PROSPECTIVE REFERENDUM EMBLEMATIC OF KENYA`S PROCLIVITY FOR PARTISAN POLITICS.

Dear sir/Madam,

That the prospective referendum is emblematic of Kenya`s proclivity for partisan politics is obvious. This being the case, we expect the politics of the referendum to be big and murky as party interests ominously play out the Kenyan style. Forget about the constitution making process being about ideological struggles. Instead, expect to see politicians hurl colorful insults at each other. With the referendum nigh; duplicity, treachery, impatience, spinelessness and sheer lack of integrity would henceforth be the hallmark of our politics. A horde of terrible blunders would be committed all in the name of party loyalty. That we risk flunking for the second consecutive time if snowballing partisan interests are not in abeyance is undeniable. Unfortunately, that is the price we pay for being naïve as to leave the sacrosanct duty of mid-wifing a new constitution in the hands of callous politicians.

Thomas Jefferson could not have been more judicious when he stated that “every country degenerates when trusted to the rulers of the people alone. The people themselves therefore are its only safe depositories.” And true to his words, politicians are more often than not the bane of our nationhood. Ever since the country expressed desire for a new constitutional order, politicians were hell bent on crafting a constitution that would best serve their selfish interests rather than that which would dispassionately serve the country. Time and again they have made it their collective passion to spread confusion and deceit in order to achieve their selfish ends. At times I am tempted to believe that they have the ingenious knack of doing everything the wrong way. That is why disappointment waits upon all affairs in which they take part. It is least surprising that they are now telling the electorate that a pure presidential system is what this country desperately needs.
Haven’t we often decried the fact that the Government is too centralized? We cannot wish away the fact that the presidency is a quasi kingdom, with extensive powers beyond the reach of the people! In view of this odious reality, the electorate wanted a new constitution that would buttress them against the state`s power. The panacea does not lie in pretending to panel beat it. Rather, it is found in creating checks and balances vide an empowered parliament. This would easily guard against a rogue executive. That was our sole objective as a country when we embarked on a journey to a constitutional dispensation immediately after the Moi era. Such were the high expectations. However, hopes soon dissipated when it became apparent that the incumbent became also too cozy with raw power and its appurtenances.

Procrastination and shilly shallying set in. Later own, the Government of the day presented a hotchpotch of draft to the electorate. It flunked. This move saw emotional build up that culminated in the 2007 post election violence.

Today, having been saved from the jaws of death; and in the spirit of national healing and reconciliation we hoped that our next attempt at a referendum needs to be full of honesty, passion and confidence. But going by the rhetoric of our politicians, it would be impossible for the country not to be sullied again.

The public has a Hobson`s choice: It must do everything in its power to marginalize and attack the wicked form of opportunism and propaganda at play or else this window of opportunity for enacting a new constitution would yet again be squandered. We will also rue the billions of the tax payers’ money sunk in the process. We can eschew this unfortunate scenario by forcing parliament to amend the Constitution of Kenya Review Act, 2008 that would then allow IIEC to present two draft constitutions to the electorate; the pure presidential or pure parliamentary systems of Government. Upon one of them garnering the majority vote it must be adopted as the new constitution.

TOME FRANCIS,
BUMULA CONSTITUENCY.
http://twitter.com/tomefrancis