As Kenya, East Africa's arguably best economy heads for presidential polls on tuesday, I find it imperative that I try to squeeze juice out of this sacred election. I know most of you, just like me, have so many rhetorical expectations from this mighty election, but most sacredly are the questions that preoccupy our minds as to how the political show down will go in our neighbourhood. Most importantly, everyone is asking himself the question: 'What does the Harambe election mean to us as a country?. As I allow you to ponder on the connotative underpinnings of this election unto us, allow me first delve us onto the historical perspective and its alliterative explanatory shaping of Kenya's politics.
In 1895, Kenya became a Protectorate under the colonial york of the British. Just like it was in Uganda and many African countries in Africa, if not all, so was it in Kenya, that the master, accruing from the cartoon number of administrators on the continent and the need to break the thick unity that existed amongst Africans and Kenyans in particular, used indirect rule. Advantaged by their big numbers, and for fear of their opposition, the kikuyu and the luo for the most part dominated the other forty one Kenyan tribes then(Before adding Indian-Kenyans as the 44th tribe), a trend that remained even after independence and still has connotative underpinnings in Shaping the country's politics.
As we face the reality, when independence came in 1963, the instruments of coercision were given to Mzee Jomo Kenyatta(Father of Incumbent Uhuru Kenyatta), a Kikuyu as the first president of independent Kenya, and Oginga Jaramogi odinga, a luo(Father to NASA alliance candidate, Raila Odinga) became the first vice president of Kenya.
In his 'naive' projections, Oginga Odinga saw himself a president after Kenyatta, having fought for independence, something that never materialised following the duo's fall out out following their unkempt ideological baptisms of capitalism(Kenyatta) and Communism(Oginga Odinga). This was the start of bad waters between the two leading to the latter's resignation from vice presidency, left Kenya African National Union Party(KANU) party and formed Kenya People's Union(KPU). Their rivalry took a a more reciprocal twist in 1969 when Odinga was arrested after the two verbally abused eachother at a chaotic function in Kisumu, where at least 11 people were killed and dozens injured in the riots. Odinga would later be detained for two years and consigned to political limbo until after Kenyatta's death in august 1978.
From that historical perspective, it would appear then that apart from the Kenyan politics being tailored along tribal divides, it is an attempt by president Uhuru Kenyatta, to maintain the legacy of the father, but also ensure the Odinga family does not lead Kenya, something that might turn things bottoms up for the family owing to Odinga's thirst for revenge. On the otherhand, Odinga wants to re-correct the history against the family that their shot at politics was a failure.
Odinga, in his seventies now, has contested three times, losing all(1997, 2007 and 2013) and sees this as probably his last shot at the road to the state house. In the 2007 disputed election, Raila allied with the people of the rift valley, Karenjin, who now side with incumbent Uhuru Kenyatta, with William Ruto, a deputy president and running mate. Because of the notion that the Kenyatta and the Kikuyu tribe have dominated Kenya for years, most tribes now seem to be in the most decisive gear to rally their support for the NASA candidate, as they make a knock at the state house.
As these rivalries heat up, we already see signs of uncertainty of the outcome of the election, bringing me back to my question, the implication this election has for us as a country. From a humanitarian point of view, when there is a crisis in Kenya, something that we donot wish actually to happen, Uganda must feel the heat of influx of refugees, with already sagging numbers from South Sudan, Congo and Burundi. These numbers would impact on our already limited resources like land and financil envelope.
From a telescopic view point of the economy, the Kenyan election determines how stable our economy would be. Uganda for the last 30 years has had to rely on Kenya for its imports and exports, with the Tanzania route handling only 3% of our business. This means any outcome that would resemble that of 2007, would negatively impact on our already grumbling 29trillion economy.
As I conclude, it is important that our brothers in Kenya especially the Kenyatta-Odinga divides donot seek to quench their political rivalries by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred that might geopardise the so far peace and stability we have in the region, but also be cognisant of the fact that as East Africa tries to walk on its own feet, peace is the DNA of our sustainable growth.
Written by,
Rurekyera Geofrey
Chief News Editor at Crooze fm 91. 2 fm
rurekyerageofrey@gmail. com
In 1895, Kenya became a Protectorate under the colonial york of the British. Just like it was in Uganda and many African countries in Africa, if not all, so was it in Kenya, that the master, accruing from the cartoon number of administrators on the continent and the need to break the thick unity that existed amongst Africans and Kenyans in particular, used indirect rule. Advantaged by their big numbers, and for fear of their opposition, the kikuyu and the luo for the most part dominated the other forty one Kenyan tribes then(Before adding Indian-Kenyans as the 44th tribe), a trend that remained even after independence and still has connotative underpinnings in Shaping the country's politics.
As we face the reality, when independence came in 1963, the instruments of coercision were given to Mzee Jomo Kenyatta(Father of Incumbent Uhuru Kenyatta), a Kikuyu as the first president of independent Kenya, and Oginga Jaramogi odinga, a luo(Father to NASA alliance candidate, Raila Odinga) became the first vice president of Kenya.
In his 'naive' projections, Oginga Odinga saw himself a president after Kenyatta, having fought for independence, something that never materialised following the duo's fall out out following their unkempt ideological baptisms of capitalism(Kenyatta) and Communism(Oginga Odinga). This was the start of bad waters between the two leading to the latter's resignation from vice presidency, left Kenya African National Union Party(KANU) party and formed Kenya People's Union(KPU). Their rivalry took a a more reciprocal twist in 1969 when Odinga was arrested after the two verbally abused eachother at a chaotic function in Kisumu, where at least 11 people were killed and dozens injured in the riots. Odinga would later be detained for two years and consigned to political limbo until after Kenyatta's death in august 1978.
From that historical perspective, it would appear then that apart from the Kenyan politics being tailored along tribal divides, it is an attempt by president Uhuru Kenyatta, to maintain the legacy of the father, but also ensure the Odinga family does not lead Kenya, something that might turn things bottoms up for the family owing to Odinga's thirst for revenge. On the otherhand, Odinga wants to re-correct the history against the family that their shot at politics was a failure.
Odinga, in his seventies now, has contested three times, losing all(1997, 2007 and 2013) and sees this as probably his last shot at the road to the state house. In the 2007 disputed election, Raila allied with the people of the rift valley, Karenjin, who now side with incumbent Uhuru Kenyatta, with William Ruto, a deputy president and running mate. Because of the notion that the Kenyatta and the Kikuyu tribe have dominated Kenya for years, most tribes now seem to be in the most decisive gear to rally their support for the NASA candidate, as they make a knock at the state house.
As these rivalries heat up, we already see signs of uncertainty of the outcome of the election, bringing me back to my question, the implication this election has for us as a country. From a humanitarian point of view, when there is a crisis in Kenya, something that we donot wish actually to happen, Uganda must feel the heat of influx of refugees, with already sagging numbers from South Sudan, Congo and Burundi. These numbers would impact on our already limited resources like land and financil envelope.
From a telescopic view point of the economy, the Kenyan election determines how stable our economy would be. Uganda for the last 30 years has had to rely on Kenya for its imports and exports, with the Tanzania route handling only 3% of our business. This means any outcome that would resemble that of 2007, would negatively impact on our already grumbling 29trillion economy.
As I conclude, it is important that our brothers in Kenya especially the Kenyatta-Odinga divides donot seek to quench their political rivalries by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred that might geopardise the so far peace and stability we have in the region, but also be cognisant of the fact that as East Africa tries to walk on its own feet, peace is the DNA of our sustainable growth.
Written by,
Rurekyera Geofrey
Chief News Editor at Crooze fm 91. 2 fm
rurekyerageofrey@gmail. com
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