Tusisahau kamwe...

When Kenyans are reminded that they have a short memory like one of the four-legged natives of the Kenyan game reserves-which is both good and bad, they feel hurt.
When they are misguided by their politicians to kill each other and destroy property, they somehow don't feel the hurt-that is until the international community goes..' Oh my God!! How could they?'

Since the time the white man schemed and executed his plan to perpetuate his dominion in Kenya by pitting one tribe against the other, we have never been able to shed this spell of animosity and mutual mistrust among ourselves.  This has mostly been the effects of bad politics. We have never really shed the white man's politics. Our founding fathers saw the harm colonial politics could rain on a nation and came up with an alternative approach dubbed African socialism-but this remained a dream on paper. They had the good will to approach politics with the African attitude of brotherhood and community burden sharing, simply put, being mindful of ones neighbours' welfare.

Somewhere down the line, our leaders betrayed their own cause and and deviated their noble path and took up short cuts to enrich themselves and entrench their grip on power. The noble goals of eradication of poverty, disease and ignorance were thrown by the roadside and forgotten. The ignorant 'mwananchi wa kawaida' was left dazzled by the slogans, chanting and fanfare blaring from the political arena. His case was sealed. He was forgotten.

That is, until just the other day when a people driven attempt to change the way politics is played was promulgated. The mwananchi wa kawaida finally shook the dust off, cleaned himself up and got ready to march on towards the old goals of zero poverty, zero disease and zero ignorance-or so he believed, but then again the politicians might have set other goals! The under-currents in the public service and political scenes seem to indicate that it's the same old song only with a different tune. This is the reason that most of those interested in the new political seats of governors and senators are former or current politicians. The powerful seats in the judiciary have attracted old players in the tainted system. The nominee for the director of public prosecutions is a shining example of a system not willing to let go of the reins of power by hook or crook-even laden with an impeccable record of commissions and omissions, the gentleman is not self conscientious enough to withdraw and reflect on his own past record. One cannot be found wanting by so many scales and come out clean- Lazima iko kitu.

My call is to the mwananchi wa kawaida to not forget the past betrayals. To look at those calling for support with a sober mind and gauge each according to their past deeds and mis-deeds, both committed directly or by proxy. Listen and take note of what they are promising and hold them accountable-the current constitution allows for recalls if one fails midterm. The mwananchi wa kawaida needs to keep in mind that the power really rests on himself and not the politician. The time to be conned and treaded on by the politicians is gone. This is the new dawn of the Kenya we always wanted-and no one should be allowed to hijack it from us. Let us always remember.