IN HONOUR OF THE ICONIC KIBAKI

 

    IN HONOUR OF THE ICONIC KIBAKI

Absolute grief as the country, and the world mourns following the death of Kenya’s 3rd president, His Excellency Mwai Kibaki. His illustrious legacy will forever be cemented in our hearts. As described by many from different walks, he was indeed a tolerant, gallant, and selfless man, in addition to all attributes that would best describe an entirely great leader. It is during his reign that Kenya achieved remarkable milestones in the social, economic, and political spheres making it great. Kenya, Africa, and the world feel the vacuum left by the demise of such an intellectual.

Kibaki did not become a global icon in a day but always strived his way up until holding the highest office in Kenya for 10 years. Having studied economics, history, and political science, he beat the odds to build a reputable persona. 

 His manner of approaching issues was unique and transformative, as he took a solution-based approach to leadership. He always worked with the options that proved fruitful, devoid of political affiliations from where the great ideas emanated. The substance of his style will definitely be felt till eternity.

He was an economic realist and modernizer, crowned by the many economic developments in Kenya during his reign. During his first term, he strived to initiate economic recovery strategies, as the economy was heading south, perhaps due to legislative vacuums in the previous regime. The GDP of the country rose significantly during his tenure, proof that Kenya had taken the right economic path. The infrastructural projects (in both terms) e.g. Thika Superhighway opened economic potentials in different regions. Additionally, the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) was introduced to combat problems at the grassroots. Who can forget the Free Primary Education that came to be during his term? Also, the present Universal Health Care (UHC) borrows various operationalization models from what Kibaki initiated during his first term. Sure enough, he was determined to elevate the country from the three cardinal problems i.e. poverty, illiteracy, and disease.

The 2010 constitution adds to the substance of his legacy; a constitution that had devolution as a prime fundamental. The counties we associate ourselves with (alongside their legislative structures) were borne from this constitution that was promulgated in August 2010. It portrayed a sound landscape and trajectory in development across the country . Earlier on (1998-2002), he had served as the Leader of Official Opposition, and the legislators who were in parliament can testify that Kibaki was an eloquent articulator of policies. He was indeed a true developer. The people, who in different capacities served in his tenure can write and narrate all day about this man.

As a Catholic, he, for many years attended mass like any other congregant at Consolata Shrine Westlands and at no time did he stand to “speak” to the other worshippers. In addition, he never used public spaces to drive hatred and spit words at his opponents. How can we compare this with what we see today?  What picture of a leader does he portray? Unarguably, leadership in Kenya should not be all about politics, but quality delivery. Also, leadership is an opportunity to better the lives of others and not satisfying personal greed. It is therefore possible to realize a leadership structure built on morals. Good work speaks for itself, and no wonder he did not entertain leaders who dwelt on gossip and insolence. “If wheelchairs talk, the one in which Kibaki was sitting on during his swearing-in in 2002 would definitely speak high of the man who rose from it to become a global icon.”

The intrigue around the team that he worked with, in the cabinet, parliament, parastatals and other agencies cannot go unnoticed. They must have picked many lessons from him, but the question is whether or not they use(d) them to nurture the national welfare. Some of these leaders are there today (and we know them) and the best we can do is judge their profiles, based on Kibaki’s record. Adding this to their experience, we are longing for an aura of intellect in them. The death of Kibaki should not mean the loss of a generation of leadership.

                                            

The series of corruption scandals, defeat in the 2005 referendum and the painful 2008 post-election violence would constitute the setbacks and low-key moments in his regime. However, he ensured a recovery from such valleys by the time he passed the baton to His Excellency Uhuru Kenyatta in 2013.

May his quintessential legacy live, and may leaders emulate him.😊😊