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Under
Siege, is Musyoka being used?
By Matunda Nyanchama
 Kalonzo
Musyoka certainly seems under siege. I do not have the facts surrounding
this matter. However, my reading is thus:
- Kalonzo Musyoka is positioning himself for 2007 presidential
run and could be breaking off from the rest of the pack; remember
the old saying that unless you are ahead of the pack no one can
shoot at you?
- The minister's conduct and open campaign has left him open for
attack especially when he is supposed to be a key player within
Narc; in a way, many will see this as going against the grain;
personally I think he should be more cautious than he has been;
- Mutahi Ngunyi in today's column asked the minister to consider
whether he was being used? If so, who would push Musyoka to run
for the presidency? Who would be using him and why?! - Front runners
are never guaranteed first place finish; the fact that he has
started early doesn't mean his bid will succeed. In politics 4
years is a life time. In the most recent elections, no one could
have foreseen the emergency of the Rainbow Coalition rebellion
and hence the Narc government. Musyoka is positioning himself
as a target for attack. It is possible that when 2007 comes around
he would have been smashed to a pulp!
ON a personal level, I think the minister's performance at Foreign
Affairs has been dismal. He would have taken advantage of the
Narc transition to usher in new changes in the way foreign affairs
does its business. To date, he has not published clear foreign
policy objectives for the current term of government. In Kenyan
embassies and consulates, hold overs from Moi's era dominate,
be they career diplomats or political appointees. We have yet
to put our stamp on
> regional and continental initiatives whose leadership has
shifted to southern and western Africa. For example, there is
very little we have done with respect to NEPAD/HIV/AIDS. On AGOA,
Mukhisa Kituyi has completely overshadowed foreign affairs!
There is more he could do including campaigning for the return
of foreign loot. And yes, I know Kiraitu Murungi represented Kenya
in the recent conference on corruption and stolen moneys but Kalonzo
should have set the tone way earlier signaling to Kenyans and
foreign investors that we shall pursue these monies wherever Moi
cronies took it and that we shall consider nations that fail to
cooperate with us as inimical to Kenya's interests.
I still yearn for the old days of Munyua Waiyaki and Robert Ouko
at foreign affairs. Indeed, even Njoroge Mungai did a mu! ch better
job at the ministry following the country's independence and managed
to win Kenya one of the most important regional offices of the
United Nations: UNEP & HABITAT.
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How
shiny is Kituyi's Record?
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You've
made me want to comment about Musyoka more specifically on his performance.
I am reminded of that Biblical verse that loosely points on how unrealistic
it is to remove a speck off your friend's eye when you have log in
yours.
When Mukhisa Kituyi decides to pinpoint at Musyoka's so called "failed
performance, he forgets that the Nation has been watching his trade
and industry docket just as we have been watching Musyoka's. Honestly
speaking, neither of them have done a decent job based on several
circumstances.
I am very sure Musyoka is capable of assembling an appealing foreign
policy for Kenya that embraces all aspects that can lead our country
to becoming an economic player in the world stage. However, I do not
see what will prevent the likes of Kituyi, Murungi, etc crying foul
that Musyoka is now out to outshine the president in the world stage.
If I not dreaming, there was a recent story in the East African Standard
where the writer was insinuating that some folks around Kibaki were
a bit uncomfortable that Musyoka made a better speech than his president
in London on their way back from the United States. If people are
going to be punished because they are either ambitious or gifted orators,
then Kenya and its democracy is headed on the wrong path.
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Yes,
Kituyi has been cruising the world over since the beginning the year
and when Musyoka travels based on his job; I get surprised especially
when people folks like Kituyi start saying that "the only thing Musyoka
knows is traveling that world." This is cheap politics from
this doctored politician is behaving like a novice.
Kibaki has played handsoff politics but I do not see so on other areas
and here is my illustration; the State House cronies are making appointments
at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs without even the vaguest idea of
someone like the minister in charge. Moments before Kibaki traveled
to the US in Oct, there was a sudden and significan appointment that
was made to our chancery in DC while Musyoka was representing Kibaki
at the UN in New York. I believe the first time the appointee met
with Musyoka was in DC during the state visit. Is this handsoff politics?
From what I am reading, someone like Raila is doing his job at the
Roads and Works docket. I will not be surprised when people start
saying that Raila is outshine Kibaki's image as the man who reclaimed
lost government land and fixed our tarted roads. This is the disaapointing
state of our politics. It even gets worse when folks whom one would
conventionally respect based of the amount time they have dedicated
in the academic cycles. I am left wondering whether a PhD guarantees
anything more than another form of empty identity of Dr. So and So.
Well, I am watching the next move by either of these "word fighters."
Time will tell who is wise and smart.
Unedited
Ogeto Symon |
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rebuilding
the atlantic fabric of the 21st century through communication between
Chicago and East Africa
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Ogeto,
You got it bro. That is why Africa is not moving because instead of
giving credit where due, you shine then you become a target. The devil's
nature is to make sure your shining eats you up and you will experience
it in many and almost all corners of a non-developing nation. You
saw president Kibaki admire Anyona upon his death last month. There
are many who should be recognized and encouraged to do more, but you
have just said it. Jomo Kenyatta started fighting
for freedom for all Kenyans in 1929 and Kalonzo or anybody else can
start any time while still performing their duties fully. It is the
education that people are still being denied because of power struggle
and domination. A serious problem.
Nyabuto
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