Waki Commission Report should be implemented to the letter

Justice Philip Waki's commission of inquiry in Kenya's post-election violence (commonly known as CIPEV) has come up with clear evidence that key politicians, some of them in the Grand Coalition's cabinet, together with some moneyed businessmen were at the heart of planning and orchestration of the violence. This particular event is solely responsible for the loss of thousands of human lives, destruction of property and almost dispatching some of our cities to pre-historic times.

The inhuman aspect of this event is manifested in the presence of thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in deplorable camps throughout Central and Rift Valley provinces. Thousands of people were forced to flee their homes on suspicion that they voted in a particular manner, the said suspicion being based on the ethnicity of the persons. Those who were slow to heed the quit notice were killed, some of them torched and burned in a church. Women were raped in full view of husbands and other close relatives. There are reports that oathing orgies widely attended by top politicians and other financiers, took place in the affected regions before the atrocities took place. The IDPs are yet to be fully relocated back to their homes. Despite the meager compensation being given out by the government as incentives to go back home, there are still fears of further reprisals from their neighbors.

On the economic front, the economic ruin is just beginning to register as recently the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) released revenue collection figures showing a shortfall of Ksh 9 billion in the first quarter (July-September 2008). Despite assurances by the authority, revenue collection projections for the 2008/9 period are unlikely to be met. The implication is that implementation of government projects is likely to halt due to lack of funds. On the other hand, the continued widening of the budget deficit is inevitable. Other effects of the post-election violence have been job losses as some of the companies whose property as destroyed have been unable to re-open for business, increased cost of doing business attributed to destruction of the Nairobi-Kisumu railway line, the weakening of the Kenya Shilling against the US Dollar making our imports, especially oil and equipment, more expensive.

These and many other effects has made the lives of ordinary Kenyans unbearable, adding to the misery that was already there. That a few individuals can cause this amount of damage to the country is an indicator of a country headed to the dogs. That is why the perpetrators of the post-election violence should not be let to go scot-free, as this will encourage the perpetuation of impunity in the (near) future. With all eyes focused on the 2012 elections, failure to take action is likely to lead to the same events repeating themselves.

That is why this blogger is advocating for the full implementation of the Waki report. Whether it is The Hague or other internationally constituted tribunal, those implicated, as a logical avenue, should face trial. But before that, anybody who is implicated in the report, directly or indirectly, should immediately do the honorable and immediately resign or be forced to quit their positions in the cabinet, parliament, civil service, etc because for the reasons given above, they are unfit to hold any public or other office.

As the country stands in a cross-road, the Waki recommendations, if fully carried out will be one way save our country from impunity. It is also a sure way for Kenyans to take back their country from a few power hungry politicians who would do anything to be 'leaders'.

It is important to note that impunity has been our main hindrance to attaining a new constitution as a few individuals have tried to hijack the process in the past. Once Kenyans take back their country we would be on a clear route to a new constitution. The people's constitution.