KENYA: The Holy Father challenged us all; let’s take his message deeply –RAILA ODINGA
The
writer is CORD leaders (Opposition party in Kenya) and former Prime Minister of
Kenya
writer is CORD leaders (Opposition party in Kenya) and former Prime Minister of
Kenya
 |
| Hon.Raila Odinga |
It
was good to have Pope Francis in Kenya. As a nation we should collectively
express our gratitude to the Pope for making time to come and be with us.
was good to have Pope Francis in Kenya. As a nation we should collectively
express our gratitude to the Pope for making time to come and be with us.
But
his visit is more significant to Kenya beyond the honour it bestows on us.
During his stay and interaction with us, he acted as a mirror through which we
were able to see our true image. I want to believe that each one of us feels
individually challenged by the Pope.
his visit is more significant to Kenya beyond the honour it bestows on us.
During his stay and interaction with us, he acted as a mirror through which we
were able to see our true image. I want to believe that each one of us feels
individually challenged by the Pope.
In
his various speeches from the United Nations Complex in Gigiri, to St Joseph
the Worker Church in Kangemi and finally at the Kasarani Sports Complex, Pope
Francis gave us the most honest statement of what is ailing us as a nation, and
what we collectively need to do to save our country.
his various speeches from the United Nations Complex in Gigiri, to St Joseph
the Worker Church in Kangemi and finally at the Kasarani Sports Complex, Pope
Francis gave us the most honest statement of what is ailing us as a nation, and
what we collectively need to do to save our country.
What
is unfortunate though is that those things that the Pope was talking about have
been raised many times both by our citizens…….Our collective problem as a people seems to be
inability to listen.
is unfortunate though is that those things that the Pope was talking about have
been raised many times both by our citizens…….Our collective problem as a people seems to be
inability to listen.
There
are five issues that the Pope dealt with that we must greatly reflect upon as a
nation. The first is land grabbing. The Pope spoke of our unjust distribution
of land and the creation of poverty laden urban communities due to
landlessness.
are five issues that the Pope dealt with that we must greatly reflect upon as a
nation. The first is land grabbing. The Pope spoke of our unjust distribution
of land and the creation of poverty laden urban communities due to
landlessness.
Kenyans
have talked for so long with so much passion on the question of land. Yet we
keep
have talked for so long with so much passion on the question of land. Yet we
keep
 |
| Hon Raila Odinga during Papal Mass in Nairobi on 26 Nov 2015 |
paying lip service to this matter, even after it was found to have been at
the centre of bloody violence in parts of the country following the 2007-2008
elections………
…..Lately, we have refused to acknowledge that we have a land problem.
The
second issue raised by the Pope was inequality. He spoke of the poverty and
suffering that many Kenyans are condemned to, saying “these are wounds
inflicted by minorities who cling to power and wealth, who selfishly squander
while a growing majority is forced to flee to abandoned, filthy and run down
periphery”.
second issue raised by the Pope was inequality. He spoke of the poverty and
suffering that many Kenyans are condemned to, saying “these are wounds
inflicted by minorities who cling to power and wealth, who selfishly squander
while a growing majority is forced to flee to abandoned, filthy and run down
periphery”.
“This
is what happens when we forget that God gave the earth to the whole human race
for the sustenance of its members, without excluding or favouring anyone.”
is what happens when we forget that God gave the earth to the whole human race
for the sustenance of its members, without excluding or favouring anyone.”
We
heard the cry of our youth through Lynette Wambui Njogu and her heart-wrenching
lamentation “does God have favourites?”
heard the cry of our youth through Lynette Wambui Njogu and her heart-wrenching
lamentation “does God have favourites?”
I
want to believe Wambui was directing her question to all of us; Opposition and
Government alike. It is true that in Kenya, we have created a country of
favourites. We have pursued
development programmes that are high sounding in international economic jargon
rather than those that give every Kenyan at least one hot meal every day.
want to believe Wambui was directing her question to all of us; Opposition and
Government alike. It is true that in Kenya, we have created a country of
favourites. We have pursued
development programmes that are high sounding in international economic jargon
rather than those that give every Kenyan at least one hot meal every day.
The
Pope called the Kenyan type of development a “pursuit of symbols of exclusive
economic growth such as vibrant stock exchange”.
Pope called the Kenyan type of development a “pursuit of symbols of exclusive
economic growth such as vibrant stock exchange”.
He
both harshly and correctly told us that this was “crude music to the ears of
the poor”.
both harshly and correctly told us that this was “crude music to the ears of
the poor”.
The
Pope challenged us to uphold the values of the poor, “values not quoted in the
stock exchange, not subject to speculation and have no market price”.
Pope challenged us to uphold the values of the poor, “values not quoted in the
stock exchange, not subject to speculation and have no market price”.
We
must start thinking of changing our development paradigm. We must stop the
“trickle down” economic type of development and start putting money in the
poor, in their activities and aspirations, and in their humanity. That requires
putting the nation above party, personalities, tribe and region that often
plague our politics.
must start thinking of changing our development paradigm. We must stop the
“trickle down” economic type of development and start putting money in the
poor, in their activities and aspirations, and in their humanity. That requires
putting the nation above party, personalities, tribe and region that often
plague our politics.
This
issue of inequality is tied to that of tribalism. Because many times, it is
ethnicity that is used to create and maintain favourites. The Pontiff told Kenyans
that fighting tribalism is an everyday struggle. It is not a matter of holding
hands and saying we are united. It is a matter of respect, of dialogue, and of
love for fellow citizens.
issue of inequality is tied to that of tribalism. Because many times, it is
ethnicity that is used to create and maintain favourites. The Pontiff told Kenyans
that fighting tribalism is an everyday struggle. It is not a matter of holding
hands and saying we are united. It is a matter of respect, of dialogue, and of
love for fellow citizens.
“If
you don’t dialogue with each other, if you don’t discuss with each other, you
are going to have divisions like dust, like the worms,” he warned us.
you don’t dialogue with each other, if you don’t discuss with each other, you
are going to have divisions like dust, like the worms,” he warned us.
Then
the Pope talked of corruption. It was an embarrassing castigation of us all to
hear the representatives of the youth Lynette and Mr Emmanuel Monga frankly
tell the Pope how in Kenya one cannot get any public service without paying a
bribe in cash, or in kind.
the Pope talked of corruption. It was an embarrassing castigation of us all to
hear the representatives of the youth Lynette and Mr Emmanuel Monga frankly
tell the Pope how in Kenya one cannot get any public service without paying a
bribe in cash, or in kind.
The
matter of corruption is one that has occupied most of our talking time since
independence. Yet it is also the one in which we have made the least progress.
Every government in Kenya comes to power promising to tackle the vice then all
end up blaming the people for it.
matter of corruption is one that has occupied most of our talking time since
independence. Yet it is also the one in which we have made the least progress.
Every government in Kenya comes to power promising to tackle the vice then all
end up blaming the people for it.
This
is making the people feel hopeless. Kenyans are electing governments with the
full knowledge that they are suffering from the cancer of corruption.
is making the people feel hopeless. Kenyans are electing governments with the
full knowledge that they are suffering from the cancer of corruption.
They
are not electing governments to diagnose the problem. They want the government
to solve it.
are not electing governments to diagnose the problem. They want the government
to solve it.
And
every government comes in with that promise, only later to not only fail to
solve the problem, but instead to contribute to its gravity. Eventually, each
government excuses its failure by telling Kenyans that they are the ones that
are corrupt, so the government cannot help them. Corruption is and remains a
problem of the political and economic elite. We have to accept this then
confront it without blaming the masses who are mere victims.
every government comes in with that promise, only later to not only fail to
solve the problem, but instead to contribute to its gravity. Eventually, each
government excuses its failure by telling Kenyans that they are the ones that
are corrupt, so the government cannot help them. Corruption is and remains a
problem of the political and economic elite. We have to accept this then
confront it without blaming the masses who are mere victims.
Lastly,
the Pope raised the issue of the youth, another historical promise that we
never get round to fulfilling. We must be more innovative in the way we seek to
benefit our youth.
the Pope raised the issue of the youth, another historical promise that we
never get round to fulfilling. We must be more innovative in the way we seek to
benefit our youth.
We
must realise that the benefit of the youth lies in creating a better country
all round since the youth are the ones that are worst hit by all the ills of
the society.
must realise that the benefit of the youth lies in creating a better country
all round since the youth are the ones that are worst hit by all the ills of
the society.
We
must measure our concern for the youth in the way we promote good societal
values rather than in just setting aside monies to be lent to young people to
engage in commercial enterprise.
must measure our concern for the youth in the way we promote good societal
values rather than in just setting aside monies to be lent to young people to
engage in commercial enterprise.
We
must see the benefit for our youth in protecting the interests of future
generations to ensure that in years to come, our youth can raise families in
good physical, social and economic environments. If the visit of the Pope means
anything to Kenya, it must mean that we engage in deep contemplation about the
above issues.
must see the benefit for our youth in protecting the interests of future
generations to ensure that in years to come, our youth can raise families in
good physical, social and economic environments. If the visit of the Pope means
anything to Kenya, it must mean that we engage in deep contemplation about the
above issues.
The
Pope challenged all of us, Government and Opposition. From time immemorial,
even leaders who did not listen to the people did listen to the prophets. We
must obey the Pope.
Pope challenged all of us, Government and Opposition. From time immemorial,
even leaders who did not listen to the people did listen to the prophets. We
must obey the Pope.
Courtesy of the Standard
newspaper, Kenya
newspaper, Kenya
