By Koigi wa Wamwere
If
there is a time that Kenyans needed to be told the truth, its now.
Unfortunately they are so fear-ridden and intellectually blind that they can no
longer face the truth.
As King
Ahab refused to listen to the truth of Prophet Micaiah, leading to his death in
war, Kenyans have become allergic to truth. By rejecting truth, Kenyans have
lost their way and need an outsider to save them.
For God
to send Koffi Annan back to Kenya, He must have noticed the country is in
serious trouble. But Kenyans will not listen to him. This time, however, Koffi
Annan’s salvation to Kenyans is announced in the form of a plea to seriously
ponder upon consequences of electing as president, persons who have cases in
The Hague, a taboo subject in Kalenjin and Kikuyu lands that few will dare
address.
But
Koffi Annan did not make his plea to Ruto or Uhuru. It was to Kenyan voters and
courts. Though Koffi Annan did not direct his plea to Uhuru and Ruto, they were
first to admonish Annan, asking him to leave Kenyans alone to elect their
leaders without any interference from outside.
To
admonish Koffi Annan when he asked Kenyans to ponder upon consequences of their
actions can only mean Uhuru and Ruto want one of them elected but without
public scrutiny.
Even if
Ruto and Uhuru say it is illegitimate for Koffi Annan to advise Kenyans, the
book of Judges, chapter 19 to 21 suggests otherwise.
For
instance, Koffi Annan was severely criticised for refusing to use UN forces to
end genocide in Rwanda. And Second World War was fought to stop Adolf Hitler
killing millions of Jews.
As for
the book of Judges, it narrates how in Israel, one old man traveling with his
wife through the village of Gibea, was given shelter on his way home.
At
night, however, some evil young men sexually assaulted his wife to death. The
old man then cut up the dead wife into 12 pieces, each of which he took to
every tribe of Israel that he blamed for his tragedy.
When
leaders of 11 tribes of Israel learnt of this, they demanded punishment for
guilty parties whom the leadership of the tribe of Benjamin sheltered.
Consequently
the 11 tribes raised an army of 400,000 to do battle with the tribe of
Benjamin. Ultimately, the army of the 11 tribes annihilated that of the
Benjamin tribe together with its fugitives.
This
story in the bible looks like that of Uhuru and Ruto versus Koffi Annan. But
what consequences does Koffi Annan want Kenyans to ponder upon should they
decide to elect Uhuru or Ruto as president?
First,
as with the tribe of Benjamin, Kenyans could come to war with other nations
over their protection of accused persons. Second, Kenya could burn if those who
fight other communities to earn votes are not removed from the race for
presidency. Three, victims of post-election violence might never get justice.
Four,
it seems Koffi Annan feels Kenya is in danger of a civil war again. Five, Koffi
Annan reiterated Hilary Clinton’s warning against electing Uhuru and Ruto, lest
Kenyans forget. Six, Koffi Annan fears Kenyans don’t understand consequences of
their political ignorance.
But for
the following two reasons, Uhuru and Ruto don’t want to hear Kenyans being
warned against their election. First, their election would carry dangers that
might persuade voters against them. Second, Koffi Annan must be stopped from
educating Kenyans of the dangers of electing the duo awaiting trials in The
Hague.
But if
Kenyans should decide to have either Ruto or Uhuru as their president, what
consequences would bedevil Kenya? Hilary Clinton meant USA would impose
economic, diplomatic and even military sanctions against Kenya.
If Ruto
or Uhuru is elected president and refuses to go to The Hague, Kenya would have
a fugitive president unable to perform his presidential functions.
Equally,
if Ruto or Uhuru is elected president and goes to The Hague for trial, the
trial schedule would negate his schedule as president.
Histories
of Iraq, Libya and Corte de Voire demonstrate that hostilities between Kenya
and western governments could lead to war that Kenya cannot afford. Same
histories show that China may be a good economic partner but not a dependable
military protector.
And
well, ordinary Kenyans might dismiss this as nothing for them. They would be
wrong. First, if there is misunderstanding between Kenya, USA and European
Union, Kenyan farmers and businesses would find themselves unable to sell their
goods, reducing their incomes accordingly.
Two,
taxes and prices would go up to close the gap that withdrawal of aid would
entail. Kenyans may not be ready for the bitter truth. But Kenya will commit
suicide by electing Ruto or Uhuru as her next president.
After
voting for an ICC trial, now Ruto and Uhuru also want Kenya to commit suicide,
not out of love for her but self interest. Strangely, Kenyans who will bear the
burden of this are hardly concerned about themselves.
As
Kenya fast comes under a cloud of anxiety, fear, darkness and uncertainty, she
badly needs firm leadership from President Kibaki. But that is not forthcoming.
It is now the turn of the judiciary to save Kenya, Inshallah.
Koigi wa Wamwere, Leader of CCM
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