The
Deputy Prime Minister and former Minister for Local Government, former
Deputy Leader of the ODM and the current Member of Parliament for
Sabatia made his grand announcement this past week,
ditching-but-not-quitting ODM and joining the UDF, a suspicious outfit
that was meant to be and still might be yet Uhuru Kenyatta's vehicle of
choice after he too ditched-but-did-not-quit KANU, Kenya's Grand Old
Party. David Makali, one half of Citizen TV's political talking heads,
sees a grand conspiracy in the making. Uhuru Kenyatta and Musalia
Mudavadi, both DPMs, go back a at least a decade to when both ran for
the top job in 2002 and lost. Musalia Mudavadi got the short end of that
stick by not just losing the contest to NARC's Mwai Kibaki but also his
Sabatia seat. Now both have effectivley abandoned their parties with
Uhuru ditching KANU and Musalia Mudavadi ditching ODM and both accusing
Raila Odinga effectively of being a dictator-in-waiting.
His Sunday Live interview with Julie Gichuru revealed a person overwhelmed by his circumstances. Asked about his top priorities for his administration he gave a rambling list that seemed to be tied to the state of the economy. Or insecurity. It was difficult to tell. That he seems sincere is not enough. The challenges that Kenya faces at present ill challenge even the best of them, but Mr Mudavadi seems to be operating under the assumption that because he is sincere he will be able to surmount these challenges simply by 'bringing people together' forgetting that the experience of the coalition government over the past eight years has demonstrated that good deeds are not enough to get the government working. In the past he has demonstrated the spine many wish he has and it will take more than exhortations and courtesy to get things going. Every now and then he'll need to take a strap to his opponents and get them in line. The determination he demonstrated when he left ODM is must be coupled with political ruthlessness to ensure that his programmes are implemented properly. If he cannot grasp this simple truth, he is better off representing the people of Sabatia and not ruling this fractious nation of ours.
Mr Mudavadi, and is fellow presidential contenders, must realise that the presidency is no longer the lone-ranger imperium it used to be. Dr Mutunga has demonstrated that the Judiciary will no longer be the Executive's lap-dog and Adan Keynan has forcefully reinforced the independence of the National Assembly. If the President is to achieve the objectives of his government, he will have to learn to work with the National Assembly, the Senate, and the various County assemblies without running afoul of the independent Judiciary. It will be difficult at the best of times but it will be doubly so with the possibility of a divided Parliament and a Judiciary determined to flex its muscles all the while dealing with County governments out to grab as much for themselves from the national kitty. Sadly, Mr Mudavadi does not demonstrate the qualities required to handle the challenges of the job. Perhaps his choice of running mate will balance his lack of true executive experience. Perhaps.
His Sunday Live interview with Julie Gichuru revealed a person overwhelmed by his circumstances. Asked about his top priorities for his administration he gave a rambling list that seemed to be tied to the state of the economy. Or insecurity. It was difficult to tell. That he seems sincere is not enough. The challenges that Kenya faces at present ill challenge even the best of them, but Mr Mudavadi seems to be operating under the assumption that because he is sincere he will be able to surmount these challenges simply by 'bringing people together' forgetting that the experience of the coalition government over the past eight years has demonstrated that good deeds are not enough to get the government working. In the past he has demonstrated the spine many wish he has and it will take more than exhortations and courtesy to get things going. Every now and then he'll need to take a strap to his opponents and get them in line. The determination he demonstrated when he left ODM is must be coupled with political ruthlessness to ensure that his programmes are implemented properly. If he cannot grasp this simple truth, he is better off representing the people of Sabatia and not ruling this fractious nation of ours.
Mr Mudavadi, and is fellow presidential contenders, must realise that the presidency is no longer the lone-ranger imperium it used to be. Dr Mutunga has demonstrated that the Judiciary will no longer be the Executive's lap-dog and Adan Keynan has forcefully reinforced the independence of the National Assembly. If the President is to achieve the objectives of his government, he will have to learn to work with the National Assembly, the Senate, and the various County assemblies without running afoul of the independent Judiciary. It will be difficult at the best of times but it will be doubly so with the possibility of a divided Parliament and a Judiciary determined to flex its muscles all the while dealing with County governments out to grab as much for themselves from the national kitty. Sadly, Mr Mudavadi does not demonstrate the qualities required to handle the challenges of the job. Perhaps his choice of running mate will balance his lack of true executive experience. Perhaps.
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