Kenya: Anxiety as President Kibaki Prepares to Retire
By George Okore
NAIROBI-- Kenyan president Emilio Mwai Kibaki is due to retire from elective politics at the end of his term 2012, but the imminent exit has excited several political developments in the East African country.
The respected economist entered politics in 1963 from the lecture halls at Makerere University, starting off as Executive Director of the Kenya National African Union (KANU), before stealthily and cautiously weaving his way to the top.
Sunday’s homecoming party cum prayer service at his Othaya home has left many political overtones, especially among the dozens or so politicians who plot to succeed the affable and reserved President. He appealed to those eyeing to succeed him to put the country above tribe. Speaking in spiritual tones, the President urged leaders to desist from preaching hatred and abuse.
Among the potential successors are Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance minister Uhuru Kenyatta, Eldoret North MP William Ruto, Gichugu MP Martha Karua, Internal Security minister George Saitoti , Gatanga MP Peter Kenneth, Saboti MP Eugene Wamwala, Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo, Gachoka MP Mutava Musyimi and Safina leader Paul Muite, among other hopefuls.
Kibaki ventured into the murky and uncertain elective political arena by easily winning the Bahati Parliamentary seat in 1969. In 1974, he shifted to Othaya constituency in his native Nyeri district and has since represented the constituency uninterrupted, albeit under different political parties.
The country’s founding President and independence hero Jomo Kenyatta passed on in August 1978 and political omens visited Kibaki when incoming President Daniel Toroitich arap Moi bequeathed to him vice-presidency soon after his own inauguration. Doubling as the country Finance Minister and KANU vice president, Kibaki was destined to greater things, evident by cool posture under severe political pressures, never to publicly display his anger and frustrations.
Keeping the country’s purse tightly zipped thus ensuring strong economic growth, Kibaki’s waterloo came in February 1982, leaving Finance docket to Arthur Kinyanjui Magugu for less prestigious Home Affairs Ministry. He would soon relinquish the vice presidency to former University of Nairobi Vice-Chancellor Dr. Josephat Karanja. The Mangu High School Alumnus resigned as Health Minister and KANU member in December 1991 to found Democratic Party (DP).
At the 1992 first multiparty elections, he posted credible fourth position and became number two in the 1997 presidential race to assume Official Leader of Opposition in Parliament. The Patron of Kenya Golf Union contested the 2002 under National Rainbow Collation (NARC) and won by massive 61 percent. He retained the controversial 2007 general elections under Party of National Unity (PNU) ticket.
After two months of negotiations brokered by former United Nations Secretary General Koffi Annan, he formed a Grand Coalition Government with his challenger Raila Odinga. With long and interesting political career, the world is focused on how the country is approaching next year’s general elections.