Saturday, 15 June 2013

Why Kethi Kilonzo Should Run For Senate

Why Kethi Kilonzo Should Run For Senate
By Sospeter Otieno for the Star
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Kethi Kilonzo, the presumed darling of the Makueni people, should be in a real dilemma; a choice between heeding the people’s calls and then having to weigh into how that plays into the unity of her family.
However, whatever Kethi eventually decides, her candidacy if it were to materialize would be very significant. First is the stakes for the leading coalitions. A Jubilee win would be a blow to Cord, because it would send a signal that Kalonzo, Wiper and Cord are vulnerable in Ukambani. Kethi – the presumptive darling and choice of the Makueni people- if she rejoins the race would tilt the scales heavily in favour of Cord.
Kethi Kilonzo, the presumed darling of the Makueni people, should be in a real dilemma; a choice between heeding the people’s calls and then having to weigh into how that plays into the unity of her family.
However, whatever Kethi eventually decides, her candidacy if it were to materialize would be very significant. First is the stakes for the leading coalitions.
A Jubilee win would be a blow to Cord, because it would send a signal that Kalonzo, Wiper and Cord are vulnerable in Ukambani. Kethi – the presumptive darling and choice of the Makueni people- if she rejoins the race would tilt the scales heavily in favour of Cord.
- See more at: http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/article-124421/why-kethi-kilonzo-should-run-senate#sthash.gWzeaa8B.dpuf
Kethi Kilonzo, the presumed darling of the Makueni people, should be in a real dilemma; a choice between heeding the people’s calls and then having to weigh into how that plays into the unity of her family.
However, whatever Kethi eventually decides, her candidacy if it were to materialize would be very significant. First is the stakes for the leading coalitions.
A Jubilee win would be a blow to Cord, because it would send a signal that Kalonzo, Wiper and Cord are vulnerable in Ukambani. Kethi – the presumptive darling and choice of the Makueni people- if she rejoins the race would tilt the scales heavily in favour of Cord.
- See more at: http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/article-124421/why-kethi-kilonzo-should-run-senate#sthash.gWzeaa8B.dpuf
It’s a known fact that Mutula’s early days in politics was for a long time as a Kanu insider and Moi’s legal representative. However he had his “Pauline” moment and has never disappointed since.
Kethi- in her own right seems to be an off-shoot and refinement of her father’s most activist latter days. Besides, she represents a brand new thinking as to the direction that this nation should move- this is so vital.
Secondly it’s about generation. At 36, if she would change her mind and return to the race and get elected, she would be joining an ‘oldies’ packed Senate.
And Kethi is not just young, but her style of debating is also different. Kethi’s legal submissions for Africog at the Supreme Court had the hallmarks of the TV series Steven Bochco’s Murder One and LA law or Dick Wolf’s Law and Order type of dramatic legal presentation.
As a fan of legal drama myself, thanks to Kethi Kilonzo, I had my own free minutes of fun in a Kenyan legal drama that was the Supreme Court Case. And the aforementioned tells me she would bring a new style to Kenya’s Senatorial debate.
She definitely doesn’t do law like her “learned friends”, but rather at law school, she learned it, owned it, and tweaked it to 21st Century standards”. That’s innovation- a key ingredient that we need among our leaders. And when she is in that chamber, the ratings will surely go up!
Thirdly it’s about the bigger picture. Kethi’s candidacy would be so important for the perpetuation of the youth agenda in this country. And it has nothing to do with who her father was. It has much to do with the future of this country- that is the mainstreaming of the young and promising leaders to key positions of leadership.
That is why, should she change her mind and be the candidate for Makueni, I think this should be the first time that we the Kenyan youth should defend such a candidate with all we’ve got, including material, emotional, moral and financial support.
Kethi’s candidature is about us. It’s about putting a firewall that the old guard and wielders of impunity cannot break into. It has more to do with national politics, than it’s got to do with Makueni.
There’s a reason why a step-mom would be pitted against her daughter. And it has to do with generational warfare. The powerful in their 50s, blocking the ascent of the youth in their 30s. Rings a bell right?
Here’s why those against Kethi’s ascent to the policy making table are burning the midnight oil to raise thorns on her journey to the top. And also why they seem intent to do anything including splitting her family apart in the absence of the glue that held it together- a man they called friend.
The answer lies in what she represents. Youth, enthusiasm, energy, fresh ideas, and a new way of doing things- and I think a brilliant sense of compassion and articulation. And the Establishment knows that she abhors impunity.
And the all too obvious efforts of the anti-Kethi forces is a challenge to we- the youth to get together and not just defend, but also uplift the aspirations of the few forthright and upright persons in our midst-like Kethi- who are willing to stand up for the truth in this country.
We as the youth have an inherent duty to not just complain, but to raise those who think like we do. We have to- through supporting Kethi – show that it rewards to defend and uphold that which is right!
Something that sets Kethi apart from the greedy leadership lot is “reluctance to run in the face of a national chorus to run”. It’s important because Kethi doesn’t appear power hungry like many of our leaders, who at the slightest endorsement would greedily seize the moment.
Her conscience would check the excesses of the greed displayed by the MPs in the Lower House – Parliament. As a Chartered Accountant, she would make sure that devolution laws make business sense!
By making it clear that “it’s a curse for a child to compete against the mother” she is living true her philosophical position during her Supreme Court presentation that “the end should not justify the means”. What an ideological consistency!
Read more other leading opinion pieces and News at : http://www.the-star.co.ke

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