Monday, November 19, 2007

Matiba

Seeing Kenneth Njindo Matiba last week presenting his papers almost evoked tears in my eyes. the man who in his years was an organizational, business and political masterpiece was a crying shame as he struggled to get his way to the ECK. and he could not read the pledge let alone sign his papers. yet 15 years after he was literally rigged out of victory by a combined force of Mwai Kibaki and Moi, the man says he feels much better. actually Matiba always says he is much better every time he comes on TV. Kibaki was tactfully sent out by Moi at that time to make sure Matiba never won the election, the remaining votes were stolen, Oginga was confined after FORD split and the rest was history.

yet some bloggers are now blaming ODM for matiba's re-emergence. but probably the man is simply bitter, that the man who made him this poor and sick is comfortably back at the helm with Kibaki the other man who denied him the win. When one sees Matiba in this state and reads about his battle with auctioneers, one cant help but remember moi in his peak as the devil incarnate. But siasa is funny. politicians quickly forgive and forget when it suits them and now even those who suffered with Matiba like Koigi wa wamwere are singing praises of Moi and insulting the other second liberation hero Raila Odinga. Wamwere's case was a sad one that led to his mother striping naked at Uhuru park to secure his release. yet now Moi enjoys all the state resources as the pseudo-president at the expense of heros like Matiba

in fact his situation is a true mockery of the honor our heros pledge. and even Dedan Kimathis statue in town is nothing. or is it that heros are only once they die?

to me the surprise appearance of Matiba was a call to reflection of the collective conscience of the people of Kenya and a strong reminder that ours is a guilty nation that has persistently ignored her true heros and rewarded collaborators and tyrants of yesteryears from as far back as independence.

8 comments:

  1. Mr. Matiba's political ambition is still vibrant but is hampered by the fact that he has not fully recovered from his detention. So as much as his people in Mt. Kenya region are supporting President Kibaki, he cannot just seat and watch or support because he also has the support of the former President who detained him and is to blame for his sad state of health and loosing elections 15 year back.

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  2. Give him a chance, he might just make it to finally lead this great country. At least he is trying...

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  3. As you rightly observed, in Kenya, you are a only when you finally die. I can hazard a guess that if Matiba (God forbid) should die today, Mwai Kibaki, Koigi Wamwere and Moi would all send "sincere condolences to the family during this difficult time as we mourn a man whose contribution to his country will be sorely missed". And that brings in the great tragedy of the NARC dream-because it lumped reformers and pretenders together, this country lost a chance to right some of the worst injustices that were visited upon hard working Kenyans who only happened to speak out against a ruthless dictator.

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  4. @Sue, am not so sure about the vibrancy part given that the kenyan population has become very sensitive and informed. truth be told, he is old and unwell and probably broke too am not sure its a good idea to stand but we as Kenyans need to provide a special place for him as a hero

    @ja-dear, am not sure about that

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  5. @annon, so true. in fact there would be very many noises about the second liberation hero's need to be accorded state burial, state honor and other state based things. well once he is dead. right now the poor old man is struggling with his health, debt and recognition and no one cares

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  6. My beef is with his family ... why do they let him do this to himself?!!!

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  7. poetic justice... remember it was matiba who spoiled for the lat jaramogi

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  8. @m, i have resisted the temptation to blame matiba's family for his fiasco. i think the man's case is too big for the family alone. he is our national concern. his situation is forever a reminder of our murky past and our lying present

    @annon, true dat but cant a man be forgiven for the little error in the face of great service to a nation?

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