Crossposted on Gukira

Amidst the recent waves of reluctant resignations, possibly prompted by phone calls made at wee hours of the morning, Raila Odinga has appointed himself the scourge of Kibaki. He has urged, begged, demanded, and insisted that Kibaki step aside to allow “more responsible leadership,” i.e., Raila, to take over.

Meanwhile, a former political prisoner we once greatly admired, for his outspokenness and cool hair, has taken on the role played by the trained sheep in Animal Farm: bleating out long chants of support for Kibaki.

Unlike the sheep, however, known for their brevity, “four legs good, two legs better,” he of the formerly cool hair has adopted, “ten words good, twenty thousand better.” So much for brevity.

I leave it to A.S. Adhiambo and Co. to sort out the ethnic ramifications of these political battles, which apparently have something to do with foreskin—or its lack.

While I understand Raila’s position, he’s wrong. As are all those who demand Kibaki dissolve parliament and call immediate elections.

Such calls suffer from the same delusion that swept Kibaki into power in the first place: pluck the diseased leaves off the tree and the plant will be fine.

We forget that infection often lives in roots. Now, of course, we’re discovering, kikulacho ki nguoni mwako. Imagine cotton grows on trees and forgive the mixed metaphor.

Snap elections would replace the oafs we know with the oafs who live next door to them. Snap elections benefit the political elite and their cohorts. Snap elections do not guarantee democracy, openness or transparency.

Mzee used to say, uhuru na kazi. Implicitly, he meant that freedom takes work: uhuru ni kazi.

Freedom requires back-breaking labor, more than a little sacrifice, a score of humiliations, firings, resignations, reappointments, and more back-breaking labor. It also takes time and patience.

Presidents make mistakes. Elected officials make mistakes. We, the people who elect, learn from these mistakes.

Let me be clear: I’m not saying we should indulge in battered-wife syndrome. Our politicians might say they love us. That doesn’t allow them to abuse our trust.

I am saying that we need 2006 and 2007 to recruit and groom politicians. We need to identify men and women with high ideals, strong work ethics, and a passionate commitment to service and justice. We must encourage them to run for office.

A change of leadership at this point would be purely cosmetic.

Surely, we don’t need more Political Ambi.