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written by Timothy Wainaina , October 28, 2007

Seek ye first the economic kingdom. For me anyone who can create an environment in which hardworking Kenyans can make a clean decent living is my candidate.

I am aware that it is never perfect, actually both sides are far from it, but then you have to choose between the one encouraging people not to pay rent, the one promising the Olympics, promising to cut taxes while creating 20 new states and 20% economic growth then it gets easier to choose. Much easier.

you make it too easy
written by Nowa Indania , October 28, 2007

Timothy, we are one in the spirit. I voted in 2002 because I wanted change. I saw change and I liked it. I have come to like this thing called change so I will vote for change again hoping that this iwa it gets me nearer to where I want to be. I think that many Kenyans who have seen some change would like to see even more.....

the stru*gle continues
written by Razia Iqbal , October 28, 2007

Kibaki had an important role midwife for the birth of democratic government in Kenya. His child was delivered and his work is done. His must be a one-term presidency. It is time to usher in the new order and we will do it together at the ballot box on december 27.

long live kenya!

mabimjo?
written by Jardene Waya , October 28, 2007

The majimbo issue is being used and abused to intimidate and confuse voters by the various parties. It is high time that all the parties put forward their manifestos for all of us to examine.


This is not Rwanda of 1994. I will not make my electoral decision on the basis of a lousy pamphlet that Koigi Wamwere alleges was published by ODM. Shame on all you parties!!!

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written by Amir Ibrahim , October 29, 2007

I find it silly that anyone should talk of change at this election; even puerile. Chnage to what? Is this a comfort blanket? Unless one is voting in Rev Pius Muiru they should not claim they are voting in change.
Corruption
Both parties are heavily involved.
Tribalism
Both parties stand accused.
Undemocratic habits
Again both parties stand accused.

I will be voting for the president's party, with great reservations. I will do it to preserve Kenya as a peaceful united country. I will do it because the president's party has shown that in spite of its numerous excesses, it has opened up innumerable opportunities for the hardworking Kenyan.
There is electricity in your village, and water in your tap, parastatals too numerous to be counted have been revived, the Youth Fund has put money into young people's hands, the government has taken on a most prudent fiscal regime (so much so that we are winning international awards and rewards -opportunities like listing a sovereign bond on international markets). The government has made it so that young Kenyans can set up in business with cheap credit should they choose to do so, that these can invest in property and on the stock exchange, that investment-risk is predictable.

It is sad that I do not hate Kikuyus. I wish I did, then maybe some of the stated reasons for voting in the quite clearly loutish ODM gang would be my reasons. That is the only clear reason I have heard from ODM, let's shuffle the tribes.

nothing succeeds like success
written by Nowa Indania , October 29, 2007

Brother Amir nice to see you. You have scoffed at the term change without allowing a moments grace to consider that where you, Ibrahim, see no change, others around are much better off. Thanks to this outgoing government they feel freer in a more open society, and have hope for their future.

Many of these people are the ones you call hard-working Kenyans. Your compliment to the Outgoing president is no exaggeration. He has indeed opened up opportunities. You yourself cite water and electricity to outlying areas. That is Change.

Now consider this: If a change from Kanu to Narc brought us these goodies just imagine what a Real change would do.

Ref, send them off
written by John Ongeri , October 29, 2007

The current political beauty contest where each of the contestants comes round pleading for our votes is just like in years gone by.

Amir, don't you think that Kenya remains largely peaceful and largely united In spite of(rather than because of) the policies of this government? In the dark days of Kanu one-party rule one could still travel from point A to point B at night without a thought to carjacking and other crimes. These and other daring robberies serve to highlight the large gap between rich and poor that has developed over recent years and the desperate measures that people are prepared to take.

This government team have no clue about security. The Artur affair springs easily to mind. They are not really bothered as ongoing incidents in Molo and Mt Elgon area continue to show and they should be given a red card the day after boxing day.

The key Issue is Security
written by donworry , October 29, 2007

I'm very tempted to fall into the category of a single issue voter. I guess that I agree with all of you who say that the Narc government brought some positive development.

Imo the one area of biggest failure has been their dismal record on security. Kenyans are dying at the hands of gangsters in unbelievable numbers. A policeman has an extremely low life-expectancy in the cities and today's thugs attack anyone and everyone with impunity.

Unless we can get inspired leadership in the next parliament we will continue to ascend to the higher leagues of murder levels as seen in some more troubled capitals of this sad and cruel world.

Let us see how the others are paying tribute to a victim of this senseless blood letting the late Lucky Dube

re: Ref, send them off
written by aeichener , October 29, 2007

In the dark days of Kanu one-party rule one could still travel from point A to point B at night without a thought to carjacking and other crimes.

Hmmm. So you think that a strongman with an iron hand would be the right one to keep Kenyans at bay? Yes, maybe you are right.
Free citizens will strive to elect a servant of the people, but slave souls ask for an overseer.

That might be a reason to vote ODM - actually one of the few I could come up with. If one needs a ruler exercising strong liidaah-sheep, one will do well to acclaim the Agwambo. He might just give you what you yearn for.

Alexander

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written by Timothy Wainaina , October 30, 2007

Donworry,
Are you an ODM propagandist? Even they in their wildest imaginations have not blamed the insecurity in Kenya on the government. I admit that the government dropped the ball in the Mt. Elgon clashes, but at the same time, anyone living in Nairobi will tell you that your post is not based on our recent experiences, Nairobi is a much safer place to live in.

That said, there is every reason fro reforming the barbaric Kenya Police. This is not a matter of politics, the KP exists as an institution very removed from the political process and even were Shirin Ebadi herself president, I doubt very much that it could be changed overnight. Again, this is not for political football.

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written by Gichangi , October 30, 2007

I think single-issue voting is irresponsible, there is a whole lot of issues that are very pertinent, very immediate that should inspire voter choices.

Of course it is a canard that either party represents change. This is an idea best sold cold at a - market, one where every trader has only one thing on their mind, how much we hate Kikuyus.

Now, if as some of the proponents for change above concede by themselves that the Kibaki government has brought much appreciable improvement in Kenyan life, then we have two choices. The first is to re-elect them, and lobby for even more change.
The second is to elect a party that promises even more positive change.

Now looking at the Kenyan landscape, it is lost on none but the most idle that with a lead phalanx composed of Raila, Musalia and Ruto, with Ntimama, Kosgei and the brainless Balala not too far behind, ODM does not present the rosiest prospects for change. I therefore select option one, let the change continue, especially with the knowledge that in the absence of Kibaki 2012 will be an audition for brilliance in his current cabinet as the whole of the old order is wiped away.

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written by Gichangi , October 30, 2007

Sorry, I forgot to add, my single issue is the management of the economy. I am struck by just how clueless the ODM team is on this one issue. So clueless i fact, I would think of it as a security risk.

Its the economy stupid
written by Magothe , October 30, 2007

In 2002, I used to support among others my uncle who used to work on his farm 12 hours a day on horticulture and dairy cattle, but either lose his produce or sell it for pittance. Today he is being paid monthly by KCC for his milk, he is educating his daughter in secondary; he has just had electricty after paying for it in 1990 and water is flowing nearby following revival of a water scheme that had colapsed in 2000.
We are now parternering to buy him a pickup so he can start farm produce transport business.
I.e. opportunities created by this govt combined with CDF and his own hard work.

un-conventional wisdom
written by john ongeri , October 30, 2007

Please excuse my seeming obsession with security but if this thread is about single issue voting.....

In an old black-and-white film armed police arrest 2 drug dealing suspects in a derelict building in a dingy part of town. The cops cannot be bothered to follow due process. They tell the dealers that if they hand over their wares they are free to go......the cops then shoot them in the back...

There are many single issue voters each with their individual concerns.Is it so radical to suggest that each of them is worthy of respect?

Personal Experiences
written by kerich , October 30, 2007

I fully agree with the writor of the column and Mr ongeri.While for some, Kibaki's term has ushered in great prosperity, for others it took a decided tur for the worse.Whether it's right or wrong especially with the bigger picture in mind,Kenyans will be voting according to personal experiences. Take my cousin who lives in Ngong.Her husband got a job with kcb and they got suddenly very wealthy. However,late last year,her hubby was gunned down in an attempted car robbery in their estate.Her pain and loss is of course undescribable.Gichagi say's nairobi is safer now than before.The truth of that statement is hard to ascertain so I shall not claim the contrary.
Now,as a matter of fact and not who is right or not, guess how my cousin will be voting come Dec 27 and you have yor answer.
Therefore, Kibaki's loss or reelection will be pegged on the balance of those who personally felt their lives improve versus not. Now do me another favour and guess wgo will be sworn in on the 1st and then save yourselves alot of heartwrenching rationalizations over who is better because that is hardly the election winning issue.

Thank you Kerich!
written by seline , October 31, 2007

I totally agree with the idea of people going to vote based on their personal experiences. I know young people who have seen luck smile on their side these past few years, they have jobs that put food on their table, and enable them educate their siblings.Then you also have the unlucky ones. The ones who are still waiting for electricity, despite the rural electrification program, the ones who have never seen a tap and walk miles to look for the rare commodity, as magothe's uncle thanks the Lord for having running water, the ones who can no longer afford to buy a kilo of sugar and instead buy spoonfuls of sugar, because commodity prices have shot up, the ones who despite their meagre wages are expected to pay tax, and the ones who have been orphaned because some gangster somewhere decided that his/her parents did not deserve the money they all so worked hard for.So the winning issue is most likely to be: " has my economic situation improved these past five year?"

we are getting there
written by Jayawardene , October 31, 2007

Strip away the party propaganda and cut out the political posturing and you come closer to the truth. The last 3 posts here from Kerich, Seline and Aeichner have come closest to tackling the core issue in this thread. I salute you all.

Why do I suddenly realise that it was never about majimbo or the artur brothers or MOUs or even MO1s. It was certainly not about "the economy stupid" or the Next Olympic games.

It is about real people and real-life stories. People whose lives have changed for better and for worse in the last five years. The Narc government was certainly good for business and truly there has been increased prosperity in many quarters which may or may not have led to perceptions of growing inequality.

Here in Kenya nouveaux rich cannot be coy about their wealth. Remember in days gone by when people launched whispering campaigns if a whole year went by and a new bride was still not expecting? well, we still believe in a kind of ostentation that our brothers and sisters domiciled out there would find tasteless. That said it is easy enough as I walk in the city streets or out in the countryside to identify the fruits of new-found-wealth and the efforts of up and coming tycoons as they concrete up entire city suburbs with villas and apartments that will form the next gaggle of gated communities. The message to the poor, quite simply KEEP OUT!

A rapidly growing economy like we have must have in place safety net systems to take care of those that are not quite on the super highway yet. Failing to do so means that it quite literally sows the seeds of its own decay

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written by aeichener , October 31, 2007

Seline, undoubtably the present government has had a great start and has become slower and slower and slower... presently it seems that the runner is sleeping and snoring, spread out on the track.

Now, as to your welcome invocation of individual examples, my feeling is that mostly the income gap has widened. Especially the so-called "middle class" is in a more dire situation now than say in the 1970s. Many Kenyan existences, or shall I say subsistences, are precarious and the abyss is only one step to the side. One little mishap and you are falling deep. That is what concerns me most. There are more chances offered now, yes, and a few people have been able to enrich themselves (honestly even), but on the whole, the poor have remained poor, and the upper class (or what pretends as such) remains closed shop.

Alexander

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written by Gichangi , October 31, 2007

Kerich, Aeichener, Jayawardene, and the most sensible Seline,

I am fully in agreement with all of you. There is every need to reflect personal circumstances at the election, but with the utmost respect, I suggest that the fact that the Kibaki government has not brought on a perfect Kenya does not suggest that one should elect an ODM government that shows every sign of making Kenya an even worse place. I am not just talking about the economy, on which issue ODM is clearly an imminent danger, but on every level of accusation we could bing up against the Kibaki government. Do you really want to punish Kibaki so bad that you are willing to let the fox in among the hens? That is the question.

I would still say that those asking for change in this election are delusional.