We need a resurgence of national values to give a long term solution to the breakdown of social order.
Many say that, “politicians are the greatest violators of human rights” they are falling back on national healing and reconciliation.
It is clear to me that urgent corrective measures are required to forestall any further deterioration and devastation. In my view, the breakdown of our social order is the result of many factors that include:
A winner takes all style of leadership that results in the people allied to the leader benefitting more than other people, hunger for power and money among politicians which makes them use any societal cleavages however, evil to mobilize support and a culture of impunity that is evidenced by failure t punish culprits for wrong doing.
A closer look at current events is that our leaders have failed to admit they are unable to provide for the most basic need, food. Blames and pointing of fingers over the food shortage while many famers cry foul as their produce cannot be bought!
In my opinion, we need to re-examine ourselves. We have paid dearly.
Nevertheless let’s take a break, as many have said; can we really look away and pretend nothing happened? It would be to our shame as a nation and would be our doing. Justice exists for a reason, and we must exercise it to the fullest when face with crimes of this nature. If we carry on, regardless, one thing is assured: it will happen again if those who perpetrated it are never prosecuted.
I recall the United Nation’s Deputy Commissioner for Human Rights, Kyung Wha Kang’s words that, Kenya has no option but to adopt and implement it in full for the sake of justice and democracy in the country and for the future.
“Lets hold ourselves into account as we hold our leaders into account” Njeri Kabeberi the Executive Director of the Centre for Multi-Party Democracy-Kenya.
“Implementation and action must replace invasion and denial…to bring to justice the perpetrators of the serious crimes will be a critical test of the Kenyan political leadership in the struggle to end impunity.”
What does this mean for us as those who will cast the vote? Our leaders need to inspire hope.
“In a true democracy, it is what happens between elections that are the true measure of how a government treats its people. Today we are starting to see that the Kenyan people want more than a simple changing of guard, more than piecemeal reforms to a crisis that’s crippling their country,” Barrak Obama the President of America in his lecture at the UoN .
It is a wakeup call, not to be swayed by our leader’s rhetoric. Politics is a completion, fact. A competion to enable us to sieve tribalism ideology and embrace politics based on issues and ideals.
Ideals that will quench the Kenyan’s thirst for real change and faster reforms. More needs to be done as we listen to an array of leaders in need for our votes.
As Kenyans, we have to work hard to get ahead. With a slight change of priorities we can make a difference.
To achieve the change that is greatly desired, we also have to change the way we do things with regard to tribalism and corruption no matter how persuasive our leaders speak to us, and unless change comes from within us the change will be elusive.
We should remain hopeful, calm and united despite our diverse opinions as 2012 draws near.
