Cotu Secretary General Francis Atwoli Photo/www.kenyan-post.com
The issue of memorandum of understanding (MoU) being violated is as old as Independent Kenya. The same phenomenon has resurfaced and is threatening to destroy opposition unity.
Kalonzo Musyoka and his lieutenants are attacking Raila whenever they have an opportunity. However, trade unionist Francis Atwoli has advised the former vice president to go down political memory lane and appreciate the realism in MoUs.
Atwoli said that memorandums of understanding only serve to create false hope and Musyoka will not be an exceptional case. He advised Wiper and any other politician to be dealing with current issues at hand and leave the future to God.
The unionist said that first Kenyan president Jomo Kenyatta was the pioneer of violating political MoUs. Kenyatta had an agreement with Oginga Odinga but the two parted before the latter’s term expired. This happened despite Oginga championing the release of Kenyatta and handing him the presidency when he had an opportunity to be the first Head of State.
He also pointed out the frosty relationship between retired President Moi and former Attorney General Charles Njonjo. After the two agreed on several matters, Moi crafted Njonjo’s fall using several methods including moving him from an AG position to politics to tame his powers.
The Raila-Kibaki MoU is also another example that Musyoka was advised to revise. President Mwai Kibaki started violating the agreement immediately he assumed office. The choice of Cabinet Secretaries was the first point of diversion forcing Raila to quit.
Uhuru-Mudavadi MOU is the most recent that Musyoka can learn from. The former changed his plans and baptized the latter some demeaning name.
According to Atwoli, Musyoka should learn from the above historical examples. They are real issues as opposed to Wiper’s idealism push.