by Yvonne Sampoda, Kenya, July 1997
THEME = ELECTIONS
For the first time in Kenyan politics, a woman is offering herself for the presidency. Mrs. Charity Kaluki Ngilu, is presently Member of Parliament for Kitui Central constituency in the Eastern province of Kenya. She is standing for the Social Democratic Party of Kenya (SDP), which is headed by Professor Anyang' Njongo, Member of Parliament for Kisumu Rural.
In an eight page Agenda, Mrs.Ngilu sets out a programme for the changes she intends to make, so that Kenya can realise its democratic ideals. She acknowledges the gallant battles and courageous contributions made by brave Kenyans especially among the opposition parties. She notes that in 1991, Kenyans went to the polls greatly divided among themselves. At the end of the day, though 3.4 million Kenyans voted for the Opposition, President Moi won with 1.8 million votes.
For the past five years, Kenyans have continued to witness the Opposition falling apart, as many members seek to occupy State- House. None of the opposition leaders are willing to give way so that one can emerge as leader. Inter-party squabbles have characterised every step they have taken.
It is within this scenario that Mrs.Ngilu offers herself as the best compromise candidate. She says that if the current phase of corruption goes unchecked, the nation's national resources are likely to totally disappear. And who will bear the brunt of this? Women, young people, the disabled, children and the poor. She notes that many children from poor families are increasingly missing out on their education, simply because their parents can't afford to pay the school fees - a consequence of the introduction of Structural Adjustment Reforms ordered by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
First in priority will be to effect constitutional and legal reforms, along the path already charted out by the National Convention Assembly, which met in Limuru 3-6 April 1997. This will be effected through parliament after the setting up of the Constitutional Reform Commission, 30 days within parliament's first session. The Commission will receive a three-year mandate to collect, classify and submit its findings to parliament for adoption.
Other constitutional amendments to be urgently attended to include:
- Provision for a coalition government and a government of national unity which the present constitution allows in section 16 (2), after the repeal of section 7 to remove all ambiguities.
- Provision for parliamentary approval of appointments to senior posts in the civil service.
- Provision for the removal of all discrimination on account of gender, within the first 100 days of parliament sitting.
- The repeal of oppressive laws where appropriate - amongst these the following Acts: The Public Order Act; The Preservation of Public Security Act; The Chiefs Authority Act; The Societies Act; The Defamation Act; The Administration Police Act; The Outlaying District Act; The Special Districts Administration Act; The Public Collection Act; The Films and Stage Plays Acts; and the Vagrancy Act.
This will be mainly to address social justice issues and determine Kenya's economic growth. This will be done by encouraging savings, increasing investment opportunities for both local and foreign investors, curbing government borrowing, lowering interest rates, improving tax collection to take in those "politically correct individuals and companies" who evade paying their taxes.
The new government will also try to rehabilitate, modernise and expand the country's physical infrastructure without which no significant economic growth can take place.
On being elected, Mrs.Ngilu promises to present a forward-looking land policy, to effectively deal with land-grabbing and land-speculation. At the same time, efforts will be made to settle the landless. Development programmes will be recast, to take into account such areas as people's personal security, basic food needs, primary health care, adequate housing, primary school education and unemployment.
The power to vote and voting patterns have important bearing on running the country. In 1992, voting trends showed that Kenyans casted votes for presidential candidates along ethnic lines. This saw Mr.Kenneth Matiba (FORD ASILI) who hails from Mranga district, scooping 94% of Muranga district votes. Mr.Mwai Kibaki of the Democratic party of Kenya (DP) won 94% of the Nyeri district presidential votes. President Moi of KANU got 95% of Baringo district votes. The late Oginga Odinga of FORD KENYA got 95% of Luoland votes.
In the Kenyan situation, it is a very special woman who seeks high political office, seeing that she will have to contend with harassment, intimidation, discrimination, compounded with traditional conservatism. It is important to note that over 30 NGOs are working to empower women politically through civil education, and are targeting to have at least 60 women seeking parliamentary seats in the 212 seat parliament.
As personal attributes, Mrs.Ngilu has to offer her managerial skills which saw her starting and managing various businesses. This includes one manufacturing PVC water pipes and electrical conduits. Until recently, hers was the only factory of this kind, owned and managed by an indigenous Kenyan.
Mrs Ngilu says that her kind of leadership is geared at providing the best alternative to fill the leadership vacuum. This is because women in most cases, are not bothered about ethnic issues.
She is asking Kenyans voters to give her a chance to initiate a New Beginning.
END