Now elders unite to work for peace

• Senior citizens say they can provide a counterweight to belligerent politicians

The time-honoured Kaya elders of the Coast, the fiery Njuri Ncheke of Meru and the royalty of Wanga Kingdom in Mumias are plotting to shape Kenya’s future, away from politics.

Last week, they teamed up with the Ker of the Luo, the Kalenjin and Maasai elders and other elders from each of Kenya’s 42 tribes to launch a grassroots network of elders.

Even though to the urbane middle-class and the society’s intelligensia, the traditional elders are seen as a bunch of poor illiterates, their influence in the rural areas is significant.

Marital problems

They are the courts down there. From puerile marital problems to land disputes, it is the elders who advice the government administrators on what should be done.

During the post-poll chaos, it is said, that the influence of elders over the belligerent youth was key in sparking the attacks and in ending the violence.

Now, they want to reclaim their place “in preparing a new generation of mature and responsible Africans, with the feet in tradition and the head in modernism.”

Coalescing under the ambitious banner of the “House of Traditional Leaders of Kenya”, the wazees want a stake in charting the way forward for a stable Kenya.

Their leader in this quest is one Paul Kamlesh Pattni. The vice chairman is Mr Riaga Ogallo (Luo Council of Elders) and the Secretary General is Vincent Mwachiro (Mijikenda Council of Elders).

Mr Pattni, who has had a controversial life in business and ran for political office on a Kenda ticket in 2007, says the latest initiative is not about politics.

All the elders want, he says, is to steer the political class towards peace and stability in the country.

Mzee Mwachiro, the vice chairman says: “With the obvious respect that the elders command, we’ll eventually pull (the country) together.”

He said politicians ought to be comfortable with such a plan, but it is unlikely, given the selfish nature of politics.

“Politics brings animosity, our work as elders is to counter that effect and preach peace,” Mr Pattni said.

The impetus on the elders was sparked in 2008 when Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi invited a few elders to push his agenda for a United States of Africa.

This year, many others joined the pilgrimage to Tripoli to meet the Libyan President. And next year, many more will troop to pay homage to Colonel Gaddafi.

But how does the traditional rule, with its limited space for dissenting views work in a liberal world with various shades of democratic space?

For instance, are the habitually male councils of elders likely to admit women, if only to embrace gender balance?