Kibaki speaks to the head, Raila to the nation's heart

Published on October 12, 2007, 12:00 am, The Standard

By Kipkoech Tanui

The current issue of Africa Confidential, when analysing style on the campaign trail, says President Kibaki speaks to the 'intellect' while Mr Raila Odinga of the Orange Democratic Movement, speaks to the 'heart'.

It reads in part: "With this economic and political record, why is Kibaki facing imminent defeat by Odinga and the ODM? The fact is that PNU and Kibaki have failed to address the fears of a wide constituency outside his Kikuyu, Embu and Meru ethnic base. ODM exploits these fears skillfully, while the President's team employs the arcane language of growth rates and free education for a united Kenya.

"PNU speaks to the intellect, ODM to the heart. Its key issues are ethnic and regional. Firstly, it condemns Kikuyu domination in the public service and economy. "In his speech at an ODM congress at Kasarani stadium last month, Odinga spoke, to loud applause, about the danger of 'economic apartheid' as bad as that in the old South Africa, only this time with one black group dominating the others. This is code for Kikuyu domination of commerce, farming and the professions." It also refers to the "heavy Kikuyu line-up in the ministries of Finance and Education, the Revenue Authority and the Office of the President." It goes on: "In response, the Government spokesman issued a full list of the provincial distribution of all top public positions, showing no such bias. It was hardly noticed; Kenya's politics operate on perceptions, not facts, and the accusation has stuck."

It also argues that Kanu chairman Mr Uhuru Kenyatta's sudden warming up to Kibaki was seen as goaded by ethnic interests and political exigency rather than principle.

The argument captures what many Kenyans have, albeit in silence, concluded. First, that the President's campaign is a poor show, targeting mainly the elite club. The 'development' referred to is ongoing, and it is that which cannot be 'felt' immediately in the poverty lines. Its organisational prowess, despite riding on the crest of the provincial administration, is also eclipsed by that of the unsliced orange.

Nyayo Stadium when the President launched his campaign was a poor show. The main speakers concentrated on Kibera's flying toilets, One Dangerous Man, and Kibaki the 'engine' of development without whom we would be stuck in the mud. They spoke and danced for so long, time ran out for the President to read out his vision already circulated to media houses.

The problem as usual was the way the President's programme is often drawn. When PNU was born at KICC he 'ended' the programme before the party leaders supporting spoke! That is why, and it is not a crime but a security risk, the President was ploughing through Mlolongo traffic on Tuesday at 7.30pm from his tour of Kajiado. It lacks the precision, flexibility and profile it should. That is why one speaker unknowingly let out the fact he had been coached on what to say by a minister.

Last Saturday when ODM congregated at Uhuru Park, the event progressed on like a well-oiled machine yet the organisers lacked State machinery. Every leader had his share of 'The Promise' to read. When time constraints set in, the organisers reviewed the pace. There was no obscenity. In Nyayo, one speaker used the art of mutual sexual stimulation as a political analogy, embarrassing those of us watching the event live on TV with our children.

The other baggage in the President's campaign is the hurry to showcase nationwide support, through speakers and dancers from all communities. To achieve this, PNU dims the VIP presence. For hours we listened to people we have never seen extol the virtues of the President.

Thirdly, by inaugurating water and power projects, as well as garlanding sportsmen and women, the President's campaign looks no different from his routine tours. There are also those who think it is the taxpayer's money being burnt and so the element of self-sacrifice is lost. It is worse when the President casually dismisses his opponents as 'untested' then ask for 'miaka ingine tano tu'! I have heard some marvel: Is he really serious?

But on one count he is trying; he has begun doing things he should have been doing all along; celebrating the end of fasting with Muslims, sending get-well cards to the ill and visiting peasant farmers.

Above all, and as the London-based paper says, the President's team is yet to appreciate that he is faced with three great challenges: The perception he has flooded the 'good' and 'well-endowed' public offices with people from his community; that he is leading a discordant team that only turns up for public outreaches when he is on the trail; and that PNU thing is a giant standing on mosquito feet.

The writer is The Standard Managing Editor, Weekend Editions

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