"UNPACKING THE MEMORANDUM BETWEEN H.E. RAILA ODINGA AND H.E UHURU KENYATTA
INTRODUCTION
When on Friday, March 9, 2018, H.E. Excellency Raila Odinga and H.E. Uhuru Kenyatta held a hitherto an unanticipated meeting at Harambee House and emerged from the meeting to address the Nation, reactions were varied.
These ranged from confusion to skepticism; from genuine desire to understand to deliberate effort to distort; from outright outrage to cautious embrace.
Actions and pronouncements that have followed make it imperative that our cadres at all levels are properly briefed.
Below we highlight the content, including what the initiative is NOT and what it is:
1. It Is NOT A Power-Sharing Deal
The last time there was such a deal ten years ago – at the same spot – there emerged a power-sharing arrangement between President Kibaki and PNU on one side and Hon. Raila Odinga and ODM on the other.
It gave us the Grand Coalition Government with Hon. Kibaki as President and Hon. Odinga as Prime Minister. Many Kenyans instinctively assumed that the deal between H.E. Kenyatta and H.E. Odinga would acquire the same character.
This initiative, however, is about Kenya and Kenyans – not personal aggrandizement of individuals or sharing spoils of war. In their own words, it “aims to create a united nation for all Kenyans living today and all future generations.”
2. It is NOT a Coalition Agreement Between NASA or ODM with Jubilee Party
Many people have intimated that the meeting signaled H.E. Raila Odinga, and by extension the NASA coalition and/or ODM Party, having joined Uhuru Kenyatta and Jubilee in government. This is not true. Nowhere in the document do the words “government” or “coalition” appear.
Jubilee Party will therefore continue playing its role as the Majority Party while ODM continues as the Minority Party in Parliament. But the Memorandum has created an environment where the parties can discuss with each other instead of talking at each other.
3. It Is NOT About 2022 Electoral Contest
The initiative is not about wind-assisted dash to the 2022 presidential election finish line for some politicians nor is it about placing hurdles in the tracks of those with 2022 ambitions. It is about preventing Kenya from joining the ranks of failed states.
4. It Is NOT a State-driven Project
This initiative is NOT a state-driven project but a commitment by the two leaders personally to unclog Kenya’s political arteries. In their own words, the two leaders “standing here before the country today reflects their responsibility as leaders, as parents, and as friends.”
The leaders have committed to jointly raise funds for the implementation of the initiative. This means Kenyans’ tax money will not be used in its implementation.
So, what then is this initiative?
1. It Is a Personal Commitment Between Two Leaders
The initiative is a personal undertaking by H.E. Raila Odinga and H.E. Uhuru Kenyatta. As the two leaders observe, they “symbolize the many ways in which the country has gone full circle in its divisions. They are determined to break the circle.”
2. It Is About Final Closure of 2017 Electoral Contest
The 2017 election cycle was arguably the longest in the history of Kenya. Moreover, as either side dug in – one side not letting up till electoral justice is served as the other insisted that elections were over and could only dialogue on “development issues” – the country came to the verge of disintegration.
This initiative therefore seeks to bring closure to 2017 elections in a mutually acceptable terms and manner so that Kenya can forge forward as one united nation.
3. It is a Statement of Intent
The memorandum issued on Friday March 9, 2018 does not represent the final agreement between the two leaders. It is simply a statement of intention to engage and move the country forward. It is, in the parlance of negotiations, a document on “Talks About Talks.”
As the two leaders declared, they have agreed to roll out a programme that will implement their shared objectives, establish an office and retain a retinue of advisors to assist in this implementation.
4. It Is About Kenya
The initiative is a bold admission by our leaders that the Kenyan nation is faced with a problem that if not addressed then the pursuit prosperity, fairness and dignity for her people shall remain illusory. That problem is political.
Fix it and all other things shall be added unto you. So, it is about Kenya and Kenyans. It is not about empire-building or ego trips.
THE CONTENT
The leaders identified the following issues, which they intend to base their engagement upon:
I. Ethnic Antagonism and CompetitionThe leaders seek to confront the ogre of ethnic hatred and profiling. In their own words,again, “the sins of individuals should not be visited on groups.
II. Lack of National Ethos
The two leaders decry the lack of national identity among Kenyans and commit to create a country where we feel connected beyond just sharing residency in a country.
III. Inclusivity
Our diversity has proved a curse as opposed to a blessing. Access to employment, resources and business opportunities has been predicated on language and ethnicity. The two leaders commit to work hard to ensure inclusivity in all facets of our national endeavour.
IV. Devolution
In spite of Devolution being the biggest success story in our recent efforts to socially and politically re-engineer our country, it is faced with many challenges.
Resourcing and late disbursement of equitable share of revenue have been a lingering concern. Viability of the units has also been identified by the two leaders a matter that needs to be addressed.
V. Divisive Elections
Electoral justice and mistrust among the key players have been at the centre of the standoff that Kenyans have witnessed since August 2017 as well as around the preceding elections. When citizens are assured that their votes will count and be counted, they have no reason to worry. The two leaders seek to fix the electoral issue once and for all.
VI. Safety and SecurityThe leaders seek to help the people of Kenya address extra-judicial killings, police brutality, inter-ethnic conflicts, inter-religious violence and terrorism among others.
VII. Corruption
The two leaders have identified corruption as an existential threat to the country – destroying lives and livelihoods. They commit to lead from the front in the fight against graft.
VIII. Shared ProsperityKenya is one of the countries defined by extreme disparities in wealth and welfare between classes, regions, genders, generations and even religion and sects. The two leaders seek to mainstream shared prosperity in this national conversation.
IX. Responsibilities and Rights“Kenyans must have their human and civil rights respected and enforced,” the two leaders have declared in the Memorandum. They also call upon the people of Kenya to embrace their responsibilities.
THE IMPLEMENTATION
In order to give flesh to and breathe life into the foregoing, the two leaders have committed to roll out a programme for the implementation of this initiative. An office and a standing panel of advisors will be established for the purpose.
For any enquiries, please contact:
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
ORANGE DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT
oongwen@gmail.com"