tune with each other in those days that he was Mr Odinga’s lawyer in one of the many cases Kenya’s most famous rebel once faced.

To clinch it all, he told his colleagues from Central Kenya to read the times, which signal that Mr Odinga’s future is bright. So now we know that the man is also into gazing into the crystal ball, and has seen what tomorrow holds. It is a useful skill, and a great survival tactic.

But the Kiraitu case study goes beyond the realm of jokes. There are lessons to be learnt from this turnaround:

First, it is great to be a politician. It is the only job where you can say one thing today and another tomorrow with a completely straight face, even when your statements are the polar opposite of each other. It helps, of course, that we are at that point we just want to put the recent past far behind us.

So, yes, Mr Murungi, do work happily with the new prime minister. You will be doing yourself a favour, and we will not be complaining either. Kenyans are sick and tired of the tensions and the bloodletting.

For a long two months, we truly didn’t recognise our own country. Anyone who wants to bridge the differences that ignited the fire that nearly consumed us can only be received with open arms.

Besides, you will prove the conventional wisdom that there are no enemies in politics, just friends who have fallen out for a while. And there are indications that the Kofi Annan charm has been at work on a number of other MPs, who are quietly putting out feelers that will get them chatting amicably together again.

The jury is still out on whether this uneasy camaraderie will be good for Kenya in the long run, but right now we will take peace at any price, thank you.

Second, there is no shame in eating humble pie. I can only assume that Mr Murungi’s remarks were an indirect way of beating a retreat from the five years of tension that marked the relationship between the Kibaki and Odinga camps. He may have fallen short of an apology, but give the guy a break.

He made the first move towards reconciliation. It would be nice to hear what the other side has to say.

THIRD, READING THE SIGNS OF THE times is a skill Kenya’s politicians will have to learn if they are to pull through. The Ninth Parliament will go down in history as one of the most insensitive.

The MPs not only rode roughshod over the feelings of those who voted for them, but they must be held to account for the madness that nearly drove Kenya to the brink.

They were quick to take care of their welfare by awarding themselves stupendous pay raises and allowances despite opposition from their constituents, most of them living on less than a dollar a day. Then they divided the country with their irresponsible language.

Members of the Tenth Parliament should keep their heads if they know what’s good for them. We cannot reverse the many luxuries they enjoy, but we, the long-suffering citizens, have unanimously voted for Agenda Five of the negotiations towards a new, improved Kenya that reads: “Keeping our MPs in check”.

We have learnt that nothing is impossible in politics and, if we have our way, there shall be a recall clause in the new Constitution we have been promised. Be kind to yourselves and take note of the fate of a good number of MPs in the last Parliament.

We threw them out ruthlessly, including some whose only claim to fame was currying favour with the “appointing authority”. They forgot who the real paymaster was and played sycophant shamelessly. Now they are languishing in the political graveyard.

Lesson four is that we must develop centres of power beyond politicians. An independent Civil Service would be a good start. As things stand, we are held hostage by grossly overrated politicians.

We follow them around begging for jobs, school fees and even bride price. They throw us bread crumbs and we are so grateful that we kill for them. They say “jump”, and we ask how high.

They are making the right noises now in the hope that they will land in the new-look Cabinet. It is possible that there are genuinely public-minded people in the line-up of candidates. It is more likely that the gold-rush is inspired purely by selfish reasons.

There’s only one thing to remember: none of the posturing during the campaigns and in the bloodbath afterwards had anything to do with democracy, which my dictionary defines as “fair and equal treatment of everyone... and their right to take part in making decisions”.

An old man lost his two wives and eight children in Naivasha during the mad days after the election. Do you suppose he was consulted on the matter?