Raila & etc.

I watched Raila on the BBC Africa web page today.

It seems to me that there is a continuum of motives within the mobs roaming the cities and countryside in Kenya. In my opinion, many are opportunistic thugs and criminals; some are demonstrators with no violent intentions. How does one separate those with criminal intentions from peaceful political protesters?

In my opinion, the only way to react at this point in time is to call for a complete cessation of protestations. Too many criminals are using this present chaos for nefarious purposes.

Yet, Raila still stirs the pot of instability. He suggests that wananchi, robbed of their votes, are utilizing the only tool left in their arsenal, political protest. To be effective, these protests must be made en masse.

Mass, peaceful political protests are a good way to capture the attention of a government. Huge masses of people cannot be ignored. But in Kenya presently, the sheep cannot be separated from the wolves.

Raila wants to keep the coals under Kibaki's feet red hot. He is desperate. The most effective tool he has at his disposal is the mob. And he is wielding it.

How would things be different today if Raila had responded differently to the rigging of the elections? What if Raila had, in the strongest terms, called for calm?

Raila could have highlighted that the ODM would take its majority in Parliament and push for changes in election law. "I guarantee that there will be no ambiguity regarding the elections in 2012." he could have stated.

In my opinion, the quality of life for the "average" Kenyan - and certainly the poor urban slum-dweller - would not have been been changed perceptibly by the election of Raila. The average Kenyan would continue to "just get by" and the dirt poor would continue to struggle for today's provision.

What has not been communicated successfully is that Kenya has been making real economic gains and moving forward. Certainly attempts have been made, but it remains that the exceedingly poor and many average Kenyans have not benefited. The status quo has remained.

However, the only way forward - the best and only hope for a better tomorrow - is though economic development. The greatest asset of the country is its economic growth. Certainly, it takes time - decades - for the poor to be the beneficiaries of economic growth, but without it, there is absolutely no chance.

Presently, the economy of Kenya is being sacrificed on the alter of personal political power. Two guys are consuming the hope of an entire nation. Remember Solomon's resolution regarding the baby claimed by two women? Solomon only threatened the use of the sword. In Kenya, the baby is being chopped to pieces.