By Wanyonyi Wambilyanga
I read with keenness recent headlines on Uhuru Kenyatta’s party launch and the speech he delivered at KICC in Nairobi and have to admit I was impressed. Uhuru managed to walk out of the Kanu shadow, after years of struggle, in style. I was impressed that he looked smart and his English was polished.
For the first time there was nothing about being the son of Jomo or the spoilt brat who grew up in State House. He was his own man. But unlike the yuppies who think getting a job is insurance to freedom, Uhuru should know this is the first step of a long and tedious journey.
The Deputy Prime Minister should also know two constituencies are watching his every move. The first are the people he wants to attract to his new party and the group he feels can make a change — the youth. The second is every other Kenyan who wants a break from the past. I am glad Uhuru steered from the balderdash that is every day politics: Raila this Raila that.
That nonsense has defined our politics and it is good Uhuru did not go down that path; so far he did well. However, he failed to show the country his blue print of achieving what he has outlined. I have been looking for the party’s manifesto and have not seen any. Uhuru said his party believes in principles of African social justice that are founded on progressive policies and ideologies. He never expanded on what his understanding of this is or how it works in the Kenyan reality. Social justice refers to equal rights and opportunities for all in society.
It is no doubt Uhuru belongs to the top tier in our extremely unequal society. We are where we are because our founding fathers pushed the majority to the periphery and reserved the centre for themselves. Outfits such as Gema, when they started out, perpetuated this injustice. I am yet to read somewhere how Uhuru intends to bridge such inequalities. It may not help much that Uhuru was slated to announce his new party in a Gema forum initially. Historical injustices have been a major problem that we are either unwilling to sort out or burying our head hoping it dissipates.
Uhuru should have given us a way forward if at all he is serious about a new dispensation. Uhuru has been a critical element in the Government all these years if not its heartbeat. When President Kibaki came to power he had an ambitious youth agenda for which was developed a Youth Enterprise Fund. Some have benefitted from the scheme but millions still wonder what it is.
Why can’t Uhuru tell us how the more than 20 million people he wants to attract to his outfit are going to benefit from such or similar schemes? Under the economic stimulus package, which Uhuru was key in rolling out, was the Kazi Kwa Vijana.
The programme came a cropper and the Prime Minister and his office were held to blame. Even if it was under the Prime Minister’s office, why didn’t we see Uhuru fighting hard for these youth? Making populist statements is not a solution to our endemic system. What Uhuru needed to have done was expose the rot since he had the capacity.
The tale could go on and on. I am glad Uhuru chose to inject some new ideas into the political system but he needs to understand what youth is all about. It is definitely not about loud music and sagging trousers or rolled up sleeves.
Youth is not about sheng. It is about energy, innovation, hard work and vigour, and visionary leadership. So as you belatedly roll out your manifesto tell us how you intend to bridge the gap to make us a just and equal society.
Writer is a Chief Sub-Editor The Standard Weekend Editions.
