THE SNAKE HAS ONLY SHED ITS SKIN…..

After a 10- year stint in office that will be best remembered for the new constitution, primary education made available to every Kenyan child and improvements in infrastructure, particularly the Nairobi -Thika Superhighway, President Kibaki is finally seeing over his 10-year stay at the house on the hill; he is retiring. As usual the political scene is abuzz with activity as politicians jostle over will take over the reins, at State House. If the date set by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission is anything to go by, we will have the general elections in March 2012. However, we may still have them late this year, if efforts by a section of politicians to have the elections in December, succeed. Either way, we are sure to have a new tenant occupying the house on the hill, by mid next year.

All parties are in a rush to put their houses in order, and conform to the Political Parties Act, or risk being thrown out; a first in the politics of the land. Aspiring presidential candidates are also keen on securing the right vehicle that will successfully take them to State House. Political parties are rebranding and changing party names and logos, among others. New alliances are coming up as politicians jump ship from one party to the other. Long time political friends are breaking up and going separate ways and politically sworn rivals are joining hands, akin to the saying that there are neither permanent friends nor enemies in politics, but only permanent interests. The Kenyan politics are truly living every word of this adage. New promises and pledges are being made to the Kenyan voter, all in the name of winning votes.  But can these men and women, the current waheshimiwas bring the much needed change and reforms that they so easily promise? Most likely, they cannot.

These politicians have literally thrown into the bin, scandals that have almost brought- down the public coffers of this land. Governments come and go, but none has really solved this, in any case, new scandals have emerged. What happened to the Goldenberg and the Anglo-leasing scandals? Nothing was done. To rub salt onto the wound, we have only managed to get more scandals, as though it is something to be proud of. The Kazi Kwa Vijana saga, the Grand- Regency, the maize scandal, the Free Primary Education funds are some of the most recent scandals, to have rocked the country, and most important, stolen from the tax-payer, once again. The very politicians, who shifted blame over these, denied responsibility and continued sitting pretty in their offices, as though nothing happened. On the other end, it was agony and anguish as ordinary Kenyans, saw their money literally drink water. Is this the same crop of politicians who we will vote into office, deceiving ourselves that they will bring this much needed change? They cannot do it.

Corruption has become a national sport, which almost everyone is willing to play. How funny! Corruption in government offices, coupled with negative ethnicity and tribalism are the order of the day. All these are happening right under the watch of these politicians, and yet nothing is being done about it. As a country, we are used to politicians playing to the public gallery, whenever a scandal is unearthed. They trade accusations at public rallies, even reverting to tribal and ethnic cocoons, and create the impression that their communities are being witch- hunted. Sadly, Kenyans buy this and the whole issue just becomes one endless circus. Our politicians and Kenyans alike, in their multitudes must stop following this cheap talk by the politicians.

For Kenya to change and become that Canaan that we all dream of, the political class must reinvent itself and walk the talk. Otherwise, we will keep on voting the same old politicians into office, retain the same old mentality and political styles, and deliver nothing. At the end of the five years, the same politicians will camouflage and rename their parties, change party logos and make new pledges and worse still, deliver nothing. Talk of the Kenyan voter being a frustrated man and woman, heartbreaks and anguish being the order of the day.

The snake might have shed its skin, but it remains the very dangerous snake………

A PRESIDENT BROUGHT DOWN TO HIS KNEES……….

``History will be kind to me………..’’These are the words of Liberia’s former strongman, Charles Taylor, as he publicly announced his resignation in the country’s capital Monrovia, in 2003, after a 17-year at the helm of Liberia. Never did he think that he would be forced to eat the humble pie and pay for the atrocities that he had abetted and aided, in neighboring Sierra Leone.

These words must have reverberated afresh in Taylor’s mind on Thursday, as the International Criminal Court finally convicted him for crimes against humanity, committed in Sierra Leone.  He had been found guilty of 11 counts of following his indictment in 2003, the war-lord turned president was finally found guilty of abetting and aiding crimes against humanity in Sierra- Leone’s 11-year old war, which ended in 2002. Following the conviction for war crimes and crimes against humanity, the former president is now staring at long-term imprisonment, in the face. Indeed a bitter pill to swallow for a man who not long ago was enjoying the trappings of power. From the powerful president to a man who has been humbled by the patience of time, Taylor must curse the very power that he had fought so hard to attain.

Power and greed choked him and he aided the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council and Revolutionary United Front, rebel factions, in return for the infamous blood diamonds. This decade-long civil war was one of the deadliest in Africa. From the kidnapping  of innocent children, who were then drugged and turned into merciless killers,  to the chilling episodes of innocent civilians having their hands chopped off. The rebels had chilling trademarks for these gruesome mutilations such as short-sleeve and long-sleeve, depending on where victims would prefer to lose their hands from, either above or below the elbow. Yet to Taylor, the bloody diamonds gave him satisfaction at the expense of the untold suffering that the people of Sierra Leone underwent. A war that left more than 50,000 people dead and eleven years down the line, Sierra Leone is still struggling to rebuild.

It is now a matter of when not if, Taylor will be jailed. This must give sleepless nights to other tyrants who are obsessed with power, especially in Africa. Former Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo, Congolese warlord Thomas lubanga among many others awaiting their fate at The Hague based court. Our very own Deputy Prime Minister, Uhuru Kenyatta, Eldoret North legislator William Ruto, former head of Civil service  Amb. Francis Muthaura and radio presenter, Joshua arap Sang, are also waiting in baited breath to find out whether they will go the Taylor way or not.

Taylor’s conviction and possible lengthy imprisonment is a just the bitter reality that the untouchables under whose watch, crimes of war and against humanity have been committed, must wake up and accept.

The fact that the former Liberian president is the first head of state to be convicted by The Hague based court must have send ripples across the class of tyrants the world over, who had thought that law could not catch up with them. The wheels of justice have finally ground in on one of the most powerful presidents, in Africa. The calibre of leaders who have overseen some of the deadliest conflicts the world has ever witnessed. Sudan’s Omar El Bashir can cling onto the presidency for as long as he likes, Joseph Kony of the Lord’s Resistance Army, in Uganda can hide deeper in the dense forests of Congo, but their date at The Hague is drawing near, with each passing day. There time is up and no matter how long they may be on the run, the wheels of justice will one day catch up with them; Taylor and Lubanga can now attest to this stark reality.

Just as the victims of Sierra Leone bask in the glory of Taylor’s conviction, many more that were voiceless will finally get the long awaited justice, that had appeared elusive and a pipe dream for years.

Unlike his famous statement that history will be kind to him, it has judged him harshly.

A PRESIDENT BROUGHT DOWN TO HIS KNEES……….

``History will be kind to me………..’’These are the words of Liberia’s former strongman, Charles Taylor, as he publicly announced his resignation in the country’s capital Monrovia, in 2003, after a 17-year at the helm of Liberia. Never did he think that he would be forced to eat the humble pie and pay for the atrocities that he had abetted and aided, in neighboring Sierra Leone.

These words must have reverberated afresh in Taylor’s mind on Thursday, as the International Criminal Court finally convicted him for crimes against humanity, committed in Sierra Leone.  He had been found guilty of 11 counts of following his indictment in 2003, the war-lord turned president was finally found guilty of abetting and aiding crimes against humanity in Sierra- Leone’s 11-year old war, which ended in 2002. Following the conviction for war crimes and crimes against humanity, the former president is now staring at long-term imprisonment, in the face. Indeed a bitter pill to swallow for a man who not long ago was enjoying the trappings of power. From the powerful president to a man who has been humbled by the patience of time, Taylor must curse the very power that he had fought so hard to attain.

Power and greed choked him and he aided the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council and Revolutionary United Front, rebel factions, in return for the infamous blood diamonds. This decade-long civil war was one of the deadliest in Africa. From the kidnapping  of innocent children, who were then drugged and turned into merciless killers,  to the chilling episodes of innocent civilians having their hands chopped off. The rebels had chilling trademarks for these gruesome mutilations such as short-sleeve and long-sleeve, depending on where victims would prefer to lose their hands from, either above or below the elbow. Yet to Taylor, the bloody diamonds gave him satisfaction at the expense of the untold suffering that the people of Sierra Leone underwent. A war that left more than 50,000 people dead and eleven years down the line, Sierra Leone is still struggling to rebuild.

It is now a matter of when not if, Taylor will be jailed. This must give sleepless nights to other tyrants who are obsessed with power, especially in Africa. Former Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo, Congolese warlord Thomas lubanga among many others awaiting their fate at The Hague based court. Our very own Deputy Prime Minister, Uhuru Kenyatta, Eldoret North legislator William Ruto, former head of Civil service  Amb. Francis Muthaura and radio presenter, Joshua arap Sang, are also waiting in baited breath to find out whether they will go the Taylor way or not.

Taylor’s conviction and possible lengthy imprisonment is a just the bitter reality that the untouchables under whose watch, crimes of war and against humanity have been committed, must wake up and accept.

The fact that the former Liberian president is the first head of state to be convicted by The Hague based court must have send ripples across the class of tyrants the world over, who had thought that law could not catch up with them. The wheels of justice have finally ground in on one of the most powerful presidents, in Africa. The calibre of leaders who have overseen some of the deadliest conflicts the world has ever witnessed. Sudan’s Omar El Bashir can cling onto the presidency for as long as he likes, Joseph Kony of the Lord’s Resistance Army, in Uganda can hide deeper in the dense forests of Congo, but their date at The Hague is drawing near, with each passing day. There time is up and no matter how long they may be on the run, the wheels of justice will one day catch up with them; Taylor and Lubanga can now attest to this stark reality.

Just as the victims of Sierra Leone bask in the glory of Taylor’s conviction, many more that were voiceless will finally get the long awaited justice, that had appeared elusive and a pipe dream for years.

Unlike his famous statement that history will be kind to him, it has judged him harshly.

A PRESIDENT BROUGHT DOWN TO HIS KNEES……….

``History will be kind to me………..’’These are the words of Liberia’s former strongman, Charles Taylor, as he publicly announced his resignation in the country’s capital Monrovia, in 2003, after a 17-year at the helm of Liberia. Never did he think that he would be forced to eat the humble pie and pay for the atrocities that he had abetted and aided, in neighboring Sierra Leone.

These words must have reverberated afresh in Taylor’s mind on Thursday, as the International Criminal Court finally convicted him for crimes against humanity, committed in Sierra Leone.  He had been found guilty of 11 counts of following his indictment in 2003, the war-lord turned president was finally found guilty of abetting and aiding crimes against humanity in Sierra- Leone’s 11-year old war, which ended in 2002. Following the conviction for war crimes and crimes against humanity, the former president is now staring at long-term imprisonment, in the face. Indeed a bitter pill to swallow for a man who not long ago was enjoying the trappings of power. From the powerful president to a man who has been humbled by the patience of time, Taylor must curse the very power that he had fought so hard to attain.

Power and greed choked him and he aided the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council and Revolutionary United Front, rebel factions, in return for the infamous blood diamonds. This decade-long civil war was one of the deadliest in Africa. From the kidnapping  of innocent children, who were then drugged and turned into merciless killers,  to the chilling episodes of innocent civilians having their hands chopped off. The rebels had chilling trademarks for these gruesome mutilations such as short-sleeve and long-sleeve, depending on where victims would prefer to lose their hands from, either above or below the elbow. Yet to Taylor, the bloody diamonds gave him satisfaction at the expense of the untold suffering that the people of Sierra Leone underwent. A war that left more than 50,000 people dead and eleven years down the line, Sierra Leone is still struggling to rebuild.

It is now a matter of when not if, Taylor will be jailed. This must give sleepless nights to other tyrants who are obsessed with power, especially in Africa. Former Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo, Congolese warlord Thomas lubanga among many others awaiting their fate at The Hague based court. Our very own Deputy Prime Minister, Uhuru Kenyatta, Eldoret North legislator William Ruto, former head of Civil service  Amb. Francis Muthaura and radio presenter, Joshua arap Sang, are also waiting in baited breath to find out whether they will go the Taylor way or not.

Taylor’s conviction and possible lengthy imprisonment is a just the bitter reality that the untouchables under whose watch, crimes of war and against humanity have been committed, must wake up and accept.

The fact that the former Liberian president is the first head of state to be convicted by The Hague based court must have send ripples across the class of tyrants the world over, who had thought that law could not catch up with them. The wheels of justice have finally ground in on one of the most powerful presidents, in Africa. The calibre of leaders who have overseen some of the deadliest conflicts the world has ever witnessed. Sudan’s Omar El Bashir can cling onto the presidency for as long as he likes, Joseph Kony of the Lord’s Resistance Army, in Uganda can hide deeper in the dense forests of Congo, but their date at The Hague is drawing near, with each passing day. There time is up and no matter how long they may be on the run, the wheels of justice will one day catch up with them; Taylor and Lubanga can now attest to this stark reality.

Just as the victims of Sierra Leone bask in the glory of Taylor’s conviction, many more that were voiceless will finally get the long awaited justice, that had appeared elusive and a pipe dream for years.

Unlike his famous statement that history will be kind to him, it has judged him harshly.

MOMBASA REPUBLICAN COUNCIL, A MISGUIDED IDEOLOGY AND A THREAT TO NATIONAL SECURITY

In his keynote speech to the nation during the official re-opening of Parliament on Tuesday, President Kibaki finally declared the government’s stand with regard to the Mombasa Republican Council; that the Coast has, is and will always be part of Kenya. The head of state was categorical that calls for secession would not be entertained, for Kenya is a unitary state. This in essence meant that independence for the Coastal strip cannot be guaranteed. This came just days after Prime Minister; Raila Odinga had said that the government was not willing to negotiate with this group about their secession bid.

The Mombasa Republican Council, MRC, has been vocal in demanding that the Coastal strip must be granted its territorial independence. They have gone back to the archives and all of a sudden realized that this strip that accounts for most of Kenya’s tourism revenue should be granted autonomy, free from the Republic of Kenya.  They have cited neglect by the previous regimes and poverty as some of the issues that they are crying out for. But this is something that the government must be wary about, and tackle this matter with the seriousness that it demands.

Any group, based on whichever grounds, calling for secession is one that is a threat to national security. The MRC is no different from this. The fact that it has adopted violent means to enhance their bid does not make matters any better. A case in example was when the faction interfered with a mock election by the Independent Elections and Boundaries Commission, IEBC in Kilifi. In the ensuing fracas, the group burned a vehicle assigned to the IEBC, completely reducing it to a shell, besides robbing a policeman of his firearm. This was a criminal offence. Otherwise, how would you describe the fact that a firearm is in unlicensed hands, if not to commit a felony somewhere? This act was in itself, enough to warrant decisive action from the government and as the head of state said, as a nation we are crossing our fingers, hoping that this MRC menace will be put to rest, once and for all.

We are moving towards the general elections and the agonizing memories of the 07-08 post-poll violence are still fresh in our minds. Thus the presence of a group that has already showed its violent intent is chilling, at least to the people down at the Coast. History has shown that many of these illegal groups are bend on unleashing terror to innocent Kenyans, under the guise of the confusion of an electioneering period. The attack that members of the MRC carried out in Kilifi, during the mock election exercise by the IEBC, attests to this.

As a country, we should be vigilant enough to make sure that history does not repeat itself. The Sabaot Land Defense Force, SLDF, started out just like the Mombasa Republican Council, and before long it was unleashing terror on the very people it claimed to fight for. Genuine cries about land gave way to a deadly militia that took the intervention of the Kenya Defense Force, to quell. However, the people of Mt. Elgon had undergone untold suffering at the brutal hands of the militia; chopping of ears, raping of women, killing of innocent civilians and destruction of property, are some of the wounds that the people of Mt Elgon are yet to heal from.  This illegal sect-turned militia is one of the many illegal groupings that the country has had to contend with; Mungiki, Sungusungu and Chingororo among others. The untold suffering that innocent Kenyans have undergone at the hands of these misguided and ideologically misguided groupings is enough to warrant decisive action against the MRC.

On the international scene, cases of secession have not a bed of roses, even where they are justifiable. Our neighbors, the now sovereign South Sudan have successfully seceded from the North, but not without some deadly repercussions. Disputes over oil-rich regions like Heglig and Abyei states have led to loss of lives due to the deadly clashes between the North and the South. This is just one of the many cases where secession has proved to be indeed costly. With statistics in mind, the talk of secession is a chilling one, with its deadly repercussions.

Kenya is a unitary state, and it has taken the immeasurable effort and dedication of everyone to come this far, despite the many challenges that we are facing. Poverty is top on the list of these. But as a philosopher once said, we should all learn to live like brothers or perish together as fools. The Mombasa Republican Council is rooting for the latter, and that is detrimental to the entire country. Poverty does not only affect these MRC members as they are idiotically claiming, it’s a problem that many Kenyans have had to contend with. When you demand for secession on the basis that the government has neglected you into poverty, does that mean that poor Kenyans, living in deplorable conditions in the capital’s sprawling slums, such as Kibera, Mathare Valley and Korogocho, among others should also demand for secession? This cannot be the solution. Likewise, should Kenyans in the marginalized regions of this country, where getting the basic needs; good nutrition, clean water, proper healthcare, security, and a roof over their heads, demand for secession, just as MRC? Every Kenyan has a biting problem(s) and seceding will only mean that Kenya will be no more.

Also, the Kenyan Coast is the hub of tourism in the country and this secession bid by the MRC is a serious threat to the immense economic contribution that tourism makes, to the country. It must be dealt with accordingly. The fact that the group has unleashed violence on innocent Kenyans, on several occasions justifies that the country’s security forces, and if need be the military be used to quell it.

We are going into a general election and the presence of groupings like the MRC, if not stopped in their tracks, well in advance can have some devastating repercussions, too dire for the country to fathom.

We should, as a people ask ourselves what we can do to the government but not what the government can do for us. With this in mind, all Kenyans including members of the MRC can positively impact towards the development of our beloved mother country, Kenya. Decrying the poverty that is almost crippling you, does not make things any better, it only worsens an already dire situation. To our brothers and sisters, of the Mombasa Republican Council, we should all come together to better our country, instead of shouting at their top of their voices that the Coastal strip is not part of Kenya. Just as the head of state said, the Coast was, is and will always be part of Kenya.

This whole idea of seceding from Kenya is a misguided one, and a guise under criminal activities may be perpetrated. This is indeed a threat to national security and the security apparatus should accord it the urgency it deserves.

We do not wish to have some deadly militia wrecking havoc on innocent Kenyans, if not well checked in advance, just as the Sabaot Land Defense Force did.

MIDIWO AND IMANYARA SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE CAUTIOUS

We are barely a year away from the General elections, and political activity is gathering storm, especially as political parties rush to beat the party registration deadline. Two likely presidential candidates have the ICC date at The Hague to honour, alongside the two other suspects. This is an issue tha has already created enough storm and given us more than we needed in our hands. However, at the back of these, two legislators in the current Parliament made some chilling revelations; that the lives of Prime Minister, Raila Odinga and Central Imenti legislator, Gitobu Imanyara were in danger.

The first was made at a burial in Bondo, by Gem mp ODM chief whip Jakoyo Midiwo that the life of Prime Minister, Raila Odinga was in danger. The mp alleged that there was a plot to assassinate the prime minister. He even went ahead and dared Foreign Affairs minister, Prof Sam Ongeri, to come clean on what he knew about the assassination plot. Barely, two weeks later, Central Imenti legislator Gitobu Imanyara, , took to the floor of the House and said that he was accosted by four men, near State House as he drove home. He added that he was forced to pledge his support for a presidential aspirant from Central Kenya, with a machete placed at the back of his head. To cap it all, he alleged that he was warned of dire consequences if he continued supporting Raila Odinga’s bid for State House.  These two claims are indeed chilling and call for further scrutiny from our police, to establishing if indeed they are true and based on facts and steps taken to avert them.

It is interesting to note that these two claims raise a number of questions. First, does it mean that in the case of the prime minister’s life, Jakoyo Midiwo was able to gather intelligence information that the Raila’s security team and the national intelligence service was unable to? Why did the mp make those claims far away in Bondo, instead of reporting to the police, if indeed he was sure about this? Lastly, can this be a political gimmick, popular in any electioneering period?

In the case of Central Imenti legislator, Gitobu Imanyara, did he first report to the police or he first said it in the House? Second, was he accompanied by his security team at such hours of the night? Mr Imanyara further stunned the whole country when he claimed that he had been issued with an insane body guard who has since been admitted to Mathari Mental Hospital!

It is important to note that we are nearing a general election, the first under the new constitution and which promises to be fiercely contested, judging from the unfolding events in Kenyan political landscape. We should, as a country desist from making any statement that is alarming and can inflame the political atmosphere.

Both Mr Midiwo and Mr Imanyara should have done it in a better way. They have reported these entire, first to the police, before rushing to the public gallery and attract the attention of Kenyans. It therefore comes as no surprise that an arrest warrant has been issued for the Gem MP, after the Director of Public Prosecutions, Keriako Tobiko, ruled that Midiwo’s claims were false. The onus is now on the police to execute this upon Midiwo’s arrival from South Africa.

We are still waiting to see what becomes of Imanyara’s claims, after the investigations are completed.

We are not yet out of the woods with regard to the 2007-2008 post-poll violence and any talk that brings tension to the country should be discouraged. Our politicians should better learn this and lead by example. After all they are our leaders whom we elected into office.

HOOLIGANISM IN KENYAN FOOTBALL MUST BE CONDEMNED AND EQUALLY FOUGHT.

Hooliganism is fast becoming the face of Kenyan football. We are getting used to violence in our stadia. As a football fraternity, it seems as though we are socializing violence as a way of the Kenyan football. A fiery Gor Mahia - AFC Leopards derby at the Nyayo National Stadium on Sunday 18 March was temporarily halted for close to 20 minutes, after a section of Gor Mahia fans turned chaotic as they disputed a red card issued to one of its team players, for dangerous play. In the corresponding fixture in the 2010 season at the same venue, seven fans died after a stampede ensued at one of the entrance gates.

A month later, the Independent Disciplinary and Action Committee, IDAC,  ruled that K’Ogallo, as  Gor Mahia is fondly known to its fans, was to play three matches, behind closed doors; soft punishment for a team whose fans have caused chaos in the past, especially in games against its fierce rivals, Afc Leopards. However, in a quick twist of events, Football Kenya Federation suspended the ban, on the grounds that Gor Mahia Fc had appealed against the ruling.

Violence from the premier league scene has spilled over to home games involving our national soccer team, Harambee Stars. Not once, but this has repeatedly happened, most notable was in a cup qualifier against Morocco at the Nyayo National stadium, where a young man died following a stampede.

These are just some of the ugly incidents that have happened right inside our stadiums. It seems that as a country, we have not learned from a painful past. Innocent lives have been lost, property destroyed and roads barricaded by unruly fans, who have continued to derail the development of the beautiful game.

Despite all these ugly incidents, soft punishment has been handed to the culprits. Perhaps, this explains why these incidents have continued to occur, much to the detriment of the Kenyan soccer. This has placed us under the watchful eye of the world football governing body, FIFA, and far devastating consequences may soon follow.

Gor Mahia, whose fans are the main culprits of these shameful acts that do not befit a civilized population, must ensure that their fans do not cause any more violence in our stadia.  Football is a game of wins and losses, and whenever a team loses, it should swallow the bitter pill, accept defeat and go back to the drawing board to deliberate on the way forward. Otherwise, no one rejoices in defeat, but sportsmanship demands that you accept defeat as a fair result and congratulate your opponent for winning. Otherwise, whenever the referee rightfully punishes your team, according to the rules of the game, you should not extend your dissatisfaction to the Uhuru highway and unleash havoc on innocent motorists, some of whom may not even be passionate about soccer! The fact that these shaming images are beamed to the whole world, courtesy of pay television channel, SuperSport, does not make matters any better.

Football Kenya Limited, FKF, and Kenya Premier League, KPL, should crack the whip and set a precedent to warn against the narrow minded who may think of bringing violence to any football game, in the future. That said, those responsible for providing security at these matches should be more vigilant. Otherwise, how do you explain huge stones and all sorts of missiles being hurled to the pitch! That our stadia are in deplorable conditions is no secret. We should be ashamed that as a country, we got only two stadiums that we pride in as being international, yet there are doubts about it, should serve as a wake-up call to the government and all football stake-holders. We should have more modern stadiums, good enough to host top of the table international matches.

As a country, we are still reeling from years of football mismanagement and all efforts should be made to ensure that we safely get out of this footballing quagmire. Hooliganism is threatening to let these efforts down the drain, if not well addressed in its early stages. Innocent blood that has been shed in our stadia should have already precipitated the necessary response. We cannot afford to sit back, watch and casually attend to casualties from football matches turned ugly.

We all need to come together and help instill civilization in our football fields. Football administrators should wake up and walk the talk, before it gets out of hand.

IF ONLY WE COULD GET MORE OLE KIYIAPI’S……..

``I’m taking this bold step; I’m not running away from the public service…… However, I’m only responding to a calling of a higher level of national service.”

These are the words of immediate former Education permanent secretary, Prof. James Ole Kiyiapi, as he announced his resignation at Jogoo House, on Monday, April 16 2012.  A bold statement of intent indeed, from the former permanent secretary, since he made public his intentions to contest for the country’s top- seat in the next General Elections. Ole Kiyiapi has set the precedent for those holding senior posts in the civil service and wish to run for elective posts in the coming polls. This is in compliance with the constitutional requirement that compels civil servants eyeing elective posts to quit seven months to the elections. Easier said than done, many senior civil servants have already hinted to being in the ballot box, in the General elections, but have showed no signs of quitting their plush civil service offices.

These senior civil servants have given all manner of reasons as to why they may not Ole Kiyiapi’s move and resign from these offices. Most notably is that the court’s decision about the March election may be rescinded, thus they wish to continue serving the nation. A laughable line of defense indeed! They have chosen to hide behind the uncertainty that has clouded the actual date for the next poll.

Leadership posts are guided by moral obligations that transcend all other factors, and Ole Kiyiapi has exemplified this. That he chose to forego the trappings of power that come with these high posts: hefty salaries and state-of- art treatment as a VIP in the country, is no mean achievement. Is this too much to ask for all those senior civil servants eyeing the posts of governors and senators? I don’t think that the Kenyan electorate is asking for too much. Technocrats are key to the future of this country, and it will only be wise if they show their boldness, just as Ole Kiyiapi did and resign from their high offices.

These elective posts require intense lobbying and campaigning which are energy-sapping, time- consuming and rigorous. They are expensive to conduct. In the ensuing confusion, state vehicles, which are fuelled and maintained by the tax-payer’s money, are used to conduct this. This is despite the fact that it is against the law and gives advantage to some at the expense of their opponents. The Kenyan electorate can now rest assured that Ole Kiyiapi is not going to do this. A plus indeed for the aspiring president.

Ole Kiyiapi’s resignation will surely give him the invaluable time that he so much needs to transverse the country and sell himself to the electorate. This is because one cannot effectively juggle between delivering service to the people and campaigning for his or her election.

As Education Minister, Mutula kilonzo put it, Kenyan need to learn and elect true reformers and patriots, who do not merely talk the walk, but walk it. Leaders who are devoid of the ugly ethnic and tribal affiliations are what this country needs. In Ole Kiyiapi, we got one such leader.

From lecturing at the Moi University to serving as the permanent secretary in the ministries of Environment, Medical Services and finally Education, the house on the hill may just be his next stop.

Go for it professor because you can.