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KENYA BLOG: "Peace feels good, I can tell you!"
Written by: Raphael Marambii
Reuters and AlertNet are not responsible for the content of this article or for any external internet sites. The views expressed are the author's alone.
A man celebrates in Kisumu after news of the deal.
REUTERS/Moses Eshiwani
REUTERS/Moses Eshiwani
I am glad to be the bearer of good news this time. The mediation talks in Kenya led by former U.N. chief Kofi Annan have led to a breakthrough and a power-sharing agreement has been reached. The opposition leader Raila Odinga will get the newly formed position of prime minister with executive powers. This brings to an end many days of anxious waiting for most Kenyans. We are all touched by the way the international community has rallied around us and fought for the safety and peace of ordinary Kenyans. Thank you all for your words of kindness and encouragement during the crisis. The opposition zones in Western Kenya went wild with jubilation at the news yesterday. The rest of us were more sombre and reflective. We just want to get on with our lives. We know it's not going to be easy. But peace feels really good I can tell you! The normal everyday activities that we used to take for granted like a quiet walk around the neighborhood or a trip up-country now seem like extra special treats. The mood has really changed and the air of gloom has lifted. We are all confident the peace will last because the solution arrived at is something that has long been desired by most Kenyans. There is no side that can truthfully claim to have been hard done by. Formation of the seat of prime minister and the sharing of power had been debated about extensively in public forums ever since the dictatorial reign of the former president Daniel Arap Moi. It was clearly recognized that there was too much centralization of power in the presidency. It led to a "winner take all" kind of situation. It also relied too much on the wisdom and goodness of an individual and his or her clique of advisers and special interests. In numerous past public debates, the current protagonists had in principle agreed on many crucial issues to check such powers especially a prime minister's seat, devolution of power to the regions and the parliament and a less imperial presidency. However, once the former president Moi had been deposed, a kind of selective amnesia set in and those issues were regarded as less urgent compared to economic growth. They surfaced with a vengeance after the polls. More should also have been done to bridge the social inequalities in the country, not necessarily with massive re-distribution (which would scare investors) but at least in ensuring equal opportunities for all, some minimum social safety net and a more transparent fight against corruption. There was good economic growth but the president's laid back hands-off approach (which was exactly what business needed), did not resonate well with the poor who regarded him as indifferent to their plight. It was then easy for populist politicians to whip up tribal sentiment while portraying him as corrupt and in bed with big business. We should definitely come out of this much stronger as a country but what has angered and saddened everybody was the willingness by certain politicians to use violence to get change done. I don't think even the noblest ends ever justify such means. We are now embarking on a phase of reconciliation and healing especially to try and get members of the different tribes to live and work next to each other again. There is also a lot of work to be done in reconstruction and re-settlement of internal refugees. This will take a while but we hope for the best. Thank you all once again and I hope most of you will in the not too distant future come and visit our beautiful country.
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4 responses to “KENYA BLOG: "Peace feels good, I can tell you!"”
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01 Mar 2008 11:51:56 GMT
As a Tanzania I am a neighbour and a brother to all Kenyans. I wish to take this opportunity to conglaturate all of you for the recent signed peace deal.I hope you will devote your time into reconciling with each other rather than reflecting the past we have a swahili saying that says (yalio pita si dwele tugange yanao kuja). Let the story that happened in south Africa after the apethide era repeat it self with you in Kenya. If the black man reconciled with a white man and all differences were eliminated it is my hope that to Kenyans it will be posible too. God bless you all and thank him for breaking the hearts of your leaders.
02 Mar 2008 11:56:43 GMT
I am also from a From a country where thousand of innocent civilians are killed annually for the same reason why ethnic Kenyans were killed. Power hungry politicians use ethnic divisions in a multi-tribal multiracial or multi-religious country as their tool to capture power. When they loose power also they raise the ethnic slogans to raise their frustration. Beside this power struggle ethnic conflicts are at rise in many parts of the world to capture wealth and land using ethnic differences. Humans sufferings are taking a mass toll around the world now a days because of many segments of ethnics killings in conflicts. Kenyan conflict deal was a great success in recent times by the hard work of many international leaders. Well done for Kofi Annan and other African leaders. Hope a day will come when similar deals are worked out for ethnic killings in Kenya Palestine , Iraq , Pakistan, Srilanka and Turkey.
06 Mar 2008 12:14:36 GMT
Well we Tanzanians are very greatfull for the achievements arrived to bring Kenya to recconcil the political chaos. Let it be a lesson to all who think The State house belongs to some body. No It is by the vote only no cheating. My Advice to the new Kenyan leaders please take time to solve Kenyans problems, Poverty,Unemployment, Land scarcity,Housing Problems etc We are tired of seeing Mathare Squters and all other shanty towns in Kenya. What actualy happend apart from Political chaos, but people where trying to convey their feeling about there conditions.
10 Mar 2008 10:27:11 GMT
While current signing of a peace deal calls for relief and cerebration among kenyans,it should be taken with caution especialy amongest the poor of the poor who suffered most in the last two months while our so called leaders burried there heads and selves with there families deep in bunkers some even constructed using ill gotten wealth and come erections involk there so called tribes to keep there vantage in controling public resources for there own exploits. This leaders signing so called deals only worry obout themselves and its time our people understand that know while each one of us has there own ethenicity we can never change or run away from the same let no leader exploit this fact for there selfish ends.The only true tribes in kenya are the rich and poor. While the later tribe are the minority they control our politics and resources. This will soon be proven as so called leaders invoke ethenicity to claim positions within ! the to be formed coaltion government. My fellow kenyans please be worned no much will change till true patriotic kenyans take charge of the country for the good of all of us. While this will not be easy its time we all get involved and start true leadership and patriotism from our own backyards being our brothers keepers and learn from our past mastakes of trusting our politicians , we need hold them with all the contempt they deserv. lets vet our leaders for this will be the only way forward.