Barely two years after the National Rainbow Coalition whitewashed Kanu during the 2002 General Election and took over power, the country was in full campaign mode, and public rallies were all about the quest for power.

After the 2005 constitutional referendum, Kenyans were to hear of nothing else but politicking - highly polarising, and sometimes highly inflammatory campaign stuff, during which proper governance took the back-burner.

In short, it can be said that for the last five years, the country has never known a moment when its politicians were not on the hustings, intent on capturing power or keeping it.

It can also be said that one of the causes of the post-election mayhem was the high tension they created, succeeding in whipping up animosity between ethnic communities.

The disputed presidential election results were the spark that ignited the passions aroused by politicians on both sides of the divide.

The results are there for all to see - at least 1,200 people killed, thousands more uprooted from their homes, and property of great value reduced to ashes, not to mention an economy nearly destroyed.

Now, even before Kenyans have started counting their losses, the politicians are at it again, looking far into the future (2012), and sharing the political spoils amongst themselves.

Should this kind of talk continue, is it possible that the monumental task before us all - healing the nation, reconciliation and resettling the internally displaced - will ever occupy the minds of our leaders?

Already, the tourism industry has raised the red flag, saying that if the succession talk starts this early, it will scare away those tourists who have started trickling back into the country - and this at a time when starvation looms, fuel prices are soaring, and the economy is still in a crisis.

This, in our minds, is a clear indication that Kenyans cannot afford to leave this country's destiny in the hands, or rather, the mouths of, politicians.

They were largely responsible for pushing this country to the brink, and by harping on the succession issue now, they seem to be intent on finishing the job.