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Wananchi, This a note of condolences to the family of the late VP, Kijana Wamalwa, who passed away this morning while undergoing treatment in London, UK. In his passing, we have lost a statesman and gentleman who will remain a model politician and democract for many Kenyans today and in the future. Kijana Wamalwa espoused the best in parliamentary democracy through debate and demonstration of extensive knowledge of the political and legislative processes. He leaves a gap that will be extremely hard to fill. I cannot say I knew the late VP in person. The closest I came to him was sometime in the 1980s in one of the Kitale social joints while on an afternoon lunch. We had stopped for goat meat and it happened that the MP was also in the club lunch. Our conversation was casual and confined to the job we were doing in the area: constructing a subscriber dialing telephone exchange. His keen interest in what we were doing suggested great interest in the delopment and the benefits it would bring to Kitale, an area commonly known as the country's granary. The late VP was a man of charisma and wit. His appearance at the Commission investigating the activities of the former AG Charles Njonjo, demonstrated Wamalwa's grasp of the law and the use of approriate language. He mesmerized the commissioners and observers at the time, leaving a permanent positive impression to attendees and the media! This wit is something he continued to demonstrate in parliament with superior debating skills and a speed of thought! In opposition, Wamalwa was elected to the position of Second Vice-Chairman (Muite was 1st Vice-Chair) to the late Oginga Odinga in Ford-Kenya. He would later assume the party leadership with the passing of Jaramogi, soon after the resignation of Muite from the party. As Ford-K chairman he demonstrated mature politics, even offering to discuss with Kanu ways to make Kenya a working country. The highwater mark of achievement for the late VP may be the December elections where, together with key opposition leaders, agreed to put personal ambitions aside for the sake of bringing change in the country. This will go into history books as a mark of statesmanship. As Kenyans mourn the late VP, we need to consider the best way to honour him to ensure his memory lasts in the minds of Kenyans for now and the future. The late VP once brought a private members motion to parliament proposing the direct elections of mayors in our municipalities. Despite government opposition, the motion did pass. However, the government of former president Moi never saw it as necessary to implement this will of parliament. It is too early to determine whether the Kibaki government will do anything about it all. It would be a fitting tribute to the work done by the late VP is his lengthy parliamentary career for the government to move forward and implement the will of parliament and that of the Kenyan people: direct election of council chairmen and mayors in our local government. It will be a small, albeit important step, towards empowering the Kenyan people. ---------------------------------------------- Matunda Nyanchama, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] The Mulindwas Communication Group
"With Yoweri Museveni, Uganda is in anarchy" Groupe de communication Mulindwas "avec Yoweri Museveni, l'Ouganda est dans l'anarchie" |
