Politics
Leaders’ apathy sparks calls for a progressive dictatorship
Prime Minister Raila Odinga and President Mwai Kibaki. Despite the hard talk, President Kibaki and Mr Odinga seem to have their hands tied at their backs by political surrogates. Photo/FILE
Posted Tuesday, March 24 2009 at 20:00
“During his reign, even traffic jams were contained and people were forced to report to work promptly. He is remembered for his firmness and goodness.”
According to Mr Wamwere, such dictators do not necessarily dismantle institutions of democracy. Instead, they strengthen and make them more effective.
What Kenya requires, he says, are leaders like Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni, Mr Chávez and Mr Gaddafi.
Lately, the Government has been soiled by corruption scandals, especially in relation to maize and oil industries.
“We need a different type of leadership from the one we have that will not allow itself to be side-tracked from the vision that they have for the country,” adds Mr Wamwere.
Even Mr Odinga, is on record saying that Kenya needs a benevolent dictator.
Glorifying thieves
But Public Accounts Committee chairman Bonny Khalwale, Kimilili MP Eseli Simiyu and former MPs Wanyiri Kihoro and Mwandawiro Mghanga as well as law professor Makau Mutua while acknowledging the need for alternative leadership, argue that Kenya does not need the Museveni, Gaddafi and Kagame type.
“Even a benevolent dictator will not be able to manage the country in which impunity, corruption and lawlessness are the order of the day,” reckons Dr Eseli.
“However, we need not go that direction, rather we need to elect people of integrity to positions of leadership.”
Though the Kibaki-Odinga leadership is “totally unsatisfactory” Kenyans should not blame them for their own lawlessness and other failures.
“If we chose to be unruly we should not blame it wholesale on the two. We must stop glorifying “thieves who have acquired their positions through corruption and impunity, if we are to get alternative leadership,” Dr Eseli adds.
Mr Mghanga advises Kenyans to think outside the box in the search for alternative leadership: “The President and the PM have been turned into reactionaries and cannot move the country forward because they are held hostage by allies and friends mired in corruption.”
For Dr Khalwale, alternative leadership should be driven by a President whose roots are from the grassroots. But he rules out dictatorship arguing that Kenyans are too exposed to accept the Museveni or Gaddafi way.
Mr Kagame, former Ghanaian president Jerry Rawlings, Mr Castro and Mr Gaddafi are perceived as the benevolent dictators.
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Submitted by lucynationPosted March 25, 2009 07:59 PM
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Submitted by kowochi
please don't give ideas to people like Raila. iam sure when they read this article they will salivate at the prospect of being "the benevolent dictator" being talked about here. may be kenyans deserve the kind of leadership they now have. the prospects of a single unitary kenyan nation diminish every passing day and we are not at the bottom yet. the saviour: no quick fix but Annan accords agenda four should be addressed urgently to avert a catastrophe. and this koigi whats wrong with him: he seems to love dictators also
Posted March 25, 2009 03:19 PM -
Submitted by kariste72
This is one of those irritating articles with lots of information but little of relevance to the issue at hand. We are debating progressive or benevolent dictatorship as a form alternative leadership. How then does lengthy talk of Obiang, Afewerki and Mugabe fit in apart from as a means of scaring people from rationally examining the alternative. Typical nonsense!
Posted March 25, 2009 02:19 PM -
Submitted by Make1
I could'nt agree more. If they, the so called leaders who are just but a menagerie of self serving rogues, in power not to serve the country but their small time egos, cannot control themselves and lead by example, we need a firm hand on the steering wheel. Kenyan MPs are the most despicable lot I have the misfortune to witness. Never talking about the country and relentlessly politicking for sake of remaining in the limelight. All salaries of MPs should be reduced to 50,000shs/month and then we will see how many want to go to parliament.
Posted March 25, 2009 01:09 PM -
Submitted by kaachonjo
kweli kabisa dictotorship is what kenya needs lakini kenyans need to tread or think twice before ever implimenting such an idea, remember moi,,
Posted March 25, 2009 11:52 AM
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This is a great discussion and how I hope more of this nature will appear in the newspapers where people all over the world can read them. It’s encouraging to know that there are people out there who share the pain the country bears from bad governance and who are seeking the good of the country. Let us reason together and God on our side we will make the country a better place to live in. We need men and women of integrity who have work ethics and are mindful of the people.