- Details
- Category: Diaspora News
- Written by Fannuel M. Murianki
The presidential race in Kenya’s 2012 elections is about to get a new entrant who many expect to be a game changer in politics dominated by oligarchy and corporatocracy. Who exactly is Prof. James Ole Kiyiapi? Is he the ultimate game changer in a country where money talks and Kenyans continue to get poorer?
Prof. James Ole Kiyiapi is an environmentalist by profession and a permanent secretary in the ministry of education. Raised from a less privileged background in Trans Mara district, the aspirant defied the then prevalent culture of his community “anything but education” but instead went to school and today holds a doctorate degree from Canada. He lectured at Moi University for many years before becoming a permanent secretary in the ministry of Environment. He was instrumental in implementing the clean up of the Nairobi River among other stringent and important environmental programs/laws enacted that are reshaping Kenya’s landscape and lifestyle. He also served in the ministry of Health and is a Christian family man.
As a no nonsense administrator and a straight talker, Prof. James Ole Kiyiapi has a big agenda and vision for Kenya. He is offering a new beginning. In his words to Kenyans in Atlanta in December, Prof. James Ole Kiyiapi sees a new cloud forming on the horizon for Kenyans come 2012 should they elect him to the biggest office in the land. He touts a clean and industrious public service record, achievements and a vision that Kenyans are going to find dear to their current state of economy, political and social aspects. His vision encompasses a Kenya where food shortages will be a thing of the past, political divide will end, security and economic endowment will be attained by all Kenyans and not just a few. Despite achieving a new constitution in 2010, Kenyans are yet to get presidential contenders that does not have prior administrations’ baggage or somewhat tied to corrupt deals that have run Kenya to poverty sending millions to foreign capitals in search of better livelihood. It’s time for “a new hope, a new start” that will usher in a leader whose making is not from privileged family backgrounds or corrupt culture. As voters get to know this new aspirant, many in Diaspora and Kenya are already warming to this new wind of change in the hope that new wine has finally found a new wineskin in the new political and constitutional dispensation sweeping our beloved nation Kenya.
Promising to declare his candidacy and unveil his vision soon, Prof. James Ole Kiyiapi noted that “corruption is a culture that must get the serious attention it deserves from the highest office in the land” and he is best placed to tackle it by eliminating the “serpent and its nest”. On poverty, the Permanent Secretary confessed witnessing abject poverty in many parts of Kenya where he has travelled and decried its rising levels that could threaten Kenya’s development agenda including vision 2030 and stability. He assured Kenyans that he is the most qualified person to fight poverty in Kenya having been raised from real poverty. Prof. James Ole Kiyiapi advised Kenyans to join the fight against poverty since it is a critical national task that needs immediate address.
Should the man whose community (Maasai) is largely synonymous with Kenya’s cultural definition get the support from the large population of struggling citizens, the puzzle for Kenya’s quagmire of finding a suitable candidate with a clean record will have been answered and many ragtag coalitions rendered null and a waste of Kenya voters’ remaining faith and hope. Compared to the current presidential candidates who include Raila Odinga, Uhuru Kenyatta, Kalonzo Musyoka, William Ruto, Peter Kenneth and others, it is worth to note to the reader that Prof. James Ole Kiyiapi is the only one who has not shared ugali with Moi and KANU in the State House. He represents the common folk! He is one of us.
Indeed Prof. James Ole Kiyiapi represents the new wineskin akin to Barack Obama in the 2008 United States presidential elections when masses were tired and disappointed by policies of the republican President George W. Bush. The Diaspora is standing with their hopes raised high and tall ready to support a candidate whose past in not tainted with corruption or belongs to the family of oligarchs. The message to many current aspirants is plain simple, “retire and give chance to new crop of leadership”. The Diaspora is out of bounds for same old tired money seekers who are not even bothered to fight for Diaspora to vote in the 2012 elections. In the meantime, we watch and wait for news from Hague regarding the Ocampo Six whose ruling on charges of crimes against humanity is expected to heavily impact the 2012 presidential elections in Kenya. Stay tuned, the game just started.
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. Disclaimer: The views expressed herein, though supported by millions of people, are the writer’s own. Distribute as you desire and interpret as you like. Just don’t tell ODIEM, KANUSHA or PNUKWA PAKAWA.
Fannuel M. Murianki. "luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity" - Seneca
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