Saboti MP Eugene Wamalwa/FILE NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 15 – Saboti Member of Parliament Eugene Wamalwa says the 2012 general election may be a turning point in the country’s history, with a shift from age-old tribal cliques to a generational change.
He encouraged youthful leaders to emerge and aspire for high offices in Kenya.
Mr Wamalwa who spoke moments after appearing on Capital In the Morning urged leaders to shun tribal politics and instead view themselves as Kenyans.
“If we are able to deal with the twin evils that have stood in the way of the Kenyan dream – tribalism and corruption – we can change the country,” he said. “There is my generation that is less tribalised than our fathers who when you meet him immediately asks you from what tribe you come from.”
“My challenge really is particularly to the young people of this country. I remember when Barack Obama came into the US political scene, he did challenge the young people. He told them that they were the change,” he recounted.
“I want to tell the young people in this country that we are the future and the future is here.”
He further called on his fellow legislators to take their responsibilities seriously as the choices they make made will affect future generations.
He emphasised the need for speedy and timely implementation of laws aimed at benefiting Kenyans.
He underscored the privilege the current crop of leaders have, especially in the implementation of the new constitution.
“I will tell them what Franklin Roosevelt once told Americans: ‘Sometimes, to some generations, much is given but to other generations much is expected.’ I think much is expected of this generation of legislators,” he asserted.
“We can go down in history as the Parliament that implemented the constitution to the letter,” he quipped.
He emphasised the need for Parliament to extend its sittings to allow it pass necessary legislation before the August 27 deadline.
Mr Wamalwa said the number of days when Parliament sits should be increased and the duration extended, as this will ensure that laws made are timely and beneficial to Kenyans. (Parliament currently sits on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2.30pm to 6.30pm while on Wednesdays, its holds sessions from 9am to 12.30pm and from 2.30pm to 6.30pm.)
“If we are able to sit from Monday to Friday and burn the midnight oil, we should be able to beat the deadline and I would encourage all of us to go beyond the extra mile to be able to do that for this country,” he stated.
He however expressed concern about the quality of laws to be passed due to the hurried way the process may be done.
“With the pressure and deadline, there is the danger of Parliament turning into a rubber stamp and in the process probably churning out laws that might not be of very good quality,” he pointed out.
Meanwhile, he stated that he was ready to give those who have expressed an interest in the presidential poll a run for their money come the general elections next year.
He exuded confidence of coming out the victor due to his history and representation especially of the youth.
He encouraged the youth to come out and vie for more leadership posts in a bid to implement a generational change in society.
“I believe that when you are a young man trying to swim with the big boys and you are a lightweight, they consider you to be something out of the ordinary; you are punching above your weight and you should wait to become a big boy,” he observed, but said this must not always be the case.
He said currently, he is working hard in his plan and will unveil his running mate early next year.
“For now, I am yet to cover the whole country and I have programs everywhere and beginning next year I will be able to choose my running mate,” he revealed.
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