Jitokeze, Martha Karua urges Kenyans in the Diaspora
Kenyan Presidential candidate and MP for Gichugu, Martha Karua (front center) at the saint Stephens church in Lowell right before the start of a Town hall meeting with Kenyans in the region.Pic by H. Maina/Ajabu Media
by Harrison Maina, Ajabu Africa News, June 28, 2011
LOWELL, Mass.,_Gunning to become the second female president in Africa after Liberia’s Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Kenyan presidential aspirant, Martha Karua on Sunday asked Kenyans here in the Diaspora and at home to step out of their cocoons and support her bid in order to build a greater Kenya for all.
Popularly known as the 'iron lady' for her tough stance on corruption and bad governance, Karua, who resigned as a former Justice and Constitutional affairs Minister in protest of what she called inaction by the government to seriously implement much needed reforms, was speaking to Kenyans at the Saint Stephens church in Lowell, Massachusetts.
During the town hall meeting, Karua revealed her new campaign slogan, Jitokeze! Swahili for Step up! Which she hopes will inspire Kenyans to come out and take an active role in determining the next generation of leaders, in the general elections that will take place end of next year, 2012.
Karua said that Kenyans will only come first in development if everyone comes out and join her in building five important pillars that are central to giving all Kenyans an opportunity to fulfill their full potential and secure their future.
According to the seasoned politician and a working mother of 2, the five pillars that have not been functioning well in Kenya which she will devote her tireless energies to achieve include; Good Governance, Food security, Jobs and youth empowerment, Education and Health.
She added that the passage and promulgation of the new constitution in Kenya provides a great environment to make the reforms she envisions, that will make Kenya a better place for everyone.
Indicating that the time has come for Kenyans of all ages to demand good governance and accountability from their elected leaders, Karua said that it is only through participation by the critical masses of Kenyans who constitute the middle class, that pressure can be applied to leaders so they can agree to be accountable for their actions.
She cited the robust democratic process in America where Americans are deeply involved in elections and in funding the political parties of their choice which in return, have a strong voice in what the politicians do.
Hon. Martha Karua
“Kenyans, unless we mobilize human and financial resources in the running of political parties, we will never have politicians conforming to the wishes and needs of the people first before their own”, she added.
She said that the recent open grilling and vetting of the chief justice in full public view was a good sign of better things to come in Kenya. Critically reviewing those who desire to hold important leadership positions and desisting from protecting some while prosecuting the wrong people, is something she's hopeful will be evident in the new Kenya.
She also hailed the recent moves in Kenya to have all leaders pay their taxes just like the other ordinary citizen.
“We need a functioning system that calls a thief by his name, - a thief, or a mother by her rightful name – mother”. We need a system that enforces taxation among all people and not only on some Kenyans”, added the MP.
Responding to a slew of questions from men and women at the town hall meeting, the MP debunked the fears of negative ethnicity in Kenyan politics which tend to assert that presidential candidates should not be from tribes who have already held the top position in Kenya.
“Look at Baringo East and Gatundu constituencies. Both are areas that were represented by the first and second presidents of Kenya but they show extreme poverty in the majority of their people”, said Karua shocking attentive Kenyans with the revelation.
“It does not matter whether the leader is your next door neighbor. Kenya is controlled by a few people or cartels but it must be in control of the majority of Kenyans”, she added asking Kenyans to judge her as an individual and not by her ethnic background.
The seasoned MP, who had been a long time lawyer before venturing into politics, represents Gichugu Constituency, in Kirinyaga District of Central province in Kenya.
“All you need is not a rich brother or sister to succeed in Kenya. All you need is a fair opportunity”, said Karua drawing applause from Kenyans present.
The MP also praised Kenyans in the Diaspora for being of critical importance in the supportive roles to their families in Kenya through financial assistance, which has also made them the current number one source of foreign exchange in Kenya.
She promised to bring to the attention of the leadership in Kenya several important issues expressed by Kenyans in America.
Among the issues raised was the discriminatory treatment of Kenyans returning home from the US after 2 years of absence who are not allowed to import left hand drive cars.
Agreeing with the ban, she said it was important in order to reduce the possibilities of accidents on Kenyan roads which are right hand drive, Karua said that she would advise Kenyans in the US to consult with the tax officers to find out how to operationalize the idea that Kenyans in America can import right- hand drive cars from other countries like in Europe as substitutes, for tax exemption purposes.
She also said that the issue of Passport numbers and other personal information being posted on the electoral commission website during the Diaspora voter registration, set to kick off in September this year is of great concern due to the possibility of misuse by fraudsters.
Saying that Kenyans in the Diaspora are highly educated and advanced, the NARC Kenya MP said that the country needed to draw from their experiences to make changes for the better where applicable.
The MP was however at pains to explain why she as so upbeat about the new era of political accountability that her and other many Kenyan politicians were religiously preaching everywhere while all this time they have never heeded the laws in the old constitution that clearly banned corruption and misuse of public funds.
“Your honor, can you please explain why you are telling us how the new constitution will help us if in the first place politicians were not following the old constitution”, asked one fiery Kenyan man.
“The old constitution said you can not steal public funds, that you can not discriminate based on tribal background, yet what do we see all over?. All we see is our money getting stolen by politicians while they go spreading lies everywhere making things look like they are ok”, continued the Kenyan man apparently bitter at the status quo in the country that drew loud cheers from Kenyans at the town hall meeting.
Charles Ngeene, an official of NEKA, posing a question to Hon. Martha Karua.
In response, Karua defended herself saying that it is Kenyan voters who need to choose their leaders based on their track record and level of transparency.
“Lies are told everywhere. But does that make you hate all human beings?’, Karua responded to the question that had many Kenyans present cheering in applause.
“Even in a community like this one of your here in the Diaspora, you have to judge your leaders based on their track record”, she added, to more applause.
She urged Kenyans in the Diaspora to use their influence in their close social spheres to rally people to support Kenya as it tries to determine the quality of its next leadership.
“I have stepped up for Kenya because I have a sense of duty and commitment to my country that has compelled me to vie for the presidency next year”, Hata wewe ninakuomba Ujitokeze (Even you I urge you to step up) and support me in this journey, urged the presidential candidate who is facing a tight re-election battle as an MP in her Gichugu constituency.
Before proceeding to the town hall meeting, the MP had attended a Sunday morning church service at the Grace International church in Lowell where she briefly addressed parishioners present.
Welcoming the MP to greet the members, the pastor of the church, Rev. Jeremiah Githere said that he has come to a realization that Christians should not shy away for getting involved in the political process because if they didn't get involved, decisions would be made which would affect them either positively or negatively.
Among the pastors attending the event included Rev. Samuel Kimohu of saint Stephens church, Bishop David Karaya, chairman of the Kenyan American pastors association, Rev. Jeremiah Githere of the Grace International church, pastor Stanley Mungai of Hosanna Gospel center, Rev. Peter Gachathi of saint Paul's community church in Lawrence, pastor Leonard Ngarama of saint Stephens church and Bishop Isaac Gikeri, a Kenyan based pastor who is currently in the US on a tour.
Also attending the event was Charles Ngeene, an official of the newly created New England Kenyan Association (NEKA) Raphael Njoroge of Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
The event was moderated by Paul Muite and David Mbaria and Joshua Wang'ang'a, who were part of a group of Kenyans in new England who are interested in the political process.
