COMMENTARY
Kibaki Plus Moi Equals to Little or No Answer

By RICHARD R. OGETO
Updated on November 29, 2005

Nov 29, 2005 -- As a Kenyan keenly following the referendum and the aftermath, I wish to comment that President Mwai Kibaki needs to come out of this imbroglio on his own with little public intervention.

Getting former president Daniel arap Moi in the picture of this political dilemma makes the president look like a leader who has no clear exit strategy.

To date Kenya has no cabinet and this has made worldwide headlines on how incapacitated some government businesses have been grounded.

Kibaki ought to have known what possible predicament would follow if he keeps on taking his sweet time to either appoint another cabinet or make any immediate changes that can help salvage Kenya and his political career.

This is my suggestion; the president needs to set a ground level, where he comes out as a mediator verses a dictator. Let him stop interfering with some freedoms like those of assembly.

The president may be forced to rescind on such interferences due to their unconstitutionality or public outcry and this will make him look really bad.

The problem is not the orange team. Instead, the problem is getting certain inner circle politicians such as former ministers Kiraitu Murungi and Chris Murungaru swallow their pride and come out openly to reconcile.

Naming a new cabinet may not resolve the political atmosphere in the country right now. Remember the Murungis are still elected leaders, and they are still likely to face folks such as Raila Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka, Najib Balala, Anyang’a Nyong’o, Achillo Ayacko either in parliament or in any other platform.

Let the president humble his closely knitted cronies first and talk to the Orange team that was opposed to the rejected charter. The orange team has already expressed the willingness to negotiate on the best way forward that benefits Kibaki, his government and the entire country.

Again, the president ought to remember that bringing president Moi in the picture of this crisis does not give him the needed accolades he needs at his side towards his own political style. Apparently, Kenyans have not forgotten the Moi-kind of politics which they utterly detested when they voted him out in 2002.

Conventionally or latter intellectually, there is no reason why a country like South Africa, which is only 10-years into its democracy, ought to do better or have a better democracy than Kenya which has 40 years under its belt. May be it about time he go credible folks like his former anti-corruption czar – John Githongo back and the country will be back to business.

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