Why it will be hard to forget ex-president

Pall bearers carry the remains of former President Daniel Moi at Nyayo Stadium during the funeral service on February 11, 2020. [Standard]

The year was 1987, the setting, a fundraising event presided over by the Head of State. Onyango, a local businessman of dubious distinction, walked to the presidential dais.

Reveling in his anonymity, he handed over his donation. “Mr Onyango,” President Moi thundered, “have you stopped your illegal activities?”

Mr Onyango could hardly stutter a befitting response, shocked beyond words that Moi had not only picked him out from a crowd of thousands but also zeroed in on his clandestine operations.

Needless to say, from that day, Onyango stayed on the straight and narrow.

The story is true, though the name of the character is changed to protect his identity. But that does not detract from the fastidiousness with which former President Moi approached all issues.

Indeed, one of his greatest attributes was attention to detail. He had at his fingertips the names of all the country’s administrators. From lowly chiefs in far-flung outposts to powerful provincial commissioners, he knew them all.

From village gossip to intimate details of meetings by the so-called disgruntled elements, he had his finger on the pulse of the nation, the professor of politics and undisputed master of the game.

Signs of times

Another of his attributes was his ability to read the signs of the times and to steer the nation accordingly.

In the first years of his presidency, he ruled imperiously buoyed by the support of Western countries.

This was at the height of the cold war between the East and the West, which played out to Moi’s advantage. But at the end of that war, he acquiesced to the dreaded structural adjustment programmes, imposed on African countries as a condition for aid from the West.

He liberalised the country’s economy and allowed competition though to the detriment of local industries.

Moi had an impeccable dress-style and sense of timing. Never late for a function, he knew when to hold and when to let go. For instance, he determined the precise moment to reintroduce multi-party politics into the country through the repeal of Section 2A of the laws at the time.

Education system

He also graciously let go of power when his nominated successor was defeated at arguably the freest and fairest elections in the country’s history.

Former President Moi died last week. He will be interred today at his Kabarak farm. Whilst he may not always have gotten off on the right foot with many, his legacy is evident.

It is cemented in his contribution to the country’s education system, in the development of performing arts, of which he was patron, and that he left Kenya united.

Moi’s protégé, Uhuru Kenyatta, is now president of Kenya. He is serving his second and final term. But he does not seem to possess Moi’s panache.

For one, he has foisted on Kenyans a new education system that is fraught with challenges. It is underfunded and expects too much of parental input at the same time, making do with inadequately trained facilitators.

Self-proclaimed legacies

Second, Uhuru’s self-proclaimed legacies of affordable housing, affordable healthcare, food security and manufacturing increasingly appear to be mirages.

The two and a half years left of his second term cannot allow for the attainment of these lofty ideals. Further, he may have dealt himself an own blow in his fight against systemic corruption.

This is because Uhuru is caught up in an unseemly spat with the Judiciary, which, by all intents and purposes, should be his most important ally in the battle against the scourge.

Perhaps the only legacy option Uhuru has is to leave a united country. Even then, he must surmount the challenges of mending fences with his deputy William Ruto, while at the same time maintaining the détente between him and opposition leader Raila Odinga.

Will he, by sleight of hand Moi-style, pull this off? Only time will tell whether, like his mentor, he is master of the game.

 

Mr Khafafa is a public policy analyst