Ex Seychelles president says Kenyan politicians lacking statesmanship


Founding Seychelles president Sir James Mancham (centre) and Standard Group CEO Sam Shollei (right) when he paid a courtesy call.

By Moses Michira

Nairobi, Kenya: The founding President of Seychelles has criticised the local political class saying they are short of statesmanship.

He said most politicians were driven by personal interests rather than the country’s needs.

Sir James Manchan says that Statesmen would promote the social cohesion, unlike most politicians who have contributed to the division in the country- a situation likely to discourage investment and job creation.

“The problem is too many politicians and not enough statesmen,” said Sir Machan, who is in the country to promote the need to have peaceful elections among the youth through a leadership development conference.

The conference dubbed National Youth Summit 2013, whose main agenda is to encourage the youth to take up leadership and promote peace, will open on Thursday morning in Nairobi.

“There will be no peace and development unless the spirit of Harambee prevails,” added the former President, when he paid a courtesy call to the Standard Group on Wednesday.

Sir Manchan said that Kenya risked losing the international goodwill from foreign investors currently enjoyed should a breakout of chaos reminiscent of the 2007/08 post-poll violence recur, citing that the recently launched Konza City project would be financed more than 95 per cent by private investors.

The summit is expected to attract about 2000 youth from all counties.