By
Luke Onyekakeyah
 |
| Uhuru Kenyatta |
The
declaration of Uhuru Kenyatta as the winner of the just concluded 2013
presidential election, for me, is a re-enactment of the cherished Kenyatta
legacy in Kenya. Uhuru Kenyatta is the son of Kenya’s founding father and first
independence president, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta. For one of his sons to rise to
become president of Kenya shows a strong political legacy of his father.
It is
particularly important to note that the new president-elect has not been
imposed on Kenyans, nay, by the powers that be; instead, he rose to the
enviable position by dint of hard work, arguably, following the footpath of his
iconic father. He has been nurtured to occupy the position.
The general
peaceful atmosphere throughout the elections is commendable, quite unlike what happened
in 2007. While elections in Africa hardly go without recriminations; it is the
extent of such violence that marks the election.
Uhuru’s
impressive political career (am not forgetting his indictment by the ICC),
makes me question what legacy Nigeria’s founding fathers left for their
families and the country.
What joy does one have as a great man who has done
very well with impressive accomplishments but has nobody to succeed him and
perpetuate his ideals? This is where I get crossed when people celebrate some
fortunate elderly Nigerians, who benefited and presided over the affairs of
this country at the most auspicious time; were in a position to lay a solid
foundation for the country’s future but failed woefully.
Today, these elders
are living witnesses of the decadence in the country that profited. Some of
them bemoan their unwitting contributions to the mess we face today.
Perhaps,
with the exception of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, whose children have continued to
wax strong in Nigeria’s political and social affairs while the region he
governed largely remains ahead, there is hardly any other former Nigerian
leader, whose children inherited their father’s enviable pedigree.
The result
is that at every point in time, Nigeria is ruled by people who have no known
political heritage. These people are like hit and run drivers. They lose
nothing by plundering the country and plunging it into political and economic
morass. They’re not concerned about the future of the country.
The
2013 Kenya presidential election is particularly interesting because it was
mainly a battle between the sons of two of Kenya’s founding fathers. While
Uhuru Kenyatta is the son of Kenya’s first president, Jomo Kenyatta, his main
challenger, Raila Odinga, is the son of Kenyatta’s first Vice President,
Jaramogi Oginga Odinga. Another Oginga Odinga’s son, Oburu Odinga is also
active in Kenya’s politics. He is Assistant Minister in the Ministry of
Finance.
There
is a lesson to learn in the rise of a generation of Kenya’s founding fathers. A
good leader leaves legacy for his children. It is good for at least one or two
of the children to take after him. The application of the ideals of the
founding fathers could strengthen political stability and ensure peace.
But
those who think that leadership is all about stealing money and amassing wealth
should not forget the counsel of Israel’s wise King Solomon who said that,
“Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished”. Proverbs 13:11. All the wealth
gathered are squandered in frivolous living. It doesn’t succeed into the next
generation.
The
March 4, 2013 elections, which was rescheduled twice in August and December,
2012, was the first to be held under the new constitution adopted in 2010
through a referendum. It was also the first general election to be organized by
the newly formed Independent Electoral and Boundary Commission (IEBC).
The
election was meant to elect the president, county governors, senators, members
of parliament, civic wards and women county representatives. It was truly a
reformed political structure. Therefore, getting it right from the outset was
crucial for its survival.
The five political parties contesting were mainly
coalitions formed by merged political parties. The coalitions include Coalition
for Reforms and Democracy (CORD); Jubilee Alliance; Eagle Alliance and Amani.
The Pambazuka Coalition collapsed on December 29, 2012, just three months to
the election.
Eight
presidential candidates were cleared by the Electoral Commission to contest the
election. They were Mohammed Abduba Dida (ARC), a former High Scholl teacher;
Raila Odinga (ODM), Prime Minister, Uhuru Kenyatta (TNA), Deputy Prime
Minister; Musalia Mudavadi (UDF) Deputy Prime Minister; Martha Karua
(NARC-Kenya), MP, Gichugu Constituency; Peter Kenneth (KNC), MP, Gatanga Constituency;
James ole Kiyiapi (RBK), former Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education and
Paul Muite (Safina), former MP for Kikuyu Constituency. Incumbent President
Mwai Kibaki was not eligible to contest, having served the constitutionally
approved two terms.
There
was apprehension that the crisis that erupted in 2007 between supporters of
Raila Odinga and incumbent President, Mwai Kibaki, after the results were
announced might be repeated, but that was never the case. The constitutional
reforms may have given the people hope.
Thus, the election was generally
peaceful except an incident that occurred on March 4, just before the polls, in
which a gang reportedly killed about six police officers in Changamwe, Mombasa
and in Kwale County. A separatist group opposed to the election and seeking for
a separate country for Kenya’s coastal zone was blamed for the incidents.
The
election witnessed a very large turnout of voters. To win, a presidential
candidate must win an absolute majority of more than half of all the votes cast
as well as win 25 per cent of the votes cast in at least 24 counties. There
were 47 counties and 14.3 million registered voters. Where nobody achieved a
simple majority in the first round, a run-off election was to be held under the
new constitution.
After
the polls ended and followed with painstaking vote count, the Electoral
Commission, on March 9, declared Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta winner
and president-elect after meeting the constitutional minimum.
He garnered
6,173, 433 votes or 50.07 per cent by winning 25 per cent votes in 42 counties.
He narrowly escaped a run-off. His closest rival Raila Odinga, garnered 5,
340,546 votes or 43.31 per cent by wining 25 per cent votes in 30 counties.
Musalia Mudavadi, trailed far behind with 483, 981 votes or 3.93 per cent won
in three counties with 25 per cent votes.
Raila Odinga did not concede defeat
but promised to challenge the results at the Supreme Court. He alleged massive
fraud and described the election as “tainted”. But it would have been a mark of
political maturity for Mr. Odinga to concede in the interest of Kenya’s
democracy. Africa must learn to accept election verdict where it is clear that
no serious altercations marred the election.
Mr.
Uhuru Kenyatta’s victory has been received with mixed feelings. First it
re-echoes the dominance of the Kikuyu in Kenya politics. Somehow, any political
contest between a Kikuyu and any one from the other ethnic groups would most
likely favour the Kikuyu because of their large number.
The Kikuyu constitute
about 20 per cent of Kenya’s population, which is the highest. They are
followed by the Luhya who constitute 14 per cent while the Luo constitute 13
per cent. Owing to the ethnic politics in Africa, votes are cast along ethnic
lines. What it means is that candidates with ethnic advantage in terms of
numbers stand better chance of winning elections.
This
is the main hurdle Mr. Raila Odinga has faced all this while. Being a Luo,
which about the third largest ethnic group has always overshadowed his
inspiring political career. Mr. Odinga is a political heavyweight. But he faces
an uphill task each time he is in the presidential race against a Kikuyu
candidate.
Mr. Odinga will have a chance to be president any day he contests
without a Kikuyu person in the race. Besides that, he should endeavour to court
a strong political coalition with the Kikuyu, whereby he could enter the
presidential race with a Kikuyu as his vice. But that again will be an uphill
task.
His father, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga was Vice President to President Jomo
Kenyatta, a Kikuyu, at Kenya’s independence in 1963. He should put tradeoffs
across, otherwise, he may not be able to realize his dream without Kikuyu
support.
Of
much more concern is the fact that the President-elect, Mr. Kenyatta, is set to
face trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in April over his
indictment in the 2007 post-election violence in Kenya that claimed more than
1,000 people and rendered 600,000 other homeless. How the West is going to deal
with him is a matter of concern.
The West normally doesn’t deal with ICC
indicted leaders. Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir is a case in point. It is
not clear yet how Kenya economy that largely depends on the West’s patronage
would survive under its indicted new leader. That may create problems for the
country.
Mr. Kenyatta should do everything to cooperate with ICC and ensure
that his indictment does not adversely affect his country’s economy.
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