When
Peter Kenneth is given the opportunity, he comes across as a
sophisticated thinker of what ails the Kenyan body politic. His
interview on KTN's Newsline on the evening of twenty-second
January was an eye-opener. Despite his obvious problems of charisma,
problems the good people of Gatanga do not seem to share, he has a
credible plan to improve the economy, reform the governance of Kenya,
improve the conditions of learning for all Kenyans, and, in effect,
change the way we view ourselves as Kenyans. Mr Kenneth, of all the
politicians who have put their presidential plans forward, has one of
the best unwritten manifestos in recent memory.
Mr Kenneth, unfortunately, demonstrates starkly why he will almost certainly not be the next president of Kenya. From the shambles that were the nominations on the seventeenth and eighteenth of January reveal a disturbing fact about our politics. We have refused, time and again, to vet the candidates being offered by the various political parties, alliances and coalitions. Instead, we have given an inordinate amount of time and consideration to the ephemera that peculiarly identifies the Kenyan political process: ethnic aka regional balancing and the power of charisma aka personality.
Uhuru Kenyatta's Jubilee cohort continues to refuse to accept the fact that Mr Kenyatta's and Mr Ruto's ticket is fraught with risk because of the International Criminal Court's indictments hanging over their heads. Because of this, the pair's political narrative, regardless of the many policy promises they have made while on the stump, are necessarily coloured by considerations of what will happen if they emerge triumphant on March Fifth or when the IEBC declares them victorious. As a result, and especially also because of their bitter rivalry with the Raila/Kalonzo ticket, very few Kenyans have taken time to interrogate their candidacy on the basis of policy and plans. Mr Kenneth's lofty ideals and manifesto will not receive the proper consideration they deserve because he is seen as another stone on the wall in the way of the Kenyatta/Ruto ticket's march to State House and the postponement of their date with the ICC.
Innovation lies at the heart of the future of Kenya, but if the lack of serious innovation witnessed in the political process can be extrapolated into the governance of Kenya, then it is only the likes of Peter Kenneth who seem to have publicly grappled with what needs to put Kenya on a footing to take on the rest of the world. Mr Kenneth's narrative is not as radical as even he would have it; he is a consummate politician and his achievements cannot simply be sneered at. In his public pronouncements and interviews he has set forward a credible plan for the economic recovery and prosperity of the country. His party, despite its almost nondescript status, is a model of efficient and effective management. He has captured the imagination of right-thinking Kenyans and it is a pity that he will forever be the best president we never had.
Mr Kenneth, unfortunately, demonstrates starkly why he will almost certainly not be the next president of Kenya. From the shambles that were the nominations on the seventeenth and eighteenth of January reveal a disturbing fact about our politics. We have refused, time and again, to vet the candidates being offered by the various political parties, alliances and coalitions. Instead, we have given an inordinate amount of time and consideration to the ephemera that peculiarly identifies the Kenyan political process: ethnic aka regional balancing and the power of charisma aka personality.
Uhuru Kenyatta's Jubilee cohort continues to refuse to accept the fact that Mr Kenyatta's and Mr Ruto's ticket is fraught with risk because of the International Criminal Court's indictments hanging over their heads. Because of this, the pair's political narrative, regardless of the many policy promises they have made while on the stump, are necessarily coloured by considerations of what will happen if they emerge triumphant on March Fifth or when the IEBC declares them victorious. As a result, and especially also because of their bitter rivalry with the Raila/Kalonzo ticket, very few Kenyans have taken time to interrogate their candidacy on the basis of policy and plans. Mr Kenneth's lofty ideals and manifesto will not receive the proper consideration they deserve because he is seen as another stone on the wall in the way of the Kenyatta/Ruto ticket's march to State House and the postponement of their date with the ICC.
Innovation lies at the heart of the future of Kenya, but if the lack of serious innovation witnessed in the political process can be extrapolated into the governance of Kenya, then it is only the likes of Peter Kenneth who seem to have publicly grappled with what needs to put Kenya on a footing to take on the rest of the world. Mr Kenneth's narrative is not as radical as even he would have it; he is a consummate politician and his achievements cannot simply be sneered at. In his public pronouncements and interviews he has set forward a credible plan for the economic recovery and prosperity of the country. His party, despite its almost nondescript status, is a model of efficient and effective management. He has captured the imagination of right-thinking Kenyans and it is a pity that he will forever be the best president we never had.
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