MY TAKE ON THE UHURUTO PRESIDENCY

It is amazing how we were all united prior to the 4^th of March, 2013. We came out in numbers never witnessed in the history of Kenya but soon all the love and peace messages we passed to each other started to disappear when the results started trickling in.  Soon hate and tribal messages started spreading around. For a while I kept asking my self, “What just happened?” The truth of the matter is that we can only have one president at a time.

RAO has a constitutional right to go to court and see that justice is done. At the end of the day, when the fat lady sings, whether it is Uhuru or RAO who is sworn in as the 4^th president of Kenya, there are a few things that we need to bear in mind.

Firstly, whoever is sworn in, shall be the president of Kenya and not the president of those who prefer him. If you find yourself believing that, if your preferred candidate doesn’t win then there is no democracy, you have issues. If you find yourself overexcited because whoever won is a member of your tribe, you also have a lot of growing up to do. If you find yourself thinking things like, we are a minority tribe, we also want one of our own as president, you have an inferiority complex. This is not a tribal superiority competition.  

Secondly your success in life has not been deferred until one of your own becomes president. I have seen Luo’s who have achieved incredible success during the Kibaki presidency; I know Meru’s who moved mountains during the Moi presidency. Think about it, has anyone ever asked you for a pass to use the recently constructed Thika Superhighway (constructed under Kibaki presidency) because you are not a Kikuyu? Speaking diverse languages and having different cultures is a beautiful thing. God never meant us to use them against each other.  

Thirdly, I am reminded of a time the Israelites where exiled in Babylon. This was a perfect opportunity to sit and whine how one of their own will not become  King. But listen to what God tells them “Seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if the city prospers, you too will prosper.” Jer 29:7

This is the same message I wish we would carry today. Regardless of who is sworn in as president, “seek the peace and pray for the prosperity of the city (country), for if the country prospers, you too shall prosper.” I believe that all leadership comes from God and if indeed God has appointed Uhuru to be the president at such time like this, we need to stand united and work towards a prosperous country. And to those of us prophesying doom and issuing threats of how those who voted for Uhuru shall regret after sanctions start being given, please understand this, if Uhuru is sworn in as the 4^thpresident of Kenya, any sanctions given would affect you too. We will need to stand behind our president regardless of whether it is UK or RAO who carries the day.

Lastly, unless you are among the senior counsels handling the presidential petition, or you work for the office of the president, let's stop obsessing over these things and go and work, seek peace and pray for the prosperity of the country, for if the country prospers, you too shall prosper. In the words of Barrack Obama, “In the face of impossible odds, people who love this country can change it.” 

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WHY I ADMIRE POLITICIANS

We hate on politicians, I hate on politicians. In fact, I am not their biggest fun, I would rarely be found doing a political commentary, but I have to watch politics closely. The bible instructs us that " supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way." And besides Plato said, “One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.” 

“Politics is not like an ocean voyage or a military campaign… something which leaves off as soon as reached. It is not a public chore to be gotten over with. It is a way of life.”- Plutarch

There are approx 7.1 billion people on the planet. The most powerful man on the planet is a politician ( http://www.forbes.com/powerful-people/ ). In fact, at least five out of the ten most powerful people on earth are politicians. A lot of negative things have been sung in praise of politicians, and to be honest, I enjoy the songs. However, the other day I am having a huge debate in my head on whether there is anything to admire about politicians and here is my verdict;

Politicians posses certain abilities that the common citizen doesn’t. For example,  A politician is   a fellow who will lay down your life for his country (-Texas Guinan) and come next elections, you will still vote for him. Amazing, right? How do they attain that kind of loyalty? “The word politics is derived from the word poly, meaning many, and the word ticks, meaning bloodsucking parasites.”-Larry Hardiman

A political calendar is very different from our normal calendar, in fact as  Harold Wilson  puts it, “A week is a long time in politics.” They make things happen over night.

Politicians have amazing faith. They spend a lot of time and millions of money to fund campaigns with no certainty they will win. Think of Uhuru and Ruto (now Uhuruto) for example. The two Kenyan politicians who are also ICC suspects mounts one of the most expensive campaigns in Kenyan history even before they were cleared by the Kenyan Courts  as to whether they were illegible to run for 2013 presidential elections. They were certain things will work out.  If that’s not faith I don’t know what it is.

Politicians have incredible tenacity, you can say a lot of nasty things about a politician and instead of committing suicide, He rises up the following morning, have his team dig dirt about you, dishes  you with a beautifully crafted nasty reply, and He’s a happy man. It’s a fact, “The only people who say worse things about politicians than reporters do are other politicians.”-Andy Rooney

Politicians are the only one’s who can lie to your face and even though you know with every sense in your body it’s a lie, you still believe in them. Will Rogers says, “If you ever injected the truth into politics, you would have no politics.” Most politicians don’t even believe themselves. They actually get surprised when when you do.

A good politician need not be academically knowledgeable. They do not let lack of education or in-eloquence limit them. We have all seen illiterate and inarticulate people flourish into power. That is incredible determination. 

Politicians have amazing language skills. They  are the only people who can steal from you and make you feel safe enough to vote them back.  A politician only has your best interest at heart if your interests are relatives with his interests or if you are an actual blood relative. 

    

Forget the negatives, sometimes I think if half the people in the world had the faith, the tenacity, the positive attitude and the hope of a politician, we wouldn't have any poor people.

THE NINCOMPOOP

The Nincompoop, Who can understand his ways

He whines about bad leadership but still votes for the same person.

She squawks about corruption and yet gives her body to get a job.

He complains about tribalism but wouldn't vote for someone outside his own tribe.

She rumbles about how all men are cheaters as she sleeps with a married man.

He breaks other people’s relationship and gets surprised when someone runs off with his girlfriend.

She is ready to be a second wife to a ‘faithful man’ (who won’t even introduce her as his wife) because all men are players.

He is very incompetent at his job but still laments about how he has a bad boss.

She expects to be treated like a queen yet she behaves like trash.

He demands to be respected and treated like a prince, yet he does not provide for his family and drinks himself to death.

She is bitter with all men because one guy broke her heart.

He follows after every dimple he sees and wonders why he can’t have a stable relationship.

She flirts with a guy for days and wonders why he is catching feelings.

He sleeps with everything in a skirt and expects to marry the proverbs 31 woman.

She thinks God is an ATM machine you only go to see Him when you are broke.

The Nincompoop, who can understand her ways?