Today is 7/7/2016. Saba Saba Day. An important day in the history of this country.
SABA SABA 2016 REFLECTIONS
BY Cyprian Nyamwamu
1ST LIBERATION: Was about liberating Kenya from colonial tyranny- we succeeded to an extent; Hongera to the independence heroes. We all need to learn the proper History of our nation so that we stop believing the fabrications- We need to know the true history of Kenya so that we know that it is the home-guards who took over power at independence and aborted the vision of independence.
2ND LIBERATION: was to liberate Kenya from the devastating KANU autocratic misrule which dehumanized so many across the country. KANU's rule was bitter to so many. So many were tortured. So many died. Ethnic clashes. Theft of public resources and land. Poverty. Marginalization. Detentions without trial, assasinations, exiles;
This is how SABA SABA- EXPRESSION OF PEOPLE POWER became necessary. And in 1990 Matiba, Rubia, Jaramogi, Raila Odinga, Paul Muite, James Orengo, Shikuku and so many courageous men and women stepped forward to demand for change from the Single Party dictatorship.
The Mothers of Political Prisoners led by Prof. Wangari Maathai put so much pressure on the KANU regime which expanded the meaning of reforms beyond the repeal of section 2A and the return of multi-party.
RESULT: KANU and Moi agreed the return of Multi-Party Democracy.
BUT SABA SABA continued because having many parties without DEMOCRACY was not enough. We needed a Democratic Constitution- KATIBA MPYA MAISHA MAPYA.
NCEC was formed by KHRC/4Cs to push for constitutional reforms. Moi and KANU said No. in 1997 NCEC ( Led by Willy Mutunga, Kivutha Kibwana, Maria Nzomo, Tabitha Seii, Suba Churchill, Leakey etc) employed mass action and civic education strategies to force KANU to accept reforms. NCEC used Saba Saba, Nane Nane, Tisa Tisa, Kumi Kumi, 11-11 and 12-12 vigils and rallies to push for reforms. IPPG was formed and minimum reforms enacted in 1997 to try defeat the resolve for comprehensive reforms. We held the 1997 elections and KANU rigged out Kibaki and Raila, Ngilu etc; In 1998 we re-engaged KANU using all tactics including Bishops and Sheikhs to negotiate with Moi. The women of Kenya were engaged and pushed for reforms. 1999 We launched the Ufungamano initiative and as NCEC we decided to go to the provinces and districts to mobilize the public. In 2000, KANU ( with Raila as SG) reacted by forming its Parliamentary process. We rejected it as Ufungamano and formed our Dr. Ombaka/Pheroze Nowrojee Commission. And Finally in 2001 the Yash Ghai Commission was formed. Views were gathered and a draft consolidated.
NCEC was formed by KHRC/4Cs to push for constitutional reforms. Moi and KANU said No. in 1997 NCEC ( Led by Willy Mutunga, Kivutha Kibwana, Maria Nzomo, Tabitha Seii, Suba Churchill, Leakey etc) employed mass action and civic education strategies to force KANU to accept reforms. NCEC used Saba Saba, Nane Nane, Tisa Tisa, Kumi Kumi, 11-11 and 12-12 vigils and rallies to push for reforms. IPPG was formed and minimum reforms enacted in 1997 to try defeat the resolve for comprehensive reforms. We held the 1997 elections and KANU rigged out Kibaki and Raila, Ngilu etc; In 1998 we re-engaged KANU using all tactics including Bishops and Sheikhs to negotiate with Moi. The women of Kenya were engaged and pushed for reforms. 1999 We launched the Ufungamano initiative and as NCEC we decided to go to the provinces and districts to mobilize the public. In 2000, KANU ( with Raila as SG) reacted by forming its Parliamentary process. We rejected it as Ufungamano and formed our Dr. Ombaka/Pheroze Nowrojee Commission. And Finally in 2001 the Yash Ghai Commission was formed. Views were gathered and a draft consolidated.
In 2002 September KANU dissolved parliament and made it impossible for the Bomas Conference to be convened.
We held the 2002 election and kicked KANU out of power for their hard-headedness and anti- Wanjiku stance.
We convened Bomas with Kibaki as Head of State. Kibaki dishonored the MOU and undermined the Bomas Process even leading a walk out from the conference. NCEC went to court to call for a referendum and a more effective body that we called the Constituent Assembly. Any way we held the 2005 referendum and rejected the Wako draft.
As NCEC, civil society and the the opposition ( President Uhuru Kenyatta was leader of opposition that time) we formed Muungano Wa Katiba Mpya. We presented the 11 Points that formed the ESSENTIAL REFORMS. Kibaki/Martha Karua rejected the 11 Points and went on to appoint a PNU leaning ECK chaired by the Late Kivuitu. This was how the 2007 election was botched up.
In the wake of the Post 2008 election crisis, Kenya embarked on far reaching reforms under the AGENDA 4. Finally in 2010, the nation held the referendum and Kenya promulgated the NEW CONSTITUTION OF KENYA 2010.
THE 2ND REPUBLIC WAS BORN. SABA SABA HAD GIVEN BIRTH TO A NEW NATION, BUT the forces of IMPUNITY who benefit from bad governance were never going to allow the new nation to emerge: they want their corruption to continue; they want their impunity to persist so that they are not accountable; they want to rig, shortchange, steal and still be praised as great men and women.
Kenyans, we are the reason these unpatriotic dealers keep messing up Kenya. We support a Luo, Kalenjin, Kikuyu rich and powerful man without asking him questions; We have made these rich and powerful men our masters and we their subjects. We are the enemies of democracy.
SABA SABA NOW IS FOR THE 3RD LIBERATION: For using the new constitutional order to secure the rights of every single Kenya. TO MAKE POVERTY HISTORY AND DIGNITY AND HUMAN SECURITY A REALITY.
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