By: Hon Koigi Wa Wamwere via Facebook dated 15th March 2013.
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After colonial tyranny, the rain started beating us in 1963 at the time of independence. But our exodus from Egypt of colonialism had started ten years before. During the Mau Mau war we crossed the Red Sea and landed in the Sinai desert at independence. But our journey of traversing the waste land of poverty, ignorance and disease ended when past presidents, their families, friends and ruling class entered Canaan by the back door, leaving the majority of Kenyans in the desert where they still are 50 years later.
When Kenyans were abandoned in the desert, we blamed it on one party dictatorship, bad leadership and a mutilated constitution. We fought hard and finally got our multiparty democracy back. In 2010, we gave ourselves a new constitution that would be the roadmap to Canaan after an election expected to give us Joshua to take us there.
Unfortunately, because the election did not give us Joshua, our journey to the Promised Land has stalled and we might continue to be in the desert for another long time.
How come elections could not give us Joshua?
Leaders who did not pass the integrity test of chapter six of the constitution demanding integrity for all public officers cannot be Joshua.
Despite name change of parties, most of the leaders we elected are children of Kanu who have come of age and retaken power. They never were and cannot be Joshua.
But Kenyans will stay longer in the desert because, apart from lacking Joshua, the poor lack the will to leave the desert. Worse, as victims of the Stockholm syndrome, they have become lovers of their captors and at home in the desert.
Contentment with the desert for the majority notwithstanding, there are many who wish to reach Canaan in their life time and bequeath a heaven on earth to their children. Without fulfillment of this dream, multiparty democracy, new constitution, elections and new leaders “will taste like ashes†to quote Bishop Tutu of South Africa.