Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Why is Kibaki’s star shining brighter now?
Recent opinion polls have been good news to president Mwai Kibaki. He has continued to enjoy great support from all those polled with his approval rating reaching 60%. This is good news for a president who is being ganged against by an opposition, which is more interested in its survival as a cabal than exposition of a futuristic ideal.
Kibaki’s style of governance is the complete opposite of Moi’s. Moi thrived on populism, interference and I know all the answers kind of policy. His hand was in every pie from the village polytechnic to international affairs. Kibaki has sought to give greater latitude to his ministers and the civil service. He has assumed a rear seat posture overseeing his troops’ performance. The introduction of ministerial performance evaluations and contracts is one such approach. However this noble idea has not brought out the fruits it was intended to. Evaluations without attendant consequences, positive or negative, make a mockery of the whole effort.
I have argued elsewhere that Kibaki is the general of his troops. He has his company commanders and lieutenants in the field. When the troops are out in the trenches and the battle gets hot, they look back to the captains and lieutenants for immediate guidance and orders. These in turn go to the generals for the overall guidance and war strategy. The general sees the whole war while the captains see the immediate battles.
General Kibaki has won, or at least is winning, the economic battle. He has managed to beat back the enemy in the infrastructure front, the agricultural front, the national pride and faith in the government. Kenyans, especially those in the Diaspora, have gained confidence and trust in their country’s leadership and have started investing heavily back home. Kibaki has enhanced democracy by not interfering with the operations of the opposition and other dissenting voices, albeit not without hitches. These small battles have served to give Kenyans confidence and faith in their president, hence his popularity.
However, there is one area where the field commanders have failed their general, security. When the people cannot carry on their daily lives without fear of attack, when the people cannot carry out their business without extortion, when the people cannot live in peace on their God given lands then something is wrong. The war cannot be worn when half the troops are not pulling in the same direction with their general. The war is lost when the general cannot give his captains directions while out in the field. The president gave his ministers latitude in the performance of their duties. Unfortunately most of them lack the training, background and experience to operate in environments where independence of thought and action is the hallmark policy.
After years of watching government by directives, most ministers found themselves mesmerized by the powers they command without directives on how to use it. Previous regimes had taught leaders to toe and dance the party cum government line. When they were let loose, they had no idea what to do. They are more concerned with popularity than performance yet their evaluation is on performance and not popularity. Security continues to be the number one concern of Kenyans in the Diaspora. Mt Elgon area, Mungiki, Northern Rift, Somalia border all constitute a major threat to national security.
Michuki finds time to go to the USA to talk about international terrorism while his backyard is burning. The police commissioner threatens to charge politicians with dissent while Mungiki is killing his men and innocent citizens. These are the kind of battles we don’t want. We do not want to waste our national energy on fighting for our right to speak out loud; at least this does not kill like the thugs in Mt. Elgon or the Mungiki in Banana.
I have not heard of the police commissioner visiting those clash areas. I have not heard of the president visiting those clash areas; yes mama Jimmy was there, but we did not elect Lucy Kibaki, we elected the husband. Kibaki’s leadership in the restoration of faith in our national security is lacking. He needs to give directions and leadership, he needs to take charge of the fight against Mungiki, he needs to take charge of the fight against the rustlers in Northern Rift and we need to see him do it.
Show of war arsenals, tough talk, armed police presence are all tools of deterrence. Don't we have these in abundance? Does't the president have powers to flaunt and even use them to protect his people? Has anyone complained of use of excessive force in quelling Mt Elgon crisis? Has anyone complained of large scale louting of Mungiki in Banana and Githunguri? The answer to all these questions is a loud NO! Pray then, why is the president and his field commanders failing the people. We demand action physical tangible action to restore security in the whole country. If the president's leadership and direction is going to continue to be conspicuous in its absence and inaction in these areas, then this might be his Waterloo. All the good will and popularity may not be enough to send him back to the house on the hill; there may not be enough voters left come voting day, not at the current rate that Mungiki is killing them.
The time for talk and lullabies is long gone, it is time for the baton and the prisons.
Kibaki’s style of governance is the complete opposite of Moi’s. Moi thrived on populism, interference and I know all the answers kind of policy. His hand was in every pie from the village polytechnic to international affairs. Kibaki has sought to give greater latitude to his ministers and the civil service. He has assumed a rear seat posture overseeing his troops’ performance. The introduction of ministerial performance evaluations and contracts is one such approach. However this noble idea has not brought out the fruits it was intended to. Evaluations without attendant consequences, positive or negative, make a mockery of the whole effort.
I have argued elsewhere that Kibaki is the general of his troops. He has his company commanders and lieutenants in the field. When the troops are out in the trenches and the battle gets hot, they look back to the captains and lieutenants for immediate guidance and orders. These in turn go to the generals for the overall guidance and war strategy. The general sees the whole war while the captains see the immediate battles.
General Kibaki has won, or at least is winning, the economic battle. He has managed to beat back the enemy in the infrastructure front, the agricultural front, the national pride and faith in the government. Kenyans, especially those in the Diaspora, have gained confidence and trust in their country’s leadership and have started investing heavily back home. Kibaki has enhanced democracy by not interfering with the operations of the opposition and other dissenting voices, albeit not without hitches. These small battles have served to give Kenyans confidence and faith in their president, hence his popularity.
However, there is one area where the field commanders have failed their general, security. When the people cannot carry on their daily lives without fear of attack, when the people cannot carry out their business without extortion, when the people cannot live in peace on their God given lands then something is wrong. The war cannot be worn when half the troops are not pulling in the same direction with their general. The war is lost when the general cannot give his captains directions while out in the field. The president gave his ministers latitude in the performance of their duties. Unfortunately most of them lack the training, background and experience to operate in environments where independence of thought and action is the hallmark policy.
After years of watching government by directives, most ministers found themselves mesmerized by the powers they command without directives on how to use it. Previous regimes had taught leaders to toe and dance the party cum government line. When they were let loose, they had no idea what to do. They are more concerned with popularity than performance yet their evaluation is on performance and not popularity. Security continues to be the number one concern of Kenyans in the Diaspora. Mt Elgon area, Mungiki, Northern Rift, Somalia border all constitute a major threat to national security.
Michuki finds time to go to the USA to talk about international terrorism while his backyard is burning. The police commissioner threatens to charge politicians with dissent while Mungiki is killing his men and innocent citizens. These are the kind of battles we don’t want. We do not want to waste our national energy on fighting for our right to speak out loud; at least this does not kill like the thugs in Mt. Elgon or the Mungiki in Banana.
I have not heard of the police commissioner visiting those clash areas. I have not heard of the president visiting those clash areas; yes mama Jimmy was there, but we did not elect Lucy Kibaki, we elected the husband. Kibaki’s leadership in the restoration of faith in our national security is lacking. He needs to give directions and leadership, he needs to take charge of the fight against Mungiki, he needs to take charge of the fight against the rustlers in Northern Rift and we need to see him do it.
Show of war arsenals, tough talk, armed police presence are all tools of deterrence. Don't we have these in abundance? Does't the president have powers to flaunt and even use them to protect his people? Has anyone complained of use of excessive force in quelling Mt Elgon crisis? Has anyone complained of large scale louting of Mungiki in Banana and Githunguri? The answer to all these questions is a loud NO! Pray then, why is the president and his field commanders failing the people. We demand action physical tangible action to restore security in the whole country. If the president's leadership and direction is going to continue to be conspicuous in its absence and inaction in these areas, then this might be his Waterloo. All the good will and popularity may not be enough to send him back to the house on the hill; there may not be enough voters left come voting day, not at the current rate that Mungiki is killing them.
The time for talk and lullabies is long gone, it is time for the baton and the prisons.
