Of a Beleaguered President and Desperate Lot

What becomes of a leader who can't read the signs on the wall? How else can you redeem a besieged man courtesy of his own (in)actions? For a long time especially in continental Africa, presidents have made a habit of imposing themselves on their subjects and having their way without much struggle.

Not Anymore
Gone were those days. Times have changed. Anybody who doubts this should cast an eye on the North and ask not if one of Africa's longest serving(dictating) despots will ever see this weekend or worst tomorrow in the throne.
One of the interesting part of this African story is that presidents stick to power, become so unpopular that when time draws nigh for their forceful exit, their closest of liutenants shun them, castigate their actions, join the rebelling force and pave way for the president's exit.
The examples range from Tunis, Egypt and now Libya.

Of a story with a homeward stretch
Does this narrative sound familiar to the Kenyan scenario? Indeed yes and real. Kenya's even worse. For the three African presidents recently deposed, their cumulative time in office comes to 93 YEARS .For president Kibaki, two terms have made him out of touch with his Justice Minister, Attorney General, Judiciary and obviously the larger public. This is a president whose cards have been exhausted and the last he remains with is a Jocker which of cause salvages not a cards player. The man perceived years ago as a likely master of the chase game has lost it all and employs the last of the tactics available for a man under siege, under the guidance of a desperate lot crying foul of framing by an international court.
Any way out?
What Mr.Kibaki would you consider the best option to deal with this impasse as an individual? I see it this way, that perhaps for the umpteenth time you came to the public to raise your concern about the speaker's ruling, you seemed not yourself. Help, somebody is ensnaring the president, boxing him into a corner, left to throw harmless kicks which cannot even scare a coward opponent.

Watch, Mr. President, hear Mr.Kibaki, feel the mood Mzee and strike that last gentleman's cord with destiny and allow reason and the law to carry the day.

The fellows you sent your ever fidgetty assitant, Kalonzo to beg support against ICC are leaving the stage very frustrated, ashamed and sad. Gadaffi, Mubarak and southern Africa's shame, Mugabe are very disturbed men. You do not want to join their league.

A President confounded by realities of a new constitution he proclaimed in August 2010.

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Ruto's attempts to Dethrone PM Misplaced

Days, and years were when boardroom coups was common day in this country. Self-styled politicians and corporate leaders had developed a rather homegrown solution of dethroning those they found unfit or 'unfriendly' for the positions they held. Notable institutions notorious for this kind of practice was the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce which had come of age in this art.

Last week, politicians, and musketeers allied to Eldoret North MP William Ruto came up with a wild idea of deposing the Prime Minister Raila Odinga as the Prime Minister leave alone party leader on account that he no longer commands political auuthority in the House. The last time one bothered to check with the registrar of parties, one found that all these guys shouting at the top of their voices were still members of the very political party they so distance themselves from like plaque. Theoretically ODM, based on the registrar's understanding is the party with the most number of seats in the 10th parliament thus to insinuate that the prime minister does not enjoy a sizeable backing from the house is fallacious.

Numbers, yes, but.....
In practice, the prime minister has been orphaned a great deal since parting ways with with his earstwhile political foe, William Ruto. The latter claims to command a good number of MPs both from ODM and PNU. That, he says is the numbers. It is on this ground therefore that Ruto believes he has the audacity to dethrone Raila from premiership. What this bunch of renegade forces forget is that the Prime Minister's office is an office set under constitution (National Reconcilliation Accord Act).

Kick him as Party Head but not PM
It follows therefore that Ruto's (or his stalwart's) attempts are futile and only take a man who's just landed in the planet to do so. They can perhaps marshall the numbers, if their claim is true, and eject the premier from his position as party head.

Word of advice
The political machinations against the premier courtesy of Ruto and PNU hypocrites, which by and large has the blessings of Kibaki are tunnel visioned and ill informed. Leave the party, seek a fresh mandate and come back. Acquaint yourselves with The Political Parties Act ladies and gentleman.

Dear Mr. President Kibaki

What, Mr. President is the measure of an educated man? His mastery of his mother tongue, civility, adherence to set standards? Or perhaps ability to articulate issues and present a sober judgment based on an informed decision? Could it be a good legacy for you?To many, these among others could form a bench mark.
Of a rushed decision, roadside declaration
Last week, Mr. President, shortly before you left for Addis Ababa for the AU summit, you scribbled a paper and there we were with the Attorney General, Chief Justice, Director of Public Prosecution and Controller of Budget (all these, provisional). Even before you settled to breath the Abyssinian air, there was hue and cry from many quarters in this country from friend and foe alike. They said you never followed the spirit and letter of the constitution. That you were not faithful to your pledge you made on August 27, 2010 at Uhuru Park.
One thing I understand and would not easily fault you for is that you had a tough date with IGAD heads of states shortly before you proceeded for the AU summit. You had to dangle the carrot in order to sell an idea (described in many quarters as archaic, quite unpalatable and in-congruent with the signs of time). Nonetheless though, you just had to. You had to convince your fellow heads of states that a deferral from the ICC would be a better option for Kenya and the only tinge of evidence that you would be a trustworthy player was to inform them you had even gone ahead, appointed new constitutional office holders, hitting the road for judicial reform to handle the ICC matter.
New Wine, old wine skin
However, what you seemed to have forgotten is that your actions could only have been acceptable if we were operating under the Lancaster Constitution. You did not, or perhaps your henchmen forgot that we had already proclaimed a new instrument of power which tilted the playing field against your actions and made despondency a fossil. Your advisers failed you a great deal sir. They never reminded you for example that the Judges had to be vetted first before any appointment. That is why you justice minister just last week republished the Vetting of Judges and Magistrates Bill 2011 and the Judicial Service Bill 2011 to pave way for this process. At best, you were overtaken by events sir. You witnessed the serving of new wine on August 27, but unfortunately, it was served on old wine skins, you been one this time barred skins. What a waste of a gem!
Lessons from the North
May this be a kind reminder to you sir that there comes a time when people can no longer fathom illicit actions and have to let out their anger. It should not be forgotten or ignored by any one of us that the developments in northern Africa and across the Arab world are not only confined to those regions. It should be an constant reminder to you sir that whereas we may not got the way of Tunisia or Egypt now, it is only a matter of time before everybody shouts at the top of their voices to your chagrin and annoyance and the best you can do would be to fold your regalia and head home wards.

A good legacy to you sir, should be the measure of an educated man.





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What Becomes of Ex-African Leaders?

Despots on the run, arrested and jailed for plunder, exile and/or death? Perhaps the list may be endless. The question still remains interesting to many an observer of this continent. It cannot and should not escape our attention as to what becomes of these men and women who serve in the highest offices of our lands. After the developments in Tunisia which saw the immediate former president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali take to the skies in sojourn for refuge, it interests to do some comparative analysis.

Wanted, Warrant of Arrests
Immediately after taking off, the interim government of Tunisia issued a warrant of arrest against Ben Ali and his family for what it calls "illegal acquisition" of assets and "illicit transfers" of funds abroad.Interpol issued a global alert known as 'interpol diffusion' to member countries to locate and provisionally arrest Mr Ben Ali and six others.

Bedfellows
Ben Ali is not the only one. Other classical examples include the former Ugandan dictator Gen Iddi Amin who later died in Saudi Arabia, CAR's former dictator Jean-Bedel Bokassa and the list goes on and on. However, the most interesting could be the despots currently in power whose exit from power may not be any different from Ben Ali's. In an article, 'Worst of the Worst' Foreign Policy magazine released the list of the world's most awful tyrants and without doubt (politics of magazine's origin aside), out of twenty three autocrats, thirteen are from African nations.
Write books, Build a Library and Leave a LegacyWhile comparison with their peers for example in the US may not be scientific, it is though refreshing to do so. Most, if not all former American presidents resign to writing memoirs, setting up charities and world class libraries for use by generations after.In the fullness of time, some of these libraries and foundations are handed over to The National Archives for example The Nixon Presidential Library. Though former president George W. Bush may have left office when ratings were all time low,The George W. Bush Presidential Library is currently on course coupled with a memoir.
Indications
The current wave sweeping through the Mahgreb region is indicative of a despotic nature of governance which has become characteristic of the African continent for eons. Perhaps this justifies why some of these leaders cannot engage in worthy causes other than fight of litigations, take flight to nowhere in search for refuge or live in solitude for fear of recrimination.

Ironically, most of these leaders enjoy world class treatment while in power, operating on run-away budgets at the expense of desolate and impoverished citizenry. Towards the end, it dawns on them that they may have to spend the rest of their lives very troubled. It's no wonder some of them succumb to death whilst in power for reasons sometimes seen as combined spell.