•Sunday, January 06, 2008
The Swahili of East Africa have an old saying that says 'asiye kubali kushindwa si mshindani', loosely translated, 'one who does not agree to lose is not a winner/competitor'. The paradox of this proverb is that the winner's winning attitude is best evident when he loses. How he handles his loss emotions, feelings, rage and tantrums. How he mourns and grieves his loss. The winner in him is even more evident when he loses unfairly, and all losers do, at least to themselves. Which human being has never lost? Do all go throwing bloody tantrums?
Nothing justifies the wanton destruction of human life and property, just because one lost. There are claims of rigged Kenyan presidential (and parliamentary???) elections and a supposedly illegal president. Kenyans have been denied independent specifics of which polling station (it should be narrowed down to the polling station level), how and how many votes were illegally added? The rigging sword did cut both sides, the EU observers implied in their report. Are claims of rigging really enough to kill, maim and displace a neighbour you have lived with for years just because he/she comes from the president's tribe and assumingly voted for his/her tribesman? What happened to the rights of the people of Kenya?
I have heard that the winner needs to give space to the loser to vent, some human rights activist said that. Does that mean venting on the blood of the winner's presumed supporters, their land, houses and property? Nothing, absolutely nothing justifies it. Kenya is slowly creating warlords, and lame warlords for they do not know how to calm the emotions of their servitude. The retaliation to this 'venting' has not been making the situation better. The disciplined forces have their count too. An earlier tamed dragon, the Mungiki, is coming home to roost. I am scared. I weep for my beloved country Kenya. Will we see tomorrow?
To quote a radio station retort to a quote by one lord of the losing side that said, 'it is the perseverance of a river that turns it into an ocean' I also ask, an ocean of what? of blood?
In my opinion, the burden of proof and humility lies with the loser. If the losing side cannot factually and verifiably show how they lost unfairly, let them be the statesmen, the stateswomen, the patriots, the nationalists, the pan-africanists, the liberal democrats they claim to be.
Let them do what the 'unfair' winners have failed to do.
Let them put the peace of our country first.
Let them drop prejudices, the tribal propensities, let them trim their egos.
Let them have a grip of their supporters' emotions and actions.
Let the take full responsibility for their actions and those of their supporters.
Let them stop provoking the emotions of their base support (even in Mombasa! the Eldoret case is not enviable honourable Najib Balala, what are you upto? another Exodus??? such limelight will take you nowhere).
Let them stop whipping international emotions against Kenya. CNN or BBC prime news coverage is not worth the blood of Kenyans.
Let them know there is a life after losing, another contest, another winning chance.
Let them respect the constitution, and change it constitutionally, where it doesn't serve Kenya well.
Let them visit Rwanda-with all due respect to the Rwandese.
LET THEM LOSE GRACEFULLY.
Nothing justifies the wanton destruction of human life and property, just because one lost. There are claims of rigged Kenyan presidential (and parliamentary???) elections and a supposedly illegal president. Kenyans have been denied independent specifics of which polling station (it should be narrowed down to the polling station level), how and how many votes were illegally added? The rigging sword did cut both sides, the EU observers implied in their report. Are claims of rigging really enough to kill, maim and displace a neighbour you have lived with for years just because he/she comes from the president's tribe and assumingly voted for his/her tribesman? What happened to the rights of the people of Kenya?
I have heard that the winner needs to give space to the loser to vent, some human rights activist said that. Does that mean venting on the blood of the winner's presumed supporters, their land, houses and property? Nothing, absolutely nothing justifies it. Kenya is slowly creating warlords, and lame warlords for they do not know how to calm the emotions of their servitude. The retaliation to this 'venting' has not been making the situation better. The disciplined forces have their count too. An earlier tamed dragon, the Mungiki, is coming home to roost. I am scared. I weep for my beloved country Kenya. Will we see tomorrow?
To quote a radio station retort to a quote by one lord of the losing side that said, 'it is the perseverance of a river that turns it into an ocean' I also ask, an ocean of what? of blood?
In my opinion, the burden of proof and humility lies with the loser. If the losing side cannot factually and verifiably show how they lost unfairly, let them be the statesmen, the stateswomen, the patriots, the nationalists, the pan-africanists, the liberal democrats they claim to be.
Let them do what the 'unfair' winners have failed to do.
Let them put the peace of our country first.
Let them drop prejudices, the tribal propensities, let them trim their egos.
Let them have a grip of their supporters' emotions and actions.
Let the take full responsibility for their actions and those of their supporters.
Let them stop provoking the emotions of their base support (even in Mombasa! the Eldoret case is not enviable honourable Najib Balala, what are you upto? another Exodus??? such limelight will take you nowhere).
Let them stop whipping international emotions against Kenya. CNN or BBC prime news coverage is not worth the blood of Kenyans.
Let them know there is a life after losing, another contest, another winning chance.
Let them respect the constitution, and change it constitutionally, where it doesn't serve Kenya well.
Let them visit Rwanda-with all due respect to the Rwandese.
LET THEM LOSE GRACEFULLY.
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3 comments:
I agree somewhat, Moi rigged at least twice, but you didn't see people turning on the common Kalenjin. Let the aggrieved pursue responsible means of justice.
Frank: Ory captured it when she wrote "we have now been reduced to admiring Moi’s rigging tactics".
But there is more than enough blame to go around. Kibaki, Raila, the ECK, the hooligans the list goes on.
But we're coming around. We've had it with this nonsense. Gikuyu, Kalenjin and Luo will sit together again and vow never to let this happen again.
-Silaha
@Frank and Silaha ... at least in the future noone will dare rig. Withe expected electoral reforms Kenya can only get better