To end violence inject hope in veins of youth

Collective amnesia

You can always count on Lands minister James Orengo for some sound advice. Once he said that Kenyans suffer from collective amnesia, meaning that they are quick to forget.

Only last October, there were angry protests after the Government announced that the monthly allowance for the First Lady, Mrs Lucy Kibaki, had been increased to Sh500,000.

The protesters said the economy was still too fragile and that the money could have been better used for the benefit of thousands of jobless youths. Some even said that if they ascended to the position, they would take a “pay cut”.

Well, last week, the same Government announced that the wives of the Vice-President and that of the Prime Minister will now each be earning Sh400,000 a month. But there was not a whimper of protest. This can only mean two things. Either the economy has recovered pretty fast or somebody forgot to protest.

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May his soul rest in peace

When Zambian President Levi Mwanawasa was alive, he embodied a unique challenge that confronts African leaders.

On the one hand, he was described as a prudent manager of the economy which grew consistently but he faced criticism that the gains had not benefited the ordinary citizen.

This contradiction is all too familiar in African countries whose economies have been growing, including Kenya.

Mr Mwanawasa was also known to speak his mind and was among the few leaders who took a principled stand on the Zimbabwean crisis, urging President Mugabe to respect the will of the people.

I remember his visit to Kenya after the 2002 elections. Addressing the crowd at the swearing-in ceremony at Uhuru Park, Mr Mwanawasa would shout: “The hour!” And the crowd would respond: “Has come!”

Now, Mr Mwanawasa’s hour has come. May his soul rest in peace.

jmbugua@nation.co.ke