Kenya's Presidential Elections: Columbia University's 10th Annual African Economic Forum and Martha Karua. MJoTA v7n1 p2013033
Today, Sunday Mar 3, 2013, is the day before Kenya goes to the polls to elect a president.
Although I have followed Kenyan politics for 5 years, and have met several politicians elected in Kenya, I cannot pretend to understand the political situation.
I am, however, drawn to the Hon Martha Karua, who is a straight-talking lawyer.
I met Martha Karua in the lobby of the hotel where the Kenyan delegation stayed during the 2008 United Nations sessions. My impression of her then was that she is well-organized, neat, and speaks carefully but is not afraid of speaking on behalf of the poor and oppressed.
I would love Martha Karua to be president of Kenya, I would love Kenya to be led by a strong organized elegant woman who does not allow Britain or anyone to mistreat her and her people.
This is my opinion. I am sure I will be screamed at by Kenyans who tell me I don't know what I am talking about. My opinion is my opinion, and is rarely changed when I am told I am an idiot.
Make up your own mind, watch the videos on this page.
The Kenyan elections and the fervent hope by citizens of Kenyan for post-election peace: these were on our minds and lips during Columbia University's 10th Annual African Economic Forum which took place in New York City on Mar 1st and 2nd, 2013.
The first keynote speaker articulated the promise that the girl child has for Africa. Dr Babatunde Osotimehin, a physician and current Executive Director of the United Nations FPA. He called for universal education of girls, he called for valuing girls, he called for an end to a practice I have heard of frequently: a husband refusing to pay hospital bills to save a life of a wife in child-birth, because a less-expensive option is getting a new wife.
I do not know if that ever happens in Kenya, I know it happens in Sierra Leone, which is the other side of the continent, a country of different diet, different religions, different history. I hope it does not. I do know that in 2008, admission into the big free hospital did not guarantee survival of child-birth. I hope that has changed. I know that whoever becomes the next resident of Kenya has a hard job ahead.
Kenya deserves the best. As does Sierra Leone. And they both deserve peace. Peace followed the presidential election in Sierra Leone in 2012.
At MJoTA, we are following the election in Kenya with our breath held. Peace for Kenya. Peace for Kenya. Peace.
