6 responses to “HAVE YOUR SAY: Will new government heal Kenya's wounds?”

1. Florence says:
   15 Apr 2008 16:35:53 GMT

   Following the current political climate, i think what President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila did was the best at the time. Of course the naming of the new cabinet will play its own role in country's healing process. However, much more needs to be done in order for Kenya to experience full recovery. Firstly, the current Mungiki menace is very dangerous remind of the post-election war where it is adversely mentioned. The government should do everything in her power to answer their quest fairly. Second, I think the appointed ministers and their assistants must be seen by the Kenyans to be working for the best of the whole nation. I think Hon Ruto has set a very good example in his annoucement about the fertilizer prices. If Kenyan's can be sure that the government is working towards improving their lives, then healing is abvious. Though I am not political scientist, I think that Kibaki and Raila should continue actively working together in the full view of Kenya. Probably after 2-3 years of responsible production on a better Kenya, they should both go to one of their secruded places like Sagana Hotel and decided on dissolving the parliament. I think it will not be very prudent to wait until the lapse of five years when the political temperatures are at their highiest limits. Earlier dessolution of the parliament will get more people off guard. then we can have free and fair campaigns and elections three months after that.

2. Spironline says:
   17 Apr 2008 18:00:32 GMT

   No, it will not. How can it? We shall see a President and a Prime Minister with unclear divisions of executive power, neither of whom wants to cooperate.

3. Dr. Karambu Ringera says:
   28 Apr 2008 07:49:11 GMT

   Temporary Calm or Lasting Peace: What Will Be The Legacy of Kenya’s Coalition Government?

   The coalition government is not enough to bring lasting peace and stability. The sharing of power solution will neither encourage displaced people to return home nor ease Kenya’s smoldering ethnic and economic divisions. Why? Because the solutions to peace, stability, re-settlement and ethnic and economic divisions lie deeper than the mere creation of a coalition government, which is a political fix, not a social one. Solutions to these issues lie in the creation of inclusive, just and fair systems and institutions of governance, including addressing historical disparities in land distribution and access to resources, economic possibility and social justice for all. The solution lies in embracing and integrating the voices and perspectives of women, youth and other marginalized people into these systems and institutions.
   Power-sharing is for those in power. It is clear that those on the ground and suffering from the clashes have very little to gain from the power and financial gain political leaders secured for themselves. This has largely been the case in Kenya â€" power sharing benefits just a few - and that is why every five years during election time ethnic clashes recur.
   Short-term calm is no longer feasible for Kenya. The people in the Internally Displaced People’s (IDPs) camps know too well that the same thing will happen again and again because it has been happening every five years for the last three decades. How can IDP be convinced to go back when some have tried to do so and have been threatened? Women and young girls have been rapedâ€"in their homes and then in the IDP camps. People’s worldly possessions and business have been destroyed. Opportunities for a generation of children whose parents have lost everything have had their futures hijacked for lack of schools fees to continue their education. How will power-sharing translate on the ground and who will take it to the grassroots where people are experiencing the REAL cost of the political crisis, most of who are women and children?
   By refusing to go back to their land as some have declared, these people are challenging the government to wake up and take a deeper look into why these people are where they are today - facing the predicament they are in - and why they are refusing to go back. The root and real causes of this crisis â€" land, distribution of resources, lack of access to social amenities, and economic disparities - must be addressed now. In addition, looking into how women and children are affected by conflicts such as these and putting in place responses unique to how this category of our population is affected by violence, and in particular involving women and youth in decisions that impact these solutions, is critical to getting lasting peace and stability in Kenya.
   In a nation like Kenya currently, where there is no opposition in parliament in the coalition set up, it is up to civil society to take charge and call the coalition government to accountability. In the past, the ‘sovereign state’ phenomenon has been used to stop leaders of neighboring countries from calling their colleagues in power to stop killing their citizens. In the current China-Zimbabwe guns deal saga, the South African government spokesperson was willing to let in the guns headed for Zimbabwe to get into the continent through the Durban port, arguing that the matter was between two sovereign states â€" even though it was clear the weapons were going to be used to kill Zimbabweans. Civil societies refused to let this to happen by blocking entry of the guns into the continent through peaceful demonstrations. Africa is tired of civil wars fought to support the selfish ends of dictators. I hope our leaders are reading the signs of the times.
   The priority for the coalition government in Kenya is to bring peace, healing, reconciliation and stability to Kenya. One way to do this will be to give Kenyans a constitution that every citizen can depend on and have confidence in. A constitution that will not be changed at every leader’s whim, but one that will solidly put in place a system that ensures the fundamental human rights of every Kenyan: child, woman, youth and man. Secondly, the government needs to put in place a legal system that enables institutions of governance to operate fairly and justly. Kenya needs a judiciary system that will enable legal action to be taken against any one and any institution that breaks the law. Such a system would give every Kenyan confidence that our basic human rights are protected and will not be broken with impunity by anyone because it is clear to all that breaking of the law will lead to facing the full force of the law.
   Confidence in government can begin to be restored with the instigation of a thorough and public inquiry into the 2007 election results and post election violence. Second, there needs to be put in place a commission to support the healing and reconciliation process so much needed in the country, so that people can start understanding what happened to them, choose to forgive one another, and start rebuilding relationships as Kenyans. These three stepsâ€"strengthening the constitution, launching an inquiry that reveals the extent of election irregularities, and instituting a commission to deal with the pain and loss of the post election violenceâ€"will determine whether the current state of affairs is a temporary calm or lasting peace. Whichever it turns out to be will become the legacy of the coalition government.

4. Peter says:
   10 May 2008 07:44:11 GMT

   The government itself is a joke. What with the cabinet consisting of half the parliament and all earning double pay as ministers and assistants and also as MPs add to that loot well paying perks that come with the jobs. For a country already paying high taxes and one riddled with corruption and now the world faced with a food crisis there is nothing to heal!!!!! reminds of the saying of the advent of ''missionaries'' to Africa'' when they had the bible i had my land but when they gave me the bible the land was no longer mine''

5. David says:
   10 May 2008 13:28:39 GMT

   Yes indeed there is something more to be done in Kenya for it to return to its normal status it was.One I suggest that The IDP people especially in Rift valley must get compesations from the Government and not by just saying but doing as to action speaks louder than words. Second the Government must not accept to owner the Mungiki oulock sect only as its not the only one in the country we have others like Chinkororo from Nyanza Kisii and Sabaout Land Defence both of the two mentioned are more dangerous compared to Mungiki so if they concetrate only on one sect it will lead to another break up of war in the name of recognations.

6. safari says:
   11 Nov 2008 11:28:06 GMT

   This picture made me very sad. Some students who are IDP have to seat for the National Examination (KCPE). http://www.nation.co.ke/News/-/1056/489060/-/tll4cg/-/index.html

   Its sad to see what has happened to these young people

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