Constitution Key To Middle Class Determining Kenya's Future

Months after the dark days in Kenya between Dec 30, 2007 and Feb 28, 2008. Binyavanga Wainaina wrote the following, in one of the "Short Takes" introducing the book Kwani? Original and Genuine, The Fire This Time 05 Part Two;

"What we will become, after the machete line in the sand was drawn early this year, will only reveal itself in the fullness of time. We are, though, the designers of that future.
To me the choices are stark: we will either use this as a measure of a thing we never want again, and become a more purposeful whole; or we will continue to stumble and hide our truths from ourselves.
The source of the biggest shame for me was our middle classes. Not once during these months did we take to the streets in huge numbers to say no; to be seen by the world and ourselves to stand for one reasonable Kenya. Instead we resorted to general sneakiness, snide sms', ethnic paranoia, raising money for arms; flapping our arms about haplessly. When the state said we should stay at home, we did, hoping the wananchi would stop wananchi-ing about.
In this our great test of our tensile strength, we failed to hold ourselves together and separate our reasonableness from the unreason and power games of a cynical political class.
I do not think there is a place outside of this continent so endowed with human skills, able to compete anywhere. But unlike a Ghanaian middle class; or a Nigerian one. We do not want to 'be involved'. We do not want to be part of a country of ideas - we see politics are a network  for corporate advancement, for feudal connections; for protection and deals.
Most of all, we have refused to grow up...." (bold highlights mine)

I accepted the painful rebuke from my school mate Binyavanga, I failed in 2008; I sat idly by as though the violence after the elections was a bad dream which I would awake from.

Months have turned to years and we are at the end of 2011. In His wisdom, and mercy, God has allowed Kenya, the middle class and I in particular to take this great test again in 2012.

I am not sure there will be agreement on who the middle class, or lower upper class, are but I agree wholly with Steve Biko Wafula that "they hold the key to the future of this country."

The historic promulgation of the Constitution on 27 August 2010, should make the burden of involvement for the middle class lighter. There is the real possibility that Kenya can become a country of ideas.

Unfortunately many Kenyans who voted yes seems to treat the Constitution as a passing cloud; that will be snatched away. Many who voted no, with valid reasons, treat the Constitution as a draft. And there is the real threat by some in the Legislative and Executive arms of Government to undermine the Constitution. We should not be surprised by these actions, the fruit of 48 years of undemocratic rule and an authoritarian President; fear, cynicism, doubt, and impunity. But these views demonstrates a lack of understanding that the Constitution is the supreme law of Kenya; given to Kenyans by Kenyans.

Chief Justice Hon. Dr. Justice Willy Mutunga delivered, in my opinion, one of the greatest speeches in Kenya's history titled 'The Imperatives Of Living By Our Constitution' on Dec 5, 2011. His uninspired delivery, reading from an iPad, did not take away the significance of the content. Using persuasive and solid arguments Mutunga challenged Kenyans to read, understand, and obey the Constitution; our social contract.

"Fellow Kenyan, we must all go back and read the Constitution. Each institution must go back and read the Constitution and  systematically understand what it means for their work. Living by our Constitution demands that we learn and know its contents not through some remote imbibing or’ I hear the Constitution says’ type of discussions  – it  means taking individual responsibility to read and obey it."

I challenge you, and myself, to grow up and get involved in determining Kenya's future. We are hard-working, gifted, charitable and we can do it.

Start by reading the entire Kenya Constitution; "understand it ... embrace it, ... respect it." Then daily obey and live by it.

Happy Jamhuri Day!