Keeping officials on toes- Kenya should employ Magufuli tactics

Within days of assuming office, Tanzania’s new President John Magufuli is already setting the pace. His swift and pragmatic actions have surprised both friend and foe.

In order to cut costs, the president immediately banned all non-essential foreign travel by State functionaries and ordered the country’s diplomats abroad to perform the tasks.

All government officials are now kept on toes as they do not know just when the president will come calling.

A day after taking the oath of office, Magufuli paid a surprise visit to the Finance Ministry. The visit caught many officials unawares.

Days later, he made an unannounced visit to Muhimbili Hospital, Tanzania’s largest referral facility. In the wake of this visit, the entire hospital board was sent packing.

It is clear that the president felt compelled to instantly crack the whip, having found the officials’ tenure untenable. He did not wait to appoint a commission of inquiry or pressure people “to step aside”.

In contrast, Kenya has hit the international headlines for all the wrong reasons. The massive economic crimes apparently rife at the Devolution Ministry has rattled the conscience of many. As usual, no one is ready to take responsibility.

Tanzania seems to be on the right track. President Magufuli should courageously maintain this new momentum. It demonstrates an unflagging resolve to decisively tackle ineptitude and graft that hideously lurk in the lethargic public service.

At the same time, Kenyans should learn what to expect when non-performing or apathetic leaders are perennially kept in office merely to satisfy narrow political or egotistic considerations. No doubt, barring a miracle in 2017, the worst is yet to come for Kenya.