As political temperatures continue to rise, many people remain tightlipped on the choices they have made with regard to presidential contenders. A time has come when Kenyans have to move away from the politics of ethnicity and embrace issue-based approaches. Therefore, it becomes prudent to make choices based on what leaders can offer. In this regard, what they have done comes in handy. This is why my choice for the country’s next president is the Prime Minister, Raila Amolo Odinga.
The Prime Minister comes out as a vivid figure of democratic embodiment in Kenya’s quest to be a just society. To start with, it would be foolhardy to believe that there is any leader without flaws. Not even the great minds in the make of Martin Luther King Junior or Mahatma Gandhi could fit such a leadership construction. Therefore, the prime minister is no exception to this reality. However, when the good deeds in humans outweigh their bad elements, they qualify to be part of fabric of good leadership. Does the prime minister belong to this group? The answer to this question is an absolute yes.
The prime minister has come out in several occasions as a person we can trust in pursuit of worthy causes. Some people have lambasted him for being a populist. Yet, his actions have always proved otherwise. In the case of Mau Forest restoration, the prime minister had the option of appeasing the Kalenjin community by playing at the whims of populism for the sake of votes. However, he believed that Kenyans, including the Kalenjins, are better off with a restored Mau Forest. Any other argument to the contrary would be counterproductive to the lives of all Kenyans. Therefore, Mr. Odinga chose the voice of reason and chose to do what is right, knowing very well that it would be suicidal to political ambitions.
Contrary to the beliefs that the prime minister is selfish, he chose to suffer the brute of a regime that never believed in justice, equity and democracy. Notably, Mr. Odinga had the option of joining the comfort zone by preaching against justice. This is exactly what many people did. The prime minister chose to be jailed because of his personal convictions that Kenyans must live in a just society. Together with other likeminded leaders, he chose to be a sacrificial lamb as some enjoyed the warmth of an insensitive regime. In 2002, Mr. Odinga shelved his ambition to ensure that Kenya did not miss the opportunity to cut link with the brutal KANU rule. A selfish person would have reiterated the egocentric adage, “if I can’t get it, then no one gets it.”
Upon his appointment as the minister for roads, public works and housing in 2003, Mr. Odinga made Kenyans believe that all were equal in the eyes of the law. He pioneered what has now been reminiscent practice in the Roads Ministry when he championed for the destruction of private structures built illegally on the road reserves. He proved that his strict adherence to the law did not obey any class.
Leadership requires decisive people. Such leaders are able to command great respect from fellow leaders and find it easy to be influential among peers. Among the current aspirants, the Prime Minister scores highly in this regard. He is decisive and pursues what he believes in with zeal.
The Prime Minister has agitated for constitutional reforms. His role had a significant impact on the passage of the new constitution in 2010. It would only be meaningful if Kenyans gave him the opportunity to oversee the full implementation of the constitution. He can be entrusted with such a role because he is capable of jealously guarding the constitutional and democratic gains the country has made.
Some people have criticized the Prime Minister for being undemocratic. On this front, many people fail to understand what democracy entails. Democracy gives individuals the right to belong to parties of their choices. On the other hand, no democracy allows one to belong to a particular political outfit, yet championing the interest of another at the same time. This should not happen even when parties have the same ideological commonalities, unless ratified by concerned party organ.
Violators of democratic ideals are quick to point at their democratic freedom to associate with any party. In developed societies, party discipline is paramount. Any grievances are dealt with internally following laid down structures. In this case, the prime minister scores highly as a promoter of party discipline. Those who fail this test, run away in pretext that ODM lacks internal democracy. What people fail to understand is that the Prime Minister has never abandoned his course. Those who find the course difficult to pursue fall by the wayside and shifting the blame on others.
This is why the prime minister is the best choice for the presidency, come March 2013. He has the will to drive this country to the path of posterity. Kenyans, therefore, should give him a chance. Some people may ask why he did not do much during the five years as the Prime Minister. The truth is that the prime minister has been at the periphery of governance. Even the theory of Nusu Mkate was a fabrication. I believe he had a thin slice that could not help him much in squashing Kenyans’ hunger. He only put a brave face to help sustain what had looked to be a shaky coalition.