It is Kenyans’ right to debate Kibaki’s legacy

At some point sobriety will have to reign when discussing the Kibaki legacy. As the President and Othaya MP prepares to retire honourably, the spotlight will inevitably shift to his legacy and what it means for the country.

He is President of Kenya and not a corner of the country. This debate is healthy, but what is not is the emotional diatribe those closest to him fall back on whenever some of his actions are criticised.

Kibaki is a human being; he can, and has made many mistakes. It is therefore proper that Kenyans be allowed to debate his strengths and weaknesses without fear. Take the massive investment in infrastructure, for instance.

One commentator pointed out that most of the investment has been in Central Kenya and sections of the Rift Valley.

This is supported by facts on the ground that show critical roads linking Mombasa to Kisumu and Busia are in a terrible state of disrepair, yet they are critical import corridors for countries like Rwanda and Uganda.

Will the Dongo Kundu by-pass really boost tourism? What is the true economic value of the planned Lamu port? Who really gains from the Thika Super Highway? Why are the Civil Service and State-owned firms and agencies dominated by one community at all levels of management? 

Why has Kibaki kept mum even as his henchmen actively pushed for ethnicisation of Government?  Why is corruption still a cancer in Government yet he promised to end it on his first inauguration  as President in 2003?  Why are people who dipped their hand in the till of his favourite and most successful project of Free Primary Education still walking around free men and women?

These are just some of the legitimate questions that will dog the Kibaki presidency and no amount of high level indignation can wish them away