Updated Saturday, December 26th 2015 10:45am
AUTHOR
Future Youth
The rise to presidency in Kenya is still the biggest prize in politics, even though the new constitution was meant to reduce the powers of this seat. With recent poll results showing that majority of Kenyans favouring the current president over a potential Raila presidency, we have to ask ourselves, what makes one fit for the top seat?
The current government which has outrightly failed Kenyans in just about every possible way, from security to jobs, from agriculture to infrastructure and corruption on a grand scale, is still the one favoured by Kenyans to rule, so how bad should it get to be deemed unfit to rule?
If politics is based on experience, achievement and leadership, then we truly have a president who has achieved none of the above. He came into politics through nomination by former president Moi and since taking power in 2013, he has achieved nothing meaningful for the country apart from a ballooning debt.
On the other hand, we have an opposition leader who has a wealth of experience, more achievements than any other politician in the country. In areas of political freedom, media freedom, multiparty democracy, uniting Kenyans, he stood down and urged Kenyans to vote for Kibaki in 2002 to get rid of a dictatorial KANU regime. In 2008 he accepted to form a coalition government that was from the beginning opposed to cooperating with him. He had the willingness to speak out against multi-billion shilling corruption scandals with regards to the devolution ministry and Eurobond without fear, even though many Kenyans mocked him but with time realised he wasn't cooking up stories.
From the comments derived from the recent poll results, it is clear that of those who want him to stand down have no valid reason in saying so. They forget that he once sided with a Kikuyu and later a Kalenjin, and both times it was they who walked out on him, seeking their own political gains, there by causing these very divisions they accuse him of.
Others say he should stay on but as leader of Opposition and not as President because he is the only one strong enough to keep the Government in check and sniff out corruption. This begs the question, if he is the best to fight corruption and keep Governments in check, why cant he do that from the seat of power?
Or do Kenyans fear that if Raila was to be president then there would be no opposition strong enough to keep his government in check?
The reason why Raila may not be fit for President is the fear we have inside us of how much we would love real change, but fear the results of changing ourselves to achieve it. For if we were to vote for a candidate based on their credentials, experience and achievements, then there wouldn't be much of a contest, but if its based on tribes, numbers and primitive loyalty, then he is not fit for president and everything is up for grabs.
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