Kenya: Agreeing to disagree in politics while looking at the Moi era
Posted by African Press International on September 17, 2008
With the benefit of hind sight, I can now effectively respond to the article by George Nyongesa on President [Rtd] Moi.
In so responding, I want to play the devils advocate and praise Moi for having led Kenya in those 24 good old days. George says that Moi ran down our economy, I beg to differ. Under Moi, people had money. The social places were active and Kenyans were alot more friendly because they could spend.
In the 24 years that Mzee Moi was President in Kenya, he kept the prices of all, yes, all essential commodities at affordable prices. Not once did even Bunge La Mwananchi members have any reason to demonstrate on account of high and unaffordable prices of food items.
Between 1978 and 2002 when we ejected Mzee and replaced him with the current one, the price of Unga went up by only Ksh 22.00. In 1978, Unga was selling at Kshs 2.40, while in 2002 as Mzee was leaving office, Unga was retailing at Kshs 25.00.
Compare that to what Unga is retailing at now; Kshs 85.00, a price that made George and other colleagues demonstrate on account of high food prices. If I were to be asked who between the two I would vote for now, readily, most people, I included, would vote overwhelmingly for Mzee Moi.
If Moi could manage to maintain such prices of basic items at that low price, what do you have to say of his economic management? Who between him abd Kibaki has brought down the economy of the country down?
If in 24 years, the prices of essential items increased at less than a shilling per year under Mzee Moi, then what do you say of astronomical increases of basic items under our current economic genius? I bet Kibaki has got it all wrong on the economic front. Or is it just strategic?
George talks about tribalism. I bet in 1975 he might not have been around to see what tribalism was. All spheres of the Kenyan body politics and state corporations were headed by mandarins from the same region. But when Mzee Moi came to the scene in 1978, he came up with regional balancing. He made all his appointments based on regional balance. His regional balance in most cases did not come in with corresponding merit. But all the same, most regions were well represented in his administration.
Then Kibaki came in in 2002, and immediately took Kenya back to the pre-Moi times. Public service became the immediate preserve of the chosen few from the one tribe. I really doubt if George is able to see what goes on now, even under the presumed Government of National Unity.
On the corruption front, Mzee Moi fared on modestly. The kind of scums Kenya witnessed under Moi in 24 years are child play compared to what we have gone through as a country under Mzee Kibaki. Kenya is yet to come to full terms with the truth behind Anglo Leasing.
As we marvel at this, the current ongoings at Central Bank of Kenya are such massive issues that Mwatela had to be removed. If there is one administration that know how to play Public Relations as it loots the countries coffers, then this is it.
The country has been such massively looted that the cost of leaving has become unbearable. When you think about the children who are exposed to this kind of life, you shudder with rage at how they will cope up.
The Kibaki adminstration is making Kenyans to resort to crime for survival. The Kibaki adminstration does not care at all about the plight of the ordinary mwananchi. Our children are growing staring at crime and prostitution as the best option in life.
Look at the level of phornography that the country has seen under Mzee Kibaki. We have to be truthful. Life is absolutely bad under Mzee Kibaki. Our kids are such exposed to bad ways that in their role models, they see thieves, pimps and charlatans; people who thrive in disobeying the law, and nothing happens to them. They are instead lofted to higher office.
Is this the kind of society we want for our children? A society where role models are lacking? A society where thieves thrive in their ways? A society where the high and the mighty are a law unto themselves? A society where the police engage in blatant crime? A society where justice is denied to the deserving?
No.
Come to the prices of fuel. What did Moi get right for all those 24 years that Kibaki has failed on completely. When Mzee Moi left the scene, super was retailing at Kshs 38.00. 6 years down the line, the same super is retailing at Kshs 108.00.
I cannot, with the benefit of this history, blame Moi on the economy, tribalism and corruption. He was by far the better manager.
Kenyans have been killed in circumstances that defy logic. Pio Pinto, TJ Mboya, JM Kariuki, Bruce McKenzie, Kitili Mwendwa and others under Mzee Kenyatta. Then more Kenyans were killed; Robert Ouko, Horrace Ongili, and others under Mzee Moi. And yet more Kenyans have been killed; Odhiambo Mbai, Mugabe Were, David Too and others under Mzee Kibaki.
Between the three of them, who is a saint. Kenyatta has his fair share of explanations to do. So does Moi and Kibaki.
In the final day of judgement, God the Almighty will ask them; I gave you my sheep to shepherd, and on sunset, this number were missing under your watch. Can you account?
Repenting for some of these things is another thing. We have Bishops who have left the ways of God, yet every Sunday, they are the first ones in church.
What would you say about John Cardinal Njue who is running down the once vibrant and respected Catholic Church?
By Odhiambo T Oketch
Komarock Nairobi
— On Mon, 9/8/08, George Nyongesa <grnyongesa@yahoo.com> wrote:
Moi should repent for inhumanities Kenyans suffered under his rule!
I take great exception to the article by Mr. Nathaniel Otum from Migori, titled “Moi ageing graciously” in one of our dailies dated September 7, 2008 praising Moi’s enviable public charity in relinquishing power, his wise counsel to the public and even going further to associate him with icon leaders like Nelson Mandela. These assertions, especially comparing Moi to Mandela, exemplify lack of understanding and disrespect to historical facts and are highly misplaced.
I would like to inform Mr. Otum that for 24 years, former President Moi’s government besides running our economy down and preaching tribalism in reverse; he presided over massive human indignities and loss of life. The precursor to 2007 election related violence were experimented during Moi’s rule as evidenced with 1992 Rift Valley tribal clashes, Likoni clashes and Wagalla massacres.
Extra judicial killings were perfected under Moi’s reign where security personnel spelled insecurity to their innocent citizens. Remember how many Kenyans died in the clamor for multi-partyism? It was during Moi’s watch that the country lost progressive leaders like Foreign Minister, Robert ouko, Archibishop Alexander Muge and Father Kaiser simply they had dissenting voice.
During Moi’s rule discussions on social injustices was punishable by Kidnapping and enforced disappearance or life sentences. How many journalists were tortured, maimed or killed for practicing truth telling?
Moi has never repented over the Nyayo house torture chambers and the crimes against humanity perpetrated under his government orders. That Moi celebrated his 85th birthday only makes me wonder how many of those who died or those they left behind would have equally wanted a long life. During his rule Kenyans were oppressed, kidnapped, tortured and detained without trial. Does Mr. Otum have any idea how many became widows, orphans or mentally ill during Moi’s rule? Moi’s sporadic appearance and public commentaries are actions of a man who is in the cold and misses the public limelight.
There is a lot that Mandela loses if he is compared to Moi. Moi rightly belongs to the company of former presidents Kamuzu Banda, Mobutu Sesseko or Idi Amin. I am of the opinion if Moi’s claim that he is a Christian be true, he should publicly confess to and repent for the inhumanities he put this country especially to families who lost their loved ones and spend his retirement reciting rosary for God’s forgiveness over having misused his power.
By George Nyongesa
Bunge la Mwananchi
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API
