HAROLD Laswell defines politics as; "who gets what when and how" In regard to this citation from the renowned scholar (Harold), the government and those charged are challenged to protect people against ravages of hunger, drought, insecurity, human rights abuse, impartially et al. "We must conserve Mau at all cost even if it means losing politically." I applaud Environment minister John Michuki for this candid statement even as Mau threatens to explode politically. So having commended Michuki for his candor on the need to protect the environment, I wish to turn to President Kibaki and the Prime Minister Raila Odinga to likewise walk the talk and assure Kenyans that conserving our environment is paramount.
On this, the two principals must read from the same script .Amazingly, the Mau complex debate has elicited diverse reactions from leaders, depending on the interests they are championing. There are those who feel that the fundamental issue of Mau should have been handled yesterday or latest today for the sake of preserving life itself, while there are others for whom it amounts to an assault on a community. On the matter of Mau, a section of leaders from the Rift Valley must face truth in the face and call it as such. Kibaki's and Raila's stand in calling for immediate eviction of the Mau settlers should not be politicised and treated as something of a scare crow.
Of course evictions must wear a human face but what is the bigger story? Is it not that a number of big fish had hived off huge chunks of the forest for themselves but would now want to rally innocent settlers to and their communities behind them by crying wolf! The blame game target is now the Prime Minister who they have been tossing left, right and centre as the leaders unceasingly reminded him that their votes must not have been in vain! The claim by senior leaders from Rift Valley that their people can not be intimidatedpushed or shoved around, arising from the Environment Minister, Prime Minister and President Kibaki's assertion that settlers must move out, amount to driving roughshod down the throats of millions of Kenyans and others whose lives depend/rely on Mau forest for rain water and therefore life.
During their three day tour of Nyanza the duo (President and the Prime Minister) championed for Mau preservation effort. The Mau has become sticking point precisely because an environmental matter has been clothed in politics and a laarger mentality allowed to emerge from it. All those leaders from the Rift Valley, expressing deep apprehension over the evacuation plan are highly educated and informed individuals who can not pretend to be unaware of why the water tower must be conserved. Any surprise that UNEP, European Union and numerous NGOs, have rallied behind the call to save Mau? Leaders who know that for them the Mau complex constituted an easy picking must spare us the hypocrisy and double speak.
What is more, they must stop using the poor settlers as scapegoats. If indeed it is true that we have some politicians whograbbed thousands of hectares from Mau forest and are now seeking compensation, then such leaders must be named and shamed. As a matter of fact, the people whom these leaders claim to be speaking for are today suffering from the adverse effects of climate change and environmental degradation. The rivers are drying up, the lakes are shrinking and they can not see rain. Clearly this is the bigger picture that leaders must see and champion.
Threatening fire and brimstones over Mau will not do and I hope the principals will not relent. The idea of crisscrossing the region intoxicating the peoples mind with uncalled for tribal emotions and animosity must stop. Mau is not for any specific community to do what they wish with but a shared resource. Genuine settlers should be compensated but pretenders must be told..sorry! What will you tell somebody who has the audacity to ask how the issue of Mau has led to the water shortage in Nairobi ? Can the same man internalise the concept that the reckless emission of gases and smoke from industries in the West have led to global warming and Kenya is affected. That there is no manual for that matter to inform us that ultimately our salvation will only come from protecting the environment?
On this, the two principals must read from the same script .Amazingly, the Mau complex debate has elicited diverse reactions from leaders, depending on the interests they are championing. There are those who feel that the fundamental issue of Mau should have been handled yesterday or latest today for the sake of preserving life itself, while there are others for whom it amounts to an assault on a community. On the matter of Mau, a section of leaders from the Rift Valley must face truth in the face and call it as such. Kibaki's and Raila's stand in calling for immediate eviction of the Mau settlers should not be politicised and treated as something of a scare crow.
Of course evictions must wear a human face but what is the bigger story? Is it not that a number of big fish had hived off huge chunks of the forest for themselves but would now want to rally innocent settlers to and their communities behind them by crying wolf! The blame game target is now the Prime Minister who they have been tossing left, right and centre as the leaders unceasingly reminded him that their votes must not have been in vain! The claim by senior leaders from Rift Valley that their people can not be intimidatedpushed or shoved around, arising from the Environment Minister, Prime Minister and President Kibaki's assertion that settlers must move out, amount to driving roughshod down the throats of millions of Kenyans and others whose lives depend/rely on Mau forest for rain water and therefore life.
During their three day tour of Nyanza the duo (President and the Prime Minister) championed for Mau preservation effort. The Mau has become sticking point precisely because an environmental matter has been clothed in politics and a laarger mentality allowed to emerge from it. All those leaders from the Rift Valley, expressing deep apprehension over the evacuation plan are highly educated and informed individuals who can not pretend to be unaware of why the water tower must be conserved. Any surprise that UNEP, European Union and numerous NGOs, have rallied behind the call to save Mau? Leaders who know that for them the Mau complex constituted an easy picking must spare us the hypocrisy and double speak.
What is more, they must stop using the poor settlers as scapegoats. If indeed it is true that we have some politicians whograbbed thousands of hectares from Mau forest and are now seeking compensation, then such leaders must be named and shamed. As a matter of fact, the people whom these leaders claim to be speaking for are today suffering from the adverse effects of climate change and environmental degradation. The rivers are drying up, the lakes are shrinking and they can not see rain. Clearly this is the bigger picture that leaders must see and champion.
Threatening fire and brimstones over Mau will not do and I hope the principals will not relent. The idea of crisscrossing the region intoxicating the peoples mind with uncalled for tribal emotions and animosity must stop. Mau is not for any specific community to do what they wish with but a shared resource. Genuine settlers should be compensated but pretenders must be told..sorry! What will you tell somebody who has the audacity to ask how the issue of Mau has led to the water shortage in Nairobi ? Can the same man internalise the concept that the reckless emission of gases and smoke from industries in the West have led to global warming and Kenya is affected. That there is no manual for that matter to inform us that ultimately our salvation will only come from protecting the environment?
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