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G21 AFRICA - LEADERSHIP VACUUM IN KENYA. X.N. IRAKI returns with his commentary on the political scene in his native Kenya.Frankfort, KY, USA - Putting the photos of the members of "political dynasties" side by side in one of the local dailies in Kenya was a brilliant idea.?It gave us a chance to?compare the faces?using a magnifying glass. My conclusion? It seems to me the parents were (are) "good?people." No DNA tests are necessary.
X.N. Iraki Political dynasties and the return to the "basics" espoused by installation of tribal elders are two clear indicators that Kenya is experiencing a leadership vacuum. This vacuum is a natural one, created by the aging of the post-independence generation of leaders.
In their urge to stem political opposition, the post-independence generation leaders never groomed anyone for leadership. They created a vacuum that is up for grabs. Our only concern is that a vacuum sucks in anything and everything!
Look at the number of inherited seats in the parliament, and the close kinship among MPs, which is often not publicized, and you see the outlines of a political class, dynasty.
In the run up to 2002, the post-independence political elite could not even appoint heirs to the power; they just hurried and lost to another post-independence generation.
Now is our moment of truth. Look at all the political parties. Most are staring a leadership vacuum in the face. It was Nyachae who set the ball rolling by testing the waters. He announced his intention to retire from politics. His successor? Let us not guess.? He may have read the signs correctly; there is a wind of change blowing in the Kenya's political landscape.
KANU is yet to conclude its leadership struggle, with the elderly wing, New KANU digging in. The "new wing" of KANU lead by Uhuru is still living under the shadow of the old elite. Uhuru has tried to emancipate himself from its grip without much success.
He has tried to align himself with the emerging leadership, espoused by the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM). But this group is not really new; without dying their hair, they are closer to the post-independence generation than the 8.4.4 generation (new system of Education).
Even NARC-Kenya has no clear front runner apart from President Kibaki. The party driven by indecision is trying some novel approaches like revolving chairmanship. ODM cannot settle on a leader while Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) elections showed the divisions that lay hidden behind the facade of unity.
Other small parties, lacking resources, are struggling on, hoping that like a beautiful girl, a "good suitor" may emerge in the run up to the 2007 general elections.
Post-independence institutional set ups that allowed personality cults and stifled competitive politics lead us to the current vacuum. Single party rule protected post-independence leaders from competition. Those who would have been leaders never got chances to be tested.? The few who fought on during the single party era seem exhausted by the battle and age.
Where do we go from here?
Political dynasties are not good for the country, they are incestuous, and as biologists will tell you, inbreeding weakens the genes. Yet, indications are that more political dynasties may be in the offing. We may have more sons and widows in the parliament.? For one, money drives Kenyan politics and if you have money and you are already in politics, it becomes easier to protect your turf and raise barriers to entry - as marketers will say.
Two, Kenyans themselves see leadership as reserved for some people. And they seem to accept it. That is why some MPs are voted in year after year, their performance record apart. In some regions, you will not see the parliament if certain community leaders do not like you.
Three, we have mystified leadership and made it appear impossible to attain. Attachment to traditions like wearing strange attire when being crowned a tribal elder, adds o the mystery. Young or emerging leaders still expect to be "anointed" by older leaders to get the mantle.
Multi-partism was supposed to make politics competitive. It did not. The post-independence leaders quickly took control of parties. They had the money and the experience.
Today, we have more parties but only a few make a difference.
The way forward is to come up with institutional set ups that ensure there is competition in politics. Limiting the presidential terms to two was a good move. We need to go beyond that and come up with a mechanism through which we can judge the performance of our political leaders. Voting for kin just because their brother or father died is pretending that we should not die!
We have dynasties in other countries like the Gandhis, Bushes or Kennedys, but they are reelected based on their performance, and not grief or sympathy. Besides, having kings and queens is an old fashioned idea; most Royal families exist just for public curiosity.
The best option out this outdated practice is to have an educated electorate that will not be swayed by politicians' sweet words, or grief. No wonder the North voted KANU, because they are used to death!? This way, the electorate will realize that their votes matter. Currently many of us see voting as A ritual repeated every five years with fun and some free cash.
In other countries, MPs are seen as servants who must work and show their results like any other CEO. If they perform they are reelected; if not, they are relieved of their jobs and others are given a chance.
In addition, we must endeavor to improve the economy. A citizenRy with means to basic needs votes with its conscience, not stomach or grief. We have repeatedly seen in parliament how ideologies and principles suddenly converge when money issues are on the agenda.
We also must stop complaining about our leaders, we must offer ourselves as alternatives! I suspect, despite the leadership vacuum, Kenya has lots of high quality leaders hiding in our midst.? We must drop the notion that politics is a dirty game. It is not, that is why politicians live in the best estates, drive the best cars, and get good salaries and benefits, and few get more than one spouse...
If more of us offered ourselves for leadership positions, we could break the incestuous political dynasties that are atrophying leadership in Kenya and threatening its vibrancy.
Dr. X. N. IRAKI, a lecturer at the University of Nairobi's School of Business is Currently on an extended visit to the Commonwealth of Kentucky, USA.
© 2006, GENERAT OR 21.
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