As the nation mourns the passing away of 14 Kenyans aboard a Y-12 military plane that crashed in Marsabit, it makes me sad to note that Hon. Dr. Bonaya Godana had warned us about impending ethnic clashes before they took place. It is the resulting clashes that led to the Peace Mission.
On March 25th, Dr. Godana had warned that unless security was beefed up along the Moyale-Marsabit border, ethnic clashes would recur. Almost 100 lives were lost in Marsabit clashes in 2005 and according to relief agencies; an estimated 9000 people were displaced. A repeat of the clashes had to be averted.
Unfortunately, Dr. Godana’s prediction came true exactly two weeks after he warned the government. TV stations brought us pictures of women wailing and young men injured and ten Kenyans confirmed dead after a bloody raid. However, this sad story about the loss of lives in Marsabit did not make it to the headlines. Unlike the story of the crash, there was also minimal follow-up commentary on the clashes. No eulogies, no pictures, no word from the President, no national mourning and no flags flying at half mast.
The news of the plane crash however, received coverage on 69 websites around the world within five hours of its occurrence. A Google search for the story indicated that news websites such as CNN, Washington Post, EA Standard, Hindustan Times and Reuters had updates on the event but no mention of the victims of clashes that had led the MPs to travel to Marsabit. The new Kenya Police website was not left behind. It had updates. As twisted as the logic may be, the plane crash may have been the ultimate key to peace. It may help the world focus its attention on Marsabit and Moyale. There are fears however, that the press will continue to focus on the people who died instead of the reason that led to their death. Several people had died before the MPs took the flight to Marsabit. Let us hope that the loss of their lives will not be in vain because the hundreds that would die in renewed clashes will be forgotten. There will be for them.
Before his untimely death, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition made a brilliant personal submission to the Kiplagat Commission - even while the rest of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) continued to snub the commission. Dr. Godana made it clear that he was opposed to the attempt Kenyans made to overhaul the constitution as though Kenya was recovering from war. He therefore indicated that a Constituent Assembly would not be the right process for Kenyans to use in seeking constitutional change. Through his submission, Dr. Godana revealed that he was a man who abhorred the use of tribal arithmetic in the appointment of members of constitutional commissions. In particular, he advised the Kiplagat Commission that a 15-member Constitutional Commission made up of experts, imminent persons and devoid of regional and tribal representatives would provide the best process in finalizing constitutional change. The Kiplagat Commission was clearly captivated by Hon. Godana’s submission, which was also interested in more information on how to remove ethnicity from the reform process.
It is strange how a man lives his final days on earth - making every effort to shape Kenya into a better nation – as though he knew he had to finish his work on earth. As a citizen who never knew Dr. Godana personally, I admired him as a brilliant man who pursued excellence in all he did, especially as a scholar. Although he belonged to KANU - a party that has been blamed for misgoverning the nation – Dr. Godana stood out as an independent minded man. His academic credentials should inspire Kenyans – especially his constituents in North Horr – to pursue excellence. May his death not be in vain and may peace prevail in Moyale, Marsabit and the country as a whole.
