Commentary (by Njuguna Mutonya) - Politicians must listen to the people

Ref: http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgcontententry.asp?category_id=25&newsid=118508
Story by NJUGUNA MUTONYA
Publication Date: 3/8/2008

From the top of the hill housing the mv Bukoba disaster monument in Mwanza, Tanzania, the huge volcanic boulders overlooking the harbour stand in a sagacious pose over Lake Victoria – East Africa’s common denominator.

At the nearby New Mwanza Hotel, East African Community leaders, in a recent well attended retreat, ponder the fate of the region’s infrastructure.

The delegates spice their speeches with the now common mantra,“As recent events in Kenya have shown”, to the discomfiture of those from the country which, a few months ago, were boasting of peace and development.

After the post-election violence in Kenya and the long-drawn negotiations leading to the restoration of peace, the excitement is over and the hard work has begun. It is hoped that the political actors have listened to the people’s message and are acting accordingly.

The people, of course, exclude the hawks on both sides of the political divide who wish to pull the others back to the anarchy trenches for selfish interests.

The hawks will always be there, and they will throw tantrums and put logs in the way of reconstruction, if only to remain relevant.

The new political dispensation calls for off-loading excess baggage by both camps so that the principals may chart a new course for Kenya. By holding court privately, the President and the Prime Minister-designate have shown that they intend to take charge of the country’s political transformation.

They have the moral advantage of being perceived by Kenyans to be the midwives of the deal they brought about when there were doubts about its sustenance.

They must continue to use this advantage not for short-term political gains, but to entrench the new political reality into the foundations of a new constitution that can serve Kenyans for the next 50 years at least.

They must also navigate dexterously in the sea of anxiety among politicians used to fawning or trashing opponents.

Such politicians must now accede to the new political order because the people owe them nothing.

The new political dispensation will hopefully destroy the current patronage lines, although new ones will emerge, but the two political peaks must resist the temptation of putting self ahead of public interest for it to succeed.

The two men have the opportunity to establish a legacy that will serve the country for generations — just as Xanana Gusmao and Ramos Horta did for East Timor at a time of need. Kenyans do not expect less.

Pictures from all over the country of people screaming in ecstasy about the signing of the power-sharing pact and the almost magical switching off of hostilities sends the clear message that they demand leadership from politicians.

The agreement to set up a truth and reconciliation committee and hold joint meetings by the parliamentary groups is a clear sign that there are serious attempts to move on.

In Mwanza where the experts were discussing the region’s infrastructure, the mood was one of cautious camaraderie about the Kenyan experience.

We are glad the madness is over and lessons have been learnt, but the whole region must learn to listen to what the people say, they said.

Peace cannot be taken for granted. Last weekend, Hillary Namanje and Joel Godiah presented a comedy to a full house at Mombasa’s Little Theatre Club, tritled Cash on Delivery by Michael Cooney.

The wildly acclaimed play had the hall in stitches in true celebration of the reduced tension in the country.

Now that the smile is back on Kenyans’ faces and politicians seem to be setting the country back on course, one can only hope that the past is behind us and that a new constitutional dispensation has arrived.