Why is it attractive to so many?

COMMENTARY

Story by EGARA KABAJI
Publication Date: 10/25/2007

One of the thorny issues that have to be debated and resolved when Kenyans go to the polls is majimbo. It is now clear that the interpretation of this word depends on the side one occupies in the political divide.
Some interpret it to mean regionalism, federalism or ethnic balkanisation. This is, however, not a totally new subject. The issue is as old as Independent Kenya. What may be of interest is how some politicians choose to misinterpret the term for political mileage.

Forty three years ago, former President Moi was the greatest proponent of majimbo. In fact, his party Kadu, initiated the idea as an alternative to Kanu's vision of a centralised system

Equitable distribution

Kadu proposed majimboism which was meant to decentralise power to the provinces. In the ensuing battle, Kanu won, and since then, it has been the policy under the three successive regimes. What may not escape keen observers is that those who championed majimboism 40 years ago like those doing it today are branded ''tribalists''. What did the term imply then and what does it mean now? Perception of the common mwananchi about the meaning of majimboism may have changed over time, but it simply means a system that would guarantee equitable distribution of national resources across all provinces.

It is important to note that Kadu proposed the idea of majimboism as the best system due to the general fear among small communities that Kanu, then controlled by Luo and Kikuyu leaders, would unleash Luo-Kikuyu hegemony across Kenya and shortchange other regions on the distribution of national resources.

Majimboism did not mean that members of various communities were to be confined to their regions, and it does not mean so today. Those championing majimboism today are responding to the obviously skewed distribution of resources. They have evidence to prove that certain regions have been favoured in the distribution of those resources because of the proximity to power.

They want fundamental change which will ensure that all regions get their share of national resources and not wait for one of their sons or daughters to be in power for them to ''eat''.

This seems to be the contention that will, either way, determine the election results this year. The recent hue and cry over appointments and allocation of resources resonates with the desire among many voters for fair distribution of national resources.

Many voters seem unable to buy the obviously distorted interpretations of majimboism. Mr Koigi wa Wamwere, for instance, elects to mislead the public when he argues that ''majimbo'' is a uniquely Kenyan term conceived by European settlers before independence.

But the word jimbo is a Swahili word which means a political region with the autonomy to govern itself. The obvious implication is that majimboism, when instituted, would mean a devolved system in which the national government will share power with sub-national governments.

ODM leaders are explaining this position and many voters seem to buy the idea. What they are saying is that majimboism does not mean uprooting people who have settled in various provinces and relocating them to their ''home provinces''. Indeed, no one in his right senses can envisage such a project.

Many voters are buying the idea of majimbo because they have travelled around the country and they can see tarmarked roads, piped water, well-built schools, electricity poles in some regions other than their own.

What CDF has done
They have wondered how certain Government departments have over 90 per cent employees from one region. It has never escaped them that the face of their regions is missing in many establishments. They think a federal system will be fairer.
Many voters have seen what CDF has done and are yearning for the kind of freedom it has given them. They want to decide on their priority projects.

But above all, many voters are yearning for a reduced role of the central government in their lives. They know the government lives in Nairobi, but they want a government that lives with them.

Dr Kabaji is a senior lecturer at Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology