Gabriel Dolan

6 August 2010

opinion

The final word from the Christian leaders read that there would be 'no cause to celebrate regardless of whether the draft is accepted or rejected.' How far off the mark they were!

They were completely out of touch with the mood of the nation as Kenyans started celebrating almost as soon as they cast their ballot.

Forget past votes and even the euphoria of 2002. This referendum was the most critical event since 1963, and the religious advice to "vote 'No' to a flawed proposed constitution that takes away your sovereignty now and forever, through subjection to international law" was pitiable, erroneous and duly ignored.

Yet, this is not a time to chastise rivals; rather in the words of poet and patriot Bobby Sands, our revenge will be the laughter of our children. And laugh and sing a song of freedom they will for the nation has rediscovered its dignity, destiny and vision.

It is a time to recall with gratitude those who kept the flame of hope burning for decades. Names like Kivutha Kibwana, Timothy Njoya, Willy Mutunga, Odenda Lumumba, Raila Odinga, Ken Matiba, Wangari Maathai, Paddy Onyango, Yash Pal Ghai, Maina Kiai, Pheroze Nowrojee and James Orengo will be remembered for generations and celebrated on Heroes Day and in children's storybooks.

Few politicians are included in that list. That is hardly surprising since the political class for the most part were an obstacle to the realisation of a new constitution.

A friend insists that the nasty characters listed in Michella Wrong's book, It's Our Turn to Eat, became the leading lights in the referendum campaigns. You could say the same about those mentioned in the Ndungu Report.

Both sides hissed and threatened to reveal names of land grabbers in the Rift Valley but it faded into a truce of silence because land grabbers were equally prominent in both camps.

Politicians will now start strategising for 2012 and give little attention to implementation of the Constitution. You can picture the 222 MPs drooling over the option to stand for Senator or go for the position of Governor.

What an unfortunate title for the county administrator. Talk about a hangover from colonial days and would not every politician love to be referred to as 'Bwana Governor!'

But the Constitution belongs to all Kenyans. It is Wanjiku's project and the people must own it from the outset.

The Implementation Commission, consisting of a chair and eight others, needs to be wisely chosen. Sixty per cent of the new legislation needs to be in place before the 2012.

We have seen a whole crop of new, mostly young, professional faces emerge to lead the IIEC, Committee of Experts and the National Cohesion Commission with integrity and competency.

The Attorney General has hinted at an imminent resignation and the chief justice will quickly follow. There is an urgency to revamp the political and religious landscape with new faces too.

Clearly new wine requires new wineskins if change is to be effective, meaningful and real. Yes, now is the time for a new political movement to be born to implement the Constitution.