Our Peculiar Habits

Our Peculiar Habits

Personally, I don’t expect Kenyans not to be re-visited with violence in the coming 2012 general elections. There seems to be an established –and may be accepted – pattern of election violence since back in the day, with the escalations being witnessed in ’92, ’97, 2002, and recently 2007/2008. Much as the devil did visit Kenya in early months of 2008, if we are not careful enough, he might as well stop by in 2012, and with prospects of even pitching camp there. Many people have observed that given the level of violence – loss of life, property and displacement of citizens – Kenyans are now wiser and will not walk down the 2008 path again. “Never. Once bitten twice shy,” they say.

But looking at us – a people with peculiar habits – one will not fail to realize that we have, over time, refused to learn from other examples or previous experiences. If we were, we would not have had the violence every five years during elections since the introduction of multiparty politics in our country, ironic as it sounds. During civic education sessions, voters are, time without number, reminded that the vote is their inalienable right and that they should use it as their ultimate weapon to express their ideas and make decisions about how they want to be led and governed. In the same breath, they are asked not to exchange this constitutional right with a Kshs. 100 note, et cetera et cetera. Surprisingly enough, these are the very people who the next morning, before the cock crows two times, will sell their votes to the highest bidder for a meager Kshs. 50 bottle of “Yokozuna”, a methanol-laden illegal liquor that kills them in a matter of hours after imbibing as it blinds others.

I refuse to be cheated again that Kenyans learnt a lesson after witnessing the post-election violence of 2008 and its attendant results, including the arraignment in court at the Hague of the six prime suspects a.k.a Ocampo Six. Next year, it will be five long years since the post-election violence took place. That is a long time in deed: at least by our Kenyan standards. If it is not only our collective long-term memory that has failed us time and again every five years, then our collective short-term memory has terribly failed us times without number. Otherwise how does one justify the case of fellow citizens siphoning gasoline completely oblivious of their neighbors who perished in similar circumstances after an explosion roasted nearly a hundred of them alive only a few days ago?

It is on this simple premise that I refuse to be cheated again that there won’t be violence in 2012. If there was anything that we did learn after the  horrible Sinai incident, we would have not witnessed the near repeat of the same a few miles within a matter of weeks! How fast we Kenyans forget? It ain’t that I have changed to be a prophet of doom. It is the pattern that is threatening to repeat itself because it has done before.

Do not forget there were clashes in Likoni and Molo before 2007/8 PEV. Some have even gone further to suggest that the mere fact that the PEV suspects are being tried at the Hague and at the full glare of the public via screens – thanks to 21^st century technology and its liberalization – Wanjiku and Wanjala’s level of awareness is now higher than it was before. It is utterly discouraging that this level of awareness has not demonstrably shown any significant change of attitude yet. And that is where the rubber meets the road. I submit, ergo, Your Honors, that the live-streaming of the Hague proceedings will not change anything at all, at least in my fair humble judgement. If it would, the live coverage of the infamous Goldenberg scandal both on television and newspaper in Kenya would  have made Kenyans learn and avoid similar scandals like the still unconcluded Angloleasing, Tritton, Foreign Affairs Ministry saga, Water ministry saga, and the Education ministry saga. Simply put, we do not learn from our past mistakes (or crimes). So, if the 2007/8 PEV was a ‘Goldenberg’ of its kind, prepare for an ‘Angloleasing’ come next General election. The prevailing circumstances as pointed out heretofore, make it even more eminent and predictable than before. People should use all tools and exhaust every avenue to avert such a scenario. Actions need to be taken, and early enough.

Fear is that Ocampo might have done us Kenyans more harm than good by naming the list of the six of our own sons for being suspected to have masterminded the devilish carnage of our dear ones.  The slow rate of the case progress at the Hague – where like everywhere else the wheels of justice turn slowly and often with a squeak – serves to rub in salt on a raw wound.  Come 2012 and none of the suspects will have had his case confirmed, or some will have and others not, Kenyans in their characteristic will quickly withdraw into their tribal cocoons and sooner rather than later each community will be pitied against the other just like in 2007/8. Do you see the repeat of the post election violence? Get me right here though, to avoid being vague, I fully support the Hague.

The National cohesion commission ought to do more than it has done so far. Their task is hard and challenging, being the first of its kind in our soil. I believe they can up their game. And as food for thought for my good friend Mzalendo Kibunja, what about hiring some artists to help you in this noble but difficult task? Gideon Ndambuki aka Churchill is one patriotic Kenyan in mind. His clientele is mainly a crop of youthful Kenyans whose tribe of origin comes last in their agenda – if at all it does. Lastly, the way Ndambuki has always packaged his comedy leaves Kenyans from all walks of life regardless of their tribe, gender, color, creed, sex, economic status or even level of education more united than divided. Churchill makes us laugh at ourselves and feel PROUD TO BE KENYAN.

 Martin Okariithi