By Dorcas Sarkozy
Let me be clear: Despite everything Uhuru Kenyatta and Wefula Chebukati would have us believe, the October 26 vote was a sham and the “re-election” of Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto did not and does not reflect the will of the country.
Thursday’s vote reflects the will of Uhuru’ and Ruto’s base – approximately 34% of Kenya.
The rest of Kenya, sixty-six per cent in total, rejected this president, his deputy and everything they stand for:
Corruption, authoritarianism, impunity and lack of accountability.
Having said that, let me also point out that each one of us who support NASA has a personal decision to make regarding the level/depth of their commitment to the vision as laid out by NASA’s Next Steps document.
As for me, the resistance to the corrupt authoritarian hegemony of UhuRuto is real.
I will treat Uhuru Kenyatta’s pronouncements and initiatives with the contempt and lack of respect he has treated those of us who simply wanted a free, fair and just elections.
Some of us will have to dig deep inside our hearts to forgive Jubilants who cheered the death of a 6-month old child. I say this even as I hope that I do not come across as presumptuous enough to (i) tell you what to do or (ii) what political view to hold or (iii) how to express your pleasure/displeasure re: the country’s current socio-political environment.
If UhuRuto extend their hands in “friendship” or “unity”, I will look at them – askance – even as I pointedly ask the question:
What do you want?
The duo’s duplicity goes all the way back to the country’s 1st president and Uhuru’ godfather Kibaki.
I will not be so naïve as to believe that either Uhuru or Ruto mean well – certainly not for the larger country. I will listen to their words then walk away, non-committal, this because I do not trust them; they have proven themselves, as most politicians tend to do, as two-faced deceitful fibbers.
I will forgive; as the good book asks believers, of which I am one, to do.
However, I will not forget.
Chris Msando, Samantha Pendo, Stephanie Mora or Mike Okoth will be my “41 vs. 1” battle cry that Jubilants have inundated us with since 2008.
#NOTMYPRESIDENT replaces “Raira wiru nefa be plesident”.
“Mwizi” or “Mlevi” will replace “Mganga” or “Kihii”.
And “Wale wezi” now occupies the slot previously occupied by “Ule mtu wa vitandawili”.
The foregoing acts of resistance will also be reflected in how I spend my dollars and in how I ask family and friends to spend theirs.
If I cannot get a non-Kenyatta/Ruto/Moi-related service provider, I will either make do without the item or re-double my efforts to find an alternative supplier or item. And if that fails, I will actively publicize the business opportunity available for those of us tired of the current kleptocracy.
I will make my resistance known through the financial decisions I make. If I can steer foreign visitors to NASA-friendly businesses, that will be my preference. If I cannot, I will let them – visitors – know about my reservations re: traveling to Kenya and supporting the barbaric government currently in power.
National events or celebrations? Like the joke of a re-election or the ethnically-tinged “Madaraka Day” event this past June, they can be held in Nyeri or Kerugoya or Kiambu because I will give these events as wide a berth as Uhuru and Ruto gave to negotiating a free, fair and transparent electoral process – BEFORE October 26th.
The impunity that has gotten Kenya to this point cannot and should not go unpunished nor should it be rewarded – which is what the thinking that “the economy is being hurt by the demonstrations” embodies.
The Kenyan economy is not adversely affected by the demonstrations nor the resistance. The premise of that statement is way off and designed to put the onus on Nasa-rites to stand down.
I will not relent.
The more appropriate question is: Why are Kenyans so angry with their president and his government?
Answers to that question put the onus squarely on Uhuru Kenyatta, William Ruto and those whose support they rely on to plunder the country’s resources.
They have combined to pervert the democratic process – using the state’s monopoly on deadly violence along the way.
I will either find a way or make a way to resist Uhuru Kenyatta, William Ruto, Jubilee and everything they stand for.
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