Kenya-One Man's Perspective

Kenya - my thoughts and perspective

Kenya: For 24 years Daniel Arap T. Moi has been a President. Now in his mid 70's he is President Moi considered one of the last of his type (big old men) in Africa . When his long time friend President Mobutu of Zaire (Democratic Republic of Congo) died of cancer, large crowds chanted slogans in demonstrations in Nairobi "Mobutu is dead and Moi is next." It took a while, but Daniel Arap T. Moi is gone as President of Kenya.

The leadership of President Daniel Arap T. Moi and his presidency reflected his strong desire to hang on and stay in control. One must understand the African concept of leadership as it has been practiced for ages. One is a leader for life and not just for a season, this is so evident in other countries such as Zambia and Zimbabwe where laws are not being changed to give the president in each of those countries the ability to run again and stay in power. Nelson Mandela was a rare exception in South Africa when he graciously let go of his power and let others lead his country. (Though President Moi comes from a tribe (Kalenjin) which was ruled not by Kings or Tribal Chiefs but a council of elders he did not look to his tribe for a model, but elsewhere in Africa.

Democracy is relatively a new thing in Kenya since independence from Britain in 1963. There have only been two Presidents, Jomo Kenyatta and Daniel Arap T. Moi but a miracle did take place on the 27th of December 2002 and President Mwai Kibaki was elected by a landslide over the Moi candidate Uhuru Kenyatta. No one ever thought that President Moi would step aside, even though the constitution of Kenya demanded it, all thought he would have Parliament change the laws, but at the end of the day President Moi stepped aside and swore in the opposition party NARC leader Mwai Kibaki and all of Kenya rejoiced.

One must also understand that Kenya like many other countries in Africa was drawn up by foreign powers meeting and slicing up the continent not taking tribal areas into consideration. Today you have people of tribes living on both sides of borders, you have tribes and people brought together into an artificial country designed by western powers who did not understand Africa, but simply saw it in terms of possessions to be exploited. Kenya, like many other African countries is trying to grow together in spite of tribal differences that often rear their ugly heads such as in the 1997 presidential election when opposition party members were beaten and arrested at an anti-government demonstration. Along the coast the ruling party KANU was behind some ethnic cleansing that removed potential opposition voters from tribes not native to the coast of Kenya. In the election of 2002 there was some violence and problems during the election, but compared to the past, it was most peaceful.

The President, under much pressure from outside governments, especially those who support Kenya via foreign aid, promised to bring about constitutional changes that would result in a freer country. Just recently the American secretary of state, Colin Powell suggested that President Moi retire and not seek another term. As usual, Westerners, though well meaning do not understand the African ways. One does not bring up such a topic publicly, there is a sense of shame attached to it for an African Leader, but one would do such a thing as a friend to a friend privately and before that takes place, the right to speak such truths must be earned through committed friendship and support. Nevertheless, President Moi realized that it was his time to go peacefully, he tried to control who had he next President would be but failed when President Kibaki was elected.

President Kibaki has his hands full, Kenya is ripe for reforms and it has one of the best chances of becoming a real model of democracy in Africa under the right conditions. It has much going for it, a country that is beautiful, animals abound in the parks and countryside, a labor pool that desires to work and make a living, and a people who want to grow and become more prosperous, have some security, have medical care available and break the cycle of poverty that presently abounds. Poverty and disease abound in Kenya, and though it has one of the highest living standards in Africa, the common person is in a survival mode. Conditions for everyday life are like those described on the Uganda page, except that there are many more people living in Kenya than Uganda.

Corruption is one of the first problems that President Kibaki will tackle. The most common words are kitu kidogo, meaning just a little something. The reason for the corruption is that most government employees simply do not make a livable wage and must feed their family. The result is that you can buy your way out of most anything or your way into most everything. The former President's Party feasted at the table of Kenya at the expense of the common person and how to handle this will be a most delicate matter for President Kibaki.

The East Indian population who make up one percent of the population, but own 70% of the economy controls commerce. One politician by the name of Matiba has advocated that Asians be thrown out like they were in Uganda in 1972, but that would produce disastrous results. Most Indians have lived in Kenya for generations since their forefathers moved there because of opportunities or were brought there by the British with the building of the railroad to Uganda and are legitimate citizens of that country.

The Kenyan people are most wonderful and if you go there to visit break out of the tourist mode and spend time with ordinary Kenyans. Rent a car, drive up to Kisumu on Lake Victoria and stay that Sunset Hotel overlooking the Lake watching thunderstorms, enjoying the Luo music coming from the bar below, listening to the warm rain as it hits the balcony of your room. Or drive down to Mombasa on the Indian Ocean and enjoy people of the coast. North to meet the Turkana tribe that lives today as they have lived for centuries. Meet the Kikuyu people in the highlands, or to Kericho and see the vast tea plantations right from your Hotel room. Most important when you get off the plane in Nairobi, leave your western culture behind and enjoy each person that you meet from the Taxi driver at the airport with whom you need to bargain with the housekeeping service at your hotel. Kenya is more then animals, more then elephants, lions, giraffes, it is the Rift Valley, it is Nairobi, but most of all it is the many people that make up the country and they are the best part and I enjoyed them the most.

Long buried beneath the surface, but just beneath, Kenya erupted like a volcano in the last few days of December 2007, as the election took place and in the first week it became clear that the government under Mwai Kibaki had rigged the elections, even though to most observers Mr. Odinga had won. Violence broke out, people of the Kikuyu were forced out of towns and areas where they were the minority. It was an ugly time for Kenya as it literally burned up, churches to stores, cars, houses, all went up in smoke.

Today, due to a power sharing agreement that was reached there is peace, or a sort of peace, that appears to be surface since no healing has taken place in the country...Kenya needs a long term miracle...jon

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Last updated: 01 September 2008