DN 05/02/09
There were no fresh or radical ideas coming out of the speeches at the opening of the high profile "The Kenya We Want" conference in Nairobi on Wednesday. The centrepiece of President Kibaki’s delivery was caution against the temptation of dismissing existing institutions as a failure.

WHO NEEDS TO BE TOLD THE KENYA WE WANT IS GRAFT FREE, EQUITABLE WEALTH DISTRIBUTION AND MPS PAY TAX JUST FOR STARTERS. do we need a confrence for this?

He stressed the virtues of gradual change, making the point that the United States of America had elected an African American as president without tearing down the country’s institutions.

Solutions

Neither did the other keynote speakers — Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka — make any statement to suggest that the political elite was engaged in a search for radical solutions to the country’s socio-economic problems.

Former President Daniel arap Moi left the conference hall roaring with laughter when he remarked that it was a shame that 45 years after independence — and in spite of major advances in the medical field — parts of the country were still fighting jiggers.

Plenty of stuff for comic relief. But in terms of new paradigms or providing a new road map for the country, there was little to cheer from what was coming out of Day 1 of the conference. Part of the development problem in Kenya is the absence of serious public debate about alternatives.

Robust political debates used to take place in the 1960s. There was the ardent defender of the free market, the hard-line anti-trade union politician, and the believer in socialist policies.

Today, politicians of all stripes profess to belong to the same ideological side. Even manifestos of various political parties read like they were written by the same person.

If there is one thing that is even more serious than the grave political, social and economic situation in the country, it is the bankruptcy of political debate and ideas by the country’s political elite.

Right now, the easiest route to the moral high ground is to lament loudly how Kenya has slid back to begging for food from foreigners and how corruption is slowly gnawing at the social fabric of society.

But in terms of policy discussion, both sides of the divide are agreed that there is no alternative to Vision 2030.

Talking shop

Is the "Kenya We Want" conference a mere talking shop? There is nothing wrong with a talking shop. The country is facing economic stagnation, high inflation, rising unemployment, and serious social inequalities. It has a dysfunctional political system where political competition easily degenerates into open ethnic strife and slaughter.



I think they have got it all wrong on this. Kibaki is president, Raila is PM, Kalonzo is VP, Moi has ruled for 24 years so if they know what kenya we want they shuold just do it (or should have done it incase of Moi) not tell us. The whole confrence is cow dung and a waste of taxpayers money.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Muhuthia,

I do not agree with what you say!
We all know what happened after the last voting, no one need to remind you, so for this talks am sure its a good start, one is that all parties are involved and this no one man show.Ask any kenyan you included you want some change in one way all the other and all this can only take place when there is some light at the end of this dark tannel we are all in.Yes talk about high inflation, no jobs and the list of shame is just endless.
We as kenyans need to see some light and am sure this talks is just what we need .

quote:

Ask any kenyan you included you want some change in one way all the other and all this can only take place when there is some light at the end of this dark tannel we are all in.Yes talk about high inflation, no jobs and the list of shame is just endless.

My issue is not with change but the authors of the change. Philip do you expect dyed in the wool ultra conservatives to midwife change. If Kibaki or Raila want change it should be in their actions not in talk shows.

Change will not come from those who are authors and beneficiaries of status quo.
Change will come from the hearts of Kenyans who are responsible for electing bad leadership.


The money they are using in the conference should feed hungry children!

Another useless and wasteful attempt to show that something is being done. In Kenya, we have smart ideas, but no political will to actualize those plans. A conference, or ten of them for that matter. Who does not know we need to stem corruption, that we need to cut useless and wasteful bureaucracy, that food sanitation and shelter are paramount. Once these are adressed, then we can talk of conferences to finetune our agenda

We do have a Parliament, and a ministry of Planning. their executive draw huge salary and allowances. What is their jobs that we have to launch expensive conferences to tell them what they already know?

How do you ask a starving man in Kibwezi the Kenya he wants! After Ruto and Co. have eaten their maize.

This is plain ridicule to borrow from Edward Clay the establishment is now vomitting on the Kenyans. What a disgrace!

The piont I am making is; everybody who is anybody in Kenya knows what requires to be done but nobody does it because they benefit from the corruption,impunity, patronage, tribalism and all that ails Kenya.

Who is Raila to tell us the Kenya we want? We want a Kenya where people live in diginity without being buchered or using flying toilets

How do we get the Kenya WE WANT when we have political thugs who will only allow the Kenya THEY WANT.

wa Mathira

quote:

How do we get the Kenya WE WANT when we have political thugs who will only allow the Kenya THEY WANT.

wa Mathira

well put wa mathira

Cheap UGG Australia Boots, all kind of styles including classic cardy, calssic tall,
ultra tall, ultra short, nightfall, etc. 100% satisfaction guarantee, save up to 70%, Free shipping!
Check out here! UGG Australia