Kenyan politicians should emulate Uganda's Kizza Besigye

Elections are around the corner and we have begun witnessing the usual tension among our political leaders as they jump from one party to another. This is in their readiness to retain their positions or move higher up the political ladder. This helter-skelter of the politicians made me think of Uganda's opposition leader Kizza Besigye whose vehemence in trying to end the dictatorship rule of President Yoweri Museveni is widely known.

 Someone once said the longer the mission the blurrier the vision but Kizza Besigye has counteracted this statement with his actions more times than I can recall. He has been arrested several times over the years although he has never been convicted of any crime. Even after losing the 2016 General Elections which he claimed had been rigged, Kizza continued strongly in his demand for a better life for the Ugandans. He continued to campaign against the result, along with the rising cost of living by staging “walk to work" protests.

 He was arrested four times, accused of inciting violence and beaten by police during the protests before all charges were dropped. To Kizza Besigye his mission for a better country has not been blurred by the longer it is taking.

 I have seen Kenyans politicians cower at slightest intimidation. Some of them no longer strive to provide the best for its citizens for fear of fall out by the seniors. It is such a shame that some of them are sitting on their able responsibilities and fleeing from one party to another when they see that their dreams may take longer to be achieved in their current parties. An example is former Secretary General of ODM who instead of building up his party and facing its problems head on chose to flee.

He should have stayed like Kizza Besigye and use whatever little powers he had to bring the ODM party back on track. He obviously has his eye on a vision that he sees will be achievable sooner if he exits his mother party ODM. Kizza Besigye further proves his loyalty for his country when just a day after being freed on bail from Luzira prison, he has embarked on an initiative that is aimed at turning around the living conditions of inmates in prisons all over the country. His efforts, he says will include having the current laws reviewed to allow prisoners more freedom, better health care and general living conditions. This is after he experienced the ordeal that prisoners go through in the filthy police prisons.

This is also something that the Pangani Six talked about and is yet to be done. More actions and less word is Besigye's doing. Let us have our Kenyan leaders emulating this so that we see more work being done and less of the talking. Besigye has been consistently selfless in trying to return justice, democracy and the rule of law in Uganda.

Kenyan politicians can emulate this especially at this time where the country is battling against extra-judicial killings and police brutality. These politicians should fight to retain justice and to maintain the rule of law.

 Finally Besigye himself says his mission is to work with millions of other Ugandans in bringing about a stable democratic and peaceful Uganda. What more do Kenyans need at such a time when upcoming elections are threatening to tear democracy apart than a peaceful nation? Kenyan politicians let us please look at the work Uganda's charismatic opposition leader is doing and get motivated.