Commentary (by Standard Editorial team ) - We will hold you to coalition promises

Ref:http://www.eastandard.net/news/?id=1143982916&cid=16


Published on March 7, 2008, 12:00 am

By focussing initial policy priorities on improving livelihoods and conditions for the poor, the coalition government led by President Kibaki and Mr Raila Odinga struck many a right note.

The first tasks it set itself, as reported to Parliament at the opening of the second session yesterday, revolve around gathering the best ideas from the three main members of the grand coalition and putting them to work for the largest number of Kenyans possible.

Historical accident will now see key policies from the Party of National Unity, Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and ODM-Kenya all find a home in a joint policy and programme strategy. This inclusive, consultative approach bodes well, but only if Members of Parliament can rise above partisan objectives and bear to see rivals gain public credit and even political capital for their proposals.

While this seems a rational aspiration, it is by no means certain that ideas that are good for the people will pass unmolested in Parliament. It is not uncommon to see progressive legislation take a beating or fail to gain traction as unrelated axes are ground on behalf of party leaders.

Consequently, it is reassuring that a good half of the MPs in the Tenth Parliament are new to the House. With luck, the unusual circumstances of their entry onto the political scene will inure them to the bad habits of past legislators.

Hopefully, like the President, they will see the post-election crisis and its reshaping of Kenyan politics as a historic opportunity for "a great competition of ideas" and allow constructive debate, rather than party dogma, to inform decisions that lead to the final shape of the new dispensation Kenyans have demanded.

The proposals listed yesterday for changes in education, health, agriculture, infrastructure development, local governance and national security, among others, join a long list of promises made to the people on which all parties to the coalition government must be held accountable. Of particular interest will be actions to promote reconciliation and improve ethnic relations.

It is encouraging that the President saw fit to remind MPs of the high expectations for the building of a new Kenya. This, he reminded them, should "override any other individual and factional agendas".

He might well have added that while reconstruction of the economy and its infrastructure is urgent and important, it is the success of community reconciliation efforts that will be most significant to getting the nation back on track. Roads and bridges are pointless if we are unwilling to drive along them to live, work and trade with each other.