Until his story is told, Kibaki will remain an enigma

Published on 14/08/2011

By Maurice Maina

No one seems keen on highlighting the tumultuous, yet adventurous life of President Mwai Kibaki. He insists he is stepping down next year. The media on its part reveals it could be next year but one. He doesn’t respond to that.

Before 2008, he could have easily passed for a happy-go-lucky, golf enthusiast-cum-successful career politician, with ‘class’. Not the sort to court media for ‘cheap publicity’ or attend populist fundraisers, and engage in funeral politics.

This did not stop him from being an elected leader for almost his entire adult life. It seemed to come naturally to him.

2008 saw him visibly shaken, pleading with the then opposition to ‘stop the violence’ before he could come to the negotiation table. At one point during a press briefing, he appeared vulnerable.

It must have been a sigh of relief when Kofi Annan’s ‘magic’ brought some sense to the aggrieved and they agreed to negotiation. Before then former Ghana President John Kuffour and a host of other prominent leaders had been dismissed offhand.

Kibaki must have experienced what the bottom of the barrel can be. The happy-go-lucky mien vanished.

In came, the famous handshake one-liner by Annan: "We have a deal."

You could hear the collective sigh of relief. Doom had been averted.

So, who is third President of the Republic of Kenya , who was VP for ten years and also held Cabinet positions?

After resigning from Cabinet in 1991, he served as an opposition MP and became Kenya’s third president in 2002.

And what legacy does he bequeath Kenya after all those years of leadership? Well, that is where no one seems to venture. He declares his loathing for corruption, but facts fail to vindicate him as Anglo leasing rip-off, maize scandals, the John Githongo affair, Triton Oil and other scandals show.

His style of leadership has also come under scrutiny and State House accused of being the most ethnicised public institution. However, some things seem to be moving, notably infrastructure, Constitution implementation and capacity building of institutions.

Who will tell us Kibaki’s story?

He, and without reservations, has consistently modelled his economics along those of the East. He has had a

deliberate shift from Western prescribed models.

He also has not hid his fascination with China. He has continuously advocated stronger bilateral ties and publicly commended China’s friendship with Kenya.

That also means he has taken his time to study China’s ‘miracle’. As a result has became a good student of the same — remember he is reputed to have been an ‘A student’ at Makerere University where he studied Economics.

Massive benefits

Looking at China’s economic model, therefore, they argue, would explain his approach and, by extension, the behaviour of the shilling.

China has consistently favoured a devalued currency against world’s major currencies.

The West, particularly the US has consistently accused Chinese Government of interfering with market forces in determination of exchange rates.

Interesting, however, is that China’s approach has brought about massive benefits to its economy. It is the only economy in the last decade that has consistently achieved impressive expansion year after another.

Also, as a result, investors have flocked into the country in their numbers.

Actually, Americans are complaining of jobs that have been exported to China and other Asian countries like India as a result of industries relocating their plants or outsourcing from there.

Proponents of this theory argue that Kibaki being an ‘A student’, is seeking to outdo China in devaluation of the currency.

Anyone listening to this kind of posit is likely to believe, especially when put in the context that he has always strived to portray economic performance as his preferred front. Indeed, he has been accused of neglecting the political front.

Also notable is the fact that, the CBK governor professes economics, yet he appears in public to be totally clueless of the behaviour of the shilling. It is hard to believe him.

It is amazing the Government proposed solution by Finance minister is emphasizing austerity measures, without explaining why it has suddenly become the buzzword, and how such measures can work in the short run. It is like saying, ‘get used to a devalued shilling.’