Kibaki's three 'innovations' that made us a stronger democracy

Kibaki's portrait during his State memorial service at Nyayo stadium, Nairobi on April 29, 2022. [Elvis Ogina,Standard]

Much has been written about the late President Mwai Kibaki, but for such a towering figure in Kenya’s politics and economy, there is always more than he can be eulogized through.

I wish to dedicate today’s column to celebrate the late president for three “innovations” to our politics that have made us a stronger democracy. Firstly, he modelled political and social tolerance. The last years of Kenyatta 1 presidency and Moi’s 24 years were defined by intense distaste of contrary opinions. Even after the introduction of multi-party politics, Kenyans understood that the wrong word against the President would cost you, formally or through the use of informal State instrumentalities to cause grief.